Chicken Tofu Teriyaki Fried Rice

Hello and welcome!

Today's recipe was one of my dinners while on Spring Break in Atlanta :)   

The Recipe: 

• Rice
• Rice vinegar
• Tofu
• Chicken (pre-baked)
• Vegetable Oil

The Process:

1. Boil enough water to fill an inch and a half of a small pot. 
2. Cook about 1/2 cup jasmine rice in the pot. 
3. When the rice is about halfway done, add a couple tablespoons of rice vinegar. 
4. Saute chicken and tofu in a pan on medium heat. 
5. Add rice to the pan and continue to heat. 
6. Add teriyaki sauce to the pan and continue to heat and mix. 
7. After about 2 minutes from the time the rice was added to the pan, it should be done. Be sure everything is cooked to desired amounts. 
8. Enjoy!

Calories:

Rice- 75 calories

Rice Vinegar- 0 calories

Chicken- 100

Teriyaki- 20 calories

Vegetable Oil- 120 calories

Tofu- 100 calories

____________________________________

TOTAL: 415 calories

For under 500 calories, I got an entire pan of delicious protein and rice! 

What went right: 

         It was quite delicious and light, but also satisfying. 

What went wrong: 

         I didn't have any vegetables to add this time, but it worked out anyway. 

What I would do next time: 

          Combine the vegetable and chicken recipes. 

Would I do this again in college?: 

          For sure. I love fried rice and it's really easy to make. I can see it becoming a staple of my diet next year when Emmy and I have our own kitchen :) 

Overall, a great meal with a short cook time, perfect for college life! 

Vegetarian Tofu Fried Rice

Hello and welcome vegetable and tofu fans! 

Today's recipe was a bit of improv cooking by me and my lovely Mew Sigma Sister and future Clifton Hall apartment-mate, Emmy <3 

The Recipe: 

• Rice
• Rice vinegar
• Tofu
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Carrots
• Red Onions
• Vegetable Oil

The Process:

1. Boil enough water to fill about half of a small pot. 
2. Cook about 1 cup jasmine rice in the pot. 
3. When the rice is about halfway done, add a couple tablespoons of rice vinegar. 
4. Saute all vegetables and tofu in a pan on medium heat. 
5. Add rice to the pan and continue to heat. 
6. Add teriyaki sauce to the pan and continue to heat and mix. 
7. After about 5 minutes from the time the rice was added to the pan, it should be done. Be sure everything is cooked to desired amounts. 
8. Share with a friend :) 

Calories:

Rice- 150 calories

Rice Vinegar- 0 calories

Broccoli- 14 calories

Peas- 67 calories

Carrots- 14 calories

Onion- 23 calories

Teriyaki- 20 calories

Vegetable Oil- 120 calories

Tofu- 160 calories

____________________________________

TOTAL: 568 calories

This means Emmy and I each ate 284 calories for a very filling and healthy dinner! 

What went right: 

         It was quite delicious and light, but also satisfying. 

What went wrong: 

         I'm relatively certain actual fried rice also has garlic in the recipe and steams the peas and carrots. Something to work on for authenticity's sake! 

What I would do next time: 

          Try using different meats, garlic, and cook the vegetables differently. 

Would I do this again in college?: 

          Definitely. I'm a little addicted to asian food, and have tried this again a few times since and it turned out equally great and better :) 

Overall, a great meal with a short cook time, perfect for college life! 

Lemon Risotto (a la Giatta)

Hello and welcome!

This recipe comes from Giatta's cookbook, courtesy of my Aunt Connie, as part of our Lemon Christmas :)

Lemon Christmas began as the story of a neighborhood tradition, and grew from our love of cooking and food into Domathes with Lemon Sauce, Lemon Chicken, Lemon Risotto, Lemon Broccoli, and Limoncello Cookies. It was the best, most successful five hours of cooking I've ever experienced. This recipe is one I would love to make again, because it's fantastically addictive!


