Category / low carb diets

by susanb181

Marinated Swordfish

Two Barbecued Marinated Swordfish

Marinated Swordfish Steaks

Two Swordfish Steaks in marinade

Swordfish Steaks in marinade

Fish is great for lots of reasons and Swordfish is one of my favorites; low calories/low cholesterol, healthy for you, plus overall deliciousness.

We try to eat fish at least once a week, sometimes more often. If available, I look for fresh, line -caught varieties, or line-caught frozen fish; just as nutritious. See * below for more information about healthy fish choices.

(Trader Joe’s is a good source of many frozen fish varieties, and Costco often has fresh.) Our local farmer’s market as well as other local markets offer fresh line-caught fish depending on the season– yes, a California coastal option, not everywhere.

Barbecuing fish in warm weather is a great option and actually very easy. While the grill is hot and there’s room, we like to add sliced fresh vegetables such zucchini, onions, eggplant, red pepper ( I’m not a fan of green peppers- but if you are add them too). You can also broil the fish for equally great results. We’ve done it both ways and both are delicious!

Starting with a tangy marinade gives great flavor. The one I’m giving you has lots of citrus, garlic and a touch of heat. We love it- hope you do too!

* https://www.seafoodwatch.org/seafood-recommendations/groups/swordfish/overview

Marinated Swordfish 

INGREDIENTS

  • MARINADE:
  • Juice of 1lemon, plus 1-2 tsps. grated rind (yellow only as the white is bitter)
  • 2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup white wine (something dry like Sauvignon Blanc)
  • 1-2 Tbsp. Dijon-type mustard
  • 1-3 cloves fresh garlic, chopped fine
  • 1tsp. Ground red chili pepper ( we get a mild/medium mix at a Mexican grocery store- use whatever type you have)
  • Salt-free seasoning, pepper; or use salt if you can
  • Fresh chopped herbs- thyme is my favorite
  • Paprika to dust on top before serving
  • FISH:
  • 1 Swordfish steak per person, preferably wild, line-caught

TO DO:

1. Prepare Barbecue coals (spread coals on sides. When hot; put fish in middle and vegetables on sides)

2. In a Pyrex glass or Corningware pan (I used Pyrex 9×13 size) lay steaks on a single layer on a thin layer of olive oil ( approx. 1Tbsp.).

3. Mix/wisk together marinade ingredients; olive oil, mustard, white wine, lemon/rind and herbs/seasonings.

4. Pour marinade over fish.

5. Let fish marinate approx. 1/2-1 hr.

6. Barbecue 10-15 minutes depending on thickness of fish; (we like our fish moist and just a tad underdone- cook yours how you like it).

7. Sprinkle fresh herbs and dust with paprika.

Serve with grilled vegetables, your choice of whole grain rice or other grains, and, as we usually have, a crisp green salad with a tart, lemony vinaigrette–see previous Salad posts for the vinaigrette recipe: https://wordpress.com/post/type2delicious.com/1075

Enjoy!

www.type2delicious.com

by susanb181

Summer Salad with Fresh New Peas and Strawberries

Gardens behind the Boonville Hotel, Boonville CA

Lovely Boonville Hotel gardens

Summer Salad with fresh new Peas and strawberries

Summer Salad with fresh new peas and strawberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strawberries have been super delicious this year! I thought it is a good time to republish thus summer recipe.

We recently visited Boonville, CA, a small bend in the road (rte 128), on the way to Mendocino. We enjoyed a delicious meal at the Boonville Hotel, actually a top level hotel and restaurant that serves fresh farm-to-table selections; many items, such as the peas, right from their beautiful on-property gardens.

I was especially knocked out by this salad combination so I tried to recreate it on my own to share with you. I added avocado (which is a “good fat” along with the olive oil), plus sliced almonds. Served with a tangy, lemony olive oil dressing, this salad is refreshing and delicious.

One important thing is that the peas need to be fresh, young and tender. (I made a mistake the first time I made it and used older peas. The peas, especially the pods, were tough- no good!) If you can’t use fresh, young English peas, use snap or sugar peas instead.

So good, so easy, so pretty and with very fresh peas and sweet strawberries– one of the best salad combos I’ve ever tasted!

