Cabbage Rolls

Here is a meal that I have loved since I was a child:

• Medium head of cabbage 
• 1 ½ cups chopped onion 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cans Italian stewed tomatoes 
• 4 garlic cloves, minced 
• 2 tbsp brown sugar 
• 1 ½ tsp salt 
• 1 cup cooked rice (for a low-carb meal you can add shredded zucchini to the meat instead of rice)
• ¼ cup ketchup 
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
• ¼ tsp pepper 
• 1 lb ground beef 
• ½ cup V8 juice 

1. Cook cabbage in boiling water for 10 minutes or until outer leaves are tender. Rinse in cold water and remove eight large outer leaves

2. In saucepan, sauté 1 cup of onions in olive oil until translucent

3. Add tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar and ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine rice, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and remaining onion and salt. Add beef and mix well. Create 8 balls of the meat mixture and roll in the cabbage leaves.

5. Line rolls in pan and top with tomato mixture

6. Cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour, checking frequently to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan. Add V8 juice if needed. Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes or until rolls are heated through and meat is no longer pink

Low-Carb Tacos

Are you looking for a way to cut calories and carbs?  When making tacos, skip the tortillas and substitute them with large lettuce leafs, like romaine.

My taco meat recipe:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/4 cup - chopped onion
• Can of chopped chilies
• 1/2 cup of refried beans
• 2 tbsp taco seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown meat and then add onion and chilies
2. Cook until onions are translucent
3. Add taco seasoning and salt and pepper and incorporate well into the meat mixture
4. Add refried beans and cook mixture until beans are heated throughout
5. Serve in lettuce leafs and enjoy!

Crustless Ham & Cheese Quiche

Since the holidays are over and it seems that we have packed on a couple of pounds due to all those celebrations full of amazing food, I am going to focus on healthy, low-carb meals to share with you.

Here is my Crustless Ham & Cheese Quiche recipe.  I like to make a crustless quiche because the crust adds on fat, calories, and carb, delicious as it is.

Recipe for 4:

• 4 egg whites
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup chopped ham
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 - 16 oz pkg of cottage cheese
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 cup crumbled feta (if you do not like feta you can use cheddar or another cheese of your choice)

1. Beat eggs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until eggs are fluffy
2. Mix in cottage cheese, ham, broccoli, onion, cheddar, and feta
3. Add mixture to a greased 9 inch pie dish
4. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hr or until eggs are fully cooked
5. Remove from oven and cool 5-10 minutes
6. Cut and serve
7. Enjoy!

Amaretto Bread Pudding

One night we had a dinner party but forgot dessert so we took what we could find and made this amazing dessert.

• 1 loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, ends removed
• 2 tbsp of butter, melted
• 4 egg whites
• 1 whole egg
• 2 cups of skim milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp amaretto
• 1/4 cup amaretto

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Line bread on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 mins on each side until lightly toasted
3. Beat eggs with skim milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and 1 tbsp of amaretto
4. After bread is done, break up into small chunks and put in a 8 in greased baking dish
5. Reduce oven to 350 degrees
6. Drizzle bread chunks with butter and a 1/4 cup amaretto and mix until well coated
7. Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread, making sure each piece of bread is soaked
8. Let sit 5 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
9. Serve topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping
10. Enjoy!

Nacho Stuffed Shells

• 32-36 Jumbo shells
• 3/4 lb ground beef
• Pkg of taco seasoning
• 1 cup water
• 16 oz can of refried beans
• 2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup salsa
• 8 oz can of tomato sauce
• 2 oz sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup sliced green onion

1. Prepare shells according to package directions
2. Saute beef until browned and drain grease
3. Add seasoning to water and simmer with beef - 5 minutes or until thick
4. Add to beef mixture, beans, 1/2 cup of cheese, tomato sauce, and a 1/4 cup of salsa
5. Cook until heated throughout
6. Spread a 1/2 cup of salsa in a 9 x 13 pan
7. Fill each shell with the beef mixture and line them up in the 9 x 13 pan
8. Cover with the remaining 2 cups of cheese
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly
10. Enjoy!

Appetizers for New Years

For New Years, why not party with a bunch of appetizers.  Here are some of my favorite appetizer recipes:

Fiesta Spinach Dip:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 pkg fiesta ranch-style dip mix
• 1 - 13 oz can of artichoke hearts
• 1 - 10 oz pkg of chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 - 8 oz can of water chestnuts

1. Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, and fiesta ranch mix and set aside
2. Drain the artichoke hearts and chop finely
3. Drain and rinse the water chestnuts, chop finely and add into a large mixing bowl with the  artichoke hearts
4. Drain well the spinach and mix with the artichoke hearts
5. Mix the mayonnaise/sour cream mixture with the water chestnuts, artichoke hearts, and spinach
6. Serve with your choice of bread, crackers or chips
7. ENJOY!

Orange-Glazed Smokies:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 pkg of little smokies

1. In a sauce pan, combine sugar, flour, orange juice, mustard, and vinegar and cook until thickened
2. Add smokies and heat until fully heated
3. Serve with toothpicks and enjoy!

Bean Dip

• 1 cup refried beans
• 1 cup spicy hummus
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1. Heat beans until soft, then mix in hummus, sour cream, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and taco seasoning and mix until combined
2. Top with chopped cilantro
3. Serve with chips and enjoy!

Happy New Year Everyone!

BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

These potatoes are overstuffed with BBQ chicken and cheese!

Yield: 4 stuffed potato halves

• 2 large baking potatoes
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 chicken breasts
• BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup salsa con queso
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sour cream and chives to top

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees
2. Clean potatoes and pierce several times
3. Cover the skin with olive oil and bake for 1 hour in the oven
4. Remove potatoes from the oven and make sure they are soft all the way through (they may need a little more time in the oven)
5. After potatoes are cooked, shredded chicken and cook in a frying pan with a little chicken broth or water, salt and pepper.
6. When chicken is cooked, mix in BBQ sauce and cook another minute or so
7. Cut potatoes in 1/2 lengthwise and scoop potato into a bowl
8. Mix butter, sour cream, salsa con queso, and salt and pepper with the potato
9. Combine chicken and potato and spoon into the potato skins
10. Top with a generous amount of shredded cheese and bake for 20 minutes
11. Top with sour cream and chives and enjoy!