weight loss

Saint Nicholas

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Today is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, the father of the Christmas stocking and the origin of the traditional “Father Christmas” and “Santa Claus.”  He was a bishop in Turkey, possibly being of Greek origin. On this day in Holland, Germany, Hungary, and many other countries, Saint Nicholas himself visits houses leaving presents for children.  Give yourself the present of good health and long life. Stay with the Fasting Lifestyle today, even though you celebrate a Feast Day with a breakfast from Holland and a dinner from Greece.

Dutch Breakfast    308 calories     6 g fat       10.7 g protein       22 g carbDutch b-fast w: S-Bs + Ruskone 2-oz egg, hard-boiled or coddled HINT: the hardboiled egg can be made days before                                        [that’s a baked egg in the photo]                           ½ oz ham, low-fat from the deli                                                                                           ½ of an Arnold Multi-grain Sandwich Thin [50 cal] OR ½ slice 70-cal bread [35 cal]                                                         OR one “Holland Rusk” [35 cal]                                                   1/8 oz [1/2” cube] cheese if you used less bread, you could have more cheese                     2 oz melon or apple or pear                                                                                               5-6 oz fruit smoothie [March 15, 2015] or green smoothie [June 10, 2015] 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.

Meze Meal  297 calories  10 g. fat   36 g protein   21.8 g carb   PB GFMeze Meal w: shrimp, ‘Meze’ is the Greek equivalent of Spanish Tapas. Very ‘Mediterranean Diet.’ Well, we don’t live on a vast inland sea, but we’ll take good low calorie, low fat, delicious food where ever we can find it. There are lots of good recipes in the book Meze by Rosemary Barron.

1/4 cup white beans    &   ½ Tbsp capers                                                                      1 oz marinated mushrooms                                                                                                3 oz tomato, cubed   &   generous pinch Greek oregano                                            3 oz cooked shrimp [or 2 oz cooked chicken breast]                                                           1 oz mozzerella cheese [or use feta, same amount]                                                      1 ½ oz lemon-marinated carrots                                                                        marinade: 1 tsp olive oil + 1 tsp lemon juice + pinch of granulated garlic + pinch oregano

Combine the white beans with the capers in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine the tomatoes and the oregano. Slice the carrots into small logs or coins and cook until tender. Drain and combine with the marinade in a small jar with a lid. Shake well, remove the lid and let the carrots cool in the marinade. Attend to the shrimp by cooking it and removing the shells, if necessary. Drain the marinade from the jar and pour it over the shrimp. Plate the ingredients to please the eye. Look at photos of the Agean Sea….and try to imagine Santa Claus in that setting.

Delicious Sounds Good…

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After lots of family and fuss over Thanksgiving week-end, let’s treat ourselves to some delicious food that will slim you down again.  These menus are rich in flavor yet low in calories. Sounds good to me.

Egg-Mushroom Toast 290 caloriesmushroom-egg toast w: apples & gr smoo

This is yummy. The eggs are creamy and the mushrooms lend a mysterious layer of flavor. I like this better than poached eggs.

1 piece 35-cal bread OR 1/2 piece 70-cal bread                                                          one 2-oz egg                                                                                                                          1 oz mushrooms, chopped                                                                                                      1 Tbsp chives, chopped                                                                                                         1 ½ oz of apple                                                                                                             blackish coffee, blackish tea, or lemon in hot water                                                  5-6 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or natural apple cider

Toast the bread. Spritz the non-stick saute pan with oil or spray and gently cook the mushrooms. Put the chives, salt, and pepper in with the egg and beat it up. Scramble lightly with the mushrooms, keeping the eggs moist. Turn the eggs out over the toast and plate the fruit. Sip your beverages and have a good day.

