Try this Mushroom Meatza…Yummy

by In Main Meals, Recipes Tagged , , ,

INGREDIENTS:

100g ground chicken breast

1/2 cup canned tomatoes

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp garlic minced

1 tbsp onion chopped fine

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1.5 tsp salt

1 tbsp chicken broth

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup mushrooms

1 Sliced Pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 tsp nutritional yeast

DIRECTIONS

Begin by making pizza sauce: Add 1 tbsp chicken broth, minced garlic and onions to a small pan and sauté until the garlic begins to brown.

Add the canned tomatoes, basil, 1/4 tsp black pepper and 1/2 tsp salt to the pan. Bring to a boil.

Boil for 3-5 minutes or until slightly thick. Remove from heat and puree. Set aside.

Add 4 Tablespoons water to a large pan along with the onion slices. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the water has evaporated and the onions are beginning to brown on the bottom of the pan (about 8 minutes). Add another 4 tablespoons of water to the pan and let it cook off again, stirring occasionally. The onions should be nicely browned and caramelized.

Add the mushrooms and 1/4 cup more water to the pan and sauté until all the liquid has been absorbed. Add salt to the mix and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix ground chicken and salt. Press chicken mix into an 20cm pizza pan. Cover with plastic wrap and press again or use a rolling pin to make the chicken as flat and even as possible. Remove the plastic wrap.

Bake the chicken crust in a 200̊C oven for 20 minutes, chicken crust will begin to brown.

Remove from the oven and spread pizza sauce over chicken crust, leaving ½ cm gap around the edges.

Distribute the mushroom and onion mix evenly on top of sauce.

Return the pizza to the oven for another 5 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with nutritional yeast, serve while hot!

hCG Asian pan fried Barramunda with Bok Choy

by In Main Meals, Uncategorized Tagged , , ,
Pan Fried Barramundi with Bok Choy and Vinaigrette

or an Asian-inspired seafood dish, try this succulent Pan Fried Barramundi served with Bok Choy and Vinaigrette

Ingredients Asian Vinaigrette

Asian Vinigarette

1 tbsp light soy sauce 1 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar juice of half a lime 1 tbsp mirin 4 birds eye chillies, finely diced 1 long green chilli, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 coriander stems, finely chopped 2 slices ginger 2 spring onions,

Shiitake Mushrooms

finely sliced Shiitake mushrooms 100g shiitake mushrooms, quartered 1 tbsp coconut oil

Fish

Barramundi 4 x 250g fillets of barramundi, skin on 2 tbsp coconut oil

Bok Choy

Braised Bok Choy 2 tbsp coconut oil 4 bunches bok choy, outer leaves removed, halved lengthways 3 slices ginger 3 tbsp light soy sauce

To serve bean sprouts long red chilli, finely sliced coriander leaves salt and pepper, to seaso

Steps:

  • For the Asian Vinaigrette, place all ingredients and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and stir well to combine. Season to taste and set aside.
  • For the Shiitake Mushrooms, heat coconut oil in a large frypan over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender. Season, remove from heat and set aside in the pan to keep warm.
  • For the Barramundi, season the barramundi fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large frypan over a medium heat. Fry the barramundi, skin side down, until the skin is crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Turn the fillets over and fry until just cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside on a warm plate.
  • For the Braised Bok Choy, heat a large frypan over medium heat. Add coconut oil and place bok choy, cut side down, in the pan. Cook until caramelised, about 1-2 minutes. Turn the bok choy over, add the sliced ginger and soy sauce to the pan with a little water if necessary. Cover and steam until tender and liquid has evaporated, about 2-3 minutes.
  • To serve, remove ginger slices from Asian Vinaigrette and discard. Place bean sprouts in a pile on each plate. Arrange 2 bok choy halves and a few quarters of Shiitake Mushroom next to the bean sprouts. Place a piece of the Barramundi on top of the bean sprouts. Garnish with red chilli and coriander leaves. Serve immediately with the Vinaigrette on the side.

HCG Phase 2 3 and 4 Spicy Buffalo and Asparagus with Miracle Noodles

by In Main Meals Tagged , , , , ,
HCG Phase 3 - Spicy Buffalo and Asparagus with Miracle Noodles

Minutes to Prepare: 30 Minutes

to Cook: 10 minutes

Number of Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 100 grams beef tenderloin
  • 1/4 cup diced onions
  • .5 tbs chopped garlic
  • 2 tsp graded fresh ginger
  • 1 cup blanketed slivered asparagus
  • 1/4 cup homemade or low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbs low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper chili flake
  • .5 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 tbs fresh chopped basil or cilantro
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 bag of angel hair Miracle Noodles

Directions

Put on a pot of water so it will be boiling by the time you are ready to cook them.

