Nearly Guiltless (and Stupid Simple) Tartlets

A little over half-way to my target weight, so I'm still watching the fats, calories and carbs.  
I'm not a huge fan of sweets, but sometimes I do dream about having a little goodie or two. 




And I recently got the "craving".
So, taking stock of what was in the fridge, freezer and pantry I devised these two-bite treats, and pulled them together in almost no time.

Really simple to make ~ here are the ingredients:



Just toast up the little filo shells on a shallow baking tray in a 325˚F oven for about 5 to 7 minutes until they are lightly brown and crisp. Allow them to cool and melt the chocolate you like best and "paint" or smooth a thin layer of chocolate on the inside of the cooled tartlet shells with a small spoon. Place the chocolate lined shells in the fridge for a few minutes so the chocolate will set up, then spoon in the yogurt filling. 
I chose different flavors of yogurt; French Vanilla, Key Lime, and Black Forest Chocolate-Cherry.  Of course you can swap out any flavors of yogurt you like best.





To dress them up a little I garnished the Black Cherry-Chocolate ones with toasted sliced almonds. (I dipped them part-way in the melted chocolate and placed them on waxed paper to allow the chocolate to firm up before arranging them on the tarts.





For the Key Lime version, I plucked the tender tips off the mint sprigs in the garden ~Pssst . . . Lime and mint are a great flavor combination!



St. Patrick's Day idea maybe?




I really liked the white chocolate with the lime and mint, too.




Just what I was dreaming of ~Crispy/crunchy shell, cool and creamy filling , with a little layer of chocolate for a hint of decadence as a reward. Yum!!
You can make them a day ahead and store in airtight container in fridge; the chocolate on the interior provides a barrier from the yogurt and prevents the shells from becoming mushy. I'd probably garnish them at the last minute though to keep the fresh taste and appearance.

I'm not certain of the exact calorie count but the breakdown as near as I can figure is as follows:
1 plain filo shell = 23 calories2 teaspoons 'light' yogurt per shell (100 calories per 6 ounce carton & 36 teaspoons in 6 ounces) = is just over 5 calories
This is not counting the 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of chocolate, or the garnishes for each.
Even so, I figure they are fairly lean ~ a perfect little treat to satisfy that occasional sweet tooth.
 


I used dark chocolate for the French Vanilla filling, and garnished with a ripe raspberry ~ quite delicious!  I think that was my favorite combo.  :)

If you try them I hope you like them!

Thank you so much for stopping by ~ and I hope you have a wonderful week.  My thoughts and prayers are going out to those in need.
Blessings! xoxo ~m.

New Peeps ~ The Next Generation!

The chicken population is growing at my house. :)


I've shared about my chickens before, back in 2010 ~ from the very beginning of the construction of the Hen House and the completed project.  


And introduced some of the chickens here and here and here.


Those hens have been good girls and steady layers ~ we've added on to the original chicken coop and pen since then so it's time to rejuvenate things a bit.


This time I chose more Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, and Americaunas (the ones that lay blue or green eggs.)




It's always so much fun to watch them grow ~ I hope you enjoy these pictures of the most recent additions to the flock:

A befuddling impostor! 

 These pictures are all Buff Orpinton chicks ~ 

When fully mature the hens look like this:

Photo courtesy of Backyard Chickens

And the hens will weigh about 8 pounds, it is a very good natured breed, excellent laying hens, the hens are good nurturing mothers, and they are surely right up there among my favorites chickens.

I'll post more of the other newbies soon.

Thank you for stopping by ! Have a happy weekend Friends! 

xoxo ~m

Sweet and Spicy Asian-Style Shrimp & Lettuce Roll-Ups

Actually, the food I've been preparing for the past several weeks, hasn't been all that interesting so I haven't posted much. I've been continuing to stick with the healthier eating habits, and I'm happy to report that my bathroom scale is my friend once again. I yet have a little ways to go before I hit my target weight, so please bear with me. :D
I must admit that I'm looking forward to getting to the point of maintaining rather than reducing. ;) Hopefully, soon!


But this simple dish is one I felt I had to share ~ it has a lot of things going for it; tasty, easy to assemble, healthful and pretty to look at. Plus you can serve it as an appetizer or as a salad or main course.
It's another one that needs no actual recipe, it's just a matter of cooking the shrimp then assembling the ingredients.  
Here's what you'll need:
Shrimp (I used 30/40 count per pound), peeled and tails removedAttractive, whole lettuce leaves, washed, drained and chilled to crisp themSlivered cabbage (green or red) tossed with a little seasoned rice vinegarThinly sliced scallionsCilantro or Mint leavesChopped salted peanuts (I used dry roasted)Lime wedges (optional)And the drizzle
For the drizzle:



The base is a couple of tablespoons of Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, the amount will depend upon the number of lettuce cups/shrimp you are using. It only takes a couple of teaspoons or less for each lettuce roll-up.
I used Lee Kum Kee brand  Sweet Thai Chili Sauce this time ~ my other favorite brand is Mae Ploy, both are very good.  To the sweet Thai sauce just stir in a little of either one of these Asian hot sauces; either Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (in the center bottle), or Sambal Oelek (jar on the right.) Both are pretty spicy, so add just a little, mix into the Sweet Chili Sauce and taste to see if you want it spicier.  I like it medium spicy so the other ingredients' delicate flavors aren't lost in the heat; it's just a matter of taste.