Baked White Fish  265 cal   8.7 g. fat    36.4 g. protein   14.2 g carb        Another winner from the Fast Diet book.  PB GFFish baked with Cheese

6 oz firm white fish fillets such as haddock                                                                 1/2 oz cheddar cheese, grated                                                                                           3 oz broccoli florets                                                                                                                 1 oz parsnip, sliced as coins                                                                                                  1 cup salad greens                                                                                                                  ½ tsp lemon juice +  1/2 tsp olive oil + 1/2 tsp low-fat mayonnaise

Heat the oven to 400. Put the fish in an oven-proof dish which has been lightly smeared with olive oil. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the broccoli and parsnips. Whisk the juice, oil, and mayo in a salad bowl. Add the lettuce and some fresh or dried herbs. Toss the salad. How easy it is to be healthy!

For The Adventurous

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Sometimes we eat food that is quick; that is familiar; that spells comfort for us; that is what we’ve had before.  And sometimes we want to do something completely different! For those of you who are adventurous, here we go. And believe it or not, we are still on the Fast diet — even with baked beans and spring rolls!

Improper English     265 cal.     4.3 g. fat       17.2 g. protein          47.5 g. carb                               A “proper English” is the full Victorian breakfast, serving every conceivable food you can imagine. This version leaves out the eggs and kippers [how improper!], but keeps the protein-rich baked beans along with the rest of the usual stand-bys.Improper English

¼ cup baked beans                                                                                                                                      one 50-60 calorie sausage                                                                                                                             ½ piece of 70-cal toast                                                                                                                                     ½ of a 2.5” diameter tomato                                                                                                                            1 oz mushrooms                                                                                                                                                a few grapes or strawberries                                                                                                                         5-6 oz fruit smoothie or unpasturized apple cider                                                                        blackish coffee or tea or lemon in hot water

Cut the tomato around its equator and put one half away for later. Salt the tomato and put under the broiler until it softens. Cook the sausage and mushrooms in the same pan to heat through. Heat the beans – perhaps in the microwave. Toast the bread and brew the hot beverage. Pour the smoothie and plate everything. Cheerio!

Shrimp Spring Rolls 290 caloriesShrimp Spring Rolls

This is the same recipe as the Shrimp with Udon Noodles but without the noodles. The Spring Roll wrappers look like 8” disks of opaque plastic, but after soaking for 10-15 seconds in water, they become clear and very pliant. If you are not accustomed to wrapping spring rolls or egg rolls, you might want to practice using wonton wrappers which are easier to manipulate.

3 oz raw shrimp, cleaned and cut in half across the body                                                                                            2 oz carrot, peeled and sliced into thin coins or cut as julienne                                                        1½ oz green cabbage                                                                                                                                            1 1/2 tsp soy sauce                                                                                                                                                1 tsp olive oil                                                                                                                                                          1 oz chopped green onion [or 2 Tbsp steamed chopped broccoli]                                              Thai hot chili sauce                                                                                                                                          three 8″ Spring Roll wrappers

Chop and prepare all the ingredients and put them in small dishes near the stove-top. Heat a cast iron skillet or wok until hot and add the oil. When it is hot, add the carrot and cabbage. Stirfry for 3 minutes on heat high enough to keep the vegetables sizzling. If the pan becomes dry, add some water. This is supposed to be a no-no in stir-frying, but we are cutting down on oil, OK? Add the shrimp and stirfry about 1 minute, until it is cooked. Add the scallion or cooked broccoli and soy sauce. Stirfry a bit longer until all is mixed and warm. Take off the heat. Remove the cooked mixture to a bowl. [if you want to, run it briefly through the food processor. This step is optional.]                                            Wipe out the pan and put a mere film of oil on it. Turn on the heat to medium-low.               Put a pie plate of warm water on the counter. Add one of the spring roll wrappers. When it is clear, remove it and lay it flat on a dish towel. Spoon 1/3 of the mixture onto the wrapper. Roll up a bit, then fold in the sides, then finish rolling. Put the roll in the warm pan. Repeat with the other rolls. In the pan, turn the rolls until they are warm and slightly browned.    Serve with a dollop of hot sauce.

Number One Son

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Today is the birthday of Number One Son, so we will celebrate with a breakfast that he might not like and a dinner he would enjoy.  The breakfast involves blueberries which he stopped eating when he saw that the insides were actually green and gooey-looking. But he does like oatmeal. The crab cakes are a real winner and a family favorite.

