A Taste of Twinsburg

Sour Cream Zucchini Bread

2008-07-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Too many zucchinis coming from your garden? Use them to make this delicious bread! I usually add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the recipe (instead of raisins or nuts) and everyone eats this up! It's moist and yummy!

3 cups all purpose flour
3 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups gated zucchini (pared if desired)
1 cup chopped nuts or raisins
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup sour cream

Grease two 9x5x3” loaf pans.
Sift flour into a large bowl.
Beat eggs and add with rest of ingredients to the flour in large bowl.
Mix well, making sure all zucchini and flour is mixed into batter.
Scrape bowl often and keep mixing for several minutes.
Pour into greased pans and bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Let cool in pans on wire racks.
Store in plastic wrap or wrap in freezer paper and freeze.

Yummy Summer Lemonade

2008-06-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 cup sugar (or Splenda)
1 cup water (to heat)
1 cup lemon juice (or 5 fresh squeezed lemons)
3 to 4 cups cold water

Method

1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Easy Chicken Quesadilla

2008-06-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

"I made this as an impromptu lunch one day looking through the fridge. The key is to add less ingredients so that the two tortillas stick together with the cheese. " By Beth

Serving 1

Ingredients
2 large soft tortillas
1/3 c precooked chicken (I bought some plain grilled that was already cut into chunks)
2/3 c shredded cheddar
1 tbsp mild salsa

Heat a large flat skillet on medium high. Spray with cooking spray. Place one tortilla on skillet, add all ingredients on top. Place second tortilla on top. As cheese melts, press the edges of the two tortillas together so they stick. Don't leave it on one side too long, just until cheese is melted. This will make it easier to flip without spilling all the stuff inside. Flip the queso over and brown the other side. Cut into fours and serve with sour cream or guacamole.

Ookie Gookie

2008-06-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

This recipe can also be made as sugar-free and still taste great! It's a recipe that we have used in our family for years and it's ALWAYS a hit for a picnic on a hot day.

Mix like pie dough:
1 cup flour
¾ cup chopped nuts
½ cup butter
Press into 13x9” pan and bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Mix together:
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. Cool Whip FOLDED in
Spread over cool crust.

Mix together:
1 vanilla instant pudding
1 chocolate instant pudding
3 cups milk
Spread over cream cheese layer

Frost with Cool Whip.
Chill and serve.

Salad Nicoise

2008-05-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Romaine lettuce (or other favorite)
canned tuna fish (I use the good-solid white)
1/2 to 1 red onion
very small red bliss potatoes
fresh green beans
tomatos
good Italian or vinaigrette dressing - I like Paul Newman's Balsamic Vinaigrette
blace olives if you like

Ok, I have been making this so long that I don't have amounts, but I'm sure there are many variations. Use your best judgement. I snap the beans and cook them in boiling, salted water with the potatoes. Don't overcook. I transfer the cooked beans and potatoes to a bowl and add onion thinly sliced into rings, tomatoes, tuna fish, dressing, salt, pepper and chopped fresh herbs from my garden when available. Refrigerate to cool. Serve on a bed of lettuce. Alternatively, I line up the ingredients on a platter, keeping each item separate and let people dress their own salad. Makes for a nice presentation that way. Serve with a good bread for a light summer meal.

Vanilla Wafers - Vanille Kager

2008-05-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Denmark Troop 610 - Thank you!

Servings 96

Ingredients
1 1/2 c butter
2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 5/8 c flour - sifted
1 1/2 c cornstarch
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Directions

Cream the butter and sugar smoothly; beat in the eggs and vanilla. Sift the flour, cornstarch and cream of tartar; add gradually, beating into the butter mixture. Put a spoonful of the dough about 2 inches apart on a buttered baking pan or cookie sheet. Bake in a moderately hot oven (400 degrees) for about 8 minutes, until cookies have a golden brown edge.

When removing them from the pan they are soft; they become crisp when cool and are rich and delicious.

Summer Salad

2008-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

1 c sliced strawberries
2 c baby greens
1/2 c slivered almonds
1/2 c feta cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 squeezed lemon
1 tsp Splenda

Mix sliced strawberries with Splenda sweetener. Add all ingredients in a bowl and toss lightly. Serve. This salad is very sweet and tangy with the cheese and strawberries. It is a lovely taste of summer. I tried using iceberg lettuce and balsamic vinaigrette, but the flavor wasn't as good as this flavor with oil and lemon.

Coconut Chicken

2008-05-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe from Padma Lakshmi's book Easy Exotic: a model's low-fat recipes from around the world. The coconut is from light coconut milk, not flaked coconut. This recipe has a complexity of flavors. I have been making it for years for special occasions as well as for my family.

