Gourmet Recipes Budget
A small sample of the recipes I offer, free of charge, in hopes that they'll help encourage and inspire you on your journey. I hope to encourage and show you, that you can drastically reduce the calories and points in your meals, through creative ingredient substitutions. PS: As you can tell... I'm going through a bit of a Burger phase at the moment. :) Kielbasa Mac & Cheese Cheesy macaroni, kielbasa, mushrooms and onions, with toasted crumb topping. 4 points for 1 cup. LOW POINT STUFFING This is my low point, calorie and fat, Weight Watchers friendly Stuffing. 3/4 cup scoop for 2 points. Sweet & Sour Chicken This sweet and tangy Chinese take-out chicken dish, is the real reason everyone was Kung Fu fighting. Sesame Chicken Breaded and crispy baked chicken breast chunks, tossed with a savory & slightly sweet Sesame glaze. Mustard & Dill Potato Salad My WW-ified, lightened version of Ina Garten's famous Potato Salad recipe, from The Food Network. Black Pepper Chicken A low calorie, low point, full flavored version of the peppery chicken entree from Panda Express. Singapore Noodles A HUGE low point platter of Asian noodles, with chicken, shrimp, veggies and a savory curry sauce. Crispy Orange Chicken Crispy breaded and baked chicken breast chunks, in a orange/ginger glaze with sesame seeds. Sweet Fire Chicken Breast Low Point version of the Panda Express entree. Breaded/baked chicken in a spicy pineapple glaze. Chick-Fil-A copycat Toasted buns, 2 scoops of my low point chick-fil-a sauce, dill pickles and breaded/baked chicken. Chocolate Syrup Low point, Gluten/Dairy/Nut and Sugar free chocolate syrup, made at home. It's easy and delicious. Havana Burger My burger version of a pressed Cuban sandwich, complete with roasted garlic mustard spread. Teriyaki Pineapple Burgers Roasted slices of red onion & pineapple, homemade teriyaki sauce, with a sesame yogurt spread. Lebanese Kafta Burger Middle Eastern spiced burger, with roasted roma tomatoes and an entire 1/4 cup of Hummus!! Chicken & Basil Linguini PROOF that you can have delicious, LOW POINT pasta on Blue & Green, with a a big serving size. Sausage, Potato & Kale Soup My healthier, lower point and calorie take on the Olive Gardne's Zuppa Toscana sausage soup. Broccoli Cheddar Soup My low point, low calorie, low fat version of "Panera Bread's" deliciously creamy and fatty soup. White Chocolate Mocha Chocolate cake LOADED with instant coffee powder, frosted with white chocolate "cream cheese" pudding. Low Point Tamales How to make low point, calorie & fat masa, tamales and both a red enchilada and tomatillo sauce. The Man Behind The Curtain
Arugula isn’t to everyone’s taste, as it has a slightly spicy, peppery flavor. For those who can’t get enough of it, this salad with toasted pine nuts will hit the spot. Asparagus, olives, mint, bell pepper, and onion – a nice mix for a summer salad. When you cook your own beans, they are one of the healthiest things out there, and they are delicious with just a pinch of salt. They are also wonderful paired with feta and toasted walnuts, as in this simple bean salad. If you like bell peppers, this beautiful salad made of roasted green and red bell peppers from North Africa (Morocco and Tunisia) will be a real treat. Yes, it is possible to make vegetarian Caesar salad, and with this recipe you’ll never even miss the anchovies. This tomato-mozzarella-basil dish is my favorite starter; even though I make it myself regularly, I always order it when I eat out. The contrast between the cool lettuce and the warm goat cheese and toast makes this a real treat in the summer. There’s nothing like a bowl of fresh, sweet fruit salad in the summer. No one really needs a recipe for fruit salad, but here are some ideas to get you started. If you grow your own herbs, this healthy salad is a great way to enjoy them… or show them off. This tangy dish is easy to prepare and is especially delicious in the summertime. A very simple yet surprisingly tasty salad, perfect as a first course or on a picnic. I served this warm white bean salad at a dinner party and more than half the guests wanted the recipe. It is absolutely delicious and very easy to make. Crêpes are thin pancakes that can be wrapped around just about anything to turn it into an elegant meal, or just folded and topped with something yummy. Try some of these fillings and toppings, or experiment to invent your own. These elegant little eggplant slices rolled around cheese and herbs will impress everyone. These aren’t much more work than regular mashed potatoes, but they have a lot more flavor. This tomato sauce is quick and delicious. The rich flavor complements goat cheese and eggplant dishes. A coulis is a puréed sauce. Try this roasted red pepper coulis with soup, pasta, or tortilla chips. Potatoes and leeks are one of those combinations that are just meant to be, and this gratin recipe is the perfect way to enjoy them. These stuffed tomatoes from southern France are delicious served with soup, pasta, or rice dishes. A sweet-and-sour side dish that will brighten your table at Thanksgiving or any time of the year. Roasting vegetables brings out all kinds of flavor and depth. This recipe is just a guide – feel free to add/subtract/substitute any of the vegetables. If you like potato dishes, you’ll love this Spanish potato recipe with saffron, almonds, and bread crumbs. Serve these incredibly flavorful stuffed bell peppers alongside a green salad for an easy, colorful meal. They taste pretty much the same as their cucumber-shaped siblings, but small, round, green zucchini are much cuter. This easy recipe for stuffed round zucchini lets you enjoy the cuteness just a little bit longer. An extremely simple dish that is always a hit. Everyone who eats it raves about the crust. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love gratins – there’s something about the cheese/bread crumb layer on top that appeals to just about everyone. If this sounds like you, try this tasty way to use up some leftover vegetables. A lovely, rich soup made with asparagus, leeks, and mushrooms and topped with a corn and bell pepper garnish. Chilled soups are wonderful in the summertime, and they tend to be incredibly easy to prepare. This creamy avocado soup is no exception. Rich, cold, and a lovely shade of orange, carrot vichyssoise swirled with a balsamic reduction will impress your friends and delight your tastebuds – only you will know how simple it is to prepare. A flavorful and incredibly creamy yet entirely vegan soup, with a texture similar to that of a thin potato purée. Traditional French onion soup is made with beef broth, but this vegan version is just as flavorful. This garlic soup is as good as anything you’ve ever had in a restaurant – it is wonderfully rich and velvety. This is a rich and delicious vegetarian alternative to New England clam chowder. There’s something about the combination of potatoes and leeks in a creamy soup base – it’s a terrific comfort food. Sweet potato chowder with corn, peppers, and carmelized onions is a real cold weather treat. A simple combination of potatoes, onions, and milk that make a deliciously creamy, chilled soup. This white bean and tomato soup flavored with sage and thyme is an elegant alternative to minestrone soup. I find that the nicest meals are always nicer with some bread in my hand, preferably warm from the oven. We don’t have a nice bakery nearby, so I have to make my own rolls, and this is the simplest recipe I’ve found. If you enjoy baking and have plenty of time, why not make some homemade hot cross buns? They’re traditional during Good Friday, Easter, and Lent, but of course the recipe is just as delicious any time of the year. Rosemary focaccia, from Italy, is one of my favorite breads in the world, and the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the dough to rise. Sun-dried tomatoes, olives, walnuts, and herbs combine in this Mediterranean-inspired bread. Chicken-free version of a classic Italian entrée: lemony, garlicky, capery chickpeas served over pasta or mashed potatoes. If you’re looking for a rich and elegant dish and aren’t worried about calories, give this beautiful potato pie a try. Eggplant layered with tomato sauce and topped with saffron custard makes an elegant and delicious main course. This classic vegetarian dish is a perfect main course served alongside/atop plain pasta. These elegant little eggplant slices rolled around herbed ricotta will impress everyone. Layers of eggplant and zucchini with tomato sauce and custard make a delightful first or main course. Making fresh pasta takes less than an hour and you can’t beat it for taste and texture. Kids will love the different color possibilities. This hearty dish is made with pasta and grilled vegetables and topped with melted cheese. Tender seitan with a crisp, nutty crust: so delicious you’ll feel like saving it for special occasions, but quick and easy enough for any day of the week. Don’t let this Turkish stuffed eggplant’s prep time scare you – less than 20 minutes is hands on, and since it tastes best at room temperature, you can make it a day in advance. This recipe uses quite a bit less oil than traditional imam bayildi, but it’s just as delicious. Vegetarian lasagne is easy and delicious. Here’s a variation on the classic red sauce version, with some extra vegetables. Spinach lasagna, sometimes called lasagne Florentine, is a classic vegetarian dish made with a creamy white sauce, cheese, and vegetables. Serve leeks baked with several cheeses and a bit of cream over flavorful pasta or rice for a rich and delicious treat. Moussaka is a Greek dish traditionally made with lamb or beef. This vegetarian / vegan moussaka recipe uses portobello mushrooms and seitan instead. A rich and delicious main course. This is a beautiful, elegant, and somewhat complicated lasagna, which makes it perfect for a dinner party. Three kinds of mushrooms combine with cheese, garlic, and pasta into a lovely main course. Wild mushroom risotto is earthy and unbelievably rich. It takes some time at the stove, but is well worth it for a special dinner. Working with filo dough is not as difficult as you might think, and this elegant mushroom dish is well worth the effort. Pissaladière is an onion pizza or onion tart from Provence. Traditionally made with anchovies, this vegetarian pissaladière is spiced up with tapenade instead. A Spanish dish traditionally made with meat and shellfish. This flexible veggie version is simpler, but no less delicious. Seitan and onions roasted in balsamic vinegar make a quick recipe for a hearty and delicious cold-weather dish. Tender seitan rolled around tofu ricotta, herbs, and onions, then baked in tomato sauce. A bit complicated, but worth it! Sweet potatoes layered with black beans, rice, and spinach make a hearty, healthy main course. Crisp, flavorful tofu served with salad is an excellent vegetarian replacement for chicken milanese. Risotto isn’t difficult to make, but it does require a lot of standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is delicious and a wonderful comfort food. One of the most delicious ways to use zucchini that I’ve ever found, and it’s quick and easy too! This dish is perfect for parties and pot lucks, because you can make it the day before and it tastes great whether hot or at room temperature. Simple but stunning: roasted zucchini slices wrapped around herbed ricotta and served on a pool of warm tomato sauce.
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