The Recipe: Lemon Risotto

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 
• 2 large shallots, diced
• 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup white wine for cooking (can be found near the olive oil and balsamic vinegar)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesean cheese 
• 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley

The Process:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth and half of the lemon juice to a simmer. Cover to keep warm. 
2. In another pan, melt 2 tbsp of butter over medium heat. 
3. Sautee the shallots in the butter for about 3 minutes. 
4. Add rice and stir. You do not need to cook the rice beforehand. 
5. Add the white wine and remaining lemon juice and cook for about 3 minutes, continuing to stir. 
6. Add small portions of the broth and lemon juice mixture in the other pot (about 1/2 cup each time) to the pan with the rice and shallots. 
7. Once each is fully mixed, continue slowly adding and stirring until all broth is in the mixture. 
8. Add in remaining ingredients: parsley, mint, parmesean, mascarpone, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. 
9. Stir over low heat until creamy. 
10. To serve in "lemon cups": hollow out lemon halves used for juice, but not zest. Cut off tip so it is flat. Fill with risotto. 
11. We recommend only serving the first portion in a lemon cup and keeping the remainder in a bowl on the table, to save time. 
12. Try to stop eating ;)

The Calories: 

Chicken broth: 77 calories

Lemon juice: 30 calories
Butter: 306 calories
Shallots: 14 calories
Arborio rice: 363 calories
Wine: 80 calories
Parmesean: 216 calories
Mascarpone: 146 calories
Zest of lemon: 11 calories

Salt: 0 calories
Black pepper: 0 calories
Parsley: 2 calories

_______________________

TOTAL: 1245 calories

This batch made quite a bit of risotto. We had enough for 6 lemon cups, plus maybe 2 cups in a bowl. This would make about 15 servings. That means each serving is only 83 calories! 

What went right: 

          This was absolutely delicious. We really nailed the risotto. Giatta, great recipe, and Aunt Connie, thank you so much for teaching me! I think I ate the most of anyone because I just couldn't stop. Even my little brother tried it and didn't hate it :) The consistency was fantastically rich, but still light enough to not densely clump. Love. 

What went wrong: 

         It's entirely possible that I now have a risotto addiction. Just kidding! But really, nothing went wrong with this recipe. 

What I would do next time:

         Risotto is something I would definitely love to make again. Mushrooms are one of my favorite ingredients, so I would like to make a mushroom risotto. Weirdly enough, I just ate red pepper risotto at the Emory cafeteria (Dobbs University Center AKA the DUC) and it was...not terrible. I think they used white cheddar instead of mascarpone, which made it very dense, and there were no shallots (sad day!), but it was still more impressive than I expected and quite well-timed! It would also be fun to try putting squash in risotto. I've also seen caprese and saffron risottos that looked quite delicious!

Would I make this in college: 

         Given that it's essentially a single pan and single pot dish, oh yes! I would make a much smaller batch, because there's no way I could keep myself from eating it all, but it doesn't take very long to make and the marginal return on taste is enormous. 

Overall, an amazing second course to Lemon Christmas, and a simple base cooking technique that will definitely become some fun experiments in the future :) 

Dinner for Four: Cheesy Rolls and Sauteed Vegetables on Penne

Hello avid reader!

Thanks for being here :) 

Today's meal was yet another event of Improv Cooking with my favorite lovely ladies of T3 :)     

 The First Recipe: Sauteed Vegetables on Penne (single serving)

• 1 oz pasta
• 1/4 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tbsp cheese
• 1/4 tbsp canola oil
• 1/4 cup mixed Mushrooms, Peas, Cucumber, Zucchini, and Spinach

The First Process: 

1. Boil enough water to fill 3/4 of a pot. 
2. Cook pasta as desired. 7-8 minutes should produce al dente pasta. 
3. In a small saucepot, combine and heat butter and cheese. Stir frequently. 
4. In a pan, heat the oil. 
5. Saute mixed vegetables in heated oil. 
6. Strain pasta and mix with cheese. 
7. Top with vegetables.

