HCG Recipe Of the Day and Make Ahead Meals for the Weekend! 8/27/2010

Bake-Ahead Meal Packets

Pairing a protein and a vegetable together for a serving makes it feel like a meal. Preparing a few day's worth of these meals is convenient. Many of the vegetables on the diet lend themselves well to the packet cooking method. Using different combinations of vegetables and proteins with different seasoning blends creates variety.

Wash, cut and measure:
3.5 ounces lean protein (chicken, white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp)
3.5 ounces vegetables (spinach, chard, tomatoes, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, zucchini, fennel/anise)

Assembling the Packets for Cooking:
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Cut pieces of parchment or aluminum foil for the packets (about 14 inches off the roll)
Place one serving of vegetables on the parchment/foil
Lightly salt and pepper the vegetables
Place one serving of protein on top of the vegetables
Season with 1 tsp of any sugar-free seasoning blend
Fold parchment/foil to create a packet
Arrange packets on a large cookie/baking sheet, and place on the center rack in the oven.
Bake for 25 minutes
Allow to rest for 5 minutes and drain off any excess liquid before serving. Dense vegetables, such as fennel and cauliflower, will be crisp-cooked. If softer vegetables are desired, cook packets with these vegetables an additional 5-10 minutes.

Suggested combinations:
Chicken and zucchini with Singapore seasoning.
Shrimp and tomato with tandoori seasoning.
Tilapia and asparagus with fajita seasoning.
Cod and spinach with Italian seasoning.
Lobster tail and fennel with seafood seasoning.

If you have trouble finding more seasoning blends, there are many specialty retailers that you can order from, such as Penzey's Spices.

Tired of Whole Apples?

To give apples more variety, cut into sections and dust with cinnamon.

For a warm apple dessert:
Cut one apple into cubes, put in a microwave-save dish
Dust with ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp cardamom, and a pinch of clove
Heat in the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds

For a FRESH apple salad:
Cut one apple into fine slivers
1 tsp. chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp. lemon juice
Toss together and serve

Recipe Of The Day 8/24/2010

Lemon Shrimp and Spinach

Ingredients

100g shrimp (peeled & deveined) 200g spinach (or amount allowed) 3T water juice of 1 lemon (or 1/2 lemon if you like things less lemony) 4-5 cloves minced garlic salt black pepper

Directions

Preheat non-stick skillet over MED heat.
Add 3T water, garlic, and shrimp.
Cook 5 mins or until shrimp just turns pink. (Add water as necessary)
Squeeze in juice of 1 lemon.
Add spinach.
Toss in salt & pepper.
Cook uncovered until spinach wilts.
Serve.

HCG Recipe of the Day 8/23/2010

Hi HCG Friends!

Having trouble trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight?  Let us make it easy for you!

We have a fast, easy and delicious recipe perfect for a Monday!

Chinese Chicken Salad

Approximately 228 calories per serving.

• Prep Time:
  7 min
• Cook Time:
  1 min
• Ready In:
  8 min

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 3.5 ounces cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
• 1/3 cup chopped cabbage
• 1/3 cup chopped lettuce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup Stevia

Directions

Combine cabbage, lettuce and chicken. Microwave vinegar, worcestershire sauce, and Stevia for 20-30 seconds. Pour over cabbage, lettuce and chicken mixture.

HCG Recipe of the Day 8/20/2010

Want a fast and easy HCG friendly meal?  How about taco salad?  Delicious and filling, Taco Salad is our "Recipe of the Day"

Remember:  Drink a full 8 oz glass of water BEFORE eating, it will make you feel full faster!

Easy Taco Salad


-2 cups of chopped romaine lettuce
-100 grams of lean ground beef
-½ tsp garlic salt
-¼ tsp of chili seasoning
- crunched up melba toast

*Saute ground beef and spices. Sprinkle on top of lettuce and top with crumble melba toast.

HCG Recipe of The Day! 8/19/2010

Still dont know what to make for dinner tonight?


Do you like Chinese food?  Here is a delicious HCG friendly recipe that will satisfy any appetite! 

KUNG PAO CHICKEN

100g chicken – cut into chunks
chopped onion (allowed amount)
1-2 t sambal oelek
red pepper flakes (optional)

Marinade
1 part liquid aminos

Seasoning
Mash together in small bowl:
3 cloves minced garlic
1-2 t fresh minced ginger root

Sauce
Stir together in small bowl:
1/2 c broth
1-2 t liquid aminos

In small dish, combine marinade & chicken.
Refrigerate 30 mins – 1 hour.
Preheat non-stick pan over MED-HI heat.
Cook chicken 5-7 mins, browning on all sides.
Add sambal oelek. Cook 1-3 additional mins.
Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
Add onion to pan and cook until tender.
Stir seasoning mixture in with onions. Cook 1-3 mins.
Add sauce mixture to pan. Cook 1-3 mins.
Re-add chicken to pan. Stir. Cook 1-3 mins
Top with a few dashes of red pepper flakes (optional).
Serve.

