We all know that planning meals and eating less processed food is the way for us to attain our newly minted health goals for 2011. I love taking classic comfort foods and making them healthier. One of my favorite makeovers was macaroni and cheese. I actually had the best macaroni and cheese at a work pot luck several years ago. I probably had the equivalent of three cups I just couldn’t stay away from it.
I asked the woman who brought it for the recipe and was shocked that her recipe called for a dozen eggs, and four cups of cheese! No wonder it tasted so good! 😀
I’ve made Clean Eating’s Mac N Cheese and its as close to the real deal as you can get. And look at the difference in the stats!
So I was thrilled when the publishers of Rocco DiSpirito’s new cookbook, Now Eat This! offered me the opportunity for two of my readers to win this cookbook – and I know most of you are cookbook whores like me – but get this – they are giving me two autographed copies of the cook book to give away!
One of Hannah’s favorite dishes is coconut shrimp – I had no idea that a typical serving is over 1000 calories! Rocco revamps this dish for a mere 178 calories. And every recipe in the book is under 350 calories:
- gooey jalapeno poppers (um, yes please!)
- crab cakes with red pepper sauce
- buffalo and blue chicken tenders
- crispy mozzarella sticks fra diavolo (um, spicy cheese – that screams me!)
- lobster bisque
- spaghetti carbonara
- deep dish pizza
- loaded nachos
- and for the rest of the world that loves onions: leek and sweet onion quiche! 😀
So by now you are wondering how you are going to get your pretty little hands on the two autographed cookbooks that are up for grabs? It’s easy. Give me your best lightened up recipe. It doesn’t even have to be your recipe, you can leave a link from recipezaar, or maybe its a Cooking Light recipe that’s in your stack of recipes to make and you just haven’t done it yet.
Clarification: Your can type in a recipe in the comment section, or leave the link in the comments below. You can submit more than one recipe, but it has to be a separate comment – you can better your chances with more recipe submissions! This contest will run for 1 week, and two winners will be randomly picked on Friday, January 14. (Unfortunately, its for U.S. Residents only) The best part? I plan on making a healthy eCookbook with all the recipes and you’ll get a copy if you leave a comment.
Rocco’s cookbook is a great way to enjoy the foods we love without the guilt. And as an added bonus, the cookbook also includes healthy tips and ingredients substitutions that can help keep you on track to your healthy living goals.
And if you aren’t lucky enough to win a cookbook, you can still follow Rocco on Twitter @RoccoDiSpirito and on his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/roccodispirito). Do you remember all the cool things he cooked on previous episodes of Biggest Loser? I seriously can’t wait to make the spicy mozzarella sticks! 😀
Now on with my day from yesterday 😀 I got up early and got to the gym. Two swim lanes were open – sweet! I picked the middle one, and about 15 minutes into the swim, a woman stands at the end of my lane and as I get closer she asks “can I share your lane?” I look over to the last lane on the right, its still empty, I look at her and say “I am kind of slow” to which she replied “then you should be in the slow lane” and pointed to that last lane. I’ve never heard of such a thing! So I asked her if she could move my stuff to the end of that lane and she did. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It’s not like its the expressway! I swam 35 minutes without stopping 😀
I was hangry when I got to work. When I was at Whole Foods I got these multi-grain pita breads – 3 points each. I made a pita pizza – 1 pita, 1/4 cup pizza sauce, baby spinach, red pepper and an ounce of goat cheese. I put it in my office’s toaster oven – 15 minutes baked at 350, then a few minutes under the broiler.
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-6-11-027.jpg)
At lunch I did 30 minutes of strength training, and then ran a mile. Sadly though my blood sugar was falling and I couldn’t push myself that hard – I ran the mile in 13:25. When I got back to work, my blood sugar was 38 🙁 So I had two clementines and a banana – still loving that fruit is free!
Lunch was tomato soup and grilled cheese. I love Campbell’s tomato soup, but its so high in sodium. This tomato soup could not be simpler to make – and I love how the fire roasted tomatoes give the soup some smokiness.
Simple Tomato Soup
Course: main meals
PointsPlus™ Value: 4
Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Course: main meals PointsPlus™ Value: 4 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 5 min Cooking Time: 15 min Level of Difficulty: Easy |
Ingredients
28 oz canned tomatoes, one diced tomato, one fire roasted tomato | |
1 Tbsp olive oil | |
3 cup(s) chicken stock | |
1/3 cup(s) heavy whipping cream | |
1 Tbsp parsley, freshly chopped | |
1 serving(s) Hot Sauce, Tabasco | |
1 clove(s) garlic clove(s) (medium) |
Instructions
Gently heat the olive oil over medium heat and add garlic, taking care not to brown the garlic.
Stir in the canned tomatoes and chicken stock. Bring to a boil.
Remove from stove, let cool slightly. Using a stick blender puree soup. Add in cream and hot pepper sauce, and adding salt and pepper to taste.
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-6-11-034.jpg)
And I had a pepper jack cheese and deli ham sandwich on pumpkin seed bread.
Here is a picture of the bread I’ve been using:
If I hadn’t opened this package, it’s good until November 2011!
When I was at Whole Foods I wanted to pick up some tuna steaks – Tony loves them and I always say we’ll eat more fish/seafood dishes, but I am kinda picky about it. They didn’t have any fresh, so I picked up this package for $8.99 for two steaks.
