Fried Tofu and Sweet Potato Fries

I've been toying with the idea of going vegan but I can't give up my meat -- yet. Though I do eat this meal sometimes because it is:

Quick
Easy to Make
Brainless






What you need for the Fried Tofu:

Extra Firm Tofu
Assorted Seasonings (garlic powder, salt, salt - free or other)
Olive Oil (3 tblspoons)

What you would need to do is slice 1/3 or 1/4 of the extra firm tofu, dip in assorted seasonings (like you would do when preparing fried chicken) and then set it aside while heating your pot, add the oil, and add the tofu. For this recipe, I normally slice the tofu in equal portions they look like chicken fingers. When the oil is ready, place all tofu in the pot, cook for ten to twelve minutes and you are done. Set aside and let the tofu dry on a paper towel, then add to your plate and eat with a little bbq sauce or other dip if you prefer.

What you need for the Sweet Potato Fries

Frozen sweet potato fries
Pan
Foil
garlic salt
garlic powder
salt free seasonings


For the sweet potato fries, for one serving you should place between ten and fifteen sweet potato fries in the center of the pan, after lining the pan with foil (for easy clean up); and then about 1-2 teaspoons of garlic salt, garlic powder and salt free seasonings. Let it bake for about twenty minutes, then serve with the tofu.

Sweet potato fries goes great with ketchup or barbecue sauce. No lie, i love this meal and the total amount of the meal is under 300 calories and 6 grams of fat.


Next up: Baked Salmon with Veggies

(c) 2010 by Pam Osbey
All recipes created by Pam Osbey unless otherwise notated. All rights reserved.

Remix

Hope this friday morning brings you bliss like no other. Just a short blog to tell you what I did for my lunch today.

I sauteed the following:

1. red peppers
2. yellow squash
3. green zucchini
   

Tossed in olive oil (less than 1 tbl spoon)

Added:

1. Garlic Salt
2. Seasoning salt (less than 1 pinch)
3. Garlic Powder
4. Dried Basil and Dried Oregano
   

Cooked for less than ten minutes

Placed on a bed of spinach and added a 2 tlbspoon of reduced fat cheese (mozzarella).

Will eat that on the side with the tomato soup I made a few days ago.

Will eat the salad with my reduced fat dressing.

Salad: 180 calories / 7 grams of fat (due to the dressing and cheese on salad)
Soup: 120 calories / zero fat

Total meal : 300 calories

Room for a light dessert which will be a piece of fruit (less than 100 calories) or applesauce.

Have a happy friday!

Snackville

I love snacking!!! Don't you? But the problem lies in snacking

1. All Day
2. All Fatty Snacks
3. When you are bored, upset or irritated
   
4. Heavy on the salty or sweet sides!
5. No balance with fruits or vegetables at all
   

A few months ago when I adopted my new eating style (a little big before I moved from Chicago to NYC): I started to eat some of the following things that have helped me a lot in terms of keeping my weight down and losing a few pounds if used in moderation.

1. Emerald 100 Calorie Packs (Natural Almonds) -- 9 grams of fat
   
2. Mott's Natural Applesauce (100 calories ) zero grams of fat / 1 gram so Fiber
   
3. Sunsweet Prunes (100 calories) - Zero Grams of Fat / 3 grams of Fiber
   
4. Fiber One Granola Bars (140 Calories - 4 grams of fat / 9 grams of Fiber)
   
5. Raisins (130 Calories for 1/4 cup serving) - Zero grams of Fat / 2 Grams of Fiber
   
6. Roasted Fava Beans (taste like peanuts and very crunchy) -- unknown calories
   
7. Ginger Snaps ( 120 Calories per 4 cookies; 2.5 grams of Fat and Zero Fiber)
8. Water (zero fat, zero calories)
9. Tea (any kind, zero calories)
   
10. Lots of fruit (normally under 100 calories)
11. Lots of Veggies (eat with a light dressing...) a few calories
    

Fun and Cool Cookie Recipes

Yam Brownies: Yes, I know you are thinking (yuck) but it's really good. If you like sweet potato pies just think of this as a smaller version.

1 Cup of Butter
1 Cup of Brown Sugar
1 Cup of White Sugar
4 Eggs ( i used 3 whole eggs and 1 egg white)
1 and 1/2 Cups of White Flour (I use half whole wheat and half white flour)
1 Tsp of Baking Powder
2 Cups of Yam (or 1 can of yams)

Bake at 350 Degrees

I normally whip up the yam with the sugars, then add the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt in one big bowl. (I told you this is simple); and then I add to a slightly greased pan and pour the entire batch in. I bake at 350 degrees until it is done. Normally doesn't take any more than 30-45 minutes. Let it cool for a bit, then cut into bars.

