Category: Skinny Dish

Strawberry Lemon Tart Reunion

Leave a comment
Strawberry Lemon Tart from "Skinny Dish!"

Strawberry Lemon Tart from “Skinny Dish!”

Now that you successfully decluttered your closet and possibly enjoyed the world’s tastiest latte on Day 8, it’s ok to add a little dessert back in without needing to detox again. When I wrote my Trader Joe’s Skinny Dish! cookbook, I really really wanted to master a cheeseless cheesecake eventhough I never understood the draw, and frankly never understood the point of dessert that wasn’t chocolate. Well, I failed! But, out of the laboratory, this tart was born. Free of chocolate and so totally good (huh?!?) that your engine might just start on its own. Embrace your success and celebrate! And call me crazy, but it totally rocks with green juice :>) xo

Strawberry Lemon Tart
Makes 12 slices
Prep time: 20 minutes
Hands-off cooking time: 35 minutes plus 1 hour for chilling

This far-out dessert started as a cheese-less cheesecake and morphed into a ridiculously delicious tart. It will wow you again and again.

Cinnamon Graham Crust
3 cups (about 90) Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies, or about 8 oz graham crackers
1/3 cup Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread, or other non-hydrogenated margarine

1 Preheat oven to 350° F.

2 In a blender or food processor, blend cookies until they’re crumbs. Add margarine and process until evenly mixed.

3 Press mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round pie pan so the edges come nearly to the top. The filling will only reach halfway up the pie pan, so the crust doesn’t need to come precisely to the top.

4 Bake crust for 5 minutes, and let cool completely before adding filling and baking further.

Lemony Filling and Strawberry Topping
1 (8-oz) container Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, or other non-dairy cream cheese
¾ cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp cornstarch
10 medium strawberries, stems removed and sliced lengthwise (preferably organic)

1 Blend together cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and cornstarch until smooth.

2 Pour filling into cooled crust and bake for 35 minutes, until the filling puffs up completely and has a golden glimmer. Let cool in the fridge for about 1 hour to solidify the filling. (If you can’t wait, at least let it cool to room temperature, and then top with strawberries. It will be a bit gooey, but still incredibly delicious.)

3 Arrange sliced strawberries on top and enjoy right away.

4 Store leftover slices (if there are any) in the fridge for up to 5 days.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per slice: 208 calories, 10 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 169 mg sodium, 27.5 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 26 g sugar, 2 g protein, 0% vitamin A, 11% vitamin C, 0% calcium, 2.5% iron

Detox Day 2: The Hummus Understudy

2 Comments

Lentil Pate

You survived Day 1 and most of Day 2! You are rockin’ this detox like it’s your job! Your reward is a new recipe, or a reminder of a recipe. As much as you love the award-winning vegetable delivery vehicle of 2004, once in a while it’s sure nice to have an alternative. So, here it is from Skinny Dish. A pâté so zesty and brown (pâté is supposed to be brown, people), that it will have you saying ooh la la in no time! Shmear it on large veggie slices or rice crackers while detoxing.

Lentil Pâté
Makes 10 (¼-cup) servings
Prep time 10 minutes

Spread this tangy pâté on Sesame Melba Rounds, toasted baguette slices, or pipe it into hollowed-out cherry tomatoes or steamed and hollowed-out Brussels sprouts. It even works well as a sandwich spread. Heck, eat it right off the spoon for breakfast. You only live once!

1 (17.6-oz) pkg refrigerated Steamed Lentils, or 2 ½ cups cooked lentils
5 cloves garlic, peeled
12 large pitted black olives
3 Tbsp capers, with juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

1 In a food processor or powerful blender, process all ingredients together until combination is a smooth paste (some chunks may remain).

2 Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per ¼-cup serving: 81.5 calories, 2 g total fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 301.5 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrates, 4.5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 4.5 g protein, 0.5% vitamin A, 3.5% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 11.5% iron

Skin Glow from Fruits and Veggies Better Than a Sun Tan

Leave a comment
Arugula Salad in SKINNY DISH

Arugula Salad in SKINNY DISH

Ever noticed that people who eat lots of fruits and veggies have a magical glow? Wait, you haven’t? It’s the kind where you want to run right up to them and ask if they just ate a salad. Yes, that’s the one I’m talking about. Well, here’s some new science to prove the phenomenon. A study published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that people who ate more carotenoid-rich fruits and veggies (basically all of them, but especially the orange, red, yellow, and dark green ones), had more attractive skin tone. So, not only are these colorful crops good for your insides, but for your outsides, and for your friends’ eyes as well. Great excuse then to chow this simple and fall-friendly arugula salad. Cheers, attractive people!

