The "Now Eat This" Challenge

"150 of America's Favorite Foods All Under 350 Calories"

For my 30th birthday my grandma sent me this book as a gift. She said that she loves it and that my aunt and uncle, who introduced it to her have already lost 15 lbs and eat recipes only from it. Now you have to have some thick skin to not be offended when someone sends you a weight loss recipe book for your birthday... but I know she was only being kind & loving by it.
So since September I have made a goal to cook at least 2 or 3 recipes from this book a week until I have cooked them all. After cooking them all, I will then be able to say which ones are good, great, or hardly edible. If you'd like to join me in my healthy eating journey, please join in. I will test them out for you, and let you know which ones you have to try and which ones to not waste y our time & energy on. I know... I haven't blogged about my cooking in ages. But here's to a fresh start. If I'm the only one left still reading this blog, that's OK. At least our little of family of 4 will be all the healthier & more delicious for it. Wish me luck! We're about to find out if healthy really can taste good, I mean "comfort food good"!

Disclaimer: By the looks of things, this cook book contains ingredients that are not always "cheap" like my blog address proclaims. However, there is a little Italian proverb that says, "You either pay the farmer or the doctor." So as I grumble about the extra produce I have to buy, I will remind myself that they're cheaper than a box of Oreos and definitely cheaper than a new heart or kidney. :) I also may throw in a few random recipes from time to time that are not from this book that I insist you must try and can't wait till this challenge is over to share them with you.

Yummy Thin Crust Pizza

I decided I needed to put more family friendly, fast recipes that people could use weekly or monthly. Something reliable & loved by many. So I turned to my sister Mary, mother of 5 who makes this every "Friday Pizza Night". It is so fast,good, & cheap. She triples the recipe but for a family of 3 we did it exactly as written & it worked great!

1 package yeast (1 Tbsp.)
1/4 tsp. sugar
3/4 c. hot water
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees (I didn't know my oven went that high- but it does!) Dissolve yeast and sugar in the hot water and allow to rest for 8 min. Combine flour and salt in a separate bowl. Add yeast mixture to flour mixture.
Mix and knead. (I just stick it in my kitchenaid with the dough hook for about 5 min.) Top with sauce, cheese, & toppings.
Bake for 10 min. (The little pizza's bake for 8-10 min.)
Makes one pizza or 6 small pizzas.

Frosted Ginger Snaps

These are cheap, but not guilt free! However they are so soft & delicious that I just had to make the recipe accessible to you. They aren't too spicy or strong, but they have lots of yummy flavor and I think the frosting adds the perfect touch. Enjoy!

1/2 c. butter softened
1/4 c. canola oil
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. + 2 T. flour
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ginger
2 t. cinnamon

Cream together butter, oil, sugar, egg & molasses. Sift together flour, salt, baking soday, ginger, & cinnamon in a separate bowl. Combine. Roll into 1 inch balls & roll in additional sugar if you do not plan on frosting them. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.
*If you make a large pizza size cookie bake 6 min. Cover the edges with foil & bake an additional 8 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 c. butter (half stick)
1/2 pkg. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
Whip the softened butter & cream cheese. Mix in powdered sugar & vanilla.

The Hunger Games Dinner

This month for my book club we read the Hunger Games & I hosted the discussion night. To make it extra fun I made some food mentioned in the book for us all to enjoy. I hope you do too!

Warm Rolls Eaten in the Cave:
(Cool-rise Rich Dough)

This recipe comes from my good friend Cherise Lee & is so worth making. I am a terrible bread baker and yet these came out delicious. If you have a kitchen aid these are so easy! I doubled the recipe when I made it.

In mixing bowl:Dissolve 1 package (or 1 Tbsp.) dry yeast in 1/3 c. warm water.
While yeast is dissolving, in another bowl(microwave safe) mix:
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
2 T. butter

Warm this mixture in microwave until it reaches 125 degrees. ( I start with cold ingredients and use high power for 2 minutes) Pour into the yeast mixture and begin adding flour.

2 1/2 - 3 c. flour
1 egg, best at room temp.

Add egg while adding flour. Beat until smooth. Need with hook on mixture for 10 min. If doing it by hand, knead until the dough is rubbery & looks right.

Put back in bowl (or leave in kitchen aid bowl). Cover & let rise for 20-30 min. Pour out on floured board, knead again, shape, & put on sprayed cookie sheet or casserole dish. Brush with oil, cover with towel and let rise for at least 30 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15 min or until golden brown. Take out and brush with melted butter.

Note:Called "Cool-rise" because you can make them in the morning or up to 25 hours before you want to bake them, cover them, and put them in the fridge. Take out of the fridge 2 hours before you want to bake them to allow them to rise again. Then Bake.

Lamb and Dried Plum Stew (Katniss' favorite dish)

This recipe is a mix of 2 recipes: 1 from the Oprah magazine & 1 from epicurious.com. To make it cheap & guilt free, I used only 1/2 lb. of lamb instead of 3 lbs & added 1 1/2 beef.

1/4 c. olive oil
1 large onion, grated

2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 lb lamb shoulder + 1 1/2 lb stew beef, cut into 1 1/2 in. pieces
2 1/2 c. chicken broth
4 carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise & cut into 1 inch pieces
Zest of 1 orange, cut in wide strips
2 c. butternut squash, cubed into 1 in. pieces
1 roasted bell pepper, cut into 1 in pieces
1/4- 1/2 c. dried plums (prunes), chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Combine the oil, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a large, heavy pot. Stir well, then add the meat. Toss the meat with the spice mixture to coat it well.

2. Add the broth, carrots, orange zest, and butternut squash. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the heat and simmer gently, partially covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes. Add the roasted pepper and dried plums; cook, partially covered, until the lamb and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove and discard the chili and orange zest. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

"Goat Cheese & Apples" Salad

(also eaten in the cave with Peeta)

This recipe is from Allrecipes.com and is to die for! Granted it was originally made with Roquefort cheese & pears, I switched it up to fit the story. The dressing is what makes it divine. My goat cheese got a little too soft like cream cheese so if I did it again I would freeze it or keep it refrigerated longer so it didn't get so soft. This salad tastes amazing with feta cheese also.

1 head of lettuce or bag spinach, torn into bite size pieces
2 apples- peeled, cored, and chopped
5 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
1 avocado- peeled, pitted, & diced
1/2 c. thinly sliced green onions
1/4 c. white sugar
1/2 c. pecans
1/3 c. olive oil
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/2 Tbsp. white sugar
1/2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
Black pepper to taste

1. In a skillet over medium heat, stir 1/4 cup of sugar together with the pecans. Continue stirring gently until sugar has melted and caramelized the pecans. Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool, and break into pieces.
2. For the dressing, blend oil, vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. In a large serving bowl, layer lettuce, apples, cheese, avocado, and green onions. Pour dressing over salad, sprinkle with pecans, and serve.

Cookies from Peeta's Father
Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are cheap, but not guilt free and oh so good. I put a little to much flour in mine when I made them for The Hunger Games book club. This is my sister Mary's recipe & truly one of my all time favorite cookies. It makes a ton but if you don't want a ton, just freeze the dough. She is friends with the owner of "smart cookie" company and he told her the secret to their delicious cookies is to use bread flour instead of all-purpose. I tried it & it makes a difference! So you should try it too!

1 lb. butter (4 cubes), softened to room temp
2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. white sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla (real, not imitation)
6- 6 1/2 c. bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
Chocolate chips

Cream the butter and sugars. Mix in eggs & vanilla. Slowly incorporate in flour, salt, & baking soda. Lastly fold in your chocolate chips. Dish with a cookie disher onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly golden. Place on cooling rack & devour!

Fudgy "No-guilt" Brownies

When I was flipping through "Cuisine at Home", a magazine my sister Mary sent me and I saw "No-Guilt" brownies I was intrigued! What could be better for my cheap & guilt free blog. So I tested it out... first you must know that I am a brownie snob.I love a good fudgy, moist brownie, so I will not go easy on these. They were not melt in your mouth delicious... a little to spongy or cake like for me. But good and chocolaty and very low in fat. Now it could have been that I stirred them too much, which you should never do to brownies because it over works the gluten and makes them cake or bread like. I say give them a try. Besides over the past 2 days I've eaten half the pan and if you're like me, it's better to eat half the pan of guilt-free!

Melt together:(in microwave, stir every 45 sec till smooth)
4 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 c. choc. chips)
4 T. unsalted butter, cubbed
2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t. coffee granules, (I substituted pero/postum or you can omit it)
Stir in; Add:
1/2 c.sugar
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
3 egg whites
2/3 c. flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 c. walnuts, toasted, chopped
Dust with:
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Line the inside of square pan with foil & coat with spray. Be sure to blend dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in nuts, then pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 min, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool brownies in pan, then lift out and peel back foil. Dust with powdered sugar, then cut into 12 bars.

Crisp Wontons with Strawberries & Yogurt

My friend, Emily Dougall, lent me her Everyday Food magazines that are packed with "Fast & Healthy Dishes in 30 minutes or less". I was pleasantly surprised with Miss Martha Stewart's recipes. This one is a fantastic spring/summer snack! It had just enough sweetness and crunch with nearly zero fat. Plus with the price of strawberries lately, this little treat is sweet on the pocket book too. It takes 20 minutes max from start to finish and is easy enough for kids to make it!

12 wonton wrappers

1 Tbsp. butter, melted (or substitute with H2O)

3 Tbsp. sugar

3/4 c. whole natural almonds, finely chopped

1 cup plain greek yogurt (or fat free yoplait any flavor or ricotta)

2 Tbsp. honey

1 3/4 c. fresh strawberries, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 400. Place wonton wrappers on a rimmed baking sheet and brush with butter. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer wontons to a wire rack and let cool.

2. Dividing evenly, top 6 wontons with yogurt, a drizzle of honey, and strawberries, then sandwich with remaining wontons. Serve immediately.

Zesty Meatball Soup

First off, I apologize for not posting for so long. James and I began Body for Life which requires me to work out daily (except Sunday). So I've been cooking healthy, just not posting the healthy things we've made.
This recipe is sooo yummy. We loved all the flavor it has. It's also fairly fast & cheap because it makes tons! I saw the recipe on the back of my Zesta whole wheat saltines box and decided to give it a try. I hope you will make this because it is healthy and so tasty. I adapted the recipe to not require using a dutch oven because honestly, who uses that daily in the kitchen?!

1 egg beaten
10 saltine crackers(whole wheat)finely crushed
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp fresh parsley (or dried)
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 small zucchini, chopped(2 cups)
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 cans(14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes (with Italian seasonings)
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce (with Italian seasonings)
1 can (14 oz) reduced sodium beef broth (or 1 3/4c. water + 2 bouillon cubes)
1/2 c. uncooked dry small shell pasta

1.In a large bowl combine egg, crackers, cheese, parsley, and pepper. Add ground beef. Mix well. Shape into thirty six 1 inch meatballs.
2. Spray a pyrex 8 x 11 pan. Cook meatballs in a 350 degree preheated oven until no longer pink in the center. (I put mine in the oven and took them out and into the soup when the pasta was tender. So however long that is.)
3.In a large deep skillet cook zucchini and onion until tender (in a small amount of olive oil... if you like). Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sacue, beef broth, and pasta. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 8 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in meatballs. Heat through.