Snack and Food Ideas Group

by bratgrr1 on Feb 13, 2009 at 6:07 am

Mine too!

by Former Member on Feb 13, 2009 at 7:38 am

IS IT GOOD???

by birdsong on Feb 13, 2009 at 8:24 am

Thank God! Holy cow that took forever and a day!

by bratgrr1 on Feb 13, 2009 at 8:39 am

So far I have mixed it into oatmeal (didn't care for that much, but I didn't reconstitute it first and it made the oatmeal dry and pasty). and I've had PB2&J sandwiches. Mix the PB2 right into the jelly though, don't reconstitute it first. (Thanks for the tip Birdsong!). I haven't mixed it with water yet. I'll let you know.

by missladi on Feb 13, 2009 at 8:51 am

I still haven't got mine. But then again, I live in the North Pole lol.

by Nikiki on Feb 13, 2009 at 9:15 am

I just had a PB2 inspiration: pb2 mixed into cool whip free on top of sliced bananas... I need banana's and cool whip now :)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 13, 2009 at 9:22 am

I haven't tried it yet...I think I might make some banana smoothies this upcoming week with it in there. Not sure what else I will use it in right at the moment, my brain stopped functioning after last night.
I'd love to make cookies, but I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of them right now. It will be all I can do this weekend just to stay within range.

by Danigirl77 on Feb 13, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Ok so if I had just scrolled down before posting to the previous thread. I would have answered some of my own questions. Sorry LOL.
I still need some kinda confirmation on the taste......

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:23 pm

I like most cliff bars (if your stores have the chocolate mint one, it is to DIE for!) definately wont be attempting the carrot cake ones though, thanks for the warning!

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Ahhh I just ran out of peanut butter....so does this mean I can't go to the store and buy peanut butter???????????? I'm going to freak out!

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:49 pm

no regular peanut butter is fine, its the peanut butter used in comercially processed foods like cookies & granola bars that are being recalled :) buy your peanut butter with no fear :)

by musicforoxygen on Feb 12, 2009 at 5:22 pm

Trusty -- as Nikiki said, jarred peanut butter is totally fine.

Have you tried Maranatha brand? It's incredible. Sold in health food stores mostly, though I've also seen it at costco. Their almond butter is also delicious. Just thought I'd mention it since you're about to stock up =)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 12, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Maranatha almond butter is fantastic, I LOVE it!

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 8:26 pm

oh big sigh of relief..I am so bad at keeping up with the news! I didn't even know about the Rhianna/Chris Brown thing...crazy stuff! Totally has nothing to do with PB lol..thanks for the suggestion I will definitely look for that at my health food store :)

by Nikiki on Feb 13, 2009 at 3:47 am

Rhianna/Chris Brown thing? what did I miss?!

by birdsong on Feb 13, 2009 at 8:26 am

...I missed it to?!?

Update: After googling...WOW, that IS crazy!

Edited by birdsong, on February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 am.

by missladi on Feb 13, 2009 at 8:56 am

Domestic violence...?? and he was "was released on $50,000 bail" Wow, big deal, he probably makes that in a month. Or a week.

But I digress. My favorite Clif bars are definitely the PB ones but oatmeal raisin is DELICIOUS.

by bratgrr1 on Feb 12, 2009 at 9:49 am

Hi and welcome!

by Danigirl77 on Feb 12, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Thanks!!

by birdsong on Feb 12, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Welcome aboard! There's some great veggie ideas here and also great ideas how to hide them!

by Danigirl77 on Feb 12, 2009 at 1:37 pm

I just need to be more willing when it comes to veggies. I'm so quick to say oh I don't like that. But truely I dont even know how mushrooms, olives or squash taste to say I dont like them.  
 

by bratgrr1 on Feb 12, 2009 at 1:44 pm

OMG olives are fabulous. To me, mushrooms are just ok and squash, the way I've had it is too slimy. But those are just my opinions!

by missladi on Feb 12, 2009 at 2:14 pm

Guys, do you know any restaurants that offer nice veggie options that are actually healthy? Maybe this could give Dani a chance to try different veggies! That way, she could try them out before buying stuff she might not know how to cook with. The only places I can think of are just local restaurants in Ottawa so I doubt that any of you would know of them :(

My favorite way to get people to try new veggies is to make just a regular soup and have tons (and i really mean TONS) of different veggies in it in a vegetable broth.

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 2:24 pm

Brat I think I'm opposite of you, no olives for me, but squash sauteed with zuccini mmmmmm yummy yummy, and mushrooms should be served with every meal, they're delightful!

Dani: I promise veggies aren't all bad, you just have to figure out how you like em (and deep fried is not an option!) definately soups like missladi said. For me I like a good salad, do you have a panera by you? they have the BEST salads ever :)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Welcome! Have you tried to blanch green beans and asparagus and put a sauce over them? I have a recipe called Lacey's Warm Green Bean Salad on here and we LOVE it at our house.


Roasted vegetables is another great way to cook them differently. A little evoo, seasoning to your liking, and in our case some balsalmic vinegar thrown in, and coom on 420 for 20 minutes. YUM


And ya, you really cannot go wrong with olives...or pickles for that matter. But then we're talking sodium.

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:22 pm

"And ya, you really cannot go wrong with olives..."


I'm afraid I may not be able to read posts like this... blech!

lol

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:39 pm

I'm with you Nikki, yuck to olives and mushrooms! I don't do much with zucchini in a while..I have on in the fridge that has been there for a long time lol. Squash fries are good but a pain in the but to cut.

I love fresh green beans and steamed broccoli. Since cutting out carbs cauliflower has become my friend using it in sub of rice and mashed taters. Also everything taste better when covered with a sauce or cheese lol just make sure its low fat ;)

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:45 pm

lol I remember when you posted the squash fries and I thought wow that looks good... looks like a pain though! so I still haven't attempted it :)

by jessoair on Feb 12, 2009 at 4:23 pm

Cucumbers are pretty mild, not cooked mushrooms are not slimy they are actually quite dry, avocados are delicious in moderate quantity, carrots zuchinni and peas are good mixed into pasta dishes.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 12, 2009 at 6:27 pm

We all have our foods we hate. For me: beets and miracle whip. Both make me gag uncontrollably. Ick.


I hide shredded carrots in my daughters quesadillas and tortilla pizzas. You can't taste them in the cheese and sauce.

Also, I chop up spinach very very small and add it to all sauces. You can't taste it either and it makes everything look homemade with fresh herbs and such.

by Danigirl77 on Feb 13, 2009 at 7:10 am

Thanks Ladies for all the great suggestions. I really am going to make an effort to eat more and different veggies. I have been sneaking raw spinach in on sandwhichs and salads. But never thought to use it that way Lacey!!  Also when I go to subway.. i've been adding carrots and cucumbers to my sandwhich. But I do love cauliflower I may have to try them mashed. Also it's funny how you mention soup..because really I do eat alot of soup in which there are veggies I may not eat on the regular.
Great Motivation !!! Thanks :-)

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:53 am

we're having strawberries & cream this year... yum!

by birdsong on Feb 12, 2009 at 5:58 am

Strawberries & Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup...mmmmmm.

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 7:35 am

i love strawberries :)

by missladi on Feb 12, 2009 at 12:45 pm

I think I'm going to be making whole wheat waffles with light whipped cream with raspberries and strawberries for breakfast in bed :D... still need to find a waffle recipe... ideas???

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 3:41 pm

I was going to make chocolate dipped strawberries but now I'm making the cake that hoakley told me about a few posts below. Going to make the cake with a diet cherry coke instead of the eggs and oil and then everything else the way she described except for cherry jello instead of strawberry.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 12, 2009 at 6:28 pm

Yeah that cake looks pretty darn awesome. I might have to try it too with my daughters gluten/dairy free cake mix and see if it works the same or not.

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 8:30 pm

grr the husband derailed my cake plans! lol but since it's for him I can't deny his wishes. We found a cherry chip cake mix and he said it was the one he had like 5 years ago that fueled my search the past couple of years. I will save the recipe and make it someday though!

by birdsong on Feb 12, 2009 at 5:59 am

Ahem....have you tried the tea cakes? MMMMMMMMMM The orange blossom is good, but the vanilla macadamia nut is AMAZING. 'nuff said! Will look for the raspberry next :)

by lccopeland on Feb 12, 2009 at 7:01 am

I haven't, but I will try to find them!  I had the blueberry Luna Sunrise bar this morning...also very tasty.  I really like the chocolate peppermint stick one too.  Come to think of it, there is only one flavor I've had that I didn't care for....but I can't remember what it is at the moment...

by birdsong on Feb 12, 2009 at 11:23 am

Me too....love the peppermint stick, probably one of my favs and the blueberry morning bar. I just bought the chai tea and the cranberry walnut, but haven't tried them yet. I wasn't wild about the carmel nut brownie. It was ok, but not what I expected.

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 11:43 am

I've never tried luna bars... I'm beginning to think i'm missing something!!

by Danigirl77 on Feb 12, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Ok so I've seen the Luna Bars... But I'm not sure when to eat them. Are meant to be a snack, a meal replacement or to replenish you after a workout.

by Nikiki on Feb 12, 2009 at 2:26 pm

all three :) just watch the calories in them and fit them in where you need them. I always have granola bars in my desk to tide me over till dinner.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 12, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Luna bars makes tea cakes? I loves them. I will have to pick some up when I hit up Target next.

