Fashionable without trying

I slept like absolute crud last night.  For those of you new to my blog, I had a hysterectomy due to endometriosis a few years ago.  Because of this I am on hormones and for some reason, they are off right now.  I must have had at least a dozen hot flashes last night.  So it is fan on and covers off and then I am freezing. So not much REM sleep for me or my poor husband  Which leads to the "fashionable without trying" part.  As I crawled out of bed, one eye open, after hitting snooze at least twice, I meandered over to my closet and grabbed the first thing that caught my eye.  It is a dress I hardly ever wear because I think it is too dressy for work.  Apparently, I was wrong because I have been getting compliments left and right.  This also surprises me because I came in with no make up, hair a mess, and minimally applied some and threw my hair in a bun in the bathroom at work.  One coworker stated I look like a flamenco dancer!  I am thinking, I need to change my morning routine and just go with the first thing that catches my eye every morning.

Michigan tomatoes and asparagus with marinated artichoke hearts top with blue cheese egg salad

This was simple and yummy.  I just took a bunch of Roma tomatoes, blanch asparagus, and jarred marinated artichoke hearts and tossed them with some dried basil (I can't wait for fresh!!) a little EVOO and white balsamic vinegar.   Put that in a bowl and lay a few leaves of Boston Bib lettuce.

The egg salad is easy

6 hard boiled eggs
1/4 of low fat or fat free blue cheese crumbles
1/4 cup of fat free sour cream
2 tbsp of white balsamic vinegar

cut eggs in half and put yolks in a bowl.  Add to other ingredients to yolks and mash up.  Chop egg whites and then add to yolk mixture.

Spoon on top of lettuce.

Salt and pepper to taste!

Enjoy :)

chocolate cheesecake low fat low carb

< 1 package of graham crackers crushed 1/4 cup of butter melted 1/4 cup of stevia 2 tap of coco powder Mix together ans press into bottom of tart dish and chill while prepping filling 1 15oz container of low fat ricotta 1 brick of fat free cream cheese 1/3 cup of fat free sour cream 1/3 cup of fat free milk 1 package of fat free sugar free chocolate fudge instant pudding Mix in a bowl with a hand mixer until well blended and spread over crust layer. Dust with coco powder and chill for at least am hour



Per request, here is the nutritional information.  You could cut the calories, fat and carbs even more by using low fat graham crackers and a butter substitute.  or cutting out the crust all together!

Low carb Low Fat No Bake Cheesecake

I made this for a surprise for a co-worker.  I will post a photo this afternoon.

Bottom Layer
1 package of graham crackers
1/4 cup melted fat free butter substitute I can't believe it's not butter melted
1/4 of Stevia In The Raw
2 tsp of coco powder

put crackers in a food processor until crumbs add other ingredients until mixed, spread in the bottom of an 8"x8" glass cake dish or other dish of approximately same size.

add layer of Fresh Strawberries cut in halves


Filling

1 15oz container of low fat ricotta cheese
1 brick of fat free cream cheese
1 envelope of fat and sugar free instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup of fat free milk

Mix all with a hand blender until smooth and spread on top of strawberry layer.  Add another layer of halved strawberries and refrigerate overnight. 

Drizzle with chocolate syrup or dust with chocolate shavings and serve with Fat Free Rediwhip.

Tuna Salad on a bed of greens with veggies and Marinated Artichoke Hearts

Tuna Salad
2 -7 oz cans of albacore tuna packed in water, drained and flaked
2 Claussen Dill Pickle spears chopped
1/2 of red onion chopped
2 ribs of celery chopped
2 tbsp of EVOO
1/4 cup of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tbsp of dill
salt and pepper to taste
1 squirt of Rooster Chili sauce(optional)

Mix all ingredients together and chill overnight

 I had this on a bed of bib lettuce, spinach, shredded carrots, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, and marinated artichoke hearts.  Soooo yummy.

Fresh rolls and seafood rolls The 17 Day Diet

Meijer is now carrying Rice Paper Wrappers which are super low in calories, fat, and carbs.  So this is my first attempt.  Not bad but I definitely need to practice!!  These are cabbage, carrots, sprouts, cilantro, mint, and green onion.  I also did two with lettuce instead of cabbage and Meijer Imatation Fat Free Lobster Meat.  They also make crab and they were on sale last week for .89oz package!!  The sauce is Hosin, rice wine vinegar, and Rooster Chili Sauce. 


For lunch today I am having a Flat Out bread wrap with crab salad that I made with low fat mayo and brown rice with lettuce. 


I was a little bad this weekend and cheated and drank but my weight stayed the same.  Two more days on Cycle 3 and back to Cycle 1 to get off the last 5lbs and hopefully even 10 more!!!  I even wore a bikini this weekend.  :)

Haven't felt this healthy in years. down 14.3lbs on The 17 Day Diet.

