Friday Night Treat: Apple Bake

This was kind of a quirky, wisdom tooth removal inspiration.  I had a bunch of prepacked applesauce cups from having my wisdom tooth removed and I wanted a desert I wouldn't feel bad about. So I came up with this.

Apple Granola Bake

6 cups applesauce
4 apples cut into small pieces
1/2 cup granola
cinnamon to taste

Step One: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix applesauce and apple chunks in a small baking dish.

Step Two: Sprinkle granola (I used TN local Yippie Hippie complete with pecans, coconut and no preservatives) over apple mixture and add cinnamon to your taste.

Step Three: Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, until apple chunks become soft.  Serve (possibly ala mode with some delish honey vanilla froyo).

Makes 4 servings of about 250 calories each.  Not to mention at least one serving of fruit!

Friday Night Treats: Italian Sausage and Peppers

So, here's how I got my inspiration for this one.  I was walking through the grocery store and saw a package of Tofurky sausages.  I was curious.  I read the ingredients and it seemed to be all things I was familiar with.  Now, prior to this experience, I was the kind of person who assumed that if it's not what it's supposed to be, then it's not real food or is make of manufactured materials.  And I still kind of am.  I would rather have butter than any kind of butter replacement.  I would rather have regular fat of a lot of foods that are "low fat" or "non fat" because the low and non fat versions typically contain lots of corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.  Now, it is true that Tofurky is processed food ( it doesn't grow like that anywhere), it is make from foods I recognize like soy protein, canola oil and spices.  No MSG, no anhylihyrdatic protectorant species this or that, no corn syrup, no aspartame, no nonsense.  Yes, it's weird at first but you could like it.  Like turkey bacon.  Way better than bacon.

Tofurky Sausage and Peppers
 This is a very simple recipe that I'm sure everyone has done before.

1 package of Tofurky Sausage
1 red pepper cut into chunks
1 yellow pepper cut into chunks
1 orange pepper cut into chunks
1 onion cut into chunks
1 can of tomato soup

 Gotta love the vintage 70s Crock Pot

Step One:  Brown the Tofurky sausage in a skillet with a small amount of olive oil and onions.

 Before...                                                                    and After.

Step Two: Add peppers, onion, tomato soup and Tofurky to a large crockpot, cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Step Three: Serve.  (I served mine over some whole wheat pasta)

 I know the biggest thing I was scared about was the Tofurky falling apart after being in the crock for so long.  It sorta did, but it worked.  The texture was the biggest thing to get used to.  It was not the snappy and solid texture of traditional pork sausage.  It's softer and more delicate, but once you get past that, it's pretty good.  It would make a really good sandwich too, if I had a whole wheat hoagie roll.

Friday Night Treat: Spinach and Mushroom Risotto

This week's treat is gourmet!

Spinach and Mushroom Risotto

1/3 cup dried mushrooms (I used shiitake, but porchini would be awesome)
3 tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
1/3 cup white wine (I used Fryburg White from Deer Creek Winery)
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1/3 cup shredded aged Asiago cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

 

Step One: Soak dried mushrooms in 1 cup very hot water for 5 minutes. Strain and reserve the liquid in a bowl. Chop mushrooms and set aside in a second bowl.

Step Two: Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, until the onions are translucent. 

Step Three: Add rice and cook, stirring continuously, coating the rice with butter, for 3 minutes. Add wine and continue stirring until the liquid is completely absorbed, about 1 minute.

Step Four: Stir in mushrooms and reserved mushroom liquid. Continue stirring until liquid has been absorbed. Add the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until all the liquid has been absorbed. The mixture should get creamier as you stir, and the total cooking time should be about 30 minutes. 

 Getting there...

 Ready to move on.

Step Five: When the rice is cooked (it will be tender but still al dente), turn off the heat, stir in the spinach and cheese and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Yum.  I served this with a spinach and romaine(arugula would have been better) salad with a honey balsamic vinaigrette.  Delicious, gourmet and good for you.  If you want a real indulgence, this creamy risotto would be delightful with roast lamb or a beautiful steak.

 

Friday Night Treat: Chicken Wings

Every Friday, I like to reward myself with a little bit of a splurge food.  My high stress job and rigid workout schedule makes me feel like I deserve some kind of respite.  The catch is that I find a way to make it more healthy.  Tonight, I am having a craving for some hot wings.  When you get hot wings from your favorite restaurant, they are fried in fat, sometimes breaded and smothered in rich sauces.   I decided to experiment and make a healthier version to "splurge" on, on a Friday night.  Here's my  method and recipe.

"Healthy Choice" Chicken Wings

12 chicken wing sections
2 tablespoons olive oil

salt, pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Combine wing sections, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and cayenne in a resealable plastic bag.  Shake to coat wing sections.

3. Place wing sections on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 1 hour until golden and crisp.

If you want saucy wings, combine your favorite sauces with a splash of water in a large bowl and toss the cooked wings in the sauce.  Serve with vegetables for a balanced meal.

 

This cooking method drastically reduces the amount of fat in this "junk food" treat.  If you choose a skinless chicken wing, this will also reduce the amount of fat and calories you are consuming.  This cooking method may be a lot more time consuming than good old fryer chicken wings, but are just as tasty and way less guilty.

Have a favorite "splurge food" that you want me to feature a healthier version of?  Let me know.  I am up for suggestions and experimentation in the kitchen!