I really like Trader Joes sweet,savory trail mix bars..but I am just waiting for them to be recalled cuz of the peanuts.

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 9:59 am

How about taking a white cake mix and adding cherry juice and maybe some finely diced maraschinos? You may also try cherry flavoring somewhere near the vanilla and other extracts.

Edited by birdsong, on February 11th, 2009 at 10:00 am.

by jessoair on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:12 am

http://www.justcakerecipes.com/inxckc.html

by hoakley on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:14 am

I have a really good strawberry soda cake recipe. It might not be what you're looking for though.

- white or vanilla cake mix (I use reduced-sugar cake mix)
- 10 oz red soda
- 1 package strawberry jello (I use sugar-free)
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tub cool whip (again, sugar free!)
- 1 package vanilla pudding (sugar free)
- 1 cup milk

Make the cake according to the package directions. After it's done baking, poke holes all in it with a fork. Pour the soda over the top. Then mix the package of jello with the hot water and pour that over on top. Let it chill in the fridge for a few hours. Then, take it out. Take the cool whip, vanilla pudding mix, and milk and mix together for the frosting. It's soooo good!

by bigj9901 on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:53 am

You could make a jello cake with Cherry Jello!

by hoakley on Feb 11, 2009 at 11:18 am

And I seem to remember someone posting that you could make a cake with a can of soda, like Sprite or something, instead of using the milk, eggs, and oil. I haven't tried that yet.

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 12, 2009 at 10:41 am

great ideas but I think I'm going to try your cake recipe hoakley but switch out everything that can be made into cherry flavor...I wonder if I can make the cake with cherry coke and then poor a cherry coke on top...to muck coke? lol

When your pouring the stuff on top do you keep in it the cake pan? I guessing so or you would have a mess lol. Does it come out soggy? I'm very curious of how it turns out..

by hoakley on Feb 12, 2009 at 11:04 am

I guess you don't even have to have the soda. I'm not exactly sure what it does extra for the cake. Yes, I keep it in the cake pan. It looks runny at first when you pour everything on, but after it's chilled in the fridge, it looks really good. It makes it very moist. I was thinking yesterday you could just use cherry jello instead of strawberry. You could also maybe get some cherries to decorate the top. The icing on it is soooo good. I love sugar-free cool whip anyways. It's a staple in our house. Also, the icing might not take a full cup of milk. I just kind of do half a cup at first and mix it around until it gets the consistency that I want.

Edited by hoakley, on February 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am.

by lccopeland on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:48 am

This is a crust that Hungrygirl uses all the time for their cheesecakes and stuff. I've made it before and it's pretty good. If you don't tell the hubby, he'll never even know it was Fiber One :)

Ingredients:

For Crust
2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original), ground to a breadcrumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor
1/4 cup light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Smart Balance Light or Brummel & Brown), melted & mixed with 2 tbsp. water
3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1 tsp. cinnamon

by Former Member on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:35 am

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:02 am

Or you can use lowfat graham crackers with butter substitute or crushed low fat nilla wafers & substitute. They also have a reduced sugar cookie crust available, IF you can find it!

Edited by birdsong, on February 11th, 2009 at 10:08 am.

by relient-rog on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:31 am

Thanks Birdsong!

by lacey_harrison on Feb 11, 2009 at 9:58 am

So...is there ANYTHING we can eat that has peanuts in it? Unbelievable.

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:09 am

PB2!!!!!! Brat got hers, did you get yours?

by lacey_harrison on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:40 am

NOPE, not yet! I am across the country, so it may take another day or two I guess.

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Jeez!

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 11:39 am

I am making homemade chili with black beans and NO salt, and putting it over Ronzoni Smart Taste rotini or penne.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 11:49 am

Chicken Cacciatore, green beans and asparagus with a dijon mustard "sauce" on top, and half a sweet potato with light butter and brown sugar.

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 11:54 am

what exactly is chicken cacciatore?

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Basically a pounded chicken breast, sometimes lightly breaded, with a caper & diced tomato sauce over the top.

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/laceys-chicken-cacciatore_48781

by hoakley on Feb 10, 2009 at 1:40 pm

I am trying missladi's microwave fish.

by pitapocket on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:40 pm

I made lasagne (one with meat and one just veggie) plus a salad with romaine lettuce and spinach.

by missladi on Feb 10, 2009 at 6:01 pm

YAY Hoakley, I'm so glad someone is trying it :) How was it?

by chelbe on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Late dinner tonight so I'm making it easy. Starkist tuna creations, Sweet & Spicy in a pita. I tore a sargento cheese stick to shreds and placed the shreds in the pita and popped the pita into the toaster til the cheese melted. Carrots & veggies on the side.
Went dress shopping to day and I'm totally wiped. Psyched about wearing a dress on my valentines day date that doesn't have a jacket or any fancy fabric work to hide bulges. I guess my extra work outs are paying off. I'm down another size, YIPPEE!!!!!!

by hoakley on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:50 am

Missladi, the fish was awesome and sooooo easy. It was ready in 15 minutes! My daughter's not too crazy about tomatoes, but she ate the fish and rice. I used Minute brown rice and it was still very good. I'm having leftovers for lunch today!

by Nikiki on Feb 11, 2009 at 9:08 am

thanks guys! I think I'm making salsa chicken tonight... the weather has warmed up to a steamy 55 so it has me wanting summer food!!

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:10 am

lmao! Steamy55......summer food....

by jessoair on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:35 am

I made Rachael Ray's sloppy joe calzones with lean turkey and  lynn's whole wheat pizza crust (breadmaker). I used Fat free mozzerella cheese. Each calzone was 500 calories but they are really big and delicious.

by Nikiki on Feb 11, 2009 at 11:52 am

Mel dont make fun of my enjoyment of these freakishly hot temperatures!! lol its been raining all day though, Sophie doesnt like the rain she did her business and booked it for the door this morning. Max on the other hand would have splashed in puddles all day long... now with those attitudes towards the rain you'd think Max would like bath time and Sophie would hate it, but nope he is such a sissy, he cries the whole time he's in the bath!!!

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 1:47 pm

55..."FREAKISHLY HOT"....hehehe hahahaha

HUG Sophie's neck for me! I wub her!

by Nikiki on Feb 11, 2009 at 5:53 pm

I will, I've been horibly depriving her of a social life since I got back, she's only left the house for short walks and thats it, other than that she's been confined to the house with just me and the hubby. Max is glad to have her back though!

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 12:05 pm

walmart is the devil!! i shop there anyway... but still, I am convinced that they have horned little demons in their corporate office...

by hoakley on Feb 10, 2009 at 1:39 pm

I completely agree, but they've got me by the you-know-what. I've only got two options, and it's the cheapest.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 1:52 pm

I saved our receipts last month and tallied them up to see what we spent on everything..holy shite man, we spend a TON on groceries and necessities. You would die if you knew how much. Ugh.

There are two reasons:
1. I've become a food and really only like to buy the organic/natural stuff, which just kills the pocket books. Plus my daughters diet pretty much guarantees that alot of what we buy as far as staples go are much more expensive because they are only organic.
2. I am always afraid we will be in trouble if a disaster happens or we get hit with hard times financially, so I over buy. Plus I just over buy in general.

I pray I won't have to go to Wal Mart as I can't stand the crowds or the dirtiness of ours, but I might end up forcing myself to be more frugal and buying more from there if gas prices go over $3.50 again. I am so totally starting a good garden this summer!

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm

you should come live by me, we have Marcs which is a discount grocery store and granted its overcrowded, not enough isle space and not organized WHATSOEVER however they do sell organic produce for a fraction of the cost of the other groceries in the area, its cheaper than buying regular produce at the other ones! So I scope out the adds because my regular grocery store has better sales and I'll stock up on organics there, but the rest of the time I buy it at Marcs.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Wow that is cool. I've noticed lately that if I pay attention to prices, alot of the organic produce is the same price as regular. Now why wouldn't you buy it at the same price if you can get organic? I totally stocked up on broccoli and just threw it in some of those green bags so they last.

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:09 am

we have an Aldi's that's cool. Nikki, you're right...I've SEEN the Walmart devils and the ones with horns!

by jessoair on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:39 am

yeah i go to the grocery store with a list. But then...something looks good, and I need this, oh and that, and that's cool, yum. +$20.00 + $5 + $ 10, oops.

by Nikiki on Feb 11, 2009 at 12:51 pm

I'm ok when I'm shopping by myself, but when I go with my husband its terrible. he grabs EVERYTHING... he swears I deprive him of good food... aka I dont buy balogna, velvita, white bread ect...

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 6:59 am

yep unless you buy it already ground or milled. :) See my post down below...

Edited by bratgrr1, on February 10th, 2009 at 7:03 am.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:08 am

I have a magic bullet. I use it every morning to make smoothies in it...it is awesome!

I haven't used it for anything else, but I might buy some flax seeds and see how they come out. I guess one of the blades will also grind coffee too.

by lccopeland on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:09 am

I buy flaxseed oil and put a tbsp of it in my smoothies, or over my salads. I find it in the organic section of my grocery store. You are not supposed to cook with it and you have to keep it in the fridge. I pretty much use it on a daily basis!

