Sweet Potato Egg Cups

 Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and shredded
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 2 tsp. coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

For the Egg Cups:

• 12 large eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped spinach
• 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup feta cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Makes 12 egg cups (3 egg cups per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with silicone cups or paper cupcake liners and set aside. 
2. Combine the sweet potato and sea salt in a strainer and toss to coat. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes to release any excess water. Transfer the sweet potato to a piece of cheesecloth and squeeze out the water. 
3. Put the sweet potatoes in a bowl and add the coconut oil, black pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to combine. 
4. Divide the sweet potato mixture evenly between the 12 muffin cups with the tip of a spoon. 
5. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the muffin tin from the oven.
6. While the sweet potatoes are cooking, prepare the egg cups by adding the eggs, heavy cream, salt pepper, spinach, and tomatoes to a bowl and whisk to combine. 
7. Pour equal amounts of the egg mixture into the baked sweet potato cups. Top with the feta and cheddar. 
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are set. 
9. Remove from the oven and allow the egg cups to cool slightly before serving. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Egg cups are great for breakfast or as a snack. These cups are an easy portable source of protein; they are freezer friendly and can be made in advance. These particular egg cups are flavorful and savory and they will quickly fill you up. The combination of eggs, cheese and vegetables is quite delicious when they are done right. 

Mediterranean Chicken Bowl

 Ingredients:

Chicken:

• 1.5 lb. chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tbsp Za'atar Seasoning (or other greek seasoning)
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Mediterranean Salsa:

• 1 English cucumber, diced
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 3/4 cup kalamata olives
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 4 cups frozen cauliflower rice
• salt 
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup store bought Tzatziki sauce

Makes 8 Servings

1. Prepare the chicken by cutting into 1-inch cubes. Place chicken into a resealable storage bag with the remaining ingredients. Toss to coat evenly. Let chicken marinade for at least 30 minutes.
2. While the chicken is marinating make the Mediterranean salsa by dicing the cucumber, tomatoes and onion. Place into a medium bowl with the olives and toss with olive oil, vinegar and oregano.
3. Reheat the frozen cauliflower rice according to package instructions. Once heated through, place a paper towel on top of the cauliflower rice and press down to soak up the extra liquid. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Set aside.
4. After the chicken has marinated, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and the marinade into the pan and spread out into an even layer. Cook for approximately 4 minutes each side or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
5. To assemble the bowls, divide the chicken and cauliflower rice evenly between four bowls. Top with the salsa and Tzatziki.

WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears on the website palm.southbeachdiet.com/recipes.  Her is another dish to kickstart your weight loss journey or healthy lifestyle. The flavors of the Mediterranean burst with flavor and fill you up. If you were to go to a fast food joint, a chicken bowl would probably be filled with fried chicken, mashed potatoes or rice and little or no vegetables. This chicken bowl is reimagined with grilled chicken, homemade salsa and cauliflower rice. This bowl is packed with protein and vegetables and will fill you up for lunch or dinner. 

Heirloom Tomato Lasagna

 Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini or yellow squash, sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick
• 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup canned chopped artichoke hearts, rinsed
• 2 tbsp. fresh basil leaves, shredded
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves, chopped
• 3 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/2-inch thick, divided
• 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Makes 6 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking dish and set it aside. 
2. Place the sliced zucchini in a colander and sprinkle it lightly with salt; set it aside. 
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute it until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, lemon juice, red bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for 5-6 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the liquid has evaporated. 
4. Stir in the artichoke hearts, basil and oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat. 
5. Pat dry the zucchini slices with paper towels. 
6. Cover the bottom of the prepared dish with slightly overlapping tomato slices, using half the slices. Layer the zucchini, mushroom mixture, ricotta cheese, and most of the Parmesan, retaining a small amount for the topping. Finish off the dish with the remaining tomatoes. Brush the top of the tomatoes with a little olive oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and scatter the remining  Parmesan on top. 
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to brown. Let the lasagna cool slightly in the baking dish before slicing  into 6 evenly cut pieces and serving. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. This is a new and colorful take on a traditional comfort food. This version of lasagna is gluten-free with vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean. This lasagna has six servings of vegetables and will leave a nice aftertaste in your mouth. If you don't have ricotta cheese on hand, cottage cheese works just as well. You can make this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to cook it and enjoy it. 