Summer Salad –serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Head of Red Butter, or Red Leaf lettuce, torn into bite size pieces; (and/or arugula; if adding to lettuce use 1cup)
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved or quartered depending on size
  • 3/4 cup fresh peas; English variety is a good choice; (including pods, chopped into 1/2″ pieces, any strings removed)
  • 1 small or 1/2 large ripe avocado, sliced into 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 Tbsp. Sliced toasted almonds (Trader Joe’s is my friend)
  • Dressing:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)
  • Dash of white (or red) balsamic or white wine vinegar- again, adjust to your taste
  • fresh Thyme leaves (about a Tbsp.); they are very easy to grow in a pot or in the garden; I use Thyme in many recipes besides salads, such as eggs, roast meats, tomato sauces, etc.
  • Salt-free seasoning and pepper to taste
  • shake or mix with wisk

TO DO:

1. Wash and spin dry lettuces

2. Put lettuce(s) in salad bowl; chill in fridge until ready to serve

3. When ready to serve, add dressing to lettuce and mix (a tip–mix dressing with lettuce before adding other ingredients, so they don’t sink to the bottom)

4. Add other ingredients on top

5. Add seasonings and salt if you like.

6. Serve; (especially good with fish)

Enjoy!

www.type2delicious.com

by susanb181

Spring Veggie Breakfast Scramble

Eggs and fresh vegetables in a breakfast scramble including tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and spring onions

Spring Veggie Breakfast Scramble

 

 

Saute onions mushrooms spinach

Saute onions, mushrooms and then spinach.

Eggs and fresh vegetables in a breakfast scramble including tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and spring onions

Eggs and fresh vegetables in a breakfast scramble including tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and spring onions

Spring Veggie Breakfast Scramble

Breakfast, especially on a lovely spring Sunday morning after a busy week, is one of our favorite meals.  For this dish, I sautéed  Spring onions, spinach, Cremini mushrooms, and tomatoes and added eggs and fresh thyme from my garden for a delicious scramble.

It’s spring and the weather is lovely.  Spring onions are a special treat now in season for a short while. They look like regular scallions with a slightly larger bulb, but they are very different; sweeter and more tender. I use them as often as I can find them at the local farmer’s market or even at the supermarket. (We have a local one that features fresh, local produce.)

(I also added sautéed chopped chicken livers–I love them although I know everyone doesn’t share my enthusiasm.) The secret to making them is not to overcook–they should be pink inside.

Low carb and so delicious and satisfying!

INGREDIENTS

  • 3-4 fresh spring onions, washed and chopped, including white bulbs and green stems
  • 1/2 cup spinach, chopped, removing stems (I use washed and bagged baby spinach, but if using fresh from garden or farmer’s market be sure to wash thoroughly and use a salad spinner before adding.)
  • 1/2-1 cup Cremini mushrooms, chopped
  • Fresh chicken livers; I used about 4 livers for the two of us. (optional of course!)
  • Tomatoes–cut into quarters
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp butter (I use unsalted, both as it’s my taste preference and for the salt-free aspect)
  • Thyme, herbs de Provence and/or salt-free seasoning/pepper to taste

TO DO:

1. Beat eggs ( I add a tsp. of milk or 1/2 and 1/2- that small amount Rick can tolerate); add seasonings to the eggs, and set aside.

2. Sauté mushrooms in butter; after they’re browned (about 6-7 minutes), add chopped onions and saute until soft, about another 5-6 minutes.

3.  Remove mushrooms and onions to a bowl.

4. Add spinach to the pan; saute briefly, 1-2 minutes until wilted.

5. Sautee tomato pieces in the pan, pushing spinach to the side.

6. Add mushrooms and onions back into the pan.

7. Sautée chicken livers til pink inside (about 3-4 minutes/side) and then chop–add to Mushroom, onion, tomatoes and spinach.

8. Add beaten eggs over the mixture in the pan.

9. Gently cook the mixture, using a spatula around the sides to fold in the mixture as it’s cooking.

10. Cook until barely firm, and serve.

Enjoy!

www.type2delicious.com

beautiful fruit salad with oranges, raspberries, kiwi and blueberries
by susanb181

Video #2! Beautiful Fruit Salad with no-sugar Raspberry Sauce

Here’s the link to make beautiful, low carb fruit salad with raspberry sauce– follow the step-by-step video!Make this beautiful fruit salad!

