Chocolate Mint Greek Yogurt ~ great for breakfast or dessert

Chocolate Mint Greek Yogurt ~ I'm still enjoying these candy flavored yogurts for breakfast.  Chocolate first thing in the morning?  Works for me.  :)

I've always been a fan of the candy combo ~ chocolate & mint ~ and York Peppermint Patties were always one of my favorite Halloween treats to get when I was a kid going Trick or Treating.  So, of course I needed to give that candy bar flavor the breakfast-that-eats-like-a-dessert treatment.  Still getting a high protein start to my day, with the antioxidant benefits of the dark cocoa powder. Super easy, really tasty ~ 'nuff said.

Chocolate Mint Greek Yogurt
serves one

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt (or your favorite kind)
• 1 Tbsp dark cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp mint extract
• 1 Tbsp chopped carob chips or chocolate chips
• 4 Equal packets (or sweetener of choice)

Directions

Mix all ingredients together & enjoy!

Chocolate Crunchy Greek Yogurt ~ great for breakfast or dessert

Chocolate Crunchy Greek Yogurt ~ For breakfast or dessert, these candy bar inspired yogurt flavors are really tripping my trigger.  I love how easy it is to eat a high protein breakfast & still satisfy my chocolate cravings.  All without the guilt. :)

Here is another Halloween candy inspired flavor for my Greek yogurt breakfast-that-eats-like a dessert breakfast kick.  This time I decided to go for the simple flavors of a Nestlé Crunch Bar.  Ever since I was a kid, I've loved that chocolate bar, filled with all that crunchy rice cereal.  J has loved them ever since he was a tot, too.  I guess that Crunch bar really does appeal to the kid in all of us.  :)

Since I already had a box of crispy rice cereal in my pantry (leftover from the updated Rice Krispy Treats I made the other day), this breakfast was a snap to throw together.  I'm really digging these candy bar flavored yogurts for breakfast.  How about you?  :)

Chocolate Crunchy Greek Yogurt

serves one

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt (or your favorite kind)
• 1 ~ 2 Tbsp dark cocoa powder, depending on how strong you like your chocolate taste
• 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
• 1 Tbsp chopped carob chips or chocolate chips (optional)
• 2 ~ 4 packets Equal (or to taste/sweetener of choice)

Directions

Mix all ingredients together & enjoy at once.  You don't want that crispy rice cereal to get soggy!

Learn more...

Almond Coconut Joy Greek Yogurt ~ great for breakfast or dessert

Almond Coconut Joy Greek Yogurt ~ Do you love Almond Joy candy bars?  Then this might just become your new favorite breakfast or dessert.  It's like eating a healthy version of an Almond Joy ~ without the guilt.  :)

J brought home a big, booty bag of Halloween candy the other day.  I snooped through it & saw some of my favorite candy bars, with Almond Joy at the top of the candy pile.  Which got me thinking...  I'd like to indulge in the candy laden, spirit of season ~ but at breakfast time, and without the guilt. Then, I turned to my fascination with Greek yogurt as a base for my mix-ins... one cup gives you a high protein start to your day; dark cocoa powder provides antioxidant benefits; almonds are know for their health benefits & coconut flakes taste great.  Sounds like a winning combo to me,  my ~  Almond Coconut Joy Greek Yogurt ~ was born!!

So, I'm turning my Halloween chocolate candy cravings into a positive spin.  I'll be making a lot of Greek yogurt flavor mixes that have the chocolate-candy-taste the kid in me loves.  I'm enjoying this breakfast-that-eats-like-a-dessert kick that I'm on & am running with it.  But, why limit this little gem to just breakfast?  I think it would work great as a lower cal/fat option for dessert, too.  :)  Let the kitchen, chocolate-candy-flavored, Greek yogurt breakfast/dessert concocting begin!

Almond Coconut Joy Greek Yogurt
serves 1~2

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain fat-free Greek Yogurt (or you favorite kind)
• 2 Tbsp dark cocoa powder (or to taste)
• 1 Tbsp coconut flakes 
• 1 Tbsp almond slivers (toasted, if preferred)
• 1/2 tsp coconut extract
• 4 packets Equal (or sweetener of choice)

Directions

Stir all ingredients together & enjoy!

