THE 1,500-Calorie-a-Day Cookbook by Nancy S. Hughes

flakes
    teaspoon salt
    6 ¾-ounce reduced-fat mozzarella sticks
    3 tablespoons reduced-fat or regular grated Parmesan cheese
     
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
On a clean work surface coated with cooking spray, roll out the French bread dough into a 12″ × 14″ rectangle. Using the back of a spoon, spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle evenly with the basil, pepper flakes, and salt.
Cut the dough in half lengthwise and line up three of the cheese sticks on top of one of the dough strips to form a long roll. Repeat with the remaining cheese sticks on the other dough strip. Gently roll up the dough to make two 14-inch logs, placing the seam side down.
Using a serrated knife, cut each log into four pieces. (This may be a little messy at this point.) Pinch the ends of the dough with your fingertips to seal. Using a flat spatula, place the logs about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake on the center rack 10 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan cheese.
     

COOK'S NOTE:
Don't worry if some of the cheese oozes out while cooking—it makes these snacks look even more inviting!
    Good source of calcium
Makes 8 pizza rolls total
Serves 8
(1 pizza roll per serving)
Antipasto Skewers

    with Thin Breadsticks
Calories 150; total fat 7g (saturated fat 2g); protein 6g; carbohydrates 16g; fiber 2g; cholesterol 10mg; sodium 520mg; vitamin A 10%; vitamin C 10%; calcium 10%; iron 6%
    12 wooden toothpicks
    12 fresh basil leaves or small spinach leaves
    ½ cup (2 ounces) mozzarella, cut into 12 cubes
    12 sweet grape tomatoes
    12 small stuffed green olives or small pitted ripe olives
    1 tablespoon light balsamic dressing
    teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
    teaspoon dried pepper flakes, optional
     
Thread each wooden pick with a folded basil leaf, a mozzarella cube, a tomato, and an olive. Place the picks on a rimmed serving plate.
In a small bowl, combine the balsamic dressing, rosemary, and pepper flakes. Drizzle evenly over all, turning the picks several times to coat evenly.
     
    Calories 80; total fat 5g (saturated fat 2g); protein 4g; carbohydrates 4g; fiber 1g; cholesterol 10mg; sodium 400mg; vitamin A 10%; vitamin C 10%; calcium 10%; iron 0%

TIME-SHAVER TIP:
The skewers can be made the night before. Cover and refrigerate them until needed. Add the balsamic mixture at serving time. Flavors are at their peak if served at room temperature.
    Good source of vitamins A and C and calcium
Makes 12 skewers total
Serves 4
(3 skewers and 3 breadsticks per serving)
    SERVE WITH
    12 thin breadsticks, about
″ ×
9
″, such as Alessi
Calories 70; total fat 1.5g (saturated fat 0g); protein 2g; carbohydrates 12g; fiber 1g; cholesterol 0mg; sodium 120mg; vitamin A 0%; vitamin C 0%; calcium 0%; iron 4%
Salmon-Topped Cucumber Rounds

    with Thin Breadsticks
Calories 150; total fat 4g (saturated fat 1g); protein 10g; carbohydrates 18g; fiber 1g; cholesterol 55mg; sodium 310mg; vitamin A 8%; vitamin C 6%; calcium 8%; iron 8%
    ½ cup fat-free sour cream
    3 tablespoons capers, drained
    3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
    ¾ teaspoon chopped fresh dill weed or ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
    1½ medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into 24 slices
    1 3-ounce pouch smoked salmon, such as Alaskan Pacific
    1 large hard-boiled egg, peeled and chopped fine
     
Combine the sour cream, capers, onion, and dill in a small bowl; stir gently yet thoroughly until well blended. Spoon equal amounts on the cucumber rounds, and sprinkle each with even amounts of the salmon and egg.
     
    Calories 100; total fat 3g (saturated fat 0.5g); protein 9g; carbohydrates 9g; fiber 1g; cholesterol 55mg; sodium 230mg; vitamin A 8%; vitamin C 6%; calcium 8%; iron 6%

TIME-SHAVER TIP:
Entertaining but have no time to assemble the rounds? Place all the ingredients in small bowls and let everyone build their own!
     
Makes about ¾ cup sour cream mixture total
Serves 4
(6 rounds and 2