1.07.2009

Just for Nikki...

I received a comment on facebook today mentioning the fact I haven't blogged in forever. So thanks to Nikki I'm blogging.


We've been very busy traveling for Christmas and New Years since my family and my husband's family are both out of town. I've also been busy playing with my new kitchen goodies and trying to relax. My fav food related gifts:


Cuisinart 7 Cup Food Processor
An awesome food scale that weighs food and also gives the nutritional value.


I've become obsessed with weighing EVERYTHING. Who knew calorie counting could be so fun. I got some smaller kitchen gadgets too and I have some BB&B gift cards that are just burning holes in my pockets.


Anyhow, my friend Jamie gave me the Hungry Girl cookbook. I'm sure most of you know of HG. If not, go to her website. The book is full of easy low fat and low calorie recipes. Depending on who you ask, they aren't all exactly healthy seeing as she recommends lots of fat free/imitation type of ingredients. (She's not a nutritionist... just hungry!) I know for some people this is great while others would prefer using real ingredients. I'm right smack dab in the middle of this. My diet usually consists of both. I real ingredients like Butter as opposed to that mysterious margarine. But, I might eat a 100 Calorie Pack to satisfy a craving. In the future, I'm not sure if I'll follow every recipe to a T, but I'll definitely use it as a guide. The book is also good for portion control. It seems most of the recipes are for 1-5 servings. HG also includes little facts about food that will make you think twice before stuffing your face with a huge platter of nachos at the next happy hour.


I've tried a couple recipes and they've been pretty good. My favorite so far is the Big Fat Greek Pita. It's perfect for lunch. My lunches usually consist of some sort of raw veggie/hummus/pita type of concoction. This was a great way to change it up without ruining my eating habits for the day.


Big Fat Greek Pita
Source: Hungry Girl Book


Image from HG Newsletter 10/26/06


Ingredients


1 Whole wheat (or high-fiber) pita
2 oz fat-free plain Greek Yogurt
1 small onion - sliced
1/2 cup sliced red and green bell peppers
2 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
S&P, oregano, and garlic powder, to taste
Optional: Red Pepper Flakes


Directions


In a small dish, combine yogurt with salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder (season to taste). Add red pepper flakes for a super-spicy pita.


In a pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, cook onions and peppers over medium heat for 5 – 7 minutes.


Add spinach and tomatoes, and cook until spinach wilts


Remove from heat, and mix veggies with yogurt sauce. Cut pita in half and stuff with veggie mix

3 comments:

The Ochs Family said...

Awww....Thanks! I am so happy you are posting again :)....and I love HG! Let me know how those turn out...as I am green with envy about the new food processor. Aren't food scales addicting? I made some CL carrot cake cupcakes last week...they disappeared, and I thought of you and your blog - again glad to see you rejoined the blogging world!

Pamela said...

Glad to have you back! I absolutely agree with you about the holidays, they weren't kind to my hips or thighs either! :o) I have the HG cookbook and always mean to use it more often for ideas. The Pita looks delicious.

Jingle said...

I'm a big HG fan! She has helped me through my weight loss! LOL! Some stuff is a little too "faux" for me, but a lot of it is really yummy!