Recipes  

Dear Jeanne,

This is a light, refreshing cake that I like to make when it's warm outside. Can you help me lessen the fat and calories? Thank you. — Melissa, Sarasota, Fla.

ORANGE PINEAPPLE CAKE
CAKE:
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 small can (10 ounces) mandarin oranges, with ...

This light but hearty one-dish vegetarian meal is surprisingly delicious, and tastes far more complicated than it is. It can be put together in minutes and prepared in advance, which makes it ideal for entertaining. In fact, I always make this dish the day before I plan to serve it because it gives ...

Dear Jeanne,
I just love to make this soup in the spring and summer. — Patti, Flint, Mich.

CREAM OF ZUCCHINI SOUP
6 cups zucchini, unpeeled and diced
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup butter
4 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups half-and-h...

This is one of the few green vegetable dishes that my family will eat. I realize it's full of fat, and I would like to reduce it yet keep it edible. Thank you. — Katherine, Champaign, Ill.

SPINACH CASSEROLE
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry...

This easy-to-make recipe is good with any kind of firm fish. My favorites are sea bass and salmon, but halibut, cod, red snapper and mahi mahi also are very good. Some stores carry wasabi mayonnaise, but I prefer to create my own so that I can make it low-fat. I also make this Asian vegetable combin...

Dear Jeanne,

I had this at a friend's, and I would love to make it lighter. Will it still work without all that delicious fat? Thank you. — Dorothy, Provo, Utah

BERRY CREAM PIE

1 pie crust, baked
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extr...

With spring in the air, blossoms on the trees, and bulbs sprouting flowers for the first time, we all start thinking of lighter and more colorful meals. This tropical fruit salsa is a perfect accompaniment for a variety of dishes. I like to sprinkle it over salads and chilled soups, serve it as a sa...

Almond Oatmeal Cookies are easy to make, low in calories and contain no cholesterol. They are perfect for school lunches or an after-school snack. You might even want to double this recipe and freeze some of them for future treats.

Every time I use oatmeal in one of my gluten-free columns, I rece...

Snacking while stressed is common, but not all snacks have to be bad. Here are some snacks suggested by Ellen Stoute, dietitian from The Hetrick Center in Harrisburg.

FRUIT SMOOTHIE
1 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1 banana
1 cup apple or orange juice
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries or stra...

Dear Jeanne,

I love this recipe and have been making it for years. I notice that it has a lot of congealed fat when it is refrigerated, so there must be lots of fat in it, but it just tastes so good! Can you make it good without all the fat? — Carolyn, San Francisco

CHICKEN MARBELLA
4 wh...