Chicken Pumpkin Stew

Recipe Status: Every single one of my picky eaters loved this. High in fiber and vitamins too. WIN!

2 lbs chicken breast cut into small cubes

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp each: Salt & Pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 carrots, sliced

2 celery ribs, sliced

4 cups chicken broth

1 bay leaf

1 tsp seasoning(s) of choice (thyme, rosemary, savory, etc.)

1 qt peeled, cubed pumpkin.

Place flour, salt & pepper in a gallon sized ziplock bag. Put the cubed meat in a few at a time and toss to coat. Cook chicken in oil/butter until browned on all sides. Add onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes more, until onions are transparent. Stir in broth, carrots, celery, seasonings & bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for an hour-ish. Add the pumpkin cubes and simmer for another 20-30 minutes, until the carrots & pumpkin are tender. Discard bay leaf and enjoy!

*This can easily be converted to beef stew by using beef bullion and, obviously, stew meat. Next time, I think I'll add mushrooms as well. :)

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

Recipe Status: A gorgeous blend of sweet & tart, and also sweet & spicy. Not to mention incredibly moist. YUMMM!

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, as preferred. (I like more.)

2 eggs

2 cups sugar (can use as low as 1 cup if desired.)

1/2 cup oil

1 16 oz. can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix.)

1-2 cups fresh cranberries, whole or chopped.

In large bowl, mix first 4 ingredients. Set aside. In separate bowl, mix eggs and sugar until blended. Mix in oil and pumpkin. Pour into dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Fold in cranberries. Bake @ 375° for 20ish minutes.

Can be made into a bread loaf, but I have no idea how long to bake it for. I'll have to experiment!

The best ever Pumpkin Chili, hands down.

Recipe Status: A great low fat, high fiber chili that you'd never know it had pumpkin in it. It's great because the pumpkin is the base of the chili, so you don't get the acidity tomatoes give. But no worries, the salsa gives you enough of the tomato flavor. This usually wins at our chili cook-off's each year, but I think they gave someone else a chance this year... ;)

2 lbs ground turkey

1 large onion, chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 package fajita seasoning

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp ea. Salt & Pepper

1 16 oz can pumpkin

1 cup salsa (medium tastes better)

1 small can diced green chilis

1 28 oz can black or dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Brown turkey, onion & garlic until almost no longer pink. Add fajita seasoning, chili powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to blend the seasonings. Reduce heat to med-low. Stir in salsa, green chilis and pumpkin. Bring to a gentle boil, and stir in beans. Let simmer for a few hours to let flavors blend. I like to cook the meat and seasonings, then mix everything together in the crock pot and let it cook on low for the afternoon.

Serve with a glop of sour cream, cheese, diced green onions, olives etc. This also is quite tasty with baked potatoes and Indian fry bread. Happy harvest!

Pumpkin Harvest Cookies (Kerstin's Sweet Spicy Goodness)

Recipe status: These are the ultimate health nut harvest cookie. There is no sugar other than the natural sugar in the pumpkin (and the sugar from the morsels). It's almost like having one of those nature bars, or a very chewy granola bar. I will definitely be packing these on my hikes.

1 small can pumpkin

1 stick butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

(or 1/2 tsp each nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger & allspice)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup wheat flour

1 cup flour

1 cup combination of any of the following: Chopped pecans, walnuts or cashews, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, golden raisins, craisins or raisins *

1 cup butterscotch or cinnamon morsels, carob or chocolate chips

Blend pumpkin and butter. Mix in egg & vanilla. Add dry ingredients until completely blended. Fold in remaining nuts, berries & morsels.

Drop by spoonfuls on a baking sheet about an inch apart. These hardly spread, so press them down a bit. Bake @ 375° for 12-15 minutes, depending on size. I've been told these freeze well. Not sure of these will last long enough to find out.

*In addition to the 1 cup, I also added a cup of uncooked 9 grain cereal (looks like oats) & a handful of shredded zucchini because I so desired. Had I had any flaked coconut left, I'd have added that also. Not the sweetened coconut, but the dried shaved coconut from the bulk bin at the health food store. That would have been amazing.

12-Grain Bread

Recipe Status: The first time I had this bread, it was the most amazing thing I had ever tasted. Now either I've since made better bread, or it didn't turn out as well as it could have. Or, I just plain wasn't feeling good and it didn't agree with me. Also, since making amazing bread without dough enhancer and extra gluten, I don't see the necessity for either of them. But I'm not knocking the recipe, I'll try again. Perhaps I'll be more impressed next time.

The original recipe made a lot of dough, so I've cut it in half. However, if you have a Bosch, it'll handle the full recipe, so knock yourself out if you so choose.

The altered recipe makes 3 loaves.

