DINNER FOR 2

TV host Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN, shares Valentine's Day dishes that are not only good, but good for you!

- 

Baked Penne Alla Vodka

The secret to Joy's creamy hands-off sauce is a combo of hummus and ricotta cheese

1½ cups cherry tomatoes

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. onion powder

¼ tsp. kosher salt

Pinch black pepper

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

½ cup plain or garlic-flavored hummus

3 Tbs. part-skim ricotta cheese

1 oz. vodka

3 Tbs. grated Parmesan

5 (oz.) dry penne pasta, cooked and drained

Additional Parmesan

Chopped fresh parsley or basil and crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

• Heat oven to 375°F. Add cherry tomatoes to an 8 x 8" dish. Drizzle on oil; toss to coat. Mix in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and, if desired, red pepper flakes. Push tomatoes to edges, creating a well in center.

• Add plain or garlic-flavored hummus and ricotta cheese to center of dish. Drizzle vodka evenly over tomatoes. Bake for 30 to 35 min., or until tomatoes look puckered and juicy.

• Remove dish from oven and, using the back of a large spoon, smash tomatoes, releasing juices and pulverizing skin into smaller pieces (juice will be hot, so be careful not to let it splatter on you). Mix together to create a rich, creamy sauce, then stir in Parmesan. Add cooked penne to dish; stir to combine. Garnish with optional herbs, extra Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes.

Servings: 2 Active Time: 10 min.

Total Time: 40 min.

Calories: 490 Protein: 19g Fat: 18g (5g sat.) Chol.: 15mg Carbs.: 67g Sodium: 560mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 7g

Salad Pizza with Balsamic Vinaigrette

No lavash? Try whole-grain pita, naan or other flatbread, Joy says

Pizza:

1 oversized whole grain lavash

2 to 3 tsp. olive oil