Some Favorite Chicken Recipes!

Here are some of our favorite low calorie HCG friendly Chicken recipes! We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
(Submitted by Members)

Baked Chicken Tenders
By: Kris From MO

Prep: 10 Min
Cook: 30 Min
Total: 40 Min

* 100 grams chicken
* 1 tablespoon milk
* 1 grissini or Melba Toast
* dash salt and pepper
* dash paprika
* dash ground red pepper
* dash garlic powder

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Slice chicken breast into 3 tenders.
3. In a small bowl mix milk and any seasonings you prefer.
4. Grind grissini in food processor until it is a powder.
5. Put grissini powder in a separate small bowl.
6. Add chicken to milk mixture and toss to coat well.
7. Then one at a time place chicken in grissini powder and coat both sides of chicken.
8. Place chicken in glass baking dish and bake 30-40 mins, turning over halfway through.
9. In last 5 mins, turn on broiler and broil 2-3 mins each side.
10. Serve immediately.




Buffalo Chicken Salad
By: Kris From MO

Approximately 173 calories per serving.

Prep: 70 Min Cook: 20 Total: 1 hour 30 min

* 100 grams chicken
* romaine lettuce, chopped
* 1 stalk celery, cut into small sticks
* 1 green onion, chopped
* 1 tablespoon Emerils Wing Sauce zero calories
* 1/4 cup Walden Farms Blue Cheese Dressing Calorie Free

Marinate the chicken in the wing sauce for about an hour and then grill it until done. To assemble the salad, place lettuce on a plate with celery sticks and sprinkle chopped green onion over the top. Combine blue cheese dressing with about a tablespoon of the wing sauce and pour over top of the salad. Slice chicken and place on top of salad.



Chicken Tacos
By: Rachelle

Approximately 170 calories per serving.

Ingredients

* 100 grams Chicken finely chopped Chicken (weighed, grilled or baked with lemon juice and seasonings)
* 1/4 cup Water or Homemade Broth
* 1 clove garlic crushed and minced
* 1/8 teaspoon oregano
* pinch Cayenne Pepper to taste
* small Fresh Cilantro
* 1 pinch Cumin
* 2-4 leaves lettuce


Directions

Cook chicken in chicken broth, adding onion, garlic, and spices.

DEGLAZE pan with lemon juice or a little water. Serve in leaves of lettuce.

Top with homemade salsa

(1 protein, 1 vegetable)



Kung Pao Chicken
By: Kris From MO

Approximately 255 calories per serving.

* Prep Time:
45 min
* Cook Time:
15 min
* Ready In:
60 min

Servings: 1 servings
Ingredients

* 100 grams chicken, cubed
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1-2 teaspoon sambal oelek
* dash red pepper flakes (optional)
* 1/8 cup liquid aminos (marinade)
* 1/8 cup rice vinegar (marinade)
* 3 cloves minced garlic (seasoning)
* 1-2 teaspoon fresh minced ginger root (seasoning)
* 1/2 cup broth (sauce)
* 1-2 teaspoon liquid aminos (sauce)
* 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (sauce)

Directions
1. In a small dish, combine marinade & chicken. 2. Refrigerate 30 mins - 1 hour. 3. Preheat non-stick pan over MED-HI heat. 4. Cook chicken 5-7 mins, browning on all sides. 5. Add sambal oelek. Cook 1-3 additional mins. 6. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. 7. Add onion to pan and cook until tender. 8. Stir seasoning mixture in with onions. Cook 1-3 mins. 9. Add sauce mixture to pan. Cook 1-3 mins. 10. Re-add chicken to pan. Stir. Cook 1-3 mins. 11. Top with a few dashes of red pepper flakes. 12. Serve.




Garlic Lime Chicken
By: Sandra Hodgins

* Prep Time:
15 min
* Cook Time:
30 min
* Ready In:
45 min

Ingredients

* 1/2(125ml) cup lime juice
* 1/4 (50ml) cup cider vinegar
* 6 garlic cloves ,minced
* 2 (25ml) tablespoons minced fresh oregano or 2 tsp (10ml)dried oregano
* 1 (15ml) tablespoon dried coriander or power
* 2 (10ml) teaspoons pepper
* 1 teaspoon no salt
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 8 chicken breast
* 2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions

In large resealable plastic bag, combine all the ingredient and add the chicken refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.2.Discard marinade. In skillet, brown chicken on sides. Transfer to 15in x 10in.(39cm x 25.5cm x 2.5cm) baking pan. Bake uncovered, at 375 F (190c)30-35 minutes or until cook or use a meat thermometer reads 170 F (77C)and juices run clear. Can put it on the BBQ which I did just use foil when almost grill them a bit. Serve 8 But I freeze some uncooked for another day.