3 cups hot water

1 cup 9-grain cracked cereal, uncooked

1/4 cup millet

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (cracked if desired)

1 cup high gluten flour or vital gluten

1/3 honey or molasses

1/3 cup oil

1 tbsp salt

1 heaping tbsp yeast

1 1/2 tbsp dough enhancer

6-7 cups whole wheat flour

Measure first 5 ingredients into bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Add honey, oil, salt & 5 cups flour and mix to a paste. Stir in yeast and remaining flour, a bit at a time, until mixture cleans sides of the bowl. Knead for 5-7 minutes. Add dough enhancer and knead until mixed through. Form into 3 loaves. Let rise in greased loaf pans until about 2 inches above pan. Bake @ 350° for 30 minutes.

Orange Ginger Chicken (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I guess I've been spoiled with orange chicken recipes that have been very bold in flavor and at times very spicy. This in comparison was very bland. I liked it okay, but if I made it again, I'd definitely have to spice it up. A little cayenne and crushed red peppers, probably. Oh and more ginger. I could not taste any ginger. :(

100 g chicken breast, cut into cubes

1 orange cut into quarters

2-3 cloves minced garlic

1 tbsp fresh ginger root (roughly 1/2" to 1" piece of root)

1/2 tsp basil

Juice from half a lemon

Pepper to taste

Sprinkle chicken with pepper. Add chicken to heated pan and stir fry until all edges are no longer pink. Add garlic and cook 1 additional minute. Squeeze juice of orange quarters & lemon over chicken, then peel and separate sections of orange and add to the chicken. Stir in ginger & basil. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

*This counts as one meat and one fruit serving.

Tomato Frittata (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Remember that Asparagus Frittata recipe I posted and said "I'll bet it'd taste awesome with a vine ripe tomato instead."? Well, I tried that recipe with a vine ripe tomato. And it was delicious. (Although I did alter how I made it just a bit.)

3 egg whites

1 full egg

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tbsp dried minced onion

1 tbsp water

1 tsp parsley (or savory, as I like to add.)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 vine ripe tomato

Mix eggs in a bowl. Add garlic, onions, water, salt & pepper. Pour onto heated non-stick skillet. While that's starting to cook, chop up the tomato into small chunks. (Try to leave behind as many seeds as possible.) Place on top of eggs. Sprinkle savory over tomatoes. When eggs look ready to, flip over so the top layer can cook around the tomatoes.

*This counts as one meat and one vegetable serving.

Strawberry Julius (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: This is pretty much the same exact recipe as the Orange Julius, with the exception, of course, of strawberries. And I think I prefer this better! It's almost like strawberries & cream. Yum!

8 Strawberries

A handful or two of ice

A little bit of water (or your alloted 1 tablespoon of skim milk)

1 dropper full of Vanilla Creme liquid Stevia

Blend. Enjoy.

Lemon Shrimp & Spinach (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I wasn't eating it thinking of how amazing it was. I was nervous about putting that much garlic in it, and I thought 200 g of spinach was waaaay too much. But I was wrong! There wasn't very much flavor at all. I sprinkled some dill over everything, and that made it much better.

100 g shrimp (shelled & deveined)

200 g spinach

3 tbsp water

Juice from one lemon (or half lemon if it's large)

4-5 garlic cloves, minced

Salt & Pepper to taste

Dill to taste (My addition)

Preheat non stick skillet over medium heat. Add water, garlic & shrimp, and cook until shrimp turns pink. Squeeze lemon juice over shrimp. Add spinach, salt and pepper. Cook until spinach wilts.

Asparagus Frittata (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I love omelets, but I haven't decided if I really like this or not. It was okay, but I wasn't a big fan of the large chunks of asparagus, or the way they had it prepared. I'll bet it'd taste awesome with a vine ripe tomato instead.

Asparagus, allowed amount. (About a fist full)

3 egg whites

1 full egg

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tbsp dried minced onion

1 tbsp water

1 tsp parsley (I didn't have some so I used savory)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Tabasco if desired.

Preheat pan over medium heat. Snap woody ends off asparagus, then break them into 2 or 3 smaller pieces. (I highly recommend breaking them smaller than that.)

Add asparagus to pan with minced garlic and heat through until tender. (Ummm, this burned the garlic. So I wouldn't add the garlic until the last minute or so.)

In a bowl, mix eggs and water. Add asparagus, onion and other seasonings. Pour into a non stick baking dish, or line with parchment paper. (I completely omitted this step and instead poured the egg mixture on top of the asparagus already in the pan and placed the lid on. I felt there was no need to dirty another dish, or heat up the kitchen. Also, I sprinkled the seasons on top of the eggs instead of mixing them in.)

Cook @ 400° for 10-15 minutes. (Or cook in covered pan over medium heat until eggs are visibly bubbly and cooked through.)

