Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A Blog Recipe...that I really enjoy!

I am not a HUGE meat eater these days, but I recently stumbled upon this "Skinny Taste" blog full of healthier versions of beloved recipes and found these AMAZING Zucchini Turkey Burgers! They are so good that I have made them twice now and wanted to share the recipe and site with you!

The link to the recipe/site is here:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/05/turkey-burgers-with-zucchini.html

The first time I made them I placed the burgers on a bed of spinach, melted low fat mozzarella on top, then served with tomato and avocado (no bun).

The second time I made them I mixed the meat with a chipolte barbecue sauce that I bought from a man at the local farmers market in Montrose. I added a special treat on top of the burgers by grating up a sweet potato and frying it up in a small amount of oil. It was WONDERFUL!!! Again, served on a bed of spinach with veggies and a sweet potato mountain on top!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

HOMEMADE BREAD

I love my bread maker, though I confess it is very rare that I lug the huge appliance from out of the dusty cabinets. But when I do the entire house is in for a treat! There is nothing better than the smell of fresh bread baking! I'm in love with the aromas and can't wait to sink my teeth into it's goodness! 

Today I will share my favorite bread box sweet bread recipe.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Makes 1.5 lb)

Ingredients: (add all to bread box in this order do not mix ingredients)


1 cup +2 tbsp Water
4 tsp Oil
2  1/2 tbsp Brown Sugar
1  1/2 tsp Salt
1  1/2 tbsp Dry Milk  (*Note: you can also use regular or soy milk just reduce the water by 1 1/2 tbsp)
3 cups Bread Flour 
2  1/2 tsp Active dry yeast  (one small package)

Program bread machine to SWEET

At the beep add (about an hour into the baking process):

1 tsp Cinnamon 
1/2 cup Raisins
1/2 cup Walnuts

And voila you have the photo above!

It takes about 3  1/2 hours to make but you don't have to do any of the work. Just add the ingredients into the bread maker and turn it on! When the bread is finished take out carefully. Release the bread from the box and let it cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.

Note: Be sure the bread is completely cooled (approximately 1 hour) before storing in an airtight container or plastic wrap!

Makes a great gift for the holidays!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies!!

These are my FAVORITE quick and easy cookies! 
You can serve them large or small and are best served chilled.



All you need is ONE POT and A SPOON:

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup of butter (or soy butter or earth balance)
1/2 cup of milk (or almond milk or soy milk)
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
3 cups of oats
1/2 cup of peanut butter (or almond butter, Nutella etc.)
Parchment Paper

Directions:

Add sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder to pot and bring to a boil for about 3 minutes stirring constantly so it does not burn. Remove from heat. Stir in oats and peanut butter. Mix well and drop by spoon onto parchment paper. Put in refrigerator to cool. Can be served chilled or at room temperature. Depending on the size you make them will depend on how many this will serve. I usually get about 16 LARGE cookies out of this recipe.

Quick and Easy and oh so good!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Fast and Easy LOW FAT/LOW CARB TURKEY TACO SALAD

Since I am a sugar lover and LOVE to eat my chocolate, I generally save my "carbs" for the goodies! My actual meals (if I eat them) tend to be very low in sugar and starch.

Tonight's menu...Low Fat/ Low Carb Turkey Taco Salad (without the tortilla chips)!!!!

Start off by cooking lean ground turkey in a skillet. Add onions and garlic if you want the additional flavor. When the color turns brown reduce the heat and drain the fat from the skillet. Add a taco seasoning package, follow the directions on the package and simmer until done.

In a small pot: Add 1can of re-fried beans (I prefer re-fried black beans and the size can depends on your family size), add chives or onions, chopped tomatoes and grated reduced fat cheese (you can also add jalapeno as well) I also like to add Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning for a "kick"...turn on stove to a medium heat and stir constantly. Once the cheese is melted and everything is mixed together and looks smooth...your beans are done!

In another bowl: Open an avocado or two or three and mash into a bowl. Add some lemon or lime juice, fresh garlic and salt and pepper for a super fast guacamole (or keep going and add cilantro and tomatoes as well). Serve chilled or right out of the bowl. It's hard to give exact measurements on these items as it all depends on your own taste!

You will also need any of the following according to taste: Lettuce (I prefer Romaine or Spinach), Cherry or Chopped Tomatoes, Reduced Fat Cheese, Low Fat or Fat Free Sour Cream and Salsa.

Once you have cooked everything it's time to start layering your plates!

This is a very filling and satisfying Low Fat/Low Carb Taco Salad

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

ROCKY ROAD BROWNIES

These brownies are impressive to look at! I have an interview tomorrow to teach cooking classes to school aged children and I thought "What a better way to impress the interviewers than by bringing some of my own baking with me!" I love baking and this will be the first of many blog posts following my healthy and not so healthy recipes!

Ingredients:
1-1/4 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup chocolate chips (dark or semi-sweet)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9 -inch square baking pan

2. Stir together marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts, set aside. Place butter in large microwave safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until melted. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla; beat with spoon until well blended. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; stir until well blended. Spread batter in prepared pan.

3. Bake 22 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chip mixture over top. Continue baking 5 minutes or until marshmallows have softened and puffed slightly. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Using wet knife, cut into squares. Makes about 20 brownies