Tagged: low calorie

Main Dish / Recipes / rice / shrimp

Shrimp and Cauliflower Fried Rice

You’ll love this easy, low carb, low calorie version of the classic Portuguese Shrimp and Rice dish that’s one my favorite recipes on this blog. This recipe only takes about 20 minutes to fully prepare and cook. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 12-16 oz. package frozen cauliflower rice ( I used Trader Joe’s)

1 small onion (minced)

1/2 to 1 pound raw medium shrimp de-veined and shelled

2 cloves garlic (minced)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cube chicken bouillon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

parsley (minced for garnish)

Preparation:

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent in a non stick skillet. Add bouillon and and let dissolve. Season shrimp with salt and paprika. Add cauliflower to onion and garlic, stir to dissolve frozen pieces, and cook for about 5 minutes while stirring often.

Add shrimp to cauliflower, mix well and let cook for about 5 minutes or until shrimp turns pink and fully cooked.

Garnish with parsley.

Perfect pairing with Portuguese Vinho Verde wine.

Desserts / Photo Gallery / Recipes

70 Calorie – Skinny Frozen Mochachino

70 Calorie – Skinny Frozen Mochachino

I’m a plain Jane when it comes to coffee.  This drives my “Coffeeholic” family crazy! Currently we have 4 coffee makers at home; Keurig, Tossimo, Mr Coffee, and a Cuisinart drip coffee maker! They buy all of the new flavored coffees but, hopelessly get me to drink them.

I think the reason is because many years ago I managed a gourmet coffee shop similar to today’s Starbucks where I smelled flavored brewed coffee all day long!

I still remember the nauseating aroma’s from the flavored coffee beans such as, “Peppermint” and the my most hated; “Amaretto” UGH!

We served and sold coffee beans from around the world from the basic,  Colombian to the more expensive Hawiian – Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain.

Today’s most expensive coffee is from Indonesia. But, this isn’t a lesson on coffee so I won’t go into the details unless you’re daring enough to click on the link and find out why!


I’m going to give you 2 coffee tips: 

Number 1. You’ll never get your coffee to taste as good as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or your favorite coffee shop.

The temperature for perfect brewed coffee should be 200 degrees Fahrenheit which is 93-94C. Most home coffee makers will not maintain a temperature that high especially the cheaper models.

Number 2. Never pour away any leftover coffee! Did you know that the longer coffee sits in the refrigerator, the stronger and more robust it gets? Simple let it cool completely and store for up to 1 week!

This recipe below is adapted from my days working at the shop. I made this a “Skinny” version but you may substitute the hot chocolate mix with 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and add a small amount of milk to make it frothy.

Visit this link for some more amazing recipes!

 Skinny Frozen Mochachino

 

This recipe will make 1 large Mochachino at 70 calories or 2 at 35 calories each if you want to share it. 

Kids recipe version: Substitute the coffee with decaf and use regular hot chocolate!

Ingredients:

1 package no sugar or diet Hot Chocolate mix (any low calorie you prefer)

1 cup coffee

1 cup ice

2 tbsp lite cool whip or any brand

cinnamon

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and frothy. Top with cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appetizers / Main Dish / Photo Gallery / Recipes / Side Dish

Skinny – Big Meatballs

Big……..A$$……I mean the meatballs of course!…This recipe’s name is a family – running joke every time I make them!

These meatballs are low in fat since they’re made with Turkey and a small amount of cheese instead of ground beef.

Sometimes cooking meatballs is a chore because they stick to the pan, burn, or are under cooked, but you’ll love this cooking technique.

They’re baked in your oven, not on the stove top, like the conventional way so they come out moist and juicy!

They’re perfect for a lazy Sunday, or a company diner because you can make them ahead of time, store them in the refrigerator and continue the cooking process one hour before your ready to serve your meal.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Meatballs

  • 3 lbs ground Turkey
  • 3/4 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
  • 1 slice wheat bread (shred with a cheese shredder)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried oregeno
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 3 tbsp any tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup shredded Pecorino cheese
  • 1/2 cup olive oil

RECIPE TIP: Never buy pre- shredded Parmesan or Pecorino cheese in the cans. Go to the cheese section at your grocery store and buy it by the whole chunk and keep it wrapped in your refrigerator. It’s much cheaper and much fresher because you can shred it as you need.

Sauce ingredients:

  • 2  28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes (preferably with basil or garlic)
  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried Oregano
  • 1 tsp dried Basil
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

Instructions:

Saute 1 onion in 1/4 cup of the Olive Oil until golden in a small skillet and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, place all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl.

I use a cheese crater to shred the slice of bread but you can dice it into very small cubes. (Using fresh bread crumbs makes the meatballs moister). Mix all ingredients until all incorporated but not too mushy. Form the meatballs using the insides of your palms to size between golf balls and baseballs.

Brown the meatballs in the remaining Olive Oil in large skillet until golden brown.

Place the meatballs in a large deep dish baking pan. Add all of the sauce ingredients except the cheese to the meatball pan. Stir the sauce to mix all the ingredients well. Top the meatballs with the cheese.

Cover with foil leaving a small opening for steam to escape and let them cook at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes depending on the size of the meatballs. *Note: After 30 minutes remove from oven and stir the sauce well.

Return to oven and let cook for another 15-30 minutes. *Note: Take one meatball out of the oven after 45 minutes and check to see if it’s cooked through. Let them rest in the pan for about 5-10 minutes so the sauce thickens.

P.S. They’re even better the next day so make a double batch!