*This counts as one meat and one vegetable serving.

Orange Julius (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Once again, pleasantly surprised. I'm not usually a big fan of orange julius because I love the tartness of fresh orange juice and the added sugar and vanilla makes it too sweet. But this was pretty good.

1 orange

Vanilla Creme liquid Stevia

Ice

Peel orange and place orange segments in blender. Add a handful, or two of ice in the blender. Blend. Add about 10 drops of the stevia. Blend again. If needed, you can add a little bit of water to help it blend better. Add more ice and/or stevia if desired. That's it!

Chicken Cabbage "Egg Rolls" (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Don't be fooled by the title. These are nowhere near an egg roll. However, they are delicious. Even more so than I thought they would be. I was pleasantly surprised. After making it though, I think next time I'll cook the chicken in a little liquid aminos to give it more of the asian flavor, just to give that a try. But as it is, it's pretty dang good. I'm so glad I'm not starving! ;)

100 g chicken, cooked and cubed

2-3 cabbage leaves

1 cup shredded cabbage

Chinese five spice, onion powder & garlic powder to taste. (Dash or three...)

2 Melba Toast rounds

Steam cabbage leaves for 5 minutes, set aside and steam shredded cabbage for 5 minutes. Transfer shredded cabbage to a bowl and mix with cooked chicken and spices. Wrap in cabbage leaves and top with crushed melba toast.

Lemon Oregano Whitefish w/Asparagus (HCG Friendly)

Recipe status: Very flavorful, and will make again. But as you can see in the picture, there is a TON of oregano on top of the fish. Next time I think I'll sprinkle half of it on the asparagus first.

100 g whitefish

Asparagus, allowed amount (about a fist full)

Juice from half a lemon

1 tsp oregano

Salt & Pepper to taste

Snap off woody ends of asparagus. Place asparagus in the center of a sheet of aluminum foil and season with salt & pepper. Place fish on top, squeeze lemon juice over fish, then sprinkle oregano over fish. Fold up foil into a little pouch, making sure all edges are sealed up.

Bake @ 400° for 10-20 minutes, or until fish flakes. I suggest checking it at 15 minutes. My fish was overcooked.

*This counts as one meat serving, and one vegetable serving.

One Hour Bread

Recipe Status: I found this recipe, and made the bread for a lesson I taught about food storage. The bread is incredibly painless to make. The nice thing is from the time you start putting ingredients in the bowl, an hour later you have four loaves of bread coming out of the oven. I admit it's not the best tasting bread on its own, especially compared to my Honey Whole Wheat bread, but when it comes to slicing it for sandwiches, there's no comparison to store bread. Not to mention it makes amazing french toast.

10.5 c bread flour or wheat flour (not All-Purpose Flour)

*I prefer 3.5 cups whole wheat & 7 cups bread flour. Nice blend.

1/2 c sugar

1 heaping tbsp salt

3 rounded tbsp instant yeast

3 tbsp liquid lecithin

4 c hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for one minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry add more water. Dough should be slightly sticky. Mix for five minutes. Do not add flour to the dough after it has finished mixing. Spray counter and pans and hands well with Pam. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel or Saran wrap. Let rise 20-25 minutes. Bake on 350 for 25 minutes. Recipe makes four loaves of bread.

Notes:

*Do not measure lecithin. Pour quarter sized dollops directly into the bowl. You'll thank me when you get some on your fingers.

*For whole wheat bread, use the same recipe but add one cup of applesauce as part of the hot tap water and an additional tbsp of lecithin. Mix for ten minutes.

*I make this in my Bosch. I put all the water in the bottom, add the yeast on top. Then just add all the dry ingredients, THEN the lecithin on top of the flour, etc.

To make into cinnamon rolls:

Just roll 1/4th of your total unrisen dough into a rectangle on your greased up surface. Spread a nice thick layer of butter, then spread a lovely layer of brown sugar, then sprinkle with cinnamon liberally. Roll it up. Then use floss or whatever your preferred method is. Let rise 15-20 minutes. Bake 20 minutes or until tops are browned. Spread with your preferred icing.

This dough could easily be used for:

Pizza (just don't let it rise ), Breadsticks, Braided or filled Loaf, Cinnamon swirl bread...

Pepperoni Macaroni (Pizza Mac)

Recipe status: Doesn't quite beat pizza, but my kids love it.

2 1/2 cups elbow macaroni noodles

1 lb bulk sausage (I used turkey sausage)

1 large onion, chopped

1 14 to 15 oz can/jar pizza sauce

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1/3 cup milk

1 3-4 oz package sliced pepperoni, quartered

1 can mushrooms, drained

1 cup Mozzarella cheese, grated

Olives, optional.

