Skinnytaste

Asian Flank Steak Skewers

2012-01-25T12:38:00.003-05:00

Thin strips of grilled flank steak marinated with lime juice, ginger, garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce. These skewers disappear quickly at every gathering, so you may want to make a lot!

With the Superbowl just around the corner I thought these would be a great appetizer for the steak lovers in your home. I myself love beef and enjoy these as an appetizer, but I also make them for dinner served with rice and roasted broccoli on the side.

You can make this on an indoor grill, a cast iron grill pan or make them outside on the grill. Always cut the meat across the grain at a slight angle with a very sharp knife.

Kid-friendly, husband-friendly, and just plain old good!

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Skinny Green Monster Smoothie

2012-01-24T14:05:00.002-05:00

A vitamin packed smoothie, perfect for breakfast or lunch on the go!

Ok, so I'll admit, first time trying a green monster smoothie... and quite honestly I was not prepared to like it!

I mean, spinach in a smoothie?? Even though green may be my favorite color, it sounded way too healthy even for my taste! But it's January, a month of new beginnings, resolutions and cleaning our bodies so I was willing to take a chance.

So, after someone recently sent me their recipe I took a chance and tried it for myself. What's the worst that could happen? If I don't like it, I'll just toss it, right?

I had all the ingredients on hand and put them in my blender. Myself, my teenager and my aunt just watched as the blender ran and the smoothie turned into a shade of bright green.

I was the first to test it out, and not bad! Good actually! All I really tasted was the peanut butter and banana, nothing else really stood out. I could get used to this! They all agreed, even my picky teenager thought it was good!

So, why should you try a GREEN MONSTER?? Vitamins!! A, C, K, iron, fiber, folate, lutein, magnesium, potassium, protein and calcium! Give it a try and see what you think!

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Five Spice Roasted Chicken Legs

2012-01-23T16:32:00.002-05:00

Oven roasted chicken legs take on exotic Asian flavors by the addition of a little Chinese five-spice.

An easy weeknight dish, the chicken is marinated in soy sauce, ginger, shallots, garlic and Chinese five-spice then roasted in the oven. Serve this with jasmine rice or brown fried rice and a vegetable for a complete meal.

I chose to use whole legs with thighs and drumsticks attached as opposed to using a whole chicken, because I find it easier to serve and I love dark meat, but you can make this with a whole chicken, thighs, legs, breasts... whatever you prefer! The sodium is hard to calculate because half of the marinade gets tossed so keep that in mind.

Happy Chinese New Year!!
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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

2012-01-22T21:26:00.000-05:00

Sautéed ground chicken thighs, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts seasoned with Asian spices are served in a crispy cold lettuce leaf with a spicy hoisin dipping sauce. I can't think of a more playful appetizer to celebrate the Year of The Dragon!

Some of you probably know how much I love using lettuce leaves as a wrap for everything from Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps to BLT Lettuce wraps. They are the perfect low-carb solution and don't interfere with the flavors of the filling. This recipe is no exception, you can taste all the Asian goodness... pure delight in every bite!

This recipe was ever so slightly adapted from my friend Bee, of Rasa Malaysia's first cookbook, Easy Chinese Recipes: Family Favorites From Dim Sum to Kung Pao. Whether you are celebrating The Chinese New Year, The Superbowl, or just having some friends over, I highly recommend making these... double or triple the recipe for a large crowd!

And speaking of Chinese New Year, I have a new cookbook giveaway this week! Two lucky winners will have a chance to win their own copy of Easy Chinese Recipes: Family Favorites From Dim Sum to Kung Pao. For a chance to win, visit Skinny Bits and leave a comment there (US residents only)!

Oh and one more thing I want to mention, if you want to turn this into a main dish, make some steamed rice and serve each wrap with rice and chicken, it's very good! Enjoy!!

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Skinny Macaroni and Cheese Soup with Broccoli

2012-01-19T13:06:00.000-05:00

A classic, kid-friendly comfort dish made into a soup. A great way to sneak some veggies into those picky tummies while enjoying a tasty warm bowl of soup.

