Just Recipes

[ellen]

Great thread...I need to lose, too. Here's a recipe for a stir fry that is healthful and satisfying and tastes good:

Thai Evil Chicken

½ lb boneless chicken breast
Thai red curry seasoning (1 tsp)
1 clove minced garlic
lemon grass (½ stalk if fresh) or seasoning
lime – fresh squeezed
2 T olive oil
½ cup coconut milk
1 T soy sauce
fresh basil leaves (~10)
1 c chopped cabbage

Thinly cut chicken into 2 inch strips. Heat oil to med-high and sauté
chicken w garlic; add red curry paste. Stir in coconut milk and cook
for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to med-low. Stir in soy sauce and
basil. Serve on a bed of chopped cabbage.

**For mixed veggies (instead of or in addition to chicken) use sliced
bell peppers, string beans, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, miniature
corn, slender Japanese eggplant, and mushrooms.

[valeri]

ellen, looks like a great recipie!

One of my favorite chicken recipies is so simple it is shameful! lol

Chicken and Veggie Stirfry

2 skinless bonless chicken breasts ( I usually marinate them in teriyaki sauce for about 1-2 hours before I cook it)
1 bag of frozen stir fry veggies
1 1/2 c of dry Penne Pasta
2 tsp olive oil
2 chopped garlic cloves

I grill the chicken breasts on my George Foreman Grill ( I love this grill!!!). Let them cool and cut into bite size pieces. While you are doing this, Boil the pasta and drain.

In a wok/stir fry pan, heat up 2 tsp olive oil on high temp, add your chopped garlic stir quickly so it doesn't burn, add the bag of frozen veggies, stir while cooking for about 3 min. Add chicken and pasta, cook for another minute just to combine flavors. Add some soy sauce for flavor. This is a great low fat dish.. but not really low carb. If you do WW it is only 6pts for a serving (this serves 2)

[YaYa X 8]

I thought we could use this thread to swap recipes. I have found a few in other threads I will move here.

[YaYa X 8]

Now one of my own

Veggie soup

3-5 Beef or Chicken bullion cubes
1 large can V8 juice
1lb bag of frozen mixed vegetables
3-5 cups chopped cabbage
1 large onion chopped 2 cloves garlic minced
2T olive oil
1T dry basil
Salt pepper to taste

In large pot Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add bullion cubes and crush, add juice and frozen Veggies and cabbage. Cook over meidun heat ufor about 30 minutes. Add basil Salt pepper.


You can add You can add miniture meat balls if you wish.
I make mine by using 1/2 pound deer sausage and 1/4 pound ground turkey. Add a little onion powder, salt, pepper, and origano. roll into small meatballs and bake about 15 minutes, drain off any greese and add to soup about 1/2 way through the cooking.

[jmp1022]

These all sound great.

[amyeileen]

So I am back on the exercising and attempting to eat healthier bandwagon. (AGAIN!) So I was wondering if anyone had some healthy option recipes that they might like to share. I am especially bad for snacking so if anyone has any great snack ideas, that would be fantastic. I am sure I wont be the only one who will benefit from this!

Something I discovered recently, though I cant remember where, was a very quick and simple snack idea. I really like it and if you have a soft spot for apple pie, you will like it too.

Take one baking apple (trust me I tried Red Delicious and it didnt work) and core it. Then peel off the top half of the skin. Lightly sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon and/or brown sugar. Cover with plastic wrap and place in microwave for 2 minutes. (more or less depending on your microwave) Its really great for something quick, cheap and great tasting.

Anyone else have any suggestions???

[PacificTonz]

No special recipes for me really, when I need to lose weight I eat clean so my snacks are fruit and yoghurt - I think its yummy but appreciate its not everyones taste. I do make a mango shake with trim milk, low fat tropical yoghurt and blended mango in a tall glass with a straw, a couple of drops of pure vanilla or ginger rum essence is nice in it too - that is really filling if I know I am going somewhere in the later afternoon when I might be tempted to stray from the straight and narrow.

[Emma]

I've started recording the PBS show Everyday Food. It has lots of great, easy recipes, and they actually care about fat and calorie content. They're not all diet food, but enough easy healthy choices. I love that show, seems I want to make almost everything on it!

[MOLLYW8]

My favorite recipe is my crock-pot taco soup. It's so fast & easy and is super yummy. I love it and so does my hubby. It's very filling and freezes really good too.

