Archive for the ‘Healthy Eating Ideas’ Category

This Grilled Shrimp Scampi Recipe is so easy to prepare and it’s healthier than most scampi’s. You will be tempted to serve it all the time.

So, fire up your grill good and hot and put a large pot of water on and get ready to have healthy Grilled Shrimp Scampi with Whole Wheat Linguine.

I would say this recipe serves four.

I hope you enjoy

Recipe after the photos:

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole wheat linguine
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1 large shallot, finely diced
• 5 cloves garlic, diced
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 pound large shrimp
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley leaves

Directions

For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. When it has come to the boil, add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the linguini. Stir to make sure the pasta separates; cover. When the water returns to a boil, cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is not quite done. Drain the pasta reserving 1 cup of water.

While the grill is heating up combine all the above ingredients except for the linguine.

Let the shrimp soak in for just a few minutes, because the acid will make the shrimp tough.

Pour the shrimp on to the hot grill pan or grill wok and turn a few times over the next 8 to 10 minutes depending how hot your grill is. They are done once they turn pink.

Add the shrimp to the pan with the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water. Stir well and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a bit more olive oil and serve immediately.

Wish your TV could help you lose weight?  Here’s how your Tivo or your cable company’s DVR box can help.  We have a DVR that I think is really cool because it helps us do other things and not worry about rushing home to see American Idol or who got a red rose this week.  That means no excuses to walk, play a round of basketball, or stay off the couch.  Once we do find the time to sit down and watch the show, we can fast forward past the contestants’ last chance to re-sing the songs that got them voted off. (Like they’re going to do better with a lump in their throats and tears…Right?)  But, more importantly, we can also fast forward through the commercials.  Prime time TV seems to have tons of food commercials, so if you fast forward through them your kids are less likely to turn to you and say, “Mommy/Daddy, I want another snack.”

A 2004 study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in Menlo Park, California, found that TV advertising greatly contributed to unhealthy food choices in children. Your kid sees an average of 40,000 ads annually, so record programs and fast-forward through the commercials whenever possible.

So, am I saying to run out and invest in a Tivo or DVR?  You bet I am!  This makes a lot of sense and anything to help our kid’s battle with weight I’m all for it. Let me know… what you think?

Italian Sausage Peppers and Pasta, oh my…. 
While at my Weight Watchers meeting today not only did I lose some weight, (yay me!!!) but I found an awesome Italian recipe.  I love the idea of having Italian food made healthy, and this dish has it all spicy sausage, red wine and fire-roasted tomatoes. 
Recipe follows the pictures

 Ingredients:

1/2 pound(s) raw turkey sausage, Italian-style, casings removed    

 2 tsp olive oil, extra-virgin    

  2 medium yellow pepper(s), cut into 2-inch long thin strips    

  1 medium onion(s), thinly sliced    

 1/2 cup(s) red wine    

  1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic    

  28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted recommended    

 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or less to taste    

 1/4 tsp table salt    

  8 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, fusilli    

 1/3 cup(s) basil, fresh, chopped     

1/2 pound(s) raw turkey sausage, Italian-style, casings removed    

 2 tsp olive oil, extra-virgin    

  2 medium yellow pepper(s), cut into 2-inch long thin strips    

  1 medium onion(s), thinly sliced    

 1/2 cup(s) red wine    

  1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic    

  28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted recommended    

 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or less to taste    

 1/4 tsp table salt    

  8 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, fusilli    

 1/3 cup(s) basil, fresh, chopped    

Directions:
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

Meanwhile, to make sauce, in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage, stirring and breaking up meat with back of a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes; remove to a plate.

Heat oil in same skillet. Add yellow peppers and onion; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are lightly colored and crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Add wine and garlic; cook until most of liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, crushed red pepper, salt and browned sausage; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender and sauce is heated through, about 10 minutes.

While sauce simmers, add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Drain pasta; return to pot. Add sauce and basil; toss to mix and coat. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving. 

Plated Halibut on Sweet Peppers

I once read never trust a “skinny chef.” Well, you can trust me by about forty extra pounds. Over the last year, I have been working on changing how this family eats.  With focused effort, I have lost 42lbs with about 44lbs to go.  When it comes to weightloss, for me , it’s all about proportion size of the food.  I grew-up with the parental dining rule that  ”there’s kids in other countries starving, so you better clean your plate.”

These days, I am a member of Weight Watchers and I go to my group meetings on Thursdays.  So I thought on Thursdays I would spotlight a meal that is very low in calories and fat, but also really delicious and simple to make. 
I hope you enjoy tonight’s meal: Roasted Halibut on a bed of Sweet Peppers with Avocado Sauce and Steamed Asparagus.

Recipes follow the pictures: