Chocolate Banana Cake (non-fat, no egg, low sugar)

I made this combining several different recipe ideas. The base recipe was from Nancy Clark's book "Sports Nutrition Guidebook". I highly recommend this book if you want good, sensible, nutrition information for athletes.

Ingredients

3 large bananas, mashed (at least 1 cup)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup dry cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup skim milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 - 1/2 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix mashed banana, applesauce, cocoa, and milk.

2. Mix dry ingredients and stir in banana mixture.

3. Spread in 9" X 9" pan.

4, Bake for about 30 minutes, at 350 degrees. Watch it, my oven is a bit iffy so I checked it several times and I took it out when it was slightly underdone.

5. Let cool, cut into 16 squares. Eat or freeze.

Rough nutrient guide, based on info from Sparkpeople

1/16 of cake

Calories: 83
Carbs: 19 gr.
Fat: .5 gr (1/2 gr)
Protein: 2 gr

Tip - frost with chocolate avocado frosting - see recipe in side bar.

Avocado Shrimp Salad

I made this the other day - it was SOOO good.

Cover a plate with a bed of washed greens. Any type will do. I'm lazy and buy mixed spring greens by the bag.

Roughly chop 5-6 stalks of leftover cooked asparagus.

Thaw 1 cup or so of frozen shrimp and 1 cup of frozen mango.

Chop up half an avocado, half a red pepper, a couple of green onions (if you want), and a tomato.

Dump the shrimp and veggies on top of the lettuce and mix up a bit. If desired, drizzle with a little low fat dressing and salt and pepper. I often just squeeze on lemon juice and s/p.

I'm sure you can mix and match with other veggie combinations. Some walnuts or almonds might be nice?

Looks wonderful- tastes great

Roasted Root Vegetables

I got this recipe from Volume 2, Issue 2 of Canadian Running Magazine (which I really enjoy reading by the way). In the magazine it is credited to Anna Olsen so I linked the title to her recipe.

Updated Friday, March 13

I made this again last night with a few changes and it was still great. Here's my version first, then the original recipe follows.

Roasted Root Vegetables

Yield: 3-4
Ingredients:

• 2 cups peeled and cubed carrot
• 1 cup peeled and cubed parsnip
• 1 cup cubed celery root
• 1-2 cups buttercup squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
  
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Toss carrot, parsnip, celery root with olive oil and thyme and season lightly. ** I almost forgot - this time I sprinkled some Montreal Chicken spice over as well. ** Place in an large shallow baking dish and roast for 20 minutes. Add in buttercup squash and stir to coat. Return to over and increase temp to 375. Cook until vegetables are equally tender. Remove thyme sprigs if necessary.

Drizzle several tablespoons of low fat italian dressing over the warm veggies and serve. I use Renee's Wellness Tuscan Italian Dressing - only 20 calories per 2T. I've also tried Newman's Own Balsamic Dressing - 35 calories per 2T.

Note: I would have used the shallots as called for below, but I rarely have any in the house.

Also would like to throw some mushrooms and/or asparagus in there near the end some time.

****************

Original Recipe - Roasted Root Vegetables

Yield: 6
Ingredients:

• 1 cup peeled and diced carrot
• 1 cup peeled and diced parsnip
• 1 cup diced celery root
• 1 x Delicata squash, seeded and diced (you can leave the skin on)
• 2 x shallots, sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Toss carrot, parsnip, celery root and squash with shallots, olive oil and thyme and season lightly. Place in an 8-cup baking dish and roast for 30 to 40 minute, until vegetables are equally tender. Remove thyme sprigs.

Warm Vinaigrette

• 1+ 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 x shallot, minced
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds

Directions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil and sauté shallot for one minute over medium heat. Whisk in mustard, vinegar and rosemary and reduce heat to low.
2. Whisk in remaining 6 tbsp oil in a slow drizzle and season to taste.
3. When ready to serve, toss warm roasted vegetables with warm vinaigrette, garnish with pumpkin seeds and serve.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup (another one)

I found a few recipes on the net and came up with this combination. I was a bit laissez-faire on the amounts of ingredients so tweak it as you will. My recipe makes about 8 cups of soup.

4 large red peppers, halved and seeded
1/2-1 onion, cut in chunks (I don't put this in but you can)
1/2 head garlic (or more)
1 medium sweet potato, cooked into microwave, cut in large chunks, peeled
2 tomatoes
Olive oil
S&P
Italian seasoning (ie basil, thyme, oregano)
6 cups of chicken stock
Plain yogurt (or cream)

Lay red peppers, skin side up on baking sheet and brush with oil. Toss other veggies in a little oil and lay around the peppers. Brush the garlic with oil and wrap in foil. place in oven with other veggies.

