Diet recipes that work

Resolutions

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On Thursday, eat the meals that will be posted on Wednesday.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier

Here we are again, New Year and a slew of resolutions.  This year, the most important one is to be more healthy.  But that has several sub-sets: more exercise, losing weight, eating more healthy food.  I can’t help you with the exercise, but here is where I urge you once again not to use this blog as a Food Porn site, but to start eating the food.

Why should we Fast?  Read what Dr. Michael Mosley says: “We all know how you are supposed to lose weight: eat low-fat foods, exercise more… and never, ever skip meals. This has been standard dietary advice for decades and though it may work for some people, levels of obesity continue to soar. So is there an alternative? We think there is. Intermittent fasting. Based on the work of leading scientists from around the world, this is an exciting new alternative to standard dieting.

“Intermittent Fasting does not mean stopping eating entirely. It means reducing the amount you eat, but only for quite short periods of time.

“In The Fast Diet  book I outline my experiences of trying different forms of intermittent fasting, before settling on what I called a 5:2 regime. With 5:2 intermittent fasting you eat normally five days a week and diet two days a week, cutting your calorie intake for those two days to a ¼ of their normal level. This means that on, say, a Monday and a Thursday you will eat 500 calories if you are a woman, 600 if you are a man.

“If you stick to this plan then you should lose around 1 lb (0.46kg) a week if you are a woman, slightly more for a man. Success also depends on not over-eating on your normal days.

“You should not only lose weight but also enjoy a wide range of health benefits. Studies of intermittent fasting show that not only do people see improvements in blood pressure and their cholesterol levels, but also in their insulin sensitivity.

“As one of the medical experts I interviewed put it: ‘There is nothing else you can do to your body that is as powerful as fasting.’ “    Want more info? go to  http://the fast diet.co.uk

So why not start today?  A traditional dinner for New Year’s  in Germany and the Alsace-Lorraine region of France is sauerkraut with sausages.  The sausages represent abundance.  In the American South, collard greens are eaten on New Year’s for good luck.  Put them together, and you’ll have an abundance of good food and a head-start on the rest of your life.

Sauerkraut and Sausage:  255 calories   5.7 g fat  12.6 g fiber   21.3 g protein   33.5 g carbs   196.4 mg Calcium                  GF  PB

sauerkraut-sausage-w-collards 1.5 cups sauerkraut, canned or bagged or fresh                                                                                              2 tbsp caraway seed                                                                                                                                              2 oz applesauce, unsweetened                                                                                                                            1/2 cup onions, chopped coarsely                                                                                                                          1 Dakin Farm cob-smoked chicken sausage with apple [OR any other flavorful sausage with 110 calories]    leave whole or cut into 1/2″ chunks                                                                                                                                                1.5 cups raw collard greens, chopped or cut cross-ways in 1/4″ slices [chiffonade]                             salt and pepper to taste.

Thaw the sausage if it is frozen.  Combine the sauerkraut, caraway seed, applesauce, and onions in a saucepan large enough to hold the sausage, if left whole.  Cook slowly, uncovered until half of the liquid is gone.  Add the sausage, cover, and continue to cook until everything is hot and the onions are tender.  Meanwhile, add 1/2 cup water to the greens in a skillet along with salt, pepper, and a dash of garlic powder.  Cover and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

 

 

In the Hanukkah Tradition

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On another day this week, eat the meals from another post.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

This year Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is observed December 24 to January 1.  I hope no one will think it ‘cultural appropriation’ if I suggest some meals in the Hanukkah Tradition which also conform with the Fasting Lifestyle.   Hanukkah celebrates the struggles of the People of Israel to over-throw the domination of outsiders.  Many recipes contain a lot of oil to remember how one-day’s worth of sacred oil miraculously burned for 8 days. Sorry, we won’t be eating Potato Latkes today.  Other foods recall how the brave and wily Judith lulled the enemy general Holofernes into drunkenness with her salty cheese and strong wine.  Then she cut off his head, defeating his whole army. Thanks to friend Carol for her editing help.