1 onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp fresh gingerroot, minced
1 large jalapeno chili, stemmed and halved (I chop it)
grated zest of 1 lemon, about 1 tbsp
1/4 cp water
2 tbsp veg. oil (I use olive)
One 3 - 3 1/2 lb chicken, cut into small serving pieces, skin removed (I usually use boneless, skinless breasts or breasts and thighs)
1 cp sliced carrots
salt to taste
1 1/2 tsps Hot Madras Sambar Curry Powder (available at the market next to Raj Mahal on State Road in the Falls)
1 14oz can unsweetened "light" coconut milk
fresh lemon juice to taste
1/2 to 1 cp loosely packed chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1. Puree onion, garlic, gingerroot, chili, lemon zest, and water in a blender.

2. In a casserole set over moderate heat, warm the oil until hot and add the paste. Stir for about 3 minutes and add the chicken, carrots, salt and cook for about 10 minutes turning the chicken until lightly colored on both sides. Add the curry and continue cooking, stirring and turning for about 5 minutes. Add the coonut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in lemon and cilantro to taste. Serve over rice (I use brown rice).

Variation: Other vegetables can be added such as canned baby corn, sliced zuccini and cut green beans if desired. (I always add the baby corn).

This is for 4 servings. I usually double it because it is great on the reheat.

Healthy Chicken Fajitas

2008-05-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breasts, 7-8" tortilla shells, low fat shredded cheddar cheese, green and red peppers and onion frozen mix, 1 can black beans, 1 container organic salsa, 1 container low fat sour cream

1 Serving

1 7-8" flour tortilla
2 oz grilled chicken breast
1 tbsp low fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sautéed peppers and onions
1/4 cup black beans
1 tbsp organic salsa
1 tsp low fat sour cream

Grill chicken on a grill or cut up and sauté in a pan with vegetable oil. Cook veggies in a pan until done; cook black beans in a small sauce pan. Heat a flat round skillet or comal on medium high heat and warm the tortilla on top. Top the warm tortilla with cheese, chicken, beans, peppers and onions, and salsa. Roll the tortilla and top with sour cream.

Perfect Pita Pizza for Two

2008-05-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

2 pieces pita bread, white or wheat
1 sm can Italian herb tomato paste
1 small tomato, sliced thin
1/2 green pepper, sliced thin
1/2 yellow pepper, sliced thin
6 pieces turkey pepperoni per pita
1 tbs sliced black olives per pita
1/4 cup pizza cheese per pita
i.e. shredded provolone and mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place both pita on a cookie sheet. Spread 1/2 can tomato paste on each piece. Cover with cheese, veggies, and pepperoni. Place in the oven for 7-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and pepperoni is lightly crisp.

Each 6.5" pizza is about 380 calories. A pepperoni Pizza Hut 6" personal pan pizza is 610 calories.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

2008-05-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

I have recently started going to the gym on a regular basis, trying to get back to my swimsuit figure for the summer. This recipe is a great one for people exercising and trying to build muscle.

2 tbsp Ballys chocolate whey protein powder
3/4 cub low carb vanilla ice cream (or low fat frozen yogurt)
1 c unsweentened soy milk
1/2 banana

Put all of the items in a blender and blend until smooth. (I used a food processor which worked just as well). Drink and enjoy! My trainer told me that whey protein is great to drink at least an hour after a hard workout to help strength your muscles. And this tastes great! I think there are more kinds of whey protein at health food stores and places like GNC.

Jalapeño Chicken on Rye

2008-05-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

1 c cooked, shredded chicken breast
2 slices jalapeño jack cheese
1 tbsp spicy ranch salad dressing
1 tomato sliced
2 slices rye bread

Toast the rye bread. Place chicken on one slice, cover with cheese. Place in a toaster oven or use small portable grill to make panini. Spread dressing on other slice. Top chicken side with tomato; put two halves together. Enjoy!

Cheese Pastry Bars

2008-04-30T14:00:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Monica

2 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 ts. vanilla
2 pkgs. crescent rolls

Mix together 1st 4 ingredients until creamy. (I just used a wooden spoon)
Unroll 1 pkg. of crescent rolls and line the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spoon cheese mixture evenly on top of dough. Top w/the other pkg. of crescent roll dough. Bake 350 oven for 30 mins. Cool. Glaze.
Glaze: Mix 1/2 c powdered sugar w/enough milk to make a thick glaze. Can add a flavoring if desired.