Heat up a 14-inch non-stick saute pan add 1 tsp coconut oil. Saute the meat until it starts browning on both sides then add the onion saute until softened. Add the garlic and ginger and stir in the sesame seeds. Add the chicken broth and soy sauce bring it up to a high simmer and add the prepped Miracle Noodles as described below. Sprinkle with chili flake and stir some more. Ad entire mixture to bowl and serve hot.

Prep the Miracle Noodles (boil for 1 minute, then drained, rinsed and pat dry)

Number of Servings: 1

HCG Diet Recipe – 8 Calorie Lemon Slushy

by In Deserts Tagged , , , , ,

This is delicious!!!  But don’t take my word for it- go try it out yourself!  It feels like your having dessert on the hCG diet when in reality, you are mostly just eating ice and water. 

hCG Diet Phase 2 Lemon Slushie – just 8 Calories

LEMON JUICE (USUALLY 1/2 LEMON-1 LEMON’S WORTH)
1/3 CUP WATER
7-9 ICE CUBES
STEVIA TO TASTE (ORGANIC STEVIA IS BEST MOST NATURAL TASTE)

All you do is blend it up all together- the stevia in it is what will create the great thick, frothy texture.  If you don’t use stevia the texture would not be nearly as pleasant.  I know the recipe is so simple that it might be like, why are you making  a recipe for that?  But honestly, that’s the very reason I needed to make it!  It had never occurred to me that i could make something tasty to eat that was so simple with only 2 ingredients aside from water until I was desperate for something “yummy” on p2 of the Bettabods hCG Diet Protocol.

hCG Phase 2 3 4 Fish Soup in Tomato-Saffron Broth with Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage

by In Main Meals Tagged , , , , , 25 Comments
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 white or yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2-4 garlic cloves, chopped or sliced
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes (no salt added) with liquid or 4-6 fresh tomatoes, chopped with liquid
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
  • 4 cups of water
  • Generous pinch of saffron threads
  • 450gms fish (skin removed) such as salmon or firm, white-fleshed fish like Pacific halibut, tilapia, or Pacific cod cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 head of cauliflower or broccoli (or a combination) broken into small florets
  • 2 cups thinly shredded cabbage
  • Salt to taste
  • Optional addition: 1 can of coconut milk

Instructions:

Melt coconut oil in a deep, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté a few minutes. Add garlic and sauté just one minute more then add tomatoes and tomato paste, dried dill and fresh parsley. Simmer rapidly, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down a bit, about 15 minutes.

Add water. Bring to a gentle boil then add saffron. Simmer gently with a cover for 30 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Get your steamer going and steam broccoli and/or cauliflower until tender but not mushy.

Add the fish to the broth and simmer without a lid for 3-5 minutes. Stir in coconut milk if using. Ladle over steamed veggies. Garnish with cabbage.

hCG Phase 3 and 4 Crunchy Chicken Salad

by In Salads & Dressings Tagged , , Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year again when we want to shed our jackets and indulge in fresh salads. While I enjoy a classic Caesar, or a good romaine, I also like to make salads that are not found on everyday menus.

Serves 4

You’ll need:

3 cups shredded Chinese cabbage
3 cups shredded red cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup unsalted cashews
1/4 cup chopped chives (try cutting with scissors)
1 cup roughly chopped mint leaves
1 cup torn cilantro leaves
4 small red thai chilies, seeds removed and finely sliced (optional if you don’t like spice)
4 fully cooked chicken breasts, cut into slices

For the coconut lime dressing:

1 cup of coconut milk
2 tbsp of fish sauce
4 tbsp of lime juice
2 tbsp of coconut sugar

Combine cabbage, carrot, cashews, chives, mint, cilantro and chicken in a large bowl and toss gently to combine.

In a measuring cup, combine coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Stir well to combine. Pour half the dressing over the salad and gently toss. Divide between plates and top with chilies. Add more dressing to taste.

I like to make a lot of dressing and keep some in fridge to dip veggies in or pour over rice, but you can half the dressing recipe if you want to. Beware of the chilies, as they are very spicy. After slicing them, wash your hands very well and don’t touch your eyes or nose. If you prefer a little less spice, sprinkle the finished salad with dried chili flakes instead.

hCG Phase 2 3 4 Moroccan Meatballs

by In Main Meals Tagged , , , 5 Comments

Morocco has long been on my list of must-visit countries. Twisty alleys, markets crowded with vendors, scampering trained monkeys… I need to see it all.  The country sits in the northwestern corner of Africa, and the influence of Arab and Moorish invaders can be tasted in traditional Moroccan cuisine. Lucky us! Spices like aromatic cinnamon, cumin, and paprika are prevalent, along with herbs like mint and parsley. These meatballs are seasoned with essential Moroccan spices, then simmered in tomatoes that cloak them in a sauce that tastes like mystery and adventure.

