Simple Pasta

     Who doesn't love simple, especially when it comes to making and cleaning up dinner!?  I was able to throw this dinner together in a jiffer, all the while keeping my macros in check.  Each of the 2 cups are only 328 calories, 25g net carbs and 33g protein.  When life gets hectic, it's Simple Pasta to the rescue!

Ingredients for 4 servings~
8oz bag Thin Slim Foods Impastable (thinslimfoods.com)
2 cups Pasta Sauce
8oz diced Grilled Chicken Breast (can sub with regular cooked Chicken)
15oz can Black Beans, drained
1 cup shredded Mozzarella
Garnish with Salt, Pepper, and Green Onion as desired

     Bring sauce pot of water to boil, add Pasta, return to boil, continue to boil 4-6 minutes, drain water and stir in Sauce, Chicken and Beans, return to heat til heated thru.  Top with Cheese and garnish as desired.  Enjoy  :)

Mango Nectar Pork Loin

      I love the slow cooker, ... have I mentioned my lazy tendencies...I feel like I have...!?  Hence, I love the slow cooker!  Not in love with cleaning it, but it's a consequence I can live with...or buy the liners and clean up is easy breasy.  #problemsolved  It's so nice to throw things together in the morning, let the house fill with the homey aroma of warm food, and be able to whip things together in a jiffer at the end of the day.  So, that being said, you will have to give this simple yummy Mango Nectar Pork Loin a try.  You can dish this up as a taco, burrito, over rice or atop a salad.  A Pork Loin has 160 calories, 0g carbs and 23g protein per 4 ounces.  You could use a Pork Butt, although that would be more fat and calories.  This recipe is especially good if you are feeding a crowd, a real winner!  ;)

Ingredients~
Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder and Cayenne Pepper, to taste
3-5 pound Boneless Pork Loin
2-7oz cans diced Green Chili Peppers
1 11.3oz can Mango Nectar
1 lime, halved

    Add Pork Loin to Crock Pot, season liberally as desired.  Add Peppers and Mango Nectar, squeeze Lime on top and leave Lime halves in Crock Pot.  Heat on low for 7-8 hours.  Remove and slice/shred.  Serve in a Taco, Burrito, over Rice or Salad.  We enjoy ours with Avocado, Shredded Cheese, Tomato, Salsa and Sour Cream in a low carb tortilla.  It would be good with Black Beans, Corn and Rice as well.  Enjoy  ;)

   

Apple Fennel Walnut Salad

     How do you like your Fennel best!?  What's that?...you're not familiar with Fennel...(insert look of shock) ...  Actually to be honest, this is my first go round with this licorice flavored veggie...don't freak, I'm not talking about the flavor of that black string or the taste of a box of Good N Plenty  (that candy actually gives me shivers because I got sick in the 5th grade after eating two boxes of it at the movies...who was in charge of me that day is what I want to know...I digress)  This is a mild Anise that is wonderfully light and appealing, especially in Salads, Roasted, Grilled or even in Pasta.  Each of the 6 cup servings are only 105 calories, 6g net carbs and 1g protein.  Try something new today!  ;)

Ingredients for 6 servings~
1 large Fennel Bulb
1 small Fuji Apple
1 small Granny Smith Apple
1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoon  Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Spicy Brown Mustard
Salt to taste

     Remove stem from Fennel Bulb and dice Bulb and add to large mixing bowl, dice Apple's and add to bowl along with Walnuts.  Mix Oil, Vinegar and Mustard til thoroughly combined and pour over Salad, toss well to incorporate.  Season with Salt as desired.  Enjoy  :)

Rocky Road Ice Cream Sandwich

     Who doesn't love a good Ice Cream Sandwich, especially if it is made with  Rocky Road Cookies and S'mores Ice Cream!?  How bout if I tell you it is only 145 calories, 6g net carbs and 13g protein...#imnotmadaboutit  These are so easy to whip together, you will be asking yourself why didn't I think of that...the real answer is, you don't have to,...that's why you have me!  ;)

Ingredients for 2 Ice Cream Sandwiches~
1 Quest Rocky Road Protein Bar, unwrapped and divided into 4 equal parts
1/4 cup S'more Halo Top Ice Cream

     Microwave all 4 pieces of the Protein Bar for 12 seconds, flatten into a circle and lay on Silpat lined cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 4 minutes, remove and when cool, top 2 of the cookies with 2 Tablespoons Ice Cream on each cookie, use the remaining 2 cookies as Sandwich toppers.  Enjoy  :)

Grilled Veggies

     How appealing are grilled veggies, especially as warm weather fare.  You can make any combination your friend.  Lucky for me, Camerons (cameronsproducts.com) sent me a beautiful Camerons Barbecue Grilling Wok to make life a little easier.  Don't be shy, let your imagination run wild, the possibilities are endless when it comes to produce!