Arugula Salad with Pan-Seared Butternut Squash

Makes 2 servings
Prep and cooking time: 15 minutes

Searing is a great way to bring out the flavors in veggies, and it’s done by cooking them in a skillet with high heat and very little oil, a good way to keep the fat content down. Enjoy this colorful salad in the fall when squash is aplenty.

1 tsp olive oil
2 cups very small butternut squash cubes (about the top portion of a butternut squash, peeled and finely cubed)
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 (7-oz) bag TJ’s Wild Arugula Wild Rocket Salad, or other bag of prewashed arugula
2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar, divided
Dash of sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

1. In a medium-sized skillet, heat oil. Add butternut squash chunks, salt, and garlic powder. Pan-sear the squash for 6 minutes stirring it every minute or so and removing it from the heat for 10 seconds at a time if the pan gets too smoky. Remove from heat and place on a plate in the fridge for 5 minutes to cool.

2. Divide bag of arugula onto 2 plates. Top each plate with the butternut squash cubes and 1 Tbsp of white balsamic vinegar. Garnish each one with sesame seeds if desired.

3. Dressed salad will not last past the current meal, so eat up! Butternut squash cubes make perfect finger foods for toddlers or toothpick veggie kebabs for young children.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per serving: 143 calories, 3 g total fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 325 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 4 g protein, 327% vitamin A, 71.5% vitamin C, 23.5% calcium, 13% iron

DIY Protein Bars (Allergy-Free!)

Leave a comment
Nut or Allergy-Free Seedy Energy Bars in Skinny Dish!

Nut or Allergy-Free Seedy Energy Bars in Skinny Dish!

Ever thought about making your own bars? Eventhough Larabars and the like come pretty close to home cookin’, this recipe will energize your soul, and help you achieve your lifelong goal of turning your kitchen into a food factory. This is an upgraded version of the one in Skinny Dish with hot-off-the-press chia seeds and hemp hearts for superfood power. Use gluten-free oats and sunflower seed butter to impress even your most allergic friends, and enjoy one while you reread why the world is being taken over by food allergies.

Energy Bars

Makes 12 bars
Prep time: 5 minutes
Hands-off cooking time: 15 minutes plus 45 minutes to chill
Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free

1 Tbsp ground flax seed meal or chia seeds, soaked in 3 Tbsp warm filtered water for 10 minutes until a gel forms
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (or gluten-free rolled oats)
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
1 cup hemp hearts, pepitas, or other seeds or crushed nuts
¼ cup packed raisins
1 ripe banana
½ cup sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, or other seed or nut butter
¼ cup agave nectar
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut (if using), hemp hearts, and raisins.

3. In a separate small microwave-safe bowl, microwave sunflower seed butter, agave, and vanilla for 30 seconds. Stir together until well-mixed. Add ripe banana and crush with a fork to combine. Stir in gelatinized flax or chia mixture.

4. Press firmly into a lightly greased 9-inch by 9-inch baking dish, and bake for 15 minutes. Chill in the fridge for 45 minutes before slicing.

5. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in individually wrapped bags in the freezer for up to 2 months.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT with HEMP HEARTS & SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER
Per bar: 210 calories, 12 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 42 mg sodium, 18.5 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 8 g protein, 18.5% iron

Peyton’s Pâté and Super Bowl Bingo

Leave a comment

Looking for a way to shock your friends this Super Bowl? Serve this Lentil Pâté instead of wings! I’m positive this is what Peyton Manning eats before every game. Also, enjoy my own personal creation of Super Bowl Bingo. There are 10 cards here for you and your pâté-loving pals. Cheers!

Lentil Pâté from Skinny Dish!

Lentil Pâté from Skinny Dish!

