Menu Planner: These lean, mean cheeseburgers are hard to resist

Lean, mean cheeseburgers

Combine 1 pound

Lightly shape into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Grill over ash-covered charcoal

on seeded or whole-wheat hamburger buns. Accompany the all-American favorite with deli broccoli salad and baked chips.

Roasted pork tenderloin with mango relish

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: less than 20 minutes; marinating time:

Cooking time: less than 25 minutes; standing time:

In a large, resealable plastic bag, combine juice, molasses, ginger and coriander; mix well. Add pork tenderloin; seal and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade and place marinated pork in shallow roasting pan. Roast 20 to 22 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Remove from oven; tent with foil and let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine mango, mint, cranberries, vinegar and red pepper. Slice tenderloin and serve with relish.

Per serving:

Carb count:

Couscous with roasted vegetables

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: less than 15 minutes

Cooking time:

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together both peppers and both squashes. Separately, mix together salt, black pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, olive oil and vinegar. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat. Spread vegetables evenly over large baking sheet covered with foil, reserving marinade. Roast 12 to 14 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Cool vegetables; toss with reserved marinade, couscous and cheese; serve.

Per serving:

Carb count:

Taco monster mouths

Makes 6 tacos

Preparation time:

Cooking time: about 15 minutes

Shredded lettuce

Cut slit into 1 side of each olive to make a flat side. Cut each of the cheese slices in half vertically in a zigzag line to look like teeth. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange taco shells on an ungreased cookie sheet; bake 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large, nonstick skillet, cook beef on medium-high, stirring frequently, 5 to 7 minutes or until no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 minutes or until water has evaporated. To assemble, divide beef and fill tacos. Place each taco on its side on serving plate; insert 1 tomato slice into meat filling to look like the tongue. Place 1 cheese slice, zigzag edge facing out, along top side of taco between the shell and filling for teeth. Place 2 olives, flat side down, to look like eyes on top of shell. Insert lettuce next to beef to look like hair.

Per serving:

Carb count:

Split-pea soup with pork

In a Dutch oven, combine 12 cups water and 1 (16-ounce) package split peas (picked over and rinsed), 3 chicken bouillon cubes and 2 cups chopped onion; bring to boil on medium-high. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 2 hours; stir occasionally. Add 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced fresh carrots; simmer 20 minutes or until carrots are almost tender. Stir in 2 cups diced cooked pork; simmer 10 more minutes. Ladle into bowls; garnish with fat-free croutons and reduced-fat sour cream.

Across the border chicken

Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large. nonstick skillet on medium-high. Add 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into strips) and 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce; cook 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added corn (rinsed), 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 teaspoon onion powder. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Dijon chicken

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well and set aside. Brush 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard-mayonnaise blend (buy prepared or mix equal parts Dijon mustard and mayonnaise) on 4 (5- to 6-ounce) boneless chicken breasts. Coat in breadcrumbs; shake off excess. Arrange on a rack coated with cooking spray and place rack in shallow baking dish. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.