Luscious Treats for Valentine's Day

It can be a challenge in February as Valentine's Day approaches. Chocolate is everywhere. Thankfully, Ideal Protein and LillyPad have some sinfully delicious options to get you through!

Valentine's Dinner Ideas

Appetizer
It's best to avoid snacking before the main meal, but if you need a little something to get you through, try raw vegetables like cucumber slices or broccoli florets with a little Walden Farms* dressing. A cup of warm broth, seasoned with herbs, soy sauce or other allowed seasonings, can also be a nice start to the meal.

Main
"Pasta": Eggplant Lasagna and Mock Alfredo are options, or use Ideal Protein Plain Rotini or Tomato Basil Rotini tossed with oil and spices
Steak: Grill up your preferred cut or try Steak with Chimichurri sauce
Chicken: This Garlic Roast Chicken recipe is a great way to serve up chicken breast
Pork: Pan Seared Pork Chops or try this month's Cinnamon Pork slow cooker recipe
Fish: Use your favourite sugar-free spices or try some tasty Crab Cakes

Sides
Cauliflower Rice
Tangy Turnips
Mock Mashed Potatoes
Roast Zucchini Rosettes
Steamed Vegetables with oil and one of the Fire In The Kitchen* spices
Raw salad with spinach and mushroom, using oil and apple cider vinegar or a Walden Farms* dressing

Drinks
Liven up your water or club soda with Mio or the use one of the all natural sugar free TRUE Lemon, TRUE Lime or TRUE Orange packets that are now in stock at LillyPad. The Ideal Protein Blueberry & Cran-Granata Drink is also a good option.

Dessert
Have or share one of the chocolatey Ideal Protein Products or Ideal Protein LillyPad recipes listed below. Have your after dinner coffee or tea black, using sweetener if need be. Do you prefer Hot Chocolate in the cold weather? You can warm up an Ideal Protein Chocolate Drink. Great additions to any warm drink are cinnamon, peppermint extract or almond extract.

Chocolately Ideal Protein Products:
Raspberry Chocolaty Bar
Double Chocolate Brownie
Milk Chocolate Pudding mix
Ready-to-Serve Dark Chocolate Pudding
Choco-Peanut Butter Bar
Caramel Nut Bar
Cookies and Cream Bar
Chocolate Drink

LillyPad Recipes:
Ideal Protein Chocolate Pudding Puffs
Ideal Protein Raspberry Jelly with Ideal Protein Vanilla Pudding topping

* Fire in the Kitchen spice blends are available at LillyPad. We carry a small selection of Walden Farms dressings, also available at Sobeys.

Tangy Turnips

Add some zip to this hearty fall vegetable, making a plain, traditional dish into a fresh and fancy favourite.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs turnips (approx. 4 small turnips)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 packets TRUE orange crystals
• 2 tbsp Walden Farms maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. Remove turnip greens and set aside
2. Remove the crown of the turnip with a sharp knife, peeling turnips and cutting into 1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes
3. Cook turnips in a steamer with an inch of water in the pot until tender (approximately 40 minutes)
4. Drain turnips and mash with a potato masher or fork
5. Using a wire whisk beat in all remaining ingredients until well mixed
6. Put turnip mixture into a glass baking dish and bake at 350 F for 6 to 8 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Cinnamon Cookies

Need a sweet pick me up? These Phase 1 friendly Ideal Protein cookies may be just the thing!

Ingredients 

• 1 Ideal Protein Crispy Cereal packet
• 1 Ideal Protein Chocolate or Vanilla Drink packet
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Using a rolling pin, gently crush the Ideal Protein Crispy Cereal while still sealed in the packet
3. Combine all ingredients together until well mixed
4. Use a non-stick pan or non-stick spray before making 12 cookies from the mix
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes before removing

Cinnamon Pork and Turnip - Slow Cooker style

Perfect for winter weather, this comfort food recipe is warm and filling. While it requires a little prep, once it's in your slow cooker you can relax and enjoy as the smell fills your kitchen.

Ingredients 

• 16 oz lean pork
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cups turnip, cubed
• 1 cup rutabega, cubed
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme 
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp cinnamon powder or 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat and brown the meat for 2 minutes each side. 
2. Remove from pan and place into slow cooker. 
3. Place the rest of the ingredients on top in the order listed, stir the vegetables lightly and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low 8 hours.

