Pico De Gallo

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Ingredients
  1 large tomato (1.25 cups diced)
  1/4 medium onion (1/4 cup finely chopped)
  1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro)
  1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  1/2 lime (or lemon), zested and juiced
  1/2 teaspoon sugar
  1/4 teaspoon salt
* Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preparation
1. Chop tomato, onion, jalapeno pepper and parsley. Add everything into a bowl.
2. Zest half of lime and squeeze its juice over the vegetables.
3. Season with salt, sugar and black pepper. Mix well.
4. Chill for an hour. Serve with grilled fish or seafood.
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Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 39
    * Fat: 0.5g Carbs: 9g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 1g

Egg Salad

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Ingredients
6 Eggs, large, hard boiled (2 whole ones and 4 egg whites)
Dijon Mustard, 1 tbsp.
Greek yogurt, plain, 0% fat, 1 tbsp.
Mayonnaise with Olive Oil, 1 tbsp.
Green Onions, Fresh, 1/4 cup chopped
Black Pepper, fresh ground, to taste
   *Paprika, a dash, for decoration


Preparation
1. Boil the eggs. Cool them and separate yokes and egg whites out of four eggs. Discard the yokes.
2. Cut 2 whole eggs and 4 egg whites into pieces.
3. Chop fresh green onion.
4. In a bowl, mix together mustard, mayo and yogurt. Add the cut eggs and onions, black pepper to the dressing. Mix carefully.
5. Chill the salad for an hour. Serve cool on top of finely cut fresh spinach.
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Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 171
    * Fat: 7g Carbs: 4g (fiber: 0g) Protein: 18g

Chocolate Chip & Banana Muffins

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Ingredients
1/4 cups sugar
1/2 stick (4 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
1 medium banana (3-4oz), overripe, mashed
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Equipment: 
muffin tin, paper or foil liners

Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line muffin tin with paper or foil liners.
2. In a bowl, combine the sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, mashed banana and egg; mix thoroughly.
3. In another bowl, whisk flour with baking soda and salt.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until the batter is evenly moistened. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for about 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
6. Let the muffins cool for 10 minutes before turning them out onto a rack to cool completely.
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Nutritional info: 8 servings (1 muffin)
    * Calories: 220
    * Fat: 11g Carbs: 29g (fiber: 1g) Protein: 3g

Protein Waffles with Flaxseed

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Ingredients
1 egg white
1 tbsp. (5 grams) Whey protein (Vanilla)
2 tbsp. (15 grams ) Rolled Oats (ground in a coffee grinder)
1/2 tbsp. (5 grams ) whole Flaxseeds (ground in a coffee grinder)
3 tbsp. (45 grams) Whipped (or small curd) 1%-fat Cottage cheese
1 tbsp. fresh citrus juice (orange/ lemon/ lime/ grapefruit)
a pinch (1/8 tsp.) of fresh citrus zest

Equipment: 
cooking spray, waffle maker, electric mixer (or food processor), coffee grinder

Preparation
1. Preheat the waffle maker.
2. Grind oats and flax seeds in a coffee grinder till it makes fine powder.
3. If using a mixer, beat up together egg white, citrus juice and zest and protein powder. Add cottage cheese and mix well. Add ground oats and flaxseed and mix.
If using a food processor, put all the ingredients and mix well, scrapping sides of the bowl with spatula.
4. Spray non-stick spay on waffle maker. Pour the batter and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Serve immediately. Garnish with Greek yogurt, honey and fresh fruits.
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Nutritional info: 1 serving (1 waffle)
    * Calories: 175
    * Fat: 3.6g Carbs: 13g (fiber: 2.5g) Protein: 22g

Oh-Wow! Butterscotch Cinnamon Sticky Buns with Raisins and Walnuts

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Ingredients
Dough:
* Milk, 1/2 cup, warm
* Yeast, dry, 1 package (1/4 oz)
* White Granulated Sugar, 1/4 cup
* Unsalted Butter, 3 Tbsp softened (1 stick total, divided into three parts)
* Egg, fresh, 1 large
* White flour, 2 cups, sifted (+ more for dusting)
* Salt, 1/2 tsp

Filling:
*Unsalted Butter, 2 Tbsp (melted) 
* Brown Sugar (light), 1/3 cup
* Cinnamon, ground, 2 tsp
* Raisins, 1 small box (1.5 oz)