Lentil Pâté
Makes 10 (¼-cup) servings
Prep time: 10 minutes

Spread this tangy pâté on Sesame Melba Rounds, toasted baguette slices, or pipe it into hollowed-out cherry tomatoes or steamed and hollowed-out Brussels sprouts. It even works well as a sandwich spread. Heck, eat it right off the spoon for breakfast. You only live once!

1 (17.6-oz) pkg TJ’s Refrigerated Steamed Lentils, or 2 ½ cups cooked lentils
5 cloves garlic, peeled
12 large pitted black olives
3 Tbsp capers, with juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

1 In a food processor or powerful blender, process all ingredients together until combination is a smooth paste (some chunks may remain).

2 Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per ¼-cup serving: 81.5 calories, 2 g total fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 301.5 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrates, 4.5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 4.5 g protein, 0.5% vitamin A, 3.5% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 11.5% iron

Recipe from Cooking with Trader Joe’s: Skinny Dish! by Bitchin’ Dietitian

Grab Your Garbanzos! 7-Day Detox Starts on Monday!

10 Comments

Detox Begins!Calling all ladies of the lettuce and men of the maca! Join us as we celebrate 2014 by saying good riddance to the lingering goo of 2013 and hello to more energy, clarity, and green supremacy in the New Year. The Skinny Dish 7-Day Detox will start—rain or shine—on Monday, January 6th. Make room in your fridge, stock up using the shopping list, and warm up your Vitamix. It’s time give your body a real party!

Look forward to new quick recipes, tips, and a long-term plan that will keep you detoxified all year long. See you Monday! xoxo

7-Day Detox Starts January 7th!

13 Comments

Green juice
Join in on the fun! Whatever your reason: holiday recovery, German potato salad detox, or because 2013 is YOUR year. Starting on Monday, January 7th, I’ll be doing it, leading it, and cheerleading you through my mild 7-day detox. New recipe alternatives and juice and smoothie concoctions. Are you in?!

Skinny Dish! 7-Day Detox Testimonial

4 Comments

Day 1: Green Apple Juice

Guest Post by Megha Shah Even

I began the 7-Day Skinny Dish detox, along with my husband and sister-in-law, as a healthy start to the new year. My experience with other detox programs is limited: it has been a year since my last detox and with the assumption that all detoxes are alike, I was dreading this one. It turns out that my last detox stunk. This detox is AWESOME!

The first thing I noticed was how bright and vibrant all the veggies looked when I wasn’t cooking the life out of them. I could really taste each fruit/vegetable. I was sure I’d never had blueberries that tasted so good! Although the individual ingredients in each recipe were familiar to me, the combination was such a delightful surprise. Each meal was packed with flavor and I was eager to try out the following day’s recipes. There were a number of standout meals: Mango Summer Salad, Veggie Pupusas, Tofu Feta, Walnut, and Beet Salad, Curried Lentil Stew, Arugula Salad with Pan-Seared Butternut Squash. However, the real star of the show was the Fiery Cashew Dip (*drool*).

Another surprise was the realization that I’ve likely been dehydrated for over 10 years. I immediately noticed a difference with the increased water intake–my skin felt soft and aglow! I found a strange comfort in the water-pee-water-pee rhythm of my days. The shakes/juices (Green Apple Juice. YUM.) provided a nice perk in the morning and mid-afternoon tea was a great way to simulate the ritual of morning coffee. I did not feel hunger at any point during the week and found this detox to be f-u-n! I suggest asking a friend or family member to join in–it was helpful to share funny texts with my husband and sister-in-law throughout the week. The only negative for me was a moderate headache in the evening for the first four days. I blame years of caffeine addiction.

In my opinion, the 7-Day Skinny Dish detox takes a common sense approach to healthy eating. I was able to keep the party going for another week due to all the leftovers. Post detox, I have added kale to my weekly shopping list and have incorporated quite a few recipes into my weeknight meal line-up. I have continued with a high daily water intake and have increased the percentage of raw foods in my diet. I felt lighter and shed a few unwanted pounds without really trying. I enthusiastically recommend this detox to anyone who wants to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle, or is simply in need of a fresh approach to healthy eating. Word up, people! Do it! BEST. DETOX. EVER.

