Recipe #11 - Spaghetti Squash



Spaghetti Squash - before & after


I have my dear college roommate from junior & senior years to thank for this recipe.  She introduced me to this unusual vegetable.  It looks like any old squash on the outside but cooks up into a crispy noodle facsimile which you pull out from the shell.  Amazing!  I typically serve it with bolognese sauce, but spaghetti squash noodles would work with almost any sauce, even including a chow mein/ lo mein preparation.  The recipe to prepare the noodles is this simple:

1) wash the outside of the squash
2) slice the squash in half across the shorter diameter
3) use a spoon to scrape out the seeds & stringy gunk from the middle
4) place the squash cut side down in a microwave-safe dish, then fill the dish with water 1 cm deep (that's 1/4 of an inch, y'all)
5) microwave 4-7 minutes (depending on size of the squash) on full power
6) carefully remove the squash from the dish (it's so cool - the water gets 'sucked up' into the squash cavity while cooking, & the dish will look dry when you take it out; but when you pick the squash up, the hot water gushes back out of the squash into the pan)
7) use a fork to scrape out the spaghetti squash strands, fluffing any chunks to separate the 'noodles'

Carb-Face & Gout

Carb-face: before carbs & after!!!

It happened to me!  I can still hardly believe it!  I got a raging case of carb-face on Thanksgiving day after waking up from my post carbalicious luncheon nap.  The corner of my left eye swelled up like a tiny water balloon because I had been lying on my left side, which ironically is supposed to be better for circulation & blood return to the heart - a habit I picked up during my pregnancies (see links below for more info on SOS - sleeping on side).  Evidently, my face inflated due to post-carb binging water retention, which then pooled into the dependent  (ie hanging down) portion of my face during my snooze!  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/the-benefits-of-left-side-sleeping/  http://www.babyzone.com/askanexpert/sleeping-positions-pregnancy


What is carb-face?  It is the bane of all Hollywood starlets as well as many regular folk.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1168651/Could-Hollywoods-beauty-gurus-turn-Anna-Richardson-starlet-just-weeks.html  Carb-face is a catchy way to describe bloating that shows up, especially in the face, after consuming a large amount of simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, pie, cornbread stuffing, etc!!!).  Some doubt that it is real but now I am a believer!

Why does carb-face happen?  We expect bloating after having a lot of salty foods or sports drinks but not so much with sugary or starchy foods.  In a nutshell, insulin acts on the kidneys to retain sodium while dumping potassium.  This link to a research abstract describes this in technical lingo: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2676669

In fact, the following review article abstract explains something that I had also observed during my low carb sojourn: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9377725  The effect of insulin on the kidneys is such that uric acid is not cleared as effectively from the blood. http://ajpendo.physiology.org/content/268/1/E1.abstract  Increased uric acid concentrations can lead to gout (joint pain due to uric acid crystal formation in the synovial fluid). http://arthritis.about.com/od/gout/a/gettoknowgout_2.htm   I used to suffer with joint pain in my hands, which weakened my grip & things constantly slipped out of my hands, and in my bunions, which felt like an icepick stabbing into my feet.  When I went low carb, absolutely unexpectedly, my chronic joint pain disappeared.  I had been to the point of consulting my doctor who then referred me to a rheumatologist.  But before I made the appointment with the specialist, I noted the disappearance of the pain.  It does come back after cheating with high carb treats but it resolves again when I eat clean.  This link is to a blog by a DO (osteopathic doctor; they go through a slightly different medical school program than MDs but go through the same internship & residency programs to practice medicine & gain specializations) who explains the phenomenon in a more understandable way than the more technical papers & abstracts: http://www.nemechekconsultativemedicine.com/?page_id=1364

This uric acid retention also tends to promote kidney stone formation: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/539022  Kidney stones are supposed to be exquisitely painful, something I hope never to experience myself!

Some may think that one is vanity driven to be concerned about carb-face.  But carb-face may be a surface indication of more insidious, health-damaging processes occurring inside your body - arthritis & joint disfigurement and kidney stone formation.  It's not vanity to want to protect your mobility and renal function!  Check out the Lance Armstrong Foundation website for info on how to beat carb-face: http://www.livestrong.com/article/251123-how-to-burn-facial-fat/

Recipe #10 - Cheesecake



Cheesecake - before & after

The holidays are upon us, so this is the perfect time to share a dessert recipe to get you through the minefield of sweets that will stretch through Valentine's Day!!!  This cheesecake is not just a nice dessert/ teatime snack; I often have a slice for breakfast when I'm too rushed to whip up eggs.  I eat it plain or with some fresh berries or with a dollop of sugar-free preserves.  It's a fairly simple recipe aside from the laborious mixing & the long baking time.  I've included a variation for CHOCOLATE flavor, too!

