Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Homemade Healthy Barbecue Sauce

 
Homemade Healthy Barbecue Sauce
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories per serving: 15
Fat per serving: 0 grams
Ingredients
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons low sodium tamari (You can use regular soy sauce if you want, or coconut aminos for a soy and grain free option.)
  • 1 teaspoon molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 packets stevia (You can use more or less, depending on how sweet you want your sauce.)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid aminos
  • salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. In a medium-large bowl, whisk all ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. That's it!

Cheesy Taco Shells


Recipe/Instructions:
I sprayed a frying pan with some non-stick spray and added about a ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. I cooked it on high until it got bubbly and the edges started to brown. (You can also do this in the microwave on some parchment paper, but mine is not very powerful and I like the results on the stove much better). I then carefully removed with a spatula and formed around a turkey baster shaft while it was still warm and left it there for about 10 minutes to get the right shape.

Cream Cheese Pancakes

Cream Cheese Pancakes
Yield: Four 6-inch pancakes
Serving Size: 1 pancake
Ingredients
  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 packet stevia (or any) sweetener
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
  • Put all ingredients in a blender or magic bullet. Blend until smooth. Let rest for 2 minutes so the bubbles can settle. Pour 1/4 of the batter into a hot pan greased with butter or pam spray. Cook for 2 minutes until golden, flip and cook 1 minute on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the batter. Serve with sugar free syrup (or any syrup of your choice) and fresh berries.

Lacy Cheese Crackers


  • Shredded Cheese of your choice. 
Preheat oven to 350F. Using a one teaspoon measure, place shredded cheese in six piles spread out evenly on the lined baking pan.  You must leave a lot of space between the piles as these little piles of cheese will spread.  Bake for 10-12 minutes until the color starts to get golden and it looks like all the oil from the cheese has seeped out.  Remove from the oven and allow the crackers to cool before moving to a paper towel.  Allow the extra oil to be absorbed by the paper towel.  Store in an airtight container.

Cauliflower Bread Sticks



Cauliflower Bread Sticks 

Ingredients:
1 cup raw grated cauliflower or 100 grams (2 Greens)
1/4 cup egg (whites for Phase 2) substitute * you are able to add up to 2 oz of additional protein per Nutrition Support
1 cup shredded or 4 oz 2% light mozzarella, divided (1 Lean)(leave off for Phase 2)
Garlic salt and Italian seasonings, to taste

Marinara Sauce
1/2 cup Italian diced tomatoes - less than 5 g of carbs per serving (1 Green)
You can also use Walden Farms Marinara Sauce, but 1/4 cup is considered to be 2 condiments and is not a vegetable. You would have to add a third of veggies to your meal if you choose this option. 

Directions:
Puree Italian diced tomatoes in a small chopper. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350. Mix cauliflower, 1/4 cup egg substitute, and 3 oz or 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella together in a bowl until combined. Line a 9 x13 loaf pan with parchment and lightly spray with Pam. Pour mixture into pan about 1 -1/2 inch deep. (It is okay if the mixture does not cover the entire pan). Bake at 350 for 30 min or until set. Lift the edges of the parchment and place bread with parchment on to cookie sheet. Carefully use a spatula to lift the edges of the dough off the parchment and flip the dough. Bake for an additional 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Take out of oven and with a pizza cutter, slice strips through set dough. Separate slightly. Sprinkle with garlic salt, Italian seasonings and 1 oz or 1/4 cup 2% reduced fat mozzarella or three cheese blend. Continue baking at 450 degrees for about 10 more minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with marinara sauce.

1 Complete Lean and Green Meal, No Healthy Fat Required

Found on Sandy's Kitchen: Cauliflower Bread Sticks


Cheesy Pizza Crust

Ingredients

1 cup fresh shredded parmigiano cheese
3 slices provolone cheese
½ cup peperoni, diced
3-4 tablespoons pizza sauce
– optional –
your favorite pizza toppings, diced

Directions

Warm up a non-stick or well-seasoned cast iron pan over medium heat. Dump in the parmigiano and make sure it covers the bottom of the pan evenly. Add the provolone on top.
Spread out the pepperoni or other toppings.
Don’t use big slices, dice everything nice and small. The pieces you cut this into will be much smaller than regular pizza, and you’ll want to have a good distribution of toppings.
When the cheese is bubbling and starting to turn brown on the edges, slip a spatula under and make sure it isn’t sticking. 
Once you’re sure it’s not sticking — you should be able to shake the pan and the cheese will slide around — add just enough sauce to cover almost up to the edge.
Slide the pizza out onto a cutting board and let it rest for a minute or two.
This gives the cheese time to set up a little bit, and the sauce time to warm up. (Starting with room-temperature sauce instead of refrigerated is a good idea.)
Slice the pizza before transferring to a plate to serve.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Fauxtato Skin

