Tabbouleh

Print The Recipe

Ingredients 
1 cup water
1/2 cup bulgur, dry
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (1 bunch)
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (OR 2 medium tomatoes, diced)
1/4 English cucumber, diced
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced (1 bunch)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
Salt and Freshly ground pepper, to taste

***Use mini-food processor for chopping parsley, mint and making the dressing

Preparation
1. Combine water, salt and bulgur in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil, remove from heat, cover and let stand until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is tender, 25 minutes or according to package directions. If any water remains, drain bulgur in a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 15 minutes.
2. Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Add parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumber and green onions to the bulgur.
Add the dressing and toss.
Serve at room temperature or chill for at least 1 hour to serve cold.   

_________
Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 160
    * Fat: 7.5g    Carbs: 21g (fiber: 3g)    Protein: 3g

Barley Soup with Turkey & Butternut Squash

Print the recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup barley, dry (+2 cups of water for cooking)
2 Turkey legs, cooked, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small butternut squash, fresh, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt and ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cans (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth
2-3 cups of water
2-3 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Preparation
1. In a small pot, put dry barley and water and cook it for 30 minutes. Drain the water, rinse barley.
2. Meanwhile, clean the turkey meat of bone, cut it into pieces. Clean and cut butternut squash. Chop onion and mince garlic.
3. In a pot, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add butternut squash and cook for 5 minutes stirring often. Add turkey, oregano, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Mix everything and cook for half a minute or so.
Add cooked barley, chicken broth and 2-3 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Add more water to thin soup, as needed. Season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
4. Ladle into bowls; sprinkle with parsley or any fresh herbs.
_______
Nutritional info per 1.5 cup: makes 6 servings
    * Calories: 167
    * Fat: 5g Carbs: 17g (fiber: 3.6g) Protein: 13g

Sweet Potato & Bean Chili

Print the recipe

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 jalapeno pepper, fresh, seeded and diced
1 medium sweet potato, diced
1/2 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon curry powder (OR ground chipotle chile)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 15-ounce can beans (red, black, kidney or any other), drained and rinsed
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes (no salt added)
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (OR cilantro)

Preparation
1. Heat oil in a large pan (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Add chopped jalapeno pepper, cook for 1 minute. Add sweet potato and onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, curry (OR chipotle) and salt and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the sweet potato is almost tender,  for about 5-7 minutes.
2. Add beans, tomatoes and lime juice; increase heat to high and return to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly reduced, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley (or cilantro).

I'd recommend it served over baked spaghetti squash, cooked pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa or any other grains, in a corn taco shell, inside of cooked half of an acorn squash or with a piece of corn bread.                        
_______
Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 202
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 33g (fiber: 9g) Protein: 10g

Cranberry-Apple Chutney

 
Print the recipe.

Ingredients:
Orange juice, 1/3 cup
Lemon juice, 1 tbsp
Orange zest (or Lemon zest), grated, 1/4 tsp
Ginger Root, fresh, grated, 1/4 tsp (or 1/8 tsp ground)
Cinnamon, ground, 1/4 tsp
Brown Sugar, 1/3 cup
Cranberries, fresh (or frozen), 2 cups
Apple, fresh, 1 large, peeled, cored and cut into pieces

Cooking Instructions:
Put all the ingredients into a small pot or a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, steer gently, cover the pot with lid and let simmer for 10-12 minutes.

_______
Nutritional info: 8-10 servings (1/3 cup)
    * Calories: 43
    * Fat: 0g Carbs: 13g (fiber: 1.5g) Protein: 0g

Roasted Butternut Squash

Print the recipe.

Ingredients:
    Butternut Squash, 1 small (800-900 grams), peeled, seeded and cut into pieces
    Black pepper, ground
    Salt
    Olive Oil

Cooking Instructions:
1. Preheat oven 400F.
2. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil

and spay it with a non-stick spray.
3. Clean the squash - peel skin, take seeds out, cut into pieces.
4. Put the squash on baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and ground pepper, drizzle with olive oil.
5. Bake at 400F for 35 minutes, until tender.
_______
Nutritional info: 4 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 95
    * Fat: 2g Carbs: 21g (fiber: 6g) Protein: 2g

Pico De Gallo

Print the recipe.

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.
_______
Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 39
    * Fat: 0.5g Carbs: 9g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 1g

Asparagus, Artichoke and Mushroom Saute

Print the recipe.

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.
_______
Nutritional info: 4 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 80
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 10g (fiber: 4g) Protein: 4g

Protein Jell-O with Strawberries

Print the recipe.

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.
_______
Nutritional info: 3 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 83
    * Fat: 1g Carbs: 6g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 10g

Lentil Soup with Smoked Turkey

Print the recipe.

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

Print the recipe.

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