I was a picky kid growing up, I remember the first time I liked broccoli it was smothered with melted cheese. Not really a bad thing because I got my serving of dairy and it was the start of my adoration for broccoli.

Using the same principal, this soup will please those picky palates while still serving plenty of vegetables such as carrots, celery and broccoli. You can cook the broccoli to your family's liking. Adults tend to like it tender crisp, while I find for the kids, if you cook it longer it dissolves into the soup making it impossible for them to pick out and they may even realize broccoli is not so bad after all!

Personally, I found one cup was satisfying as I had this for lunch, but if you would like to make this four servings for a larger bowl, the Weight Watcher Points would increase to 8 points plus, and the calories would increase to 315 per bowl. Enjoy!!

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Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

2012-01-17T13:21:00.002-05:00

Lean ground beef and turkey are combined with breadcrumbs and sauteed onions then shaped into patties and simmered in a mushroom gravy to create a lightened version of this retro American dish.

Serve this with Skinny Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Skinny Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes or for a low-carb option Creamy Cauliflower Puree and you have a complete meal.

It's hard not to imagine a TV dinners when you think of Salisbury Steak, originally a poor man's beef dish made with ground beef and fillers, shaped to resemble a real steak back in the great depression when steak was a luxury.

I recently was asked to create a lightened up Salisbury Steak, and I was excited to play around with this! For my skinny version, I combined turkey and lean beef to keep it light yet still maintain a beefy flavor. The addition of mushrooms to the gravy completes the dish sneaking in vegetables and giving this a wonderful flavor.

My family loved this, from my picky teen, toddler and husband. I'm sure yours will too!!

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Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

2012-01-16T15:26:00.001-05:00

This is easiest hot appetizer that you'll ever make. Uses only TWO ingredients and it's soooo good, I guarantee these will disappear in minutes!

With Superbowl around the corner, I've had these on my mind to post for a while. These are the perfect tasty game day treats and you can easily assemble them ahead of time. When your guests arrive, throw them in the oven and the aroma of bacon that will fill your home will have everyone salivating.

I know what you're thinking, bacon on Skinnytaste?

Well yeah, why not?

Using center cut bacon reduces the fat, and wrapped around lean chicken breast you have yourself one delicious appetizer! If you want a sauce for dipping, you can use Sweet red chili sauce or duck sauce on the side. Your low-carb friends will thank you for these as they are carb-free, gluten-free, and semi guilt-free (just don't eat the whole batch).

I used to make these with my Mom as a kid. I recall looking through the oven door, waiting impatiently for them to come out. I guess

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Brown Coconut Rice with Cilantro

2012-01-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

Coconut milk, brown rice, coconut flakes, fresh ginger and cilantro are combined to create this simple side dish, perfect to accompany many Thai dishes.
The flavor of the coconut milk is subtle, and pairs perfectly with Sweet and Fiery Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa, Tilapia with Coconut Curry Sauce, Thai green coconut curry shrimp, to name a few. The photo above is the rice topped with the mango salsa from the Sweet and Fiery Pork.

You can also make this with white rice, which is usually my husband's preference. For a healthier option, stick with brown rice. I've played around with several brown rice varieties and Jasmine works best (I was out so I used short grain). If using white, reduce the water to 1 cup and reduce the cooking time. If you wish, you can add a touch of sesame oil which I often like to do. The flaked coconut is optional but I like the subtle sweetness it adds to the dish.

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Sweet and Fiery Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa

2012-01-12T14:48:00.002-05:00

Chinese New Year is January 23rd, the start of a 15-day celebration celebrating the Chinese New Year – This year it's the Year of The Dragon. I thought this Asian inspired fiery pork dish would be a great way to celebrate!

Roasted pork tenderloin with a sweet and spicy glaze topped with a fresh mango salsa. Your taste buds will be tantilized with each bite you take.

How good does this look...

Even if you have no intentions of celebrating the Chinese New Year, this is a tasty way to make a pork tenderloin if you are looking for something different.

Could you make this with chicken? Sure! This would be fabulous over a chicken breast if pork is not your thing.