Place in middle of oven under broiler set at about 400-450. Check frequently. 15-20 minutes.
When I got to this point, the peppers seem like they need longer cooking so I switch the oven to 400 bake instead of broil and cook for another 10 minutes or so, until the peppers were soft and the skins were starting to blacken.

Remove from tray, and cool. Slip peels off tomatoes and garlic. Sweat peppers in a bag 10 minutes and then peel.

Put veggies in large pot and add 6 cups of chicken broth and seasonings. Bring to a gentle boil. Puree with hand blender. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Add thyme, basil, salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with a little cream or a dollop of plain yogurt. A dash of Franks Red Hot Chili Lime is tasty too.

I store in 1 cup containers all week in the fridge and add yogurt after I heat it up.

Thai Red Curry

OK, this one's for Bobm512z. It's not particularly healthy because of the high fat content of the coconut milk but I've tried using low fat and it's juat not the same. I also tried it with plain yogurt instead and it was only so-so.

Recipe

398 ml (14 oz) can coconut milk, undisturbed so cream floats to top (not low fat)
2-3 T olive oil
2-3 T red curry paste (I buy Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste)
1 1/2 T fish sauce
1 T fresh lime juice
1 T brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 red or yellow pepper cut in chunks
1-2 carrots cut in fairly thin slices
White part of 2 green onions, sliced (or sliced regular onion if you want)
1 lb shrimp, prawns, halibut, scallops, or chicken in chunks
Salt if needed to taste
1 diced tomato

Put oil and 4 T cream off the top of the coconut milk can in pan. Slowly heat over medium. Add curry paste when hot. Stir till oil separates and is lightly browned. Reduce heat and add fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and 1/2 c. water. Add peppers, carrots, and onions. Cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes. (I actually don’t cover it...) Add rest of coconut milk. Add fish or chicken in single layer. Cook gently till cooked thru.. Ad diced tomato and cook 1-2 minutes. Add diced green onions. Serve over jasmine rice.

You are supposed to garnish with the following but I never do because I can’t find fresh. I had them at a restaurant once though and they were good.

4 fresh kaffir lime leaves, sliced (or lime rind?)
sliced thai basil leaves

Notes: I am fairly casual in the amounts. I just squeeze in some lime juice, toss in a spoonful of sugar etc... I make it spicy to my taste at first, then it ‘cools ‘ down once I add the rest of the coconut milk. You can add more curry later if you need it. I find the heat o fthe curry paste varies from jar to jar so I adjust every time I buy it.

I’ve made it with chicken breast, cut in chunks.

Or a bag of frozen (thawed) prawns.

Or 1lb of halibut.

Or 1/2 lbs scallops and 1/2 lbs halbut or prawns.

All yummy. Jasmine rice is best but any kind of non-flavoured rice will do. I have often used brown rice.

Lybbe and Solorunner's Kale Salad

I got this recipe from two friends on Twitter. I'll give you the recipe then note my adaptations below.

Ingredients:
kale, chopped very finely (no rib)
cherry tomatoes
avocado
green onion

Dressing:
olive oil
lemon juice
salt and pepper

This is the basic recipe and it's delicious as is. However, I have trouble chewing raw kale right now due to my new braces so I blanched a head of chopped kale for 2-3 minutes (that's all) and ran cold water over it. Then I patted it dry(er) with a paper towel. I used some in a salad that day and left the rest for a salad at work the next day.

Also - I don't use oil on my salad, just fresh lemon juice and S&P.

One day I added some leftover cold asparagus, cut in one inch pieces - yum! And another day I added some dice red pepper. Another day, I used chopped tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Yet another day I chopped up some leftover cooked chicken breast and added that.

No matter how you make it, it's a wonderful salad, made of well-documented super foods!

Enjoy!

Cucumber Shrimp Spread

I love this recipe and often make it to take to parties. And it's low-fat!
Canadian Living Magazine – June 1998 P. 97

1/2 long English cucumber, peeled (seeded if nec)
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz cooked shrimp (frozen is fine)
3 T light cream cheese
2 T light mayonnaise
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
4 tsp chopped fresh dill

Grate cucumber into a sieve, sprinkle with salt, and let stand for 10 minute.

Drain, and squeeze dry in clean tea towel.

Pat shrimp dry and puree in food processor with cream cheese, mayo, lemon juice and rind, mustard, and pepper.

Pulse until chunky/smooth.

Stir in chopped dill and grated cucumber.

Garnish with a few whole shrimp and a sprig or dill.

Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Per tablespoon
26 calories
3 g protein
1 g fat
1 g carb