A few weeks ago, I shared this recipe for Grouper with Fresh Mint and Red Peppers on the blog In Good Taste, by the talented blogger, Maris Callahan. I wrote a guest post for her with a “Healthy Date Night” menu. I made the recipe the other day, and I wanted to share it with you too. For the fish, I used grouper, but feel free to substitute any of your favorite mild, white fish. This recipe is so easy, flavorful, low-fat and healthy. It can be prepared in under 30 minutes and makes a great date night, sunday night or any weeknight main dish.

Here are a few of my Healthy Date Night Tips:

-Shop the perimeter of the store, which means stay to the outside edges. This is where you will find the freshest, healthiest food items.

-Use fresh herbs and spices. When cooking with herbs and spices, fresh are always best. If you’re using dried seasonings, make sure they are the freshest possible. I only use freshly ground pepper.

-Use the freshest ingredients possible. Avoid canned, processed or preserved ingredients.

-Grill, steam, braise, stir-fry or roast foods instead of frying.

-Add more vegetables and legumes (peas, beans and lentils) to your menu.

-When a recipe calls for cream, substitute with Greek yogurt, low-fat yogurt, skim milk or soy milk.

-Don’t automatically salt your food. Taste it first.

-Select lean cuts of beef and pork. If preparing chicken, select skinless.

-Use reduced-sodium soy sauce and tomatoes.

-Use nonstick spray or olive or canola oil instead of butter or margarine.

-If you’re serving cheese as an appetizer or in recipes, select lower-fat options.

-If you’re serving warmed bread, choose whole grain.

-Serve wine but drink in moderation.

-Make the meal a special occasion. Set the table and create a relaxing ambiance to enjoy your food.

-Eat slowly and savor every bite.

-Laugh, talk and have fun. The more you talk, the slower you will eat and enjoy the meal.

On a busy school night or jam-packed weekend, these Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks are a snap to prepare and one of my kids’ favorites! They taste and look so fantastic – no one will ever know they are oven-fried. And with only 390 calories and 10 grams of fat, I feel good about serving this recipe to the kids and their friends. Whether you pair them with this Edamame Salsa or chop them up for a salad, they are perfect for football parties, picnics and casual dinners! On top of it all, what I really love is that the exact measurements can be used to make fish “cakes” as well.

I developed these crunchy fish sticks as part of the CanolaInfo “Home is Where the Heart is” Recipe Collection for World Heart Day 2011 (Sept. 29). This observance encourages families to take their health into their own hands starting at home with diet and exercise. To learn more about World Heart Day or to view the complete recipe collection, visit CanolaInfo.org. Lastly, be sure to check out CanolaInfo’s new interactive Facebook game, which features my recipes!

I am having such a great summer so far. Lots of travel, work, fun and family time… and more to come. This gives me a huge smile. In celebration, I thought I would share this perfect recipe for summer. These Zucchini-Wrapped Scallops are a fun twist on a great appetizer or main dish. These are simple to prepare: under 30 minutes from start to finish. They are so light, healthy and fresh, so what more can I say? I made these recently for a party, and everyone went nuts. Cheers to summer!

If you’re looking for a dinner idea under 30 minutes, try Salmon with Pineapple-Pomegranate Salsa. This main dish is incredibly heart-healthy, pretty and filled with great flavors. This salmon recipe is truly one of my favorites. Start simply by combining maple syrup and Dijon and brushing the mixture over the fish. Top it with the easy, fresh Pineapple Salsa combination made with chopped fresh pineapple, fresh cilantro, lime juice and pomegranate seeds. When pomegranate seeds are out of season, you can substitute fresh blueberries or dried cherries. Feel free to also grill the salmon when grilling season rolls around. Enjoy this dish for a weeknight or weekend, and serve it with your favorite rice and a mixed green salad.

1. Lightened Up Spiced and Sugary Pecans

2. Watermelon and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad

3. Pecan Pie Bars

4. Warm Lentil Soup

5. Apple Muffins

6. Radicchio Winter Salad

7. Flaxseed Crusted Salmon

8. Greek Yogurt Banana Bread

9. Chunky Nut and Dried Fruit Granola

10. Easy Beef-Vegetable Kabobs

One to Grown On:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Bark

One of my favorite things to make on New Years Eve is Crab Cakes. I have served them the past several years, and they are so easy, yet light and always a crowd pleaser. I love this recipe from Cooking Light magazine for Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade. The Crab Cakes have fresh chives, parsley and panko breadcrumbs. The Remoulade has the perfect mixture of shallots, Creole mustard, capers and lemon juice. At 292 calories each, these Crab Cakes can’t get any better. Happy New Year to you and your family! I appreciate Cooking Light for allowing me to share their photo and recipe for this post.

I am very fortunate to have met Cookbook Author Holly Clegg about 9 years ago at one of my first conferences at IACP. I truly appreciated how down-to-earth, inspiring and helpful she was and still continues to be. Known as “Queen of the Quick”, Holly is a Baton Rouge resident who brings her Southern charm to every aspect of her life. Her busy lifestyle and desire to feed her own family health-conscious, homemade meals, even when in a time crunch, has served as her inspiration throughout the years with her total of 7 cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, “Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age”, is filled with 200 easy-to-prepare recipes, nutritional information, diabetic information as well as photos, adorable illustrations, coffee parings and more. It is so fun, whimsical and is designed for today’s busy woman.

I seriously had a difficult time trying to decide what recipe to feature from this book. Since I’m a Southerner as well, I thought the Barbecue Shrimp recipe would be great for this time of year. It’s so easy, light and quick with only 179 calories, 8 grams of fat and 4 carbohydrates. For a chance to win Holly’s latest book, leave me a comment telling me why you would like to own a copy of this amazingly fun book. Here’s a sneak peak at another recipe in the book, Chocolate Peanut Clusters.

Start off the week right with this recipe for Flaxseed Crusted Salmon. These are two of my favorite ingredients, and this combination is really delicious and healthy all in one. Flaxseed is often called the “most powerful” plant food there is. It’s linked to so many things including reducing cholesterol, menopausal symptoms, constipation and arthritis. It also aids in protection against cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Both salmon and flaxseed are loaded with Omega-3 essential fatty acids (the good fats) shown to have heart-healthy effects. Salmon is also an excellent source of protein and B vitamins. This recipe is so simple and light that even the kids will enjoy it. For more information on benefits of flaxseed see http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

Since I was born and raised in the south, I can honestly say I have tried a lot of great fried foods. Over the years, I have worked hard to lighten some of my favorite southern dishes. These Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks have to be one of my favorites. When I made them recently, everyone was raving about them and begged for the recipe. Not only because they were so pretty, but the flavor was out of this world. I served them with this simple sauce, and dinnertime was a hit. These make a great appetizer or main dish for anytime during the year. This recipe also works great with chicken, cut into thin strips.

There are so many great ways to cook salmon, and I often receive requests for new ways to prepare it. Almond-Crusted Salmon is one of my staple recipes that I love, especially since my kids will eat it too. I feel so healthy eating it, and I have to admit that salmon and almonds are two of my favorite ingredients. The basic combination of ground almonds, panko breadcrumbs, Dijon mustard, honey and Italian parsley flavors it to perfection and adds a great crunchy texture. You can find panko breadcrumbs in your local grocery where commercial breadcrumbs are sold.