Divine Ezekiel French Toast w/ Warm Berry Sauce

Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm!  It is a dreary, raining day here and I have really been wanting something substantial to eat…. so this morning I made french toast!  Ezekiel bread is a sprouted grain bread that is low glycemic, full of fiber and oh so nutritious! It’s much more dense than regular bread and sort of nutty… not great for sandwiches to me, but perfect for this.

• 2 Slices Ezekiel Bread (regular or cinnamon raisin!)
• 3 Egg Whites
• Dash of Splenda and Cinnamon
• 2/3c Frozen Berries (strawberries, blueberries, mixed, ect)
• 1/4c Water
• 1-2T Granular Splenda

     Beat the eggs with the dash of cinnamon and splenda, then soak the bread for at least 5-10 minutes, turning once. This bread is dense and gets better if you allow it to soak up the eggs.  While the bread is soaking, place the rest of the ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, mashing the berries now and then, until it becomes thick and syrupy. 

     Heat a nonstick griddle or skillet and cook the soaked bread until golden brown on both sides and firm to the touch (so you know the middle is cooked through).   Plate and serve with the warm berry sauce and a sprinkling of granular splenda if you like!

It’s All In The Prep….

I spent a couple of hours last night prepping my food for the next few days. I can’t tell you how many times it has saved me to have food ready to grab and eat or grab and throw in my cooler as I‘m running out the door. I know for me personally… I am not going to prepare food 4, 5, or 6 times a day. If at least a few of the meals are not heat and eat, I will inevitably end up eating out and struggling to make wise choices.

It really is fairly simple to make food ahead and split it into single serving sizes. Even things like cottage cheese… I’ll buy a large container and split it into 1/2c servings in tiny plastic containers. Also things that don’t need to be cooked, but require you to pull out several things every time you want to make it… like my favorite protein shake. I just hate pulling out the big bag of frozen blueberries and a measuring cup… and usually end up getting blueberry juice on something… so I take the whole bag at once and divide it into 1/4c servings in those tiny snack bags. Then throw them all in one gallon size freezer bag and into the freezer. Then when it’s protein shake time,… it’s super easy and I’ve even started throwing my spoonful of coconut oil into the baggies so that eliminates yet another step.

The biggest time savings though is in the protein department. Now through much trial and error I have found that certain things freeze well after they are cooked and others… not so much. Anything cooked in a sauce and then chopped or shredded tends to freeze and reheat well (I’ll add some recipes in a bit.) But things like hamburger patties, chicken breasts, ect. tend to get tough and just don’t taste as good. I prefer to make those things up every few days and keep them in the fridge. Same goes for tuna or salmon patties… very tasty, but always better if not frozen. Now for the things that do freeze well…. lean ground beef precooked and divided into either single servings or recipe size portions (2c for a family) … then it can just get thawed in the microwave and tossed into soup, chili, spaghetti sauce… whatever. Various versions of crockpot meats also do very well…. Like Chicken Salsa Verde, Pepperocini Beef, Taco Style Chicken. Also soups and chilis are endless in variety and freeze like a dream as long as they don’t contain a starch like pasta or potatoes.

Last night I kept things very simple and really didn’t accomplish all that I wanted but got enough done to last me a few days. I divided my container of cottage cheese as I stated earlier. I made a veggie and egg scramble of onions and bell pepper and then added 4 whole eggs and 6 whites, cooked and then divided into 3 bowls to serve as breakfast with an apple for the next few days. Then I divided my blueberries for my protein shakes. I seasoned and cooked 8oz of very lean ground beef and divided into snack baggies and froze… they will probably end up being thrown into a Clean Taco Salad. Then I made my uber yummy Cola BBQ Chicken… recipe to follow! I made three thin sliced breasts which are perfect portions for my mini meals, and fantastic with either a clean coleslaw or a dinner salad. I’m going to make Salmon Patties for dinner tonight and will make double for extras in the fridge. I’ll also probably make some seasoned green beans and put 2-3 portions in the fridge… I’ve been slacking on the green veggies.

Well, this is what makes it possible for me to stick to a clean, healthy diet, and when I don’t take my own advice and keep things stocked…. I end up eating crap, feeling like crap, and not losing weight. I’ll be back later today to post several of the recipes I mentioned.

 

 

 

Simple Japanese Cucumber Salad

This is a simple, refreshing salad that goes perfectly with any stir fry.

1/2 a Cucumber, peeled and sliced thin

2T Rice Wine Vinegar

1 pkt. Splenda

Salt & Pepper

  Mix the dressing ingredients in a bowl with a lid. Add the cukes, shake and let sit in the fridge to marinate a few minutes before serving.  So, so good… very refreshing!

10 Minute Beef Stir Fry

This was so easy and so yummy! I started with a lean flat iron steak that was roughly a pound and sliced it into 4 pieces, using 1 piece and saving the rest for other meals.  I made this recipe for 1 serving, but you could obviously increase it to feed your whole family.

• 4oz Lean Flat iron Steak, sliced thin
• Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, ect.
• 2T Korean Stir Fry Sauce (bottled)
• 1T Rice Wine Vinegar
• 1 tsp. Chinese Chili Sauce (bottled)
• 1- 2pkt. Splenda
• Good Dash of Lite Soy Sauce
• 2T Water
• 1 clove Garlic, chopped
• 2c Broccoli Slaw (bagged mix)
• 3 Green Onions, sliced
• 2 tsp Coconut Oil (or any good oil)

  Season the steak well with salt, pepper, garlic powder, minced onion…. whatever you like.  Place the steak in a bag and let sit a few hours or overnight. Next Mix the Korean stir fry sauce, rice wine vinegar, chili sauce, garlic, water and soy sauce in a bowl and let sit next to the steak and chill until ready to cook.                       

  Heat the oil in a nonstick pan or wok. Add the beef and let it sear up on the outside… don’t overcook.  Remove the meat from the pan and add the broccoli slaw. Saute 5 minutes or until veggies just start to become tender… you still want a little bite to them.  Add the beef back and add the sauce. Heat through.  Garnish with the sliced green onions.  That’s it… Yum Yum!                                                               

Mmmmm…. Food!

This is totally becoming a food blog!!!  Just kidding… but, I am going to start posting recipes and recipe reviews.  I’m asking that everyone who has yummy recipes featuring clean foods… or favorite recipes that need to be ”cleaned up”… please submit them! I’ll make them, review them and post them… along with credit to you and a link back to your blog or website! So let ‘em start pouring in! 

I realized that my diet was seriously lacking any interest and I needed a little oompf.  Now, before February, I cooked constantly… big, fat southern meals.  But I have barely cooked at all since.  I’ve been relying heavily on ready sliced, chopped and pre-cooked foods at the grocery store…. only cooking when absolutely necessary and not really taking much joy in it…. but that is starting to change! 

I’ve been missing Chinese and Mexican foods, as well as some Southern favorites.  So I’ve been playing in the kitchen… and enjoying it!   Today I’m posting the recipes for the lunch I just made…. Mmmm, it was soooo good!

And just a word about my recipes…. I’m a dash and splash kind of cook.  I give approximate measurements, but feel free to experiment, add a little more of you like… a little less of what you don’t.  Cooking is fun and a great form of self expression… don’t feel you must pull out all your measuring spoons and cups and such for every meal… feel free to eyeball things and go by what feels right to you.