The Second Recipe: Cheesy Roll (single serving)

**Almost cheating, but we do what we can**

• 1 wheat roll
• 1 tsp cheese
• 1/4 tbsp butter

The Second Process: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176.7 degrees C).
2. Cut roll open, but not all the way through. 
3. Put half of the cheese and all of the butter inside. 
4. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. 
5. Bake for 5 minutes. 
6. Enjoy!

The Calories: 

Pasta: 100 calories

Cheese: 37 calories

Butter: 50 calories

Oil: 30 calories

Vegetables: 15 calories

Roll: 76 calories

________________________

TOTAL: 308 calories

What went right: 

         For a very satisfying meal, I'd say we did a great job with everything. The pasta and vegetables and rolls were perfect and worked quite well together. 

What went wrong: 

         The cheese sauce was a bit less creamy than I would have preferred, but it still tasted wonderful. 

What I would do next time: 

         Use a different cheese. 

Overall, a great meal and a lot of fun in the kitchen with my amazing friends :)  

Sauteed Vegetables in Penne Rigatoni

Hey pasta lovers!

This dish was inspired by my want for sauteed vegetables and my mom's want for pasta...yay for collective efforts!

Since it was first made, I have also been able to make the dish in college, as it uses a single pan, and really any combination of preferred vegetables.

The Recipe: Sauteed Vegetables in Penne Rigatoni

• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup green beans
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 box Penne Rigatoni pasta 
• 1/4 tbsp butter
• Salt
• Pepper
• Water

The Process: 

• Boil 1-2 inches of water in a covered, stove-top pot.
• Once the water is boiling, cook pasta for 7-9 minutes on medium to low heat, depending on your stove. 
• Heat a stove-top pan on high. 
• Once the pan is heated, allow the butter to melt on the pan, turning the pan to help the butter spread. 
• Turn the heat to medium. 
• Add carrots, salt, and pepper.
• Allow to cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
• Add green beans, and mix the pan with a spatula by folding it over itself multiple times. 
• Allow to cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
• Add mushrooms, and mix the pan with a spatula by folding it over itself multiple times. 
• Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, checking and turning the mix periodically. 
• Once the pasta is finished cooking, strain it and allow it to cool slightly. 
• Once the vegetables are finished cooking, remove the top of the pan, and turn off the heat.
• Once the pasta is cooled, serve it into bowls (should be 2-4 servings). 
• Once the pasta is in bowls, top it with vegetables as desired. 
• If desired, sprinkle cheese on top of the vegetables (at most 1 tsp). 
• Enjoy!

The Calories: 

Pasta: 800 calories

Carrots: 50 calories

Green Beans: 77 calories

Mushrooms: 68 calories

Butter: 25 calories

Salt/Pepper: insignificant calories

Water: 0 calories

________________________________

TOTAL: 1020 calories

This sounds like a lot, but if split between two people, that's only 510 calories each for two portions. If split between three people, 340 calories. If split between four people, 255 calories. 

What went right: 

        The pasta was a nice al dente, the vegetables cooked well, and the combination of ingredients worked in happy harmony. 

What went wrong: 

         Personally, I think the dish is carb-heavy. It would be nice to balance the carbs by altering the vegetable ratio, but in this case it might need some meat to ensure it is still just as filling. 

What I would do next time: 

         It would be good to try the dish with other seasonal vegetables, like a squash and pasta medley, or try varying the pasta:vegetable ratio and adding meats like sausage or chicken. 

Would I make this in college: 

        Oddly enough, I already have! I didn't make the dish as it is, but I held a pasta party and made pasta with marinara sauce for my dorm building, and sauteed vegetables for those who were Gluten Free. It's a very simple, quick dish to make, and leftovers are easy to keep and reheat. 

Overall, a quick, easy, healthy meal. No complaints :) 

Skinny Pizza Panini

Hey Pizza Lovers! 

Ever had that moment where it's late at night, you just gotta have that pizza taste, and there's no pizza to be found? 

