Dishing Sisters

Every Helpful Hint You Need to Know to Eating Healthier!

Photo cred: Silk

It’s been just over two weeks now in my quest to eat and live healthier. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it was a bitter challenge the first few days. Cravings for sweets, one more glass of wine and of course that warm, chewy goodness of a thick slice of bread slathered in butter! But, I’m happy to say that IT GETS EASIER!

I’m also happy to say that I’ve had quite a few people approach me with questions, interest and encouragement. Several have joined the crusade alongside me and for that I’m grateful. It always helpful if you’re doing this with family members or friends that you can share your successes (and some failures…damn that last piece of chocolate I found hiding in the pantry!), recipes and meal planning strategies.

I had a friend share this brilliant collection of diagrams that will help with a plethora of questions, meal dilemmas and shopping conundrums. Salads, smoothies and snacks – oh my! Keep this handy people and you’ll have some fabulous guidelines right at your fingertips!

Happy (and healthy) eating!

http://pulptastic.com/24-must-see-diagrams-will-make-eating-healthy-super-easy/

Posted in Good for you grub, Morning munching
Tagged breakfast, clean eating, fruit, groceries, healthy eating, hints, nuts, salads, shopping, smoothies, snacks, soup, vegetables

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Chicken Piccata, Cleaned Up.

I’ve said this before but I adore anything lemon, whether savory or sweet, I gravitate toward the sour pucker of that citrus!  So, here’s a clean-eating riff on one of my favorite Italian dinner dishes.

Posted in Good for you grub, Quicky Chicky Recipes
Tagged Chicken, chicken piccata, clean eating, dinner, healthy dinner, Italian, lemon, low calorie

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Risotto…Healthy Style

So here I am on my quest to eat better in 2015 and I think I’m 1-for-1. Found this recipe, courtesy of Clean Living Magazine and loved that it involves a crock pot, EASY…SCORE! This “risotto” has some interesting flavors with the fennel and the soft onion flavors of the leeks. It didn’t originally call for S&P so I added that as well as dill which is a favorite herb of mine. Next time I think I’ll add some peppers to spice it up a bit.

The good news?  2 Cups = only 370 calories, 2 grams of fat, 63 grams of fiber and 25 grams of protein!

Ingredients:

28 oz. diced tomatoes, with juice

2 large leeks, thinly sliced

1 large bulb fennel, cored and thinly sliced

2 cups farro, rinsed

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 Tbs. tomato paste

Salt and pepper to taste

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (thawed if frozen)

2 Tbs. chopped flat leaf parsley or fresh dill

In a 5-qt. slow cooker, add tomatoes, leeks, fennel, farro, broth, tomato paste and 1  1/2  cups water; stir to mix in tomato paste well and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, stirring about every 30 minutes.

Remove lid, add shrimp and stir to combine. Replace lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes, stirring after 15 min, until shrimp are pink and opaque. Garnish with parsley or dill and serve with a side kale/spinach salad.

Posted in Fishin' n Dishin', Good for you grub, It's a meal!, What a crock!
Tagged clean eating, dinner, farro, healthy, low cal, meals, risotto, Shrimp

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I’m Baaaaccckkk!

Let me re-introduce myself, I’m Lisa and I have a very neglected website. Well it’s a new year and one of my new resolutions is to resurrect my poor site and breathe some new life into some old food thoughts!

My second resolution for 2015 is to eat better, you’ve heard the term, “Clean Eating”.  I see the eye roll, so let me clarify – clean eating isn’t some fad diet (I hate the word diet!) it’s actually a lifestyle change. It’s turning down the fast and processed food and concentrating on REAL food, which I have to say can be very delicious. Here’s the kicker, if you do that not only will you change your body and lose weight, you’ll actually feel better! Baby steps are OK, gradually start replacing items with better choices and we’ll get into the habit gradually together.