Mock Mashed Potatoes

2008-04-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

1 head cauliflower pieces, boiled
1/2 c heavy cream
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp garlic
3/4 sour cream
4 slices American cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Boil cauliflower until tender. Use food processor to chop cauliflower, sour cream, butter, heavy cream, and garlic. Make sure that it is not chopped too fine. Pour mixture into a casserole dish; top with cheese slices. Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Low Carb Ham Quiche

2008-04-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

Filling:
5 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp. olive oil
garlic salt
6 oz. Ham, diced
6 oz. Mozzarella cheese, grated
2 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
2 tbsp. Pesto

Crust:
1 Cup soy flour, sifted
1 stick butter - cut in eight sections
3 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tbsp. water
1 cup parmesan cheese

Filling preparation:
Preheat saute pan over medium heat with olive oil. Cook Ham until well browned about (7 -10 minutes.) Add garlic. Remove pan from heat and drain well in strainer. Beat eggs, cream and pesto in mixer or with wire whip. Fill crust by alternating layers of filling, batter and cheese 1/3 at a time until finished. Bake in 375-degree oven for 45 minutes.

Quiche Crust Preparation(Makes 2 Pie Crusts = 10.5 net carbs per Crust):
Mix soy flour and Parmesan cheese together in mixer with dough hook. Add butter in sections until mixture starts to crumb. Gradually add heavy cream and water. Press dough into pie plate and bake empty crust at 375 degrees for 15 minutes

Yields 8 servings - approximately 4.5 net carbs per serving

Low Carb Chicken Nuggets

2008-04-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Nugget Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
1 tbs garlic powder

Breading:
1/2 cup soy flour - sifted
1 sm bag fine ground pork rinds

Breading Preparation:
To prepare breading, mix sifted flour with fine ground pork rinds and put in large casserole for breading chicken nuggets.

Chicken Preparation:
Puree chicken breast in food processor until fine. Add garlic and eggs. Drizzle in cream until well mixed. Make small balls using a large tablespoon. Put on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper Gently place nugget into crumb mixture.

Cooking:
Fry nuggets 4-5 at a time in 365-degree oil or a large pot filled with 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil heated on medium until golden brown. Place on a plate covered in paper towels.

Serve with favorite low carb dressing! 1/2 carb per nugget.

Traditional Deviled Eggs

2008-03-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Need something to do with those leftover Easter Eggs?

Ingredients
1 dozen eggs
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/3 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Paprika

First hard boil the eggs. Fill up a large saucepan half-way with water and gently add the eggs. Cover the eggs with at least an inch of water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water (this will help contain egg whites from leaking out if any of the shells crack while cooking). Add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil. Cover, and remove from heat. Let sit covered for 12-15 minutes. Drain hot water from pan and run cold water over the eggs. (At this point if you crack the egg shells while the eggs are cooling, it will make it easier to peel the shells.) Let sit in the cool water a few minutes, changing the water if necessary to keep it cool.

Peel the eggs. Using a sharp knife, slice each egg in half, lengthwise. Gently remove the yolk halves and place in a small mixing bowl. Arrange the egg white halves on a serving platter.

Using a fork, mash up the yolks and add Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, onion, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Spoon egg yolk mixture into the egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika.

Philly Cheesesteak Frittata

2008-03-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

4 eggs

4 slices steak-ums

1 green pepper, chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

4 slices white american cheese

Cook steak-ums in a flat bottomed skillet; add peppers and onions and cook until well done on medium high. Remove and put on a paper towel covered plate. Reduce heat to medium-medium low. Whip eggs together and pour into the bottom of the skillet. They will bubble up a little bit. When they start to get done, put steak-ums and veggies on egg. Cover with cheese. Cover with lid and let cheese melt. Serve!

Low Carb Crustless Cheesecake

2008-03-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

32 ounces cream cheese
1 cup splenda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 eggs
3 tablespoons sour cream

With an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and splenda at slow to medium speed, scraping sides often. Add all other ingredients except eggs. When completely mixed (with no lumps), add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating very slowly. When eggs are incorporated, do not mix any more. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cooking Instructions#1 (the Right way)
Pour the mixture into the springform pan. Place the pan on a very large piece of aluminum and fold the foil up around the pan to create a watertight barrier around the cheesecake. Then place the barrier pan in an even larger pan and fill the larger pan halfway with water. This is called a water bath. It is a gentler way to cook the cheesecake. Place the entire water bath containing the cheesecake in a 300-degree preheated oven. Cook for 1 hour and reduce heat to 200 degrees for 1 more hour. Turn oven off and leave cheesecake in until the oven is completely cool. The cheesecake can even be left overnight at this point. Cracks can also occur when a cheesecake cools too quickly.

