Recipes with margarine

Cranberry-orange bars with whole wheat flour, ground whole orange, and raisins. Low in added sugar and diabetic-friendly with a tart, fruity bite in every bar.

Lighter fettuccine Alfredo made with skim milk, reduced-fat cream cheese, and a roux instead of heavy cream and butter. All the creamy Parmesan flavor with less fat.

Pork piccata with Parmesan-crusted tenderloin medallions pan-fried in garlic butter, served with a creamy caper and lemon sauce. A quick Italian-style weeknight dinner.

Chive vichyssoise is a chilled potato-leek soup made lighter with buttermilk instead of cream. Silky, tangy, and brightened with lemon juice and a dash of hot sauce.

Poppy seed ravioli cookies filled with a blended almond-poppy seed-honey filling, folded like tiny ravioli, and brushed with honey after baking. A unique holiday cookie project.

Polka-dot brownies made with melted semi-sweet chocolate, whipped eggs tripled in volume, and reduced-calorie margarine. Fudgy, lighter than classic brownies, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Gingerbread baked in jars makes individual spiced molasses loaves perfect for gifting. The jars seal as they cool, keeping the gingerbread fresh for weeks. A clever holiday project.

Easy spicy barbecued shrimp needs just three things: shrimp, cayenne and butter. Baked in a fiery, buttery coating and peeled at the table, this fast, hands-on dish brings New Orleans heat with almost no effort.

Sweet potatoes with a hint of orange: cooked sweet potatoes baked with cinnamon, dried apricots, and fresh orange slices. A lighter, fruit-sweetened holiday side with no marshmallows or piles of sugar.

Hawaiian pineapple pie with crushed pineapple, flaked coconut, and corn syrup in a custard-style filling baked in a pie shell. Tropical, sweet, and simple to make.

Lobster chunks poached in herbed chicken broth with fresh mushrooms and garden vegetables, finished with lime juice. A light, elegant seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.

Frozen orange cloud pie layers tangy citrus filling over a buttery graham cracker crust. A no-bake summer dessert built from sweetened condensed milk, soda, and whipped topping.

Deep-dish pear pie with Anjou pears in a creamy yogurt custard filling, topped with a cinnamon streusel crumb. Nutmeg and vanilla round out this lighter take on a fruit pie.

Oyster-artichoke soup is a New Orleans classic with briny oysters, tender artichoke hearts, and a butter-flour roux base. Make it a day ahead so the flavors deepen overnight before reheating.

Dairy-free onion buns made with soy milk, mustard, turmeric, and wheat germ. Soft, golden homemade burger or hot dog buns with a savory onion flavor built right into the dough.

Dilly brunch pockets are folded corn tortillas stuffed with scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, fresh dill, tomato, and cheddar. A baked, handheld brunch dish that feeds six and bakes in 20 minutes. Make-ahead friendly.