We all need ways to get more veggies into our lives. And I’m here to tell you: Veggies can be yummy!
This is an old recipe that was handed down to me. Originally it was made deep fried in lousy oil.
YUM CHEF! YUM!
I know. I know. But guess what? If you do it my way? You can eat a plateful, instead of one or two pieces.
Good trade off?
YES! CHEF! GIVE ME THE PLATEFUL!
I thought you’d see it my way.
So on the trail of less calories and healthier….. you have two choices: You can pan sauté these on the stovetop or you can cook them up in the oven at 400 degrees. Now of course, the oven method is even less calories. But you have to play around with it and see what you like best. Cause if you don’t like it? You’re not eating it!
You can use Hemp Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil (watch the level of heat you cook it at), Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Walnut Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil. Macadamia Nut Oil? YUM! That’s a nutty flavor! That works well for me!
Here’s how it’s done: I took an egg and beat it up. (Got out a lot of my aggressions that I had no date for Valentine’s)! lol Then I cut the zucchini into spears… sort of like pickles. (Now you can make ’rounds’ with it, but the spears are much better in my book). I then went into a multigrain flour with them. Now, if you really wanted to go a little ‘nuts’, you can do the whole wheat panko bread crumbs, or any other flour you like (I’m off wheat right now, so that would be you, not me) and more than that? You can go “Flour, egg, flour, egg”. That little double dip thing works wonders!
Zucchini benefits? Well first off, here’s a trivia tip: It cooks and looks like a veg, but it’s a fruit! Whoo hoo! Something new! Second, it’s got Vitamin A and Potassium. And third, and the best part of all? Very, very low in calories.
Hadn’t given zucchini a thought other than to throw it into tomato sauce? Well, this works really well as a side dish. We always wonder what to accompany lasagna, other than a salad right? Pretty decadent with a veggie lasagna! As a matter of fact, to carry the ‘theme of zucchini further? You can substitute every other layer with long strips of zucchini instead of pasta. You don’t miss the pasta cause you’ve still got pasta in there. But it fills it out nice. I wonder if we egg’d and floured and crisped up that zucchini, if it would be even better…?
YES CHEF! I’LL TRY THAT!
So, here’s another option for the zucchini. What if you take it one step further? Think of it two ways: as an appetizer or a side dish. I mean you’re having people over and you have to hold them till dinner. Create a little saucy side dip, and present a zucchini platter. (Nice and works with a white or a red wine). That, and roasted garlic on baguette is a really nice way to start an Italian Dinner.
Think about those boring chicken meals you’ve been serving, with the same sides over and over again. Zucchini anyone? lol
Seriously, let’s start thinking about vegetables that are different than what we are doing every day.
I love to take a special peeler that makes spaghetti out of veggies. Zucchini? It’s the perfect vehicle. And can you imagine being able to eat a big plate of zucchini spaghetti? You can add turkey meatballs to it, make a wonderful sauce? Even shred some parmesan reggiano on top. How about that? Sounds like a good meal?
YES CHEF!
This is the year you and I are going to start getting creative and add more variety to the plate.
I know I am cutting out bread, pasta and all those things that quickly turn into sugar. I’ve also ruled out sugar… but the wine thing? Well, I am down to 2 glasses a week. And if I can get away with no wine some weeks? I think that will be a good boost for me. It’s time to get healthy!
It’s so hard cutting out bread and pasta. Really a bummer. Hey! I grew up in New York eating serious Italian Food! lol
But when I really need bread, there’s always these new ‘thin’ round breads. And Ezekiel bread… it’s sprouted and way better for you than regular bread because it’s combination of 6 grains and legumes. So that’s a bunch of fiber, vitamins and a better choice for sure. So every once in a while if I get a french toast craving? Ezekiel bread, it is! They have cinnamon raisin…. so that’s what I will be dreaming of…. maybe a month or two from now. Something to look forward to!
This is the year, my friend. We’re going down a size or two, gonna workout and get back to where we were last year. (Yes, the holidays always puts on 10 pounds).
And we’re gonna have fun doing it! I’ll be your cheerleader… You’ll be mine! Send me some ideas for healthier food choices! I like to experiment with what people say to make. It really inspires me to create!
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian