Asparagus Pizza

This recipe, I adapted from something that caught our eye from this month's Runner's World mag. Basically it's the same except it called for naan and I used my same favorite pizza crust recipe. It was SUPER tasty -- I loved everything about it. You really should try it. (And it's only 4 points per slice. . . I keep thinking I did my math wrong. . . cause that's amazing for pizza.) Pizza Crust -- I used half whole wheat flour, half white bread flour.

Top with :
1/3 c. low-fat ricotta mixed with 1/8 c. prepared pesto

Asparagus, tough ends removed, chopped into bite-sized peices and tossed with 1 t. olive oil and a little S&P.

2-3 oz. canadian bacon, thinly sliced

Bake at 425 for 11 minutes, then top with 2 oz. grated fontina -- then back in the oven for another 5 min. -- 'til cheese is melted and crust is crispy. (my crust could've gone another minute or two)

Turkey Tacos

My kids love soft tacos. Tacos are not the most low-fat thing you can cook while counting calories. . . until now: First, find a good tortilla, high in fiber, low in fat, or just skip the roll-up and go with a hearty taco salad. Then buy white ground turkey breast (97% fat free) even though it's way more pricey than your economy ground beef or the other ground turkey that's not really all that low-fat. (It tastes 20 times better too) Then make tacos -- just following the directions on the little seasoning packet -- or season it yourself. I like to add black or pinto beans, green and/or red peppers and then all the traditional toppings. Lettuce, salsa, ff sour cream, avacado, olives etc. Yum, yum yum. We were so excited to eat that I forgot to take a picture of the finished product -- but you know what a taco looks like.

Moo Shu Beef Lettuce Wraps

This is a Weight Watchers recipe -- it was pretty tasty. (and no water chestnuts Adrie!) The kids ate their filling in tortillas cause they weren't feelin' the lettuce. Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef - (7% fat)
1 c. chopped onion
2 T minced fresh ginger root
2 T minced garlic
1 c thinly sliced bok choy
1 thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 c thinly sliced button mushrooms
2 T low-sodium soy sauce
8 leaves bib lettuce (I used iceberg)

Use cooking spray and brown beef, onion, garlic and ginger (5-7 min). Then add the other ingredients (minus lettuce) and cook another 3-5 min -- til veggies are tender crispt and bok choy is wilted. Spoon about 1/2 c. into each lettuce leaf. Serves 4. (4 points per serving)

HOT DOG!

This week I started Weight Watchers again, so stay tuned for some healthy recipes (which I've already tried quite a few of) -- but for now I will explain how this hot dog is actually a good choice: throughout my whole pregnancy I've been dyin' for a good dog, and now that I'm not -- I'm supposed to shun them? I think NOT! Johnsonville has quite a tasty smoked turkey sausage -- for only 3 points! So with the whole wheat bagel, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard and ketchup, this lunch was a mere 5 points. Now THAT'S a good dog. (and tasty too.)

Baked Donuts with Cinnamon Glaze

here's a baked version of a normally fatty(er) treat. My mom made some baked chocolate donuts during her visit and they weren't all we were hoping for. I used to make these in college and they were always a hit -- so here Mom -- try these out.

combine:
2 c flour
2/3 c sugar
2 T yeast
1 t salt
1 t lemon or orange peel
1/2 t nutmeg

heat(butter doesn't need to be completely melted)
1 3/4 c milk
1/2 c butter

gradually beat liquid mixture into flour mixture for 2 min

add:
2 eggs
1 c flour -- beat again: 2 min

appx. 2 c more flour -- stir in to make soft dough
cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours

punch dough down
knead 1 min; adding 1/2 c flour if necessary
roll out 1/2 in thick
cut into donuts
place on prepared baking sheets -- cover with towel
let rise 30 min or until doubled

bake 8-10 -- 400 degrees 'til golden brown

Glaze:
1/4 c milk
2 c pwd sugar
1/2 t cinnamon

remove from pan and cool for 5 min -- dip tops into glaze and allow to drip down sides

makes 2 doz donuts and holes

whole wheat cinnamon rolls

well actually these are half whole wheat and half spelt with lots of flax added in for more nutritional value. If ya gotta have cinnamon rolls -- you might as well have these! I love 'em.

I actually can't get the recipe to post -- it's Jamie's bread recipe -- but if you're interested (and don't already have it) leave a comment and I'll forward it to you.

Sushi -- California Roll

California Roll basic ingredients

Seaweed sheets (in the Asian section)

sticky rice (we just made rice with a little less water -- which doesn't make it true sticky rice, but whatever)

imitation crab

julienned avocado and cucumber

mayo (or miracle whip added the vinegar/sugar effect that is supposed to be added to the rice after it's cooked -- so I liked that too.)

and since the Iron Chefs all say it takes YEARS to master the rolling of sushi, let alone the right way to make the rice and cut the fish etc, I won't even attempt to try to tell you how it's done. Ryan and I just tried to assemble and roll the best we could. or not even the best we could -- really, we were just anxious to eat the stuff. And eat it, we did.