Alternative cooking instruction#2 (The Way I Did It)
If you do not own a springform pan, you can use a cake pan covered in aluminum foil, leaving some excess around the edge, and spray with cooking spray. In the 300 degree preheated oven, cook the cheesecake for 35 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 degrees, and cook for 35-40 minutes. Let the cheesecake sit out until cool. You can pull the cheesecake out of the pan by the foil and place on a serving dish. Then, refrigerate overnight. Serve!

The difference between these two methods is that my method, the cheesecake will crack. However, if you don't care to much about that, it is a quicker and easier method. I served my cheesecake with blackberries and whipped cream, both really low carb! Blackberries have a low gylcemic index, which works great for the carb diet.

Low Carb Turkey Chili

2008-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1lb ground turkey, browned and drained
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 packet chili powder (desired hotness)

Toppings (optional):
Cheddar cheese
Sour Cream

Brown turkey, drain. Mix together all ingredients in a large pot. Cook on medium to medium high heat for 30 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer on medium low heat for additional 30 minutes. Serve with shredded cheddar and sour cream.

This meal is great for cold days, and without the added beans, its really low in carbohydrates! Great for leftovers too!

Low Carb Pizza for Two

2008-03-10T16:53:00.001-07:00

2 hamburger patties, patted thin
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 cup Mozzarella cheese
10 slices pepperoni
1 cup pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook patties on a skillet, medium high. Sprinkle Italian herbs on either side of the patties. After patties are well done, put on a cookie sheet. Spread pizza sauce on both patties. Sprinkle on mozzarella cheese, then pepperoni. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes, until pepperoni is crispy and cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Easy Pizza Calzones

2008-02-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

Created by Beth

Ingredients
1 pkg Pillsbury pizza crust dough
1 pkg pepperoni
1 pkg shredded Mozzarella and Provolone cheese
1 sm can pizza sauce
1/2 c flour

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease a large cookie sheet. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface, like counter top. Roll out the pizza dough and roll with a rolling pin until 1/4 in thick. Cut into 4 rectangular pieces. Place pepperoni on the right half of a piece of dough. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese on top. Fold the dough over top of the toppings and press edges tightly together, sealing the mixture firmly inside. Make all four calzones. Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the top of the the calzone is light golden brown. Heat the pizza sauce in a seperate small dish in the microwave for about a minute. Serve and Enjoy!

Monte Cristo Sandwich

2008-02-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

Created by Beth

1/2 lb shaved Deli honey ham
1/4 lb Alpine Swiss cheese
1 loaf fresh baked Italian bread, cut into thick slices
2 eggs
2 tsp powdered sugar
1 tbs butter

Serve with:
2 small dishes of strawberry jam for dipping

Makes 2 sandwiches.

Heat butter in skillet on medium heat. Beat egg in a dish with a flat bottom. Coat one side of sliced Italian bread in egg. Put egg side down on the skillet. Layer 1/2 slice Swiss cheese on bread, followed by a hearty handful of shaved ham; top with other 1/2 of cheese. Dip another slice of bread in egg; put egg side up remaining on sandwich. Flip sandwich to cook the other side. When both sides are golden brown, serve on a plate and dust the sandwich lightly with powdered sugar. Cut in half and with small dish of strawberry jam.

Skillet Chicken Parmesan

2008-02-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

Created by Beth

Ingredients
1 pkg boneless skinless chicken tenders
1 cup flour
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 eggs
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce
3 roma tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp butter

- Serve over spaghetti noodles, cooked.

Directions:
Beat eggs in a small bowl. Mix flour, garlic, and Italian seasoning in a bowl and transfer to a Ziploc bag. Dip each chicken tender in egg, then put in baggy and shake until coated. Transfer each piece to a plate. Heat butter in a large skillet on medium to medium high heat. Place chicken tenders in the skillet; turning to brown each side. Cook until light golden brown. Turn heat down just a tad. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top; add tomatoes. Pour spaghetti sauce around the edge of the skillet. Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until sauce is hot. Serve over noodles. Enjoy!

Beth's Easy Skillet Potatoes

2008-02-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

5 medium Idaho potatoes, cut into bite sized chunks
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
4 strips bacon
1 small onion, chopped

Heat a large skillet on medium high. Cook bacon until browned; remove from pan. Let dry on a paper towel. Leave the grease in the pan. Add onions and potatoes, garlic and pepper. Lower to medium heat. Chop bacon into bits and add. Cover. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes become golden brown and soft. Test with a fork.