They defrosted in our refrigerator all day. I just rolled the sides in sesame seeds. Tony likes his really rare, I like mine more medium (although I did end up over cooking mine a tad). I made a brown rice fried rice on the side, however Tony didn’t approve of my lack of butter and skimpy 1 tsp. of oil.
![1.6.11 023](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-6-11-023.jpg)
Stats for Thursday:
- 36 Points (7 Flex Remaining, 42 Activity points not used)
- 35 minute swim
- 30 minutes strength training
- 13:35 mile
- average blood sugar 91
Can’t wait to see all the healthy recipes! Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday. 😀
One of my favorites: Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Cream Sauce
http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/chicken-breasts-mushroom-cream-sauce-recipe-9333
Everything looks fabulous as always…good luck with your goal for 2011
Oh my gosh, that pizza! I want some right now. I am so, so impressed at how low it is in points for something that looks so decadent. Yum!
Shrimp Scampi!
http://preventionrd.com/2010/04/28/2757/
Baked Falafel!
http://preventionrd.com/2010/09/17/baked-falafel-10-not-so-healthy-healthy-foods/
Biggest Loser Fried Chicken!
http://preventionrd.com/2010/10/26/assembly-line-to-dinner/
Faux Fried Calamari!
http://preventionrd.com/2010/03/07/prevention-kitchen-does-panko/
Spinach, Mushroom, Turkey Bacon, Feta Quiche
http://preventionrd.com/2010/05/10/up-with-protein/
Crock Pot Mac n Cheese!
http://preventionrd.com/2009/09/30/wednesdays-hodge-podge/
Buffalo Chicken Dip!
http://preventionrd.com/2010/09/07/weekend-recap-101-days-of-summer-results/
What a great giveaway! I am going to post several recipes…I want to win!!! I’ve turned my co-worker on to your blog and she made your tomato soup recipe. She loved it! I have all the ingredients on hand to make it now, too! I can’t wait!! I made your simple crusty bread to go with – YUM! The bread is only 2 pointsplus per slice, too!
Here’s my first entry: Blooming Onion (I know you don’t like onions, but it is SO good!) http://preventionrd.com/2010/02/26/bloomin-onion/
Hi Biz, oh how fun! I’m in Canada, so no entry for me, but can’t wait to read a bunch of the lightened up recipes. And I’m excited for the folks who win the book, I’ve been eyeing it for a while! Looks like there are some great recipes in there!!!
wow unreal site love it love it love it
I love finding healthier alternatives for yummy (not so good for you but taste delicious) recipes.
I made a recipe for mayo free chicken salad I saw from Iowa Girl Eats.
(Mayo-Free) Chicken Salad (serves 3)
Ingredients:
6 oz shredded chicken
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 green onion, sliced
2 small ribs celery, chopped
Dressing:
1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons soy sauce
squeeze of lemon juice
salt, to taste
Directions:
Mix dressing ingredients and pour over chicken mixture. Toss to coat. Serve!
I love this cook book and will look at buying it either way. I also love Eating For Life too, for very basic recipes. Lately i’ve been craving whole foods and grains like crazy. Oranges, celery, zucchini…that reminded me of my recipe. I made it up last week. Turkey meatloaf. Pureed zucchini, 1lb of ground turkey, garlic, salt, Mrs dash table blend, chopped onions, one egg, 5 crushed grain crackers mixed ans shaped, add just a small drizzle of ketchup on top, and bake at 350 for 60min. Extra moist, tasty, and healthy.
Here’s the second riot inducing banana recipe. You may turn up your nose at first but give it a try. I PROMISE you’ll love it, or I’ll drink it myself.
Green Monster
This is another recipe that took off like wildfire. But it first appeared on OhSheGlows, and now has it’s own page!
Take one frozen banana, two handfuls of spinach, and one cup OJ or almond milk or milk of your choice. Blend till smooth. It’s a nutrient powerhouse and fill you up. Great way to get your fruits and veggies in and your dairy too if you use milk. There are lots of variations but that’s the one I use. It’s delicious!
Here’s the link! http://greenmonstermovement.com/
I have two recipes (I’ll do them in separate posts)
Both involve bananas, and I am actually hesitant to post them because I’m afraid there will be a run on bananas and then there’ll be a shortage. But I have enough in my freezer that I’m willing to take that chance. Only for you, my lovelies.
The first is Banana Soft Serve. It’s all over the blogosphere now but Gena is the one who gets the credit. She was the first to do it, and a genius. Simply take a banana or two (I like them on the ripe side) cut them up and freeze them. When they are frozen, pop them in your food processor and let it go for approx 5 minutes. (I have used my blender before but had to add a little almond milk to thin it out a little). That’s it! Ice cream that will rival the best. If you’re feeling crazy, add a little cocoa or peanut butter.
Here’s the original link, with pictures http://www.choosingraw.com/this-post-will-change-your-life/
I love granola but it is hard to find one that is low fat or low calorie. I finally found the Perfect granola recipe and I have made 3 batches already. Sent two of them back to Spain with my daughter! I won’t ever buy granola again. Check it out.
http://nutmegnotebook.com/?p=2500
What an awesome give a way! Count me in!
This Fallen Chocolate Souffle Torte is often requested at my house for birthdays. You would never know it is the lighter version of a decadent chocolate dessert.
http://nutmegnotebook.com/?p=1451
One of my favorite lightened recipes is a Thanksgiving stuffing. It’s so simple, but by reducing the butter and cutting out the eggs, it’s a light and lovely dish. And, now I want some tomato soup for lunch!