Ok, so with the temperature still in the mid-90's it is hard to imagine that chilly fall nights are anywhere in the near future. Contrary to the weather, football season is almost here. One week from today, the defending national champions will kick off a football season filled with as many victories as the last. Along with Alabama football, comes all sorts of tail-gating treats. One particular food that I tend to associate with screaming fans and touchdowns is chili. A bowl of chili typically provides a high-fat meal, but with my make-over, this easy recipe is full of lean protein and fiber. This is perfect for knocking the chill off, or in my case, dreaming of even the slightest chill gracing the humid southern air. The recipe is best served with houndstooth and a side of Roll Tide!

1. Mix together chili mix, cooked ground turkey, diced tomatoes, and kidney beans in a medium sized pot over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
3. Top with greek yogurt, fat-free cheese, and green onions if desired.

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water for the last minute.
3. Cook and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet, spray with cooking spray, on medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
4. Stir in spaghetti sauce, garlic, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. 
5. Simmer on low heat for 3 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in cream cheese.
6. Drain pasta mixture; return to pot. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese.
7. Spoon into a 2-qt. casserole or 8-inch square baking dish. 
8. Bake 20 minutes. Top with remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for an additional 3 minutes    or until the cheese is melted.

Rice krispie treats are a snack that has been popular for generation after generation. Of course, like everything else, companies have created modern twists to the original variety for marketing purposes. Unfortunately such additions have nothing to do with increasing the nutrition of the product. Instead, chocolate chips, candy, fudge coatings, and food coloring are what distinguishes this century of cereal treats. If you were to look at the calories per serving on the nutrition label of a box of Rice Krispie cereal, you would probably think of it as a relatively healthy breakfast item. Yes, 120 calories per serving is a small amount, but the cereal is far from the best option. It has no fiber and the second most abundant ingredient is sugar, which is the case with many cereals geared towards children.

While the original rice krispie treat is not the worst packaged snack item available, there is plenty of room for improvement. This recipe is from the Hungry Girl book, which is full of fabulous recipe swaps. It is a very simple recipe with few ingredients needed. The Rice Krispies are replaced with a mixture of Fiber One cereal and puffed wheat cereal. The fat content is reduced by using a light butter. There is really no way to get around using marshmallows; they are naturally fat-free but contain a good bit of sugar. The modification helps to improve the nutrition of the cereal bar, but is still a treat. In other words, these are not a good source of vitamins and minerals and should not become an everyday snack food. My mom made the original Rice Krispie treats not too long ago for a party and I pinched a corner off of one to remember the flavor. I hardly eat sugar at all now, so maybe it was just me, but the bite seemed entirely too sweet. With the new alternative of cereals, there was much more substance which helped to mask the overly sweet sensation. These would be great to pack in your child's lunch- they get a tasty dessert and it shows that you care about their health. Also, allow your kids to help make this simple recipe to get them involved in the kitchen.

1. Melt butter spread in a large saucepan over low heat.
2. Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
3. Remove from heat and add both cereals.
4. Stir until well coated.
5. Using a spatula, press mixture into a 9x13 baking pan coated with cooking spray.
6. Allow to cool completely and cut into 25 squares.

1. Spray a microwave-safe coffee cup with cooking spray. 
2. In the cup, with a fork, combine the flour, cornstarch, Splenda, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
3. Stir in the milk and lemon extract.
4. Microwave on high for 35 seconds. It should be moist and will continue to set up for a few seconds. If it is still wet, microwave for another 5 seconds. Do not over cook or it will be rubbery.
5. Serve warm. Top with cool whip free, fat-free cream cheese, or a sprinkling of additional Splenda if desired.

Coming inside for a quick break from the crashing waves and burning sun, I wanted a quick snack. No, I didn't want a bag of chips or a pack of crackers. I knew the perfect dish for my afternoon appetite, but of course I did not have even one of the ingredients at the condo. But when I have a particular recipe in mind, I don't mind if my quick break from the beach turn into an hour of errands. I decided to go to the grocery store, and like usual, instead of grabbing the necessary ingredients, I had to explore the isles as well. Yes it was just Publix, and I typically go to Publix on a daily basis, but I always find that one item in a different store that is not in my store at home.