Ingredients:

Crust:

·         1 ½ cups almond meal

·         1 heaping Tablespoon wheat bran

·         1 heaping Tablespoon ground flaxseed

·         3 Tablespoons butter

·         2 Tablespoons Splenda

Filling:

·         3 packages (1 ½ lbs) full fat cream cheese (room temperature)

·         4 eggs (room temperature)

·         2 Tablespoons vanilla

·         1 teaspoon almond extract

·         1 ½ teaspoons ( ½ Tablespoon) lemon juice

·         1 1/3 cups Splenda (or 3/4 cup Splenda + 7 packets stevia)

·         1/4 cup full fat sour cream

Preheat the oven to 400F.  Melt the butter in a 8"x8" baking dish.  Add the remaining crust ingredients & mix to evenly disperse the melted butter.  Then smooth out the crumbly mixture over the bottom & lower sides of the dish to form the crust.  Bake for ~7 minutes, until the crust is golden NOT brown.

While the crust is baking, mix all the ingredients for the filling, save for the cream cheese, in a large mixing bowl until well-combined.  I use a whisk for a little biceps workout!  But you wimps (lucky dogs!!!) with stand mixers can use those instead.  ;-)  Next, whip in the cream cheese, one packet at a time, so that the final cheesecake will be airy & smooth rather than dense & lumpy.  ROOM TEMPERATURE cream cheese & eggs are key here!  Top the baked crust with the filling mixture then return to the oven.  Immediately lower the oven temperature to 250F.  Then bake for 1 hour or more until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  My cheesecake always cracks, which I hear is a no-no.  But I don't mind - it doesn't affect the flavor.  Chill then enjoy!

For chocolate cheesecake:

Crust: Use ground hazelnuts instead of almond flour + 2 Tablespoons cocoa

Filling: use 1 Tablespoon cocoa + almond extract + vanilla – lemon juice

Inspiration recipe: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/desserts/r/lcarbcheesecake.htm

Recipe #9 - Moussaka



Moussaka - before & after

 Moussaka is a labor of love.  It is a solid two hours+ of cooking.  I kid you not.  This is not a recipe for a quick dinner.  If you've never had it, moussaka is a yummy heartiness that you will CRAVE after you taste it for the first time.  When I make this, my husband tells me not to invite anyone over for lunch so that there will be more left over for him at dinnertime! 

I've adjusted a traditional recipe according to my cupboard: tarragon replaces herbes fines; tomato basil pasta sauce subs in for plain tomato sauce; long Japanese eggplants replace regular eggplants which tend to have large, hard seeds; and the egg is left out of the meat layer (one less step which seemed superfluous anyway).

Moussaka has a bechamel sauce on the top layer.  Bechamel starts with a roux, which is butter-fried FLOUR!  Not low carb by a long shot.  So my version uses soy flour and my sauce secret weapon - cornstarch.  Corn can be a friend; a tiny amount of cornstarch can thicken sauces like a pile of flour, and baby corn is a high-fiber yet tender veggie which is not yet loaded with carbs like the mature corn on the cob.

Ingredients:

• 4 large, long Japanese eggplants, cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick slices
• salt
• canola oil for frying
•  
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon tarragon
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 1/2 (25 ounce) jar tomato basil pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup red cooking wine (or whatever red you have available)
•  
• 4 cups Mootopia (hi protein reduced carb) milk
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter
• 6 tbsp soy flour
• 1 heaping tsp cornstarch dissolved in a splash of cold milk
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano/Pecorino Romano cheese divided into 1/3 cup portions
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
ground white pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.     Lay the slices of eggplant on paper towels; sprinkle lightly with salt then set aside to draw out excess water while preparing the meat layer.

2.     In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.  Then add the ground beef, salt and pepper to taste, onions, and garlic. After the beef is browned, add the cinnamon, nutmeg, tarragon, parsley, pasta sauce, and wine.  Mix well. Simmer for a few minutes to evaporate the alcohol from the wine. Remove from heat.  (I don't salt my beef because the cheese, butter, cooking wine, & eggplant already have plenty of salt)

3.    In another skillet, heat the canola oil on medium. Fry the eggplant until browned & softened. Set aside on paper towels to drain. When adding more oil to the pan, pour oil in on the side of the pan closest to you, then tip the pan away from you to spread the oil throughout the pan.  This avoids splatters in your face!!!
4.     To make the bechamel sauce, begin by warming the milk in the microwave (use your Pyrex measuring cup to save washing up too many vessels). Melt the stick of butter in the eggplant skillet over medium heat (bits of caramelized eggplant flavor will enhance the béchamel). Whisk in soy flour until smooth. Lower heat; gradually pour in the warm milk, the dissolved cornstarch, & 1/3 cup of grated cheese.  Whisk constantly until it thickens.  Season with white pepper. 
5.     Preheat oven to 350F.  Meanwhile, arrange a layer of eggplant in a buttered 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover eggplant with all of the meat sauce.  Sprinkle 1/3 cup of cheese over the meat. Cover with remaining eggplant, and sprinkle another 1/3 cup of cheese on top. Pour the bechamel sauce over the top, and sprinkle with the nutmeg.
6.    Bake for 45 minutes - 1 hour at 350F.

Original recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/moussaka/detail.aspx

Recipe #8 - Chicken Curry in a Hurry

Chicken Curry in a Hurry - before & after

I love to start my recipes with a 'before & after' photo.  Just as it can be inspiring to see personal transformations, cooking transformations may inspire you to try something new!

