Saturday, December 11, 2010

Gingerbread Cookie Shake













by Nedah Barrett of leanKitchen.com

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or Skim milk
1 scoop Prograde vanilla protein powder
(http://zthfitness.getprograde.com/store.php?page=85)
1/2 scoop Prograde lean chocolate meal replacement powder
(http://zthfitness.getprograde.com/store.php?page=72)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1 sprinkle ground cloves
1- 6oz. cup greek yogurt -vanilla
4 ice cubes

Blend using Magic Bullet or Blender.

Makes 1 serving

Nutrition Info:
Calories: 337
Protein: 49 grams
Carbs: 22 grams
Fat: 5 grams

Saturday, July 24, 2010

3 Summer Salads



Veggie Cupcakes
Ingredients: (Makes 1 dozen)
2 large Cucumbers
12 large Tomatoes
1 tub sour cream
1 jar of salsa
2 cups light mayo
salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Wash all vegetables.
2. Hollow out tomatoes so they look like this:

3. Dice the cucumbers in small pieces, about this big:

4. Mix salsa, mayo, cucumbers, salt & pepper to taste and stuff tomato
5. Top with sour cream.
6. Garnish with a piece of tomato & cucumber.
7. Invite friends over to share.
8. Eat. Enjoy.




BRUSSELS SPROUT-LEAF SALAD
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Video: http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/brussels-sprout-leaf-salad/55530.html


Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients


Dressing:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
2 cups baby arugula
1 head Belgian endive, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted* see Cook's Note
1/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano

Directions


Dressing
: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Salad: Using a small paring knife, remove the outer leaves from the Brussels sprouts. Reserve the cores for another use. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the Brussels sprout leaves and cook for 1 minute. Drain and put in a bowl of iced water, then transfer to a colander to drain. Put the Brussels sprout leaves, arugula, endive, and almonds into a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and toss together. Sprinkle with the cheese and serve.


Cook's Note:
*To toast the almonds, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly toasted, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before using.


The unused core of the Brussels sprouts can be used in soups and stir-fries.




Snow Peas with Creamy Ranch Dressing
From EatingWell: May/June 2010 —


4 servings, about 2/3 cup each
Active Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients
• 1/3 cup nonfat buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3 cups trimmed and thinly sliced snow peas (about 9 ounces)

Preparation
1. Combine buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, onion, vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir in snow peas.
2. Serve family style or on individual salad plates and enjoy.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Sunset Mandarin Orange Cake


- 9x13 inch cake

Ingredients
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package Super Moist yellow cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• 2 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil. Beat until smooth. Gently stir in mandarin oranges with juice - blend well. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

4. To make the topping: In a large bowl, beat together pineapple with juice and dry pudding mix until blended.

Let rest 5 minutes or so to thicken.
Fold in cool whip.
Spread on cake.

Cheesy Potato and Leek Gratin


Madoline slice 4 russet potatoes

2 leeks Рjust the white parts, quartered lengthwise, chopped, rinsed well, and saut̩ed in olive oil over medium/low heat with some salt until soft.

In a buttered dish, add a layer of the potatoes, overlapping, topped with some salt and pepper. On top of that, a layer of the leeks (about half). Another layer of potatoes (more salt and pepper), then the rest of the leeks, then the rest of the potatoes.

Sauce:
1 1/4 C of milk,
3/4 C of heavy cream
1/4 C of beer.
simmer and pour it slowly into the potatoes
–just enough to come up to the top layer.

On top, a nice layer of cheese. About a cup of grated cheddar and swiss.

Baked at 350 for as long as possible. hour or so
Until the cheese was about to burn. It makes an awesome crust on the top, and you want to make sure the potatoes are tender.

Grilled Flank Steak


Steak:
1 flank steak (about 2 pounds), patted dry with paper towels
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Marinade:
1 shallot (minced)
6 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 TBS of fresh Rosemary (minced)
6 TBS of olive oil

Add all to blender making a paste.
Salt 2 lbs. of flank steak,
spread marinade paste evenly
Refrigerate at least 1 hour up to 24 hours.

Grilling Steak:
Remove from refrigerator and wipe off marinade.
It will burn. Not good. Sprinkle with pepper.

Sear steak on one side for 4 to 6 minutes
Turn and sear second side for 3 to 4 minutes
Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes
Slice thin and serve ummmmmm!

The cooking instructions are for a medium to medium-rare steak.
Increase the grilling time if you prefer yours more well done.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips


PHOTO BY: Karen

INGREDIENTS
1) 1 Fuji apple - peeled, cored and diced
2) 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
3) 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
4) 2 bananas, peeled and sliced
5) 1 sweet orange, peeled, segments cut in thirds
6) Hand full of sliced grapes
7) 6 tablespoons butter
8) 6 (10 inch) flour tortillas
9) 3 tablespoons white sugar
10) 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 - 6.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 20 minutes.
2. Slice flour tortillas into triangles.
3. Lightly brushed melted butter over the tortillas,
sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and

baked at 350 degrees for about 15 min.

4. Watch them closely so they don't burn!
5. Serve the cinnamon chips warm with the chilled fruit salsa.

Mexican Sour Cream Rice


served with enchiladas.

1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, divided
1 (8.75 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/3 cup salsa
Salt & pepper to taste

In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

In the large pot, mix into rice the sour cream, 1/2 cup cheese, corn, salsa and seasonings.

Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. Yum.

sour cream chicken enchilada casserole



Serves 12

Ingredients
4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) cooked and diced or shredded
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup sour cream (reduced fat)
1/4 cup diced green chilies (if you want milder use Taco Seasoning)
1/4 tsp ground red pepper - optional
1/8 tsp ground cumin - optional
1/4 tsp dried cilantro - optional
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheese (Mexican blend)
4 flour tortillas (mission 8 inch)

Directions
*cook chicken breasts and dice into small pieces

*cut flour tortillas into 2 inch long, one inch wide strips and arrange in a 13x9 baking dish

*in large bowl mix soup, sour cream, broth, green chilies, diced onion, and diced chicken. Stir together.

*add optional ingredients to mix for added flavor if desired

* pour mixture over tortillas in pan and spread evenly

*top with shredded cheese

* bake in 350 oven for 25-30 minutes until mixture is bubbly.

*let cool 5 minutes before serving

*great with a side of salad, corn and beans

(nutritional info based on 12 servings. If divided into 10, the following would apply...278 calories, 10.9 fat, 15.3 carb- and 29 protein


Number of Servings: 12

Friday, February 19, 2010

TIME FOR SOUP

Looking like this outside your window?

Spinach & Rice Soup



Here’s a soup to feed your body and soul. Fresh flavors, low in fat and carbs, and nice textures to warm you from the inside out and leave you very satisfied. Enjoy with some homemade bread or rolls, or your favorite salad, and it’s a complete meal.

Ingredients
3 strips of diced turkey bacon
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 chopped leek
6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained
2 cups of cooked Texmati white, brown, wild & red rice blend
2 6-ounce bags of baby spinach leaves
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
soy parmesan

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil and add the onion, cooking until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and the leeks, cook and stir occasionally until the leeks are tender.
Add the broth and the rosemary.
Bring to a boil.
Add the cooked rice and the drained chickpeas and return to a boil.
Reduce the heat.
Mash some of the chickpeas with a masher, right in the soup pot, to thicken the soup.
Stir the spinach into the soup, and cook for about a minute until just wilted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with optional soy parmesan, and serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

Steak and Red Pepper Soup

Wowsers! Mmm mmm good!


Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serving for Two

Ingredients:
2 Tbls. Olive oil
Sirloin beef sliced & cut to small bite size (strip or tips will also work) – 1 pound
2 can cream of potato soup
2 (fill empty soup cans) with (6 oz) V-8 juice
Hand full of fresh parsley chopped
2 large red pepper – seeds removed - cut into small bite size
(if your kids don’t like em then put them in the food processor
to keep the great flavor and hide em from their site)

Directions:
Cut beef across grain into thin strips. Heat Olive oil in large skillet.
Stir-fry beef in hot oil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and reserve.
Heat potato soup, V-8 juice (NO don’t add water) and chopped parsley - Heat to boiling; reduce heat and cover. Simmer 5 minutes.
Add beef. Simmer 3 minutes.
Add red peppers and let soup rest 3 minutes. (no heat)

Serve with spinach salad and crusty dark bread

White Bean With Greens Soup


This southern Italian soup features creamy white beans.
Choose from Great Northern beans, cannellini beans,
or any other white bean you happen to have on hand.

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard, escarole, or beet greens, trimmed
6 cups chicken broth
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 cup cooked white beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Red-pepper flakes, for garnish

Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add the greens and cook for 7 minutes, or until barely tender.
Drain the greens, squeezing out as much water as possible.
(This can be done several hours before cooking in the soup.
It is not necessary to cut the greens, because they will break
apart while they cook in the soup.)
Bring the broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic and greens.
If using canned white beans, place them in a strainer and
rinse them under cold running water to remove excess sodium.
Add the beans to the broth.
Simmer gently, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with the salt and pepper to taste.
(Do not add the salt before the soup has finished cooking, or it may become too salty.)
Ladle the soup into heated bowls. Pass the cheese and pepper flakes at the table.

Nutritional Information:
79 calories
2 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
12 g carbohydrate
6 g protein
4 g fiber

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Stuffed Peppers...for Breakfast!



Ingredients (for 2)
• 3 eggs, beat with 2 tsp milk
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp red pepper, chopped
• 2 small green (or red) peppers, tops chopped off and insides cleaned
• cooking spray
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tsp shredded cheese; I used cheddar

Directions
• Microwave peppers on high for 2.5 minutes to soften; set aside
• Spray frying pan with cooking spray; heat on medium
• Add onions and peppers; sauté 1-2 minutes
• Add eggs, scramble; add salt and pepper while scrambling
• Once eggs are done, fill each pepper cup with the eggs.

Top with cheese and put under the broiler for 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Perfect Pancakes



serving size 6

Ingredients
• 3 cups Plus 2 Tablespoons Cake Flour
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 3 Tablespoons Baking Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 2 cups Milk
• 2 whole Large Eggs
• 3 teaspoons Vanilla
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• Extra Butter
• Maple Or Pancake Syrup

Preparation Instructions
Mix together dry ingredients in large bowl.

Mix together milk, eggs, and vanilla in a separate bowl.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring very gently until just combined.

Melt butter and add it to the batter, stirring gently to combine.

Cook on a greased skillet over medium-low heat until golden brown.

Serve with an obscene amount of butter and warm syrup.