Bleu Cheese ScrOmelette:   281 calories  10.7 g fat   0.6 g fiber   18.5 g protein  19.6 g carbs 281.4 mg Calcium    GF PB     Since eggs are pareve, you can eat them with cheese.bleu-cheese-omelette-w-s-bs

++  1 ½ two-oz eggs HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the        ‘fridge for next week. ++++    3/8 oz bleu cheese [yes, you can get Kosher bleu cheese]    ++++ 1 Tbsp fat-free cottage cheese ++++    3 oz strawberries OR applesauce, unsweetened  ++++  3 oz fruit or green smoothie or          apple cider   ++++    blackish coffee or blackish tea  ++

Mash the cheeses together with a fork or the back of a spoon. Whisk the eggs and put into a hot pan spritzed with cooking spray. Once the bottom of the eggs are set, dab on the cheese, fold and plate. Portion the applesauce, brew beverage, blend the smoothie or take it from the ‘fridge and shake it before serving. Mmm-yummy!

Salmon Roasted with Tomatoes and Parmesan: 288 calories   14.5 g fat    2.9 g fiber   27.5 g protein   7.9 g carbs   268 mg Calcium      PB GF          One of the earliest meals we made when starting the Fast Diet, this recipe hails from the Fast Diet book in a slightly altered form. Salmon is popular at Hanukkah and this is a fine way to prepare it.Roasted salmon w: yellow tomatoes & peas

4 oz salmon                                                                                                                                                             10 cherry tomatoes [5 oz]                                                                                                                                      1/2 cup peas OR ½ cup green beans OR 2 oz sugar snap peas                                                                                   seasonings to taste                                                                                                                                                  1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Spritz a small oven-proof pan with olive oil or non-stick spray. Put the salmon in the pan and sprinkle with seasonings of your choice. Arrange the tomatoes on/around the salmon.  Put the grated cheese on top and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Meanwhile steam the green vegetables. So easy. 

Boxing Day

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In Old England, Dec 26 was one of the four Rent Days of the year. You had to report in person to your liege lord and pay in cash or in kind.  Well, the holidays are over and now it is time for us to pay the piper.  Did the bathroom scale tell you that it is finally time to get healthy? If so, today is the day to begin the Fasting Lifestyle.

Holiday-After Breakfast   282 calories   6.3 g fat    2.3 g fiber    16 g. protein 37.7 g carb   216.7 mg Calcium          This is a simple breakfast for the day after a holiday, using a few left-overs from the dinner table or freezer. We usually enjoy Yorkshire Pudding at Christmas, so it is easy to make an extra batch: some for the freezer and some for the next day.  Boil your egg the night before or poach it in the morning.  If your Christmas included ham or turkey or beef, those become part of breakfast too.  Or serve one Applegate sausage per person.                                                  

The Yorkshire Pudd recipe is from the King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook. HINT: make the batter the night before to save time in the morning.                                                 Yorkshire. Pudding batter:                 one 2-oz egg                      1 cup flour            ½ tsp salt                       ½ cup water                          ½ cup fat-free milk                                                                                           Mix all the ingredients together and let the batter stand at room temp for 30-60 minutes or in ‘fridge overnight. You will need 1/3 cup of the batter per person. HINT: The remainder can be frozen in 1 cup or 1/3 cup batches for future meals. When it is time to use the batter, beat it with a rotary beater until it is frothy.                                                                                    For the breakfast:  1 two-oz egg, hardboiled                                                                                                   ¾ oz ham OR beef OR turkey OR sausage                                                                                                       ¼ cup Yorkshire Pudding batter with added herbs. HINT: This batter is left over from before and you put some in the freezer. Add a pinch of thyme and a pinch of basil.                  2 oz pineapple OR ¼ cup mixed berries                                                                                                       pinch of chopped mint leaves                                                                                                                           5-6 oz fruit smoothie or natural apple cider                                                                                                                                                                  blackish coffee or tea or lemon in hot water

Whip batter with a rotary beater. Pour batter into a mini-muffin pan, bake at 400 for 13 minutes. Warm the meat or not. Mix the fruit with the mint. Plate the meat, Yorkshire Pudding,  egg, and fruit. Brew your hot beverage, prepare your smoothie. Sit down and relax with your easy breakfast of left overs.

