Chicken Lo Mein

I decided to do another Takeout Makeover tonight using one of Craig's favorites: chicken lo mein. In Cantonese, lo mein means "stirred noodles," and this dish comes in many variations with all different combinations of meat and veggies. Traditionally, lo mein is a high calorie dish filled with sodium and fat. In this version, I used whole wheat spaghetti, lean skinless chicken breast, and lots of veggies. I also cut back the fat and sodium by using only one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and a small amount of low sodium soy sauce. Fresh garlic and ginger flavor this dish, which highlights lots of crisp fresh veggies. Next time you feel like reaching for a take out menu, try throwing this together instead.

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Spring Pea and Leek Risotto

After a very fruitful trip to the farmer's market this afternoon, I decided to use some of the amazing produce I got to make a fresh spring risotto. Once again, I used barley because, like traditional arborio rice, it becomes soft and creamy when cooked slowly and stirred often. It's both lower in calories and higher in protein and fiber. It also adds a nutty taste and slightly chewy texture to the dish. Yummy fresh peas take a few minutes to shell, but their crisp texture and fresh flavor are essential to this dish. Serve with a light sprinkle of fresh parmesan and some black pepper.

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