Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fish with Tomato Broth

This is my own creation.
There are any modifications between Simeons' protocol and the OWL diet, except if you add the Caponata sauce I found at the market the other day (Sabra brand, I believe it is 30 calories for 2 Tbsp and 1.5 gm of fat-if stalling do not use!)


White fish (I am using corvina) 100gms-100 calories
14 grape tomatoes-approx. 40 calories
Shirataki Noodles (like miracle noodles, made of fiber)-20 calories for half a bag 
1/2-1 tsp Ms. Dash Table Blend or Lemon Pepper
Sliced lemon-3 slices
Soy Based Butter Substitute Spray
Fresh Basil (optional)
1-3 oz (your preference) of baby spinach leaves (3oz=20 calories)

Spray baking dish lined with foil with non-stick spray, add lemon slices to bottom of dish.
Place fish on top and add seasoning
sprinkle 1-2 tbsp water over fish and bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until translucent (I usually bake more than one portion at time, so cook time will be less if only making one serving)

Sautee grape tomatoes with a few sprays of non-caloric soy based spray (ex.I Cannot Believe It's Not Butter) over medium high heat, add black pepper  and other seasoning you prefer to taste (garlic power, salt, etc).  Sautee until tomatoes burst and give off some liquid. Add some water 1-3 tbsp to make a broth. Add in spinach just to wilt.

Prepare Shirataki noodles per package instructions.  You can add 1-2 tsp of tomato paste if you like to make a little sauce.

Pour tomato and spinach broth over noodles and place fish on top.  Add fresh chopped basil as a garnish for color and additional flavor.


*Feel free to squeeze fresh lemon juice over top of fish or serve with a wedge of lemon.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

HCG Phase 2 Legal "Cookies"

Giving up most carbs (pretty much all of them!) and sugar is not easy.  I like sweets, I won't lie.  I like to have a treat every now and again. Deprivation hasn't yet been a factor (but it is only the start of week 2!).  Husband has been very supportive and I really don't feel I am missing out on much.

However, I was watching my daughter eat an Oreo today and it hit me that I wanted a cookie! 

So off I went in search of "legal" phase 2 (very low calorie diet phase) desserts.  There aren't many, but I did find a forum hcgdietinfo.com with a recipe for legal meringue cookies.
I just took them out of the oven.  Not bad.  I haven't tasted them...... yet.

3 egg whites (each egg white is 17 calories)
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
1-2 tsp splenda (stevia is bitter) OR 1-2 tsp flavored sugar free syrup
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)

*I added 1 tsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)-20 calories for 1 tbsp, so 5 calories for 1 tsp

On a cookie sheet lined with foil or a silicone pad place 2 tsp of the mixture on the sheet spaced evenly apart, just like when baking cookies.
In a 250 degree oven bake for 20 minutes. Don't open the oven door!
Allow to cool and  hopefully enjoy!

I will report back after the taste test. Not that I would eat the whole sheet tray in a sitting, but with the added cocoa powder they are about 56 calories for all of the cookies! Seriously!

UPDATE:
I didn't care for the first batch.  So I tried again.  This time I experimented with flavored sugar free syrup.  I had a Kahlua flavored one.  So I mixed in a tsp and whipped up the next batch. 
I also used a sandwich bag and cut off the corner and piped the cookies on the cookie sheet. I sprinkled the tops with a little splenda before baking but didn't use any in the meringue mixture itself.

These turned out much better.  The texture and flavor were fuller but the meringues are still so light!

HCG Calamari Steak and Cucumber Salad

I love calamari.  Ever since we moved to Florida there are lots more fresh seafood options.  Not only are there more options, our local market is right around the corner! Doris Italian Market has to be my most favorite find in this city! It has fresh, local produce and lots of fresh seafood and great deals on meat as well.
Anyways, my fish guy at Doris' turned me on to calamari steak when Doris suddenly stopped carrying the calamari rings I really liked.
The calamari steaks are even better!!!

So the recipe is simple and no need for modification between the Simeons protocol and The OWL diet.

3.5oz calamari steak-70 calories!
6oz peeled and thinly sliced cucumber(see my recipe for cucumber salad)
1 tsp pepper

Using a non-stick skillet, pepper both sides of the calamari steak and cook 2-3 minutes per side.
Slice the calamari in strips and place over the cucumber salad.  


Calamari is so low in calories, you can splurge and have a little extra without the guilt!