So, I’ll be the guinea pig and post clean and healthy recipes that I’ve tried or created and any other inspirational tips and meal plans that I come across. You? Well, give a little clean eating a try and we can cheer each other on! Share your thoughts and other yummies you find and together we’ll make 2015 a deliciously healthy new year!  We got this sister ~

Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2015, clean eating, eating, good food, healthy, new year, resolutions

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The Easter bunny called, he wants Carrot Cake again!

Every time I make this cake, (which by the way is likely the most moist and one of the most delicious cakes I have ever had) people ALWAYS ask for the recipe. So I’m happy to share this deliciousness with you in hopes that you and yours enjoy it as much as we have!

This cake is fabulous for an Easter gathering! Word of warning…make it once and you’ll be asked to make it time and time again. It is a bit time-consuming but well worth the effort.

KILLER CARROT PINEAPPLE CAKE

FOR THE CAKE:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup raisins (optional – I leave these out in honor of my mom!)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 pound carrots, grated
• 1/2 cup diced pineapple

FOR THE FROSTING:

• 3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans. (You can also make these as cupcakes or in a 9×13 inch cake pan. If making cupcakes, line with paper cup liners and adjust baking time.)

FOR THE CAKE:

Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in the bowl of an electric mixer until light yellow. Add the vanilla. In another bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Toss the raisins and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour to keep from sticking together, then add to batter. Fold in the carrots and pineapple and mix well.

Divide the batter equally between the 2 pans. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans set over a wire rack.

FOR THE FROSTING:

Mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth then frost cake/cupcakes.

~Recipe adapted from Ina Garten~

Posted in Sweet Treats
Tagged cake, carrot, carrot cake, cream cheese, delicious, dessert, Easter, pineapple, raisins

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This Cake Will Definitely Make Irish Eyes (and tummies) Smile!

Well I’m not Irish and green eggs and ham really don’t sound that appetizing to me but what I DO love are the parties and you can’t have a party without DESSERTS!

So here’s my tip o’ the hat to St. Patty’s Day with a super easy, deliciously minty, shamrock green cake.

Creme De Menthe Cake

1 box white cake mix

6 Tbs creme de menthe liquor

8 oz. whipped topping

16 oz. jar of Hersey fudge icecream topping

1/4 cup Hersey shell icecream topping or chocolate shavings (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make cake as directed on package, but just before pouring batter into 9×13 pan mix in 3 Tbs of creme de menthe. Bake according to package, then cool completely.

Top cooled cake with fudge topping, then fold remaining 3 Tbs of creme de menthe into the whipped topping. Cover the top of the fudge completely.  If desired, drizzle a little of the chocolate shell topping or chocolate shavings over the top. Serve. Keep in refrigerator.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks you grow,

and may trouble avoid you whereever you go!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted in Sweet Treats
Tagged chocolate, creme de menthe cake, mint, shamrock, St. Patrick's Day

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Easy Cheesy Deli Breezy!

Hey friends, you haven’t been ignored, we’ve been cooking up a storm!

We’re excited to announce that in the last several months we’ve teamed up with Tyson’s Deli Anytime products to create quick and easy solutions for any meal. Now with a few ingredients from your deli you can whip up dozens of scrumptious eats in a jif!

Here’s a tummy-filler favorite…go ahead, give it a try! (Click on title to view recipe)

Mac Ham & Cheese

Posted in Pleasant Pastas
Tagged cheese, deli, delianytime.com, ham, hearty, mac and cheese, pasta

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Super Bowl, Super Snacks!

It’s almost Big Game Day and if you’re looking to score with some quick and easy snackage to bring to the shindig, never fear – I got your back with a couple of gems to share. (Check out the “Little Bites and Starters” category for more yummy ideas too!)

Hot Crab Dip

3 oz. cream cheese

1/4 cup mayo

2 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp Old Bay, or other seafood seasoning

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 lb crabmeat, fresh or canned

S & P

* (optional – for a kick, add a little hot sauce or sriracha!)

Panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix the cream cheese, mayo, lemon juice, Old Bay and cheddar cheese together. Fold in the crab and add a S & P to taste (add hot sauce now if desired).

Spread in a buttered baking dish and top with panko bread crumbs. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

Serve warm with crackers and celery/carrot sticks.

Salty-Sweet Snack Mix

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 cups chex cereal

3 cups oyster crackers

2 cups mini pretzels

1 cup nuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Boil the corn syrup, butter, brown sugar, salt and vanilla for 1 minute. Add the baking soda. Toss the cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts with the hot mixture.

Spread on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

*Thanks to Pineapple Grass and Food.com for the image share!

Posted in Little bites and starters
Tagged crab dip, game day, party, snack mix, snacks, Super bowl, sweet and salty, tailgate

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Avgolemono…It’s all Greek to me!

Recently a co-worker inspired me when she started talking about a soup that we occasionally get at a terrific little deli down the street. She has a daughter that is gluten intolerant and learned that not only is the soup easy and tasty, it’s also gluten-free…BONUS!

Avgolemono (Ahv-go-lim-oh-no) is of Greek origin and means egg lemon. The modern Greek definition of the word is a soup made with beaten eggs, lemon and chicken broth. Well if you throw a few more interesting ingredients in, you have one dandy-delicious bowl of goodness!

Avgolemono Soup

2 cups milk

2 Tbs cornstarch

6 egg yolks, beaten

2 qt chicken stock

1/2 cup finely diced onion

2 tsp dried parsley

1 Tbs dried thyme

1/2 cup rice (NOT instant)

2 cups diced leftover chicken or turkey (fully cooked)

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1 tsp. grated lemon zest (peel)

S & P

In a bowl, stir the milk and the cornstarch together – mix thoroughly. Whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time. Set aside.

Bring the stock to a boil in a large pot. Add the parsley, thyme and onion and simmer 10-15 minutes. Add the rice, cover and continue cooking for about 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender. Add the diced chicken and remove from heat.

Take about 1 cup of the hot soup mixture and slowly whisk it into the egg/milk mixture, stirring continuously. (This will “temper” the egg mixture before adding it to the soup, avoiding the eggs to scramble!)  Add one more cup of soup to the egg mixture, then slowly pour the entire egg mixture back into the soup pot, whisking until completely added. Add the lemon juice, zest, butter and season with S & P. Turn the heat back on to low, making sure NOT TO BOIL the soup (or the eggs may curdle the broth), but to let it slowly simmer for about 5 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken.

Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

This soup cannot be frozen, but will keep in the frig for about 5 days (and reheats nicely!).

Posted in Soup's On!
Tagged avgolemono, Chicken, egg, gluten-free, Greek, lemon, soup

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Crazy Big Lemons – Take 2

If you noticed my last post you might have been newly introduced to the ‘big-as-your-head’ Ponderosa Lemon!

So in celebration of this unusual citrus (and a fab Girls Trip to Florida) my friend and co-traveler Connie, whipped up a beautiful dish with our new found mega fruit.

Chicken Piccata

3 chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally

1/4 cup flour

Salt & Pepper

EVOO

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup white wine

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 Tbs capers

1/4 cup lemon juice (Ponderosa or other)

3 Tbs butter

lemon slices

Heat 1 Tbs of EVOO in a large skillet. Meanwhile, add S & P to flour and coat both sides of the chicken. Brown chicken at medium heat for 2 minutes on each side. Remove chicken and place on plate.

Deglaze pan with wine and add garlic. Cook and stir until garlic is browned. Add broth, capers and lemon juice. Return chicken to pan, cover and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Remove chicken and add butter and lemon slices.

Cook until butter melts and lemons are translucent. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

Here’s to great friends, fun travels and delicious contributions in the kitchen!  Thanks Con!

Posted in Quicky Chicky Recipes, Tasty Travels, Team Players! (Contributions)
Tagged Chicken, lemon, piccata, Ponderosa lemons

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