Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fettucine Noodles and Meatless Meat

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fettucine Noodles and Meatless Meat

{Chef’s Notes: I’ve gone vegetarian and I’m testing with a lot of potential products and recipes. I’m actually really, really, really excited about it. Anyhow, here we go!}

Ingredients:
> Your favorite noodles (I used fettuccine.)
> Petite diced tomatoes
> Garlic
> Oregano
> Basil
> Morningstar Farms or Boca meatless meat crumbles
> Reduced fat Parmesan cheese

Method:

1. Sautee tomatoes, garlic, oregano and basil in a pan.
2. Prepare noodles to package instructions.
3. Add “meat” to the sauce to heat.
4. Sprinkle cheese on top (optional)
5. Garnish with dried/fresh parsley or basil.
6. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Mash Surprise!

Cauliflower Mash Surprise!

{Chef’s Notes: So, low-carb diet means finding ways to incorporate my favorites foods into a diet that doesn’t allow them. Alright, okay. I can work with that. Just watch how amazing I am! Voila! Mash! With no potatoes! Haha, anyway, this recipe is based a few others I saw around the internetz as well as the South Beach Diet’s somewhat close to it variation. It’s very simply, serves lots, and is really healthy for you. That said, enjoy. }

Ingredients:

> Fresh or frozen cauliflower.
> Fat free sour cream
> Reduced fat or fat free cream cheese
> skim milk
> butter
> salt and pepper to taste

(Optional ingredients)
> Parsley to garnish

Method:

1. Steam cauliflower until it is tender.
2. Either mash by hand, adding the sour cream, cream cheese, butter and milk to acquire the consistency you’re looking for in mash (add more cream cheese to thicken it and more milk and/or sour cream to thin it out) or in a blender/food processor.

**Note: You may have to taste it a few times during this process to really make sure you’re getting the desired consistency (What’s that? Twist your arm, you say? No problem. ;] )

3. Serve. (If you wanted to garnish, sprinkle with parsley.)

Better-for-you-than-pizza Pizza

Better-for-you-than-pizza Pizza

{ Chef’s Notes: I am kind of a pizza fiend, but with this diet thing I did not think I was going to be able to have it, at least not for a good while. Well, I thought wrong. I came up with a few ideas to test tonight, and it worked out great. If you opt to try this I wish you luck, and let me know how it turns out! }

Ingredients:

(Base ingredients)
> Whole wheat tortillas
> Tomato pasta sauce
> Shredded low fat, part skim mozzarella cheese

(Optional ingredients)
> Any and/or all of your favorite pizza toppings.
(I used jalapenos, tomatoes and bacon.)
> Oregano

Method:

1. Place as many tortillas as you plan to use on a baking sheet.
2. Spread a thin layer of sauce over them.
3. Spread a thin layer of cheese over them.

4. Add your favorite toppings (with a light dusting of oregano on top), then place in the oven at 350 degrees for five to ten minutes (be sure to keep a close eye on them.)

(Before and after)

5. Enjoy!

Some possible variations:
1. Using a hot sauce like Sriracha rather than tomato sauce.
2. Using a typical pizza cheese blend (asiago, mozzarella, provolone, etc.)

(c) Nicole Lee 2oo9

Chicken Parmesan: A new spin on an old classic

Chicken Parmesan: A new spin on an old classic

{ Chef’s Note: So, I was wandering through the store today, wondering what to have for dinner, and inspiration struck. I wanted to something a little different, but at least a little close to my diet-y type eating habits. I also wanted it to be cheap and easy to make. This is what I came up with, and I hope you enjoy! }

Ingredients:

> Chicken breasts or tenders (about one piece per person to be served)
> 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
> salt
> pepper
> chili powder
> rice
> white pepper
> chicken bouillon cubes
> shredded mozzarella cheese

Method:

1. First things first, get your rice cooking according to the package directions. Whether you’re using a a rice cooker or the stove, this will get the ball rolling.
2. Season your chicken with all of the seasonings listed above. How much of each you use is going to be up to you.

3. Boil some water and let your bouillon dissolve. When that’s ready add your seasoned meat and bouillon to a semi deep baking pan to cook.

4. Place in over at approximately 350-375 depending on the size of the portions. (Larger pieces means a higher temperature.)
5. Make sure when you take them out you cut through one to make sure your meat it cooked all the way through.
6. Drain the bouillon off the meat and add a layer of spaghetti sauce and cover in cheese.

7. Place back in the oven (you may also set your oven to broil, which will help get the browned, bubbly cheese), making sure to keep a careful eye out.
8. Remove.

9. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Some possible variations:

1. Garish: Parsley or basil.
2. Sauce: Alfredo, with parmesan rather than mozzarella
3. Starch: Brown rice or whole wheat pasta

(c) Nicole Lee 2oo9

Fried Roast Beef Ramen+

Fried Roast Beef Ramen+

{ Chef’s Note: I made this recipe up kind of spur of the moment, hoping for a delicious noodle dinner. It worked out just as well as I thought it would and I thought I would share it with the rest of you. =] }

Ingredients:

> 1 packet roast beef Maruchan ramen
> Chinese Five Spice
> Soy sauce
> Chili oil
> Chili powder
> White pepper
> 1 large egg
> Bok choy
> Fresh bean sprouts

Method:

1. Prepare ramen according to packet directions, be sure to remove the noodles just before they’re finished.
2. Put the noodles and small amount of the broth in the wok to begin the frying process.

3. Add the bok choy to the remaining brother, giving it enough time to soften.
4. Add both soy sauces, pepper, chili oil, and chinese five spice to the frying noodles.

5. Fry for a few minutes before adding the egg, softened bok choy and fresh bean sprouts. Continuing frying for a minute or two. (Make sure you don’t add the bean sprouts and bok choy too early or they will get overcooked.)

6. Plate. You have a few options at this point. You may opt to eat your noodles with no broth, or you can take the remaining liquid and add it to your bowl. Either way you’re ready to eat.

You may also decide to garnish this dish. Some fresh cilantro would be a great choice.

7. Enjoy!

(c) Nicole Lee, 2oo9