Monthly Archives: October 2016

Jewish Traditional foods, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

Coach Gin’s I Can’t Believe it’s not Potato Kugel

2 Comments

Coach Gin’s I Can’t Believe it’s not Potato Kugel

img_5396img_5395

The inspiration for this recipe was when three clients in the same week  confessed to me that they just COULDN’T resist the potato kugel that they were exposed to sometime that day. I thought to myself, this is an epidemic. A crisis. It MUST be addressed!

After many experiments and focus groups with eager friends and my very picky husband, I am proud to present to you the “I Can’t Believe it’s not Potato Kugel.” This was made with simplicity in mind, so I encourage you to dig in and get cooking!

Each serving is one green, 1/2 ounce protein, 1.75 condiments

For a full-sized kugel in a round 8 inch pan (Serves 10), I used:

4 1/2 cups turnip
1/2 cup scallions
1 1/4 c egg beaters
5 teaspoons beef consommé

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shred turnips in a food processor. I like a large shred. Soak turnips in bowl with enough water to cover them with 3 packets of Splenda for 45 mins. The Splenda is necessary to remove the slight sharp bitterness that the turnips naturally have.

soak

Chop 1/2 cup scallions (approximately 3 stalks). Drain the turnips from the Splenda water and add the scallions, egg beaters, and beef consommé powder to the turnips. Pour into a metal pan that is sprayed with Pam.

Bake on lowest rack in the oven for 2 hours or more, until it looks nice and brown and crusty. Mine took 2 hours at 350 degrees on the bottom rack and it could have stood to be in there longer to get even darker.

My husband prefers the crispy crunchiness of the kugel from the sides on the pan, so we prefer to make this as muffin cups at home. An additional benefit to muffin cups are that it’s perfect portion control and it takes about 15 minutes quicker to cook them to get nice and golden brown. Use lots of Pam to prevent sticking.

Each portion contains:

  • 1/2 c soaked and drained turnips with some scallions to top off the 1/2 cup (it puffs up in the oven and then will shrink again after cooked a while)
  • 1/8 c egg beaters
  • 1/2 tsp. beef consomme powder

You can use these proportions to make any size kugel that fits your favorite pan.

img_5394

It tastes even better with some protein, so I can’t wait to see who makes this into a yapchick (add in some beef for a full lean and green)! Please let me know if you were daring enough to try this recipe in a crockpot!

**I created these recipes as a compliment to my comprehensive healthy weight loss & maintenance plan. Please contact me at gininthekitchen@gmail.com if you’re interested in health coaching! I’m happy to give you a free Health Assessment and explore whether my program might be right for you.

Dairy-free, Jewish Traditional foods, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

Homemade Healthy Babaganush

Homemade Healthy Babaganush

One Serving – makes one 1/2 cup all for YOU!

One green, and either 2.5 condiments or one healthy fat (your choice!)

img_5001

Take 2 Asian eggplants. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until wrinkly, about 20 mins.

img_5003

Cut in half, use spoon to scoop out the mushy insides.

img_4997

The insides measure 1/2 cup. (1 green)

img_4999

Put into food processor. Place 1 tsp minced garlic (one condiment), 1 tsp lemon juice (.5 condiment), and 1 tablespoon Walden Farms tangy mayonnaise (one condiment) —

OR 1.5 tbsp light mayo (1 healthy fat). Salt & pepper to taste.

Swirl it just enough to make it mushy and uniform and there you have it – 1/2 cup serving of deliciousness.

I created this recipe because I just LOVE babaganush and didn’t understand why it had to be so fattening when bought in a container. I just love to dip my chicken into this. I also love making mini cauliflower wraps or spaghetti squash wraps and eating my chicken with the babaganush inside them like soft tacos.  Mmmmm!

**I created these recipes as a compliment to my comprehensive healthy weight loss & maintenance plan. Please contact me at gininthekitchen@gmail.com if you’re interested in health coaching! I’m happy to give you a free Health Assessment and explore whether my program might be right for you.