Could we get more refreshing?!

QUINOA-GRAPEFRUIT-CUCUMBER SALAD

I saw the inspiration for this on another blog and had to make it.  All the flavors sounded so beautiful together, and they are!

This is a light, summery salad, full of good-for-you carbs and protein from the quinoa.  With a slightly spicy dressing and undertones of fresh mint…what’s not to love?   Serve it with a moist chicken breast or some deli-turkey slices for a very filling lunch.

(Don’t let the carb count of this scare you.  Quinoa is something that doesn’t seem to cause cravings.  I am a carb-craver to the CORE, and have never had a problem with quinoa.)

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2 cups cooked quinoa (directions below)

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced

2/3 cup diced grapefruit (see what I used below…reserve juice)

2 green onions (scallions) sliced – green parts only

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

1 tablespoon fresh mint, minced

DRESSING:

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons grapefruit juice

1 1/2 tablespoons agave nectar (OR 1 tablespoon honey)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar – regular flavor

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon cumin

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt – or to taste

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In a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, cucumber, grapefruit, green onions, almonds, and mint.  Set aside.

In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, grapefruit juice, agave, vinegar, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, pepper, and salt.  Pour over salad and mix well.

I loved it as soon as it was made, but it only got more intense and yummy after it was chilled!

Makes approx. six  1/2-cup servings.

Per Serving: Calories 211; Protein 5 g; Fat 10 g; NET Carbs 20 g; Fiber 2 g; Sugar 7 g; Sodium 59 mg

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Cooking Quinoa:  It cooks like long-grain rice…very easy.  For this salad I cooked it in salted water, but using chicken, beef, or vegetable broth works great, too.  I’ve also done it with half water, half coconut milk for a breakfast cereal-version.

Bring 1 cup water and a little less than 1/8 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan.  Stir in 1/2 cup rinsed quinoa.  (Rinse in a fine mesh sieve making sure the water runs clear.  Most on the market – even the bulk stuff – is very clean already.)

Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed and the white ‘tail’ or ‘ring’ can be seen on each seed.  Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temp for this salad.  Or cool, cover and chill for later use.  It should stay nice and fluffy.

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I love the Dole red grapefruit sections that come in the little cup.   They can be found in the produce section, usually by the bagged salads or chilled dressings.  I used all of the grapefruit and 2 tablespoons of the juice for this recipe.

BBQ-ready!

STOVE-TOP BAKED BEANS

These are a little different, but so good!  Not overly sweet, but with that smokey, molassesy flavor that we expect in baked beans.  They are full of complex carbs and are the prefect compliment to your BBQed proteins.

Make them ahead of time ’cause they just get better as  ”leftovers”!

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4 slices bacon, chopped OR 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke and 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
Three 15-ounce cans kidney beans, drained & rinsed
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup crushed Pineapple ( juice-packed), UNDRAINED
2 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, saute the bacon until crispy. (If not using bacon heat the olive oil over medium and add the liquid smoke with the beans.) Add the onions and pepper and saute until soft. Add drained beans, tomato paste, water, pineapple, maple syurp, molasses, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Remove lid and continue to simmer for 25 minutes, stirring ocassionally, until thickened. Makes approx. eight 1/2-cup servings.

Per Serving: Calories 127; Protein 6 g; Fat 2 g; Carbs 20 g; Sugar 7 g; Sodium 663 mg

Spring Green!

KEY LIME MOUSSE

You know the taste…that fresh Key Lime Pie, tart and tangy, yet so sweet it makes your teeth hurt!

Well, here’s the filling and you’ll never miss the crust OR the sugar. It’s one of my older recipes and starts with no-sugar-added Sweetened Condensed Milk – and the rest practically makes itself.

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1 recipe Sugar-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk (recipe follows)
1/2 cup lime juice (Key lime is best…photo below)
Grated zest of two limes
3 cups Splenda-sweetened whipped cream (1 1/2 cups unwhipped) OR one 8-ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
Graham cracker or sugar-free cookie crumbs for garnish

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SF Sweetened Condensed Milk

4 tablespoons softened butter
3/4 cup Splenda
1 cup powdered milk (dry)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

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For sweetened condensed milk: Blend 1/3 cup boiling water, softened butter, powdered milk, and vanilla together with a hand mixer until thick and smooth. (I use it right away as this gets VERY thick when cold. If you do chill it, microwave for a couple seconds to lukewarm and stir. May need to thin by adding a couple tablespoons of milk.)