I have been doing The 17 Day Diet.  I am on Cycle 3 Day 8 and have lost 14.3 lbs.  My husband has lost 20lbs!!!  I am feeling so good and so healthy.  I put on some shorts yesterday that I couldn't even fit into last summer and they are too big.  I am not a dieter and never have been.  I hate that this is called a "diet" because it is really and change in eating habits.  Two of my aunts started the diet earlier this year and both of them are down to a size 4!  This sparked 10 other family members (my husband and I included) to start it.   I have tried eating less than 1200 calories a day and that didn't work.  I am beginning to believe that it is not just your calories but the types of food that you eat on this that make the difference.  We are eating so much more produce than we were and a lot less carbs.  My original goal was to get down to my prepregnancy weight, which I am almost at.  My new goal is to get 10lbs below that.  I am sure I can do because those numbers on the scale just keep going down and down!! 

Pasta on the 17 Day Diet

My lunch today is Shiratki Noodles and Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb and Sundried Tomato Basil wedges.  I cannot believe how little calories, carbs, and fat this is.  One package of noodles is only 40 calories, and two wedges at 35 calories each = 110 calorie!!!  I added some mushrooms and salt and pepper.  It is so easy to make because you just rinse the noodles, microwave for a min, drain and pat dry with paper towels, put back in bowl, add wedges and mushrooms and microwave for about 1 more min and done!!  And a side salad and you have a nice balanced meal.

I just found this too
101 recipes!

The Wonderful Laughing Cow--The 17 Day Diet

I started Cycle 3 a couple of days ago and was very excited to see Babybel Lights on the list. I found a huge package for cheap at Costoco.  Right by them were Laughing Cow Wedges the Swisscheese flavor.  I looked at the nutritional content and they are actually even better than the Babybels. 

So I made a sandwhich today with Flatout Multigrain w/Flax, spread with a wedge, lettuce, and lean ham.  It was soooo yummy.  I am excited to see that the wedges come in a variety of flavors too.  Have you tried any of them?



Flooring for the addition

We have been working on the addition for over 2 years now and are so close to finishing I can taste it!!  We were originally going to go with cork in the great room but are so happy with the blue Marmoleum click in the mudroom that we chose this color (Barbados) for the great room.  Just this trim and some touch up work and we will be done!!

Ancient Grains for Breakfast: The 17 Day Diet

I never even thought of having grains besides oatmeal for breakfast.  This was so nutty and yummy. 

I just cooked them all according them all (black quinoa, wheatberries, and amaranth) the amaranth directions and added cinnamon, ground cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, and allspice.  Agave nectar and a little soy milk.

I also poached a pear in the microwave and topped that with plain nonfat sugar free yogurt and drizzled with agave nectar. 

Topped both with blackberries.  I felt like I was at a B&B!

Cold Veggie Pizza and Sundried Tomato Dip/Spread: The 17 Day Diet

We went to a benefit this weekend for a friend that has cancer and I volunteered to make something.  These turned out wonderfully and are very delicious and healthy!!!

1/2 of a sheet of crust

For the crust:
6 cups of riced raw cauliflower
1 1/2 cup of egg whites
1 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast (you might have to go to a health food store for this)
3 cups of Kraft Fat Free Mozzarella
1 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan
1 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
seasoning of choice I used basil and an Italian herb mix

To "rice" the cauliflower: I did this with my Cuisenart with a grating blade. I have read that you can use the "s" blade or hand grate with a cheese grater.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. On parchment paper lined 18"x26" baking sheet (I recommend this instead of spraying the pan because I tried that and it stuck!), press mixture flat  as thin as you can get it without having holes.  Sprinkle with herbs.

Bake crusts for 20 min and carefully turn over and bake for another 10-15 min


Sundried Tomato Spread/dip

1 32oz container of any brand of greek yogurt strained in cheese cloth overnight to make yogurt cheese
1 cup of oil packed sundried tomatos drained and blotted to get most of oil off
1/4 of basil paste


put all ingrediants into a food processor or blender until it looks like this:



This makes much more than you will need for the size crust I made but it makes an excellent spread for sandwiches or a dip for veggies!  Tastes like a creamcheese spread instead of yogurt.

To assemble the Veggie Pizza

I found cutting the crust with a pizza cutter first to be the easiest way.  I just approximately 2"x2" squares.  Spread each piece with the Sundried Tomato Spread and then top with your favorite toppings.  I did red onions, orange peppers, artichoke hearts and blanched asparagus tips.

Salmon patties and slaw

Ball jars instead of plastic containers.