Black Forest Cake Greek Yogurt ~ great for breakfast or dessert

Black Forest Cake Greek Yogurt ~ I had some Double Cherry Carob Chip Breakfast Cookies in the kitchen, so I ate them with my yogurt. I'm thinking of this as my new breakfast-that-eats-like-a-dessert.  I love having chocolate for breakfast ~ how about you?

This morning I was feeling the need for dessert for breakfast.  But, that was sooo not going to happen.  Instead, I came up with the next best thing ~ Black Forest Cake Greek Yogurt.  Since I used Greek yogurt, the breakfast is high protein; the dark cocoa powder adds the rich taste of chocolate, without the guilt & you get its antioxidant benefits; and the cherries combine perfectly to give it the traditional Black Forest flavor.  It's only missing the 'cake' part, but you could add some raw oatmeal or ground flax to give it that little extra something.

Maybe I'll do that for next time.  This time I just wanted the sweet dessert taste of chocolate & cherries.  Here's to eating your dessert... umm, I mean breakfast, first.  :)  


Black Forest Cake Greek Yogurt
serves one

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt (or variety of choice)
• 1/4 cup cherries, chopped (pitted, fresh or frozen, thawed)
• 1 Tbsp dark cocoa powder (or more, to taste)
• 3 packets of Equal (or to taste - or use sweetener of choice)
• 1/4 cup raw oatmeal (optional)
• 1 Tbsp ground flax (optional)

Directions

Stir up all the ingredients & indulge in your breakfast dessert.  Enjoy!

Greek Green Goodness Yogurt Smoothie ~ Meatless Monday

Greek Green Goodness Yogurt Smoothie ~ using Greek yogurt really ups the protein count & makes for a super thick and rich tasting smoothie.

I've been drinking a lot of Bolthouse Farms ~ Green Goodness Fruit Smoothies ~ for breakfast lately.  To up the protein count, I usually add some whey protein powder, but I was all out one morning, so I decided to use some Greek yogurt instead.  The smoothie turned out great ~ it's quick, easy, thick & rich tasting.  I enjoy the tangy-ness of the yogurt & since Greek yogurt is so high in protein, it works out to be just about the same protein count as using the protein powder.  Nice!  I'm all for changing things up every now & then.  :)

Greek Green Goodness Yogurt Smoothie
serves one

• 1 cup Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Fruit Smoothie
• 1 cup Greek yogurt ~ fat free
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Equal or sweetener of choice ~ optional
• 4 ice cubes

Throw all into a blender & whirl away until smooth & frosty.  Enjoy!

Find out more...

Breakfast Strawberry Shortcake with Greek Yogurt & Oats

Breakfast Strawberry Shortcake with Greek Yogurt & Oats ~ Eating dessert for breakfast?  Absolutely!  Greek yogurt, oats, mashed strawberries & a bit of sweetener become a sweet treat for breakfast that only tastes indulgent.  :)

I'm loving using fat free Greek yogurt!  It really turns whatever I use it in into something special!  The other morning I came up with a very satisfying breakfast spin on a dessert favorite of mine, Strawberry Shortcake.  This recipe only has a few ingredients, but it really packs in the flavor.  I'm calling it my ~ Breakfast Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt & Oats. 

I think it would be just as good for an actual dessert, too ~ if you're so inclined.  I bet blueberries & peaches would also be a good combo for this breakfast/dessert.  Hope you like it as much as I do!

Breakfast Strawberry Shortcake with Greek Yogurt & Oats
serves one

Ingredients

• 8 oz. of fat free Greek yogurt (or your favorite kind)
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats ~ uncooked
• 1/3 cup mashed strawberries (fresh or frozen/thawed)
• 3 packets of Equal (or sweetener of choice)

Directions

Mash fresh/thawed strawberries with 2 packets of Equal, until nice & mushy.

Stir Greek yogurt, oats & remaining Equal packet together until fully combined.

Fold in the mashed strawberries.  

Serve in a pretty bowl.  Enjoy!

((if you don't want to bother with mashing the strawberries, you could probably use a couple of tablespoons of fruit juice sweetened strawberry jam, for a similar taste))

Greek Yogurt ~ my new favorite breakfast

Greek Yogurt & Chocolate PB2 ~ WOW!!  It's like eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup - without the guilt!  Thick, rich chocolaty-peanuty taste ~ perfect!

