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Pesto Fettu-zucchinni with Chicken

leanKitchen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:30:11 +0000

Alright, let’s get one thing straight, here. When someone talks about how much the LOVE pasta, it’s not the PASTA they love; it’s the sauce, the preparation. If it wasn’t, and that person loved the noodle, people would be going out to eat noodles. I, for one, can’t recall the last time I went out with someone who ordered a plain bowl of angel hair.

So if it’s the prep and the sauce we love, and could put something in that LOOKED, TASTED, and FELT like a noodle, without the starchy carbs, would you eat it?

Enter the ZUCCHINNI noodle! I was peeling a zuke tonight for dinner, and once done, I’d gotten to the white part. Trying to make it as peeling-free as possible, I kept turning the zuke, peeling and peeling, so that the whites were strips. What I noticed was, the parts that were white looked EXACTLY like fettuccini noodles. (Note: I only made “noodles” out of the flesh of the zuke; I stopped before I got to the seeds!)

Intrigued, I grabbed some pesto from the fridge, pulled some citrus chicken I made this weekend from the freezer, ran the “noodles” under some hot water (this is just to warm it up-the zucchinni “noodle” stays uncooked), threw it all together and made this:

Ok, so it passes the “it looks like fettuccini” test…and it passes the “it smells like fettuccini” test…

But, how about the taste test??

Phenomenal!!!! I cannot believe how wonderful this is. Texture, flavor, everything!!!!

I’m exceedingly impressed!

Now do me a favor? Try it yourself with whatever sauce you typically eat pasta with. Then, comment here, and let me know what you think about the “faux-tuccini!”

You’re welcome ;- )

Herb Salad

leanKitchen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:30:22 +0000

Good Monday to you!

Just wanted to share a way to spice up the ordinary green salad; chop up fresh herbs (in this I chopped up some basil, rosemary, thyme and sage) and toss them into your greens! Top with veggies, protein and Voila! A supportive meal!

Biting into the fresh herbs with every mouthful gives a different and more flavorful experience with each bite!

New to the lK world

leanKitchen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:01:35 +0000

See to the bottom-right, under the “News” section? There’s now a feature on this new and improved lK site that allows me to post pictures and “mini-blogs” from my cell phone…so you guys are going to get to see first-hand my on-the-go pictures of things in my life that may not always be food-related, like me and my kids, my travels, where I’m eating, and most importantly, WHAT I’m eating, at restaraunts I happen to be at.

Just a fun new feature to keep an eye out for!

Prograde Chocolate Mousse Dessert Cups

leanKitchen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:30:41 +0000

A girl who doesn’t like chocolate? Is there such a thing?!

Yes, there is, and that girl is ME! While I don’t HATE chocolate, I am easily able to pass it up, and I rarely “need” or “crave” sweets of any kind. I guess I’m lucky in that department, as I know a lot of people struggle with sweet stuff (especially chocolate) in particular.

There are three instances where I struggle to remain in control, however. The three instances are:

1. Cheesecake

2. Creme Brulee

3. Chocolate Mousse

I love them all so much!

Well, I created a decadent, rich, thick and creamy Chocolate Mousse dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Pour ½ scoop of Prograde Chocolate Meal Replacement into a fancy cup. Add small amounts of water, stirring, until the Prograde becomes the consistency of a rich chocolate sauce (TIP: If you want this layer to be more like hot fudge, use warm water; if you want it to be cold like chocolate syrup, use cold water).

Next, pour the other ½ scoop Prograde Chocolate Meal Replacement into a 6 oz. container of Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt. Stir well (or food process), and dollop right into the chocolate sauce.

This tastes like a decadent, sinful dessert, and looks stunning in the cup. Garnish with mint and berries, or drizzle peanut or almond butter into the chocolate sauce layer for a peanut-buttery rich-tasting snack! You could also top with nuts, shredded unsweetened coconut, add berries into the yogurt, or use a flavored Greek Yogurt.

* If you don’t have Prograde, use chocolate-flavored protein powder!

Summer Salmon Salad

leanKitchen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:30:25 +0000

Hope you all had a fabulous Memorial Day!

Let’s get right back to it, shall we?

For this salad, I made a “plate” right on the grill rack with foil, and topped it when the grill was hot with a large bag of frozen cauliflower florets, a 1/2 a medium diced red onion, and topped with italian dressing till the veggies were cooked. Take them off the grill, make a salad with red lettuce and red peppers, and eat with a filet of salmon that’s already been cooked (or grilled in foil alongside your veggies!). ENJOY! Top with a bit more cheese for flavor, and YOU’RE DONE!

Beautiful, supportive, and phenomenally satisfying!

