Healthy Recipes Thread

[KMWylie]

Let's use this thread to post healthy recipes.

NO LINKS - please copy and paste ingredients and directions to a post.

Please note if you've tried the recipe or if it's something that just looks good to you. :-D

What is "healthy?" Healthy is such a subjective term! 20 years ago, the US government said "healthy" was a high-carb, grain-heavy diet... well, that's turned out to be not so true.

So, feel free to note WHY you think a recipe is healthy. Is it low-calorie? Is it nutrient-rich (lots of veggies/fruits)? Is it compliant with a specific eating plan, like keto or paleo?

 

[KMWylie]

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Why is it healthy? Gluten-free, nutrient-rich, low-calorie (IF you don't eat the whole pan )

I make this all the time, now that MrKimberly is gluten-free!

Makes 4 servings - approx 450 calories/serving

1 to 2 zucchini (depending on the size of your zukes!)
1 c Ricotta cheese (whole milk)
1 c Mozzarella shredded
1 c. of your favorite jarred pasta sauce (or make your own!)
1 red or green pepper finely diced (I prefer red)
2 carrots - shredded then diced
1 Roma tomato - diced
1/2 lb ground Italian sausage
1/3 c parmesan cheese shredded
Dried (or fresh) oregano and basil - to taste
Salt and pepper - to taste

DIRECTIONS:
PRE-HEAT oven to 350 degrees
1. Thinly slice your zucchini(s) lengthwise. A mandolin slicer is awesome for this!
2. Press firmly between paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This is really important, unless you don't mind soupy lasagna. Zukes have A LOT of moisture in them!
3. Saute Italian sausage, diced pepper and diced carrots until cooked through. At the very end, add the diced tomatoes.
4. Season with oregano, basil, salt and pepper - to taste.
5. Using a 9x9 baking dish, begin layering your lasagna with a small (2 T-ish) amount of sauce (just to prevent the lasagna from sticking).
6. Combine the remaining sauce with the meat and veggie mixture.
7. Add a layer of zucchini to your baking dish.
8. Add 1/3 of the ricotta cheese next.
9. Add 1/3 of the meat mixture next.
10 Add 1/3 of the mozzarella next.
11. Then top with another layer of zucchini
12. Continue repeating until your last of the mozzarella, then top the lasagna off with the parmesan cheese.
13. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melty!
14. Cut into 4 slices - serve with a side salad!

 

[CUSP82]

Ricotta, mozzarella and Italian sausage are healthy? Got to love it! ( but my arteries won't)

 

[Holm]

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all diet. Metabolisms, allergies and food-sensitivities varies a lot from people to people, and nation to nation. There is some scientific research suggesting people's blood-type heavily influences what type of food is suitable for each person. But in general, I would say just listen to your gut feeling (pun very much intended). The bacteria living in ones gut has the ability to communicate with our brains, by transmitting neurochemicals. And the different types of bacteria in our gut lives off of a certain tupe of nutrient. When that nutrient is no longer being supplied, the bacteria culture dies off and is replaced by a different culture, sending different signals to our brain. What I am trying to say, is that your really are "what you eat".

Now, something I like to treat myself, my body and my beloved bacteria cultures with, is a blended smoothie, consisting of a banana, frozen strawberries, blueberries and blackcurrant, two tablespoons cottage cheese and enough milk to give it the right fluid consistency. I usually put in a little bit of raw honey and some nutritional powder, like lucuma or hemp, too boost my immune system. Doesn't really fill me up, but then again, I enjoy the feeling of going hungry sometimes, which has some health benefits as well.

 

[BigRooster]

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Why is it healthy? Gluten-free, nutrient-rich, low-calorie (IF you don't eat the whole pan )

I make this all the time, now that MrKimberly is gluten-free!

