Help me find stuff to cook.

[peaceful_mama]

I am in a major cooking rut.

I have (mostly) gotten rid of most of the prepackaged **it I grew up eating. I am not buying (when I'm aware of it, a few things slip by, others in the house do not pay attention at all) stuff with MSG and HFCS.
Or stuff with dyes.

Compared to how *I* was raised, and how most of the mainstream people I know eat, we do *fabulously*--for example, my children have never had high-sugar instant oatmeal packets with stir-in colors, or high-sugar breakfast cereals that are truly CANDY if we want to be honest. I buy them real ingredient ice cream or make it myself. stuff like that.

BUT...I replaced my MSG/preservative laden cream of mushroom soup standby with a cream sauce I make myself....fine, whatever. NOW I want to reduce the amount of high-fat stuff like that, period.

I feel like everything I know how to cook involves gravy or cream-based high-fat sauce. Or heavy amounts of tomato sauce which dh does not like.

SO...please spam this post with recipes that do not involve the following
--cream of soup/cream based sauce.

--gravy

--huge amounts of tomato sauce (a small amount is OK)

and is not a recipe for fajitas or tacos as that is about the only other thing I've cooked lately and I'm sick of making it.

I would like an overall week of 21 meals (3 a day) to include maybe 3-4 of the higher fat favorites (including things like a side of mashed potatoes, a meal of our fav. sunny side up eggs, stuff like that) and more of it to be similar to a meal everybody loved last week--salmon broiled with lemon and a side of brown rice with a broccoli/onion/garlic stir fry to go over it.

[ollyoxenfree]

If you like the mouth-feel and taste of cream-based food, try replicating some of the recipes with lower fat versions. For example, you can use buttermilk or skim milk instead of whole milk or cream and yogurt instead of sour cream. There are a lot of "skinny" cookbooks that offer these kinds of recipes.

Another option is to eat "creamy" tasting foods that actually aren't. Risotto is one of our favourites. I use low fat, low sodium chicken stock and olive oil, but the result is a creamy rice main dinner. It does use parmesan or asiago cheese, but you can get low fat versions of those.

Here's a typical spring vegetable version:

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1 tsp. dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme - whatever)
1 cup arborio or carnoli rice (n.b. you must use short-grain Italian rice for the proper creamy consistency at the end result)
5 cups chicken stock
1 red pepper, chopped
1 orange pepper, chopped
1 bunch asparagus, chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup shredded fresh herbs (parsley, basil, whatever)
salt and pepper to taste

In a separate pan, warm the chicken stock.

In a large saucepan, heat the oil, saute the onion until translucent, add the crushed, minced garlic, lemon zest and dried herbs and heat for less than 1 minute. Add the rice, and stir to coat thoroughly. Add a half-cup of the chicken stock and stir until the liquid is almost completely absorbed. Keep adding the stock, a half-cupful at a time, stirring after each addition. Don't add the next bit of stock until the last has been almost completely absorbed.

When you have about 1 1/2 cups of stock left, add the veggies, except the peas, and mix thoroughly. Continue to add the chicken stock, a half-cup at a time.

Once all the stock has been added, add the peas and the cheese and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the fresh herbs.

Test the risotto - the grains should be well-cooked with a tiny bit of resistance - sort of like al dente pasta.

Serve with more freshly grated cheese.

If you like to cook with wine, then adding a half-cup of white wine, after the first half-cup of stock has been absorbed, will give a really nice flavour.

Enjoy.

[SpuglyRoo]

what about thing like:

Greek Chicken Kabobs
Spicy Lime Chicken with Black Bean and Avocado Salad
Herbed Sweet Potatoes and Chicken
South of the Border Pizza
Magic Quiche

Greek Chicken Kebabs

-= Ingredients =-
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves Garlic ; minced (about 4 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ; (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 red bell peppers ; cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large red onion ; cut into 1-inch pieces

-= Instructions =-
1. Whisk yogurt, 1/4 cup oil, 1 tablespoon garlic, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne in large bowl. Stir in chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 to 6 hours. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup oil, remaining teaspoon garlic, basil, and lemon juice in small bowl. Cover and chill while chicken is marinating.

2. Remove chicken from yogurt marinade; discard marinade. Thread each skewer with 2 pieces pepper, 1 piece onion, 2 pieces chicken, and 1 piece onion. Repeat twice more, ending with 2 additional pieces of pepper. Grill over high heat until vegetables and chicken are charred around edges on all four sides and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to serving platter and brush kebabs all over with lemon dressing. Serve.

Alternatively, you may try broiling this recipe and (I have done it and it was delicious). I also made chicken and veggie strips and layered them next to each other on the broiler instead of the time consuming process of making kebabs.

Spicy Lime Chicken with Black Bean and Avocado Salad

-= Ingredients =-
1/3 cup lime juice ; (about 2 limes)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 chipotle chiles ; roughly chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
1 tablespoon honey
3 medium cloves garlic ; minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Salt and Pepper
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2 cans (16 oz each) Black Beans ; drained and rinsed
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1 red bell pepper ; sliced thin
1 ripe avocado ; sliced thin
Lime wedges

-= Instructions =-
1. Whisk lime juice, cilantro, oil, chiles and sauce, honey, garlic, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in small bowl.

