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.

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.