Tuna and Olive Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups)

Ingredients

8 ounces(1/2 box) whole-wheat penne pasta
1/4 cupstore-bought pesto
1 (6-ounce) can oil-packed tuna, drained
1/4 cuppitted Kalamata olives
Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water; reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. Drain pasta, run under cold water, and return to pot.

2. In a bowl, whisk together pesto and 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water; toss with pasta, tuna, olives, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in pot. Chill, if desired; serve.

Calories per serving:365
Fat per serving:12.9g

Spaghetti with asparagus and lemon

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 servings (serving size: 2 1/4 cups)

Ingredients

1 (1-pound) box whole-wheat spaghetti
1 lemon
1 (1-pound) bunch asparagus
1/2 cupfinely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoonolive oil
Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. While pasta cooks, grate zest from lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice into a small dish. Trim asparagus; peel into ribbons with a vegetable peeler.

2. Return pasta to pot; toss with asparagus, lemon zest and juice, 1/4 cup cheese, oil, 1/4 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground pepper, and enough pasta water to make a thin sauce. Divide among 4 bowls; top each with 1 tablespoon Parmesan.


Calories per serving:
500
Fat per serving:
9.2g

Chocolate Mint Cake Mix Cookies

Cookie bottom:
1 Devil's Food Cake Mix 1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs together (do not follow the directions on the back of the cake mix). Form dough into small, superball, size balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes. Let cookies cool completely.

Peppermint Frosting:

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 Tablespoons milk

2 c. powdered sugar

1  tsp. peppermint extract or flavor of your choice

Green food coloring

Mix together all the ingredients, adding more milk if too thick. Spread on top of each cooled cookie.

Chocolate Topping:

2  c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. butter

Melt chocolate chips and butter together in microwave (I usually microwave for 30-second intervals, then stir and repeat until the chips are fully melted). Spread melted chocolate on each cookie.   - Tricia