Makes 2 servings

An Ideal Protein Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving can present a challenge when you’re on Phase I. You can avoid temptation and still enjoy the flavours of the season by following our tips below:

1. Try to be the chef! If you cook it, you know what is in it. Hosting the big day at your home gives you more control, and you can plan other activities (games, crafts, movies) to celebrate the day without the constant presence of food.
2. Have that big meal as early as you can. Try not to eat and then sleep. Eat slowly and enjoy your food.
3. Have a warm drink 30 minutes before dinner (up to 8 ounces). This can be water or tea, but a cup of chicken or turkey broth soup with green onion and miracle rice or miracle noodle will be especially filling. Warm liquids satiate and hydrate you. Finishing dinner with a cup of tea (pumpkin spice, chai, etc.) will also help.
4. Eat plenty of turkey, salad, and veggies. Stay clear of fattening and/or carb-loaded choices. Enjoy your 8 ounces of turkey and 2 cups of vegetables. You can make delicious cauliflower mash as a potato substitute and use IP chicken soup as gravy.
5. While you can’t indulge in wine, Perrier or club soda with Mio in a wine glass is a tasty alternative. You will be able to have wine and alcohol when the diet is done - short time sacrifice for long time gain.  Remember alcohol will make you very sick.
6. Get your plate and fill it one time only - don’t fall prey to second helpings or snacking on leftovers! Freeze them in single portion sizes to eat later.
7. While we don’t recommend too much exercise, a walk after dinner can be refreshing and a nice break from being surrounded by food.
8. Enjoy your holiday knowing you are not going to gain weight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipes:

An “Ideal” Thanksgiving meal

Start with a cup of warm broth (optional miracle noodle or rice) before dinner. Have a lettuce salad to start; followed with 8 ounces turkey, low carb "stuffing" and your favourite IP approved vegetables. Enjoy an “Ideal” Pumpkin Pie Pudding for dessert. You’ll find the recipes below.

Cauliflower “Rice”

http://video.about.com/lowcarbdiets/Low-Carb-Cauliflower-Rice.htm

Chop one head of cauliflower into rice sized pieces using a food processor or other chopper. Microwave the chopped cauliflower in a covered dish for 5-7 minutes (if using a plastic container, reduce power to 70% and add a little time). Do not add water!

Low Carb “Stuffing”

Cooked cauliflower with spices (poultry seasoning, sage, bay leaf, etc.) and sautéed vegetables will make a tasty alternative to regular stuffing. See our full recipe by clicking the title for more.

Mock Mashed Potatoes (cauliflower)

Make delicious cauliflower mash instead of mashed potatoes by cooking cauliflower, garlic and white turnip in chicken broth. Try adding spices like bay leaf, sage, onion powder and celery. See our full recipe by clicking the title for more.

“Ideal” Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Blend Ideal Protein Butterscotch pudding, pumpkin spice, nutmeg and Walden Farms marshmallow dip together for a delicious low carb Thanksgiving dessert.

Spicy Cold Cucumber Gaspacho

Here's another fun and healthy recipe for the family to try from LunaCafe.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 cups Cauliflower, grated
• 2 English cucumbers, peeled and chopped (4 cups chopped)
• 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, deribbed, and chopped
• 3 green onions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
• 2 jalapeno chiles, stemmed, halved lengthwise, seeded and deribbed (use disposable gloves)
• small handful Italian parsley, large stems removed
• small handful spearmint or lemon verbena leaves
• 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced or pressed
• ½ cup chicken stock, or water, plus additional
• ¼ cup cold pressed olive oil
• 2 tablespoons natural-process red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• several drops of Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce, to taste
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Garnish: 

¼ cup diced English cucumber (with peel), ¼ cup diced green bell pepper, coarsely grated zest of 1 lemon, 6 small tips of fresh spearmint or lemon verbena

Directions:

1. Put the cucumber, bell pepper, green onions, jalapeno chiles, parsley, spearmint or lemon verbena, and garlic into a blender and liquefy. 
2. Add the stock, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Tabasco, and salt. Pulse to combine. 
3. Taste and adjust the balance of salt and lemon juice if needed. Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding a little more chicken stock if needed. 
4. Chill for at least two hours. 
5. Just before serving, pour the soup into individual cups, and then sprinkle each with a bit of diced cucumber, red bell pepper, and lemon zest.
6. Top each serving with a tiny sprig of spearmint or lemon verbena.

Makes 2 quarts. Serves 6.

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