Makes 4 servings - approx 450 calories/serving

1 to 2 zucchini (depending on the size of your zukes!)
1 c Ricotta cheese (whole milk)
1 c Mozzarella shredded
1 c. of your favorite jarred pasta sauce (or make your own!)
1 red or green pepper finely diced (I prefer red)
2 carrots - shredded then diced
1 Roma tomato - diced
1/2 lb ground Italian sausage
1/3 c parmesan cheese shredded
Dried (or fresh) oregano and basil - to taste
Salt and pepper - to taste

DIRECTIONS:
PRE-HEAT oven to 350 degrees
1. Thinly slice your zucchini(s) lengthwise. A mandolin slicer is awesome for this!
2. Press firmly between paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This is really important, unless you don't mind soupy lasagna. Zukes have A LOT of moisture in them!
3. Saute Italian sausage, diced pepper and diced carrots until cooked through. At the very end, add the diced tomatoes.
4. Season with oregano, basil, salt and pepper - to taste.
5. Using a 9x9 baking dish, begin layering your lasagna with a small (2 T-ish) amount of sauce (just to prevent the lasagna from sticking).
6. Combine the remaining sauce with the meat and veggie mixture.
7. Add a layer of zucchini to your baking dish.
8. Add 1/3 of the ricotta cheese next.
9. Add 1/3 of the meat mixture next.
10 Add 1/3 of the mozzarella next.
11. Then top with another layer of zucchini
12. Continue repeating until your last of the mozzarella, then top the lasagna off with the parmesan cheese.
13. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melty!
14. Cut into 4 slices - serve with a side salad!

Came across one similar to this, minus the sausage and carrots. Add eggplant and provolone cheese.

Either way both seem delicious.

 

[Pegasus]

Talking of gut bacteria does anyone know how to make sauerkraut? Perhaps kefir?


How about this. Put vinegar in jar put in garlic ,turmeric and chili leave for awhile . You can then use the vinegar as sauce as well as the chili etc.

 

[Holm]

Talking of gut bacteria does anyone know how to make sauerkraut? Perhaps kefir?

You just chop up white cabbage into tiny pieces, then add water and salt, I believe. Some like to add mustard seeds as well. Leave it for some months.

As for probiotic foods, my absolute favorite is kambucha. Fermented tea, made with the help of an aquatic fungus called 'scuby'. It's prett easy to make yourself. Just make tea (black is preffered), mix it together with water and sugar on a large container, add a piece of scuby (or spore residue from another kambucha), and leave it covered with a piece of tight-masked cloth in a dry and temperate place for a couple of weeks (around 25-35 celcius, if I remember correcly). If you leave it for too long, it will turn vinegar-y, though, so be sure to taste it along the way. When it has reached it desired sour-ness, you can add more sugar or other substances to enhance its taste (berries, fruits, spices...whatever), and put an air-sealed lid on, to make it carbonated. Yummy as hell

 

[Pegasus]

Oh I remember kambucha . I made it back in the day cleanses the system .

 

[Merlin08]

Ricotta, mozzarella and Italian sausage are healthy? Got to love it! ( but my arteries won't)

Ricotta is actually okay. Any Sausage, Mozzarella and Parmesan is bad.

 

[straight8]

You just chop up white cabbage into tiny pieces, then add water and salt, I believe. Some like to add mustard seeds as well. Leave it for some months.

As for probiotic foods, my absolute favorite is kambucha. Fermented tea, made with the help of an aquatic fungus called 'scuby'. It's prett easy to make yourself. Just make tea (black is preffered), mix it together with water and sugar on a large container, add a piece of scuby (or spore residue from another kambucha), and leave it covered with a piece of tight-masked cloth in a dry and temperate place for a couple of weeks (around 25-35 celcius, if I remember correcly). If you leave it for too long, it will turn vinegar-y, though, so be sure to taste it along the way. When it has reached it desired sour-ness, you can add more sugar or other substances to enhance its taste (berries, fruits, spices...whatever), and put an air-sealed lid on, to make it carbonated. Yummy as hell

Hey Holm we meet again. Do you use caraway seeds in your sauerkraut. my Swedish Grandfather did. he also drank aquavit with his cabbage dishes and used it a lot in recipes. He also used a lot of juniper berries and cloud berries in his food. Personally I use brown mustard seeds when making my sauerkraut, what is your exact recipe.