This time, to cook the shrimp, I brushed each of them with a little olive oil, placed them on a parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkled lightly with salt and pepper and roasted in a hot (450-500˚F) oven for about two minutes, turning once halfway through baking time. (Timing will depend upon the size of the shrimp you choose. Don't forget they will continue cooking after you remove them from the oven, so it's best to slightly undercook them, otherwise they will be tough and chewy.)
Alternately they can be poached in a pan of barely simmering salted water until they just turn pink, then drained, or brush the shrimp with a little oil and grill them on a stove-top or outdoor grill if you prefer.




So easy to assemble:  For each roll-up; One lettuce leaf, the seasoned-rice vinegar cabbage slivers, cooked shrimp, sprinkle of sliced scallions and cilantro or mint leaves, the sauce drizzled over all, then finished with the chopped peanuts (and a squeeze of fresh lime, if using.)
If you give them a try I hope you love them as much as I do!
Blessings for a good week ahead everyone. xo ~m

Slow Roasted Salmon with Fennel & Pomegranate Salsa ~Healthy

Have you ever tried the slow roasting technique to cook fish? 

The method is really simple, just rub the fillets with a little oil (olive oil if possible), place in a shallow baking pan or dish lined with baking parchment or foil, then sprinkle with your seasoning or herb/s of choice.  This time I simply sprinkled with sea salt, 3-color freshly ground pepper, and a light sprinkle of ground cayenne pepper.

The pan with fish goes into a preheated 275˚F oven for 17 to 20 minutes. (Instant-read thermometer should register 125˚F when inserted into the thickest part of the fillet.)  If you don't have an instant read thermometer, the fish should be opaque when tested with a paring knife at the thickest area of salmon.  The results of slow roasting produces unbelievable moistness and great flavor.

 I just love the deep red-orange color of wild Alaskan sockeye salmon; it's good for you ~ naturally rich in Omega-3's, 6's, and vitamin D.  It is healthful, feel good food!

The fish is delicious roasted just that way, with no adornment ~ but I was drawn to the vibrant colors in the salsa so I wanted to try it.

The colorful and healthy salsa goes together in minutes ~ no cooking involved.

Oops, I neglected to add the fresh jalapeno in this pic. Sorry! ;)

The salsa ingredients are fennel bulb, cut into 1/4-inch dice, include bits of the fennel fronds if you like. Pomegranate arils (we used to call them seeds when we were kids), a minced jalapeno pepper without ribs or seeds (adjust this amount according to your tastes and the heat of the pepper), sliced green onions (scallions), chopped fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

I found the recipe in "Clean Eating" magazine and was immediately drawn to it ~ in the article it was plated with previously cooked brown rice which was made into a fried-rice mixture using very little oil, with the addition of chicken broth, fennel fronds, and additional green onions.

I had haricot vertes on hand  (tiny French string beans), so I steamed them as a side dish instead.

Yes, I would definitely make this again, and even if you don't think you would care for this salsa I hope you'll try the slow roasting method, you can always finish it any way you like.  

Simple to prepare, and easy on the cook as you're preparing the remainder of the meal; this would make a fine dinner party entree because the cooking time is so short and you can prepare the salsa well ahead of time.  If you try it, I hope you enjoy it too!

If you would like a printable version of the recipe come on over to Once Upon a Plate ~ The recipes by clicking HERE.

Thanks for coming by today! xoxo ~mari

Mushroom Stroganoff ~ Healthy!

It's true, comforting stroganoff can be made in a lighter and healthier way. 


I found a recipe from 'Clean Eating' magazine, and adjusted it to suit my own taste. I
Please allow me to explain ~ If my portions are smaller, I NEED flavor to compensate so I don't feel deprived. Do you feel that way too?  If so, this recipe might be one you'll like.

Where I live the common, cultivated  mushrooms are available any time of year and this is a tasty way to make them into a main course ~ I've tried it with a combination of sliced white mushrooms and portobellos, which I really like. But if other varieties are available, by all means, include them ~ the dish will be all the more flavorful!

The great news is this method is low in calories & fat per 1 cup serving, which works out to be a little fewer than 140 calories, only 3.5g fat, 18g carbs, 10g protein, 15mg cholesterol.

I realize that a one-cup serving doesn't sound like much, but if you include a leafy lettuce, spinach, or arugula salad with some fresh vegetables or tomatoes added it rounds out the meal to make a filling, healthful choice.