This recipe is the result of that moment for me, and unlike your traditional pizza, it's quite healthy and guilt-free! 

The Recipe:  Skinny Pizza Panini

• 2 slices of Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• 2 tsp Pizza Sauce
• 1 leaf Basil
• 2 tbsp shredded Four Cheese Italian
• 1 tsp Olive Oil
• 1/4 tsp (small slice) unsalted Butter

The Process: 

• Heat your panini pan with the stove on high
• Melt your Butter and mix it with the Olive Oil
• Using a basting brush, coat both sides of your Cinnamon Raisin Bread with the Butter and Olive Oil Mix
• Lay the Cinnamon Raisin Bread open on your panini pan 
• Lower the heat to medium-low
• Sprinkle the Four Cheese Italian on both slices of your Cinnamon Raisin Bread 
• Allow the cheese to melt slightly
• Shred your Basil, and put some on both slices of your Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• Use a spoon to apply and spread the Pizza Sauce on one slice of your Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• Turn the slice without Pizza Sauce over and place it on top of the slice with Pizza Sauce
• Use the panini pan press to complete your panini. It should be left on top of the panini for 1-2 minutes depending on your desired heat and grill marks. 
• Use a spatula to remove your panini from the panini press
• Enjoy!

The Calories: 

Cinnamon Raisin Bread: 156 calories (varies by brand, check your package!)

Butter: 25 calories

Olive Oil: 40 calories (In all reality you don't use all of this...much of it will end up as residue in whatever bowl you mix with, the basting brush, and on the panini pan and press)

Four Cheese Italian: 20 calories

Basil: 0 calories

Pizza Sauce: 50 calories

__________________________________________________________

TOTAL: 291 calories!

Compared to a slice of pizza (300-400 calories depending on your brand, and generally these contain many chemicals as well), that's not bad at all. For my dinner, I combined it with 1 cup of air popped, low fat kettle corn. The total dinner was about 360 calories, and very satisfying. 

What went right: 

         Everything. This is going on my favorite sandwiches list! It may sound strange to make a pizza on cinnamon raisin bread, but it works so well together. 

What went wrong: 

         Nothing. (I love when I can say this!)

What would I do next time:

         I might make it a veggie pizza panini next time, by adding my favorite vegetables in the middle, like tomato slices, mushrooms, zucchini, and maybe even some avocado! Additionally, it would be fun to try some different cheeses, and just play around with my favorite kinds of pizza and flatbreads. It would also be fun to try with different breads, bagels and bialys. Granted additional ingredients and thicker breads mean more calories, but they also mean a well-rounded, more filling meal, which would allow for fewer sides and less hunger later. 

Would I make this in college?: 

        Did I buy a mini panini press just for college? Why, yes. Yes, I did. This recipe in particular only takes a couple ingredients in low quantities, so the total cost is around $1, when buying some pretty high quality brands. It is also quick and easy to make without a lot of effort. If all that doesn't sound like college to you, I would love to have your college experience!

Overall, a yummy new way to satisfy that pizza craving without breaking your diet, or your bank!  

Easy Chicken Wings

Hey chicken fans!

When making dinner for four, it's tough to find something everyone likes. This recipe was one of three dishes made on my Mushroom Risotto night, specifically to feed my younger brother. 

The Recipe: Easy Chicken Wings

• 8 raw chicken wings
• 1 package of Shake N Bake 

The Process: 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Clean the raw chicken, being careful to not let it touch too many surfaces, as they will all need to be cleaned. 
• Place the chicken into a large grocery bag.
• Pour the Shake N Bake breading on top of the chicken.
• Shake the bag over the sink until all chicken wings are covered. 
• Lay the chicken on a baking pan.
• Bake for about 2 hours, or until the chicken has browned and caramelized.
• Allow to cool briefly before serving. 

The Calories:

Chicken: 92 calories per wing

Shake N Bake: 40 calories (5 per wing)

_______________________

TOTAL: 97 calories per wing

This looks like a healthy recipe, but Shake N Bake is almost all chemicals, which makes it very unhealthy. 

What went right:

          With the guidance of my father, who can probably make these one handed with his eyes closed by now, I got it all right. It's really a no-brainer to be honest, so that was nice. Kirby enjoyed them and finished them, so that was a major plus. I don't really know what they tasted like, since I didn't have any. 

What went wrong: 

          The cleanup for these is obnoxious and they have a very long baking time. Otherwise, I have no issues with them. 

What I would do next time: 

           It would be nice to learn how to make my own breading for the chicken. I know there are many ways to cook without breading and I have done this before, but it would be healthier and cheaper to learn to make the breading on my own for when I do want to cook this way. It might even be possible to crumble my Garlic Sesame Croutons and add some extra spices to it as a breading...

Would I do this in college?: 

           Personally, I prefer thighs and legs to wings and it would be cheaper and healthier to make my own breading. Otherwise, yes, I think it is a great process to know and I will definitely be using it in the future.

When two sides make a meal: Green Teriyaki Chicken Salad and Roasted Broccoli/Honey Carrot Salad

Welcome/welcome back!

If you are a new visitor, I hope you enjoy my blog and my food! If you are a returning visitor, I hope you continue to enjoy my blog and my food! It is with your support that I am spurred to continue cooking...so thank you :)

When you hear "salad", most people think of a less-filling, low calorie substitute for a real meal. These salads definitely break that mold, and taste phenomenal together!

The Recipe: Roasted Broccoli and Honey Carrot Salad

• 1 cup broccoli
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 cup frozen baby carrots

The Process:

• Set the oven to broil on High
• Put the broccoli in a small, oven-safe pan
• Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil on the broccoli
• Sprinkle Salt and Pepper onto the broccoli
• Using a spatula, mix the broccoli so that all pieces become coated in a light layer of the oil/salt/pepper mixture
• Broil for about 8 minutes, or until broccoli tips brown (depends on your oven)
• Put the carrots in a small, oven-safe pan
• Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil on the carrots
• Sprinkle Salt and Pepper onto the carrots
• Using a spatula, mix the carrots so that all pieces become coated in a light layer of the oil/salt/pepper mixture
• Broil for about 4 minutes
• Remove the carrots from the oven
• Drizzle honey and sprinkle brown sugar on the carrots
• Mix the carrots into the honey and brown sugar
• Broil for another few minutes, or until carrots develop a small skin
• Mix the finished carrots and broccoli

The Calories:

Broccoli: 30 calories
Carrots: 60 calories
Olive Oil: 120 calories (technically 240, although much of the oil ends up still on the pan after cooking, so not consumed)
Honey: 64 calories
Brown Sugar: 6 calories
_______________________
TOTAL: 280 calories

Not bad! This salad alone is very filling and again, the oil content is still probably less than 120 calories after cooking.

What went right:
          Everything :) The carrots especially taste like candy. So delicious!

What went wrong:
         Nothing. I've done roasted vegetables many times, so I didn't expect any problems.

What would I do next time:
         I might try an olive oil substitute that contains less calories, but I don't really see that as a need. When you're having veggies for dinner, guilt is not on the menu.

Would I make this in college:
         Absolutely! I make this quite frequently, and am glad to have found a new partner salad to go with it.


The Recipe: Green Teriyaki Chicken Salad

• 2 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce
• 1/2 cup halved Cucumber slices
• 1/2 cup shredded Chicken breast (leftovers)
• 1 tbsp Teriyaki sauce
• 10 whole, dry Cashews

The Process:

• Preheat oven to 375
• Put your shredded chicken in a small, oven-safe pan
• Drizzle with teriyaki sauce and mix until all chicken is as saturated as possible
• Bake at 375 for about 5 minutes to heat the chicken and allow sauce to sink in
• If your lettuce comes from a bag, you will not need to chop it. If you buy whole heads of lettuce: Wash the leaves. Rip off about 4, depending on the size of the leaves. stack them on top of one another and compress the pile so that you can chop them all the way down the stem. The "leafier" part should be chopped larger than the part with more stem. Put these at the base of salad platter.
• Lay your cucumber slices around the edges of the lettuce. 
• Spread shredded chicken in the center of the cucumber ring. 
• Chop your cashews. 
• Bake at 375 for about 2 minutes. 
• Sprinkle across the entire salad. 