I'm a recent convert to Greek yogurt.  I've always liked yogurt, especially when I would strain it overnight & it would become so rich & thick tasting ~ I've been making it that way for years.  I guess I was making 'Greek-style' yogurt before it was cool.  Now, Greek yogurt has become the golden child of the yogurt aisle & it seems every manufacturer is on the bandwagon.  It's more expensive then regular yogurt, but it's also much higher in protein.  It's a condensed form of yogurt & since it takes more milk to create this extra thick yogurt, I do understand the price difference ~ I just wasn't willing to pay extra for it ~ except for a small container, here & there, if a special recipe called for it.  But, then...

Greek Yogurt, Raw Oats, Fresh Fruit & Nuts ~ the peaches came from a neighbors tree.  They're smaller than what you get in the markets, but they more than make up for it in their sweet, ripened-on-the-tree, taste.

On a recent trip to Sam's Club, I noticed that they carried the large container size of ~ Fage brand of Greek yogurt ~ for substantially less than my local market, so I decided to get some.  So glad I did!  Now I can use it everyday, in whatever way I like ~ eating it in a bowl for breakfast, as a snack, cooking with it in recipes, in desserts or in smoothies.  It's now my go-to stand in for sour cream; when sweetened & mixed with a bit of fat-free cream cheese, I use it in place of mascarpone cheese; & when hand whipped, I use it in place of thick whipped cream in some cold desserts.  I like to get the non-fat variety, so it's a guiltless pleasure we can all enjoy ~ I like the sound of that. 

  

Greek Veggie Scrambled Eggs ~ It's all Greek to me!

Greek Veggie Scrambled Eggs ~ all the freshness of a Greek Salad mixed with eggs for a perfect breakfast.  Low carb, low fat & low cal ~ great for brunch, too.

Greek Veggie Scrambled Eggs ~  I'm on a Greek Salad kick right now & have been enjoying one every day this week, but I've been using spinach instead of lettuce. (I've been craving spinach, what can I say)   I'm lucky that my new next door neighbors, Bill & Cheryl, have been sharing some of their homegrown veggies with us & that makes for a lot of fresh salad fixin's.  Tomatoes & cucumbers are so much better when you can just go outside & pick them right off the vine.

I've also been talking to my friend, Misty, about the different ways that they cook all those glorious, fresh laid eggs she gets from her hens. (see my recent post about her best egg layer, Little Bessie, here)  One of the ways her family likes to eat the eggs they gather, is to scramble them with cooked spinach.  Say no more....


So, today I made a hybrid version of a Greek salad & spinach scrambled eggs and came up with a ~ Greek Veggie Scrambled Eggs ~ dish.  The meal turned out great!  I prepared all the veggies like I was going to make a salad, then I sauteed them in a little olive oil until the spinach wilted.  I then added the scrambled egg mixture to the cooked veggies, added some Greek seasoning blend, extra oregano (I like a lot of oregano in my Greek dishes), salt & pepper and finished cooking the scrambled eggs.  After I plated it, I added some crumbles of reduced-fat Feta cheese & a few sliced black olives (I ran out of Greek olives, darn it!) ~ and I was good to go!

I'm so glad I have friends who inspire me to come up with unusual combos in the kitchen, especially for a Meatless Monday meal, it makes cooking so much more fun! 

Greek Spinach & Lentil Soup ~ Spanaki me Faki

Greek Spinach & Lentil Soup ~ Spanaki me Faki

Meatless Monday ~ Do you feel like having some soup today?  How about a simple soup, one that is often served on a chilly, spring day, in the Greek Islands...

I forget how much I like lentil soup, until I make it that is.  This recipe is for a very basic, uncomplicated Greek Spinach & Lentil Soup.  Sometimes simple is good & it really works for this soup.  I used less than half the amount of EVOO that the recipe called for, & it was great.  Try this soup with some good, crusty bread.  Enjoy!

Lettuce Wraps ~ Low Carb way to enjoy your favorite foods

Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps ~ Using lettuce leaves to wrap the fajitas in instead of tortillas saves so much in the carb department. 

I love Lettuce Wraps.  I love how easy they are to make, how low carb they are & how easy they can be on the waistline.  I have been eating them since the early 90's, long before the current Lettuce Wrap & Low Carb craze.

