Baked

Zucchini Fries

Zucchini Fries
Serves 4

1 medium (6-8 inches long) zucchini
1 egg white
1/4 cup water
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Your preferred seasoning (I used Penzey’s Sunny Paris.)

1.  Preheat oven to 375
2.  Cut zucchini in half, giving you two halves, each 3-4 inches long. Leave the skin on.
3.  Slice zucchini into strips, approximately 1/4 inch wide. They should end up looking like raw french fries. 
4.  Put egg white and water into a bowl and whisk until frothy.
5.  Mix panko crumbs and seasoning together in a bowl large enough to hold the zucchini strips.
6.  Taking a few strips at a time, dunk into egg wash, then lay in crumbs. Toss to coat. The zucchini will not be covered completely.
7.  Place in a single layer on a grease baking pan or pizza stone.
8.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until firm but not crunchy.
9.  Serve with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, cocktail sauce or honey-mustard (seen above).

Honey-Mustard Dressing
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coarse-ground German mustard

Nutritional data (Zucchini only, no sauce):
Calories:       75
Fat:               0.6g
Sat Fat:         0.1g
Chol:               0mg
Sodium:        80mg
Carbs:        12.7g
Fiber:           1.5g
Protein:       4.5g

Baked Beans

Baked Beans (modified to further reduce sodium levels)
Serves 10

This recipe is far easier than you would guess and tastes better than anything you will find in a can or deli.

3 cups canned beans (any variety, or a mix of varieties) -OR- 1.5 cup raw beans that you precooked according to label directions
1 medium onion, finely minced (about 1.5 cup)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 clove garlic, mashed and minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons each: tomato paste, brown sugar, meat drippings (if using meat)
1/2 tablespoon each: Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, dry mustard (optional, but important)
4 ounces shredded pork (or shredded beef, ground beef, ham, bacon, or no meat at all)

1.  Preheat oven to 350F.
2.  Prepare beans according to label instructions if raw. If canned, open cans and rinse.
3.  In a large non-stick skillet, add olive oil and saute onions, garlic and ginger over medium heat until beginning to turn translucent (about 5 minutes.)
4.  Add beans, and all remaining ingredients. Stir over medium-high heat until evenly hot.
5.  Pour into an 8×8 baking pan or similar dish.  Bake uncovered until thickened (about 30 minutes, but 45-60 won’t hurt it.)

Nutritional data: (updated to reflect no ketchup or BBQ sauce)
Calories:       122
Fat:               3.1g
Sat fat:          0.7g
Chol:             12mg
Sodium:         55mg
Carbs:         23.4g
Fiber:            11g
Protein:         10g

Note:  My pressure cooker recipe for beans is simple.  Add raw, unsoaked beans to the cooker and add an equal volume of water. Seal lid and set for high pressure. Place on heat.  When steam begins releasing from valve, reduce heat to a low simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat, set in sink and cool quickly with cold running water. Open the lid when the pressure is gone (and follow your pressure cooker’s specific instructions for safety.)

The next time I make the beans, instead of using water, I will use beer for added flavor.

Rosemary Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salsa

Rosemary Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salsa
Serve 6

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4 ounces each)
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
Black pepper

1.  Place chicken breasts inside a Ziploc freezer bag. With a rubber mallet or similar tool, pound the breast to 1/4 inch thickness. Season the breasts with black pepper.
2.  Combine oil, vinegar, rosemary and garlic in another Ziploc bag. Place chicken in bag and toss to coat. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3.  While the chicken rests in the refrigerator, prepare the salsa (below.)
4.  Preheat a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Place each breast in skillet and cook until done (about 3 minutes per side.)
5.  Serve with salsa.

Nutritional data (1 chicken breast):
Calories:         308
Fat:               16.6g
Sat fat:            3.8g
Chol:               98mg
Sodium:           62mg
Carbs:             1.2g
Fiber:              0.2g
Protein:         37.7g

Tomato-Avocado Salsa
Serves 6

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 ripe avocado, peeled and chopped

1.  In a 1 quart or larger bowl, combine first four ingredients with a whisk.
2.  Add tomatoes, cheese and avocado.
3.  Serve immediately.

Nutritional data (1/2 cup portion):
Calories:         126
Fat:               10.9g
Sat fat:            2.6g
Chol:              8.3mg
Sodium:          112mg
Carbs:             6.3g
Fiber:              3.1g
Protein:           2.6g

Protein Breakfast Bake, Apple and Spice Variety

Mix ingredients together, pour into greased loaf pan (approximately 4”x8”).  All version bake at 350F for 14-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.  Do not overbake.  Serve warm (or cold) with whipped cream, Greek yogurt, or maple syrup.  Can be kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.   (The flaxseed is optional, and is a great way to boost your Omega-3 fatty acid level.  When you use the flaxseed, one portion has 1.3 grams of O-3 fatty acids, which is approximately the same as 4 fish oil capsules!)

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium apple, cored, skin on, chopped
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
½ c dried rolled oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon (or apple pie spice blend)
1 scoop (4 Tbsp) vanilla protein powder
2 Tbspn milled flax seeds
½ tsp baking powder
Nutritional Data:
Cal:            263
Fat:             5.2g
Sat Fat:       1.0g
Chol:           27mg
Sodium:     140mg
Carb:          34.g
Fiber:          6.2g
Protein:     17.9g

Breakfast Bakes


Protein Breakfast Bakes
All versions make 2 servings.  Mix ingredients together, pour into greased loaf pan (approximately 4”x8”).  All version bake at 350F for 14-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.  Do not overbake.  Serve warm (or cold) with whipped cream, Greek yogurt, or maple syrup.  Can be kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.   (The flaxseed is optional, and is a great way to boost your Omega-3 fatty acid level.  When you use the flaxseed, one portion has 1.3 grams of O-3 fatty acids, which is approximately the same as 4 fish oil capsules!)
Peanut Butter Version       (not pictured)          
2 egg whites
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 T peanut butter
½ c dried rolled oatmeal
1 scoop (4 Tbsp) vanilla protein powder
2 Tbspn milled flaxseeds
½ tsp baking powder
Cal: 232  Fat 11.9g, Sat Fat 2.2g, Chol 13.5mg, Sodium 311.1mg, Carb 22.5g, Fiber 8.4g, Protein 16g 



Nutella Version               
2 egg whites
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 T Nutella
½ c dried rolled oatmeal
1 scoop (4 T) vanilla protein powder
2 Tbspn milled flaxseeds
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp baking powder
Cal: 305, Fat 9.1g, Sat Fat 2.6g, Chol 15mg, Sodium 203.5mg, Carb 33.1g, Fiber 5.6g, Protein 18.5 



Pumpkin Version                            
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup canned, solid-pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
½ c dried rolled oatmeal
1 scoop (4 T) vanilla protein powder
2 T milled flaxseeds
1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ tsp baking powder
Cal: 214, Fat 5.4g, Sat Fat 1g, Chol 27mg, Sodium 150mg, Carb 23.3g, Fiber 6.8g, Protein 18.6g 

Banana Version             (not pictured)  
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 very ripe banana, mashed
½ c dried rolled oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
1 scoop (4 T) vanilla protein powder
2 T milled flaxseeds
½ tsp baking powder
Cal: 259, Fat 3.8g, Sat Fat 0.9, Chol 27mg, Sodium 198mg, Carb 31.8g, Fiber 5.2, Protein 17.6g