So over the past couple of years, I have been trying to get rid of the plastic containers we use, for environmental and health reasons (they leach chemicals).  I have a huge set of Pyrex that I like but don't love.  The tops do fit well and when you put liquids in them, they tend to leak when tipped. I have been doing so much prep cooking on the 17 Day Diet that I am running out of containers for refrigerator food storage.  So, I found myself in Meijer last night, looking at the Rubbermaid containers just kicking myself for even thinking of it.  Put them in my cart, walked away, felt so guilty that I went back and put them on the shelf.  As I turned around, the canning supplies caught me eye and I found these 500ml size Ball jars.  I bought these and a pack of ones that are 1/2 this size.  They are perfect!!  I don't know why I didn't think of this before.  I use the  larger ones to store beans, whole grains, flours, etc.

Revised recipe and nutritional information for Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I changed my recipe a little this weekend.  Instead of a mix of regular mozarella and fat free, I went with all fat free.  No change in flavor!!  

Cauliflower Crust Eggplant parm Sandwich

I used my Cauliflower pizza crust recipe.  This is leftover Eggplant Parmesan (from The 17 Day Diet book), baby greens, and roasted chicken breast.  Delicious!

Addicted to Cauliflower? Almost to Cyle 2: The 17 Day Diet!!!

Well I think we have become addicted to cauliflower.  I made more of the pizza crusts and we are using them for sandwiches.  I have made Mushroom Leek "Rice" (recipe below)  twice over the past 10 days and Saturday I made this recipe for Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes I used low fat cream cheese and no butter and they were FAB-U-LOUS!!!  I have gone through 6 heads of cauliflower in the past 10 days.    My husband has lost 8lbs so far and I think I have around 6lbs (haven't weighed myself since last week).  This diet is easier than I thought it would be.  Thursday we start Cycle 2 which means even more recipes!!


Mushroom Leek "Rice"


1 12 oz package of fresh baby bella mushrooms, washed and sliced.
Slice two leeks up to (where the leaves separate) into 1/4 inche slices, put in a bowl of water and let soaks for a few minutes and then strain in a colender.
1 head of cauliflower grated into "rice"
2 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup of chicken, beef or veggie broth

heat oil over medium heat.  Had leeks and saute until they start separating.  Add mushrooms and sautee until they start changing color.  Add cauliflower "rice" and broth.  Cover and let simmer for about 5 minutes.  Enjoy!

Rice

CHOBANI Berry Cream Pie Recipe ---17 Day Diet

Chobani
I used this recipe and used Stevia In The Raw instead of sugar.  It was so good.  A little bit of a cheat because of the butter and Graham cracker crust but I haven't cheated at all yet and it was sooooo worth.  1/4 fruit and 1 probiotic serving.
Cream Pie Recipe 

Crazy Cauliflower: Things you never thought you could make. 17 Day Diet

So I recently tried a recipe for pizza crust made from cauliflower and I really wasn't that happy with the results.  It stuck to the pan and I thought the it was too many calories with so much mozzarella in it.  Last night I decided to try my own recipe.  I have seen chefs make sculptures out of baked Parmesan cheese so I decide to replace some of the mozzarella with Parmesan, fat free mozzarella and nutritional yeast (used frequently in vegan recipes as a cheese replacement.  I also changed the whole eggs to egg whites only.  I am very very happy with the results.  The texture was perfect.  So bread-like that if you didn't know it didn't have flour in it, you would never have guessed.  I am also going to use these for sandwiches, like you would pita bread.  I am also going to try doing another batch with different flavors, maybe curry.  Here is the recipe.  Enjoy!!



I did a huge batch that made three 9 inch crusts and four garlic breadsticks.



4 cups of riced raw cauliflower (see below)
1 cup of egg whites
1 cup of nutritional yeast (you might have to go to a health food store for this)
1 package of Kraft Fat Free Mozzarella (1 3/4 cup)
1/4 of regular Mozzarella
1 cup of grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
seasoning of choice I used basil and an Italian herb mix


To "rice" the cauliflower:  I did this with my Cuisenart with a grating blade.  I have read that you can use the "s" blade or hand grate with a cheese grater.  It should look like this.




Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Measure out 1 cup for each pizza crust on a parchment paper lined baking sheet (I recommend this instead of spraying the pan because I tried that and it stuck!).  Press mixture into a flat circle as thin as you can get it without having holes.  For the bread sticks, divide the remaining mix into 4 equal portions and make 6 inch logs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with herbs.


Bake crusts for 20 min and carefully turn over and bake for another 10-15 min.  They will look like this when done.  The bread sticks take 30 mins and you do not turn them over.  These browned perfectly.


To make pizza, top crust with sauce, toppings, and fat free cheese.  Place under broiler until cheese is melted. 





Serving size is 1 cup.