Sweet Potato & Brat Boat

Compromises are not only for children.   I was really, REALLY craving a brat but thought I should somehow make it healthful.  This was my compromise!  A baked sweet potato, grilled bratwurst and sautéed sweet peppers and onions.  The savory-sweet combo was perfect.  This would be fantastic with extra spicy Cajun brats! 

Caesar Salad Dressing (made with 0% Greek yogurt)

I love Caesar salad but not all of the calories that it packs, so I decided to try to make my own dressing with Greek yogurt.  I will be making more dressings with this idea. 

1 Cup of 0% Greek Yogurt

2 chopped garlic cloves

2 TBLS Worchestershire sauce

3 TBLS Red Wine Vinegar

1TBLS Dijon Mustard

1 tsp dry ground mustard

Salt and Pepper to taste

A small drizzle of olive oil

Lots of grated Parmesan cheese 

Mix in a food processor or by hand

(These are my best guesses on measurements.  I'm horrible at writing things down when I'm in the kitchen) 

It's thick but leaves a nice creamy coating when mixed with the salad in a bowl.  It could probably be thinned a little with milk if you prefer.  

Watermelon Heaven

Never, ever, ever think twice about buying produce from the back of the farmer's pickup truck on the side of the road.  I have never had a watermelon as good as this.  Yum!

Sunday Night Food Prep

Breakfast this week will be :

Venison, Mushroom and Spinach Egg Muffins...

Fill each cup with -

Ground venison sautéed with onion.  

Sautéed mushrooms and spinach.

Chives and tomatoes

Ladle each cup 3/4 full of eggs whisked and seasoned with S&P, cayenne pepper and ground mustard

Bake 30 mins. @ 350 degrees 

Cool and store in a zip lock bag

Warm up for a quick breakfast on the go 

Lunch this week will be:

Albacore Tuna Pasta Salad

High fiber rotini pasta

Albacore tuna

Cucumber and chives

Greek yogurt

Mix and season with Old Bay and pepper

I will probably serve this on top of fresh spinach or fresh tomato slices or just spring mix lettuce.

Dinner this week will be:

Ground Venison something....

I browned a pound with onion and will use it for quick dinners all week.

Tonight I made Black-N-Blue Venison Pasta

Penne and Ground venison

Tomato and chives

Blackened seasoning 

A splash of milk and handful of blue cheese

Mix and melt and enjoy! 

Now the most important part of my week, food, is all ready for me!

Mexican Pasta Salad

A full meal all in one! 

Pasta, black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, shallots, cilantro, lime juice, blackened seasoning, cumin, salt n peppa! 

If only I would be so organized to make something like this for lunches all week.  Maybe some day I will be!! 

Homemade Pho

I made this broth with a rotisserie chicken carcass.  With thinly sliced beef tenderloin, it was still healthy and super satisfying! A great end to a stressful work day. 

This happened...

And I need to replicate...

Carolina Eggs Benedict 

English Muffin

Lump Crab Cake

Poached Egg

Hollandaise 

Irresistible... 

Fresh Beef Tenderloin Spring Rolls

Marinated (dark soy sauce, mirin, sweet chili sauce), seared beef tenderloin slices....in rice paper layered with lettuce, cilantro, bean sprouts, cucumber, jalapeño, and beef.

Roll, dip in sweet spring roll sauce! 

Enjoy! 

Heirloom Tomatoes

Meijer had all different shapes and shades. They were delicious! Especially delicious served with bacon, lettuce and mayo! 

New Favorite Pizza Topping

Mini pepperoni!  Every pizza needs just a little pepperoni grease.  I found these mini pepperoni.  A couple scattered around a veggie filled pizza is perfect!  You won't feel like you are missing a thing! 

Dinner is served!

Ohio sweet corn and home grown tomatoes w/ basil...my life is complete! 

Summer Tomato

I wait all year for this! 

Coconut Tequila Shrimp and Scallop Pasta

Marinate shrimp and scallops in tequila, lemon and lime zest and juices with a dash of salt.

Strain off juices and save.

Sauté shrimp and scallops in a little bit of olive oil.  Remove from pan and set aside. 

Add 1 can of light coconut milk and marinade to the pan and reduce. Season with salt to taste. 

Add in cooked pasta of your choice to soak up the liquid a little and then return the seafood to the pan. 

Serve garnished with chopped sweet peppers and chives! 

Enjoy!!! 

Stewed San Marzano Tomatoes and Olives over Shirataki Noodles

1 can of Whole San Marzano Tomatoes stewed with a little sautéed garlic and onion.  Add 1 bay leaf, a handful of fresh chopped basil, S&P, and sugar.  Instead of meat I added black olives. This was a tasty, satisfying super low cal meal by using the Shirataki noodles.  They are calorie free!  Bonus! 

Ebi-Su

This was interesting!  Thinly sliced cucumber wrapped around shrimp and crab on top of julienne cucumber in a vinegar based sauce! Yum! 

iHeart Indian Food

Goat Saag, Basmati Rice and Naan....Un-Be-Liev-Able!

Bruschetta Chopped Salad

Spring Mix

Spinach

Basil

Yellow Tomatoes

Fresh Mozzarella 

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Chop it!

Mix it!

Love it! 

Albacore Tuna Salad on Rye & Caraway Triscuits

After a hot, sweaty day, a light dinner was much needed. This was a nice break from our usual on-the-go week night dinners. 

1 Can Albacore Tuna - drained

2 TBLS Fat Free Greek Yogurt

2 TBLS each of fresh chives and cucumber

A squeeze of fresh lemon

A sprinkle of salt and pepper

And a dash of Old Bay 

Serve on Rye & Caraway Seeds Triscuits 

Enjoy! 

Greek Pasta Salad

It really makes total sense....

Parsley

Mint

Garlic

Green onion

Tomato

Cucumber

Fresh Lemon juices (Lots! This is the base of the dressing) 

S&P

A drizzle of EVOO

(All ingredients of tabbouleh)

And...high fiber or gluten free pasta

Can of garbanzo beans 

Container of part skim, reduced fat feta cheese

Mix it, serve it, LOVE it!!

P.S.  I ate this all week for lunch.  It was perfectly satisfying.  I want to start making some sort of low fat, high protein, full of veggies salad of Sundays.  Goal set...probably wont happen!  We shall see!!

Mediterranean Venison Pita Burger

Eat as many as you want.  These are so low cal it's ridiculous! 

The burgers are made with ground venison, red inion, garlic, egg, bread crumb, s&p, shawarma seasoning and feta cheese.

The mayo is not mayo! It's Greek yogurt, mint, dill,parsley, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt. 

Lightly pickled cucumbers and whole wheat pita finish it off. 

EAT UP!!