Grilled Veggies~
1 diced Zucchini
1 diced Squash
1 diced Eggplant
1 pound diced Asparagus
Olive Oil
Flavor God Spice Garlic Lovers, or Seasoning to taste
12oz Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half and drained on Paper Towel

     Add all veggies except Tomatoes to bowl and toss with Olive Oil and season to taste, add to Grilling Basket and set on grill with lid closed for about 10 minutes, check frequently and toss veggies occasionally in Basket, remove when crisp tender, add Tomatoes and serve.  Enjoy  :)

Spiced Turkey Meatballs

Let me introduce spice guru May Fridel and her first cookbook Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook.  In this beautiful and practical cookbook, May takes readers on a journey through celebrated Indian cuisine while promoting healthy eating, better nutrition, and dynamic flavor combinations. Each recipe revolves around the intuitive use of spices to introduce new flavors and, potentially, some new favorite meals! In addition to the easy-to-follow recipes, the book provides a history of Indian cuisine and flavors, a guide to Indian cooking techniques, and an overview of the spices to keep on hand for meals in a pinch. Every recipe is both diabetes-friendly and family-friendly.  Please enjoy Spiced Turkey Meatballs as an example of what she has to offer.  It's easy and delicious!  Traditional Indian Meatball recipes use Lamb or Goat, but these Turkey Meatballs have great flavor and are a healthier version of the traditional dish.  It serves 6, with 3 Meatballs each, 160 calories per servings, as well as 5g net carbs and 15g protein.  I will serve mine in a gluten free pita pocket from Bfreefoods.com, and top it with Cucumber and Greek Yogurt with Dill stirred in to taste. Indian Cusine Diabetes Cookbook will be available at ShopDiabetes.org, in bookstores nationwide, or by calling 1-800-232-6733. Enjoy:)

Ingredients for 6 servings~
1 small Red Onion
1 Green Chili
2 inch piece fresh Ginger
5 sprigs Cilantro, stems removed (more to taste)
1 pound lean ground Turkey
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoon Sunflower Oil (I subbed with Olive Oil)

     Mince Onion, Chili, Ginger and Cilantro in food processor til fine consistency, add to large bowl along with Turkey, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire and Salt, combine well.  Form 18 equal balls, add to skillet with Oil and fry til browned on all sides.  Serve Warm.

Avocado Chicken Pizza

  When we go to visit our boys in California, I always enjoy the new fresh food combinations from the locals. So, in honor of our Los Angeles sons, I came up with this little mix for a perfect Saturday evening al fresco dining experience! ... And we can just pretend from Kansas that we are back on the West Coast feeling the cool breeze of the Pacific !  So if you want to transport yourself as well, then give this tree huger pizza a try...each of the 4 pieces will only set you back 250 calories, 4g net carbs and 32g protein (yes, 32)!  ;)

Ingredients~
1 Thin Slim Foods Pizza Crust  (thinslimfoods.com or sub with Cauliflower Pizza Crust~recipe below)
1/4 cup Pizza or Spaghetti Sauce 
1 sheet Parmesan Folios Cheese (www.cheesefolios.com or sub with 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan)
8oz diced Grilled Chicken or Chicken Tenders cooked in Italian Dressing
1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella
4 slices Green Bell Pepper
1 slice Red Onion 
1/4 cup fresh Corn
1.5oz diced Avocado
Cilantro Leaves, as garnish


      Top your Thin Slim Pizza Crust or Cauliflower Pizza Crust with Pizza Sauce, Parmesan, Chicken, Mozzarella, Green Pepper, Red Onion, and Corn.  Bake at 450 for 5-8, or until cheese is melted.  After removing from the oven top with diced Avocado and Cilantro.  (I always have extra crusts on hand and was able to pull one from the freezer and put this meal together very quickly).   Enjoy ;)


Ingredients for the Cauliflower Pizza:
1 head of Cauliflower cleaned and diced into crumbles ( I use my Pampered Chef dicer, or you can use a food processor~ just as long as you get the crumbled consistency ~ my head made 5 cups )
1 egg
1/2 cup egg white
dash salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon dried onions
1 cup shredded mozzarella 

     Mix all together and form into 7-8 inch thin circles and bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes on Pam coated sheet or preferably on a Silpat Sheet, for 15-20 minutes depending on how crispy you want your cauliflower crust. This will make SEVERAL, so you will have plenty to freeze for next time!