Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Lean Pork "Fried" Rice & Baked Veggie Egg Rolls

So, you're eating healthy, you're eating clean.  Then it hits....you want Chinese food....bad.  You KNOW how much pain your gut will be in if you give into this temptation...so make it yourself at home!!!  This requires quite a bit of prep (time wise) so, make it on a weekend when you have the time.  Or you can prepare ahead of time to make it go by quicker.  Add as many veggies as you want!! This is just the recipe I used.

Lean Pork "Fried" Rice
1lb lean pork tenderloin
2C cooked rice (I used Jasmin, use whatever you like, preferably brown - I just didn't have any) 
1/2 head Napa Cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, chopped finely
1C frozen or fresh peas
1 red bell pepper, chopped finely
1/2 red onion sliced thinly
4 green onions, chopped finely
1 zuchinni, sliced and diced finely
1 whole egg and 3 egg whites, beaten together

Dice pork tenderloin into pinkie-nail sized bites.  Place in pre-heated skillet with 1tsp olive oil and cook until no longer pink.  Push to side of skillet, add egg mixture, stir until cooked.  Mix together all veggies EXCEPT frozen peas and carrots.  Place peas and carrots in separate skillet and "fry" with cooking spray until tendercrisp (approx 5 min).  Mix peas & carrots into chopped veggie mixture.  Add garlic powder, onion salt, ground ginger, and a pinch of cayenne (can omit if you're not a fan.)  Put approx 1/8-1/4 reduced sodium soy sauce in veggie mix bowl - stir to coat.

Set aside 1/2 of veggie mixture to use for egg rolls.  Add other 1/2 of veggie mix to skillet with pork and egg.  Reduce heat to low. 

Baked Veggie Egg Rolls
 1/2 of veggie mixture from "fried" rice
Egg roll wrappers (Nasoya, can generally be found near the tofu at your local grocery.)
A little dish of water.

Preheat oven to 425*.  Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Place egg roll wrapper down like a diamond (not like a square).  Place approx 1/4C (I just grabbed a "bunch" between my thumb and 3 fingers) veggie mix in the middle of the wrapper (you can view directions on the back of the package).  Follow rolling instructions and "seal" with a finger dab of water painted on to the remaining triangle.  Place seam side down on 'greased' cookie sheet.  Once cookie sheet is filled (leave a space in between each egg roll approx a finger width apart)  Bake at 425* for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

1C=a serving, and 2 egg rolls will complete the meal!  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!


Thursday, August 02, 2012

Ground Turkey & Black Bean Tacos

First word that comes to mind when you eat these?? FRESH! Holy smokes, nothing beat the heat of the hot Oklahoma summer better than these delightful soft tacos!  And they won't derail your diet - check em out - and don't blame me when you can't eat just one (or two, or three....)

Ground Turkey & Black Bean Tacos

1.25lb lean ground turkey (93% or higher)
Can of reduced sodium black beans (drained and rinsed)
Romaine Lettuce
Tomato
Cilantro
Plain Greek yogurt
12 corn tortillas
Cumin, onion salt,pepper, chili powder, garlic powder to taste

Brown ground turkey, drain, rinse, and place back in skillet.  Season with aforementioned seasonings to your taste. I just sprinkled away until I was happy with the taste/smell.

Wrap 6 corn tortillas in foil (you will have 2 packets) and place in pre-heated 250* oven for 12 minutes

Chop tomato and cilantro, combine for fresh salsa.

Heat up black beans for 30 seconds.

Assemble tacos with approx 2-3 TBSP taco meat, 1T black beans, salsa, rip up some romaine, and top with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt in lieu of sour cream and ENJOY YOUR FACE OFF!  These were stinking amazing, easy, and SUPER filling.

Serves 6 (or 3/4....depends on how hungry you are!)
276 calories/2 tacos