The first time I had a Lettuce Wrap was in a little Korean BBQ restaurant.  It is not known as a Lettuce Wrap in Korean cuisine, it is called Ssam.  The name of the restaurant is long forgotten, but it was in an area of downtown Los Angles known as Koreatown.  A place filled with authentic Korean eateries & shops.  Exotic sights & smells are everywhere.  As I remember it, (mind you this was waaay back in 1991) it was a celebratory lunch with my boss & coworkers.  After the first bite, I was forever smitten with the cuisine & cooking technique.  Who wouldn't like to have a personal sized BBQ grill, smack-dab in the middle of your table?  Or being able to play with fire, cooking an array of raw meat/veg, having bowls & bowls of  unusual side dishes to taste ~ all while having a few beers & a good time with friends?  It's like being at an exotic backyard BBQ, but inside & more intimate. Primal ~ yet refined ~ all at the same time.  If you can, try it ~ you'll love it!

It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of a Koreatown BBQ dining experience, but I have continued to enjoy making Lettuce Wraps at home.  They are not just filled with traditional Korean fillings. I fill them with whatever type of food I am craving at the moment.  Mexican, Greek, American, Vegetarian...you name it.  Just about anything tastes great in a Lettuce Wrap.

I like to use Romaine lettuce, but lots of other types will do.  Choose your favorite one & have at it. Here are a few of my many creations....

Greek Hamburger Lettuce Wraps -  Using a Greek spice mix makes this so easy to make & cooking the hamburger is quick when I use my George Foreman Grill. I break up the cooked burger & top with cucumber, tomatoes, onion, olives & a feta cheese/yogurt dressing. Excellent!

Walnut Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps ~ Grapes are so nice added to the salad & canned chicken breast chunks (rinsed to get some of the salt broth off) make it quick & easy.

Vegetarian Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Wrap ~ No need to miss out on the ever-so-popular Philly Cheesesteak if you have cut out meat.  I just use the TVP Beef Chunks that I like.  Just cook your onions (I also like mushrooms in mine), add the prepared/spiced 'beef chunks', top with melted cheese & serve in the lettuce wrap.  A low carb, vegetarian treat of an American classic.

After writing this post, I am dying to make a Lettuce Wrap.  I just checked & the veggie bin is empty.  :(   So, off I go to the store to get some Romaine & other supplies.   I recently found an interesting, low cal Korean recipe using frozen, thin sliced beef, from Trader Joe's.  It would be perfect in a Lettuce Wrap.  Guess I'll be stopping there, too.  The things I will do to make my tummy happy...  :)  

Beet Tzatziki ~ Exotic spin on a Greek classic ~ So pretty in pink!

Beet Tzatziki

Pink is tripping my trigger right now.  So, I'm running with a ~ Pink Food & Drink ~ theme this week.  Well, it is almost Valentine's Day & all...

This is my favorite savory Pink Recipe ~ Beet Tzatziki.   This pureed beet version of tzatziki is a twist on the classic Greek Cucumber Tzatziki, since it is made with (you guessed it) beets & it's pureed.  Now, this dish is no ordinary shade of pink.  It's not a soft, blushing bride, shade of pink.  It's not even a kid shade of bubblegum pink.  It's hot, over the top, 100% SHOCKING PINK!!!  Nothing bashful about it.  Right on!  It makes me happy just to look at it & it makes me even happier to eat it.  Be careful, it is addicting.  One taste & you'll be hooked, too...

This wonderful recipe has such a smooth attitude.  It is super easy to make & very forgiving of  changes to the recipe.  I used canned beets since I didn't have any fresh to roast & I added dried dill (instead of fresh, because I only had dried) since I love beets & dill together.  (Try the chunky Beet Tzatziki version, too)
  
It's really versatile & this smooth recipe can morph into just about anything you want it to be.  You can use it as a dip, as a chilled soup, as a dressing for sandwiches/salads, as an exotic sauce over chicken & tofu.  Or ~ just eat it right out of the bowl with a spoon.  It really is that good! 

Beets ~ fresh, roasted, canned, pickled, grated, shredded, sliced or pureed ~ I love' em any way I can get' em!   You are so Pretty in Pink. Will you Beet my Valentine?  (heehee ~ I make myself laugh ;)