Oatmeal Pudding      295 cal       2.6 g. fat          12.1 g. protein      49.7 g. carb      GF PBoatmeal pudding w: green smoothie

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] PERSONS OR 2 [two] MEALS FOR ONE PERSON

½ cup oatmeal, cooked in 1 cup water                                                                                                      2 tsp maple syrup                                                                                                                                             ½ cup fatfree cottage cheese                                                                                                                  pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon                                                                                                                     4 Tbsp. blueberries [fresh or frozen]                                                                                 …………………………….                                                                                                                                           per serving 1  oz of watermelon per person                                                                                            5-6 oz green smoothie or 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 melon, smoothie, and hot beverage for a hearty, healthy meal.

Crab Cakes:     250 cal        4.7 g fat         24.0 g protein                14.2 g carbs   PBCrab Cakes w: beans

Rock and Jonah crabs abound on the coast of New England and they are grand as crab cakes. This recipe is from Todd English’s Olive’s Table cookbook. Note: this is the full recipe and makes 5 cakes – more than you will eat at one meal. Prepare them all and cook as directed. HINT: This will provide a few future meals.

½ pound crab meat                                                                                                                                                      2 T [1 oz] plain nonfat yogurt                                                                                                                        1 tsp Dijon mustard                                                                                                                                      2 Tbsp. chopped green or white onion                                                                                                      1 T. parsley, minced                                                                                                                                           1 two-oz egg                                                                                                                                                         1 tsp salt & ¼ tsp pepper                                                                                                                                 1 slice fresh 70-cal bread, crumbled   [I like Nature’s Own wholegrain]                                                                                                        4 T. flour                                                                                                                                                                   2 tsp oil                                                                                                                                                                 4 oz green beans                                                                                                                                                    1 tsp low-fat mayonnaise + few drops of lemon juice + pinch each of tumeric and garlic powder [this is your aioli dressing]

Gently combine 1st 8 ingredients in a bowl. Dust a large plate with the flour. Using a 1/3 c. measure as a mold, form the crab cakes and turn them out onto the flour. There should be 5 cakes. Dust the top of the cakes with some of the flour. Heat a non-stick skillet and add 2 tsp olive oil. Handling them carefully, cook the crab cakes until they are beginning to brown on the top and bottom. Cook the green beans.  Put aioli on crab cakes.

One Fast Day serving = 1.5 crab cakes. Cool the others, wrap in cling wrap and freeze. Reheat in a toaster oven. Since the cakes will have been previously cooked, they need only to be reheated at this point.

Holy Crepes

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In the 1970s the crêpes really hit the pan in the USA. Restaurants featuring the French ‘pancakes’ were very popular, giving the impression that this type of food was newly invented.  Au contraire, mon ami. The original crêpes come from Brittany, the peninsula in NW France where they grow buckwheat instead of wheat. Buckwheat crêpes are seldom seen in the US, and the tourist food from street corners in Paris use crêpe batter without it.

Crêpes are easy to make, without fancy equipment, and lend themselves to a variety of healthy fillings. By using a combination of unbleached wheat flour and buckwheat flour, you get a crêpe which is lighter in texture and in flavor. The batter can be made ahead and frozen. Or the crepes themselves can be made ahead and stored for a few days in the ‘fridge.

Crêpe batter   1 batch makes 16 crepes, each using ¼ cup batter      each crepe =  55 calories   0.8 g. fat   2.4 g. protein  9.9 g. carbs       PB   The recipe is from Susan Herrmann Loomis’ terrific book, French Farmhouse Cookbook.                                