The original recipe used medium-firm tofu and low-fat sour cream to duplicate the creamy sauce in the stroganoff ~ and you can certainly use the low-fat sour cream if you like . . . but I substituted 0% fat Greek-style yogurt for the sour cream and it worked out very well. You could use 2% fat Greek-style yogurt instead of the 0% fat if you prefer.

In addition to the medium-firm tofu and Greek-style low fat yogurt, here are the ingredient ~ including the extras I added to pump up the flavor a bit. 

Whole Wheat or Grain noodles (or any shape pasta you like), yellow onion, garlic, tomato paste, and Cajun-style seasoning, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

My changes:  I sub the low-fat sour cream with Greek-style yogurt,  add a tablespoon or so of dry white wine  (optional),  a few drops of Worchestershire sauce, a little extra garlic, and finish the plated dish with a tiny drizzle of White Truffle Infused Oil * .

As the original recipe suggests you can also add some fresh or dried dill to enhance the flavor. I didn't add the dill, but added drops of truffle oil after the serving was plated. 

And just a hint ~ don't skip the Cajun seasoning as it really provides a great flavor hit without being over powering at all. I am particularly fond of adding the drizzle white truffle oil as a finish to the dish, after plating:

     Incidentally, a favorite sandwich of mine is a couple of thin slices of good Prosciutto on a sliced ciabatta roll with a nice layer arugula, thinly sliced ripe tomato, with just a drizzle of this truffle oil & a grind of fresh black pepper. I love good mayonnaise but the truffle oil beats mayo in this sandwich hands down!  Yum . . . soo good!

Thumbs up here and if you would like a copy of the recipe with my adjustments you'll find a printable copy over on my recipe blog by clicking HERE.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today, friends!  xo ~m.

Smothered Portobello Mushrooms ~ Clean and Healthy Eating

This one is a "no brainer", as easy as can be and you don't need a written recipe to make it. But I have included it over on my recipe blog in case you want to print it out to save the idea (see link at bottom of this post.) Recipe is adapted from "Clean Eating" magazine.

You'll need one Portobello mushroom for each serving. I gently wipe them to clean any debris, remove the stem but not the gills, although some people prefer to remove the gills too.

Preheat oven to 400˚F  Lightly mist or brush a shallow baking dish with olive oil, place mushrooms (resting on their caps ~ gill side facing up) in the prepared dish.

 Spoon 1/4 cup chunky salsa (your choice) into each mushroom (low-sodium salsa if you wish.)

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chopped or sliced green onion/scallion, both white and green parts, and 1/4 cup shredded, low-fat mozzarella cheese over the salsa in each mushroom. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. 

Optional: Garnish each with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, or a few slivers of green onion.

These make a wonderful first course or main course ~ I served them as a light lunch entree with . . .

Whole-grain tri-color orzo (pasta), slivered onion, flat leaf parsley (cilantro or mint leaves work as well), and  dressed with a lemon vinaigrette, made with just freshly squeezed lemon juice, a dab of Dijon mustard, minced garlic (optional), a tiny drizzle of olive oil & a little salt and freshly ground pepper, all whisked together. 


You could add some toasted pine nuts or walnuts as a garnish to the pasta salad if you like.  It's really straightforward, clean tasting and refreshing.

Surprisingly flavorful, satisfying and delicious with little fat and few calories.  I would definitely make these again. 

If you would like a printable copy of this ultra-simple recipe, please click here.

Hope you enjoy!

Have a blessed day, friends!

Grapefruit-Avocado Salad ~ Healthy & Clean Eating

Yes, in my hemisphere it's winter, but I still enjoy a healthy salad ~ no matter what the weather, and this one utilizes the fruits and vegetables available to us at this time of year.



The base is organic baby arugula, and the toppings are grapefruit supremes (segments without the membrane), sliced avocado ~ I like the rich buttery variety with the thick pebbly skins such as Haas.  


Then a sprinkling of thinly sliced radishes, sliced scallions and toasted slivered almonds, then a generous shower of freshly ground pepper. I used tri-color pepper blend this time ~ I like the confetti look it adds to the salad. And a good sprinkle of coarse sea salt and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to finish.




I usually always trim my own citrus supremes ~ but this time I used the already prepared kind, like these fresh, non-canned ones ~ found in the refrigerator case, usually in the produce department.  They are packed in very lightly sweetened grapefruit juice not too sweet at all, and so convenient.(This isn't a plug for this particular brand, just look for the kind that must be refrigerated to assure the best quality and taste.)




To bump up the protein you could certainly add some diced or shredded chicken, cooked shrimp, salmon, or other fish.  You could swap out the arugula with baby spinach leaves, and add or substitute orange segments for the grapefruit.
I love everything about this salad, clean tasting, healthy and flavorful.Low in fat, and the fat it does contain is the good-for-you kind.
If you try it I hope you like it too.
No formal recipe needed, just use what you like, in the amounts that are pleasing to you.  Enjoy!

Approximately 168 calories per serving, about 2 1/2 cups, loosely packed, each