Molly’s Taco Soup

1 lb Lean Ground Beef
1 lg Onion (chopped)
1 Can (8oz) Mexican Style Tomato Sauce
1 Can Pinto Beans (drained and rinsed)
1 Can Corn (drained, but save the juice!)
3 Cans Diced Tomatoes w/ Green Chilies (not the 10oz cans, these are like 14oz)
1 Pkg Taco Seasoning

Cook the ground beef in a skillet.
In a crock-pot add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions & pinto beans. Drain the corn juice into a liquid measuring cup. Add enough water to the juice to make 1 full cup. Then dissolve the taco seasoning into this cup and add it and the corn to the crock-pot. Add the beef when it’s through cooking.

It’s ready to eat as soon as it’s hot. I leave it on low all day.
Serve with Fritos Shredded Cheese and Sour Cream

Using Lean Ground Beef & without the Sour Cream & Fritos one big serving (about 2 cups) was only around 6 weight watchers points. I added about an ounce of fritos and a few TB of fat free or low fat sour cream and that still kept it in a very reasonable points range. (I'm off WW now while pregnant but as soon as I have this baby I plan to get right back on).

[Emma]

Amanda makes something similar to this, it's really good. She uses hominy instead of corn though, and my family loved it! I swear I put hominy in most of my Mexican stuff now! I leave out the cheese and chips, just add a bit of salsa and fat free sour cream. I also use Ranch beans instead of plain pinto beans most of the time, and I'll also add red kidney and half a can of black beans.

[MOLLYW8]

Hi Emma, I would totally add more beans if it were just me eating it.... My hubby doesn't like beans much at all, it's amazing I've been able to keep them in my taco soup and chili! :) I love them! I've never tried hominy (I dont even know what it is). What is it??

[Emma]

When I add more beans it raises the calorie count some, so be sure to recalculate that! Hominy is with the canned vegetables: it's basically corn, but larger with a different texture. Hominy grits are made with it, but we buy the whole canned kind and just substitute it for corn in our Tex-Mex dishes.

[coyotef]

I love beans too - but no one in my family does.

[Emma]

here's one I just invented, and we all love it! Side dish salad

Mediterranean Salad
1 large cucumber
1 ex large tomato or 2 medium or 3-4 roma
1/2 c cottage cheese
3tb parmesan cheese or to taste
2 tsp Greek seasoning or to taste, found in local grocery stores http://www.greekseasoning.com/
(substitute seasoning salt and pepper, but Greek is better! Use this seasoning recipe if you can't find it http://www.recipesource.com/side-dishes/spices/01/rec0111.html)
drizzle olive oil (optional)

Cut the tomato and cucumber into a medium dice. Toss with remaining ingredients. Eat promptly to avoid too much water drainage.

[Emma]

KFC Clone Cole Slaw

1 head cabbage, shredded, makes 8c. (use food processor)
1 carrot, shredded or finely chopped
1/4 onion, diced (optional)
1-2 cups fat free Miracle Whip
sugar to taste, up to 1/4 c (optional or substitute Splenda)

This one is a big hit at BBQs!

[MOLLYW8]

Speaking of Salad... we've been making a really yummy one this summer too. I dont have a name for it but hubby and I both LOVE it!

Lots of Spinach (fresh baby spinach)
Red Onion (sliced)
Mandarin Oranges (from can)
Toasted Walnuts (regular walnuts, just broil till toasted)
Gorgonzola Cheese (a little goes a long way)
Craisens (a handful)
Paul Newman's Light Raspberry Vinnegrette Dressing

We've had it as a side salad and we've also had it as a main meal (added a grilled chicken breast to each salad for main meal).

[Emma]

here's one I love: a friend brought it over after I had knee surgery, it was so sweet. She just asked if she could drop in one morning, and came with a meal and cleaned my kitchen!