Grilled Spanish Mackerel with Quick Pickled Onions

 Ingredients:

• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsp. granular sugar substitute
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (6 oz.) Spanish mackerel fillets, with skin
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest 
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Makes 4 Servings 

1. In a small saucepan, combine onion, vinegar, garlic, sugar substitute, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until onions are softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Transfer onions to a serving bowl. 
2. Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. Drizzle flesh side of fish evenly with lemon juice and sprinkle with lemon zest and oregano. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Grill fish, skin side down, for 5 minutes; turn and grill 5-7 minutes more, or until fish is cooked through and tender. 
3. Divide fish among 4 plates and serve hot with pickled onions on top or on the side. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. Grilled fish in the summer is flavorful and delicious when it's done right. The tangy onions go very well with this fish adding a touch of zing to the dish. If you don't have Spanish mackerel on hand, use Alaskan cod or halibut and the dish be be just as elegant and delicious. Don't forget to serve your choice of grilled vegetables to make this meal complete. 

Crudites with Arugula Pesto Dip

 Ingredients:

• 2 large bunches basil, leaves picked and stems discarded
• 1 large bunch arugula, trimmed
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1 medium garlic clove, peeled
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. reduced-fat sour cream
• assorted fresh vegetables, such as asparagus, bell peppers, carrots, endive, radishes, and snow peas, cut up for dipping

Makes 1 1/2 cups dip

1. Finely ground basil, arugula, pine nuts, garlic, and salt in a food processor or blender. 
2. With machine running, add oil and lemon juice in a slow and steady stream. Add sour cream and process briefly just to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and chill for 1 hour or overnight for flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature with assorted vegetables for dipping. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. Crudites with homemade dip is quite delicious when it's done right. Arugula pesto is quite delicious; it has a peppery flavor to it. I added a touch of Parmesan cheese for a more traditional salty flavor and Parmesan cheese is a common ingredient in pesto. If you don't have arugula on hand, spinach or kale will work just as well and the pesto will be delicious. The leafy greens also adds nutrients such as calcium, folate and fiber. Serve this pesto with vegetables, grilled proteins of your choice or toasted bread and you and your guests will be satisfied. 

Plum & Toasted Almond Dessert Pizza

 Ingredients:

Dough:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 egg white
• 2 tsp. low-fat milk
• 1 1/4 tsp. vanilla 

Topping:

• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 8 ripe purple plums (about 2 lbs.) halved, pitted & thickly sliced
• 1 tbsp. granular sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp. sliced unbleached almonds

Makes 8 Servings (1 wedge per serving)

1. To make the dough, put the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor; pulse to blend. Add the ricotta, butter, egg white, milk, and vanilla; pulse until the dough begins to form a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight. 
2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. 
3. Roll out the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper to form a 10-inch round. Remove the top sheet of wax paper and flip the dough onto the baking sheet; remove the wax paper. Fold the edge of the dough over to form a 1/2-inch rim. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool about 5 minutes on the baking sheet on a rack. 
4. Brush the crust with the egg white. Beginning at the edge, arrange the plum slices in concentric circles, overlapping the slices slightly, sprinkle evenly with the sugar. Bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the almonds over the fruit and bake until the crust is golden brown and the plums soften but still hold their shape, about 10 minutes longer. Cut into 8 wedges and serve at once. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. Cooked fruit is such a delicious treat and you can enjoy a slice of pizza for dessert. Plum pizza is quite delicious. I reduced the granulated sugar from 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup  in the dough, 2 tablespoons to 1 tablespoon for the topping and added ground cinnamon and nutmeg to enhance the flavor of  the plum pizza. The dough for the pizza crust is refrigerated before being rolled out for two reasons: to relax the gluten in the flour and to make the dough easier to work with. This plum pizza is so delicious it will become a favorite at your table. 

Sausage & Cheese Breakfast Cups

 Ingredients:

• 4 oz. turkey sausage or crumbled turkey bacon
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1/4 onion, chopped
• 5 large eggs
• 1 (12 oz.) package sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

Makes 6 Cups (1 cup per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 6-cup nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups. 
2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, pepper and onion for 5 minutes, or until the sausage is no longer pink. Soon the mixture into a bowl and cool slightly. Stir in the  eggs and mushrooms. Evenly divide the mixture among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle with the cheese. 
3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until egg is set. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. These treats are a healthier and different take on the typical egg muffin you would get at a fast food restaurant. You can use bacon or sausage in these egg muffins and they will fill you up. You can also use any kind of shredded cheese in these muffins and they will still be tasty. You can make these muffins on the weekend and warm them in the microwave for a fast treat for breakfast or an on-the-go snack.