Penny Pinching Cherry Pitting

leanKitchen — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:30:24 +0000

Say that title 5 times fast

Tonight, I was using fresh cherries for something, and found it quite annoying to keep cutting the cherry in half, twisting and getting one perfect-looking pitted cherry half, and one mashed side, as I fought to get the cherry pit out of the side it was still stuck in. I don’t have a cherry pitter, so I took a look around online, and found an ingenious way to pit a cherry-and I bet you have this very special “tool” somewhere in your house now!

Enjoy this video, as I wrestle this cherry no longer!

leanKitchen.com- PUBLISHED!

leanKitchen — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:29:52 +0000

Yep, you read that right, guys!!

My first published recipe! Remember my Iced Raspberry Mocha?? Well, my partners over at Prograde just released this killer new Protein Packed Iced Rasberry Mocha recipe that you’re going to love.

Here’s what they had to say about it:

“Drinking those grande coffee drinks with whipped cream and sugar…well, they really aren’t a good idea. Seriously, they pack about a zillion calories that don’t do much for you – except pack on the belly flab.

But what if those drinks were nutritious? What if they were chock full of metabolism boosting protein?

I’m not kidding, your taste buds won’t believe this one!”

Check it out at: http://leankitchen.getprograde.com/iced-raspberry-mocha.html

PS – And remember, Prograde is having a birthday party this week and celebrating with 15% off all their awesome products! http://leankitchen.getprograde.com/specials

Prograde, my partners!

Pork & Apples-Warp Speed Fat Loss

leanKitchen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:38:13 +0000

My lunch today was un-freakin-believable. Hard to believe really that I’m on a program that has me eating stuff like this that in turn is going to make me a hot-hard-bodied-lean-mean-ab-weilding machine : )

First up, the recipe calls for pork loin, an apple, and salt and pepper. Just a couple of ingredients, and pretty darned good!

I grabbed a pork loin and sliced it into medallion shapes, and put some olive oil in the pan, getting it nice and hot. While it was heating, I coated both sides with salt and pepper like this:

Pork loin, cut into medallion shapes

When the oil was nice and hot, I put the pork in and seared each side. The salt and pepper also forms a nice salty & spicy crust, which makes even the blandest meat pop with flavor.

Next up, my particular weight called for a half a medium apple, so I thinly sliced some apples, poured a cup and a half of water in the pan put the apples in on top, and covered the pan.

The pork, cooking

I poached the apples till they were soft, and the liquid had reduced to a nice, yummy sauce-like reduction.

Here’s the final product:

Pork and Apples- The Final Product

Soooo…I can lose 20 lbs. in 28 days eating stuff like THIS?

I’m sold.

I have a Leek-now what the heck do I do with it??

leanKitchen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:49:02 +0000

In my effort to encourage my blog readers to NOT GROW BORED with their supportive and nutrient-rich diets, I strive to show you how to get into those fruits and veggies that are a novelty to some people. And, who knows, maybe I can help some of you discover your new favorite! Like the pomegranate video I made a while back, my intention is to help you figure out how to a. get into the sucker b. how to prepare it and c. what to do with it once you’ve opened it. So without further ado, I bring to you:

How to prepare a leek. Enjoy my Academy Award winning performance : )

P.S. What do you do with those yummy half-moon shaped leeks? I have an idea! How ’bout putting them in your Faux-tato Leek Soup??

Spare-Tire Blasting Ice Cream Sundaes with the kids

leanKitchen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:54:25 +0000

Yep, you read that right. I had totally supportive Ice Cream Sundaes with my babies this past weekend. Camron had a glowing parent-teacher conference, and, yeah I’m a parent and yep, I’m going to brag: he is reading at a level 17, VT Standard is 6. Go Camron!

The Ice cream was actually 2 small containers of chobani plain yogurt, some raspberries, and 2 scoops of Prograde Lean (a chocolate-flavored meal replacement, protein powder would definitely work in this recipe), blended with my immersion blender, and frozen. The “hot fudge” was 2 scoops of the Prograde Lean (again, protein powder would work) mixed with hot water, and the toppings were simply thawed frozen berries, and peanuts.

The idea of making ice cream was based on a recipe for “Chocolate Mousse” (same ingredients basically, only unfrozen) from my friend Lisa C. She is probably the most inspirational person I know, the queen of supportive eating, and one of the most determined individuals I’ve ever met. So this recipe is for her!

Bear in mind I did actually call my children’s doctor about this recipe; I wasn’t sure because of the meal replacement powder it contained, but they said as long as it’s for a treat, and they aren’t eating it as a primary source of nutrition, they’re fine, and it’s fine for them. I would suggest calling your doctor if you’re concerned about it.

Now I have to tell you, there is a very, very funny scene in this movie, you don’t want to miss it! Please bear in mind that my daughter is the absolute epitome of “The Terrible Two’s” at the moment, and you’ll see a glimpse of that (and me ignoring it), but right around the 3 minute 40 second mark, you’re in for a real treat, better than the ice cream itself

Enjoy!

(If you have trouble viewing, you can always go here )