Pesto Eggplant

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Recipes, Vegetables



I got the idea for this recipe from Atkins for Life. I changed it a little though. Here is the modified recipe. 

Marinade:

1 1/2 Tbsp.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 Tbsp. White Wine Vinegar

2 Cloves Garlic, Minced 

1 tsp. Salt1/2 tsp. Pepper

8 quarter inch thick slices of Eggplant

Pesto Sauce:

1 Cup packed Basil Leaves

1/4 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese

1/4 Cup toasted Pine Nuts

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Other Ingredients:

2 Large Tomatoes, cut into slices

8 Thin Slices Fresh Mozzarella

Combine all Marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add Eggplant and coat well. Let stand for 1 hour turning eggplant over occasionally. In a food processor or blender, bled the Pesto ingredients together except for olive oil. When it is all chopped finely, drizzle in the olive oil while the food processor is on. When pesto sauce is done, cover and set aside. On a medium hot oiled grill, cook eggplant for about 5-6 minutes per side, until tender. When done, cover eggplant with foil until ready to assemble. Lay out eggplant on a baking sheet and spread about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Pesto sauce over each slice. Next, place tomato slice on top and then add a slice of cheese. Broil in oven for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and turning golden. Enjoy!

Today’s Lunch

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Beef, Recipes

When I make lunch, I usually find whatever leftover stuff we have in the refridgerator. Today, however, our fridge is pretty empty. I had a lot of items that I could never use alone as a side. My kids thought it turned out good and asked to post it on here. So, I am. I hope that, even if you don’t like what this is, it will inspire you to make a concoction out of your fridge. 

 

Ingredients:

3 Celery Stalks, Chopped

1 Sweet Potato, Diced

6 very small Carrots, Chopped

1 Onion, Cut into big chunks

6 oz. Spinach 

2 pounds Lean Ground Beef

Season Salt

Garlic Powder

Pepper 

A little bit of Olive Oil

Directions:In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat up a little olive oil. Add in all the veggies except the spinach. Cook them until cooked through and the sweet potatoes are almost soft. Add in the spinach and cook until all the spinach is limp and cooked. Meanwhile, in another pan, brown the beef. When completely cooked, drain. Put back into pan and season with garlic powder, seasoning salt, and pepper to taste. Dump the ground beef into the veggie mixture and stir well.

Serve and Enjoy.  

By the way, this recipe, as is, makes enough to feed about 6 people.

Chicken Parmigiano

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Chicken, Recipes

(Original recipe from Elanaspantry.com)This recipe is wonderful. This is what my kids have now been asking for on special occasions.

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

2 cups almond flour

2 eggs, whisked

6 Tbsp. butter

1 - 24 ounce jar of your favorite tomato sauce (original recipe has directions on making your own) 

16 ounces mozzarella cheese ( I actually use about 12 ounces)

4 ounces parmesan cheese 

Directions:Dip chicken into egg, let excess run off. Coat well with almond flour. In a pan, melt butter over medium heat. Saute chicken until deep golden brown on both sides. Place 1/2 cup tomato sauce on bottom of 9″x 13″ pan. Place chicken into pan and cover with remaining sauce. Spread mozzarella on top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.      

Printable Recipe: chicken-parmigiano.pdf 

Fruit Cereal

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Breakfast, Fruit, Recipes

I got the idea for this off of a forum somewhere, but I have no idea where. It is really yummy, feels a little like eating cereal (if you count the “granola”), and it is very good for you.  The thing that I like best, we can change it however we like. 

Ingredients:

Fresh Fruit, whatever you like

Coconut Milk, canned or fresh if you know how to make it

Flax Seed and Nut Granola, or another granola type substance that  you prefer

Today, we took some cut up cantaloupe, green grapes, and blueberries. (Use whatever fruits you want/like/crave) Drizzle a little coconut milk all over the top, don’t smother it, drizzle it. Next, sprinkle some Granola on top. Lastly, eat and enjoy.