1 cup unbleached flour                                    ¾ cup buckwheat flour                                                                                                                                         1 ¾ cup water                2 eggs               ½ tsp sea salt                                                                                                                                                              

Vigorously whisk the flours and the water until batter is smooth. When you lift the whisk, the batter should fall off in ‘ropes.’ Let sit for 2 hours or over night. HINT: batter could be divided into 1 cup or ½ cup portions and frozen. If using frozen batter, whisk it vigorously after it thaws. Heat a small cast-iron pan or ceramic saute pan. Lightly spritz with oil.  {If your pan is well seasoned or you use a ceramic pan, you should not have to oil the pan more than once.}  Dip a ¼ cup measure into the batter and let the extra drain off. Grasp the handle of the cook pan with one hand as you slowly pour the batter into the center of the pan. Tilt the pan in a swirling pattern to let the batter form a circle roughly 6” in diameter. Don’t get hung up on perfectly round or perfectly flat. Watch the crêpe cook and look to see when the edges start to dry and curl a bit. Using a heat-resistant bur non-scratching tool [I use my fingers], lift the crêpe and turn it over. Cook the other side until done. Time will vary, depending on the heat of your pan. Lift the cooked crêpes out, put it aside, and cook the next one. HINT: if storing them for later today or tomorrow, let them cool on a tea towel, then stack and store in a plastic bag.

What shall we do with the crepes? Are you getting ideas already of what to put inside? Stay tuned in future weeks to put your frozen crêpe batter into use.

Busy Week-end?

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In Canada, this is Thanksgiving week-end. Here in New England, these October weeks hurry by with leaf-peepers visiting for Columbus Day Week-end or apple picking or long drives to see the foliage display. No time to cook doesn’t mean a break from the Fast Diet. Plan ahead for simple meals.

Easter-After Breakfast   296 calories    8.9 g. fat       16.1 g. protein     18.6 g. carb                                This is a simple breakfast for the day after a big family meal, using a few left-overs from the dinner table. Last time this was served was after Easter, hence the name.Easter Breakfast

1 two-oz egg, hardboiled                                                                                                                              ¾ oz ham  [I save some ham slices from a roast and keep them in the freezer]                                                                              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.  Never made the Y. Pud before? Recipe below.                                                                                 2 oz fresh pineapple OR ¼ cup mixed berries                                                                              pinch of chopped mint leaves                                                                                                                          5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider                                            blackish coffee or tea or lemon in hot water

It begins with a Yorkshire Pudding batter which you need to prepare in advance. Like, say, the night before. The Yorkshire Pudd recipe is from the King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook.                                                                                                                                Y. Pudd 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. Two minis = one serving.

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

Morrocan Tuna:    297 calories    [sorry. no photo available for this one]

4 oz tuna steak  [When I see frozen tuna steaks at the supermarket, I get a few]                                 2 pinches of Moroccan spices  OR ground cumin                                                                                                         1/3 cup white beans, rinsed     [Goya brand is always reliable]                                      1 slice preserved lemon OR 1 slice fresh lemon                                                                    2/3 cup peas                                                                                                                         cilantro                                                                                                                                           1 cup broccoli florets

Rub tuna on both sides with Moroccan spices. Chop the lemon and stir into the beans. Bake the tuna on a cast iron skillet for 4-5 minutes per side in a 400 degree oven.  Meanwhile cook and season the broccoli  and peas. When the peas are cooked, drain and stir in the cilantro. 

Some of that…

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Sampling different cuisines is something I enjoy. One of my challenges as a meal-planner is to mix it up and have a lot of variety. You don’t have to sample everything I post, but if you are an adventurous eater, then you can say, “I’ll have some of that today.”  AND you can still lose weight.

Laughing Herb Omelette 287 calories                                                                             PBLaughing Herb Om w: apple

1 ½ 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                                                                         1/2 section Vache Qui Rit [Laughing Cow] cheese                                                                             1.5 Tbsp fresh herbs — your choice                                                                                                              3 oz apple                                                                                                                                                             ½ slice bread  Nature’s Own is still my go-to for Fast Day                                                                 5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider                                              blackish tea or blackish coffee or hot water with lemon

Whisk the eggs and herbs together. Take the cheese from the ‘fridge [HINT: keep it cold so that it will slice better] and slice it into as many thin slices as you can. Spritz a hot non-stick or cast iron pan with cooking oil and pour in the eggs/herbs. When the bottom begins to set, lay the cheese slices over half the surface of the eggs. Cook to your degree of doneness, fold and plate. Slice apple, toast bread, shake up the smoothie, pour your hot beverage and laugh along with the cow.