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in large skillet, cook sausage and onion until meat is no longer pink, drain. Drain pasta.

In a large bowl, mix pizza sauce, tomato sauce & milk. Add sausage mixture, pasta, pepperoni & mushrooms.

Transfer to a 9x13 pan and top with olives if desired. Bake covered @350° for 30 minutes. Uncover, top with mozzarella cheese and bake 10-15 minutes longer.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I was craving those lettuce wraps from PF Changs, but didn't want to make something with that heavy sauce. So I improvised. And I LOVE it!

Song: Perfect - Camouflage

100 g chicken breast, cut into small pieces

Liquid Aminos (Soy Sauce alternative)

Chinese Five Spice to taste

Onion powder to taste

For non HCG diet, you may add the following:

1 handful chopped celery

1 onion, chopped (instead of onion powder)

1/2 container mushrooms, chopped

1 handful bean sprouts

Saute chicken (and veggies if applicable) in just a little bit of Liquid Aminos, just enough to moisten. I didn't measure the Chinese Five Spice, I just sprinkled a whole bunch on.

Wrap chicken in Iceburg lettuce leaves. (Or serve over rice if lettuce repels you.)

Ginger Mahi Mahi (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I was hesitant at first because of the tomatoes. But I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Somewhat of a fresh marinara on the fish.

Song: It's not over - Client

1oo g mahi mahi, or any white fish

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp ginger

Pepper to taste

1 tomato, sliced

Juice from half a lemon

Place whitefish on top of a large sheet of aluminum foil. Cover with garlic, ginger and pepper.

Place tomatoes on top of seasoned fish & squeeze lemon juice over tomatoes.

Fold foil into a pouch and seal top and ends.

Bake @ 350° for 10-20 min (depending on thickness of fish) or until fish flakes.

*This counts as one meat and one vegetable serving.

Strawberry White Balsamic Vinaigrette (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Oh soooo tasty! Beautiful combination of sweet and tangy.

Song: Megahurts - Telegenetic

2-3 large strawberries

1/2 cup White Wine vinegar

1/2 tbsp minced garlic

1 packet stevia

Puree in blender.

This tastes excellent on chicken as well. :)

Chunky Tomato Basil Soup (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Like a warm savory salsa. Excellent with chicken.

Song: I'm Falling - Saint Etienne

170 g tomato

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 cup water, divided

3/4 tsp basil (vary to taste)

1/2 tsp onion powder

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat broiler. Cut tomato(es) in half and place on baking sheet flat side down. Broil until skins are blistered & blackened. Let cool, then remove skins & seeds.

In a small sauce pan, heat 1/4 cup water over med. heat. Add onion powder and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.

While that's cooking, place tomato(es) in a blender, food processor, or food chopper (depending on consistency desired. I use my food chopper so it's slightly chunky.)

Stir tomato into sauce pan and add the other 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper.

This counts as one vegetable serving.

Hot Buffalo Chicken (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: *Inhale of breath* Oooh that was HOT! But yummy!

Song: Headhunter - Front 242

100 g chicken breast cut into strips (roughly 1/2 a chicken breast)

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup water

1-2 tbsp cayenne pepper

1-2 tbsp chili powder

Combine vinegar, water & cayenne pepper. Add chicken and marinade for a few hours.

Add chili powder to a small dish and dip chicken into powder.

(I added chili powder to marinade, then sprinkled a little bit on top before baking.)

Bake @ 350° for 15-20 minutes.

Serve with Tobasco Sauce or Franks Original Red Hot Sauce

Strawberry Orange Smoothie (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Nice and simple. I love the citrus & berry combination.

Song: The Walk - Imogen Heap

1 cup strawberries

1/2 orange

1 cup ice cubes

1/2 dropper or 1 packet stevia (I never use it.)

Handful of spinach leaves (optional, but delicious)

Blend in blender until blended. ;)

*This counts as one fruit serving.

Sweet Zucchini Bread

Recipe Status: Best Zucchini bread EVER! Oh my heavens! Because it's not masked by cinnamon like most breads are, the wheat flavor is present, light and sweet. The orange gives it a beautiful complimenting element to the wheat. (And when I make it, I always double the recipe and bake 4 loaves at the same time.)

Song: Northern Lights - BNL

2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups grated zucchini
Peel of 1 washed orange, minced (or try this with lemon peel)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter two 9-inch loaf pans and dust with sugar, flour or wheat germ. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, then add the oil and blend. Use a spatula to mix the dry ingredients with the egg mixture in several additions, then fold in the zucchini and the orange peel.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top springs back when pressed lightly. Cool in the pans for 5 to 15 minutes before being turned out onto a rack or plate. Makes two incredibly tasty loaves, or 24 muffins. (Bake muffins for 30 minutes.)