A perfect meal for the colder weather, this easy 5 ingredient recipe from Better Homes and Gardens will be ready in no time with the help of your slow cooker.

Try this super easy, inexpensive, totally customizable white bean dip from Yahoo Shine! for your next get together this summer.

With only 3 required ingredients, you can make your own homemade pickles.  Bonus points if you can use cucumbers from your own garden!

Check out the full recipe from the New York Times Dining and Wine section.

Who knew you could make lasagna with 5 ingredients? This is a meal that can be on the table in no time!

So, this recipe is technically 6 ingredients…but I didn’t count the buns!

Today’s recipe comes from an awesome website, Recipe Rehab, which is actually based on a TV show. The show takes one decadent family recipe and asks two chefs to face off to create a healthier, lower calorie version. 

Healthy eating doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite things…sometimes it just means making a healthy swap!

We’ve made our Five Ingredient Friday recipe super easy this week as it only calls for one ingredient…frozen bananas! Frozen bananas magically turn into delicious soft serve “ice cream” after a quick trip in the food processor or blender.

All you need to do is freeze very ripe or over-ripe bananas. It helps the blending process if you cut up the bananas or break them into chunks before you freeze them. You may need to add a teaspoon or two of milk to get the desired level of creaminess for your ice cream and to make the blending process a little easier.

The banana taste really is very mild, but feel free to experiment with your favorite mix-ins to switch up the flavor:

• Cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• Dried fruit
• Nuts
• Peanut Butter or PB2
• Vanilla or Almond extract
• Honey
• Frozen berries

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Here is another quick and easy meal that will be on the dinner table in no time!

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
• 1 jar of your favorite salsa

The recipe could technically end there, however, you can also add:

• 1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1-2 cups frozen corn

Pour half the jar of salsa into the crock pot. Place chicken breasts into the crock pot and cover with remaining salsa. Set the crock pot on low for 4-6 hours if using frozen chicken breasts or 2-3 hours on low for fresh chicken breasts. Cooking time may vary depending on your crock pot. Make sure chicken is cooked through before serving. Add black beans and corn during last half hour of cooking time, just so they’re heated through.

Chicken may be served whole over brown rice or shredded and served in tortilla shells, over a salad or on a whole wheat bun. Leftovers freeze well! Serves 6.

Each serving is approximately 350 calories.

Red meat, in moderation, can be a great source of protein for your diet. Skirt (or flank) steak is a very flavorful cut of meat, meaning a smaller portion will leave you very satisfied.

Seared Skirt Steak with Cherry Tomatoes

Recipe adapted from Women’s Health Magazine

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 4 cups arugula
• 12 oz skirt or flank steak
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper (optional)

Prepare a cast-iron or stainless-steel pan (or grill pan) with non-stick cooking spray and heat on medium high. When the pan is very hot, season steak with a few pinches of salt and pepper (optional) and add it to the pan. Cook steak for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until it’s caramelized and slightly firm to the touch. Remove it to a cutting board to rest.

Meanwhile, lower the heat to medium and add tomatoes and garlic to the pan. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until garlic is lightly browned. Add balsamic vinegar and cook for 2 additional minutes, until the skins of the tomatoes start to split. Remove the pan from the heat; add salt and pepper (optional).

Slice steak thinly against its grain. Divide arugula between 2 plates, top each pile with steak slices, and pour on cherry tomatoes and pan drippings. Serves 3

Each serving is approximately 300 calories.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite comfort foods. Almost any recipe can be made-over with a few tweaks.  With the addition of some broccoli and the use of low-fat laughing cow cheese wedges, this recipe will satisfy your comfort food craving while keeping each serving at about 300 calories.

Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Recipe adapted from Iowa Girl Eats–a great blog with tons of healthy recipes!

• 8 oz. large macaroni shells
• 3 cups small broccoli florets
• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (optional if you’re going vegetarian–consider adding some extra veggies!)
• 6oz Laughing Cow Lite Cheese Wedges (Garlic & Herb or your flavor of choice)
• 3/4 – 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper (optional)

Cook macaroni noodles in a large pot of salted, boiling water. Add broccoli to the pot 3 minutes before noodles are done cooking, then drain well and set aside.  Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with some non-stick cooking spray, then add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Remove the chicken and set aside. In the same skillet, add cheese, milk, salt, and pepper, then stir until cheese is melted, and sauce is thick. Add cooked chicken, noodles, and broccoli to the skillet then stir well to combine. Serves 4.

Feel free to boost the nutritional value of this meal even more by adding more of your favorite vegetables–consider adding some tomatoes, shredded carrots, cauliflower, or even asparagus.

Venture from your usual beef burger by using ground chicken or ground turkey instead.  This recipe makes 8 mini chicken burgers using less than 5 ingredients. How easy is that?

Mini Chicken Burgers

• 1 lb. ground chicken (or turkey)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs (plain or seasoned)
• 1 tsp. minced garlic (optional)
• Honey-wheat King’s Hawaiian rolls (or other mini burger bun)

In a large bowl, mix together ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, and garlic. Form mixture into 8 mini burgers.  Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Be sure to spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Cook burgers for about 4 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through. Serve burgers on honey-wheat King’s Hawaiian rolls. Serves 4-6.

Each serving (1 burger) is approximately 250 calories.