For mousse: Whip together sugar free sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest. Fold in the whipped topping or whipped cream. Spoon into individual dessert dishes (or into a prepared crust.) Garnish with graham cracker crumbs. Makes six servings.

Per Serving: Calories 188; Protein 5 g; Fat 14 g; Carbs 8 g; Sugar 7 g; Sodium 160 mg

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This brand – Nellie & Joe”s – is available in most grocery stores

Easter Brunch Menu…Swiss Asparagus Quiche, Lemon-Glazed Oat-Blueberry Muffins, Sunrise Nog

EASTER BRUNCH MENU

Everything can be made ahead and gently reheated for a quick meal on a busy morning.

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SWISS ASPARAGUS QUICHE   

 

Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
5 slices turkey bacon , cooked and crumbled (OR veggie version:  5 Morningstar Breakfast strips)
1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 inch pie plate with vegetable cooking spray. In a saucepan, place asparagus into boiling water and cook for 4-6 minutes, or until tender but still firm. Drain well. Sprinkle crumbled bacon and asparagus into pie plate. Top with cheese.

In a bowl beat together, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and onion powder. Pour egg mixture on top of cheese. Bake, uncovered for 25 minutes or until golden and just set in the center. Makes 8 servings.

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Per Serving: 151 Cal; 11 g Protein; 10 g Tot Fat; 3 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 3 g Sugar; 165 mg Sodium

LEMON GLAZED OATMEAL-BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

 

Vegetable cooking spray

3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup Whey Low Granular OR Splenda Granular in a pinch
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular or mini muffin pan with vegetable cooking spray. In a small bowl beat, with electric mixer, the butter and Whey Low Granular. Beat in, until combined, the egg, vanilla, lemon zest, and buttermilk. Stir in, just until moistened, the oatmeal, almond flour, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake for 12-15 minutes or until tester comes out with moist crumbs. Drizzle with lemon glaze while still warm. Makes 12 regular or 20 mini muffins.

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Per mini muffin: 59 Cal; 2 g Protein; 3 g Tot Fat; 6 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 2 g Sugar; 41 mg Sodium

Lemon Glaze

1/2 cup Whey Low powdered OR Splenda Granular
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 drops vanilla extract

In a small bowl, whisk together the Whey Low powdered, lemon juice and vanilla. Drizzle over warm muffins.

SUNRISE NOG

 

1 tub Orange Sunrise crystal light powder (the tub that makes 2 quarts)
4 cups water (not the full 8 cups that’s called for on the drink mix container)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup fat-free or regular half & half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange zest
One 4-serving size instant sf vanilla pudding powder

To a blender container add drink powder, water, milk, half & half, vanilla, orange zest, and pudding powder. Process until smooth and frothy.
Pour over crushed ice if desired. (This mixture will seperate when allowed to sit in the fridge for a couple hours. Just give a quick whisking or blend again and it will be perfect!) Makes 10 servings 2/3 cup each.

PerServing: 30 Cal; 1 g Protein; 1 g Tot Fat; 3 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 1 g Sugar; 150 mg Sodium

Flaky fish…Creamy broth…Confetti veggies – them’s good eats!

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND FISH CHOWDER

This soup sounds fussy, but is really pretty easy and is protein-packed with moist, flaky white fish. Prepare a crisp Caesar salad that you can eat, too, and a pan of hot whole wheat rolls for the family.

You can leave out the corn, but it gives a nutty sweetness  - and it’s gorgeous! If you decide to though, add one more cup of peppers…maybe orange, or yellow for contrast.

 

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1 1/2 cup diced red peppers (1 large)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons flour
Two 14.5 ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Dash freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 cup fat-free half & half or evaporated milk
3/4 -1 pound halibut, tilapia or other firm white fish, cut into bite-sized pieces

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place diced red peppers on foil. Drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon of the olive oil and toss to coat. Roast for 10 minutes. Stir and add corn. Roast for 10 minutes more. Remove from oven and set aside.

In a large saucepan add the remaining olive oil and cook onions and garlic over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until just starting to turn golden. Add peppers and corn mixture. Add flour and stir in until well combined. Add chicken broth, salt, black pepper, tarragon, lemon pepper, parsley, oregano, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, and half & half. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add fish and simmer for 5 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Makes 4  servings – about 1 1/4 cups each.

