Shirazi Salad

Our family friend from Iran makes this at his bbq's and its one of my FAVORITES! It goes wonderful with a nice grilled chicken kabob, non-fat greek yogurt, pita break, and feta. You can leave out the pita bread if you want it to be carb free and just eat it all mixed in a bowl together.

Ingredients

4 pickling cucumbers
4 roma tomatoes
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 TBS dried mint
1 TBS salt (mortons has something called Half Salt and its half the sodium of normal salt)
1 TBS Pepper (I usually add a little less)
1 tsp of sugar or splenda

Chop and mix all of the above, refridgerate to chill. Serve on warm food.

MIA

Sorry I have been MIA! I have been working on new recipes and healthy changes :) I have a lot of really yummy recipes to post in the next few weeks. I have also started increasing my exercise and counting my calories, carbs, sugars and adding protein, veggies, fruits and healthy fats.

I am coming close to my 30 lb mark and I am super excited! I want to be down a total of 35 lbs by Thanksgiving.

Thanks for reading my blog! If you have any yummy/healthy recipes to contribute, please leave a comment or message!

Salad/Sandwich

Ingredients
2 Romaine lettuce leaves
2 slices of tomato
few slices of cucumber or avacado (avacado gives you your healthy fat)
deli style meat (I go for ones that are lower sodium without added honey)
1 white protein (a piece of provolone, swiss cheese, crumbled feta or a scoop of cottage cheese)
a few splashes of red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or Franks Red Hot (mild) sauce.

*Use the romaine lettuce as the "bread" on each side. Pile on the goodies and enjoy the flavors, protein and veggies for a healthy snack or lunch (this is great with an apple)

Shrimp Tacos

I LOVE these and will make them again (and again). They were so full of flavor and just delicious!

(2 servings)
Ingredients
200 grams of shrimp (I weight when I removed the shells and thawed them)
3 TBS lime juice
bunch of cilantro
1/4-1/3 cup of fresh salsa or pico
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
few shakes of Franks Red Hot Sauce

Romain lettuce as a taco shell (if you are allowing carbs, you can use taco shells or wheat tortillas)

Directions
Cook the above (except the lettuce leaves) on your skillet
add cooked shrimp to a bowl and scoop into your lettuce

non-hcg dieters-
you could add a little extra pico or salsa to your tacos
you can use taco shells or wheat tortillas, a pinch of cheese and some low fat sour cream or plain non-fat greek yogurt.

Chicken Cacciatore

I have another version of this and its not as healthy, both have tons of flavor and go good with wheat pasta or brown rice. I just ate it plain with the veggies to make it carb free :)

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts cut in half (100 gram pieces)
2 large tomatoes finely diced/pureed in a food processor
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped
2 tbs of Balsamic Vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
a bunch of parsley, chopped
juice from 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder and onion powder to taste
dash of hot sauce (Tabasco or Franks Red Hot)
3 drops of stevia (or 1 tsp of sugar or splenda)

Extra add ins-
1 green bell pepper cut in strips
1 red bell pepper cut in strips
sliced mushrooms

Directions
Usually I cook the chicken with the juices, but for this healthier version, I grilled them on the George Foreman Grill. I seasoned with salt and pepper
Add tomatoes, garlic, onions and pepper and saute on high about 5 minutes
add seasonings and vinegar, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes
add chopped parsley, stir and serve

These are a few of my FAVORITE (diet) Things!

~Franks Red Hot Sauce- buffalo flavor or Mild Hot Sauce. You can grill up a chicken breast and drizzle a little of this baby on it to get rid your "buffalo wings" craving. Its delish!

~Jello Mousse. Sugar Free and only 60 Calories. What a wonderful dessert substitute!

~Jimmy Dean D-Lights (Canadian Bacon Honey Wheat Muffin) 230 Calories and 15 g protein 10 g of whole grain and only 4.5 grams of fat....YUM!! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

~Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches, they are no Ben and Jerry's, but its wonderful and fills the craving.

~Uncle Ben's Boil in a Bag Brown Rice. 1o min and super tasty!

~Tortilla Chips- Target brand Archer Farms Organic or Tostitos Natural. Delicate and delightful, guilt free. I read about these in Cooking Light and have tried them. Both are fantastic

~Thomas Bagel Thins. 110 calories, 4 g of fiber and 1 g fat. Wonderful with "I can't believe its not butter" Spray

~Progresso Soup with Weight Watchers Points on it or "Reduced Sodium". Around 100 calories and very filling. A good lunch substitute when you want to avoid running to McDonalds for a Big Mac and fries...

~Costco Kirkland Weighloss Shakes. I have tried MANY weight loss shakes and these are very yummy. I could drink these for a meal suppliment anytime, I just love them.

No bean Chili

This is a very fresh and yummy chili. It would be delicious with beans, but I am trying to cut the carbs. I've made this a few times already and its a huge hit with my family.

2 servings-
Ingredients
1/2 a lb of extra lean ground beef- atleast 93% lean (about 200 grams)
3 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 of a green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup on onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups of beef broth (low sodium)
1-2 tbs of chili powder (to taste)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt (again, I use sea salt)

Directions
brown meat with a 1/4 cup of broth, drain fat
add veggies and garlic
add broth for 5 minutes
add seasoning.