Cooking Light with Giada De Laurentiis: Mini Italian Club Sandwiches

One of the best sandwiches I have ever had, honestly! These little Italian delights are incredible. When you start looking at the ingredient list and stumble upon "egg", you might find this a little strange. Egg crepes are not commonly found on a traditional clud sandwich. But this is not your average club. This one has Giada's Italian flare. Give this version a try with ALL the ingredients, because when it ALL comes together, it works. The mix of flavors and textures in these Mini Italian Club Sandwiches are something that you don't want to miss. I promise, you will love it!


MINI ITALIAN CLUB SANDWICHES
Makes 6 Servings

INGREDIENTS:


4 Arnold Italian flatbread sub rolls
8 slices lean turkey breast
4 slices reduced-fat provolone cheese
6 slices center-cut bacon; cooked
3/4 cup egg substitute (Egg Beaters)
1/4 cup fat free half -and-half
4 tablespoons basil pesto spread
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper


DIRECTIONS:

Toast rolls face down on a grill pan until toasted.

Whisk the eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until well blended. Heat a 6-inch-diameter nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Spray the skillet with non-fat cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup of the egg mixture into the pan, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan evenly. Cover and cook until the egg crepe is just set, about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Invert the skillet over a plate, and allow the egg crepe to drop onto the plate. Repeat to make 4 crepes total, spraying the skillet with non-fat cooking spray as needed and stacking crepes on the plate. (Use parchment paper between to prevent crepes from sticking.)

Spread the pesto over the toasted sides of each halved Italian roll. Cover the bottom halves of the focaccia with the egg crepes, turkey, provolone and bacon, dividing equally. Cover with the top halves of Italian roll, pesto side down. Cut the sandwich into bite-size pieces. Arrange the sandwiches on a platter and serve.

RESULTS:

Like I said earlier, these mini sandwiches are amazing! A must try! The Arnold Italian sandwich thins are the perfect "light" substitute for the foccocia bread. They are thin, therefore allowing you to really taste the inside of the sandwich; the good stuff. Not to mention, they are only 100 calories per roll; making them a definite smart choice.


The center cut bacon is going to deliver 40% less fat and 100% real bacon flavor. This substitute was a no-brainer. Now, the pesto is going to have some fat, being that it is made with olive oil. But as you well know, olive oil is a healthy fat and healthy fats are essential for a balanced diet.


These would make a wonderful lunch and as seen in my photos, they look great cut up into mini sandwiches for a healthy appetizer. These would be great for any gathering; from a football tailgate to a wedding shower.


So, what are you waiting for? Get cookin'!

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving): 211.17 calories; 8.68g fat;  17.02g carbohydrate;  17.63g protein;  3.33g fiber



Recipe inspired by Giada De Laurentiis of Food Network. For more recipes by Giada, visit www.foodnetwork.com or her website.

Cooking Light with Rachael Ray: Cheese Fries

It may seem like I have been suffering from "Fry-Daddy" deprivation here lately. First onion rings...now cheese fries. Ok, maybe a little. But these are popular sides we find at restaurants and fast-food chains on a regular basis. They are so yummy, so we crave them. They are difficult to resist, therefore we find ourselves caving in. But what if we could make a similar treat in a healthier way at home? Would we still feel such a strong pull to cave in and order those cheese fries when out? I think not, so here is my recipe for cheese fries, which will hopefully prove my point. Thanks for the inspiration, Rachael!

CHEESE FRIES
Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS:


Fries~


4-6 medium red potatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons pepper
1-2 teaspoons paprika
1-2 teaspoons parsley flakes


Cheese Sauce~


1 tablespoon "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" (ICBINB)
1-1/2 cups skim or 1 % milk
2-1/2 cups Fat Free or 2% KRAFT shredded cheddar
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour


DIRECTIONS:


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.