Mock Mashed Potatoes
By: Leanne Zukowski

288 calories


Servings: 1 servings
Ingredients

* 300 grams Cauliflower Can substitue simply egg whites for 2 egg whites Calories would be 35 cal instead of 30 for egg whites.
* 50 grams Chicken Breast
* 1/8 cup Onion
* 4 cloves Roasted Garlic
* 1/4 cup Simply Egg Whites

Directions
Steam cauliflower till soft. Fry chicken in water add onion and cook till onion is carmalizing. Blend chicken and onion with hand blender or puree. Add roasted garlic. Add egg whites and blend. Add Cauliflower a little at a time and blend or puree keeping some chunky till all cauliflower is added. Put all ingredients into oven safe baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. Broil on Lo for 10 minutes till nice golden brown on top. Enjoy.

HCG Friendly Beef Recipes-Family Favorites!

Beef Lettuce Wrap

By: Kris From MO

Approximately 241 calories per serving.

• Prep Time:
  10 min
• Cook Time:
  15 min
• Ready In:
  25 min

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 3.5 ounces ground beef
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• minced garlic, to taste
• minced ginger
• 1/2-1 minced serrano or jalapeno pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced celery
• 1 cup savoy cabbage
• 1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth
• juice of 1/2 a lemon or lime
• cilantro, to taste

Directions

1. Brown meat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and celery. Cook for 2-5 minutes. 2. Add pepper, cabbage and broth. Cook until cabbage has slightly wilted. 3. Add cilantro and lemon juice. Cook another 2 minutes or so. Serve in savoy cabbage leaves.

Chili for two

By: Kris From MO

Approximately 248 calories per serving

• Cook Time:
  25 min
• Ready In:
  35 min

Prep Time:

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 200 grams beef
• 1/4 cup onions, diced or minced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 2/3 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon red hot pepper
• salt and pepper, to taste
• water

Directions

Add a little water to a pan and add the onions. Cook until translucent (add more water as needed). Next, add garlic and cook a minute more. Add the beef and cook until brown. Add all the spices and some salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about a minute or so. Next, add the tomatoes and water to whatever level you want. Cook for about 15 minutes more then divide in two

HCG Burger

By: Holly

• Prep Time:
  4 min
• Cook Time:
  12 min
• Ready In:
  16 min

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 3.5 ounces extra lean, no antibiotic, chopped meat I buy mt meats from Fresh Direct (nyc) or Whole Foods
• 3 dashes McCormick's Italian Herbs
• 1 1/2 slices Red Onion (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon No Salt, No Sugar Ketchup (OPTIONAL)

Directions

Round raw meat in your hands and place in bowl/on plate. Dash Italian Herbs on to meat to your desire. (I used a/b 3-4 dashes) Then, add fine cut onions. Add Ketchup. Mush & Squish around using a fork or your hands (I think using your hands is best) After all is married well, shape into your burger. Grill to your desire. Since you can not have bread in phase 2 please enjoy the burger between two leaves of lettuce. Enjoy!

Spaghetti

By: Kris From MO

Approximately 233 calories per serving (this does not include the noodles).

Details

• Prep Time:
  10 min
• Cook Time:
  15 min
• Ready In:
  25 min

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 3.5 ounces 95% lean ground beef
• 1 whole tomato
• garlic cloves (to taste)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• Italian seasoning (to taste)

Directions

1. Cut the tomato into pieces and put it on a pan to cook. 2. After it's cooked, deglaze the pan with a little water and then throw everything in the blender. 3. Saute the beef until browned. 4. Cut the garlic cloves into really thin slices or mince them and throw them into the beef, stir and let them cook a little. 5. Season with salt and pepper. 6. Put the tomato sauce on the cooked beef and season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. 7. Pour on miracle/Shirataki noodles

Meatloaf

By: Kris From MO

Approximately 226 calories per serving.

Details

• Prep Time:
  10 min
• Cook Time:
  30 min
• Ready In:
  40 min

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 100 grams ground steak
• 1/2 teaspoon milk or bbq sauce
• 1 grissini (ground into powder)
• 2-3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dehydrated minced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon spicy mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon sage
• 1 dash salt and pepper
• any additional seasonings you like

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. 2. In small bowl, combine all ingredients and form into a small meatloaf. 3. Place in glass dish, cover, and bake 25-30 mins. 4. Uncover dish, add bbq sauce or homemade sugar free ketchup to top, and bake 5-10 additional mins. 5. Serve immediately with a bit more of bbq sauce or homemade sugar free ketchup for dipping. NOTE: This includes your meat, grissini, and 1/2 t of your daily allowance of milk.