Fauxtato Skin


Ingredients:
  • 1 Medium Sized Eggplant
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • Grassfed Cheese
  • 4 Green Onions
  • Bacon 
  • 2-3 tablespoons Avocado Oil (or Olive Oil, or non-corn /soy based oil of your choice)

Directions:
  • Preheat your oven at 350°C
  • Slice eggplant into rounds (the thinner the slice the more crispy and the shorter cooking time)
  • Rub both sides of the eggplant with oil, and place on to baking sheet
  • Sprinkle a small amount of Garlic powder onto top of each eggplant round
  • Bake for 15 minutes (may do more or less depending on how thin your rounds are)
  • While eggplant is baking, cook bacon until almost crispy and crumble
  • Remove eggplant from oven and grate cheese on top of each round
  • Sprinkle top of each eggplant with crumbled bacon
  • Bake for another 5 minutes, then ENJOY! 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Brown Sugar Spiced Baked Chicken


Brown Sugar Spiced Baked Chicken

Serves 3-4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper
Pour brown sugar, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and salt & pepper into a plastic bag. Add chicken breasts and seal. Shake to coat chicken.
Leave chicken in fridge for 1-3 hours (or even overnight) to absorb flavors. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange chicken breasts on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-23 minutes.

Baked Parsnip Fries

Baked Parsnip Fries
What you will need:
  • 4- 5 parsnips
  • 3 tbs of olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp of sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp of pepper
  • 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
Directions:
  1. Wash and peel the parsnips.
  2. Cut them into french fry like slices. Try to make them all pretty similar in size so they bake evenly.
  3. Place all the ingredients into a bowl and toss parsnip slices into mixture making sure to coat them all evenly.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (easy cleanup) and bake at 400 degrees for 3o minutes. Turn them once while baking. After 20 minutes check on them. A little crispy brown texture is what you are looking for. If they look done before the 30 minutes is up take them out.
  5. Consume!

Fried Honey Bananas


Fried Honey Bananas

Serves 1

1 slightly under-ripened banana, sliced
1 tablespoon honey
Cinnamon
Olive oil
Lightly drizzle olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Arrange banana slices in pan and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side.
Meanwhile, whisk together honey and 1 tablespoon of water. Remove pan from heat and pour honey mixture over banana.
Allow to cool and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Baked Cauliflower Poppers

Baked Cauliflower Poppers
What you will need:
  • 2 heads of cauliflower
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Wash and clean the cauliflower. Cut off and discard the stem. Cut the cauliflower up into small pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower pieces and thoroughly coat each piece.
  4. Place cauliflower pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for one hour and turn 3 times during cooking until each piece has a nice brown coloring. The browner they are the better.
  5. Remove from oven and enjoy!

Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs


Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs
Author: Bacon
Ingredients
  • 12 large eggs, hard boiled and peeled
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1½ tsp rice vinegar
  • ¾ tsp ground mustard
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
  • 6 pieces bacon, cooked, crisp, and crumbled
  • paprika
Instructions
  1. Slice the hard boiled eggs in half, lengthwise
  2. Remove the yolks and put them in a mixing bowl
  3. Mash the egg yolks with a fork
  4. Add the mayonnaise, rice vinegar, ground mustard, and sugar to the mashed egg yolks and stir until well combined
  5. Mix in the jalapenos and bacon
  6. Put the mixture in a ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner of the bag
  7. Fill each egg hole with the mixture
  8. Sprinkle with paprika
  9. Chill until ready to serve

Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chicken


Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chicken

4 chicken breasts cut in thirds (12 pieces)
Bacon slices
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder
chili powder
brown sugar

Cut each breast into 3 pieces, season all the chicken with the spices, then wrap a bacon slice around each piece, roll in brown sugar and place into an oven proof dish....make sure you have some olive oil in the dish too, like 2 or 3 tablespoons is fine {I skipped this since I grilled them.  I honestly think you could coat your dish with nonstick cooking spray instead to save a few calories}.  

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is nice and brown and crispy.  Delicious served with mashed potatoes with some of the gravy from the chicken drizzled on top.