 

 

Printable Recipe: fruit-cereal.pdf 

Pistachio Nut Chicken

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Chicken, Recipes

(Original from The South Beach Dietbook)

I have made this recipe 5 or 6 times. The chicken comes out very moist each time. My entire family loves it. The leftover chicken (if you have any left overs) is great on a salad the next day.  

1/2 Cup shelled pistachio nuts, finely ground (kids are a great help at shelling pistachios)

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Halves

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the nuts in a pie plate (I use a regular plate) with the salt and pepper. Press the chicken into the nuts. Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in a skillet and cook the coated breasts, 2 minutes per side. Place the breasts in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until thermometer inserted n the thickest portion registers 160 degrees and the juices run clear. (I am realizing that I have totally forgotten to fry the chicken in the skillet first the last 5 times I have made this. I usually just bake it at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until the juices run clear. Why dirty extra dishes?) 

 

 

Printable Recipe: pistachio-chicken.pdf 

Rainbow Fruit Salad

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Breakfast, Desserts, Fruit, Recipes

 1 large mango, peeled and sliced 

2 cups fresh blueberries 

2 bananas, sliced 

2 cups halved fresh strawberries 

2 cups seedless grapes (I sliced mine in half) 

2 nectarines, unpeeled and sliced 

1 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced 

For honey-orange sauce: 

1/3 Cup unsweetened orange juice 

2 tbsp. lemon juice 

1 1/2 tbsp. honey 

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 

Directions: 

Prepare and combine the fruit. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a separate bowl and mix. Just before serving, pour the sauce over the fruit. 

*I use whatever fruits I can get or have. The other night I couldn’t ?nd nectarines. So, I used 2 apples instead. It was still just as good. 

*This recipe has become a favorite of mine. It is so yummy. I make it at night and we have about 1/3 of it for dessert. The other night I even made some sugarfree whipped cream to put on top of it. The next morning, the rest of the fruit, that’s been sitting in the juices, gets mixed together with 2 cartons of plain yogurt and mixed well. 

 

 

Printable Recipe: Rainbow-fruit-salad.pdf 

Quick “Granola” Cookies

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Desserts, Recipes

(Original recipe from Lucy’s Specific Carbohydrate Diet Cookbook and then taken from  NoMoreCrohns.com ) 

1/2 Cup Raisins 

1 1/4 Cup Pecans 

1 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut 

1 Teaspoon Vanilla (I use an equal amount vanilla powder) 

1 Tablespoon Softened Butter 

2 Tablespoons Honey (I use an equal amount of Agave Nectar) 

1/8 Teaspoon Salt   

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until fairly smooth, but still with a little texture. Form “dough” into balls and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Gently ?atten. Bake at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly golden. 

 

 

Printable Recipe: Quick Granola Cookies.pdf

Flax Seed and Nut Granola

Posted by: Teeter  /  Category: Breakfast, Recipes, Snacks

(from www.mrbreakfast.com)

 1 cup flax seeds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup chopped almonds

1 stick of butter — melted [I tried cutting the butter down in this one, it really needs the butter. It didn't turn out right.]

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla powder (sugar and alcohol-free)[This was a little expensive. From what I have read, you can sustitute extract for powder equally.] 

3 packets of Splenda (or other sugar alternative) [I have used 1/4 Cup Honey. I really like it with 1/4 Cup Agave Nectar. Both are really good. I like the honey a little better, but I like the less sugar effect of the Nectar]

In a large roasting pan, mix together flax seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut and nuts. Drizzle with melted butter. Stir in cinnamon, vanilla power and sugar substitute. Toast in the oven at 325 degees for a half hour, stiring every 5 or 10 minutes.

[I ended up roasting it all in a Wok on the stove. I melted the butter and the honey together and then added the spices. I then dumped the nuts and the coconut into the mixture and coated everything really well. I stirred constantly until everything was starting to get all golden.]

 

Printable recipe: flax-seed-and-nut-granola.pdf