Saturday, February 15, 2014

THM-S MEAL: Pizza in a Bowl

PIZZA IN A BOWL



Ingredients-
Plenty of sliced Italian Sausage (or you could use regular, smoked and you could also simply use ground Italian Sausage)
Plenty of thinly sliced Onion
Plenty of thinly sliced Red Bell Pepper (you could also add green for variety and extra color)
Plenty of Black Olives (Sliced or whole)
Plenty of Sliced Mushrooms (if you like them)
Pretty much, whatever else you would like on a pizza!
1/2 Head of thinly sliced Green Cabbage (boiled and drained)
1-2 Cans of Diced Tomatoes
Desired amount (I use about a tsp of each) Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Sea Salt, Pepper
1-2 TBSP Dried Basil
1/4 cup Aged Parmesan (green can)
1/2-1 cup (or more if you like) grated Mozzarella Cheese

Directions-Set your cabbage on to boil. Stir all ingredients (except cheeses) into the large skillet, and heat/stir while cooking at Medium/High heat. When cabbage is cooked to a soft, but not mushy, texture, drain and add it to the skillet with other ingredients. When everything looks soft/done, but not mushy, go ahead and turn off the heat and add the cheeses. Stir it well, and serve. This makes a TON, obviously, but you see, I prefer not to have to cook for our family, too often. This will be nice and easy, to just pull it out and enjoy, throughout the week, without added trouble. 


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

(THM E MEAL)- 30 Minute Chili

30 MINUTE CHILI


Ingredients-
3 Cans Black Beans, or throw in some canned Great Northern Beans
2 Cans Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Tomato Sauce
About 15 oz. Organic Chicken Broth (0 Fat)
1.5-2 lb. Very Lean Ground Turkey (when I say lean, I mean 97% Fat Free) In a big hurry? Use 3-4 cans of cooked chicken breast instead!! It's so good!
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1 TBSP Onion Powder
2 tsp. Cumin
1-2 tsp. Chili Powder
One shake Truvia (if you like a hint of sweet to balance out the tangy tomato)

Directions-
Brown the turkey on Med/High, in skillet, stirring and breaking it apart. If you are using the faster method, with canned chicken breast, just go ahead and open all cans and put it all right into a large sauce pan together~ Add 3 cans of black beans, but drain and rinse two of them. Add the other cans of ingredients, and broth, then season as desired. Turn heat to Low/Med. and simmer for 30 minutes before serving.

Tastes like you worked all day on it!




Tuesday, February 11, 2014

(THM-E SNACK) Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffins

APPLE CINNAMON OAT MUFFINS



Ingredients:
2 Cups Oats
1/4 Cup Oat Fiber
1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
1 TBSP Baking Powder
1 TBSP Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. Xanthan Gum
5 Doonks Stevia Powder
1/4 Cup Erythritol (Or desired sweetener to your taste/liking)
2 TBSP Melted Refined Coconut Oil (this can be omitted and the recipe still works great, but if you skip it, be sure to add 5g fat to your E food, like a bit of butter on your muffins)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1.5 Cup Egg White ( from the carton) (I've revised this from 1 Cup, to make up for the less applesauce)
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce (I've revised this from the original 1.5 C, to lower sugar)

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare your muffin tin with non-stick spray. Put your sweetener into processor and powder it. If you desire a sweeter taste (go ahead, check the batter to see if you like it, then decide), then add more, up to double the sweetener. Just be sure to powder it first.

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Now, add the wet ingredients and mix well. Scoop equal amounts of this thick mixture, into a prepared/sprayed muffin tin and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. 

These are super moist and make a great snack or meal. I enjoy two of these, with a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Swiss spread over the top. Sometimes, I'll just have them alone, or with a half cup of low fat cottage cheese. Great snack on the run! This mix yields 24 muffins if you fill to half capacity or go ahead and fill the tin to the top and you'll have 24 huge muffins!

These are a favorite around here!






(THM-S SNACK/TREAT) Skinny Chocolate w/Salted Caramel Top

SKINNY CHOCOLATE W/SALTED CARAMEL TOP (You could use this same method for Peppermint Top)




 Ingredients:
Caramel Flavored Top-
4 TBSP melted Refined Coconut Oil ( I melt in microwave for about 25 seconds
Pinch Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. Caramel Extract
2 Shakes Stevia Powder
2 tsp. Erythritol (or simply use sweetener of your choice, to desired taste)
Directions: Sprinkle a tiny bit of Sea Salt into each silicone candy mold. Mix melted coconut oil with sweetener and caramel extract. Pour about a tsp. of the flavored coconut oil into each candy mold. This made about 16 candies. Place the candy mold into the freezer for about 10 minutes, while you mix up the chocolaty mix. I use a cookie sheet to keep it all need and easy to move about.