Soup       Take any of the soups or chilis which you prepared in the past few weeks or months, and thaw it for dinner. Asparagus: see ABCs of Soup Nov. 16.  Baked Bean: see ABCs of Soup Nov. 16.  Chicken Noodle: see ABCs of Soup Nov. 16.  Chili Non Carne: see Chilly Weather Dec. 16.   Venison Chili: see Chilly Weather Dec. 16.. Minestrone: see Mmmmmm Feb. 17.  Thai Butternut Squash Soup: see After Easter Mar.27.  Now is a great time to put your feet up and have an easy, satisfying meal.  Got family visiting?  Put out a soup smorgasbord and everybody will be fed well.       And while we’re talking about it,  read  “Soup Could Be the Secret To Slimming Down (No Cleanse Required)” and see why I’m sold on soup.   https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/soup-could-secret-slimming-down-220523163.html

Easy Does It

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You are in the middle of what for some is the Mad Dash to Christmas. So we will enjoy our Fasting Lifestyle with more easy to prepare yet delicious meals. Keep calm, take it easy, and continue to eat food that is good for you.

Ham & Mushroom ScrOmelette 279 calories   8.9 g fat   4.7 g fiber    17.6 g protein    21.6 g carbs 242 mg Calcium   GF if you eliminate the breadham-mushroom-scromlette

3 small eggs of which you will use 1 ½ eggs per person HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.                                                      1/2 oz mushrooms, chopped                     1/4 oz ham [from a roast; if you use 3%-fat ham from deli, the fat will be reduced]               1/4 cup raspberries OR 2 oz applesauce              1/2 slice 70-calorie whole-grain bread OR  ¼ of an Arnold Sandwich Thin [optional]         blackish coffee or tea or lemon with hot water                     nb: no smoothie today

Chop the ham and mushrooms and combine. HINT: I did this the night before. Heat a cast iron or non-stick pan and spritz it with oil or cooking spray. Add the ham/mushroom combo and stir to heat and cook the mushrooms, if raw. Whisk the eggs and pour into the pan, stirring to distribute the ham/mushrooms. Cook to your favorite degree of doneness. Dish up the fruit, toast the sandwich bread, brew your hot beverage. What a treat!

Antipasto with chicken   287 calories    11 g fat    5.3 g fiber     22.6 g protein   29 g carbs 208 mg Calcium    PB GF – if using GF bread or eliminating   This one is a keeper. Simple, off the shelf, pretty on the plate, good to eat. The photo shows enough for 2 people. Invite a guest who is Fasting, too, or use the remainder for lunch tomorrow.amtipasto-w-herbs

2 oz roasted red pepper, without oil [I roast my own, slice and freeze them]                            2 oz mozzerella, cut into ‘sticks’ [I buy blocks of mozzerells for slicing]                                        3 oz chicken breast, cooked                                                                                                                        5 oz tomato slices                                                                                                                                             3 oz whole green beans, steamed, drained, cooled                                                                              1 ½ oz marinated mushrooms                                                                                                                  1/3 c. garbanzo beans, drained if canned                                                                                               4 black olives, pitted and sliced                                                                                                                   3 slices pepperoni, chopped                                                                                                                         1 tsp flavored olive oil, salt, chopped fresh herbs                                                                                 ½ slice 70-calorie whole-grain bread per person

Prepare the ingredients and keep separate. Combine the garbanzoes with the chopped pepperoni. On a platter, arrange the ingredients in rows as shown in the photo. Suit your own artistic nature as to what goes where. Be liberal with the fresh herbs.

Remember When…

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Remember when it was January and you made some resolutions to do something about your health? Even though it is now December, you can still do it:  eat these meals and be healthier.  Start now.  In the Fasting Lifestyle, we welcome the early adapters and those who come around later.  Come on… Fast with us.

Cottage Breakfast:   278 calories      3.8 g fat  4.8 g fiber    10.2 g protein   24 g carbs       181 mg Calcium      PBcottage-bfast

1 griddlecake **                                                                                                                                                          ½ c. raspberries                                                                                                                                                                    1 Applegate sausage                                                                                                                                               5-6 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or natural apple cider                                                                  blackish coffee, blackish tea, or lemon in hot water

** 2 Tbsp batter from 10-grain muffins                HINT: I prepared 8 griddlecakes from the 10-grain mufffin batter, cooked them, and froze them. I made the rest into muffins to eat on Slow Days. Take one griddlecake from the freezer the night before and let it thaw. Cook the sausage in the microwave or warm it in a non-stick pan along with the griddlecake. Dish the berries, brew the hot beverage, pour the smoothie. What a sweet and easy meal.