I served this with my own coconut rice creation that my husband loves (recipe coming soon) and he literally cleaned his plate! You could also serve this over steamed jasmine rice for a simple side dish. Enjoy!

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Skinny Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones

2012-01-11T15:09:00.001-05:00

Buttermilk scones sweetened just to perfection studded with chocolate chips. Kind of like eating a giant chocolate chip cookie for breakfast... without the guilt.

Yes, I just found my new favorite scone!

I tested them out on some friends, and they agree! In fact, we ate them all before I got to take pictures, so I had to make them again.

No worries...

Chocolate makes everything better!

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Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

2012-01-10T15:45:00.003-05:00

Start your day off right with this warm, satisfying heart-healthy breakfast your family will love.

Oatmeal baked with ripe bananas, blueberries, cinnamon, honey and walnuts... need I say more? Yes! this IS as good as it sounds, I promise!!

You can make this with any combination of nuts and fruit you like, the possibilities are endless! But I really loved biting into a sweet warm banana, I felt like I was eating dessert.

Your family will thank you for this one, and you'll feel good knowing they are eating a healthy breakfast. Enjoy!

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Crock Pot Chicken a la Criolla

2012-01-09T14:28:00.001-05:00

Criolla (literally creole) is a Spanish word widely used to describe Caribbean or Hispanic cuisine. In this simple yet flavorful dish, boneless skinless chicken thighs are stewed in the slow cooker with bell peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, cilantro and spices. Served over rice, this is one tasty and inexpensive meal for 9 points plus!

As promised, I played around with my crock pot last night making this easy yet flavorful dish which requires no pre-cooking on the stove. In most cases, I think it's always best to brown the chicken, onions and garlic in a skillet before adding it to a slow cooker because it adds a depth of flavor you just don't get when you skip that step. That being said, for this dish I didn't think it was necessary because it has so many aromatics, herbs and spices that flavor is not lacking.

Because slow cookers tend to mute the flavors from the long cooking times on low heat, you should always taste it at the end and adjust the spices and salt if needed. Also, adding extra fresh herbs at the end is always a must in my opinion.

This dish was loved by all in my house, including my two year old. Enjoy!!

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Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce

2012-01-05T12:10:00.001-05:00

Bolognese sauce, a slow cooked ragú made with lean ground beef, pancetta, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, wine, and cream is one of my favorite Italian sauces. I make this sauce whenever I need to feed a large crowd, or just to keep in my freezer. Serve this over pasta with a big Italian salad and everyone is happy!

Because Bolognese sauce needs to cook slow and low for several hours, the crock pot is ideal for this. You can make this with ground turkey, buffalo, veal, or whatever meat you prefer. I always make it with beef, using the leanest ground beef I can find.

Since purchasing my new crock pot a few months ago after reading so many reviews (which I love by the way, it's the Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker), it's been parked on my counter to ensure that I use it at least once a week. I've been taking some of my existing stove top recipes and trying them out in the crock pot which usually require some minor tweaks to make them work. Because liquids don't evaporate as much in the crock pot, this recipe is slightly different than my stove top version.

By the way, first time trying out Reynold's slow cooker liners, talk about an easy clean-up!

This sauce starts out on the stove, which is essential to brown the meat then slowly simmers in the crock pot for the rest of the day. You can start this the night before if you want this for a weeknight meal, then turn it on in the morning and go to work. When you get home, all you will need to do is boil some pasta, or roast some spaghetti squash, perhaps make a salad and you have a delicious meal! (Over a 2 oz dry/1 cup cooked serving of pasta, it's a 9 points plus meal.)

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Kalyn's Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

2012-01-04T14:48:00.000-05:00

Basically a deconstructed version of stuffed cabbage layered with shredded cabbage, ground beef and brown rice cooked in tomatoes then topped with melted cheese.

Last week when I was browsing other blogs Top Dishes for 2011, (I always love those posts) I came across this recipe on Kalyn's Kitchen. It had January comfort food written all over it... I knew I HAD to try it!!

