Deviled Ham

Another great suggestion from Ideal Protein Lohja, Finland.

Super easy and diverse. Eat this on cucumber slices, with a salad, wrapped in lettuce leaves, on a tomato or as it is. There is no recipe, per se. Just grate some ham and add what you want to it.

Good options include:

• ham and mustard with generous mixed pepper (white, black, pink, green, chili) and herbal salt
• adding Walden Farms mayo and a tiny bit of tomato paste
• adding Walden Farms mayo, a bit of jalapeno juice and horseradish paste 
• grain or dijon mustard and Walden Farms Mayo is also an elegant change of pace
• try other sugar-free/carb-free dressings

Eggplant Lasagna

Here's another fun and healthy recipe for the family to try from A Better Life Wellness Center.

Ingredients:

• 400g ground meat (chicken, beef, etc)
• 1 medium eggplant
• 1 medium zucchini
• 2 cans chopped tomato
• 1 tomato, chopped (optional)
• Other vegetables as desired, sliced (onion, mushroom, peppers)
• Olive oil
• Herbs to taste (Italian spices like oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper)

Directions:

1. Slice the eggplant and zucchini into into thin noodle-like slices and set aside.
2. Cook the ground meat, adding salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add any additional vegetables that you've chosen to the ground meat.
4. Add the 2 cans of chopped tomatoes and stir.
5. Add fresh tomato (optional).
6.  Line the pan (non-stick or greased) with sliced zucchini. Sprinkle or spray with olive oil , sprinkle with salt if you desire.
7. Add a thin layer of sauce.
8. Add layer of sliced eggplant.
9. Add a thin layer of sauce, repeating alternating zucchini and eggplant until the pan is full or you are out of sauce.
10. Bake at 400 F for 30-40 minutes, checking for doneness at 30 minutes.

If you are in Maintenance, then you can try adding cheese to this recipe.

Mock Alfredo Pasta

Here's another fun and healthy recipe for the family to try from A Better Life Wellness Center.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium zucchini, shredded
• 1 package IP soup (any flavour)

Directions:

1. Microwave zucchini for 3 minutes.
2. Add one Ideal Protein soup packet and stir. If you want a thicker sauce, drain any water from the zucchini bowl before adding the packet.
3. Microwave for an additional minute.
4. Add spices as desired:

• Tomato soup: tabasco, chopped celery, basil, garlic 

• Chicken soup: rosemary, thyme, oregano or turmeric or saffron 

• Leek soup: basil, garlic, chopped peppers, mixed ground pepper 

• Broccoli & Cheese: chopped broccoli

• Mushroom soup: mushrooms of any variety, citrus pepper, lemon, thyme   

Zucchini Salsa

A roast Zucchini Salsa with Jalapenos, bursting with summer flavour from Closet Cooking.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
• 1 handful cilantro, coarsely chopped
• 1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pepitas, toasted
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 lime, juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Brush the zucchini in oil, place it on a baking sheet with the cut side up and roast on the top shelf in a preheated 450F oven until tender, about 45 minutes.
2. Puree everything in a food processor to desired consistency.

Indian Spiced Soy Patties

A tasty falafel like recipe from Ideal Protein Lohja, Finland - also good for hiding veggies.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Ideal Protein Soy Patty
• 3 Egg whites, beaten
• 1/4 cup Cauliflower, chopped small
• 1/4 cup Broccoli, chopped small
• 1/8 cup Onions, chopped small
• 1/2 Celery stalk, chopped small
• 1-3 tsp Garam Masala or generic Curry blend
• 1 tsp Olive oil

Directions:

1. Beat egg whites (not stiff).
2. Add Ideal Protein Soy Patty package and mix.
3. Add in spices, adjusting amount to preferred level of spice.
4. Add in vegetables and mix thoroughly.
5. Heat pan and add olive oil. Spoon mixture into pan to make 4 patties.
6. Serve as patties or cut into strips and make lettuce wraps.

Celery and Cucumber Salad

A fresh summer salad idea with Mint and Parsley from Ideal Protein Lohja, Finland and RainbowSmiles.

Ingredients:

• 6 Celery stalks, chopped
• 1 English Cucumber, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1/3 cup fresh Flat-leaf Parsley, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh Mint, coarsely chopped
• 2 Tbsp Extra-virgin Olive Oil
• Coarse Salt
• Freshly ground Black Pepper

Directions:

1. Toss all ingredients in a bowl, saving the salt and peper to season to taste just before serving.

Pizza Tater Tots

Here's another fun and healthy recipe for the family to try from Ideal Protein Lohja, Finland.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 cups Cauliflower, grated
• 1-2 Egg Whites, beaten (use the same number of egg whites as you use cups of cauliflower)
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1/2-1 teaspoon mixed Herbs: Oregano, Basil, Marjoram, Thyme
• 1/2 package sweetener (Truvia/ Splenda) to cut bitterness of dried herbs (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 400F.
2. Beat egg whites well, but not stiff.
3. Add herbs, spices, and baking powder and mix.
4. Add a bit at a time to the cauliflower. It should be able to hold together when scooped onto a baking sheet and not be runny. 
5. Place baking paper (parchment paper) on a baking sheet and scoop balls of the mixture onto it, forming them into tater tots. There will be a bit of liquid. Spray/drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Note: If your mixture is runny, you can spoon it into a cupcake pan sprayed with a bit of olive oil instead of using a baking sheet. 
6. Bake for about 20 minutes, longer or shorter depending on if you want a bit of crunch to the cauliflower or softer with a baked outer shell. 
7. Eat as is, or dip in Walden Farms sugar-free low carb ketchup.