Fried Rice Fix

Pita Panzanella

My absolute favorite food EVER is panzanella (bread salad)...well I am currently on weight watchers (still trying to stick to my rules but for now I just need to get some weight off in a way I will actually stick with)  Weight Watchers is the only diet I have ever stuck with and I love that you can combine it with other plans (vegan, paleo, pescetarian, gluten free, whatever).  Anyway, this is super low points and so so SOOO good!

Spread on a baking sheet:
1/2 whole wheat pita-sliced into 4 wedges and then each wedge split apart.

Spray with olive oil (or very lightly drizzle) and then sprinkle garlic powder and pepper.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, tossing once, until light brown.

In a bowl toss together some chopped tomatoes, sliced string cheese or crumbled feta, chopped basil, balsamic vinegar and crumbled pita chips.  E.A.T.

Day 2, I made it!

So, it wasn't SUPER easy but it was easier than any other diet I have tried, I ate super healthfully and I feel great!  For some reason having the list made me want to stick with it (and when I was hungry, I checked it and found something that fit my craving-sloppy super joe meat and a sweet potato topped with greek yogurt).

Make your own list-add your trigger/binge foods to the no list and the healthy, whole, low starch foods you like to the staples.  Somehow having it written down helps.

So far so good!

And for a little fun-this is my fantasy football logo (Madame's Minions). I lost to my husband last week but I think I win best logo!

Day 1

Sloppy Super Joes

My usual sloppy joe sauce is basically ketchup, Dijon mustard and brown sugar-delicious but I thought I could healthify it a bit. Last night I had an "a-ha" moment...DATE PUREE!  It has the caramel flavor I crave from brown sugar but it is much healthier.

The addition of greens adds so much nutrition but doesn't change the flavor, win-win!

1 tsp olive, coconut or avocado oil

1 small onion-chopped

1 lb ground meat (I used grass-fed beef but ground turkey or veggie burger is fine too)

1 cup frozen kale or spinach-thawed and chopped

2 Tbs red wine vinegar

4 Tbs tomato paste

1/4-1/2 cup date puree

1 Tbs Dijon mustard

2 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

In a deep skillet heat 1 tsp oil and then saute onion at med-high about 10 minutes.  

Add the ground meat and continue to saute,stirring often until cooked through.

Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for at least 10 minutes.  Enjoy!

Add more date puree if you like your Joes sweeter.  I love to add chipotle pepper for a smoky flavor and chopped pickles for extra tang and crunch...chopped mushrooms are also a deliciously healthy addition without changing the flavor or texture. 

I'm sick

Lemon, ginger and leek egg drop soup made with chicken bone broth, I feel better already!

ZucNoodles with egg, scallion, bacon and feta.

Part fried rice part breakfast hash all delicious!

Fry a piece or two of bacon (sausage is great too), remove it from the pan and crumble it.  Saute "noodles" and sliced green onion in the bacon fat until softened, add bacon back to pan and also add an egg.  Stir until egg is cooked (like you would with fried rice).  Top with feta and season with salt and pepper.

My favorite way to quick cook meat and fish

Salt and pepper the fish, boneless chicken breast/thigh, pork chop, steak, etc.

Sear each side in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes on each side, you want the meat to be browned.  While you are searing the second side add herbs and spices (garlic powder and herbes de provence are my favorites) and after the second side is seared, carefully pour in 1/4 cup water and 2 Tbs lemon juice (lime juice or any vinegar also works).  Immediately cover and steam for an additional 5 minutes or until the meat is done and water has mostly evaporated.  Uncover and add a Tbs butter to create a sauce out of the drippings and reduced lemon juice.

My cucumber salad here is made with a dressing of:

1/2 cup mayo

3 Tbs white vinegar

1 Tbs honey

1 Tbs dried dill

Salt and pepper

I also poured some of the dressing over my potato, YUM!!!

This is kind of a big deal...

Chicken Puttanesca

Yummy and a nice change of pace! I seared (salt and peppered) boneless skinless thighs (other pieces and/or bone in will work too) in a big cast iron pan with 2 Tbs oil...cut a lemon on half, squeezed it over the top and then threw in the squeezed lemon halves....added a handful of chopped black and green olives, 2 Tbs capers, a cup of whole cherry tomatoes, half a sliced onion, 4 cloves of chopped garlic and a handful of chopped fresh italian parsley (and red pepper flakes if you want it a little spicy). Roast at 450 for about 30 minutes or until browned and the chicken is cooked. Top with 2 Tbs butter and more fresh parsley. Stir together and serve.

Flourless Chocolate Cake Can Be Healthy?!