Megha Shah Even is a GreenSchool Educator at The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, NY., where she leads plant science workshops for students in grades K-8. She is a compost enthusiast (loves food, hates waste) and is often spotted near grubby patches of land sneaking post-lunch organic matter into the soil. Megha is also an apprentice on a rooftop farm and currently lives in Queens with her husband, two cats, many plants, and an efficient army of red worms.

Detox Day 7: Superfoods for Superyou!

9 Comments

Can you believe it’s the last day? What a super journey this has been! Now that you’re accustomed to inhaling so many of nature’s powerfoods (berries, quinoa, broccoli, kale, spinach, beans, lentils…), I thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce a few of the not-so-common ones so you can consider taking your newly found health one step further. What you’re already eating/not eating is HUGE, and these extras might just help you be even MORE superpowered!

Blue Green Algae: Superstar immune-booster. Basically flavorless and comes in powders, flakes, or frozen. Can be tossed into smoothies without changing the flavor. The TJ’s Very Green Dietary Supplement contains spirulina, a popular blue green algae. But, lots of folks swear by E3 Live.

Chia Seeds: Loaded with antioxidants, essential fatty acids (more than salmon), protein, and fiber, these little guys help keep you energized and help reduce unhealthy cravings. They are easy to digest and don’t need to be ground like flax seeds. Add them to breakfast cereals, muffins, cookies, smoothies, pancakes, anything really!

Maca Root Powder: Helps to balance hormones and battle stress by strengthening the adrenal gland. Has proven helpful in treating fertility, poor libido, and menopause. Can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, or rice dishes.

Raw Cacao: Helps elevate mind and mood, and is skyhigh in antioxidants. It contains theobromine which promotes alertness without the side-effects of caffeine. Add it to smoothies, or use it in baking or for puddings. Find it at your local health food store or check it out online as seen here.

Congrats on all you’ve learned, changed, and become this week. Cheers to energizing food and living life to its fullest! I’d love to hear how you benefited from these 7 days–please share! XOXO

Detox Day 6: Time to Start Thinking About Day 8

2 Comments

Mmm! A half-plate of veggies

Happy Day 6! What’s the latest? Still feeling good? Sleeping well and feeling energized? Now is a perfect time to start thinking about what happens the day after tomorrow. Will you go back to your pre-Detox eating? A modified version? Take today and tomorrow and make a plan for what you’d like to do long-term. Here are some popular, healthy, and realistic post-Detox modifications to consider:

1. Go back to drinking the morning cup of coffee you missed, but with vanilla almond milk instead of cream and sugar. Try this creamy, dairy-free concoction. Or, enjoy green, white, or black tea as your morning caffeinated beverage.

2. Continue eating the level of fruits and veggies with a giant heaping of cooked veggies at either lunch or dinner, and a giant serving of raw veggies at the other meal. Shoot for HALF your plate being veggies (either raw or cooked) at mealtime.

3. Continue with shakes or smoothies in the morning, but add a protein powder such as this hemp seed one from Trader Joe’s. High in protein, fiber, and essential amino acids, and makes your morning drink more filling.

4. Add a more substantial morning meal such as gluten-free oatmeal (Trader Joe’s has amazing gluten-free oats that seem exactly like traditional rolled oats) with a handful of dried cranberries for sweetness, raw cashews, cinnamon, and cooled down with a dash of unsweetened non-dairy milk. Or heat up a cup of cooked quinoa from the previous night’s dinner with dried fruit, nuts, cinnamon, and non-dairy milk.

5. Enjoy a raw food bar in the afternoon to satisfy your sweet tooth–they’re easy to keep on hand, easily survive life in the bottom of bags, and can be stepped on without changing shape. Examples: Larabar, Pure Energy, and KIND. These can all be found in any old grocery store, TJ’s, or Whole Foods.

6. Continue with the Detox as your constant (developing your own menus using the guidelines), and veer from the Detox for special weekend days, when you go out to eat (trying your best to keep with the guidelines, but allowing yourself those treats you may have been missing), have potlucks, or attend parties.

7. Do the Detox 1-2 days per week or 7 days a month, and a modified version on the other days.

What else will you do to carry on the healthy changes you made once the Detox is done? Hopefully you’ll all continue drinking all those energizing fluids!

Enjoy this day and the new, healthy you! XOXO