Red Beans & Rice   280 calories   1.2 g. fat    13 g. protein    57.5 g. carb   PB    GFRed Beans & Rice w: gr. beans

This is the old classic recipe for the ‘perfect protein’. Yeah, you’re right, the carbs are way out of control, but for a once-in-a-while this is really good. HINT: This is enough for 4 servings! Either have a gathering or cut the recipe or freeze in 1 cup portions for later.

2 cups brown rice, cooked                                                                                                                        ½ cup celery, chopped                                                                                                                                 ½ cup sweet yellow pepper, diced                                                                                                              1 cup onion, chopped                                                                                                                                     2 cloves garlic, minced                                                                                                                                  ¾ cup tomato sauce                                                                                                                            oregano,   black pepper                                                                                                                                 2 cups red beans, drained and rinsed [Goya brand is very good]                                                   ½ cup green beans per serving

Cook the rice. Spritz a non-stick pan with oil and saute the celery, pepper, and onions for 5 minutes, adding a bit of water if it seems dry. Add the garlic and cook 5 minutes more. Add the tomato sauce and seasonings. Stir in the red beans and heat through. When the rice is done, add 2 cups to the mixture. Serve with the cooked green beans.

Happy October

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On October first, even in Northern New England, we still have some fresh vegetables around to incorporate in meals. Fruit and vegetables are one of the key-stones of a Fast Diet.  They add bulk, texture, variety, and a bit of sweetness to a meal. Eat up.

Basquaise Omelette: 283 calories                                      GF  PB                                            This recipe, full of the flavors of the Basques region of SW France, comes to us from Saulte to Healthy Cooking, published by the French Culinary Institute. Wonderful book from which we cook all year long. Note that this is a baked omelette, so the method is a little different. Faites bien attention.Basquaise Omelette

3 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 Tbsp tomato sauce, such as Hunt’s                                                                                                           2 Tbsp bell pepper, chopped                                                                                                                          ½ clove garlic, minced or pinch granulated garlic                                                                                2 tsp parsley, chopped                                                                                                                                     1 ½ tsp Parmesan cheese, grated                                                                                                                  3 oz apple or 4.5 oz melon                                                                                                                                                                      5-6 oz natural apple cider or green smoothie or fruit smoothie                                              blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Heat the oven broiler. In an oven-safe skillet, put the tomato sauce, peppers, garlic, parsley, and 2 Tbsp water. Cook gently until the veg are soft and the water is evaporated. Remove from pan. Add a spritz of non-stick spray and heat the pan. Whisk the eggs with 2/3 of the tomato mixture and pour into the pan. As the eggs cook, gently lift the edge of the eggs and let uncooked egg flow underneath. Do not flip or fold the eggs. Top the eggs with the cheese and put the skillet under the broiler to finish cooking. Prepare the fruit and beverages. Slide the omelette onto the plate and top it with the remaining tomato/pepper mixture.

Felafel with Cucumber Raita 276 calories   10.2 g. fat   16 g. protein   33.5 g. carbs     PB GF

5 felafel patties [see Sept 9]                                                                                                                                                             1 cup raw spinach                                                                                                                                           1/2 tsp olive oil                                                                                                                                             large pinch ground nutmeg                                                                                                                         4 oz plain, non-fat yogurt   if yogurt is runny, put it in a strainer and let it set for 15 mins                                                                    1 scant cup cucumbers, cubed                                                                                                                  1 tsp white wine vinegar                                                                                                                                 1 ½ tsp fresh mint, chopped or dried dill weed

Thaw out 5 of those felafel patties what we prepared on Sept. 9. Heat them in the toaster oven or in a non-stick pan on the stove. Do not cook them in oil. Cut the spinach into a chiffonade [make a pile of leaves and cut thinly across their width]and put into a bowl. Cube the cucumbers. Stir together the yogurt, vinegar, and dill or mint. Add the cucumber cubes and stir gently to combine. Toss the spinach with the olive oil and nutmeg. Plate and love it.