*10-Grain Muffin Batter: 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 10-grain hot cereal mix                  1 and 1/4 cup buttermilk  or soured milk                                                             [combine cereal + milk and let sit while preparing other ingredients.              1/3 cup butter                          7 Tbsp sugar                           1 cup unbleached flour 1 tsp salt             1 tsp baking powder            1 tsp baking soda

Cream the butter and sugar; mix in the egg. Add the dry ingredients and the cereal/milk mixture. Stir until just combined. Use 4 Tbsp batter to make each muffin and use 2 Tbsp batter for each griddlecake

Quiche:     291 cal      17.7 g. fat      24.7 g. protein       11.8 g. carb                PB     GF                                I suggest serving this meal on a day when you have eaten one egg or none for breakfast. Eggs are good for us, but you don’t want to over-d0 it with any ingredient.quiche w: tomato

One and a half 2-0z eggs HINT: Here is a way to use the eggs left over from last Thursday’s omelette.                                                                                                                                            2 oz skimmed milk                                                                                                                                                   2 oz swiss cheese, grated                                                                                                                                   1.5 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated                                                                                                                       3/4 oz asparagus cut in 1/2” pieces                                                                                                                           1 oz brocoli, coarsely chopped                                                                                                                              1/2 Tbsp onion, chopped                                                                                                                                       3 oz tomato, sliced                                                                                                                                               herbs, salt, pepper to taste

Steam the vegetables to cook until tender. Set the oven at 400. Lightly oil 3 wells of a standard muffin pan. Put water [1/2”] in the empty wells. Or use a mini-muffin pan and plan to use about 6 of the wells. Grate the cheese and toss lightly to combine. Beat the eggs and milk together and add the seasonings. Feel free to use lots of basil and thyme! Spoon equal portions of the vegetables into the prepared pans. Then top with cheese mixture. Pour the egg mixture over the veg and cheese. Bake until puffed and golden brown and a thin knife stuck in the center comes out clean and dry. Let the quiches cool while you slice the tomatoes. Serve each quiche on a tomato slice or next to them.

Gimme a ‘C’

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A lot of good flavors have migrated North across our southern border and today’s menus feature some of them.  And they both begin with the letter ‘c’.  Here at the end of November, let us cheer for sunny tastes and give a cultural embrace to the peoples  who produced them. Fasting Lifestyle is diverse in its sources.

Carne-Green Chili ScrOmelette   289 calories   13.7 g fat   1.9 g fiber    13.6 g protein   18.6 g carbs   59 mg Calcium   GF   The directions below are for an omelette, or as the name ScrOmelette implies, you could scramble it all.carne-scramble

1 ½ two-oz eggs HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.                                                                                   ½ ounce carne adavado [pork shoulder boiled with hot spices until it falls apart: make ahead and freeze for future use]                                                                                                                                ½ oz roasted green chilies, drained [Hatch brand is the best]                                                                  1 and 1/2 oz apple or unsweetened apple sauce                                                                                    black coffee or black tea or lemon in hot water                                                                                                5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or unpasteurized cider

Whisk the eggs with seasonings to taste. Drain the chilis, if too liquidy, and stir with the carne. Put the eggs into a hot pan spritzed with cooking spray. Once the bottom of the eggs are set, sprinkle with carne and chilis, fold and plate. Slice or dish the fruit, brew beverage, blend the smoothie or take it from the ‘fridge and shake it before serving.

Cesar Salad:   233 calories   9 g fat  2.6 g fiber   24 g protein  4 g. carb   104 mg Calcium  GF Straight out of the Fast Diet book, with quantities changed a teensy bit. Delicious!Cesar Salad

1 and 1/4oz Canadian bacon  [that’s ‘back bacon’ to the Canadians]                                                                                                                                       3 oz chicken breast, left over from a roast or poached if raw                                                                    2 c chopped romaine or 2 c. mesclun                                                                                                                1 T grated Parmesan                                                                                                                                               1 tsp olive oil + ½ tsp lemon juice                                                                                                           Mexican oregano [Cesar Salad after all is of Mexican origin, not from Roman rulers]

Heat the bacon on a hot, ungreased griddle until it begins to brown. Remove and slice into strips. Cut chicken meat into strips or chunks, as you wish. Roughly chop or tear the romaine, if using. Whisk the oil and lemon juice in a salad bowl. Add the lettuce and toss to coat with the dressing. Plate the greens and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and oregano. Arrange the meat on top of the greens. Isn’t that a big meal?!