Glaze:
* Brown Sugar (dark), 1/3 cup
* Unsalted Butter, 3 Tbsp
* Scotch (Whiskey), 3 tbsp (1.5fl oz)
* Condensed milk, 3 tbsp
* Vanilla Extract, 1/4 tsp
* Salt, 1/8 tsp
* Walnuts, 1 oz (or any kind of nuts)

Preparation
1. Make the Dough:
Heat the milk until warm.
In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the warm milk and the yeast. Add the granulated sugar and 3 tbsp of softened butter and mix at medium speed until the butter is broken up, 1 minute.
Beat in the egg.
Add sifted flour and salt and mix at low speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and mix the dough for 2 minutes longer.
Scrape the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 30-40 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Make the Filling:
Melt 2 tbsp of butter in microwave.
In a small bowl, mix the light brown sugar with the cinnamon.

4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into 1/4" thick rectangle. Brush the 2 tbsp of melted butter over the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.
Sprinkle with raisins.

Beginning at a long edge, roll up the dough as tightly as possible and pinch the seam. Cut the log into 6 or 8 2-inch pieces and set them in the muffin cups cut side up. Cover and let stand in a warm place (preheated stove top is ideal for that) for 30 minutes.

5. Bake the buns for 30 minutes, until they are golden brown.

6. Make the Glaze:
In a small saucepan, bring the dark brown sugar, salt, butter, Scotch and condensed milk to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until thickened slightly, about 3 minutes.

7. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the walnuts. (If you wish you might toast them 10 minutes.) Take the buns out of the muffin pan.

8. Remove the glaze from the heat and stir in vanilla extract and chopped walnuts. Pour the glaze over the hot buns. Sprinkle with more nuts if you wish.
Let stand until the buns have soaked up some of the glaze and are cool enough to eat, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.
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Nutritional info: 6-8 servings (1 bun)
    * Calories: 390
    * Fat: 16g Carbs: 56g (fiber: 1.5g) Protein: 6g

Asparagus, Artichoke and Mushroom Saute

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Ingredients
       Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
       Garlic, 1 clove, chopped
       Onions,1/4 cup, chopped
       Portabella Mushrooms, 1 large (6oz) or any kind of fresh mushrooms
       Asparagus, fresh, 1/2 lb
       Artichokes, frozen, 1/2 cup (4 oz), thawed
       Cherry tomatoes, 1 cup, halved
       Salt, 1/2 tsp
       Pepper, black, ground 1/4 tsp
       Balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon
*shredded cheese of your choice for garnish (optional) g)

Preparation
1. Thaw  frozen artichokes.
2. Chop garlic and onions finely. Heat up olive oil in a pan, add garlic and onions and fry at low-medium heat for 2 minutes.
3. Cut mushroom in big pieces, add to the pan and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Cut asparagus in 2"-long pieces, add it to pan. Put artichokes. And cook everything till asparagus is done but still crunchy.
5. Halve tomatoes, add them to saute. Turn the heat off.
6. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar over the vegetables. Add salt and pepper, mix veges.
7. Serve warm topped with shredded cheese of your choice.
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Nutritional info: 4 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 80
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 10g (fiber: 4g) Protein: 4g

Protein Jell-O with Strawberries

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Ingredients
       Strawberries, fresh, 8oz (1 cup pureed)
       Kraft Jell-o Brand Sugar Free Gelatin Dessert, dry, 1 box
       Water, tap, 1 cup hot + 3/4 cup cold
       Whey Protein, Vanilla, 1scoop (34g)

Preparation
1. Boil 1 cup of water.
2. Clean strawberries and puree them in food processor.
3. Put 1 bag of dry Jell-o in a bowl, pour the hot water and whisk immediately to dissolve gelatin.
4. In another cup mix together whey protein and cold water. Pour the mixture into dissolved gelatin. Mix well.
5. Add pureed strawberries, mix them in.
6. Put the prepared mixture in three 1-cup ramekins or glasses. Place in refrigerator and cool for at least 3 hours till the jelly is set.
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Nutritional info: 3 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 83
    * Fat: 1g Carbs: 6g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 10g