The Calories:

Lettuce: 12 calories

Cucumber: 8 calories

Chicken: 116 calories

Sauce: 15 calories

Cashews: 50 calories

_______________________________

TOTAL: 196 calories

Pretty awesome for a salad :) If you must add dressing, be wary of what you add...not only could you screw up the teriyaki flavor, but you also run a risk of nearly doubling your calorie and fat content! 

What went right: 

         Everything. I love this salad. I'm very glad I decided to roast the cashews and use teriyaki. They definitely make fridge dump salad taste like so much more. 

What went wrong:

         Nothing. 

What I would do next time: 

         If we had multiple types of greens such as kale or spinach I would add those too. 

Will I do this in college?:

         Yeah this is definitely the kind of leftovers dish I can see making in college :) It was fast, easy, healthy, and definitely delicious. 

Overall, these two dishes make an attractive, addictive, less calorie, more filling pair!

Baked Ziti with Sausage and Vegetables

Welcome to one of my family meal challenge dishes!

If you've read my blog description, you may have noticed each month I have more and more posts, rather than just a few per week. I've actually started cooking a few times a week for myself, baking at least once a week, and cooking a meal for my four-person household once a week.

The Recipe: Baked Ziti with Sausage and Vegetables

• 1/2 box of Ziti pasta
• 1/2 can of pizza sauce (or any desired pasta Sauce)
• Mozzarella, Alfredo, Parmesean, and Romano Cheese (again, use desired cheese)
• Four small frozen sausage links
• 1 1/2 cup halved mushrooms
• 1 zuchini

The Process:

• Boil about 1.5 cups of water in a covered pan
• Cook pasta to desired stiffness
• Broil sausage links in the oven on High. After about five minutes, turn the links and broil for another few minutes. They should be fully browned and bubbling, but not burnt.
• Slice zucchini and cut slices in half
• cut small mushrooms in half
• In an oven-safe container, cover the bottom layer with pasta
• Cover the pasta with sauce
• Cover the sauce with sausage and vegetables
• Cover the sausage and vegetables with sauce
• Cover the sauce with pasta
• Cover the pasta with sauce
• Cover the sauce with cheese
• Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees

The Calories:

Pasta: 400 calories
Sauce: 70 calories
Sausage: 267 calories
Mushrooms: 30 calories
Zucchini: 20 calories
Cheese: 180 calories
_____________________
TOTAL: 967

However, this was shared by three members of the family (the fourth deciding to only eat pasta and sausage links, plain), so each person ate approximately 323 calories :)

What went right:

          The pasta was good, although not quite baked. The sausage links were also cooked correctly. Everything tasted right together, and it was a very healthy dish.

What went wrong:
          Like I said, the pasta was not quite baked long enough to be considered baked, so I know I need to bake it longer. Also, the raw vegetables lacked the carmelization to really release their flavor.

What I would do next time:
         First of all, I would bake the dish for half an hour to really get all the flavors to cook together. Additionally, I would broil the zucchini and either broil or sautee the mushrooms as well, to get them to caramelize. I would also heat the sauce before adding it, and put more sauce throughout the dish to make sure it covers everything. To make it a special dish for each season, I could change or add vegetables, such as switching the type of squash. I might also try using different meats, although using frozen sausage links will be the easiest to accomplish in college than anything else.

Would I do this in college:
          Yeah I think I'd do this in college...it would be easy to scale down and even if I didn't, I don't see a reason the dish wouldn't keep and reheat well.

Overall, a tasty challenge dish that I will be doing again to get it just right...stay tuned!