This turned out great, and easily serves 10 people. Although stuffed cabbage doesn't usually have cheese, I loved the addition of it in this recipe. I gave you the nutritional info with and without the cheese but if you don't have any allergies to cheese, I say make it with!

Leftover can be frozen and reheated for another day.

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My Personal Top 12 Recipes from 2011

2012-01-02T13:55:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

It's a new year, a great time to start fresh and undo the damage some of us may have done over the holidays!

Too many cookies? cupcakes?
Not enough time to exercise...
We all fall into that trap in December!

My resolutions are to get to the gym more, and get organized! I'm even getting rid of some of my lightly or barely used cookbooks because my shelves are over-flowing! If you are interested, you can enter the cookbook giveaway on Skinny Bits which ends this friday.

I thought I would start the new year with a post of my personal skinny favorites from 2011, ones I like to keep in my rotation because everyone in my family loves them. These are not all my favorites, just the ones I posted in 2011. Hope you enjoy and don't be too hard on yourself, today is a new day!!

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Top 20 Skinny Recipes For 2011

2011-12-30T10:21:00.002-05:00

Whew, the Holidays are almost behind us, I can finally exhale and slow down for the next few days and reflect about what a great year it has been for Skinnytaste and myself in 2011.

When I started this blog back in 2008, it was just a hobby that I really enjoyed. Never in my dreams would I have imagined what was to come.

In March of 2011, I left my full time job and career in the city which allowed me to give my 100% to Skinnytaste and spend more quality time with my baby. It was scary and exciting at the same time, but I wouldn 't change a thing!

And to my surprise, Skinnytaste even won some awards this year! I was so honored to win the SHAPE Magazine Best Healthy Eating Blogs 2011 and the Kitchn's The Homies: Best Home Cooking Blog for 2011 . But of course, none of this would have happened without you, and for that I am humbly grateful.

So now it's time to do my yearly round up of your favorite recipes for 2011. I asked all of you on facebook and twitter to share your favorite recipes from 2011, and I narrowed it down to these top 20, in no particular order... Thanks for all your feedback!! Hope you enjoy the recipes I have planned for 2012!!

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Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

2011-12-29T15:59:00.002-05:00

Everything I love about chicken enchiladas... in a bowl! I love turning classic meals into soups lately, it's an easy (maybe even lazy) way to make a meal and it doesn't require dirtying too many pots.

I basically took my chicken enchilada recipe and added some black beans, corn and chicken broth and threw it all into the crock pot.

A few hours later this delicious bowl of soup emerged which I topped with cheese, scallions, cilantro and a dallop of fat free sour cream. I served it with avocado on the side since I grew up eating avocado in my soup. This was very tasty, filling and had just the right amount of kick! Add more or less chipotle to your taste.

I've labeled this as freezer friendly, whether you want to make your meals ahead to freeze for the month, or save your leftovers for lunch. To reheat you can microwave or reheat over the stove. To see other freezer friendly meals, click here.

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Chicken with Leeks, Sun-Dried Tomatoes in White Wine Sauce

2011-12-28T14:38:00.000-05:00

Thin sliced chicken cutlets sauteed in a white wine sauce with leeks and sun-dried tomatoes. Dinner in less than 20 minutes!

I love the mild onion flavor of leeks, I use them in soups, pasta dishes and chicken dishes. Paired with the robust flavor of the sweet sun-dried tomatoes, this dish is sure to please the palate!

Try to find sun-dried tomatoes that are not packed in oil. I look for the ones that are soft and ready to eat, but depending on the brand, some may need to soak in warm water if they are very hard. A little goes a long way!

I used rice flour for a gluten free dish and to test if it changed the taste from wheat flour and I thought it worked out well. If you are on a gluten-free diet, use rice flour; if not all purpose flour or whole wheat is fine.

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Brownie Batter Pancakes

2011-12-27T11:21:00.005-05:00

I am very happy to have Katie of Chocolate-Covered Katie as my first guest post here on Skinnytaste. Her recipes are a great fit for Skinnytaste as they are all healthy and low fat, but she also brings something else to he table... all her recipes are vegan! Whether you are a vegan or not, I guarantee you will spend hours drooling at the photos on her blog! Please welcome Chocolate-Covered Katie to Skinnytaste.