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:18 am

I have to keep my milled (pre-ground) flaxseed in the fridge as well.

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:36 am

Brat that was so informative, my official word of the day is lignans... I have no clue what it means but it sounds cool!

oh and I always bought the pre-ground kind, my grandpa buys the whole seeds and grinds them in a coffee grinder that he got from Big Lots for $6 :)

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:45 am

Let me be even more informative:

The lignans are a group of chemical compounds found in plants, particularly in flax seed. Lignans are one of the major classes of phytoestrogens, which are estrogen-like chemicals and also act as antioxidants.

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 10:18 am

you are so smart :O)

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 11:39 am

no, google is so smart. I just love him. Funny how flaxseed contains estrogen...

Edited by bratgrr1, on February 10th, 2009 at 11:40 am.

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm

oh man, I have been dubbed the expert on "wierd" food by my inlaws (aka all things organic, soy or not canned) and they asked me if soymilk would be ok for my nephew who is lactose intolorant. I told them only in moderation b/c it contains chemicals similar to estrogen and not enough studies have been done to be sure that it wont cause developmental problems in growing boys... my husband wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the day because i didn't tell him before that the soy milk that he drinks every day has girly hormones... maybe I shouldn't have told them about the article I read about a guy developing breast tissue who was eating soy for breakfast, lunch & dinner & every snack in between...


oh and Google is AWESOME! I ask him questions every day :)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 12:24 pm

LMAO! LOL....my grandfather who is becoming crazier each day (he literally talks to a witch woman in his head, and sees Wooly Mammoths (clan of the cavebear anyone?)) swears that little boys are being made gay if they drink soy. So now he thinks my five year old cousin is gay because that is what he drinks.

Try rice milk for your nephew. And rice milk cheese. Much better tasting and digests easily, unlike too much soy.

Niki -did you tell him that past studies have also found that chicken can possibly cause cancer?

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:04 pm

no and i most certainly will not, i can barely convince him to eat chicken as it is!!!

side note, witch women & wooly mammoths?? thats awesome! at least he's never bored or lonely...

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:10 am

Wonder if my boobs will grow?

by birdsong on Feb 10, 2009 at 6:05 am

I'm still trying to find the Quinoa noodles!

by lacey_harrison on Feb 10, 2009 at 9:45 am

I haven't seen them in stores unless they carry a very good section of organic/natural products.

One thing with those noodles - double the water, add lots of salt and don't add any oil to it. Stir it often while boiling. It is a gummy mess if you do the oil or not enough water..

by birdsong on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:05 am

I can't find the things to even attempt to screw them up!

by lccopeland on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:35 am

I have a box of Quinoa that has been in my cupboard for at least a month, so thanks for motivating me to find some recipes! :)
I found this one that I think looks good...

Quinoa Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 large egg
1 tbsp hot sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Adobo Seasoning
4 oz Vidalia Onion - Diced
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1/3 cup Quinoa
2/3 cup Water
(I would probably throw some chopped spinach in the mix to add a veggie)

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Put the Quinoa and Water in a saucepan. Bring
to boil and cook for about ten minutes. See the picture on the right to find out how you can tell when quinoa is cooked.
3. Put the ground turkey and all other ingredients except the quinoa into a large bowl.
4. Mix thoroughly.
5. Place the Quinoa in the bowl and mix it in. DON'T BURN YOURSELF. Be sure the Quinoa has cooled off.
6. Place mixture in appropriate size baking dish. Sprinkle some parsley flakes over the top to add some color.
7. Place in oven. If it's a shallow baking dish you might want to start to check it after about an hour. You want it to be done but don't overcook it. You want it to be moist.
8. Remove from oven and let stand for about twenty minutes.

by lccopeland on Feb 11, 2009 at 6:44 am

This one sounds even better!

Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Red Bell Pepper

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup coarsely chopped peeled butternut squash
2/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoon thinly sliced green onions

Directions:

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add squash and next 4 ingredients (squash through garlic); saute 4 minutes. Stir in broth, quinoa, and salt; bring to a boil.

Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.

Sprinkle the quinoa mixture with thinly sliced green onions.

Nutritional Information: Calories 225 (24% From Fat); Fat 6g (Sat 0.7g, Mono 3.2g, Poly 1.3g); Protein 7.4g; Carb 37g; Fiber 4.5g; Chol 0mg; Iron 4.4mg; Sodium 397mg; Calc 50mg

by lacey_harrison on Feb 9, 2009 at 12:37 pm

LMAO, "overflax"....I could think of quite a few funny sentences using that word. Thanks, I totally needed that, even if it wasn't intentional.

I guess in thinking about...overflaxing (tee hee)...you may want to consider how much fiber you've had that day and how much fiber you would be adding in if you used it.

by birdsong on Feb 9, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Ok so now I'm lmao as this is the THIRD time today I have made politically incorrect statements! GAG ORDER! QUICK!!!

by bratgrr1 on Feb 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Try this flaxseed muffin for one in a coffeemug. I've added things like raisins, shredded apple, etc. Turns out great! Looks a little strange, but tastes good!

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/flax-seed-muffin-for-one_41417

by Nikiki on Feb 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm

no no you can't stop, we need the levity :) overflax... thats lovely :)

To be honest I've never really figured the exact number of how much I need, but I would add like 1 tbs to my oatmeal, & another tbs to my sallad dressing so I'd have two for the day. never had any problems but I also wasn't eating a ton of extra fiber at the time so it might be different if I tried it now...

Brat: that looks really good, but I have to ask... have you tried adding cottage cheese??? :)

by bratgrr1 on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:51 pm

Nik...not yet but that's a fabulous idea!!!!

by angiemm on Feb 10, 2009 at 5:27 am

I use flax when I make smoothies. Just an FYI, but I was told you have to grind it. If you use the flaxseed whole your body doesn't break it down or get anything from it. Has anyone else heard this?

by bratgrr1 on Feb 10, 2009 at 7:02 am

Yes Angie. That's true. To make a really long article short, here are some excerpts:
The tiny seeds are quite hard with a tough exterior coating which makes them difficult for the intestinal enzymes to break down. If you eat the seeds intact without grinding, they'll pass through the intestines and out of the body without giving you their wonderful benefits. When you grind flaxseed, you allow the lignans to be better used by the body. Plus, if you eat them without grinding them first, they have a tendency to stick in your throat and along the sides of your mouth.

If you want to grind flaxseed, what's the best way to do it? You can buy small kitchen grinders that are designed to grind flaxseed for under $20.00. These can be found online by Googling "flaxseed grinders". If you have a coffee grinder, this will work also. Another option is to use The Magic Bullet, the little mini-blender advertised on infomercials. It's best to grind flaxseed on a daily basis whenever possible to ensure you're getting the maximum health benefits.

by jessoair on Feb 10, 2009 at 9:33 am

Huh, I bought this cereal called uncle Sam's toasted whole wheat and flaxseed. It has whole seeds in it and i really like it. They are fun to bite into and I have never had a problem with them sticking anywhere.

by angiemm on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:20 pm

I also thought I heard that if the are toasted than you can eat them whole? I suppose it would soften the shell?

by bratgrr1 on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:41 am

Nope, didn't get it

by bratgrr1 on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:41 am

But I look forward to it! (double post)

Edited by bratgrr1, on February 09th, 2009 at 6:42 am.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 9, 2009 at 7:29 am

Not yet! Dangit..

by missladi on Feb 9, 2009 at 7:47 am

I ordered mine last week, so I'm hoping it'll be here by Friday... Canada's not THAT far lol

by Nikiki on Feb 9, 2009 at 2:55 pm

haven't tasted mine yet but I was just thinking that I really didn't want the soup I brought for lunch and might just have myself a PB2 & J sandwich when I get home... yum yum yum, i'll let you know how it turns out mixed with the jelly :)

by Nikiki on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:33 pm

ok mixing it right into the jam wasn't as good as I was hoping for. Just didn't get enough peanutty flavor... I think next time I'll mix it with a little honey & a little water so its not so thin and a little sweeter than only mixing it with water and spread it on sepperate from the jam...

by angiemm on Feb 10, 2009 at 5:29 am

What is PB2?

by Nikiki on Feb 10, 2009 at 1:55 pm

low fat, low cal peanut butter powder that you mix with water or jam or in smoothies, you order it online on a few sites its made by Bell Plantation http://www.bellplantation.com/ but you have to order at least 4 (its good though!) someone else mentioned they found a site you can order one at a time on but I dont recall where it was... they have a chocolate peanut butter flavor I'm excited to try though!!

by angiemm on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:31 pm

I looked on the website, it looks like there's a grocery store nearby that carries it, I think I'll try it! I did think that the fat in peanut butter is supposed to be "good fat." Am I wrong? I like the fact that it is low cal so I can use it a little more freely. I have been using Naturally More.

by Nikiki on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:00 am

from what i heard it is the good fat, for me its mostly that i love pb&J but it just kills me that there's 300+ calories in the peanut butter alone, not counting the 2 peices of bread, jelly & glass of milk (cause you can't have pb&j without milk!!)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 11, 2009 at 9:35 am

I think the peanut butter has the good fat in it, but if you eat it alot, then its way too much.