Chocolate Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1 Scoop (plan approved-I use Swanson) Protein Powder
4 shakes Stevia Powder
3 TBSP Erythritol ( or simply use sweetener of your choice, to desired taste)
1/4 Cup melted Refined Coconut Oil ( I melt in microwave for about 25 seconds)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Directions-Put the Sea Salt, Protein Powder and Sweetener into the "shake" maker/blender and blend to form a fine powder. Adding the protein powder to this mix just gives you that extra nutrition in every bite!
Pour this mix into the Cocoa Powder and add the melted Coconut Oil and Vanilla Extract. Mix together very well, and pour the chocolaty mix, evenly, into the candy molds, over the solidified caramel/coconut oil. Now, place this back into the freezer for another 15 minutes. Remove from freezer and remove candies from the mold, onto a plate. Store in the refrigerator. Try to hide these from the kids! Everyone loves these!

You can use this same idea for Peppermint Tops! Simply replace the Caramel Extract with a few drops of Peppermint Extract. I'd have done it tonight, but I dropped my bottle of Peppermint Extract last night, and spent the next 15 minutes soaking up the liquid and wiping up all of the glass shards on my counter top! Such a pretty treat!

Of course, you could use just about any flavoring in the "top" of this candy, by adding the desired "extract" into the melted coconut oil, and pouring this mix into the mold to freeze first. I would enjoy Orange, Lemon, Peppermint. These colors would all keep the oil "white" for the top of the candy, which is just SO pretty!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

(THM-S SNACK) Very Chocolate Muffins w/Chocolate-Coconut Frosting

VERY CHOCOLATE MUFFINS with CHOCOLATE-COCONUT FROSTING
This one has become one of my favorite "go-to" snacks. I enjoy two of these muffins for breakfast or a snack with coffee. Quite filling and fast! I make up a big batch of these over the weekend, in no time FLAT, for a smoother week, filled with easy "Grab N Go" foods!
Very Chocolate Muffins w/Coconut Frosting
Recipe-
Ingredients: 1 Cup Almond Flour
1/2 Cup Coconut Flour
1 TBSP Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Flax Meal
1-2 Scoop Protein Powder ( I use Swanson, as it is THM approved, and the reason that I say 1-2, is because it really doesn't change the consistency, but using more, will add to the nutritional value, as well as add a few more calories per muffin)
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 tsp. Baking Powder
Sweetener ( No sugar! I use a mix of Stevia Powder and Erythritol, but you could simply use your own Truvia to desired sweetness. I have realized that I use less and less sweetener, as I've moved farther away from refined sugar, so I used about 4 shakes of Stevia and 3 TBSP Erythritol in this recipe for muffins)
1.5 tsp. Xanthan (or Guar) Gum
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup  Coconut Oil ( gently melted-I use the microwave for this-20 seconds)
2 Cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Cup Egg White (from carton)
1/2 Cup Water (For a lighter muffin, you could add a little more water. These are pretty dense.)

MIX-Dry ingredients together. Add the wet ingredients. Mix well. Pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into prepared/sprayed muffin tins. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until firm/done. I stick a knife in the center to see that it is done, when it is dry as I pull it out. Now, let these cool, before frosting them.

FROSTING-Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Coconut Oil (The less expensive option would be the Unrefined, and this would also give you a more flavorful frosting! Be sure to melt this in the microwave for about 20 seconds)
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Pinch Sea Salt
1 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
Sweetener to desired taste (I use 3-4 shakes Stevia Powder and 1/4 cup Erythritol. You could use about 1/4 cup Truvia)
Note-You could back off by "half" of the Coconut and, instead, use 4 oz. of Cream Cheese. I've done it and it's great!
Mix it all together well. It's going to be very thick. Add just about 1/4 Cup of Hot Water and continue to mix it well, so it is ready to spread.
Note-This "Frosting" is very much like the THM "Skinny Chocolate"! Very good for you!!

This entire mix YIELDS about 28-32 muffins. Store in the refrigerator.