Sat. Nov 10th

Vegetarian Scampi over Quinoa!

Daily Tidbit:  I experimented with a new dish tonight: Vegetarian Scampi!  My plan was to make standard Shrimp Scampi and serve it over Spaghetti Squash, however, some Vegetarian friends joined us, so I reworked the recipe by incorporating more Veggies, including Beans, keeping the Shrimp as a side dish for the meat eaters, and subbed the Squash for some Quinoa to increase the Protein punch (pictured above).  This was a great success, lots of great flavor!  In my opinion, almost anything loaded with Garlic is delicious, and this time of year is a great addition as it may just help you combat an infection or cold!  Check out Dr. Weil's top 5 reasons to eat Garlic:
 
www.drweilblog.com/home/2010/7/31/5-reasons-to-eat-garlic.html
 

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Whole Wheat Cranberry Oat Bread with Eggs Over Easy

Breakfast: Cranberry Oat Bread with Eggs
2 slices of toasted Whole Wheat Cranberry Oat Bread (recipe below)
2 Eggs, Over Easy 
5 oz OJ
Regular Coffee, with a splash of Fat Free Milk and 1/4 tsp Plain Ground Cinnamon
 
 

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Baba Ghanouj & Hummus & Toasted Sesame Bread

Chicken Shawarma Pita

Chicken Shawarma Pita, opened up!

Lunch: Out to Lunch at a Middle Eastern Restaurant

-Shared Baba Ghanouj & Hummus with lots of fresh warm Toasted Sesame Bread

-Chicken Sharwarma Pita: Loaded with spiced roasted Chicken pieces, Red Onion, Tomatoes & Lettuce with a Tahini Dressing (I managed to eat one of the French Fries and ignore the rest!  I focused on spending my Carb intake by enjoying all the delicious fresh warm bread!)

-1/2 Mango Juice

-Diet Coke 

 

  

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Snack:  None needed after that big lunch!
 

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Dinner: Friends over for Dinner!

Pumpkin Hummus with Kalamata Olives, Pine Nuts & Cilantro

Ciabatta Bread

Appetizers:

-Pumpkin Hummus (recipe below) with Kalamata Olives and Cucumbers & Carrots

-Several pieces of Ciabatta Bread, dipped in EVOO & mixed spices  

-White Wine 

Vegetarian Scampi over Quinoa & topped with Curried Shrimp

Meal:

-Vegetarian Scampi (recipe below) over Quinoa and topped with Curried Shrimp (recipe below)

-Green Salad with Walnuts and Pears in a Vinaigrette (I had a second helping of this salad!)

-More Ciabatta bread

-Red Wine

 

Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies!

Chocolate Cookie

Breakfast Stout, Coffee & Chocolate flavored

Weyerbacher Merry Monks

Victory HopDevil Ale

Dessert:

-1 Chocolate Pumpkin Brownie

-1 Butter Scotch Cookie (not pictured)

-Many Chocolate Cookies (I lost track = I ate way too many!)

-Beer Sampler, 2 oz of each above, shared with friends 
 

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RECIPES:

Whole Wheat Cranberry Oat Bread Recipe:
receipted adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/honey-cranberry-oat-bread/

I liked the above recipe, but made it Whole Grain by using Whole Wheat Flour and made a few other tweaks to make a healthier version.

Preheat oven to 350 and grease loaf pan with Canola Oil Spray.

Meanwhile in a large bowl mix:
-1 cup Quick Cooking Oats
-1. 5 cups Whole Wheat Flour
-1 cup White Flour
-1/2 cup Sugar
-1 tsp Baking Soda
-1 tsp Baking Powder
-1/2 tsp Salt
-1/2 tsp Cinnamon
-Dash Nutmeg

In another large bowl mix:
-2 Eggs
-4 oz Apple Sauce
-2 tbsp Orange Juice
-1/2 cup Fat Free Milk 
-2 cups Dried Fresh Cranberries 
 
Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients mixture and mix until everything is moist.  Pour into greased Loaf Pan and Bake for 40 Minutes and serve!

Vegetarian Scampi Recipe:

1 tbsp EVOO

1 Medium Red Onion, sliced

1 tbsp Red Pepper Flake

Salt/ fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

10 cloves Garlic, sliced

2 cups No Salt Added, chopped Tomatoes

1 can Artichoke Hearts, drained/ rinsed and chopped

1 can White Cannellini Beans, drained/ rinsed

1 cup Dry White Wine 

Cilantro, chopped

In hot pan, swirl EVOO to coat bottom and add Onions, sauteing until softened.  Then add the Red Pepper Flake, Salt/ Pepper & Garlic, stirring and sauteing for a couple minutes, until fragrant.  Add Tomatoes, Artichokes, Beans and Wine and bring to a boil.  Simmer for 20 minutes, top with Cilantro and it is ready!

I poured this sauce over already cooked Quinoa, but this could be poured over Pasta, Sauteed Spinach, Spaghetti Squash, or even eaten in a bowl as a Stew!

 

 

Curried Shrimp Recipe:

1 lb frozen Shrimp, thawed and cooked in hot pan with 1 tbsp EVOO and sprinkled with Curry powder & Cumin & tossed with 1 tbsp Butter right before serving.   Top with chopped Cilantro.

 


Chocolate Pumpkin Brownie Recipe:

2 cups Pure Pumpkin Puree
1 box Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix (I assume other Brownie mixes would work just as well)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix Brownie mix & Pumpkin.  Place into 12 cupcake liners into a 12 cup cup muffin tin. Spray liners with Canola oil and then fill mix into the 12 cups.  Bake for 25 minutes, allow to cool 10 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream if desired!

This combination is genius!  No, it wasn't my idea - I saw a recipe mixing Pumpkin Puree with Devil's Food Cake mix while browsing the Hungry Girl 1-2-3 cookbook at the Book Store.  When we got home I scoured the pantry and found Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix, which contains Dutch Chocolate & Chocolate Chips, and just went for it!  Result:  Amazingly delicious dessert!  It is hard to believe there is no Butter, Oil, or Eggs in these; they are truly decadent!
 

  

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