Lean Salad Sandwich

 Hey food fans!

This is somewhat of a late night leftover sandwich, as we had chicken a few nights prior, only a few slices of ham left, and part of a loaf of french bread. Simple, no cooking needed, and delicious :)

The Recipe: Lean Salad Sandwich

• 2 oz low sodium Ham
• 1/4 grilled chicken breast
• 3 slices of tomato
• 5 slices of cucumber
• 4 leaves of Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 6 inches of french bread

The Process:

• Slice your french bread in half
• Lay down the ham across both sides
• Slice the chicken and lay it across one side
• Lay cucumber across the non-chicken side
• Slice the tomato and lay it across the chicken side
• Wash and chop the lettuce and toss it on the cucumber side
• Close your sandwich, and enjoy!

The Calories:

French Bread: 200 calories

Ham: 60 calories

Chicken: 100 calories

Tomato: 11 calories

Cucumber: 6 calories

Lettuce: 8 calories

________________________

TOTAL: 385 calories

That's awesome for a very filling sandwich, with rich bread and fresh, all natural ingredients. This recipe works well because it has a strong balance of crunch, meat, vegetable, juicy, and dry ingredients. It is most notably healthy because it does not have mayo, mustard, dressing, or any other kind of high-sodium, low nutrient value condiments. It is these additions and other chemical additives that make what could be a healthy sandwich into a problem. 

What went right:

          Everything...it's kinda hard to screw up...

What went wrong: 

          Nothing :)

What would I do next time: 

          To make this more salad-like, I might try hollowing out the bread; making croutons from the insides; loading it with lettuce first and then chopped tomato, cucumber, and chicken; using ham cubes or bacon pieces; and finally adding the croutons on "top", closing the sandwich, and eating it that way. It would become somewhat of an inverted sandwich, with all the meat at the center, surrounded by lettuce. This might also make the sandwich easier to close and eat. 

Will I do this in college:

        I think a late night leftover sandwich sounds like a very collegiate thing to do, don't you agree?

You may be asking,  'Who really needs a recipe to make a sandwich?' I don't, necessarily, when I'm tired and have nothing else that needs my immediate attention. But in college, at 2am, when I have papers to write and about zero brain cells left to focus on what I want to eat? I'd rather be able to scroll through my blog, see a nice and easy healthy sandwich, and make that than turn to whatever other snacking I can get my hands on in the same amount of time. 

Banana Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread

If you've chosen this post, you're more than likely intrigued as to how such a strange combination tasted so addicting, I made and ate TWO that night. And even though I've already had dinner, writing about it makes me want another one right now. It's that good.

The Recipe: Banana Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread

• 2 slices of Cinnamon  Raisin Bread
• 1/2 banana, sliced long ways, thinly and then each slice should be cut in half
• 1/2 apple, sliced thinly, no core
• 1 strip of bacon, cooked, broken into pieces
• 1 tbsp shredded, low fat Mozzarella
• 1/4 tsp butter

The Process: 

• Heat your panini pan and press on a large burner using high heat
• Set the press aside on the stovetop
• Spread butter on both sides of both slices of the bread
• When the pan is hot enough, place both slices of bread on the pan...remember to turn the heat down!!
• Sprinkle mozzarella on both sides of the bread
• When mozzarella is securely melted on each slice, lay the banana slices on one slice of bread
• Next, lay the apple slices on top of the banana slices
• Finally,  lay the bacon pieces on top of the apple slices
• Close your sandwich, and press until grill marks brown to desired color
• Enjoy with cinnamon sugar pita chips or other all natural snack

The Calories:

Bread: 170 calories

Banana: 45 calories

Apple: 40 calories

Bacon: 42 calories

Mozzarella: 20 calories

Butter: 25 calories

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TOTAL: 342 calories

As a sandwich goes, this is a pretty healthy option! Your typical panini has more than that in the bread alone. If you're looking at that and thinking, "Wait...but you ate two!", think for another second about what I really ate: a banana, an apple, two strips of bacon, and a relatively small amount of cheese and butter, on homemade cinnamon bread. And still ate only 684 calories for a main course for dinner.

