Monday, March 30, 2020

Grab-and-Go Nut & Berry Yogurt Bark

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp. chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp. sliced almonds
  • 2 tbsp. chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp. blueberries
  • 2 tbsp. sliced strawberries
Makes 6 pieces (1 piece per serving)
  1. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set it aside. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt and the vanilla extract. 
  3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. 
  4. Top with pecans, almonds, and walnuts, as well as the blueberries and strawberries. Gently press the toppings into the yogurt mixture.
  5. Cover the yogurt bark and transfer it to the freezer for 3 hours, until firm. 
  6. Cut or break the bark into 6 pieces. These may be stored in the freezer for up to a month in an air container. 
WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet. Yogurt and berries make a delicious combination at the table or on the go. This yogurt bark is very tasty with the nuts and berries; plus you won't miss the granulated sugar in this dish. I added ground cinnamon and nutmeg for more flavor in this bark and it worked very well. 

Salmon Ball

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups canned salmon, drained, flaked, and skin and bones removed
  • 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tbsp. finely chopped onion
  • 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. horseradish
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
  • 1/2 cup chopped almonds
  • 3 tbsp. chopped parsley
Makes 1 (5-inch) ball or 16 (2-tbsp.) Servings
  1. In a large bowl, combine the salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, horseradish, salt, and liquid smoke; mix thoroughly. Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until form enough to form a ball. 
  2. In a small bowl, combine the almonds and parsley. Shape the salmon mixture into a ball. Roll in the almond mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until chilled. 
WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. Salmon makes a delicious snack during the day. Don't be intimidated by the ingredients in this recipe. The combination of flaked salmon, cream cheese, onion and horseradish make a delicious dip. This appetizer makes a nice snack as a salmon ball or as a dip served with vegetable or crackers. 

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Caprese Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients:
  • 2 Tbsp. onion, chopped
  • ½ cup grape tomatoes, chopped
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Makes 2 Servings
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Crack eggs into a medium-sized bowl and whisk with the almond milk until well combined.
  3. Add tomatoes, onions and basil into the egg mixture, stir well.
  4. Grease four of the muffin cups of a large muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each of the sprayed muffin cups evenly with the egg mixture.
  5. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of each muffin cup evenly.
  6. Bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the eggs are set and slightly golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin cup should come out clean.
  7. Let muffins cool for about 5-10 minutes before using a fork or knife to remove them from the muffin tin.
WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears on www.southbeachdiet.com. There is nothing wrong with you if you're craving Italian food for breakfast. These muffins include tomato, mozzarella, and basil and they are quite delicious in eggs. Europeans know how to do breakfast and these egg muffins compliment the flavors of Italy. If you make this muffins on the weekend, you can enjoy them for days. 


breakfast muffins


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Peppery Steak with Horseradish Cream

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 lbs. London broil or other sirloin steak (about 1 inch thick)
  • 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 2 tsp. prepared horseradish
  • salt
Makes 4 Servings
  1. Rub steak with oil and pepper, pressing pepper into steak; season well with salt. Heat grill pan over medium-high heat or heat oven to broil. Grill or broil steak 5- 6 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing across the grain. 
  2. While steak is resting, mixing together sour cream and horseradish; season to taste with salt. Serve horseradish cream with steak. 
WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Grilled steak is so delicious any day of the week. The horseradish cream packs with a pungent heat and it goes great with steak, grilled vegetables and even in salads and sandwiches. I highly recommend adding minced garlic to the steak because garlic always makes everything taste better. 

Monday, March 23, 2020

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Zucchini Fettuccine

Ingredients:
Chicken:
  • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 shallots, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 cups cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 4 pieces (about 4 oz. each) thinly-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 4 tbsp. cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
Filling:
  • 2 tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp. capers, chopped
  • 3 tbsp. freshly chopped Italian parsley
  • 3 tbsp. pine nuts
Fettuccine:
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium zucchini or yellow squash, spiralized, sliced, or peeled into ribbons with a vegetable peeler, or sliced into thin rounds
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chopped basil leaves
Makes 4 Servings
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil and set it aside. 
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the shallots, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes for 2-3 minutes. Add the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are tender and all liquid has evaporated, about 4 -5 minutes. 
  3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the Parmesan cheese, capers, parsley, and pine nuts to create a filling for the chicken.
  4. Place the chicken breasts between 2 sheets of plastic food wrap and gently flatten them to about 1/2-inch, using a meat mallet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  5. Spread each chicken fillet with 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese and spoon 1/4 of the filling on top. 
  6. Roll up the breasts, tucking in the ends, and secure them with kitchen twine or wooden toothpicks. 
  7. Arrange the stuffed chicken, seam side down, onto the greased baking dish. Add the chicken stock and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm; set aside. 
  8. To make the fettucine, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, adding the spiralized or otherwise precut zucchini, garlic and tomatoes. Cook, tossing often, for 2-3 minutes, or until the zucchini pieces are just tender. Stir in the basil and remove the mixture from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  9. Slice the stuffed chicken breasts evenly into 4 slices and serve alongside the zucchini fettucine. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New-Keto Friendly South Beach Diet book. Don't be intimidated by the ingredients in this dish. This Italian dish is flavorful and full of vegetables. The stuffing for the chicken is quite tasty and the zucchini fettucine is quite delicious. You won't miss the traditional pasta that goes with the chicken. The chicken is also succulent and flavorful too you will want to eat it again. 

Warm Raspberry Crisp

Ingredients:
  • 3 cups fresh raspberries 
  • 1/3 cup granular sugar substitute
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Topping:
  • 2/3 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 2 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 4 tbsp. melted butter or coconut oil
Makes 8 Servings (1 square per serving)
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Mix the raspberries, granular sugar, and vanilla in an 8-inch square baking dish. Spread evenly in the dish.
  3. To make the topping, stir together all remaining ingredients in a bowl and then use your hands to crumble it over the berries. 
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Allow the crisp to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Cut into 8 squares and serve. 
WW POINTS VALUE: 13 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Cooked fruit for dessert is quite delicious and flavorful. The original recipe calls for 1/3 cup of granular sugar substitute but you can cut the sugar in half or substitute honey in place of the sugar with the raspberries and the filling will be just as good. I also cut the sugar substitute in half for the topping and added a touch of ground nutmeg with the ground cinnamon for a healthier and more flavorful topping. This dessert is gluten-free and make a wonderful, filling dessert. 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Beef with Mushrooms and Asparagus

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 lb. London broil, 1-inch thick
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced, divided
  • 4 tsp. crushed dried rosemary, divided
  • 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 small onion, sliced lengthwise
  • 1 lb. asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 lb. white mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 tsp. grated lemon zest
  • Salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
Makes 4 Servings
  1. Score both sides of steak in a diamond pattern by carefully making 1/8-inch-deep diagonal cuts with a sharp knife at 1-inch intervals. Rub half of the garlic and 2 teaspoons of the rosemary into both sides of meat and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook, turning once, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Heat remaining oil in the same skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring often, for about 2 minutes. Add remaining garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add asparagus and mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until asparagus is crisp-tender and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest and remaining rosemary, season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Cut steak into thin slices and serve with the vegetables. 
WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Meat and vegetables make a great meal and you don't have to go to a fancy restaurant ora fast food joint to enjoy this quick and easy meal that is both elegant and delicious. The combination of lemon, roasemary and garlic give this meal a nice Mediterranean flare. You can use any kind of steak in this recipe and your dish will still be tasty. 
mushrooms