Every time I get home at night I await my PB2. That stuff better be here soon! I so want to put it in my smoothie in the morning.

by birdsong on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:56 am

Bread with panko and bake, or add lemon pepper and broil or grill; or broil or grill with evoo and a little blackened seasoning if you like spicy.

by Nikiki on Feb 9, 2009 at 2:57 pm

I just have to say, my husband is polish... and the first thing that came to mind when I saw your "I bought two nice big filets of Pollock and have no idea what to do with it" made me think of all sorts of dirty things... and Birdsongs "if you like spicy" isn't helping my mind out of the gutter...

:)

by birdsong on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:58 am

Welcome to the group!

by chelbe on Feb 6, 2009 at 5:16 pm

I don't even by coffee creamers anymore. I fell in total adoration for vanilla SILK, a packet of Splenda, & a dash of cinnamon. I call it a soy latte, YUM!
I find that powders added to liquid have a sludge effect. I did add some of my sisters premixed chocolate protien shake to my coffee once, blech! I hear that Vanilla Almond Breeze is good in coffee. I'm a HUGE fan of torani sugar free syrups in mixed drinks and I hear you can get a sugar free chocolate and a sugar free hazelnut, I'll bet those would be good in coffee.

by birdsong on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:57 am

Torani syrups are awesome. I use them in coffee, teas and desserts.

by musicforoxygen on Feb 5, 2009 at 7:02 pm

For the bacon, sausage, barbeque sauce, and barbeque rub, substitute:

2 pounds spinach
1 pound broccoli
1 jar of your favorite garbanzo beans
1 jar of your favorite flavor of mrs. dash

Salt to taste with tears. I hear that burns calories. >;-)

by birdsong on Feb 6, 2009 at 6:09 am

You don't ask much do you?

I can only offer this in theory with several options without trying, but here goes:

Sub bacon with:
A. Turkey bacon
B. Reduced fat/Reduced sodium regular bacon

Sub sausage with:
Turkey sausage seasoned with FRESH Italian herbs, basil, oregano, parsley, garlic

Use a sugar free sauce; store bought or make your own

Use a sodium free rub; absolutley make your own.
This is the rub I use for our ribs and I think it would work for this. I can tell you the ingredients, ubt can't tell you how much as I go by sight and taste:

Chili powder (hot or mild, your preference), dry mustard, garlic pepper, paprika, onion powder, parsley

That's all I got on this one...

Edited by birdsong, on February 06th, 2009 at 6:10 am.

by Former Member on Feb 6, 2009 at 7:37 am

My boss is involved in these competitions.  They call them Fatties...for obvious reasons.  And...he wonders why he doesn't lose weight on the Atkins diet... :)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 6, 2009 at 8:05 am

LOL Music...

Which brand of Turkey bacon do you buy Birdsong? I think I want to try some, but never know which one is good. There is nothing worse than spending money on bacon and it not having any flavor.

Honestly, I don't know that it would taste all that great since I've been eating better..but it looks fantastic.

by birdsong on Feb 6, 2009 at 8:55 am

I buy both the Butterball turkey bacon and the Oscar Mayer, but prefer the Butterball. You just have to cook it a little longer than regular to get the flavor right.

by kustacey on Feb 6, 2009 at 7:46 pm

So sad to admit this creation comes from my hometown of Kansas City! We do like our BBQ, but really!

by Nikiki on Feb 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm

that thing was just disturbing... and I have to say that I so want to taste it... so... I'm thinking Birdsongs replacements would help... I'd make the sausage from 1/3 turkey sausage, 1/3 meatless crumbles & 1/3 diced mushrooms, & add extra spices. then weave the bacon coating out of turkey bacon. but I'm thinking music's version is the closest we'll really ever get!!!

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:47 pm

If you used the reduced fat graham crackers you can cut out some calories and fat that way too, and just make the whole thing!

Edited by lacey_harrison, on February 05th, 2009 at 12:48 pm.

by missladi on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:02 pm

I'm pretty sure this would have been tasty with cocoa powder!

by birdsong on Feb 5, 2009 at 1:31 pm

I had something similar this afternoon with PB2 and bananas! Works like a charm! YUMMY

by angiemm on Feb 6, 2009 at 9:02 am

This sounds yummy. I think I'll make one this afternoon!

by jonahgavinmom on Feb 6, 2009 at 9:59 am

I made the same thing last week, except i did a frozen banana to make the shake thicker and it was super yummy, and I use skim milk instead of water, it adds a lil bit of protein!

by musicforoxygen on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:51 am

Depends on where you buy them, but you can get them in the shell or pre-shelled. Asian markets often have them still in the shell.

Either steam or boil them until they're hot (no need to really "cook" them too much, just get them nice and steamy hot, takes about 5 minutes), drain, and sprinkle liberally with kosher or sea salt (I like the bigger flakes of salt on edamame, rather than table salt).

by bratgrr1 on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:06 pm

I bought some frozen, out of shell from Central Market (similar to Whole Foods). You just cook them like any other frozen vegetable. My family loves them.

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:22 pm

I can't wait to pick some up and try them..hopefully not to expensive :)

by jessoair on Feb 8, 2009 at 8:36 am

I have seen them both in the produce section by the bagged veggies and in the freezer section. I bought some frozen ones that were lightly salted and all you do is put some in a bowl and microwave them for like 45 seconds. Really easy and good.

by hoakley on Feb 10, 2009 at 10:37 am

Trusty, I found these at Walmart in the frozen section. They were the kind you can steam right in the bag. I haven't tried them yet, so I'll let you know how they are.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 8:49 am

OHHHhh yum! That sounds like a great afternoon snack, pre-exercise.

by bratgrr1 on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:01 am

Are you just trying to torture us with the PB2 recipes?

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Amen! I just looked over all the items on the peanut recall. Scarey stuff.

by birdsong on Feb 5, 2009 at 1:27 pm

You should have yours anyday now! See I'm just being the guinea pig and testing everything for you! ;) I did learn that you should add the powder direct to jelly to make pbj sandwiches. THAT is another story...hehe

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 3:07 pm

How does it do mixing up with water? You know, to eat it out of the spoon? LOL.

by birdsong on Feb 6, 2009 at 6:27 am

Well that was the FIRST way I tried it! My personal opinion was if you like the flavor of fresh roasted peanuts with no salt, etc. you will love it plain. However, I need a little more flavor, so I added 1/2 package Splenda and 1 dash sea salt and WOW it was awesome. Really. So it depends on your personal taste. The great thing is, you CAN make it to suit your taste. Also, when mixing it with jelly, just mix the powder straight into the jelly and it needs nothing added. I've also mixed it with honey, awesome, and greek yogurt, awesome.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 6, 2009 at 8:07 am

I thought the package was sitting on top of my hammock box outside my house last night. I was so excited I grabbed my daughter and we ran up to the door...only to find that it was just the top of the box for the hammock. LOL. I was so bummed. It was amazing how many ways to eat it I thought of in that two seconds I ran up to the steps.

I have some agave and yogurt. I am sooo excited.

by pitapocket on Feb 3, 2009 at 4:03 pm

What a great idea. Thanks

Edited by pitapocket, on February 03rd, 2009 at 4:03 pm.

by musicforoxygen on Feb 3, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Here's another one . . .

Asparagus Stirfry

4oz chicken breast - 1.5f, 26p (120)
7 ounces asparagus - 4c, 2p (40)
1 Tbsp. Very Teriyaki - 1f, 6c (35)
1 75g. carrot - 8c (30)
1 green onion - 1c (4)
2 Tbsp. slivered almonds - 7.5f, 2.5c, 3.5p (90)

total calories - 319
10f, 21.5c, 31.5p

by Nikiki on Feb 4, 2009 at 6:14 am

the BEST breakfast:
1/4 cup southwestern eggbeaters + 1 egg scrambled in a nonstick pan, no oil added
Top with 1 tbs shredded mild cheddar cheese & 1 tbs fat free sour cream
serve with 2 links of Al Fresco chicken sausage, one slice of pepperage farms 45 calorie oatmeal bread toasted with 1/2 tbs country crock spread

gauranteed to keep you full for hours with only:
288C...13F...12Carbs & 34Protein

**edit** fyi to those watching salt, this does have a high sodium content, but you could could cut the calories a little by using morningstar sausage links, & two egg whites instead of the eggbeaters, but its still a lot...

Edited by Nikiki, on February 04th, 2009 at 9:18 am.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 4, 2009 at 11:38 am

This makes my head hurt. But I like the ideas you guys have. 300 seems to be a magic number for meals for me too.

by Former Member on Feb 4, 2009 at 5:16 am

YAY i got one of these too :)

by birdsong on Feb 4, 2009 at 7:16 am

...me too, me too. Anyone know of free wine samples? Jack Daniels? Tequil? ...I'm not picky, really ;)

by lacey_harrison on Feb 4, 2009 at 9:14 am

Ahhhh, getting a booze sample in the mail would totally make my day!

by Nikiki on Feb 4, 2009 at 9:32 am

last year during a rediculously busy month my boss and I bought mini bottles of rum & those mini paper umbrellas and mailed them to all of our employees with a note saying "we appreaciate your hard work and think you deserve a carribean vacation, we can't spare you for a real one, so here is our gift to you, the next best thing!"

by lacey_harrison on Feb 4, 2009 at 11:41 am

LOL, that is an awesome idea Nikiki.