Yes!  2 desserts in a row, I must be hormonal!  This was actually for my son who is mostly gluten/dairy free and a complete choc-o-holic.  Most of my healthified desserts like this TASTE healthy, not this one, and shockingly, it is the healthiest!

Blend (in a blender:) until smooth:

½ cup honey

1 Tbs vanilla

½ cup date puree*

2/3 cup real mayo (or 4 eggs, 1/3 cup liquid fat** and 1 tsp vinegar)

1 can black beans-drained

combine in a separate bowl then add to the blender and blend again until smooth:

½ cup cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp sea salt

Bake at 350 in a oiled and cocoa dusted 8x8 or 9x9” pan for about 28 minutes, or until the middle isn't jiggly.  As soon as you take it out of the oven, sprinkle ¾ cup chocolate chips on the top, wait 30 minutes then spread like frosting.

*Date Puree-pour boiling water over pitted dates (any kind) and soak for at least 15 minutes, puree with just enough water to make smooth like applesauce.  Use in replace of half of the sweetener and fat in recipes. You could also use babyfood prunes the same way.

**Melted butter or any liquid cooking oil.

Simple Streusel

I love dessert and my favorite has always been any kind of fruit crisp.  This is similar...more crust (yum!) and no refined crap(YAY!)

Stir together:

1 stick butter-melted

1/2 cup liquid sweetener (honey, maple syrup, even date puree!)

Mix in until moist and crumbly:

1-1/2 cups flour (I use sprouted spelt flour but any grain flour will work)

1-1/2 cup oats (the thicker the better)

Set 1 cup of oat/flour mixture aside, press the rest in a 9x9 greased pan (crust).  

Spread evenly over crust:

1 cup jam (chia jam is awesome!)

Sprinkle remaining cup of oat/flour evenly over jam then top with:

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Superhero Oat "Crepecakes"

Mmmmmicrowave popcorn?

I gave up microwave popcorn a while ago but this flavor sounded too good to miss and good GOD am I glad I tried it.  Salty, buttery goodness with a delicious hint of lime!  A bag of this, 1/2 cup fiber one cottage cheese and a small nectarine (280 calories, 14 protein, 10 fiber) and I am IN HEAVEN (with a full belly)!!!

Crazy Good Margherita Pizza (265 Calories, 10 fiber, 17 protein)

Flatout light, sliced tomatoes, 1-1/2 oz feta, sliced red onions, 1 tsp balsamic glaze and 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil.  Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes then top with fresh basil and salt and pepper if desired.

Peaches & Cream

I have been craving Quaker peaches and cream oatmeal so I thought I would attempt a healthier alternative!

Put in a bowl:
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup uncooked oats
1 Tbs chia seeds
1 Tbs nuts or seeds
3/4 cup liquid (I do half milk half water)
Sweetener if desired

Let it soak until the peaches are thawed-eat cold or hot.

I actually used my homemade toasted muesli instead of the oats/nuts/seeds and it was awesome!  Frozen berries or applesauce would also be great!

My One Cheat

So I have decided to allow chicken bone broth in my pescetarian diet.  35 calories and 9 grams of protein...plus it is a good source of joint loving gelatin!  I heat it up, add a little lemon juice and drink my cares and hunger away.  I bought this brand but also make it homemade very easily, chicken bones, water and apple cider vinegar in a crockpot on low for about 36 hours.

Cabbage Slaw for Fish Tacos

I got a great head of purple cabbage from my co-op today and it inspired me to make fish tacos!  I had already bought some wild caught hake and orange grape tomatoes from Costco and I had corn tortillas leftover from last weeks black bean and kale enchiladas (recipe to come).  ANYWAY, this slaw is really all you need to go along with a nice piece of fish.  PS-purple cabbage is much healthier than boring old green/white cabbage.

Stir together:
Half a small head of cabbage, chopped
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sour cream
3 Tbs lime juice
1 tsp sweetener (any will work)
2 tsp cumin
Salt & pepper
Lots of chopped tomatoes and fresh cilantro

Throw some fish, jack cheese and this slaw in a corn tortilla and prepare to be delighted!

Homemade Muesli & Applesauce

I love homemade granola but last night I decided to make it without sweetener and oil, which I guess would make it sort of like muesli.  I tossed together rolled oats, quinoa flakes, raw coconut, slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds and toasted in the oven on a large cookie sheet at 250 degrees for about 45 minutes (stir it every 15 minutes). Then...

...Today I made applesauce in my crockpot with some old apples I had (cored skin on apples, a little water, a little lemon juice, and a little maple syrup on low in a crockpot for about 4 hours). I mixed them together and it is heaven in a bowl. Sort of like apple crisp but uber healthy, YUM!