2. Toss chicken with 1/4 cup lime juice mixture in separate large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Marinate chicken in refrigerator while grill continues to preheat.

3. Toss beans, scallions, red pepper, and avocado with 1/4 cup lime juice mixture in serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Broil, Grill, or pan fry until well browned on both sides and cooked through. Transfer chicken to serving platter and drizzle with remaining lime juice mixture. Serve immediately with black bean and avocado salad.

Herbed Sweet Potatoes and Chicken

-= Ingredients =-
1/2 cup Milk
3 tablespoons Butter
1 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Rosemary
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb
4 Sweet Potatoes
4 Chicken Breasts
1/4 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs (or homemade)

-= Instructions =-
Preheat the oven the 375°F. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and milk together. Add salt through Mrs. Dash (all the seasonings) and stir over medium heat until very fragrant. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into bite sized pieces. Add to herb mixture in pot and stir until well coated. Place in the bottom of an oven safe baking dish.
Beat the chicken breasts until thin. Cut into quarters and position over the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top of each piece. Season with Mrs. Dash if desired.
Bake covered in oven for 40 minutes or until sweet potatoes are softened and chicken is cooked through. If a crunchy topping is desired, remove lid for last 15 minutes of baking.

South of the Border Pizza

-= Ingredients =-
1 pizza shell ; cooked
1 cup Kidney beans ; rinsed and drained
1 cup Corn ; thawed
1 tomato, chopped
1 bell pepper ; finely chopped
1/4 cup Cheddar cheese ; shredded
1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese ; shredded

-= Instructions =-
Preheat oven to 450°. Place pizza shell on ungreased pizza pan or baking sheet.
Arrange beans, corn, tomato, and pepper over pizza shell. Sprinkle evenly with cheese.
Bake pizza 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

This is very adaptable to the to the type of veggies you'd like on it. Try sprinkling it with seasonings like chili powder, cumin, etc. before you add the cheeses. I've tried it on pitas and tortillas as well. For extra protein add some cooked ground beef or turkey.

Magic Quiche

-= Ingredients =-
1 c. grated Cheddar Cheese
4 or 5 Eggs
2 c. Milk
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
Dash ; of Salt and Pepper
Butter ; for greasing pie plate

Optional: cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage, diced cooked ham, diced and lightly sauteed veggies such as onion, pepper, broccoli, spinach (drain WELL), mushrooms, etc. (These ingredients would be added on top of the cheese)

-= Instructions =-
Preheat oven to 350°.

Layer cheese and any of the optional ingredients in bottom of buttered 10" pie plate. Blend eggs, milk, flour and seasonings. Pour over other ingredients. Let sit five minutes.

Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Check by sticking knife in it, if it comes out clean, it is done.

(The magic part is that you don't need to make a pastry crust, the flour settles and forms a very thin crust-like bottom. Though not at all like a butter pastry crust, it is very delicious.)

[peaceful_mama]

thanks! keep it comin

[e(Lisa)beth]

subbing

[elizawill]

this is a very quick & yummy meal. i take kabob skewers & rotate them with onion, yellow& red peppers, whole mushrooms, & grape tomatoes. i then place them on a non-stick baking pan. i sprinkle them with steak seasoning and a little soy sauce. bake them on 350 for maybe 20-25 minutes (or until done). i remove from skewers and serve over brown rice (i'll use success brown rice when i'm in a rush). i top it off with a little vegan ranch dressing (to mock the white sauce in japanese restaurants). this is so delicious, quick & easy!!

last night we had stir fry with mushrooms, baby corn, water chestnuts, carrots, broccoli, and peas. for seasoning, i used soy sauce, pepper, garlic powder & onion powder. i served over brown rice & topped it off with vegan ranch (i'm addicted, lol). we ate it with chopsticks for fun. it was so delicious & again, very easy!!


hth

[Alyantavid]

Our breakfasts are eggs, bagels, oatmeal, french toast, waffles, or pancakes.

Lunches are always sandwiches (or wraps) or leftovers.

Dinners vary alot. We're dairy free so it's alot of meat, veggie, starch for us.

Zesty Grilled Hamsteak

Mix:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup horseradish
1/4 cup lemon juice

Bring to a boil. Pour over hamsteak and grill (or bake at 350ish) until done.

I also cut up part of the hamsteak and put it and some pineapple on skewers and grill those for the kids. They love them. I almost always have roasted potatoes with these. And either other veggies roasted or stir fried.

Chicken strips/finger steaks

Just cut the meat into whatever size you want. Dip in egg, then shake in a bag of flour or breadcrumbs with whatever spices you like. I bake or deep fry these. And french fries always go along with them. I make my own, just cutting potatoes into size and then bake or deep fry with salt.

Roasted chicken
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes
Apple Sausages

Sweet & sour chicken legs

Roast the legs.
Mix:
1 cup brown sugar
1 pack dry onion soup mix
1 cup ketchup
1 cup hot water
splash of vinegar

Pour over the legs. Cook until the meat's falling off the bone