No Time, version 2

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

So you say you’ve got no time to comb your own hair let alone make special foods for a diet to make you healthier?  Here are some more menus which are super-fast to prepare and delicious to eat.  As always, planning ahead makes the Fasting Lifestyle go much easier: plan the meals ahead of time and prepare some parts of the meal ahead of time. Try it;  you’ll see how well it works.

Oatmeal for breakfast can be prepared the night before — that saves you time in the morning! The salad for dinner comes together in a snap.

Oatmeal Pudding: 301 cal  3 g fat   3 g fiber   15 g protein    16.3 g carb   199 mg Calcium   GF PB   A riff on a recipe found in Marion Cunningham’s Breakfast Book, this can easily be prepared the night before.      NB: THIS MAKES ENOUGH FOR TWO [2] SERVINGS

oatmeal-cottage cheese pudding

1/2 cup rolled oats, cooked in 1 cup water  HINT: do this the night before or days before                                       2 tsp maple syrup                        ½ cup fat free cottage cheese                                                                                                                            pinch of nutmeg and/or cinnamon          4 Tbsp. blueberries [fresh or frozen]                                                                                                              5-6 oz fruit smoothie or natural apple cider            blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Cook the oatmeal in the water. Take off the heat and stir in the maple syrup and nutmeg. While it is still a little warm, stir in the cottage cheese. Let sit to cool. HINT: I did this part the night before while cleaning up after dinner. If making one portion, pour half of the pudding into a freezer container and top with 2 Tbsp blueberries. Freeze it. HINT: make the entire batch, eat half of it today and freeze the rest for a really simple-to-prepare breakfast for another day. With the remainder, stir in 2 Tbsp blueberries and pour the pudding into a ramekin. Nuke it for a minute to heat through – longer than that and it will bubble over. Serve with the fruit smoothie, and hot beverage for a hearty, healthy meal.

Tuna-Egg-Tomato Salad: 262 calories 10 g fat 5.8 g fiber 29 g protein 17 g carbs 79 mg Calcium PB  GF– if using GF bread   This is a Spanish-inspired meal from a cookbook called Everyday Tapas. I took out the potatoes and substituted garbanzo beans. The recipe is very simple and delicious as well – perfect to dress up with pansy blossoms [they are edible].  HINT: This makes enough for two meals. Invite a friend or enjoy it as a lovely lunch the next day. Today’s lettuce will wilt by tomorrow, so plan around that.

Tapas Tuna w: egg & tomatoes

5 oz canned white-meat tuna in water                        2 eggs, hardboiled and cut into 1/2” dice                                                                                                          4 oz tomato, cut into 1/2” dice                                  ½ cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed                                                                                                    1 cup baby salad greens                  1 ½ tsp olive oil              1 tsp white wine vinegar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   fresh parsley, salt, pepper               pansy or other edible flowers for garnish                                                                                            optional: 1/2 piece 70-calorie whole grain bread

Drain the tuna and flake the meat into 1” chunks. Whisk the oil and vinegar together and toss with the lettuce. Add everything else, except the flowers, and gently toss to combine with the salad dressing. Garnish with as many flowers as you wish. Serve at room temperature.

Relax

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The busy weeks of the holidays are ahead of us and you know what that means: hurrying to complete ever-longer lists; a little stress; ritual feasting; not a lot of time for planning a healthier you. The Fasting Lifestyle comes to the rescue! You can continue to Fast or you can begin to Fast starting now. By eating less on a Fast Day, you will have more time to chip away at that to-do list. By eating wholesome foods, you will have more energy and feel better about yourself.  Today’s menus are easy to prepare and satisfying to eat.

Still think it will be too difficult to stay on a healthy plan during the holidays? Read this: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Lose-Weight-Keep-Off-34888357

Bleu Cheese Bake: 292 calories   7.3 g fat    2.3 g fiber  14.3 g protein  37 g carbs  250.7 mg Calcium PB GF  Every time we eat this, we go ga-ga over how delicious it is!  Hope you agree.bleu-cheese-bake-w-r-b-applesauceyog

1 two-oz egg                                                                                                                                                                ¼ oz bleu cheese, crumbly rather than creamy                                                                                             1 Tbsp fatfree cottage cheese, drained                                                                                                           2 oz applesauce, unsweetened with 2-3 raspberries stirred into it                                                              5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider                                                              Black-ish coffee, black-ish tea, OR lemon in hot water

Mash the cheeses together with a fork and whisk in the egg. Bake in a lightly-spritzed ramekin at 350 degrees until cooked through, about 12-15 minutes. Dish up the applesauce, pour the smoothie, pour your beverage.