I take my yam brownies to work. They are sweet enough. When you do this with 1 can of yams you can also puree it for it to be smoother. Or hand whip it slowly if you like it more chunkier. It's 221 calories a bar and 9 grams of Fat. (better than a honey bun) and yams are good for you.


Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

1 Cup of Whole Wheat Flour
1 Egg
1 Cup of Rolled Oats
1/2 Tsp of Salt
3/4 Cup of Margarine or Butter
Brown Sugar (to taste)
3/4 Cup of Peanut Butter

Bake @ 350 degrees

I mix all ingredients in whatever order i like. Flour, sugar, and eggs, then the salt, peanut butter and rolled oats. Rolled Oats is better than normal oatmeal because it contains more fiber. This is an adapted recipe I received a long time ago and the cookies are very thick and tasty. Pack it with your lunch or give to the kids. If you have children, this is a great recipe to have the entire family work on together.

I will have to post the ginger cookie recipe later. It is also a good one to pack for lunch and eat. Better than eating Little Debbies (my old favorites).

Anytime you prepare meals at home you will naturally cut fat and calories. A lot of these recipes I prepared on weekends so I could have them for the week ahead and prevent myself from consuming a lot of sugar, which naturally helps me drop weight.

I also carry snacks with me all the time, in all of my bags, and drink lots of natural juices and water all day long. Easy snacks like baby carrots, celery sticks, home made trail mixes, often go well and prevent me from eating chips or sugary items every day. But I do get a chance to eat some fatty things as treats occasionally. It' s not a sin to do so~

If you have any recipe suggestions, please post them in the comment for this blog and thanks!

Happy and healthy appetites bids you adieu,
Pam

Me, Tomatoes and Popcorn

I will admit tomatoes aren't my favorite thing, but i do like ketchup, so that's a start. I usually find myself cutting up a food of these and adding into some salads or maybe into my veggie burritos (more on those later in another blog) but for today's inspiration, i found a great little receipe on All Recipes that got me to thinking. Could I make a tomato inspired soup, fresh , with great seasonings and no salt? Now, I know what you thinking but it can be done. So this receipe is quick and really simple. I am not a chef, so anything I post here, will be very simplicistic where you can add to this and I won't put a cup of this or a teaspoon of that. Just make sure to measure at your will, and enjoy them in a healthy meal.



Pam's Tomato Soup:

Fresh Tomatoes or a Can of cut up tomatoes
Basil
Oregano
Minced Garlic
Garlic Salt / Garlic Powder
1 Can of Tomato Paste
Chicken Stock
Calories: 120 calories a bowl / zero fat




Time: Ten to Fifteen minutes





Methodology:




Cut up your fresh tomatoes and put in a bowl; once you have finished cutting them, either puree the bowl or you can choose to place in a pot with some chicken stock, water, and your can of tomato paste. Cook for a few minutes, make sure to toss in your seasonings, and the minced garlic. Cook on low heat until finished. Let sit and serve with fresh basil or oregano. Goes great with a spinach or other salad.




Now, I know what you are thinking Tomatoes, now popcorn. But see, it's all about healthy options and it is also about eating snacks. I would never lie, I love love love popcorn. I am an old school homemade popcorn chick. I do not cook microwave popcorn unless I'm totally lazy. Thus tonight is a popcorn night because I have the Hurt Locker to check out and I want to have a great snack. If you know anything about popcorn, you know it has a lot of fiber. But the kind you get out of the store doesn't have that much of it because popcorn is produced in such a way that removes a lot of it during the process to create a quick snack. This receipe below is a combination of testing and trying out things, and keeping it all simple. Again, use seasonings and measurements at YOUR WILL.




Homemade Popcorn with Almonds:

Popcorn Kernels
Salt
Oil
Honey
Almonds

Calories: 25 calories a cup / 5 grams of fiber / zero fat (without butter); with butter add 9 grams of fat


Take one teaspoon of olive or canola oil and place in a pot. Once it has heated up, put your kernels in the pot and let it heat up and cook. When all kernels have cooked, transfer your popcorn to a bowl, add some butter (at will), along with honey and almonds for a treat that your mouth will thank you later for. Now, compare the homemade popcorn with 'your microwaved' version and tell me it isn't better? If not, oh well, your mouth isn't ready for a new cuisine!




Inspirational thought of the day: Resilence




It is a powerful thing that you can tap into anytime. When you need a light, turn to your soul and turn on the light of love and compassion. It can get your far on the dark days of life.




See you next week:

Pam