Follow the video link to make beautiful fruit salad with a no-sugar, low carb raspberry sauce. I’ve made this with all kinds of fruit–and it’s always been a big hit at my dinner parties or when I’ve brought it to others. One thing that makes it look so beautiful is to make sure that you add a variety of colors, using fruits such as kiwi, for green, peaches/nectarines in summer for orange/yellow, oranges/tangerines for the same in winter, blueberries and raspberries, etc. The raspberry sauce is made with frozen berries, so the season doesn’t matter. It’s so good and a great dessert for those who want a delicious, sweet, yet low carb treat.

My brother Dan Mainzer, a professional photographer/videographer, (Mainzerphotography.com) was here in Santa Cruz last winter, and we collaborated on a series of three recipe videos. Hope you’ve seen the first one, how to roast Delicata Squash, now followed by How to Create a Fruit Salad with No-Sugar Raspberry Sauce, and coming soon, a Making a Scrumptious Cheesy Appetizer.

I hope you like them! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Enjoy!

Susan

by susanb181

Arugula and Fresh Fig Salad with Goat Cheese

Arugula and Fresh Fig Salad topped with Crumbled Goat Cheese

Arugula and Fresh Fig Salad

 

If you’re looking for a fresh tasting salad to accompany rich holiday dishes, this is a good choice. The combination of tangy arugula with the sweetness of figs, cucumber freshness and a lemony dressing blends so well together. It’s a tasty, healthy treat rich in fiber and folates *–and very easy to prepare. Topping with crumbled goat cheese adds additional richness and a creamy mouth feel to finish it off deliciously!

Arugula Salad with Fresh Figs, Cucumber and Goat Cheese

INGREDIENTS (serves 4-6)

  • 1 large bunch or 2 bags of washed arugula (washed and spun in a salad dryer); you can remove some of the stems if you like
  • 2-4 fresh figs, sliced thin (if fresh figs are not available, use tangerine pieces)
  • 1 small/medium cucumber, peeled and sliced thin (depending on how much you like)
  • 1/4–1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese; (Trader Joe’s sells it in a container)
  • Lemon Vinaigrette:
  • 1/3 cup olive or walnut oil (Walnut oil is a delicious choice)
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt-free spice mix (there are several I use–including the 21 Spice Salute from TJ’s–yes, I’m a TJ’s fan)
  • Salt-free lemon pepper to taste

TO DO:

1. Wisk dressing ingredients–let sit for about 1/2 hour to blend–then wisk again just before adding to the salad.

2. Put washed/dried arugula in a large salad bowl and toss with vinaigrette. (Tip: add dressing to salad greens before adding “additions” so that the additions stay on top for serving)

3. Arrange sliced figs/tangerines and cucumber on top of salad.

4. Crumble goat cheese on top and sprinkle with lemon pepper to taste.

* (http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/arugula.html)

Enjoy! www.type2delicious.com

by susanb181

SHAKSHUKA–Middle Eastern Brunch Delight

dish of poached eggs on top of chopped vegetables and tomatoes

Delicious Middle Eastern
egg-veggie brunch dish

Shakshuka--final with poached eggs on top of veggies/tomatoes

Shakshuka–final with poached eggs on top of veggies/tomatoes

I want to share a new breakfast/brunch discovery–Shakshuka. This is a wonderful skillet dish that originates from the Middle East; I’ve been told it’s a staple in Israel; (not sure what other countries). It’s very delicious and is easy to customize and prepare. You can change out the spices and throw in whatever vegetables you have on hand. For my version I used chopped red pepper, onions, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, and jalapeño peppers (diced) and plum tomatoes.

We had it for brunch recently and were knocked out by the combination of sweet tomato flavor, vegetables, spicy undertones of the jalpeno (but not too spicy) and the creamy, rich eggs. It’s now one of our favorites.

This is a great dish to serve company or enjoy with your family when you have a leisurely weekend brunch. I suggest you serve with crusty whole grain toast to mop up the delicious sauce!

I’ve been out of town and apologize for not posting for a few weeks. Fall is in the air; next I’ll post a hearty fall vegetable stew–my version of Ratatouille. Please follow–stay tuned!