We do a $15 max present thing at work for Christmas. I filled one of those clear paint cans from the craft store with mini bottles for mine. I think it got stolen four times by the end of the game.

by birdsong on Feb 4, 2009 at 11:50 am

Hello? Yuo can send ME a paint can or a tiny umbrella with rum...I thought I wuz lubbed :( hehe

by lacey_harrison on Feb 4, 2009 at 3:07 pm

You are lubbed :)
hearts hearts hearts hearts hearts

by birdsong on Feb 5, 2009 at 6:12 am

hehe....

by emily225 on Feb 5, 2009 at 8:46 am

lacey_harrison, I'm stealing that idea for next year's christmas!

by TrustyT0225 on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:01 am

Those are both awesome ideas! Makes me think of our diy wedding favors. Empty clear beer bottles filled with sand, tiny sea shells and an umbrella. On the outside we tied a small picture of us on the beach with those ribbons that have our dates. Aww it was so cute hehe. I bet people would have loved a mini liquor bottle attached instead hahaha

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:49 pm

OMG, if I wasn't already married and needed a wedding favor, I would totally do the mini bottles. LOL. Who wouldn't like that?? There is no way you would have any left over like so many are.

by birdsong on Feb 3, 2009 at 10:37 am

Ordered mine...thanks!

by lacey_harrison on Feb 3, 2009 at 10:55 am

Ordered mine too...and I will be looking for the toasted coconut & macadamia ones in the store soon. YUM!

by barnwpk on Feb 3, 2009 at 11:24 am

Ordered mine too....Thanks

by Former Member on Feb 3, 2009 at 11:30 am

got mine!  Thanks :)

by blevymom on Feb 3, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Just ordered...thanks!

by Nikiki on Feb 4, 2009 at 10:11 am

I love free samples :O)

Edited by Nikiki, on February 04th, 2009 at 10:26 am.

by chelbe on Feb 3, 2009 at 9:56 am

I cook for two and my best kitchen gadget is the Foreman Grill. I pair it with my veggie steamer and can come up with nutrition in minutes. I don't have any "go to" recipes, I simply toss my veggies of choice in the steamer and about 5-10 minutes before they are done I throw a piece of meat on the Foreman. You may want to check out Hungrygirl.com or even invest in a Hungrygirl cookbook. My sister got her for under $10 at Walmart. Almost every recipe in the book is one serving and I've liked every single one I have tried.
 
 
 

by lacey_harrison on Feb 3, 2009 at 10:29 am

I bought a small "Food Everday" by martha stewart at the checkout stand the other day and it has a ton of very simple recipes in it. www.everydayfoodmag.com

Here are two that sound really good:


Red leaf salad with roasted sweet potato
2 sweet potatos chopped into 1" chunks
1 medium red onion
1 pkg frozen green beans (10 oz)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper
1/3 cup walnuts
1 cup lowfat plain yogurt
2 tbsp white wine vinegar or white wine
1 garliv clove crushed through a press (or minced)
1 head red leaf lettuce

Preheat oven to 450. Toss sweet potato & onion in oil and season with salt & pepper. Place on cookie sheet and roast for about 20 minutes -until potatos are soft. Add green beans and walnuts, roast another five minutes.

While that is cooking - whisk yogurt, white wine & garlic together. Top lettuce with roasted veggies and drizzle with dressing.
Makes 4 servings
257 cals
13.4 fat
8.1 protein
5.9 fiber
(If you cut out the walnuts and use half the oil, you will cut out more fat).
----

Pan Seared Turkey Cutlet with wine sauce
1 boneless turkey breast - aprox 2lbs
salt & pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups dry white wine - like Sauvignon Blanc
1/4 dijon mustard
1/4 fresh chopped parsley

Cut turkey breast into 8 cutlets, place cutlets in between cellophane and pound with a meat mallet or heavey skillet until 1/4" thick. Season with spices.

Heat one tbsp oil, cook cutlets until browned and opaque. Repeat process until all are done. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil or cellophane.

Add wine to skillet and bring to a boil. Cook, scraping up browned bits until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Whisk in dijon and bring to a simmer. Add it parsley, turn heat off.

Top turkey with sauce and eat.

Serves 4
426 cals
8.3 fat
5.6 protein
.1 fiber

by bratgrr1 on Feb 3, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Easy...

Buy a box of couscous mix. throw in some chicken (canned works if you don't have fresh) and steam some broccoli or other veggie you like and throw that in. SO good!

by missladi on Feb 4, 2009 at 9:40 am

If you like stirfrys, it's easy to adjust the serving size for 1 person. You could also steam veggies in a plastic bowl (covered with a lid or something with 1 small opening) if you don't have those steam-ziplocs, and then add a tad of light dressing. With rice or a baked potato (with lemon juice, no salt) and some type of meat (shrimp cooks in no time!). Whatever you do, you can always make a recipe for 4 and store/freeze leftovers for homecooked convenience meals.

And there is this new recipe that I love and I know I've posted this at least twice within the past 2 weeks, so I promise I'll stop after this, but rhis is my favorite speedy meal. Even those recipes that say Quick, Fast, or Easy still take me a while but THIS is really quick, no joke (obviously, you would cut that in 4 for 1 serving):

Serving Size = 1/4 recipe (321 g)
Nutritional Information
Calories 360
Total fat 12 g
Saturated fat 3 g
Cholesterol 45 mg
Sodium 600 mg
Carbohydrate 33 g
Dietary fibre 2 g
Protein 32 g
Vitamin A 15 %DV
Vitamin C 30 %DV
Calcium 20 %DV
Iron 15 %DV


1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup water
1 lb. (500 g) white fish fillets (halibut, cod or tilapia)
1 can (19 fl oz/ 540 mL) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT 4 CHEESE ITALIANO Shredded Cheese

MIX rice and water in shallow microwaveable dish. Arrange fish fillets in single layer over rice. Pour tomatoes with their liquid and the dressing over fish. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; turn back one corner of plastic wrap to vent.

MICROWAVE on HIGH 8 min. Remove plastic wrap; sprinkle with cheese.

COVER loosely with plastic wrap; turn back one corner of plastic wrap to vent. Microwave an additional 4 min. or until fish flakes easily with fork and rice is tender.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Note
The microwave is ideal for cooking fish since it helps keep the fish moist and tender.

by Nikiki on Feb 4, 2009 at 9:56 am

I do alot of cooking for one b/c the hubby 1) doesn't like half the healthy foods I like, and 2) works weird shifts so isn't always home for dinner. I keep on hand at all times:
Frozen chicken or turkey tenderloins & frozen fish
10 minute marinades
sweet & red skin potatoes
different kinds of frozen veggies
whole grain brown rice (unseasoned in a bag, not a box, the boxed mixes are too high in sodium for me)

If I'm eating the rice instead of potatoes I usually mix a little of whatever marinade I used on the meat into the rice, then toss in the cooked veggies and serve.

Also two favorites are:
Chicken or fish kabobs:
cut 4-6 oz raw fish (salmon works really well) or chicken into bite sized chunks
1/2 sweet bell pepper (any color) cut into chunks
1 can whole water chestnuts (you'll only need half the can, but they store well in the fridge in a tupperware)
5 baby portobella mushrooms cut in half

use 3 wooden skewers and alternate mushrooms, peppers, chestnuts, meat, pour a teryaki marinade over the skewers, preheat oven to 400 and bake until meat is cooked all the way through, turn skewers once halfway through cooking and brush on a little more of the marinade- about 10 minutes for the fish, 15 for the chicken. Serve with rice.

Chicken Parmesian:

boil one serving of your favorite pasta until al dente (do not over cook or they'll get mushy while baking)
sautee 4-6 oz chicken, in a little olive oil, cut into bite size chunks.
mix chicken, pasta and 1/2 cup of your favorite tomato sauce in a small baking dish. Combine 2 tbs low fat mozzarella, 1 tbs parmasian & 1/2 tsp garlic salt and sprinkle onto pasta mixture.

Bake at 375 until cheese is melted and starting to brown.
I've made this one before when I didn't have the calories to spare for pasta, and used caulaflower (sp?) and another time with mushrooms, zuchini, squash and tomatoes. boil the veggies first so they're soft then toss with the sauce & chicken.

Edited by Nikiki, on February 04th, 2009 at 10:33 am.

by birdsong on Feb 4, 2009 at 11:54 am

Southwest Chicken

1 Breast
Cumin
Lime Juice
Cabot light pepperjack cheese
salsa
1 Bud Light with lime

Sprinkle breast with lime juice and cumin. Top with salsa, then cheese. Bake at 350 until juices run clear...usually 30 minutes depending on size. Serve with Spanish rice, Mexicali corn or fat free refried beans.

Oh...the beer? Drink it!

Edited by birdsong, on February 05th, 2009 at 6:16 am.

by Nikiki on Feb 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm

ok officially Mel you have the BEST meal for one listed here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by birdsong on Feb 5, 2009 at 6:14 am

...um....the beer part wouldn't have swung the vote now would it? LOL!

Edited by birdsong, on February 05th, 2009 at 6:15 am.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 5, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Yay Beer! My personal favorite lite beer in the summer is that Miller Chelada. Loves it!