 

[CUSP82]

Okay here's a good healthy recipe that's just perfect for after Thanksgiving. Take some left over stuffing, mashed potatoes and small bits of turkey. Put into a bowl and mix them all up. Make a ball out of the mix, coat in beer batter and then deep fry. Now that's healthy.

 

[straight8]

Talking of gut bacteria does anyone know how to make sauerkraut? Perhaps kefir?


How about this. Put vinegar in jar put in garlic ,turmeric and chili leave for awhile . You can then use the vinegar as sauce as well as the chili etc.

Sauerkraut is a natural lacto fermented product, no vinegar needed

 

[KMWylie]

Ricotta, mozzarella and Italian sausage are healthy? Got to love it! ( but my arteries won't)

Yes! In the amount and serving size suggested. And, without the gluten-filled pasta, your heart will definitely be happier! :-D

 

[KMWylie]

Came across one similar to this, minus the sausage and carrots. Add eggplant and provolone cheese.

Either way both seem delicious.

I really wish I liked eggplant. I'm fine with zucchini, but eggplant... blech. LOL That and spaghetti squash - hate spagetti squash for some reason. They both just taste too... squashy? I don't know. I'm weird.

 

[KMWylie]

For anyone following a low-carb or Keto or gluten-free diet, this recipe for pizza dough is actually pretty tasty and, surprisingly, simple. I'd seen it Pinned a thousand times, but it just sounded weird. I made it last night though and was pleasantly surprised!

Sliced into 8 slices, it comes out to just a smidge over 200 calories per slice, for the dough. Obviously, what you top it with can really increase that amount, but because it's a cheese-based crust, you definitely don't need a lot of extra cheese on top.

I made 2 pizzas with it - one a bruschetta-style pizza - roasted up some garilc and olive oil for the sauce, added some marinated tomatoes, some fresh basil, and some small slices of fresh mozzarella. The other I did Buffalo Chicken. Buffalo wing sauce for the sauce, topped with some grilled chicken breast, a sprinkling of provolone, and drizzled with bleu cheese dressing.

Because of the no-carb aspect of the crust, it's definitely more filling than normal pizza. I ate 2 slices and a small salad and was full. MrKimberly ate 3... he used to polish off an entire Pizza Hut large thin crust pizza by himself. LOL

Fathead Pizza Dough
[h=3]Ingredients[/h]

• 170 g pre shredded/grated cheese mozzarella is the best or Edam/mild cheese (I used 1 cup)
• 85 g almond meal/flour (I used 1/2 cup)
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 egg
• pinch salt to taste
• ½ tsp dried rosemary/ garlic or other flavourings optional (I used oregano, a little garlic powder and some freshly ground pepper)
• your choice of toppings such as pepperoni peppers, cherry tomatoes, olives, ground/mince beef, mushrooms, herbs etc

[h=3]Instructions[/h]

• Mix the shredded/grated cheese and almond flour/meal in a microwaveable bowl. Add the cream cheese. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute.
  
• Stir then microwave on HIGH for another 30 seconds.
  
• Add the egg, salt, rosemary and any other flavourings, mix gently.
  
• Place in between 2 pieces of baking parchment/paper and roll into a circular pizza shape (see photos above). Remove the top baking paper/parchment. If the mixture hardens and becomes difficult to work with, pop it back in the microwave for 10-20 seconds to soften again but not too long or you will cook the egg.
  
• Make fork holes all over the pizza base to ensure it cooks evenly.
  
• Slide the baking paper/parchment with the pizza base, on a baking tray (cookie tray) or pizza stone, and bake at 220C/425F for 12-15 minutes, or until brown.
  
• To make the base really crispy and sturdy, flip the pizza over (onto baking paper/parchment) once the top has browned.
  
• Once cooked, remove from the oven and add all the toppings you like. Make sure any meat is already cooked as this time it goes back into the oven just to heat up the toppings and melt the cheese. Bake again at 220C/425F for 5 minutes.
  