Hi chocolate chips!

I’m Katie, of the blog: Chocolate-Covered Katie, and I’m so honored to be a guest on Gina’s blog. I love Gina because she shows that healthier food can taste incredible when it’s prepared the right way. On my own blog, I try to show this, too.

One exception: my blog is only desserts.

Just like Gina, I believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice good taste in order to be healthy. And today, Gina asked me to share one of my “does not taste healthy” recipes that can be a breakfast or dessert: brownie batter pancakes. This recipe is also vegan AND can easily be made gluten free with Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour mix!

Hope you enjoy!!

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Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T23:27:00.000-05:00

From My Home to Yours, Wishing You All

A Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Holiday!

Hugs and Kisses,

Gina

Make-Over Breakfast Sausage and Mushroom Strata

2011-12-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

A make-ahead breakfast casserole made with day old bread, eggs, cheese, sausage and mushrooms. This recipe from the archives is perfect for Christmas morning so I thought I would revive it to give it some attention. You can make this with just about anything, just use your imagination!

Breakfast stratas can be pretty high in fat, generally using at least 8 eggs and 2 to 3 cups of cheese. To lighten this dish I used less eggs, turkey sausage in place of pork sausage, fat free milk, reduced fat cheese and whole wheat ciabatta bread.

You can easily swap out the mushrooms for asparagus or bell peppers, use ham instead of sausage, and make it with any cheese you like. Enjoy, whatever flavor combination you come up with!!

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Skinny Coconut Shrimp

2011-12-21T15:23:00.000-05:00

Golden baked coconut encrusted shrimp with a sweet and spicy apricot dipping sauce. Set these out on a platter in front of some hungry guests and I guarantee they will disappear!!

"The best coconut shrimp I ever had" to quote my husband, that's how good these are, and he didn't even touch the dipping sauce! These will absolutely be making an appearance at my Christmas Eve dinner this year.

I tried these using all egg whites but the crumbs stuck better with a whole egg, as for the flour, you will only use about 1 tbsp worth so that is what I calculated.

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Flounder Piccata

2011-12-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

Lightly pan fried breaded filet of flounder served in a lemon, wine, butter sauce with capers and parsley. A wonderful way to enjoy flounder, tilapia or any white fish.

We often have this with chicken for those of you who don't like fish, but I discovered it's great with fish too, and perfect for Christmas Eve for those of you who eat fish.

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Tuscan White Beans with Spinach, Shrimp and Feta

2011-12-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

Shrimp, white beans and wilted spinach topped with crumbled feta. Perfect for a weeknight meal, this dish is delicious and super easy to make!

This recipe was slightly modified from the The Salt Solution Cookbook, a wonderful cookbook with over 200 recipes that offers solutions on how to cut your sodium while boosting flavor.

In this dish, a touch of vinegar, fresh sage and crumbled feta give this dish a flavor boost without the need for salt. Even I didn't miss the salt, and I like my salt.

This week, I'm giving away 3 copies of The Salt Solution Cookbook and The Salt Solution, both written by Heather K. Jones with the editors of Prevention Magazine. If you are interested in this giveaway, go to Skinny Bits for a chance to win, ends Thursday 12/22.

And I really think you will love this one pan dish; it's lean, high in fiber and full of flavor!

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Pistachio Cranberry Biscotti

2011-12-18T22:39:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love a good biscotti in the morning with a cup of coffee? These Italian biscotti cookies are loaded with pistachios and cranberries, then twice baked to form a crispy delicious cookie, perfect for dunking!

My husband always brings up the Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti I posted last year. I try not to make those too often because the two of us have no self-control when I bake them (so good!).

This year I played around with this cranberry-pistachio version which I adapted from last year's recipe. I cut back on the butter a bit which created a stickier dough... a bit messy to work with so I sprinkling some flour on the dough and cookie tin or you can handle the dough with wet hands but the results where so darn good I wouldn't change a thing next time!

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