It is so hot here -- it surely is summer, for sure! Much too hot to cook on the stove or in the oven. My gas stove seems to generate SO much heat into the kitchen! I try to do any baking early in the day, since my kitchen gets the afternoon sun, which only adds to the heat.
So...this morning I baked low-fat brownies, using a regular mix, but adding only eggbeaters, baby prune puree, and cold coffee and vanilla. this makes a really good brownie, for not more than 2 to 2.5 grams of fat per brownie -- as long as we are mindful of the size of portions.......I am laughing about now -- since it's awfully easy to eat about one-third of a 9X9 pan of brownies! But I am remembering to eat ONE brownie .. and really take the time to enjoy it.
Also decided on shrimp poorboys for dinner, since I can prepare the shrimp ahead and refrigerate -- then just sear quickly in the electric skillet --(one of my saves from having to cook on the stove). Then warm the sub rolls in the same pan --Made a garlic dill mayonnaise (with Hellman's 1 fat gram mayo, fat-free sour cream, lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon, a T. or so of chopped capers, a glug of Worchestershire and about 2 t. of Spice Hunter Deliciously Dill blend. Can also do this ahead and let sit in the fridge -- so it tastes REALLY good by supper time! One thing that really MADE the sandwiches was the addition of fresh cilantro leaves -- who knew? But they made it taste awesome!
Hoping that tomorrow I will have an inspiration about something wonderful, low-fat and cool to eat. Will report on this tomorrow. For now, I trust that life is treating you kindly and gently every day and that you and yours are healthy and relatively happy. Peace.......pass it on.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Zucchini Everywhere!!
It surely is a great morning -- and we have zucchini everywhere! This is the season....and so it is a necessity to find ways to use them! Never want to waste what we've grown and tenderly cared for.
So...today's tip is a recipe for a very low-fat Zucchini Bread. It is delicious with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.....it is healthy, nutritious and....uses up the zucchini!
4 cups all purpose flour 3 t. baking soda 1/2 t. baking powder 1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. gound nutmeg 1/8 t. ground cloves (a pinch) 1/4 t. salt. Combine these dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2 eggs (I use 1 whole egg and 1/4 c. eggbeaters) Beat until frothy (I use a whisk cause too lazy to get out the mixer) in another large mixing bowl.
1/4 c. canola oil 1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce 3/4 c. sugar 1 c. packed brown sugar 1 to 1 1/2 t. vanilla 1 tsp fresh lemon zest 1/4 c. of low-fat buttermilk (or low-fat yogurt or low-fat sour cream) Add these ingredients to the beaten eggs and beat to blend. Add to the dry ingredients and blend just until moistened.
2 c. shredded zucchini (squeeze out moisture in a clean kitchen towel) 1 c. peeled and grated apple 1/4 to 1/2 c. raisins Fold these into the batter gently and, if mixture seems too thick or dry, can add another 1/4 c. buttermilk, a little at a time, until the right consistency. (I had to do this). Can sprinkle tops with cinnamon/sugar, if desired.
Put into two 9X5 loaf pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray Bake at 350 for 50 to 60 minutes ..or till a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a bit in the pans before removing to a cooling rack.
I am hoping you have success with this recipe -- I know I surely have. Also hoping that you are healthy, relatively happy (we're never COMPLETELY happy, now are we?), and that life treats you kindly and gently every day.
So...today's tip is a recipe for a very low-fat Zucchini Bread. It is delicious with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.....it is healthy, nutritious and....uses up the zucchini!
4 cups all purpose flour 3 t. baking soda 1/2 t. baking powder 1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. gound nutmeg 1/8 t. ground cloves (a pinch) 1/4 t. salt. Combine these dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2 eggs (I use 1 whole egg and 1/4 c. eggbeaters) Beat until frothy (I use a whisk cause too lazy to get out the mixer) in another large mixing bowl.
1/4 c. canola oil 1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce 3/4 c. sugar 1 c. packed brown sugar 1 to 1 1/2 t. vanilla 1 tsp fresh lemon zest 1/4 c. of low-fat buttermilk (or low-fat yogurt or low-fat sour cream) Add these ingredients to the beaten eggs and beat to blend. Add to the dry ingredients and blend just until moistened.
2 c. shredded zucchini (squeeze out moisture in a clean kitchen towel) 1 c. peeled and grated apple 1/4 to 1/2 c. raisins Fold these into the batter gently and, if mixture seems too thick or dry, can add another 1/4 c. buttermilk, a little at a time, until the right consistency. (I had to do this). Can sprinkle tops with cinnamon/sugar, if desired.
Put into two 9X5 loaf pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray Bake at 350 for 50 to 60 minutes ..or till a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a bit in the pans before removing to a cooling rack.
I am hoping you have success with this recipe -- I know I surely have. Also hoping that you are healthy, relatively happy (we're never COMPLETELY happy, now are we?), and that life treats you kindly and gently every day.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Fat Free and Delicious
Boy, it is a hot one today! Here on the first actual day of summer, we are feeling more like the middle of August.
The aim here is to find and cook and eat healthy, delicious food....fat free or as low-fat as possible.
I believe that food is and will always be, tied to our feelings of well-being; and so must never be abandoned as "not worth it" or "too much trouble" or "nothing sounds good". Learning to shop for food and cook in a healthy way has been and continues to be an adventure .....with new things and tricks just around each corner. A big part of the adventure is FINDING them -- and then figuring out how to USE them to my advantage!
Today I have a tip about a cool, refreshing little dessert that happens to be FAT-FREE.....and really goes down easy in this super hot weather.
Take a small package of instant chocolate pudding.....add to it (the powder) 1 T. of baking cocoa and mix it well. Now add 2 cups of cold fat-free milk, 1/2 to 1 t. of vanilla, a shake of ground cinnamon. Beat it like heck with a whisk until it thickens. Now chill in the fridge for an hour or so. Makes such a good little sweet treat at the end of a hot day.......or a hard day......or BOTH! In my next post, I will share with you my recipe for Zucchini Bread....very low fat.....since it is zucchini time here.....and there's always more than we can use! and by the way, it is Delicious!! Peace......and may life treat you kindly and gently every day.
The aim here is to find and cook and eat healthy, delicious food....fat free or as low-fat as possible.
I believe that food is and will always be, tied to our feelings of well-being; and so must never be abandoned as "not worth it" or "too much trouble" or "nothing sounds good". Learning to shop for food and cook in a healthy way has been and continues to be an adventure .....with new things and tricks just around each corner. A big part of the adventure is FINDING them -- and then figuring out how to USE them to my advantage!
Today I have a tip about a cool, refreshing little dessert that happens to be FAT-FREE.....and really goes down easy in this super hot weather.
Take a small package of instant chocolate pudding.....add to it (the powder) 1 T. of baking cocoa and mix it well. Now add 2 cups of cold fat-free milk, 1/2 to 1 t. of vanilla, a shake of ground cinnamon. Beat it like heck with a whisk until it thickens. Now chill in the fridge for an hour or so. Makes such a good little sweet treat at the end of a hot day.......or a hard day......or BOTH! In my next post, I will share with you my recipe for Zucchini Bread....very low fat.....since it is zucchini time here.....and there's always more than we can use! and by the way, it is Delicious!! Peace......and may life treat you kindly and gently every day.
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