Seasonal Foods — Good, Good, Good

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No particular theme for this post, simply good recipes which are good to eat. They are also good for you. In Albuquerque now they are roasting green chiles, so the breakfast is rather seasonal. Fresh cherry tomatoes for the dinner are probably still in your garden or at your favorite farm stand. Apples and natural apple cider should be widely available now.

Breakfast Burrito   291 calories      11.9 g. fat     18.7 g. protein      38 g. carbs                  GF   Inspired by breakfasts enjoyed at the Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque, N.M., this has all the tastes of the Southwest in a filling yet low-calorie meal.breakfast burrito

one 6” corn tortilla, I like Ole brand which is widely available                                                  one 2-oz egg                                                                                                                                                    1 Tbsp roasted green chiles, available canned under the ‘Hatch’ brand                                                          1 Tbsp carne adovada – this is boiled pork shoulder with hot spices. Make a batch and freeze it in small amounts or see if you can find it at a Mexican market.                                                                                                                                    Large pinch oregano, Mexican oregano if you can find it.                                                             [Hot sauce to taste]                                                                                                                                            1 tsp cheddar cheese, finely grated                                                                                                             2 ¼ oz of apple                                                                                                                                                   5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider.                                              Black-ish coffee with cocoa powder stirred in for a ‘cafe mocha’, or black-ish tea, or lemon in hot water

Whisk the egg with the chiles and carne. Heat a dry, well-seasoned cast iron pan and heat the tortilla until it is warm, soft, and just beginning to brown. Remove to a plate. Scramble the egg to your preference in a spritz of oil on your pan. Put the egg on top of the tortilla. Sprinkle the cheese on the egg and put it all in the toaster oven for about a minute. Douse with hot sauce if you wish, serve with the apple, smoothie, and hot beverage of your choice.

Salmon Roasted with Tomatoes: 304 calories                                                           PB  GFroasted salmon w: tomatoes & broc:caulif

One of the earliest recipes we made when starting the Fast Diet. Still a favorite. Quick and delicious.                                                                                                                                                           5 oz salmon                                                                                                                                                       10 cherry tomatoes [5 oz]                                                                                                                              ½ cup green beans OR 2 oz sugar snap peas  OR 3 oz broccoli/cauliflower                                                               seasonings to taste

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. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Meanwhile steam the green vegetables. So easy. So yummy.

Old and New

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Here’s a new breakfast for you and a twist on a dinner classic.  With the last blog post in mind, check the nutritional values of these meals, separately and together.

Nordic Breakfast 297 calories    11.7 g. fat           15.5 g. protein       34.8 g carbs       PB         This is based on a recipe from the Fast Diet book, but I always thought it looked like a puny anount of food.  After a few tweeks, this will fill you up!Nordic Bfast

3 slices of Finn Crisp crackers                                                                                                                   2 oz smoked salmon                                                                                                                                          2 Tbsp whipped cream cheese                                                                                                                     2 rings red onion, thinly sliced                                                                                                                      ½ cup raspberries                                                                                                                                            1 oz apple                                                                                                                                                 blackish coffee                                                                                                                                         NOTE: no smoothie or cider today

Carefully spread the cream cheese on the crackers. Divide the salmon among them. Arrange the onion rings atop the salmon. Slice the apple and pour your hot beverage. Skip the aquavit.

Quiche:      291 calories      17.7 g. fat           24.7 g. protein               11.8 g. carb       GF  PB                         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 cooked asparagus cut in 1/2” pieces                                                                                              1 oz cooked broccoli, coarsely chopped                                                                                                   1/2 Tbsp onion, chopped                                                                                                                                3 oz tomato, sliced                                                                                                                                    herbs, salt, pepper

If not using left-over vegetables, 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 ungreased, 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.