  

Kimberly's Notes:
- Again, the preparing the dough (microwaving it) sounded weird to me. But, it worked! I microwaved it for a minute - mixed it - then 30 seconds more.
- When I added the egg, after the microwaving, at first I thought it wasn't going to mix into the lump of cheese... it did finally though! And, you end up with an odd dough-type ball.
- Definitely use the parchment paper under it and on top of it to roll out. Once you have it rolled out - just peel off the top parchment paper and place on a cookie sheet. They say pizza stone - but, the dough was much too big for my pizza stone. It even hung a bit over the edge of a 1/2 cookie sheet.
- I did not flip it over and cook the top side - and it crisped up pretty nicely.

 

[Ultimate Burrito]

I lost 30lbs in 8 weeks eating eggs for breakfast, smoothie for lunch and pan seared chicken and veggies for dinner. M-F, weekends were free days. I also never got sick while doing this (did it off an on for 9 months).

Here is the smoothie recipe:

Equipment: Nutribullet (any high powered blender should work)

Smoothie Ingredients:
•3 medium sized broccoli florets - Naturally occurring enzymes help break down fat
•2 medium sized cauliflower florets - same as broccoli
•2 pineapple spears - antioxidants and sugar for sweetness
•2 tablespoons of chia seeds - high in omega 3, 6, and 9 and good source of fiber and protein
•2 tablespoons of hemp protein powder - same as chia seeds
•4 teaspoons of sunflower lecithin powder - emulsifies fat
•2 cups of green tea mix

Green tea mix recipe:
•Recipe (makes enough for 4 smoothies or 2 quarts of tea)
•12 bags of Organic Green Tea
•4-6 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger
•2 lemons squeezed
•30 drops of cayenne pepper extract (or whatever you can handle, go easy and work your way up)

Tea Directions:
•Peel and grate ginger and add to tea pitcher
•Cut and squeeze 2 lemons and add lemon juice to pitcher
•add drops of cayenne extract
•boil 1 quart of water and pour in pitcher, add tea bags and steep for 10 minutes
•Press and remove tea bags and add 1 quart of cold water, refrigerate over night

Directions for Smoothie:
•Add broccoli, cauliflower and pineapple first
•Add green tea mix
•Add lecithin, hemp protein powder and chia seeds last (chia seeds will stick if added too soon and lecithin clumps up)
•Blend well, approx. 1 minute (trial and error)


Plan on committing at least 1 week to get use to it. Took 3 days for me before my taste buds really liked it. Tip: don't eat or drink anything but water 15 minutes before doing smoothie.

 

[straight8]

I really wish I liked eggplant. I'm fine with zucchini, but eggplant... blech. LOL That and spaghetti squash - hate spagetti squash for some reason. They both just taste too... squashy? I don't know. I'm weird.

I'm with ya on the eggplant thing, I used to hate it, all squishy and slimmy, but if you salt it well and weight it down it will leach most of the water out and give it a much firmer texture.

 

[CUSP82]

I really wish I liked eggplant. I'm fine with zucchini, but eggplant... blech. LOL That and spaghetti squash - hate spagetti squash for some reason. They both just taste too... squashy? I don't know. I'm weird.

Agreed! Now what part exactly am I agreeing with?:becky:

 

[CUSP82]

Hey guys; are any of you interested in cooking? Maybe sharing a recipe or two or maybe even trying one out?
Look it's 2021 an all you single guys if you want to get some babes being able to cook a meal for them will impress them and it may get you lucky. in addition when they dump you you won't starve.
Now I mean cook, not just throw stuff on a grill. You know like look up a recipe, follow it, improve on it and serve it.
If there's no interest well this thread will just die but some of us here can cook and we'd be more than willing to help you.

 

[growie]

This thread is really cool, let's continue posting here. I would like to get any interesting healthy salads recipes, for example. Do you have anything on your mind? Thanks in advance for any input here, guys