Thanksgiving for Summer's Bounty and Bikinis

Looks like an overloaded plate of traditional holiday fare, but this one won't put you into a food coma on the sofa with your waistband crying for help.   Roast turkey, steamed beans, fresh cherries, cauliflower 'mashed potatoes.' and the biscuit (for show).   Whole Foods offers this crazy packaged, gluten-free, low-fat gravy that despite all the stuff it doesn't have, tastes great and has only 20 calories a serving.  Let me put gravy on everything!   
If you haven't had the famous South Beach Diet cauliflower 'mashed potatoes', we've provided an adaptation of the recipe below-our version is faster.  Anyone have other ways for slimproving  the traditional Thankgiving menu? 
Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"
4 c fresh cauliflower florets
1 T Earth Balance spread or butter
1 ounce fat-free half & half
S & P to taste
Rinse cauliflower and put still wet florets into microwavable bowl.  Cover bowl with *paper towel and microwave for 90 seconds.  Time will vary depending on how small the florets and the microwave.   Florets should be soft but not mushy.  When finished cooking, I like to flip over the bowl and let the florets drain onto the paper towel before mashing.  
Puree the first three ingredients in a food processor and add salt and pepper.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  
*I was advised by friend who works at the EPA, to microwave food in only glass containers and if you don't have a glass lid, use a paper towel.  The dangers of microwaving with plastic has been exaggerated, but I think better to be safe than sorry.  

RECIPE

Less Pasta, More Zucchini

Use the zucchini ribbons we sliced for the salad to embellish your pasta serving. In this dish, we sauteed chopped garlic in EVO, tossed in chopped tomatoes (I take the extra minute to remove the seeds) to warm, fold in cooked pasta and sliced zucchini ribbons and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.  

Slice the zucchini into smooth ribbons.  Slice lengthwise to get julienned 'noodles.'

Zucchini

RECIPE

Shrimp for Three Tastes

Some would argue that you just make one meal for the entire family and "you get what you get." But that would mean that the parents have to simplify their foods down to the youngest taste buds - in our case, the nine-year-old boy.   I prepare food that I know my husband and I like and then dumb it down for the kids.   We get what we want and the kids get introduced in stages to new flavors.  Below, teenager's version to the left and kid's version to the right.

Shopping:  uncooked shrimp, corn on the cob, black beans, red pepper, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, limes

Spicy Shrimp Salad for Grownups

Marinate shrimp for 30 minutes in 1 t olive and 1 T Mexican seasonings (chili powder, cumin, salt, a dash of cayenne pepper).

Serve over:  lettuce, fresh corn kernels (cut from cob), chopped: tomatoes, red pepper, avocados, onions, black beans (or use whatever salad ingredients you have on hand).

Add cilantro, dash of salt, lime juice and olive to season salad.





Teenager Shrimp Dinner Spin-off:  Grilled spicy shrimp, corn on the cob and raw red peppers

Kid Shrimp Dinner for the shrimps in the family Spin-off#2: Sauteed shrimp (dab of butter, lemon juice), sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob.

I admit, there is not anything green on these plates and we have a little more sugar in the meal than I normally like, but everyone was happy tonight and that goes along way in keeping mom off the w(h)ine.

RECIPE

Chicken Apple Sausage²

I admit, sausages make me snicker like frat boy.  "I miss Jack" - who can name the movie?

We love food reinvention at One Real Bite.  We start with a great summer meal: grilled chicken apple sausages, asian slaw, corn on the cob, and watermelon.
I buy the links at Whole Foods where they grind their own sausages (snicker) without nitrates or hormones, from real organic chicken breasts.  But, I smell all the meat (snicker) and seafood from WF before I have them pack it up because, sadly I've purchased turned items too often from the store that usually grants all of my grocery wishes.

We grill twice as many sausages as we'll need, because that luscious, smoky and sweet sausage will be reinvented into minestrone soup.

I'm partial to Tyler Florence's Hunter Minestrone, but have modified it for my very own real food meal and offer options for speed and ease.

Sherri and Tyler's Minestrone Soup
Essential recipe:

1.  Chop and saute in 2 T olive oil:
     2 celery ribs, 2 medium carrots, one onion
2.  Heat:
     1 qt chicken broth
     1 qt vegetable broth
3.  Slice:
     3 grilled chicken apple sausages  reinvention
4.  Add to heated broth:
     sauteed vegetables to broth.
    1 (28 oz) can of chopped tomatoes
    1 bay leaf
    1 or 2 cans cannelloni beans
    sausages

5.  Salt and Pepper to taste.  Heat together for 15 minutes and serve or freeze.

Radical version:

Saute the following herbs olive oil before adding the vegetables:
  Thyme sprig, rosemary sprig and 8 fresh sage leaves
  (Remove before serving)

Heat broth with 1 head of garlic - halved.  Remove before adding vegetables to the broth.

Add:
   1/2 bunch chopped fresh Italian parsley
   1/2 pound partially cooked, small whole wheat rigatoni
Serve with:
   grated parmesan cheese

RECIPE

Get Me To The Greek

Mediterranean cuisine, long recognized for its light and healthy fare, includes a variety of fresh vegetables, fish and olive oil.  No matter how many salads I try, I keep coming back to the Greek.   The vegetables in this salad are also good to have on hand when a snack attack hits.  I avoid the prepared dressings where I can because they are packed with preservatives and salt and my simple flavoring just taste better.  Because I had all of these ingredients prepped in my refrigerator, the salad took me 5 minutes to create.  Try it without lettuce for an authentic Greek.   

Salad:  Lettuce - Cucumbers - Tomatoes - Red Peppers - Red Onion - Feta Cheese - Kalamata Olives - Shrimp (roasted, see When In Doubt, Roast)

Seasonings:  Red Wine Vinegar - Olive Oil - Dried Oregano - Salt and Pepper 

Mayo Clinic shares the key components of the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet:

• Exercise and eat meals with family and friends
• Eat a generous amount of fruits and vegetables
• Consume healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
• Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
• Eat small portions of nuts
• Drink red wine (in moderation for some)
• Consume very little red meat
• Eat fish or shellfish at least twice a week

RECIPE