Thai Butternut Squash Soup 260 calories GF PB   Found in the newspaper in Nova Scotia, this recipe makes a lot of delicious soup. Although it looks complicated, given the long ingredients list, the soup goes together quickly.  It freezes beautifully, so you can enjoy it again and again. Don’t forget to add 3 oz of chopped shrimp to each serving. HINT: makes 8 cups of soup. Save out one cup for dinner and freeze the rest in portion-sized servings.Thai butternut squash soup

2 Tbsp vegetable oil                                                                                                                                                     2 cups chopped onion                                                                                                                                                2 cloves garlic, chopped                                                                                                                                        1 tsp salt                                                                                                                                                                            1 Tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated                                                                                                            1 tsp Thai red curry paste, or more to taste                                                                                                    2.5 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped [about 6 cups]                                              3 cups water or unsalted chicken broth                                                                                                            1 lime, zest and juice                                                                                                                                                  1 cup unsweetened coconut milk                                                                                                                      per serving: 3 oz chopped shrimp [raw or cooked – it will cook as the soup is heated]                   1/4 cup baby spinach cut as chiffonade [strips]

Heat oil in large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add onions, garlic, and salt. Cook about 10 minutes or until onions have softened. Stir in ginger and curry paste. Cook for a minute or two longer. Add squash and water/stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 15-20 minutes.

Zest and juice the lime. Put 1 tsp of zest and 1 tbsp juice in the pot. Save remaining zest and juice. When squash is tender, stir in coconut milk. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Return to pot, reheat, adjust flavor with more lime juice and/or curry paste. For each serving, stir spinach and chopped shrimp into hot soup. Serve when spinach is just wilted.

A-B-Cs of Soup

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Nothing is nicer on an late Fall evening than to curl up with a hot satisfying bowl of soup.  Did you know that our word ‘supper’ comes from the French word meaning ‘to eat soup’? The recipes presented today are delicious and easy to prepare. They are easy to eat, too, and have the benefit of providing multiple meals to store in the freezer for busy days.

Asparagus Soup   242 calories   10.7 g fat   7 g fiber   16.3 g protein   33 carb   [GF] PB   This fabulous soup is from Salute to Healthy Cooking and we have been loving it for years. Despite its rich taste, it is very low in calories and fat. HINT: the recipe makes enough for 6 servings. Freezes very well for easy meals later. I serve it here with Finn Crisp crackers covered with melted cheese. If you want to eliminate them, go ahead.asparagus soup

One and a half pounds asparagus                                                                                                          ½ c onion, roughly chopped                                                                                                                           1 cup potato in 1 “ dice                                                                                                                                     5 cups chicken stock                                                                                                                                        4 oz raw chicken breast cut into 4 pieces                                                                                                    salt & pepper                                                                                                                                                  per serving:  1 ½ tps Boursin cheese     4 pieces of Finn Crisp crackers           1 ½ oz Swiss cheese [1 deli slice]

Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus and cut spears roughly in half. Pour the chicken stock into a sauce pan. Add the onion and asparagus. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables so that it will steam/poach while the asparagus is cooking. Bring the liquid to a simmer and put on a lid. Remove the chicken when it is cooked and put it in the blender. When the vegetables are cooked, remove them and put in the blender. Cook the potato in the pot and cook until soft. Pour the stock and the potatoes into the blender with evrything else. Blend until smooth. Return to the pan and season to taste. Cool and divide into 3 portions [or 6 portions if you are serving one] for the freezer.

To serve, thaw the soup and warm it gently. Adjust seasonings. Cut the slice of cheese into 4 strips, 4” x 2”, and put a portion on each cracker. Warm in the oven until cheese melts. Delicious.