Once back to the condo, I simply mixed all the ingredients and threw the dip in the oven for about 20 minutes. This recipe is full of flavor and is better than many spinach dip appetizers that I have tried in recipes. Best of all, it is low in fat and calories, unlike those restaurant dishes. The dip is probably best when served warm but is also extremely yummy straight out out of the fridge. The reduced-fat mayonnaise and greek yogurt replace full-fat mayo and whipping cream. The recipe also uses fat-free mozzarella and parmesan cheese, which is naturally low in fat. I placed a low carb tortilla directly on the oven rack to cook with the dip. I took it out about 5 minutes before the dip was finished baking and broke it into chip-sized bites. They were so crisp and delicious and so much healthier than tortillas chips. Fresh vegetables are also perfect for dipping.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium size bowl, stir together Parmesan cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise, and garlic.
2. Add onions, artichokes, spinach and mozzarella. Stir until blended.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

I am on vacation at the beach for a week before jumping back into the school routine. While we are mostly dining out at local seafood restaurants, I planned ahead and saved some recipes that I cooked last week to post while I am away from my kitchen. Since I don't care to spend much time sitting in the condo on my computer, these posts will be short and straight to the recipe. Unlike with most of my other posts, you will be spared the rambling of nutrition information. Although, now that I think about it, I really want to share with you all the exciting ways to make a healthy spaghetti dish...okay it is just way too pretty outside. I'll save it for a rainy day.

This virtually fat-free dish is so delicious and cooks in a crock pot. You can prepare it, leave it, and come home to a warm Italian entree. Add a salad and dinner is served.

1. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook ground turkey over medium heat until completely cooked (no pink). Mix in minced garlic.
2. In crock pot or slow cooker, add cooked ground turkey, seasoning mix, water, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine and add salt and pepper. Cook on the low setting for 4 to 6 hours.
3. Thirty minutes prior to serving, stir mushrooms into sauce mixture in crock pot.
4. Boil noodles and top with sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan if desired.

Chicken Casserole is a fairly popular dish in the American home. It seems that while they are all similar, there are many small variations when it comes to the topping or filling ingredients. Chicken casserole is known as a comfort food classic and comfort food is typically associated with loads of calories and fat accompanied by an uncomfortable feeling of "Stuffed". This is a simple dish to prepare with no strong flavors to offend picky eaters. This is a meal that will draw you back to memories of your childhood days, warm and welcoming. As far as variations, the recipe contains poppy seeds which add to the texture and eye appeal.

This recipe was given to my mom by a family friend after she prepared the dish for my family. Everyone devoured the meal and my mom decided that she would have to prepare it again. While I am sure it was delicious, I never tried the original version. After looking over the recipe, I decided the casserole definitely had potential for a healthy make-over. I began by substituting the canned soups with the reduced-fat versions. Next, I substituted fat-free greek yogurt for full fat sour cream (If you have been reading my blog,  you could have probably guessed this one without me writing it). The topping is where the casserole racks up most of its fat calories. The recipe called for a tube of Ritz crackers and a stick of melted butter. I replaced the crackers with corn flakes and omitted the butter. I would never recommend this cereal as a healthy breakfast option, but it works in this casserole to add crunch. Plus, it is much better than the buttery Ritz. To further reduce carbs, you could just not use a topping at all. Like I said, I can't compare the make-over dish to the original but my healthy version had an amazing creamy flavor, a plenty crunchy topping, and the comforting appeal I was looking for. I served this dish with steamed green beans and a fresh salad. You could also serve the casserole over whole grain brown rice.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Mix together the soups, yogurt, poppy seeds, salt and pepper.
3. Add the chicken to the mixture and combine.
4. Pour the mixture into prepared baking dish and top with corn flakes.
5. Bake for 30 minutes.

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a food processor or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, blend together the cream cheese and egg beaters until smooth. Add the milk, Parmesan, chives, garlic, and oregano. Blend until smooth.
3. Scatter the Cheddar cheese and 1 cup of the Mozzarella in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg mixture over the cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.
4. Spread the tomato sauce over the baked crust. Layer the pepperoni, mushrooms, and other additional toppings. Cover with remaining 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese.
5. Turn on the broiler and broil about 6 inches from the heat until golden and bubbly. (Keep a close eye because the broiler will burn the dish quickly. This probably only takes about 2-3 minutes.) Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.