Chicken Pasta Salad
2-4 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into long chunks
1 can mandarin oranges
1/2 c cashews
1/2 c craisins
1 cup grapes, halved
4 cups cooked bow tie pasta
1/2-1 c cole slaw dressing (see previous recipe, just Miracle Whip and a touch of sugar, or buy the bottled kind)
1/4 shredded, not grated Parmesan cheese or other crumbled cheese

variations include
1/2 c frozen peas
1/4 shredded carrot
1/2 c toasted walnuts
1/2-1 c chopped apples
1/2 c sunflower seeds
1/2 salad shrimp
2 tsp Greek Seasoning
seasoning salt to taste
pepper to taste
Don't put more than about 5 things in with the pasta and cheese or tastes get "lost", but be creative!

toss all ingredients until dressing is worked through evenly, chill
eat with a green salad and some veggie dippers
double the batch to bring dinner to a friend!

[Emma]

Here are 2 new ones I LOVE, found on my search to find veggie salads for side dishes and snacks

Cold Pea or Broccoli Salad
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001949broccoli_salad.php
3-4 heads broccoli florets (1 lb)
OR
2 20 oz bags frozen peas
dressing
1 c fat free mayo or sour cream
2 Tb. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. honey

choose 1-2 soft items
1/2 c. raisins or dried cranberries
1 c. peas
1/2 c. finely chopped cheddar
1-2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 c. chopped lean meat, turkey, chicken, turkey ham, etc

choose 2-3 hard items
1/4 c. chopped red onion, green onions, or celery
1/2 c. chopped cashews
1/2 c. toasted slivered almonds
1/2 c. crumbled bacon
1/4 c. Chinese fried noodles

Broccoli: Cut broccoli heads into small florets and immerse in boiling water 1-2 minutes until color just brightens. Remove to a bowl and immediately mix in frozen peas or another cold ingredient to arrest cooking.
Peas: microwave frozen peas 1-2 minutes to soften.

Toss with dressing and other ingredients. Chill if necessary, do not let sit more than a few hours to prevent excess water drainage.

I love sour cream, so I put in only the veggie options, maybe an egg or lean chopped meat, and eat up! I LOVE the pea salad version: with a little protein it's a meal. I prefer the broccoli variation as a side dish.

[Amanda]

I love www.hungry-girl.com They have great recipe's. This is one I've been making and it is soooooooooooo yummy! The kids won't eat it, but I just make them some regular pasta.

http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/chewdetails.php?isid=1181

[Emma]

I listened to a radio interview w/ Hungry Girl and just had to laugh and laugh: she sounds just like me w/ regards to fitness and nutrition.

And YES, I have discovered zucchini strips and eggplant strips as a noodle replacement from a magazine. What a good idea to leave them wider for lasagna! I've been making them narrower like fettuccine.

So that was why I came in here, to share my zucchini recipe.

2 medium zucchinis (smaller taste a little sweeter, but large hold together better when cooked, so split the difference!)

Cut in half lengthwise and then run them through the slicing blade on the food processor. I've also used a mandolin and a vegetable peeler. Processor is faster and easier.

Sautee in nonstick spray, teflon pan. Add spices as desired.
Salt & pepper, or better Greek Seasoning or Italian seasoning
top with shredded Parmesan cheese (grated also works, but not as good)

Spaghetti Squash
split squash in half lengthwise and microwave on High until soft (about 5-10 minutes depending on size)
scrape out flesh with a fork
top with spaghetti sauce, spices and light Ranch, or a little low-fat spread, spices, and parmesan cheese shredded or grated

[Emma]

Just wanted to share my latest low fat low cal find

http://www.waldenfarms.com/store.htm

I bought some at our local market, from the diabetic section, and they're really good! My friends were impressed and asked where to buy it also. Check it out

[nachtstern]

Breakfast Burritos with Eggs and Sausage

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Tortilla - Fajita Style, 8 serving
Egg Beaters Southwestern Style, 1.75 cup (1 pack)
Jimmy Dean Reduced Fat Pork Sausage, 5 serving (1 sausage)
Onions, raw, 0.5 cup, chopped
Carrots, raw, 0.5 cup, chopped
Celery, raw, 0.5 cup, diced
Kraft Shredded 2% Mexican Four Cheese blend, 0.5 cup


Directions

Fry sausage with onions/green onions. Set aside.
Pour eggbeaters into the pan after the carrots and celery.
Carefully fold as to not make all of it crumble too much.
Heat whole wheat tortillas in microwave for a cpl of seconds to make them softer.
Divide the eggs and sausage mixture between 8 of the tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and wrap up.

Number of Servings: 8

I freeze these for a quick breakfast.
Depending on the tortillas, one of them is around 250 calories.