Per Serving: 249 Cal; 25 g Protein; 8 g Tot Fat; 16 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 4 g Sugar; 330 mg Sodium

Take out? Not.

ORANGE CHICKEN

In case you thought this was a thing of the past…think again!  No sugar added, high in protein, fill-you-up goodness that will stand up to the restaurant stuff any day of the week.

A pot of Jasmine rice for your family and a crisp green salad with toasted almonds is all you need.

Don’t be discouraged because it looks like a lot of work…it’s really not.  (And the results would be worth it, anyway.)  This is one of my most popular recipes and has gotten great reviews.  TRY IT!

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Marinade:
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon sesame seed oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup cornstarch

Sauce:
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
5 teaspoons Splenda granular
4 teaspoons sugar-free OR regular honey OR Agave
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Pinch red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Kosher salt

Sliced green onions
Sesame seeds

Marinade: In a medium bowl combine orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Add chicken tenders and stir to coat. Allow to marinate for 25-30 minutes.

Sauce: In a small saucepan combine orange juice, orange zest, chicken broth, Splenda,  honey, soy sauce, oil, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil; lower heat to a simmer and cook until liquid is reduced by 1/4. Season with salt to taste. Stir the 2 teaspoons cornstarch with a small amount of cold water and add to the sauce. Bring back to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside, but keep warm.

In a large bowl or ziplock bag add the 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Drain the chicken and toss with the cornstarch, shaking off excess. In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high. Add chicken and cook until golden and meat is cooked through. Gently toss cooked chicken with the sauce and serve. Makes 4 servings.  (About 1/2 cup each.)

Per Serving: Calories 222; Protien 27 g; Fat 4 g; Carbs 18 g; Fiber 0 g; Sugar 6 g; Sodium 171 mg

Sunday Brunch never had it so good!

CHEESE BLINTZES

My low-carb crepes are good for so many things, but this is the original use I had in mind.  Sweet, rich, yet light and fluffy – an indulgent treat that will make you feel very special!

Add any flavoring or extract you like to the cheesecake filling and top with berries, sliced fresh peaches, chocolate sauce, or warm orange marmalade. There is no bad way to serve these!

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Crepes:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
4 eggs
4 tablespoons flour
Pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Splenda
Vegetable cooking spray

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In a medium bowl beat the Ricotta with the eggs. Beat in the flour, salt, milk, vanilla, and Splenda. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.

Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Coat with vegetable cooking spray when hot. Pour in 2 tablespoons of batter and swirl the pan to coat the entire surface in a thin layer. Allow to cook, without turning, until completely done. The top should be no longer shiny and when you touch it it’s not wet. The bottom will be have a very slight golden color. If it’s too dark, lower the heat. (These can be impossible to flip and they don’t need to be, so you don’t have try!) Gently loosen the edges with a spatula and slide out of the pan onto a plate. Very lightly spray the top with vegetable spray – this way you can stack them on top of each other.

Lightly coat the pan with cooking spray before each crepe. Proceed with above directions until batter is gone. Allow the crepes to cool to room temperature and then wrap the plate tightly with plastic wrap. These keep well in the fridge – unfilled – for several days.

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Filling:
One 8-ounce pkg. fat free or reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 – 1/2 cup fat free half & half
3 tablespoons sugar-free instant cheesecake or vanilla pudding powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Splenda

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In a medium bowl beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup of the half & half, pudding powder, vanilla, and Splenda. If it becomes too thick add more half & half. It should have the consistency of the ‘whipped’ cream cheese you can buy in a tub. Not soft like pudding, but not as hard as regular cream cheese.

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Extras:
Fresh or frozen berries
Chocolate sauce
Whipped cream

To assemble blintzes: Place 1 tablespoon of the filling on the edge of the crepe. Fold the crepe in half over the filling dollop and then fold the empty side over the dollop so that it is folded in fourths. Place two crepes on each plate and scatter with berries, drizzle with chocolate sauce and top with whipped cream. Makes 6 servings (2 blintzes each)

Per Serving: Calories 180; Protein 16 g; Fat 6 g; Carbs 11 g; Sugar 5 g; Sodium 415 mg