INGREDIENTS:

MEATBALLS:

1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 kgs fat free minced beef

SAUCE:

1 tablespoon coconut oil

2 medium onions, diced (about 2 cups)

2 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 teaspoons)

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 medium tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups water

2/3 cup low sodium tomato paste

1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

garnish: 1/4 cup roasted pistachios, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the parsley, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper with a fork. With your hands, crumble the lamb into the bowl and knead until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

2

Moisten your hands with water and shake to remove excess. Measure a level tablespoon of lamb and roll into a ball between your palms. Line up the meatballs on a baking sheet until it’s time to put them in the sauce.

3

Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or pot. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and stir-fry 1 minute. Add the water, chopped tomatoes, and parsley to the pan and stir to combine.

4

Bring the sauce to a boil, then gently place the meatballs in the skillet, cover, and reduce heat to simmer. Cook 40 minutes covered, then remove the lid and cook an additional 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened. Sprinkle each serving with a few teaspoons of chopped pistachios. Bonus points if you serve them on top of Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice.

hCG Phase 2,3,4 Baked Fresh Rainbow Trout

by In Main Meals Tagged , , , , , , 10 Comments

“Very easy and tasty recipe I invented one day with ingredients on hand, for fresh rainbow trout that my family loves. It takes very little time and is much lighter than ocean fish. I use whole fish you can buy already gutted from the supermarket, with heads and tails still on. Make sure you pick trout that are really, really fresh. I find the dish doesn’t even need lemon slices but you can use them if you like. The key is to remember to add the water to the dish as instructed in directions, which keeps fish from drying out. Serve with a side salad or veggies. Light and delicious. Be careful of bones! Make sure to add hot water to the dish; cold water can crack the baking dish.”

Ingredients

6 servings  373 cals

2 teaspoons coconut oil

2 whole rainbow trout, gutted and cleaned, heads and tails still on

1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/2 large onion, sliced

2 thin slices lemon (optional)

2 tablespoons hot water

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with about 1 teaspoon coconut oil.

Place trout in the prepared baking dish and coat with remaining coconut oil. Season the inside and outside of fish with dill, thyme, and salt. Stuff each fish with onion slices; grind pepper over the top. Place 1 lemon slice on each fish.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes; add water to dish. Continue baking until fish flake easily with a fork, about 10 minutes more.

Cook’s Note:

If you use mixed peppercorns it’s more flavorful, but fine if you only have black ones.

If you can’t stand to look at fish heads, you can remove head beforehand.

You can use up leftovers the next day as a fish salad with mayonnaise and mustard.

hCG Phase 2, 3 & 4 Braised Tuna

by In Main Meals Tagged , , 13 Comments

As I’m not particularly fond of tuna, but realise it is important to take in during the hCG Diet, I found this recipe which I thoroughly enjoy.  I’ve adapted it many different ways using various veg, and it is always tasty and delicious, so do play around with it.

Ingredients:

4   250gm Tuna Steaks/Filets

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

2 Tablespoons finely minced/chopped onion

2 sticks of celery, finely sliced

1 small tomato, skinned & roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon thyme

12 Tablespoons dry white wine (Leave this out for phase 2 and adapt by using Unsweetened orange juice – I find this a good alternative for this specific recipe)

Salt and pepper

Cooking Method

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and gently fry the onions and celery until soft. Stir in tomatoes and thyme and cook for about 5 minutes to soften tomatoes. Place in base of shallow dish. Heat remaining oil and quickly fry the tuna steaks to brown on each side. Place tuna steaks on top of vegetables, season; then pour over white wine. Cover. Bake at 160°C for 40-50 minutes until fish is tender.

Serves 4.   Zero carbs.

hCG Phase 2 Seared salmon with watermelon salsa

by In Main Meals Tagged , , , , 10 Comments

This is a fab and firm favourite of mine for the summer and holiday months which are coming up shortly – we hope you will like it too.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups watermelon cubed
  • 1 x 3 cm ginger piece, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 red chilli, sliced
  • 1 t coriander chopped
  • 1 T rice wine vinegar
  • 2 limes, segmented, plus 2 T juice
  • 1 t sesame oil
  • 1 x 400 g lightly smoked salmon fillet, cut into thirds
  • 2 T coconut oil
  • Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • black sesame seeds, for sprinkling

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the watermelon, ginger, chilli, coriander, rice wine vinegar, limes and sesame oil and set aside to infuse.

Rub the salmon with coconut oil, season the skin and place skin side down in a hot, nonstick pan and cook for 2–3 minutes, or until the skin is golden and releases from the pan easily. Turn and cook for a further minute, or for 2 minutes if you like your fish cooked all the way through.

Serve sprinkled with black sesame seeds and the watermelon salsa.