The shape of things

I'm not sure if any of you attempted any of the EASY recipes from last week, but I had so much fun putting it together that I decided to do it again this week. So get shopping and start cooking some meals that will blow your family away.

Sunday: 5-Vegetable Fried Rice with 5-spice pork this one is a little higher in the calorie content BUT the HUGE amount of veggies in it makes up for it (in my book) This makes a ton, so it's a great leftover for a few lunches...

Monday: Moroccan Beef Patties - These are delicious. I usually make up some rice instead of couscous and serve with a small salad. I also sometimes make them a bit smaller than the recipe calls for therefore the nutrition content stays down a bit and we have leftovers the next day.

Tuesday: Pulled Chicken - This recipe is actually for a sandwich which Rachael smothers in cheese but I modified it for more of a dinner by just making the chicken and serving it with a great side dish. This chicken tastes amazingly like you got it at a small BBQ joint - and it's so light!

Wednesday: Pineapple Shrimp Kebabs - These take a little longer to prepare (cutting the veggies and soaking and threading the skewers) but they are so great - light, fruit and veggie filled. Yum.

Thursday: Marinated Flank steak - This dish is great and you marinate it for 45 minutes - 2 hours and it comes out tasting like it's been soaking all day! So lean and light (but remember to eat about 4 ounces - size of the palm)

Friday: Lemony Chicken Milanese - This is a surprisingly easy dish that comes out tasting pretty gourmet, get a bottle of white wine or light red wine (mmm... pinot noir). Not quite as "healthy" as the others, but it's Friday so you can splurge a little, right?

Saturday: Sausage, Egg and Cheese Turnover - Breakfast for dinner - perfect for saturday evening. These taste great. Italian sausage, egg and cream cheese all up in a puff pastry turnover. Sigh. So great - and around 400-435 calories per turnover - priceless.

I'd love to share with you a few of my favorite recipes and create a "menu" for this next week. You won't find the nutrition content count on these recipes but it's not too difficult to calculate them yourself. Part of what I learned when I started cooking is that having the exact count isn't always necessary. Be aware of the ingredients and make sure the not-so-good ingredients are in moderation. 

Sunday - Hoison Pork Roast - a slow cooker meal. It cooks all day and comes out so tender. Make it in the morning and have it at dinner. You'll have leftovers for lunch all week long!

Monday -  Hot Pepper Chicken under a Brick - I made this one last night and it was delicious. It takes about 30 minutes top. Love it. Little prep too, so it's a perfect Monday recipe.

Tuesday - Flank Steak with Chimichurri - This one also takes very little prep time and you cook the steak in a broiler so no need for the grill. Comes out delicious. Flank steak is one of the leanest steaks but make sure you eat around 4 ounces, not more than that. (It's about the size of a palm)

Wednesday  - Spinach Salad with Shrimp and Feta - This recipe is very easy and it's delicious. The sauce on the shrimp and salad is very light and you can go easy on the feta to keep the calories in check.

Thursday - Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers - This one is a little higher in calorie/fat content, but it's lovely. You can make the burgers smaller in size to keep the nutrition content in check and you can use half a whole-wheat pita instead of a roll as your "bun." 

Friday - Chicken Frico - I think chicken gets a bad rep for being "boring" but this recipe is far from it. The chicken's cooked in the broiler so it's super fast. The "gremolata" is incredibly simple but delicious. The frico is optional (cheese crisps).  

Saturday - Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia - Not your typical "healthy fish" (grilled with no flavor). These fish are dredged in parm cheese and then baked. Hey, cheese has calcium and it's better than frying them. ENJOY!  

Happy eating!