Walnuts

Skinny Banana Bread

categories: 500 Calories or Less, Breads, Posts, Recipes

Skinny-Banana-Bread

It’s been more than four months since my last blog post. Well, my blog has really been put on the back burner because I’ve been juggling work, travel and trying to drop a few pounds (26 pounds to be exact). And with losing weight for me, comes a disinterest in food overall. Imagine! As much as I enjoy cooking for those I love, they’ve been starving while I’ve been keeping my calorie intake to a minimum. I can’t give cutting back on eating all the credit. Believe it or not, I started running — yes on a treadmill, and yes at a pace faster than speed #3. The treadmill terrified me until I got to know a spunky girl with a big heart and a whole lot of attitude that made running on the treadmill look like fun. For those who know me personally, I would have never have used the words “treadmill” and “fun” in the same sentence. That combined with her constant pushing me to go to the gym after work really paid off. Just because I’ve lost a few pounds, doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying my fries and sweets. I’ll just have to get smart about consumption and quantity. (more…)

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Snack Time

categories: Posts, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetables & Sides

A week or so ago, I was told we may have some friends over for dinner. So, of course, the planner that I am I made a menu and a list then went grocery shopping. It was the week before their wedding, so they weren’t able to make it – so I had some herbed goat cheese and Endives laying around which I had planned to use for an appetizer.

Not really sure what to do with endives, other than slip them in with some mixed greens on a salad, I made my appetizer anyway and served it while dinner was cooking in the oven.

 

 

 

Endive and Herbed Goat Cheese Appetizer Recipe

Ingredients

1 Endive (or more if you’d like)
3 Tablespoons Herbed Goat Cheese
¼ cup Chopped Walnuts

 

Directions

Wash the endives, peel apart carefully and dry on paper towels.
Mix together chopped walnuts and herbed goat cheese until mixed well.
Arrange endives on a plate, place a small piece of goat cheese on the end of each endive leaf.
Using the goat cheese walnut mixture, form a loose ball with your hands and place in the middle of the plate. Serve with crackers. 

Walnut Crusted Tilapia with Creamy Mushroom Orzo

categories: Posts, Recipes, Rice & Grains, Seafood

Monday night. You know how it is, it’s the night after the first day back to work and one day closer to Friday. Admit it, you were thinking that too.

Since I’m trying cut back on red meat, I’ve been looking for recipes that involve more chicken and fish. I just bought a bag of frozen tilapia filets which means fish is on the menu this week. Instead of making boring old baked fish, I decided to spice it up a bit.

I found this easy Walnut-Crusted Tilapia recipe on Parents Magazine online. I was then faced with another predicament, what exactly was I supposed to make with this faux exotic fish dish? That’s when I came across another easy recipe for Creamy Mushroom Orzo. A quick mental check for the ingredients at home, check and check. I’ll admit, I was a little worried about the outcome. The tilapia, however, was indeed easy and amazing. The orzo was just right.

 

Walnut-Crusted Tilapia

Ingredients

1/4 cup Walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon Light Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
4 Tilapia Filets (about 6 ounces each)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small skillet over medium-high heat, toast 1/4 cup walnuts for 5 minutes.
 In a separate bowl, stir together mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon of the mustard.
Finely chop remaining 1/2 cup walnuts.
Brush tilapia with mustard mixture, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon basil and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Press 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts onto one side of each fillet.
Place tilapia, walnut-side up, on baking sheet; bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
 

Creamy Mushroom Orzo

Ingredients

1 cup Orzo
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
8 ounce package of Sliced Button Mushrooms
3 ounce  Cream Cheese
1 tablespoon Butter
1/2 clove Garlic
 Fresh Thyme Sprigs (I used dried Thyme)
 

Directions

Melt butter in pan on med-high heat
Crush & mince garlic.  Toss garlic and thyme sprigs in pan to sauté. Stir for about 60 seconds to open up the flavors
Add mushrooms, and lightly sauté
Add chicken broth and orzo. Simmer until al dente
Fold in the cream cheese, until it is melted into the orzo

 

 

 

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