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks



Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks
Skinnytaste.com
Ingredients: 

  • 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 5 tbsp panko crumbs
  • 2 tsp parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • olive oil cooking spray (I used my misto)

Directions:

Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.


In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl,combine bread crumbs, panko, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).

When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.

Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.

Makes 24 pieces.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta



Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Skinnytaste.com
Ingredients:
  • 2 oz pancetta, minced
  • 2 lb brussels sprouts (weight after outer leaves and stems removed)
  • 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or sliced thin
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

Directions:

With a large sharp knife, finely shred the brussels sprouts after thoroughly washing.

In a deep heavy saute pan, sauté pancetta on medium-low heat until fat melts and pancetta becomes golden, about 5 minutes. Add olive oil and garlic and sauté until golden. Add shredded brussels sprouts, salt and pepper to taste and sauté on medium-low heat for about 4-5 minutes until tender crisp.
Makes about 7 cups.

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding


So gonna make this!! Looks amazing!
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
www.skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup lite coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3/4 cup fresh ripe champagne mango, diced
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp sweetened shredded coconut
  • 4-6 drops Nu-Naturals liquid stevia (or sugar/honey to taste)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large container. Mix well and close container.Refrigerate overnight or at least 5-6 hours.

Divide into 2 bowls or glass dishes and serve. Enjoy!

Baked Parmesan Kale Chips



Baked Parmesan Kale Chips
Skinnytaste.com 
Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch kale (12 oz after removed from stems)
  • 1 tsp olive oil (spray)
  • a sprinkle of sea salt or kosher
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray two large baking sheets with oil.

Wash and thoroughly dry kale. Remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite sized pieces. 

Place on baking sheets, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Bake about 10-12 minutes, turning and moving them around as they shrink to make sure they evenly crisp up.  


Top with shredded parmesan cheese, keeping a close eye on them, bake an additional 5 to 6 minutes until the edges are crisp but not burnt. Time will vary depending on your oven.

Mediterranean Chicken Kebab Salad



Mediterranean Chicken Kebab Salad
Skinnytaste.com 
Ingredients:

  • 1 lb skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
For the marinade:
  • 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic, crushed
  • kosher salt to taste
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste
For the salad:
  • 1 1/4 cups cucumber, peeled
  • 1 1/4 cups diced tomato
  • 1/4 cup diced bell pepper
  • 2 tbsp red onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup black olives
  • 1 1/2 tsp vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp fresh dillweed
  • 1 tsp fresh parsley
  • 1/8 tsp dried oregano
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 4 cups shredded lettuce
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, grated (omit for paleo)
  • lemon wedges for serving
Directions:

Marinate the chicken at least 2-3 hours or overnight. If using wooden skewers, soak in water at least 30 minutes if grilling outdoors.

Combine the first 12 salad ingredients (cucumbers through salt and black pepper, not the lettuce) and set aside in the refrigerator to let the flavors set.

Thread chicken on 4 skewers and cook on a hot grill (indoor or outdoor grill) until chicken is cooked though, about 10-12 minutes.

Divide lettuce between four plates, top with tomato-cucumber salad, fresh grated feta cheese and grilled chicken. Serve with lemon wedges.

Asian Ginger Carrot Dressing


I don't know about you guys but I am so excited because this my absolute favorite part of getting a salad at an Asian restaurant!


Asian Ginger Carrot Dressing
Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp minced celery
  • 3 tbsp peanut oil (or sesame oil)
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp low sodium soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 1/2 tsp raw sugar
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions:

Place all the ingredient in the blender and process until smooth. Refrigerate a few hours before using to let the flavors deepen. This gets better the longer it sits.


Serve on your favorite salad greens and enjoy!
Makes 3/4 cup.

Zucchini Tots


Zucchini Tots 
Skinnytaste.com
Ingredients:
1 cup zucchini, grated
1 large egg
1/4 medium onion, diced
1/4 cup reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°.  Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.

Grate the zucchini into a clean dish towel.  Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Fill each muffin section to the top, pushing down on the filling with your spoon so it's nice and compacted so they don't fall apart when you take them out of the tin.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the tops are golden.

Use a plastic knife or rubber spatula around the edges of each tot to remove them from the muffin tin. Enjoy!!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip



Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup fat free sour cream
  • 1/2 cup Franks hot sauce (or whatever hot sauce you like)
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 cups (14 oz  raw) cooked shredded chicken

Directions:

Mix the first 4 ingredients together until smooth. Add the chicken and put this in the crock pot on low for 3-4 hours. Serve warm.

To do this on the stove, simmer on low heat 30 minutes.