*Baked Bean Soup   285 cal  3.5 g fat  8.3 g fiber   11.4 g protein    31.8 g carbs    83.4 mg Calcium  PB GF   This classic is from the Fannie Farmer cookbook and it sure hits the spot. Super easy to prepare.  OK, the carb count is high, but look how low the fat is! And baked beans are good for you!baked bean soup w: grapes & caulifower

1 cup baked beans, canned                                                                                                                               1/8” slice onion, chopped                                                                                                                               1 stalk celery, chopped                                                                                                                                ¾ cup canned diced or stewed tomatoes                                                                                                   1 ½ cup brown stock/beef stock                                                                                                                  dash hot sauce                                                                                                                                              salt & pepper                                                                                                                                                 per serving:  2 lemon slices  [OR squeeze of lemon juice in the soup]                                      1/2 hard boiled egg, sliced or diced to sprinkle on top

Simmer beans, onion, celery, and tomatoes in a covered pan for 30 minutes or until celery is soft. Add brown stock, hot sauce, salt, and pepper and heat through. Run it all through the blender or food processer. Serve with lemon slices and egg slices as a garnish. Fast, easy, inexpensive, good.

Chicken Noodle Soup   293 calories   10.1 g. fat    20 g. protein      28 g. carbs  HINT: This makes enough for two servings. Invite a friend or freeze for another easy meal.Chicken Noodle Soup

3 cups chicken or turkey broth                                                                                                                   2 oz chicken white meat, diced or shredded                                                                                         1 oz broken spaghetti or linguine                                                                                                            ¼ c. white beans, drained and rinsed if canned                                                                                 1.5 oz carrot, diced                                                                                                                                               1.5 oz green beans, cut into 1” pieces                                                                                                               1 0z Canadian or back bacon, slivered                                                                                    seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, dried thyme, dried sage                                                                    Per serving: 1 tsp grated Parmesan cheese + generous sprinkling of parsley

Bring the broth to a simmer and cook the noodles until almost tender. If the chicken is raw, throw it in the pot to cook. Add the beans, carrot, green beans, Canadian bacon and seasonings. When heated through, ladle into bowls and top with the cheese and parsley. Yum. Yum.

No Time

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Got no time at all for dieting? Your life is so hectic that all you can do is grab fast food on the run? Hold it right there, my friend: we’re going to put the FAST in Fasting. The Fasting Lifestyle has something for everyone and today’s menus go on the plate in no time flat. Any more excuses?

Dutch Breakfast 290 calories   8 g fat  3.8 g fiber    16 g protein  36 g carbs    210 mg Calcium GF – if using GF bread   This meal is inspired by a breakfast I enjoyed in Amsterdam in 1969. That was served in a hotel restaurant, but you can pull this together in no time at home, using ingredients straight out of the ‘fridge.Dutch b-fast, h-b egg

one 2-oz egg, hard-boiled or coddled HINT: the hardboiled egg can be made days before ½ oz ham, low-fat from the deli                                                                                                                      ½ of an Arnold Multi-grain Sandwich Thin [50 cal] OR ½ slice 70-cal multi-grain bread [35 cal] OR one “Holland Rusk” [35 cal]                                                                                                                1/4 oz [1/2” cube] Jarlsberg cheese [if you used less bread, you could have more cheese]                         2 oz melon or apple or pear OR a mixed fruit cup                                                                                              4 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or unpasturized apple cider                                                   blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Warm the ham in a skillet, toast the bread, brew your beverage, slice the fruit, cube the cheese. Prepare the smoothie or take the other half of the smoothie recipe from ‘fridge and shake it to mix.

Baltic Bake:  280 cal    5.5 g fat    6.6 g fiber   11 g protein   29 g carbs    75.5 mg Calcium GF Believe it or not, this is from the book Two Fat Ladies Obsessions. The meal has wonderful Eastern European flavors and is so simple to prepare that I assembled it in 16 minutes!!baltic-bake-in-pasta-bowl

1.5 low-fat hot dogs [I like Hebrew National reduced-fat]                                                                                ½ cup canned or bagged or fresh sauerkraut, drained;  reserve some juice                                                                                                   ¼ c pickled beets, drained                                                                                                                                            ¼ c sliced onions                                                                                                                                                    ½ tsp horseradish                                                                                                                                                    2 Tbsp white beans, rinsed and drained

Put the hot dogs [frozen or thawed] and onions in a saucepan with a little water or some juice from the sauerkraut. Heat until the dogs are cooked and most of the liquid is evaporated. Remove the dogs and add remaining ingredients to the pan to heat. Cut the hot dogs into 5-6 pieces and put them back in the pan until all ingredients are heated through.