fighting the fat, one delicious meal at a time

Posts Tagged ‘baked’

Sunday Supper: Oven-Fried Chicken Drumsticks

On May 5, 2013   /   Main Dishes, Poultry   /   Leave a comment

Oven-fried chicken drumsticks

This recipe really takes me back. These oven-fried chicken drumsticks are one of the first things I made when I decided to cook healthy food for myself. Before I discovered these drumsticks, my weekly dinners were a sad rotation of frozen meals and boring romaine salads. The drumsticks changed everything. They were the proof I needed that I could make tasty, healthy food at home.

I made these yesterday for the first time in ages and knew I had to share them. They’re cooked in the oven instead of deep-fried in tons of oil, but they’re still plenty delicious.  The drumsticks turn a beautiful golden brown: crunchy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside.

Boil some sweet corn, make a small salad, throw a pair of drumsticks on your plate, and you’re in business. It’s perfect for a Sunday night supper on the back porch. The drumsticks are also great for breakfast: have one with a little maple syrup and a sweet bagel for a protein-packed treat.

Credit to Lisa Lillien (aka Hungry Girl) for the secret to the healthy breading — see my version of the recipe after the jump! Read more… →

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Quick, Easy, Good: 15-Minute Veggie Flatbread

On April 2, 2013   /   Main Dishes, Vegetarian   /   Leave a comment

Veggie flatbread, ready in 15 minutes or less

It’s Tuesday night. The week has just started, and you have a million things on your brain. Between the chaos of work and the michegas that is your personal life, the whole shaved-head-and-life-of-solitude thing is starting to sound pretty good. You take a look around your messy apartment, stop at your fridge, and it hits you: you’re going to have to eat at some point. Fear not, friends. This veggie flatbread recipe is here to save you. Start to finish, it takes 15 minutes or less.

There are two shortcuts that make this recipe so speedy. The first? Store-bought pasta sauce. I know, I know — blasphemy! It’s so easy to make good pasta sauce that buying it pre-made just isn’t necessary. Still, when my hanger has reached its peak and I lack the spiritual strength to summon my inner Mario Batali, jarred pasta sauce is a lifesaver.

The other shortcut for this recipe is one of my pantry staples: low-carb lavash. I buy packs of these things two or three at a time. They’re soft and pliable, great for making wraps and roll-ups. Baked in the oven, the thin bread browns and crisps like a dream. At around 100 calories each, a low-carb lavash is a healthy alternative to a thin restaurant crust.

This veggie flatbread always satisfies my pizza cravings. Augment that jarred pasta sauce with some chili flakes and fresh basil, add some melty cheese, and finish with beautiful, fresh vegetables. As always, make whatever swaps you like — artichoke hearts, Brussels sprouts, and bell peppers would be wonderful here. For a bit of extra protein, try adding chicken or shrimp. And if you have homemade sauce on hand, all the better — use that instead. Read more… →

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Simple Snack: Baked Lotus Root “Chips”

On March 20, 2013   /   Appetizers and Snacks, Low-Fat, Side Dishes, Vegetarian   /   Leave a comment

Baked Lotus Root Chips

I first had lotus root at a great little Korean restaurant in town. I had no idea what it was. My first thought? “…This may or may not be a cross section of ET’s pancreas.” Once I got over the initial shock, I began to appreciate the beauty of the plate. I took my first bite and was instantly hooked: the lotus root was delicious. It was tender and slightly sticky, simmered in soy sauce and something sweet. I’m still working out how to replicate that dish. During the course of my many (many, many) experimentations, I’ve found that lotus root makes a fantastic baked chip.

Lotus root is starchy — not unlike a potato, actually. After a quick, tenderizing boil in water and vinegar, I give the lotus root the same treatment I would give oven-cooked spuds. I grab a few of my favorite spices, season the lotus root liberally, and toss them in a hot oven. This simple process yields a lovely, flavorful snack. The baked lotus root chips are crisp at the edges and tender in the middle, a little chewy throughout. I like to eat them with a little bit of spicy-sweet gochujang on the side.

I usually use my favorite seasoning trio of chili, garlic, and onion powders, but you can change the flavors in a million different ways. The lotus root works beautifully with just about anything. Try it with garam masala for an Indian flair; for a Latin touch, try adobo or a mix of cumin, garlic, and parsley. If you like spicy North African flavors, harissa is a great choice.

Detailed instructions after the jump!

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Cheap Eats: Crunchy Dark Chocolate Homemade Granola Bars

On March 4, 2013   /   Appetizers and Snacks   /   Leave a comment

Crunchy, Nutty Dark Chocolate Granola Bars

Ring-ring! “Hey girl, can I call you back? I’m making chocolate-dipped granola bars.”

“…oh my God, who ARE you???”

Apparently, I am a girl that bakes homemade granola bars in her spare time. Don’t be too impressed; it’s honestly not that big of a deal. Anyone who’s made their own granola before can tell you how cheap and easy it is. Turning that granola into convenient, portable bars takes just a few more steps:

1. Add something sticky and gooey to the granola.
2. Bake said granola.
3. Cut said granola into bars.
4. Dip bars into high quality chocolate.

Done.

The one trick is waiting for the granola to cool before you cut it — if you’re impatient and try to cut too early, you risk ending up with a (delicious) heap of crumbly clusters instead of the handy bars you intended.

Granola is especially substitution-friendly, so use whatever ingredients make sense to you. I used a mix of almond, pecans, and blueberry craisins here, but any another combination of nuts and dried fruit would work just as well. I used agave nectar to bind everything together; honey and maple syrup are great alternatives.

These sweet, nutty granola bars are the perfect energy-packed snack get you through a long afternoon. Recipe after the jump!

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Easy App: Rosemary-Asiago Potato Pancakes

On January 17, 2013   /   Appetizers and Snacks, Side Dishes, Vegetarian   /   2 Comments

Crispy Rosemary-Asiago Potato Pancakes

Golden, crispy, and cheesy. I don’t think you can go wrong when you make potatoes this way.

I was inspired to make these potato pancakes after having some fantastic rosemary pommes frites at a restaurant in town. I made a mental note to steal the idea ASAP. The simple step of adding a touch of rosemary elevates an otherwise humble food and makes it so much more. The rosemary and the asiago combine to create an absolutely mouthwatering aroma. Plus, the asiago helps bind the pancakes together and adds that little bit of saltiness that makes any good french fry so tasty. (But really, who needs an excuse to add cheese to potatoes?)

These potato pancakes are baked, not fried. At just 40 calories each, you can enjoy a few without wrecking your resolutions. Serve them as appetizers as a party, as a side with steak or roasted chicken, or just as a late night snack. They’re great à la carte, but they’re great with some low-sugar ketchup too.

Here’s how to put these simple rosemary-asiago potato pancakes together. Read more… →

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