Friday, February 24, 2012

NOT SO YUMMY NOODLES

NOT SO YUMMY NOODLES

Have you heard of Shirataki Noodles? Dr. Oz talks about them a lot and highly recommends them and so does Hungry Girl. They are super low in calories and they have fiber and protein. I had been wanting to try them, but of course couldn't find them in our town, so on a recent trip to Natural Grocers in Norman, I picked up 2 bags. I used Hungry Girl's recipe, which I have used basically the same recipe with whole wheat or whole grain noodles and we all loved it. However, there will be no more Shirataki Noodles in the Newton house. They were disgusting! They don't have a flavor, so it wasn't that they tasted bad. But, the texture is like rubber. It was so disgusting that I thought I was going to be sick. Kevin has been so good to let me try all these new health foods on him, but he said he doesn't want those noodles ever again.

My mission is to prepare foods that nourish my family's bodies. In order for my boys to actually eat foods that nourish their bodies, they have to taste good. So on this journey, we have had some hits and some misses. I have only blogged about the good ones, but thought you might be interested in knowing our thoughts on the not so tasty ones as well. However, you might try them and like them. We also don't like octopus and calamari, which have that rubbery texture. If you enjoy those types of foods, you may love Shirataki Noodles. So, here is Hungry Girl's recipe just in case you want to try it. If you do, please tell me how your family liked it. For me, the greatest thing about the internet is sharing with others. Have a blessed day and weekend.

REMEMBER - EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT  

Shrimptastic Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 210 calories, 5g fat, 550mg sodium, 13g carbs, 5g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 24.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 5*

Ingredients:
1 bag House Foods Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Noodle Substitute (found with the tofu and refrigerated Asian products)
1 tsp. reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1 cup chopped spinach leaves
1/2 cup frozen broccoli florets, thawed
3 oz. frozen ready-to-eat medium shrimp, thawed
2 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
Optional seasonings: salt, black pepper

Directions:
Use a strainer to rinse and drain noodles. Thoroughly pat dry. Roughly cut noodles.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Add noodles, sour cream, garlic, and cheese wedge, breaking the wedge into pieces. Cook and stir until cheese has melted, mixed with sour cream, and coated noodles.

Stir in all remaining ingredients. Cook and stir until spinach has wilted and dish is hot, 2 - 3 minutes. Eat!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

EASY CHEESY BROWN RICE WITH FLAXSEED

The Belly Busting Soup did it's job. I lost 3 pounds in 4 days and my entire body was noticeably less puffy. I think the soup is a great cleanser for one thing and would be good if you wanted to drop a few pounds quickly & healthfully before an event or big weekend.

I came up with this rice dish last week and thought it was pretty good. I served it with baked pork chops. The guys ate it all & never said a word. Trying to sneak that Flaxseed in as much I can and the brown rice covered it up perfectly. They had no idea they were eating heart healthy Omega 3's, plus the fiber from the brown rice.

A LITTLE NOTE ABOUT FLAXSEED - Flaxseed is loaded with Omega 3's which makes it a superfood for your heart. Omega 3's are anti inflammatory, lowers bad cholesterol, raises good cholesterol and helps your blood to flow better. Flaxseed doesn't really have a taste. It blends in well with other foods. I sprinkle it in oatmeal, on shredded wheat cereal, scrambled eggs, smoothies, etc. I have been trying to sneak it into at least one food everyday. If my picky 16 year old son will eat this rice and not spit it out, you should be able to sneak it in on anybody.  LOL 

FAST & EASY CHEESY BROWN RICE

2 cups brown rice
1 3/4 cup water or chicken broth
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp butter
1 or 2 chopped jalapenos (optional, but nice kick, plus antioxidants) 
1 tsp Basil
2 tsp Garlic Salt
1 tsp pepper (our favorite is McCormick Hot Shot)
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 wedges Laughing Cow Garlic Herb cheese
1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
3 tsp Flaxseed

Pour rice & water (or broth) in glass bowl with lid. Microwave covered 12 minutes.

While rice is cooking, melt butter in small skillet.  Add onion & jalapeno.  Saute until tender.

When rice is cooked, add onion & butter to rice. Add remaining ingredients and mix together well.
Microwave covered 5-7 minutes. Mix well again to incorporate melted cheese throughout dish and serve.

This is great as a healthy side dish or you can add shrimp, chicken, pork, etc. and make it a one pot meal. Also great for a meatless meal on it's own.

