European dinner party main dish recipes with 400 or fewer calories costing less than $2.5 per serving

Italian Meatballs

Years ago I had an Italian neighbor who became a close friend. I always commented on her delicious meatballs and one day she shared the recipe with…

Top SF Chronicle Recipe: Pasta with Broccoli and Spicy Sausage

Our good friend Linda Hansen saved this top recipe from the SF Chronicle in 2004 and it has become one of her…

Mini Paprika Chicken Pies

Perfect to make in single serving portions, this is a simple pie that is quick to make from store cupboard ingredients.

Tarragon Grilled Chicken Fillets over Salad

This recipe is adapted from one in Steven Raichlen's BBQ USA, which he in turn borrowed from a restaurant in…

Chicken with Olives, capers & Tomatoes

This is is very quick recipe, it only require couple of ingredients and it can be serve with variety of…

Vegetable Lasagna

Lasagna laced with garden vegetables and whole wheat noodles makes a healthier pasta alternative to traditional lasagna. Don’t let the list of…

Arroz con Pollo - Yellow Rice and Chicken

Spanish, Cuban, South American - a traditional and popular ethnic dish, this ranks among my all time favorites…

Meat-filled Dinner Pastries

Delicious biscuit dough pastries stuffed with a hearty blend of ground beef, vegetables, potatoes, and seasonings. Recipe makes six large entree…

Greek-Style Stuffed Peppers

Chicken Cacciatore

Cacciatore in cuisine refers to a meal prepared “hunter style” with meat, tomatoes, onions, herbs, wine (and depending on region and availability…

Lasagna

Very easy to make. Can be done with or without ground beef!

Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Portobellos

Basil-Walnut Pesto

To help mix the pesto with the cooked pasta, blend 4 to 6 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water into 1/2 cup pesto before tossing.

Crushed Greek tomato and olive oil sauce

Pomodoro style sauce with black olives, capers and chillies adding subtle character. Rich stewed tomato depth…

Melissa's Bolognese Sauce