Roasted Sweet Potatoes skin-on with Maple Syrup

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Ingredients
       Sweet potato, raw, skin on, 2 medium
       Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
       Lemon juice, 1 tbsp
       Pepper, black, a dash
       Salt, a dash
       Maple Syrup, 2 tbsp (divided)
       Cinnamon, ground, 1 tsp (divided)
       Nutmeg, ground, 1/2 tsp (divided)

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Wash potato and cut into pieces (the bigger ones will take more time to cook). Put them in large bowl.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and 1tbsp of maple syrup. Sprinkle with salt, ground pepper and half amount of spices (1/2tsp cinnamon and 1/4tsp ground nutmeg). Mix well to coat every piece with oil and spices.
4. Put potatoes on baking sheet in a single layer.
5. Bake at 400F for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until tender.
6. Take potatoes out and immediately drizzle with 1tbsp maple syrup and the rest of spices (1/2tsp cinnamon and 1/4tsp ground nutmeg). Stir well and serve warm as a side dish.
It is also good when served with 1/4cup of plain fat-free Greek yogurt on top.

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Nutritional info: 4 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 141
    * Fat: 7g Carbs: 19g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 1g

Lentil Soup with Smoked Turkey

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Ingredients
      Smoked turkey leg and breast, cooked, skin and bones removed, 6-8oz
      Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
      Garlic, 2 cloves, chopped
      Carrots, raw, 1/2 medium (2oz), chopped
      Celery, raw, 1 large stalk, chopped
      Onions, raw, 1/2 large, chopped
      Bay Leaf, 2 whole
      Pepper, black, ground, 1/2 tsp
      Diced Tomatoes, 1 can, 15oz, with the juice
      Chicken Broth 99% Fat Free, 2 cups (1 15oz-can)
      Lentils, dry, 1 cup
      Water, 4-6 cups
      Potatoes, raw, 1/2 cup (5oz) cut in pieces
      ** Goat cheese or Parmesan for garnish (optional)

Preparation
1. Cut smoked turkey meat into bite-sizes. Chop garlic, onion, celery and carrot.
2. Heat olive oil in a pot, reduce the heat to medium-high and cook chopped vegetables till tender, 5-7 minutes.
3. Open canned tomatoes and broth.
4. Add ground black pepper, tomatoes, turkey, chicken broth and water into the pot. Mix very easy.
5. Add dry lentils. Stir them in.
6. Cook the soup at very low heat partly covered for 40 minutes till the lentils are done.
7. Cut the potatoes. Add them to the soup and cook it for 10-15 more minutes till the potatoes are done.
8. Serve right away, garnished with goat cheese or Parmesan.

Nutritional info: 8 servings (1 1/2 cup)
    * Calories: 117
    * Fat: 3.5g Carbs: 14.5g (fiber: 4g) Protein: 8.5g

Chicken Soup with Tomatoes and Beans

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Ingredients
      Chicken, cooked, skin and bones removed, 6-8oz
      Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
      Garlic, 1 clove, chopped
      Carrots, raw, 1/2 medium (2oz), chopped
      Celery, raw, 1 large stalk, chopped
      Onions, raw, 1/4 large, chopped
      Bay Leaf, 2 whole
      Parsley, dried, 1/2 tsp
      Pepper, black, ground, 1/2 tsp
      Thyme, dried, 1/2 tsp
      Basil, dried, 1/2 tsp
      Diced Tomatoes, 1 can, 15oz, drained
      White Beans, 1 can, 15oz, drained and rinsed
      Chicken Broth, low sodium, 99% Fat Free, 2 cups (1 15oz-can)
      Water, 1 cup

      ** Chopped fresh parsley or Green onions for garnish (optional)

Preparation
1. Cut cooked chicken meat into bite-sizes. Chop garlic, onion, parsley and carrot.
2. Open canned vegetables and broth. Drain the tomatoes. Drain and rinse the beans.
3. Heat olive oil in a pot, reduce the heat to medium-high and cook chopped vegetables till tender, 5-7 minutes.
4. Add dried herbs and ground pepper to the vegetables, mix well. Add tomatoes, chicken, beans, chicken broth and water into the pot. Mix very easy.
5. Cook the soup at very low heat partly covered for 10-15 minutes.
6. Serve right away, garnished with chopped parsley or green onions.

Nutritional info: 8 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 127
    * Fat: 4.5g Carbs: 11.5g (fiber: 3.6g) Protein: 9.3g