[tw326at41]

We are having a 4th of July party and everyone has agreed to only bring "healthy things." There will be grilled chicken and fruit (no tradional hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, etc.). What else should we have?

[MrsD2008]

-fruit salad (in a melon bowl is always a hit!)
-Veggie Platter
-Salsa and homemade pita chips (or tortilla chips made from tortillas and baked with sea salt)
-grilled kabobs--peppers, onions, pineapple, tomatoes, zucchini, etc. (you could even add marinated bite sized chicken to these)
-pasta salad (I have a recipe that is lower in points than your normal pasta salad, it's not mayo based and it uses wheat pasta)
-tossed salad
-sliced watermelon
-coleslaw (I have a recipe for this also, 1 PP for 1 Cup)
-layered taco dip (use lean ground turkey or kidney beans w/ taco seasoning in place of a meat)
-deviled eggs (you don't have to use full fat mayo to make them look and taste good!)
-turkey or chicken hot dogs...they also make 94% fat free hot dogs
-grilled salmon
-jello
-chilled margarita pie (I have a good recipe for this also)
-berry pies

Hope that Helps!

[Tudor Rose]

MrsD, what is this chilled margarita pie you speak of and can I have the recipe??

[MrsD2008]

Strawberry Margarita Pie
2/3 cup boiling water
1 package strawberry Sugar Free jello
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups thawed fat free whipped topping (cool whip)
1-1/2 tsp. lime zest
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crumb crust
Sliced strawberries and lime wedge for garnish

Add boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to make 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until ice is melted.

Whisk in lime zest and juice. Refrigerate 15 min. or until mixture is thick enough to mound. Spoon into crust and spread until flat.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. (Do not try to speed up process by freezing, the texture doesn't set right).

Garnish with sliced strawberries and a twisted lime wedge.

Makes 6-8 servings, each pie. 3 PP per serving for 8 slices, 4 PP per serving for 6 slices.

You could also use raspberry, orange or lime jello instead of strawberry. But then you need to change the name a bit!

[Spooky]

I like to do a pasta salad with a vinaigrette base and lots of veggies (I add 'weird' things like black olives and sun dried tomatoes but also cukes/carrots/fresh tomato/what have you).

You could also do an angel food cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Grilled fruit is DELICIOUS and you could of course grill meat or fish with marinades or sauces (I like chimichurri for beef or a fruit salsa for pork/fish).

Pita chips and hummus? There are lots of low calorie, low fat baked beans out there these days now. You could do a 3 bean salad.

We make orange crushes. It's a staple out here but nobody else has heard of it so I'll give you the recipe. Just mix fresh-squeezed orange (or grapefruit) juice with some vodka and a little diet sprite/7 up/sparkling water and pour over ice. It is very refreshing in the heat. PP depend on how much vodka and juice you use.

Have fun!

[Tudor Rose]

Originally Posted by MrsD2008

Strawberry Margarita Pie
2/3 cup boiling water
1 package strawberry Sugar Free jello
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups thawed fat free whipped topping (cool whip)
1-1/2 tsp. lime zest
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crumb crust
Sliced strawberries and lime wedge for garnish

Add boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to make 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until ice is melted.

Whisk in lime zest and juice. Refrigerate 15 min. or until mixture is thick enough to mound. Spoon into crust and spread until flat.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. (Do not try to speed up process by freezing, the texture doesn't set right).

Garnish with sliced strawberries and a twisted lime wedge.

Makes 6-8 servings, each pie. 3 PP per serving for 8 slices, 4 PP per serving for 6 slices.

You could also use raspberry, orange or lime jello instead of strawberry. But then you need to change the name a bit!

That sounds sooooooooo good. Thanks!!

[mercuryblue]

OoooOOh can i have your Coleslaw recipe MrsD? I love coleslaw. Its my latest food infatuation, along with canned tomatoes. So weird i know!

[tw326at41]

Thank you for all your ideas. Those are great. MrsD can I get that recipe for the Pasta salad. Not sure I will make it this weekend but I would love to make it soon. Thanks again!