Haven't found a darker beer that is lite for winter though.

by jessoair on Feb 8, 2009 at 8:43 am

Any pasta
Chicken or lean turkey or hamburger
Cream of mushroom, celery or my favorite, cream of chicken (Campbell's healthy request)
Fresh or frozen veggies like broccoli, peas, carrots, green beans
You can cook the pasta and add the veggies in the water just before the pasta is done and strain it. Then either add the cream of ... and cooked meat back to the pot or layer the pasta, meat, and cream of... in a casserole dish  and sprinkle breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese on top and bake it at 350-400 until the top turns golden brown.

by missladi on Feb 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Like a cross betweek oatmeal and couscous! It's got more texture than couscous, more of a wheat-y taste. That's what I use for Tabouleh. I like it waaaay better than couscous! Here's my recipe for tabouleh (I've been making this since I was a kid, but I never use the same amounts so you can play around with it, according to your taste):

Combine dressing:
3 tbsp lemon/lime juice
1 tsp vinegar
2-3 tbsp EVOO
basil, oregano, garlic (fresh or dry, to taste)
salt and pepper

Then add:
2 cups cooked bulghur
2 cups fresh parsley
1-2 ripe tomatoes
cucumber
green pepper
mushroom

It's better if you leave it "marinating" overnight in the fridge, but it's good right away too.

Let us know what you try and how you like it!

by bratgrr1 on Feb 4, 2009 at 10:26 am

Is bulgar grain the same as tabbouleh?

by missladi on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:57 am

Tabbouleh is the name of the dish. Bulghur is the grain you put in it. Other people use couscous in tabbouleh, but it's not as good. :)

by musicforoxygen on Jan 31, 2009 at 7:29 pm

I don't know anything about the salmon at Outback, but I can tell you -- cooking salmon in a nonstick pan on the stove is a really good way to go. Works best with pieces that are no more than 1" thick.

Season your salmon however you like! I'm a big fan of marinating in teriyaki sauce for 20 minutes. I also love dijon mustard, minced garlic, black pepper and a little bit of honey.

Before you're going to cook the piece of salmon, use a paper towel to blot off any excess marinade. Or if you're using a spice blend, just sprinkle it on the salmon right before you're going to cook it.

Heat up a pan over medium for a minute or so, and spray with pam. Lay the piece of fish gently in the pan -- you should hear a nice sizzle.

Let it cook uncovered until you can see that it's gone opaque halfway up the side, flip over, and cook on the other side for another couple minutes. You can cut into the fillet to see if it's done, or poke it to see if it's firm.

by SaraR778 on Feb 1, 2009 at 10:37 am

The Whole Foods where I live has these awesome dressing/marinades in their produce section called Drew's All Natural. They are a little pricey but made with great ingredients and taste wonderful as marinades. I've tried the olive flavor and smoked tomatoes. Both are yummy yummy.

by lacey_harrison on Feb 2, 2009 at 7:54 am

I have a recipe in my new little recipe mag I bought at the grocery story for salmon:

Place salmon fillet on parchment paper with fresh dill, lemon slices, peppercorn and salt - wrap it up. Then wrap it up in foil and cook on 400 for about 10-12 minutes. It steams the fish I guess.

Sounds good. I would probably add some thinly sliced onion and garlic.

by missladi on Feb 2, 2009 at 12:55 pm

I know microwaving fish sounds odd, but honestly, i think this is the only way i will be making fish from now on. This works well with firm white fish, but i don't see why it wouldn't work with salmon. It is a gerat recipe and even my bf who doesn't ljike fish liked this one:

Serving Size = 1/4 recipe (321 g)
Nutritional Information
Calories 360
Total fat 12 g
Saturated fat 3 g
Cholesterol 45 mg
Sodium 600 mg
Carbohydrate 33 g
Dietary fibre 2 g
Protein 32 g
Vitamin A 15 %DV
Vitamin C 30 %DV
Calcium 20 %DV
Iron 15 %DV


1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup water
1 lb. (500 g) white fish fillets (halibut, cod or tilapia)
1 can (19 fl oz/ 540 mL) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT 4 CHEESE ITALIANO Shredded Cheese

MIX rice and water in shallow microwaveable dish. Arrange fish fillets in single layer over rice. Pour tomatoes with their liquid and the dressing over fish. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; turn back one corner of plastic wrap to vent.

MICROWAVE on HIGH 8 min. Remove plastic wrap; sprinkle with cheese.

COVER loosely with plastic wrap; turn back one corner of plastic wrap to vent. Microwave an additional 4 min. or until fish flakes easily with fork and rice is tender.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Note
The microwave is ideal for cooking fish since it helps keep the fish moist and tender.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 31, 2009 at 10:02 am

Oooohhhhh, peanutbutter in a smoothie? Wow that sounds delicious. I LOVE peanutbutter milkshakes.

PB2 is a dried concoction that you stir water into to make a lower cal and much lower fat peanutbutter. Not sure of the flavor but will find out soon! There is a website for it if you google it.

by kristidawn on Feb 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Lacey-Thx for your response! I'm going to check it out.

by jessoair on Feb 8, 2009 at 8:47 am

I really like Better'n peanut butter, the only place I have been able to find it is super target I know other places carry it though. Hungry girl uses it in a lot of their recipes. Don't expect the exact taste of peanut butter, it is slightly different but very good, I really like it with apples.

by birdsong on Jan 30, 2009 at 1:51 pm

I have two very different recipes for chicken salad listed under Birdsong. feel free to check them out,. For Superbowl, I'm preparing carribean wings, piglets in a blanket (using Hebrew ff hot dogs), Hawaiian dip with homemade cinnamon chips, roasted herb shrimp cocktail, shredded chicken taquitos, sliders, red velvet sandwich cookies and few other goodies!

by musicforoxygen on Jan 30, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Here's my recipe for chicken salad. The cilantro gives it a nice somethin' somethin'.

meat from 1 large chicken thigh, chopped
1 large green onion, in thin rounds
1 rib celery, diced fine
5 sprigs cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp. greek yogurt
1 tsp. spicy brown mustard
1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1. Mix everything together in a bowl.

2. Serve on toasted bread, or on top of a bed of romaine.

by chelbe on Jan 31, 2009 at 9:38 am

Birdsong, your superbowl spread sounds fantastic! Thanks for the chicken salad recipes ladies. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 11:57 am

whoo whoo whoo! COME ON PB2!

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 12:51 pm

I am SOOO Excited to get that stuff in the mail. You have NO IDEA!

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Me too! I need it so I can bake them when I bake for our cookie exchange!!

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Hey Miss Music, obviously you use PB2, so do you order or buy it in a store? If you order, how long does it usually take you to receive it from the time you place the order. This seems like it's taking an eternity....or I could just be that anxious ;)

by musicforoxygen on Jan 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm

I actually ordered it through http://www.netrition.com, and it came very promptly! Did it that way so I didn't have to order 4 jars at once.

http://www6.netrition.com/bell_plantation_pb2.html

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Fuuuuuu.....are you kidding me? You can buy it per jar at another website? LOL...I think I am a dimwit. Oh well. Its fun to share with others too!

by ToLiveLighter on Jan 29, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Mine came to SC in under a week. You may want to check. I got a confirmation the day after I ordered it and then it was here a few days later. They are located in Georia, I think.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

this conversation makes me think of the Peanut Butter Jelly song...

by birdsong on Jan 30, 2009 at 5:24 am

OK well, I guess finding another site that offered it by the jar was ONE option.... but this was sooooo much more fun!!!!! "Peanut butter jelly time...."

by missladi on Feb 2, 2009 at 1:17 pm

musicforoxygen, thank you SO much for the tip, i just bought mine from there. I didn't feel like buying 2 jars in case i didn't like it. Unfortunately, I'm in Canada so with shipping, the total was 9.20US for a jar of peanut butter... I can't wait to get it though :D

by musicforoxygen on Feb 2, 2009 at 6:54 pm

You're welcome, Miss! I didn't realize it was such a big secret until this thread! $9.20 is a lot for a jar of peanut butter, but hey, better than having a bunch of it around if you decide you're not a fan.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 10:05 am

you can put fractions in there? lol I've been doing decimals too!!

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 12:54 pm

I've made something similar, but with Fiber One pancake mix, cottage cheese, sweet n low, blueberries, and vanilla...yummmy! I topped it with cool whip free instead of syrup. :)

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:29 am

This sounds good! Something different for the weekend breakfast.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:53 am

that sounds really good :)
as for popcorn, I'm just as confused as you!!!

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 29, 2009 at 10:04 am

I guess the thing about popcorn is if you were to pop every kernel in the bag you would burn the ones that popped first...so technically it comes with a certain amount of kernels but when you pop it there is still some kernels left and as far as I know most people don't eat them lol.

But my brain is still frazzled from calculating the above recipe on my plate so trying to figure out popcorn is a bit tough right now. I would just measure out 1 cup popped :)

by lillinkatsmom on Jan 29, 2009 at 11:19 am

All I can say about the popcorn is that it is SUPER annoying...they do not expain the servings at all in my opinion.  Glad I'm not the only one confused!

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 1:03 pm

I still get confused with rice and oatmeal. Good thing I don't really eat popcorn!