Shakshuka

INGREDIENTS (serves 2-3)

  • 4-6 large eggs (for 2 eggs per serving)
  • 2 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped into 1/2″ pieces (1 Cup)
  • 1 large red pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2-1 cup chopped mushrooms (I use Cremini)
  • 1 cup carrots; chopped into 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 small can diced Jalapeño peppers (more if you like it spicier–or add tabasco)
  • 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. sweet or smoky paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground tumeric
  • 1 28 oz. can of diced plum tomatoes, including the juice
  • no salt seasoning or 1/2 tsp. salt depending on your situation; ground black pepper
  • Feta or Goat Gouda, depending on your tolerance (Rick only eats goat cheeses, so we use that)
  • optional: Cilantro and/or oregano for garnish

TO DO:

1. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet (I use an AllClad pan)

2. Add onion, sweet pepper, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, jalapeños, spices, seasonings. Saute until tender, but not browned–about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in tomatoes and juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer about 10-12 minutes, uncovered; stir occasionally.

4. Crack each egg individually into a small bowl, and and carefully add, one at a time, on top of the vegetable mixture.

5. Cover, reduce heat and cook 5-8 minutes, until the whites are set and yolks are firm but still soft.

6. Serve with grated or crumbled cheese, oregano and/or cilantro.

That’s it! Pretty easy and delicious- a feast for the eyes and…!

Enjoy! www.type2delicious.com

by susanb181

Veggie Lentil Soup

veggie-lentil-soup-ingredients

Fresh, dried and canned ingredients

diabetes-friendly-veggie-lentil-soup-ingredients

Fresh, canned, (we were lucky to be given home-canned tomatoes), and dried ingredients

healthy-veggie-lentil-soup-broth

So good in the pot (added bay leaf)

 

diabetes-friendly-veggie-lentil-soup

Goodness is in the bowl!

A hearty and delicious cool weather meal is this lentil soup, with added veggies, wine and lots of flavour.

Lentils do have higher carbs but they are also are high in protein and fiber. Of course, you can moderate your amounts, depending on your own health situation. For more lentil nutrition info, go to the link marked * at the end of this post.

Some lentil soups are too watery, and some are too thick. This one has the right balance of broth and substance. You can also add other vegetables, and even bacon, but this is how I make it.

I recently made this Soup with red lentils from a brand called “Pereg”— and was disappointed that these lentils never got totally tender, even after a lot of cooking- first one hour, then two subsequent cookings, (I made a large batch so we had leftovers), for 1/2 hr. To 45 minutes each time. Also I added cumin and all spice, so the flavor was interesting. All in all, still good, but next time I’ll stick with green or brown lentils. Have any of you, dear readers, had the same experience?

Veggie Lentil Soup

INGREDIENTS

  • 3/4-1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed.
  • 2-3 cups broth (I use low sodium chicken broth, but vegetable works fine too)
  • 32 oz. can of crushed or chopped plum tomatoes (I use unsalted) or if you have home-canned lucky you
  • 4-5 carrots, in 1/2 ” rounds
  • 2-3 sticks of celery, chopped in 1/2″ pieces, with 2-3 tbsp. chopped green tops
  • 1 large onion, chopped into medium pieces
  • 3-4 Tbsp. Olive oil
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine (your choice, I use whatever we have leftover)
  • 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
  • lemon zest to taste
  • 1 large Bay leaf
  • Optional: 1-2 hot dogs or cooked chicken sausages, chopped into 1/2″ pieces
  • Salt free seasoning/pepper to taste

TO DO:

1. Preheat large saute pan.

2. Add olive oil, chopped onion, celery and carrots. Brown and sauté on medium high heat approx. 10 minutes, until somewhat tender. Add garlic and sauté 2 more minutes, making sure garlic doesn’t burn.

3. Add veggies to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add lentils, and rest of ingredients, except for lemon zest.

4. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn down heat to a slow simmer.

5. Simmer on low for approx. 30-40 minutes

6. Test for tenderness (carrots and lentils especially)

7. Add lemon zest and adjust spices and seasonings to taste.

8. You can also use a hand blender if you like a smoother texture (or remove some of the soup to a blender and add back into the pot)

9. Serve with the always delish green salad, https://type2delicious.com/2014/11/18/salad-with-goat-cheese-pears-and-mustardgarlic-vinaigrette/

And whole grain toast if you like. I also like a dollop of plain Greek yogurt to top off my bowl!

*http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/CarbsInGrains/a/Carbs-In-lentils.htm

Enjoy!

www.type2delicious.com