What went right: 
           It's a strange but perfect combination! Healthy, natural, well-rounded...I love this sandwich.

What went wrong:
           The first time I almost burnt the bread because I didn't turn the heat down. Came out great though once I noticed.

Will I do this in college:
           Definitely. I might not eat two at once but I will for sure be making it.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful sandwich not only for dinner but for lunch, or even for appetizers if they were cut in diagonal fourths. It's quick, easy, and healthy...Just what every college student needs!

Cauliflower Crust Zucchini Pizza

Low carb, high veggie and lipid diet anyone?

Well, even if you're not, on the same night, we made a pizza without zucchini using a pre-made dough. Totally cheating, but certain members of my family were not up for trying the cauliflower crust pizza.

The Recipe: Cauliflower Crust Zucchini Pizza

• 1 head of Cauliflower
• 1 egg
• 1 cup shredded, Low Fat Mozzarella
• 1 Zucchini, sliced
• 3 tbsp shredded, Low Fat Mozzarella
• 2 tbsp shredded Parmesan
• 1 tbsp shredded Four Cheese Mix
• 1/4 tbsp dried basil
• 1/2 can Pizza Sauce

The Process: 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper (Which ended up being a completely stupid idea...you'll see.)
• Boil the cauliflower on low heat for 30-45 minutes (Depends on your stove...I think I gave them too much water)
• Strain and mash the cauliflower
• Mix in the egg and 1 cup of Mozzarella
• Line a strainer with ample amounts of paper towels
• Allow mix to strain briefly, pressing lightly
• Wrap the mix in paper towels and slowly wring to remove excess water
• Refrigerate the mix for about 10 minutes (While cooking the other pizza)
• Pour the mix onto the baking pan and shape 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes to prepare the crust
• Spread on pizza sauce
• Sprinkle with dried basil
• Sprinkle with cheeses
• Arrange zucchini
• Bake until the crust becomes yellow/brown at the edges and the cheese and sauce begins to bubble (I ended up taking this one out slightly early because of problems I will explain in a moment)
• Allow to cool
• Slice into desired portions (Or make into pizza burrito...)
• Enjoy!

The Calories:

Cauliflower: 144 calories

Egg:             75 calories

Mozzarella:  431 calories

Parmesan:    42 calories

Four Cheese:22 calories

Pizza Sauce: 40 calories

Basil:            1 calorie

Zucchini:       52 calories

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TOTAL: 730 calories

This is slightly higher than 1/2 of an entire Connie's All Natural Frozen Cheese Pizza. To put things in perspective, wow. That's a healthy pizza. Despite all the cheese. 

Now let's talk about what happened here...

What went right: 

         Both pizzas were going great. They looked great, tasted great, and smelled great. The cauliflower I got to eat all of in the form of a burrito because I purposefully under-cooked it to combat the fact that...

What went wrong: 

         The normal pizza finished first, a shining thing of absolute beauty. And stuck to the wax paper, so was inedible in the regular fashion...we ended up attempting to pull some of the paper off and partially getting to eat some normally...the rest we had to toss or eat sort of face to cheese...don't ask! 

        For that reason, I under-cooked the cauliflower pizza in the hopes of getting it off the wax paper. I succeeded by folding the entire pizza over itself using the wax paper, pulling off one side, flipping the uncovered side onto a plate, and then pulling off the other side.

       I really want to try this again without the wax paper, since it all tasted quite nice :)

Will I do this in College?:
        We'll see how it comes out the second time, but I think I could make this happen pretty easily in college...it doesn't take that long once the cauliflower is boiled, and I can eat an entire pizza without feeling like I've eaten an entire pizza!

Overall, I really wish I hadn't used the wax paper...thanks to my dad making salads and my family being creative, we didn't have a totally ruined dinner. Stay tuned for Cauliflower Crust--Try 2!