I don't like to cook very spicy so that the kids can also partake.  If you want some fire though, add 1 tsp red chili powder when you add the ginger or 1 whole fresh jalapeno when you add the tomato or spice it up to your own taste.

One technique that I mentioned previously (see Recipe #7 - Indonesian-Inspired Chicken with Snow Peas & Baby Corn) is marinating the protein with cornstarch.  This is an oriental technique that you don't find in authentic South Asian cooking.  But it lends itself to a speedy preparation.  Real Indian curry is simmered for-EVER to produce that awesome flavor.  You know when your curry is done because the oil separates from the sauce (a trick I learned from my in-laws).  To speed things up, I use the cornstarch to tenderize the meat and thicken the sauce.

Indian curry is usually served with rice or flat bread - a refined carb of some kind.  Serve yours with a cucumber & tomato salad or in a lettuce cup for a reduced carb, refreshing taste that won't bulk you up.  Or scoop it up with a reduced carb tortilla.  Cucumber salad is super easy to make: slice up your cukes & tomatoes however you like; then splash with lemon/lime juice & sprinkle on some salt to your taste plus a dollop of Greek yogurt too to cool off the palate.  Done!

Ingredients:
2 tbsp coconut oil
½  white onion, finely minced
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 tbsp ginger, minced
1 cup tomato, diced (I prefer grape tomatoes)
1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tbsp (yellow) curry powder
½ tbsp. corn starch
Drizzle of canola oil (~1 tsp)
1 ½ tsp sea salt (or to taste)
1 tsp Splenda
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Marinate chicken with corn starch, curry powder, & canola oil.  Preheat a skillet over medium high heat.  Add the coconut oil and sauté the onion until translucent; add garlic, salt, & ginger and continue to cook until caramelized (slightly brown).  Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is browned on all sides.  Add the tomato, salt, Splenda, and coconut milk.  Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through & sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro. 

Original recipe: http://www.eclecticcook.com/quick-chicken-curry/

Recipe #7 - Indonesian-Inspired Chicken With Snow Peas & Baby Corn

Indonesian-Inspired Chicken - before & after

My background is Asian, so stir-fry is a very comfortable way for me to cook.  In addition, stir-fry dishes can be made to include both your protein & non-starchy veg in a very time efficient preparation.  The majority of your time will be spent in chopping everything up.  If you don't mind the added expense, buy your meat already skinned, deboned, & chopped to save even more time.  I serve this to my kids with steamed brown rice; for the grown-ups, with a side of another non-starchy veg or salad.  One note on Asian cooking sauces: they frequently contain sugar in various forms, so use with a bit of caution!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs chicken breast & thighs, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp ginger, cut into chunks which can be removed easily or grated for a spicier taste
1 stalk lemongrass, finely chopped
1 tbsp ketjap manis
1/2 tsp sambal terasi
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp corn starch
1 cup snow peas, de-stringed & chopped on the bias
2 cans of baby corn, drained & rinsed, chopped if desired
olive or canola oil for frying
1 tsp oyster sauce + 1 tsp ketjap manis for each batch*

Combine all the ingredients up to & including corn starch (the corn starch acts as a meat tenderizer & will thicken the final sauce).  I usually do this before I prep the veggies so that the meat has some time to marinate.  Heat the wok on high heat.  Add oil enough for frying (~1.5 tbsp) then half of the marinated chicken & snow peas.  Stir constantly until chicken is cooked through.  When the chicken is half done, add the tsp oyster sauce & tsp ketjap manis and 1 can of baby corn.  Rinse & repeat!  ;-)

*after marinating the meat, it will be cooked in two batches for an average sized wok; if you've got a giant wok & a stove with a massive burner to keep the wok hot a la Panda Express - one of my family's fave restaurants, go for the one big batch!

Recipe #6 - Slow Cooker Saag Kabob Loaf

Meatloaf - before & after

Two of my favorite Indian foods are saag paneer (creamed spinach with homemade cheese) and beef kabob.  Both are fabulous low carb meal items.  And both take quite a bit of effort & time in the kitchen to prepare.  You could order take-out, but good Indian food tends to be expensive.  This became my inspiration for a low prep-time, self-tending entree with great flavor.  Serve it with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, & red or white onions marinated for a few minutes with lemon juice & a sprinkle of salt.  Or roasted veg (see Recipe #5)!  Dee-lish!

Saag Kabob Loaf

1 lb ground beef

1-10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained in a colander then pressed in paper towels to remove all excess water

1 egg, beaten

Splash of cream

2 tsp onion powder

1 tbsp garam masala

½ tsp sea salt or to taste

¼ cup reduced sugar tomato ketchup + more to top loaf

1 small onion cut into thin rings

Layer onion rings on the bottom of a slow cooker pot.  Mix well all other ingredients in a bowl then form into a loaf.  Place loaf on top of the onion rings.  Then top loaf with a layer of ketchup, as much or as little as you like.  Cook in slow cooker on the ‘high’ setting until meatloaf interior temperature is 160+F (~ 2 ½ hrs).