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:02 am

Here is a review on www.iateapie.net

http://www.iateapie.net/reviews/archives/2007/10/fiber_gourmet_l.php

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:33 am

Very helpful...ordering today! I can think of all KINDS of ideas with chocolate pasta! What a neat, NEAT idea for V-Day dessert :)

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:36 am

glad to be of service :)

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:44 am

I know hungry girl is a fan of the mac and cheese

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:48 am

It appears they have a variety sampler pack....I think I'm going with that one. It's got the mac n cheese, the choc. and various other kinds. I love the idea it's already portion controlled! I need all the help I can get when pasta is involved.

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 8:57 am

No kidding...portion controls is great. I actually measured out 2 oz of spaghetti the other day and cooked mine separate from the rest of the pan so I could tell how much I was getting.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:28 am

Wow, I am not a pasta person...maybe eat it once a month, Especially since my daughter can't have wheat or dairy. But I wouldn't mind buying this stuff either! A pack would last us a good year or more.

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:34 am

We eat pasta quite frequently, I usually buy the Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta (penne, rigatoni) or Healthy Harvest yolk free egg noodles. I bought a case of spaghetti (not the least bit healthified) from Sam's and I'm still trying to use that up.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 10:02 am

I do the same thing Brat, my husband is terrible about portion control, he cooks the whole box for just the two of us, and when I make it and just cook a normal amount he gets cranky that there's so "little", not that he can eat more than what I cook, but the visual of it not being a huge potful is upsetting to him... I've finally got him to the point that he only cooks one box of mac n cheese at a time, he used to cook 3-4!!

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 1:12 pm

The rice pasta we buy is organic and really good. It has spinach in it. I've also tried Quinoa and potato pasta...and now corn pasta. It is all good. One thing I've noticed with pasta made from stuff other than wheat flour - it takes alot more water and if you put any oil in it, everything sticks together. Not sure why.

by bratgrr1 on Jan 29, 2009 at 1:31 pm

I'm on a couscous kick right now. Plan on having it with toasted pine nuts this weekend. mmmmmmm! I saw quinoa but was unsure of how it would taste and what the consistency could be, and what exactly to DO with it.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 2:34 pm

I'm scared of quinoa too, it seems a little involved...

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 3:22 pm

I don't know about Quinoa by itself, but the pasta made from it it good. I am not super into couscous for some reason. Unless it involves a ton of spicy hummus, flat bread, olives and me sitting on a pillow in a moroccan restaurant!

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm

you need to live near me! we have (or I think had... I think they closed down...) a morccan restuarant downtown that my hubby wont step foot in, because its "weird" and whats the point in sitting on a pillow...

by lacey_harrison on Jan 29, 2009 at 7:04 pm

Alas, I am a west coaster..I think most of you are in the east!
There is a really nice five course moroccan restaurant in Portland that is really fun. They've got the pillows and low tables, and belly dancers.

by birdsong on Jan 30, 2009 at 5:29 am

They have a Morrocan restaurant in Savannah, GA called Marakesh. It is the BOMB! We had dinner there on an anniversary trip and swore to drive down there again for the night just to have that meal again. Very, very good. ...But I tend to love all ethnic foods.

Brat, I have a cool Tomato Stuffed with Chicken and Couscous recipe in TDP you may want to try. I made them for lunches and really enjoyed them.

Edited by birdsong, on January 30th, 2009 at 5:30 am.

by musicforoxygen on Jan 28, 2009 at 6:44 pm

The date on the carton is moot after you open it -- I think most say to consume within 7 to 10 days after opening. Also go by your nose -- if it smells funky, it probably is.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 28, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Anything that comes in a carton like that - rice milk, soy milk, soups, broths, etc. are good unopened up to the expiration date. If you open them, Music is right, you have consume within 7-10 days.

My daughter drinks rice milk, so we buy it by the case at Costco.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 4:57 am

Look in your grocery stores health food section, mine has soy, rice & almond milks in smaller containers on the shelf. they don't need to be refridgerated until after you open them, and then like everyone said above 7-10 days once they are opened. The smaller (I think they're quart size) containers will be more managable for you :) Oh and I'd suggest getting some chocolate soy milk for the house, I bet your family will start drinking that, thats how I got my lactose intolorant husband to start drinking it, he thought it was regular chocolate milk and was drinking it and making fun of a commercial for soy milk and I looked at him and said "do you even know what you're drinking??" he was surprised but has been drinking soy ever since!

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 28, 2009 at 5:40 pm

I think it is an old wives tale to a point. I would recommend something with protein and low in carbs because your going to be sleeping so you wont be using the carbs for energy and will just get stored but protein actually revs up the metabolism in order to digest it..if that makes any sense? Any who I think it would be better to eat late then not eat enough. Or take a smoothie made with protein powder, FF milk and frozen fruit to work with you. You can drink while you work :)

by lacey_harrison on Jan 28, 2009 at 7:30 pm

I say if you are hungry, eat. I would stay away from foods that are high in sugars. Other than that, as long as they are healthy and you're pie chart says you've got enough of what you need for the day, then eat what you like.

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 5:49 am

Due to late hours followed by late workouts, there are some nights I don't eat dinner until 9pm. I try to make it earlier, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. I can't tell you what's right for you, BUT I have heard Mark say repeatedly don't skip meals even if it's late, as long as you're doing some type of exercise. If you don't get enough calories, you won't lose the weight and this will be a much more difficult battle. If you find that you're just not hungry (I wish I had THAT problem), eat more calories earlier in the day when your appetite is greatest. Also, when I have even the remotest idea it will be a late night, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my crockpot. ...walk in the door, dinner's served!

Your diary looked good the past few days, but be really careful about those days in a row where you only got around 900 cals. That will halt your progress quicker than overeating will. Rule of thumb, never go under 1200 per day, and most of us need more than that to function properly. I used to play this scary game with myself for awhile to see how many cals. I could go under my goal. I was pleased when my goal was 1500 and I only ate 700. Until I learned what that could do...and it scared the crap out of me. I didn't play it long. And I won't ever play it again. Just be really careful not to go so low.

Edited by birdsong, on January 29th, 2009 at 6:02 am.

by Nikiki on Jan 29, 2009 at 10:14 am

Those days I was in the 900's I just couldn't eat, on one of the days I didn't get hungry until around 11 when I was already in bed! I'm trying to get as close to, or even go over a little on my goals so my metabolism doesn't plummet, doing a little better this week, but its good to hear that you eat late sometimes too :)

I LOVE my crockpot, I haven't cooked with it in a little while b/c I need to restock my supplies, usually about once a month I go nuts with the canned tomatoes, chicken stock, and nice big roasts, it is the best thing ever, hubby is bad about waiting till I get home to make dinner, and eating crap, then when I get home to make the healthy food he's stuffed. With the crockpot its done when he gets home so he doesn't have to restrain himself... a full hubby is a happy hubby :)

by birdsong on Jan 29, 2009 at 10:54 am

If you like pork i have a really good sweet and sour pork listed in my recipes for the crock pot and a turkey tortilla stack. LOVE THE CROCKPOT!!!!!

by Nikiki on Jan 28, 2009 at 4:00 pm

this is cool :)

by emily225 on Jan 30, 2009 at 3:24 pm

I checked it out too. Good site :)

by Nikiki on Jan 28, 2009 at 8:18 am

lol maybe you should just hang on to mine and I'll pick it up next week!

by birdsong on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:10 am

That's fine Nik..I have no problem with that! You may get it sooner that way! Damn USPS.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:23 am

Yeay! I hope its good...I miss my peanut butter.

by bratgrr1 on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:39 am

YAY! i'm excited!

by barnwpk on Jan 28, 2009 at 10:42 am

I think you will like the PB2. I think it taste great.

by musicforoxygen on Jan 28, 2009 at 11:23 am

I do like PB2 in my shakes. On its own it's a little weird, but I do enjoy it baked or blended into things. Hey, I'll bet you could make some killer nonfat peanut butter cookies with it! Maybe I'll try that later this week and report back . . .

by birdsong on Jan 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Do report! We're about to have a supply! I'm a huge Better n Butter fan, but it doesn't really taste like peanut butter. More like PB & honey type thing. But I love it. I hope I love the PB2 too!

Edited by birdsong, on January 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pm.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 28, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Mmmmmmmmm peanut butter cookies. My fav!

by barnwpk on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:41 am

Honestly, I think the PB2 taste exactely like the real deal. It might not stick to the roof of your mouth as much as the real stuff. I think you will be pleased with it.

Edited by barnwpk, on January 29th, 2009 at 9:45 am.

by missladi on Jan 28, 2009 at 8:56 am

Mmmmm... sounds incredible!

by lacey_harrison on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:24 am

Will definitely have to try that.

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 5:41 pm

ok I just ate my pepper for dinner and will change the following when I make it next:
more spices (I'm always afraid when I make something for the first time-especially when its a concoction I made up myself-that I'm going to add too much and it'll be spice overkil...) and I'll slit a small hole, or maybe two or three small holes in the bottom of each pepper to let it drain while baking so its not so juicy :)

by lccopeland on Jan 27, 2009 at 8:35 am

mmmmm stuffed peppers

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:08 am

eatbetteramerica.com has a bunch of "healthified" recipes that are pretty cool :)

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:45 am

I found this kindof random website a lady has made with a ton of weight watcher recipes on it. I get a few ideas off of there once in a while.

http://www.sponsormyweightloss.com/priorrecipes.html

by lccopeland on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:56 am

eatbetteramerica.com is great!

You can also try http://aimeesadventures.com/

by Former Member on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:09 am

I cannot find which ones this coupon is good for.  I've just about purchased everything there...help!?  LOL

by bratgrr1 on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:11 am

Do you have a link? I can't find this particular pack on their website.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:46 am

Try this?

http://store.vitalicious.com/promo.html?utm_source=EM12609

I would buy more but I already have a ton of the freezer!

by bratgrr1 on Jan 26, 2009 at 9:50 am

I am just leery to buy so many and then possibly not like them since I have a picky palate. what to do? what to do? thanks for the link!

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 11:48 am

Oh man, I still haven't eaten all I got before!

Brat order them, if you don't like them I'll buy em off of you!

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 11:52 am

I'm still waiting for our PB2. I ordered last week, so surely I should have it this week! YAY!

by bratgrr1 on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:29 pm

I forgot how much I owe you Birdsong?

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I was thinking last night as I ate my Jell-o pudding and coolwhip that maybe mixing that PB2 in with the coolwhip might just be awesome! Especially on the Vitamuffins. Oh yea!

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 1:16 pm

No money until I get it. I'll let you know when I receive and ship it out to you guys.

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 2:23 pm

oh yum, I can't wait for it to get here! I was eating a chocolate dream vitatop this weekend thinking how much tastier it would be with peanut butter and some chocolate reddiwhip...

by msbadger on Jan 25, 2009 at 8:14 am

I have purchased veggies that you cook inside a bag from the frozen food section.  To be honest.... I tried one bite and then disposed of them.   They were very limp and mushy.  I prefer chunkier veggies with spice, grill marks, etc.  If these bags work out for you, please post a reply and I will give them a try.

by loreleics on Jan 25, 2009 at 10:21 am

I like steaming broccoli and asparagus in them with some fresh garlic... You could also add some baby carrots into the mix, although they take a little longer to steam.. When my veggie mix comes out of the microwave, I add shaker Parmesan cheese (which is 20 cals. per tbsp.!).. I Can't Believe it's Not Butter has a spray butter that tastes excellent on veggies, but has NO calories/fat/cholesterol at all! The mix actually tastes really good! And if you make a big enough serving, it should fill you up for a while! Also - dill is a good flavor topper, dried or fresh.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 25, 2009 at 6:56 pm

I tried them one time to cook some asparagus and zuchinni...and didn't like the taste of the veggies when they came out. Maybe my tastebuds were off, I don't know. The parmesan cheese on them sounds great though.
I wouldn't mind buying some of those single serving prepackaged veggies in the frozen foods section, but I never remember.


You can steam fish in them too I think. Put some fresh dill, thinly sliced onions and lemons over the top of the filet and steam it. Probably would be good.

Edited by lacey_harrison, on January 25th, 2009 at 6:57 pm.

by bratgrr1 on Jan 26, 2009 at 6:35 am

I have used them for fresh veggies, frozen veggies, meats, fish, apples and have had great experience with all of them. They are a staple in my paper goods drawer, along with crock-pot liners (one of the best things ever!)

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 7:46 am

...call me old fashioned...I just use a bowl. ;)

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm

I've never done the veggies like that, I usually cook them in a bowl (like Birdsong!) but my two favorite mixes are:
sugar snap peas, brocolli & water chestnuts (love the crunch!)
-and-
green beans, asparagus, dried cranberries or cherries and slivered almonds.

I usually dont put anything else on my veggies, I've gotten used to no butter, oil, salt or pepper, but you could add that or a butter spray :)

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Huh? A bowl? Maybe it's my brain not fully functioning, but what are you talking about? Do you just throw the stuff in a bowl and nuke it?

I always steam my veggies over water in my pan.

by missladi on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:58 pm

I have these plastic containers (not a big fan of disposable ziploc bag type of things) which have a tiny hole in the lid. I've used them for the first time and added a drop of water but i don't think it was necessary... i did geren beans and added a drop of low fat dressing. YUM!

So if you don't want to get the ziplocs, i think a plastic bowl and saran wrap with a little opening should do the trick, right?

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Yep, same concept as MissLadi. I just put veggies in a bowl, cover with a lid, open enough to vent, add a little water or chicken stock, or beef stock, my blend of seasonings, usually garlic and and some fresh rosemary or dill, and go to town. The first time I did this I WAYYYYYY overcooked them, but have now done it enough times to know when to stop. Better yet, hubby likes them more nuked than I do, so I take mine out a earlier and let his mush!

Edited by birdsong, on January 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pm.

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 2:21 pm

I like mine so rare they moo.... or whatever noise veggies make, just cooked enough to be heated. Hubby likes his slightly more done, but no mush. For some reason I just don't like extra "stuff" on my veggies, I like my meats maranated in everything under the sun, potatoes should never be eaten plain, but veggies I prefer steamed in water and nothing else...

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 2:53 pm

Well good to know if I don't have enough time to steam my veggies on the stove.

I like steamed veggies with a tiny bit of crazy salt and thats it. But I do love roasted veggies with a good balsalmid vinegar, garlic salt and olive oil.

by emily225 on Jan 26, 2009 at 8:22 pm

My favorite way to steam veggies is with bamboo steamer baskets. They usually come in sets of four, with a lid. If you're making one serving of veggies, then you just use one basket and place it over a pot of boiling water. They're done in no time. I used them today in fact, to steam some zucchini.

by Nikiki on Jan 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm

I always see those steamers at World Market and look much to fancy for me to attempt... you make it sounds simple though so maybe I'll have to try it!

by emily225 on Jan 27, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Oh yeah - they're easy and the most fun way I've found to steam. I feel kind of like a fancy chef or like a Chinese peasant using those. One or the other extreme, I guess.
I highly recommend!

by missladi on Jan 28, 2009 at 8:59 am

I guess you wouldn't put those in the dishwasher, right?

by jessoair on Feb 8, 2009 at 8:57 am

I love broccoli this way: Little bit of olive oil in a pan medium to medium high, couple garlic cloves minced and then sautee in the olive oil until fragrant (min or two). Throw broccoli in there and coat with the garlic then about 2-3 ounces of water and cover until desired crisp tenderness is reached. This steams the veggies as well but gives a really good taste.

by hoakley on Jan 26, 2009 at 6:33 am

I'm right there with you. I always get the 6 oz. sirloin, loaded sweet potato, and house salad. You just have to be careful with the bread!

by Nikiki on Jan 26, 2009 at 2:25 pm

ah yes, that bread is the reason why I only eat there every couple of months :) its so freaking good!! I almost always eat too much of it then I'm not hungry for my meal, which pays off because since I only make it halfway through the steak and sweetpotato I can take that home for lunch the next day, two delightful meals for the price of one!

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 24, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Wow this seems so simple too. I wonder if you could switch the white rice for brown rice? I know brown usually takes a little longer...

by lacey_harrison on Jan 24, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Hmmmmm...that sounds interesting and totally different than how I would cook fish. I will have to try this one. Thanks!

by missladi on Jan 25, 2009 at 12:23 pm

Trusty, you might want to cook brown rice a little before you do this. I have brown rice that's just sitting in the fridge so i might just make the recipe with no rice in the M-O, then take it out, put everything over the rice, and put it back in the M-O with the cheese so the rice gets a bit of the tomato juices. That would work. But if you try and do the recipe an just substituting for brown rice, i don't think it would work...

Lacey, I would have never tried to cook fish in the M-O either, but i saw this recipe and didn't feel like cooking, so it was just too tempting.

Enjoy :)

by missladi on Jan 23, 2009 at 8:35 pm

I consider myself quite creative with food, but i would have never ever thought of using teabags! Awesome!! Will definitely try!

by Nikiki on Jan 24, 2009 at 8:26 am

this looks really good!

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 7:49 am

Oddly enough I have two recipes I got from Healthy Cooking Magazine for chicken with a green tea sauce and a green tea tiramisu. they ran a special section several months ago on using green tea to cook as well as to drink. Both recipes were excellent. I'll bet they are both online. the squash sounds awesome! I may try that this week.

by lacey_harrison on Jan 26, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Ohhhhh green tea tiramisu? That sounds yum. I LOVE the green tea frappuccino at Starbucks, and green tea icecream and yogurt.

by birdsong on Jan 26, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Green tea and I have learned to love Chai tea flavor. I make a MEAN chai tea cream cheese pie! LOWFAT/LOW CAL TOO!

by birdsong on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Is it green?

by birdsong on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:21 pm

...or fuzzy?

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:52 pm

nope it looks and smells good :) does that mean it is! yay!

by birdsong on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:55 pm

JK...hehe ...just feelin a little Friday froggy ;)

Yes, in all honesty as long as it was refrigerated pumpkin will stay good for some time. However, the fresher you keep it the more nutritional value it retains. It should be fine for consumption.

by TrustyT0225 on Jan 23, 2009 at 2:05 pm

thanks :) is it a green fuzzy frog? jk

by birdsong on Jan 25, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Absolutely green fuzzy one ;) !

by cali_riss on Jan 27, 2009 at 3:16 pm

I usually freeze my extra canned pumpkin and pull it out to the fridge a few days before I need it again.