Pepper Steak and Veggies

I'm at a loss for what to call this. It's really good. It's sort of a mix between pepper steak and stir fry. Everyone loved it. Please adjust the amount of beef for the size of your family. I used about 3 and a half pounds of beef, but you can use more or less.

• 2-3 lbs stir fry steak cut into strips


• 3 bell peppers cut into thin strips


• 1 large white onion cut into strips


• 3 cloves garlic chopped


• 1 large zucchini cut into pieces


• 2 cans diced tomatoes


• 1 small can tomato paste


• 1 can beef broth


• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce


• 2 teaspoons corn starch


• salt, pepper and cooking spray

Spray a large pan with cooking spray. Salt and pepper steak and brown the steak pieces. Remove from pan and move to a large pot or crock pot set on low. Saute garlic in pan then add into pot with steak. Add chopped onions and peppers to the skillet with some more cooking spray. Cook until softened then add into pot with steak. Quickly saute zucchini in pan with cooking spray and then add to pot. In the pot add in beef broth, soy sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and corn starch to thicken. Cover and let cook for 1-2 hours. Enjoy over quinoa or brown rice.

Buffalo Chicken Cheeseburgers

Warning: These are delicious! They are so easy and a perfect recipe in time for summer! I made these for non WLS folks today and people raved about them.

• 1 lb ground chicken


• 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped


• 4 oz crumbled blue cheese


• 1 Tablespoon chili powder

For the sauce

• 2 Tablespoons buffalo wing sauce, I used Frank's ( add more or less for desired heat)


• 1/2 cup ketchup
  

Mix chicken, bacon, blue cheese and chili powder together. Form into 1/2 inch thick patties. I got 5 out of a pound. Cook on grill, broiler or on the stove top. We grilled ours. Make sure you cook them through because it is chicken and not beef. For the sauce mix the hot sauce and ketchup. This combo is awesome. Enjoy!!

Coconut Lemon Tilapia

Woo Hoo the weather is getting so nice!! New Jersey had a record amount of snow this year with a nor eastern and 3 blizzards. It was so awesome to see it in the 70's today! This inspired me to make a delicious seafood dish. Tilapia was on sale. I walked through other random aisles and came up with this recipe.

• 2 lbs tilapia or any other white flakey fish



• 1 can coconut milk, unsweetened



• 3 Tablespoons lemon juice



• 1 Tablespoon lemon pepper



• 1 teaspoon salt



• 1 teaspoon garlic powder



• 1 teaspoon dried parsley



• 1 lb carrots, sliced and chopped



• 1 bag frozen sugar snap peas



• 1 lb chopped mushrooms

In a large baking dish add tilapia in one layer. In a separate bowl mix together coconut milk, lemon juice, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and parsley. Dump mixture over fish. Marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator, flipping once at 30 minutes. After the hour remove fish from pan. Add in all the veggies and mix them up in the marinade. Place fish on top of veggies. Sprinkle the top with additional salt, pepper and parsley. Bake in a 350 degree over for 25-30 minutes.

This is SO good. My 12 year old brother ate it. He does not eat anything not battered and fried. And he liked it!

Mexican Meat Loaf

I love meatloaf and mexican food. I made this once before but I made some modifications. This meatloaf is so moist and yummy!!

• 2 lbs lean ground beef or ground turkey




• 2 eggs




• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs




• 1/2 cup salsa, your favorite kind (plus some for top)




• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or shredded mexican cheese




• 1/2 a can black beans, drained




• 1 small can corn, drained




• 2 Tablespoons chili powder




• 1 Tablespoon cumin powder




• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder




• 1 teaspoon oregano




• a few grinds of black pepper
  

Preheat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Form loaf. Use extra salsa and spread on top after loaf is formed. Place on foil lined baking sheet and cook for an hour.

Crock Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup

It is a cold, snowy winter this season. New Jersey has never seen this much snow in one winter. In fact this is the 3rd blizzard we've had in 3 months. So while I was snowed in today I decided to make some broccoli and cheese soup. It was so easy! Next time I think I'm going to add some shredded carrots in too.

• 3 cans cheddar cheese condensed soup




• 3 cans fat free evaporated milk




• 1 tablespoon onion powder




• 2 tablespoons Mrs. dash original seasoning




• 1 teaspoon black pepper




• 1 teaspoon garlic powder




• 1 teaspoon paprika




• 32 oz frozen broccoli




• shredded sharp cheddar for topping after soup is cooked

Add all ingredients in the crock pot, except the shredded cheddar. Mix and cook on low for about 5-6 hours. About a half an hour before you want to eat it, take half the soup, put it in the blender and blend until the broccoli is liquidy and then dump it back in crock pot, this makes it creamier. Or you can use an immersion blender in the crock pot. Top with shredded cheese. This makes about 5 servings. Enjoy!

Sausage and Cheese Balls

Ok I'll admit it, it's Superbowl Sunday and I'm sitting here watching Titanic on TBS. I do not get football. But that doesn't stop us from having tons of yummy food around. I found this recipe on a Bisquick website, that I modified to make much more WLS friendly. These are absolutely delicious!

• 2 cups Reduced Fat All Purpose Bisquick mix




• 1 lb hot Italian sausage, casing removed




• 4 cups low fat sharp cheddar cheese




• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese




• 1/2 cup skim milk




• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary




• 1 teaspoon garlic powder




• 2 teaspoons dried parsley




• a few grinds black pepper
  
  

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Roll into 1 inch meatballs and place on a foil lined, baking dish (spray the baking dish with cooking spray, or they will stick). Bake for 20-25 minutes. These make a lot depending on how big you make them. You can dip in mustard, chili sauce or whatever you have on hand, but I think they're great plain! I plan on making these again for appetizers for my baby shower, and no one even knows they're low fat.

Honey and Oatmeal Cookies

Desserts do not have to be completely off limits when you have weight loss surgery. You should always follow your surgeons guidelines, however there are times when you want something special. I made these cookies for my mother-in-law who is diabetic and she loved them. They are pretty healthy and made with splenda and honey.

• 6 Tablespoons room temp butter



• 1/2 cup brown sugar Splenda



• 1/4 cup honey



• 2 eggs



• 1 cup wheat flour



• 2 Tablespoons water



• 1/2 teaspoon salt



• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda



• 3 cups oats



• 1 teaspoon vanilla



• 1 teaspoon cinnamon



• any add in's you would like, I used 1/2 a cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips, but you can use chopped nuts, dried fruit whatever you like

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together honey, brown sugar Splenda, butter, eggs, water and vanilla. Add in flour, salt, baking soda, oats, cinnamon and what ever else you add in. Mix well, I used my hands. Put on foil or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes. Makes a little over 2 dozen cookies. These are soft and delicious!