I hope you enjoy. And Happy Valentine's Day! Jesus is the ultimate Valentine. He paid the ultimate price for us just because He loves us.

Lori



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

TURKEY SAUSAGE VEGGIE SOUP

My son's wedding is just a little over a month away & I am still not happy with my belly. The rest of my body is looking better, but that belly just refuses to budge! I tried cutting out all breads & grains and all that did was make my blood sugar drop too low and make me dizzy and light headed. Years ago, I tried the Cabbage Soup Diet. I love cabbage, so I actually liked it, but got bored with it after a few days. I have learned that my body needs lots of protein. So, I made up my own version of Cabbage Soup with a little turkey sausage and beans thrown in for protein. I'm hoping that after eating this soup for lunch a few times a week, my belly will be gone... or at least noticeably smaller.

HEALTHY TURKEY SAUSAGE VEGGIE SOUP

1 head cabbage, chopped
1 bag frozen okra
2 cups frozen corn
1 onion, chopped
2 tsps Garlic salt
2 tsps McCormick Hot Shot
2 tsps minced garlic
1-2 jalapenos, chopped (optional)
½ pkg of Turkey Smoked Sausage, chopped
1-2 cans Ranch Style Beans or any beans
2 small or 1 large can All Natural low sodium chicken broth
1-2 cans Rotel tomatoes
1 small can Hunt’s tomato paste
2 – 8 oz cans Hunt’s tomato sauce

In crockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add chicken broth, tomato paste, Rotel tomatoes & tomato sauce. Add water using your cans if you want. It all depends on how much liquid you want.

Add remaining ingredients, place lid on pot & let cook about 30 minutes. Or can turn on low & simmer for a few hours.

NOTE:  This is the basic recipe. You can add to or take away according to your taste. I also like to add chopped zucchini when available. I had about 1 cup of taco meat leftover that needed to be used, so I tossed that in as well.

You can add a bag of whole grain pasta or serve over a bowl of brown rice.
Super healthy & loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber & protein.

*** I SPECIFICALLY USE HUNT’S PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL NATURAL AND HAVE NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP OR ADDED SUGAR.
Check the labels on the other tomato products & you will see either corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar. Del Monte does have “Organic Tomato sauce”, but it is more expensive than the ones with the corn syrup & sugar in them.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

CRAZY BLOOD SUGAR & YUMMY PIZZA

NOTE: I wrote this on 2/1/2012, but apparently forgot to "publish" it.

The wedding is getting close! I am at a standstill with my weightloss and wanted to lose more before the wedding, so the last 2 weeks I have ate NO bread, rice, pasta, etc, even whole grain. I have just been eating meat, veggies, fruit & eggs. I dropped 3.5 pounds, but was feeling pretty shaky & light headed. I took my blood sugar and it was 54. I drank a big glass of 100% Blueberry Pomegranate juice & ate a piece of whole grain toast with All Fruit Jelly, then checked it again & it was 116. So this week, I have been eating whole grain toast for breakfast with my eggs and about every other day I eat tuna on pita bread or whole grain bread. It seems like the only way I can drop pounds is to cut out ALL carbs, but then my blood sugar bottoms out & I know that our bodies need some carbs. It looks like I am not going to be the size I wanted to be for the wedding, but at least I can walk without limping and hopefully won't be passing out.

So, the day my blood sugar bottomed out was last Saturday. We had a wedding that evening & had to get dialysis done early. I can't get very far from Kevin while he is hooked up to the machine. So, I took a shower while he was getting the machine ready because there would not be time for me to shower & get ready after dialysis. I had not had time to go to the grocery store, so the pickings were slim for lunch. I made cheese pizza out of pita bread. It was absolutely YUMMY! 

PITA PIZZA

Organic whole grain pita bread
olive oil
marinara sauce
garlic powder
Italian seasonings
Basil
Provolone cheese
Shredded Italian cheese

Place the pita bread on a cookie sheet. Drizzle pita with olive oil. Spread marinara sauce on pita. Sprinkle garlic powder, Italian seasonings, basil, etc. whatever your favorite herbs are. I tend to go heavy on the garlic & basil. I placed Provolone (oh how I love Provolone) circle slices in the middle of the pita. Sprinkle with shredded Italian cheese. Bake in oven at 450 degrees about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted & gooey. 

You can add any veggies you like or meats, etc.