Cut potatoes into thin wedges. In a sealable bag, combine salt, pepper, paprika and parsley flakes. Add potatoes and pour in EVOO. Seal bag and shake until potatoes are thoroughly coated. Place potatoes on a prepared baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-fat cooking spray. Bake for 30-35 minutes; stirring up every 10 minutes or so.

While potatoes are baking, melt ICBINB in a medium pan over medium heat. Add flour and stir. Using a whisk, gradually add the milk to the pan. Add the cheese and stir until the cheese is fully melted. Add ketchup and stir.


When the potatoes are finished, either serve along side the cheese for dipping or smother with cheese sauce.


RESULTS:


Fries are generally deep fried. Even the packaged potatoes you can oven bake are not as good for us as a fresh potato. They contain vegetable oil and other ingredients; it's not just potato cut into perfect fry shapes. Making homemade, baked "fries" is the perfect substitute. You still get the satisfying textures and tastes from fries, but without the added fat from the frying process. Plus, by making it this way, we are able to add the healthy fats found in olive oil. We officially have healthy fries, folks!

Now, these potatoes are packed with flavor even before adding the cheese. Eat them plain or with a little bit of ketchup; you are set! But when given the chance to add cheese, I just had to. It had been awhile since giving the "fat free" version of shredded cheddar a try. Typically, it does not melt as well, which is why I tend not to use it in hot recipes. Well, after making this appetizer, I can see that is still the case. It does melt, but it isn't the same creamy consistency you would get from a 2% or whole version. I would recommend using 2% cheddar, not the fat free. With all the fat and calories we are saving by making our own healthy fries, you can afford to splurge a little.

ENJOY!


Trying these fries with different toppings? I would love to hear about it!

NUTRITION FACTS (per serving):
Fries~ 193.17 calories;  4.8g fat;  33.87g carbohydrate;  4.03g protein;  5.43g fiber
Cheese~ 150.83 calories;  9.46g fat;  5.89g carbohydrate;  11.64g protein;  .05g fiber
Together~ 344 calories;  14.26g fat;  39.76g carbohydrate;  15.64g protein;  5.48g fiber


For this and other recipes by Rachael Ray, visit Food Network and Everyday with Rachael Ray.

Livin' Lean Topic Tuesday: Fitting in Fitness



Photo taken from http://www.goworkoutmom.com/



One of the most common questions people ask me is, "Lindsay, how do you find the time?" I assume they are referring to any number of things I cram into my crazy day: being a mother, teaching, writing, cooking, studying, watching all my shows, fantasy football, housework and finally... working out. I would be lying if I told you that it is easy; that I have found the 25th hour of the day everyone has been searching for. And those who know me well know, I cannot tell a lie. However, I have acquired a few tricks for fitting fitness into even the busiest of schedules.

The first thing you should know is that having a child taught me quite a few things. One is that I had a helluva lot of free time before I was a mother! What was I doing with all that time?!?! You parents can relate; I'm sure. After having the little one, getting back into pre-baby shape was a goal of mine. Yet as I made the transition from expecting mother to active mother, I just didn't know how that was going to happen when so much of my time was needed elsewhere, and rightfully so. As most people do when faced with change, I adapted. Here are the tricks that saved my fitness regimen from extinction back then, and that I continue to use now.

TIPS FOR FITTING IN FITNESS:

Tip #1: Take it Outside- Walking and running are such great exercise. They are free AND all you have to do is step out the door. Call a friend or take the little one out for a stroll. If you have 30 minutes while dinner is in the oven, head on out!

Tip # 2: Use Your Home Gym- Believe it or not, everyone has one. There are a countless number of exercises that can be done using little or no equipment. Not having to drive to a gym saves so much time. In my case, 30 minutes!

Tip #3: Act Like a Child- We can't stop growing older, but that doesn't mean we have to grow up! Jumping rope, using a hula-hoop or just running around with your children (if you have them) is a great workout. Chase a 2-year-old around the house for 10 minutes. You will certainly work up a sweat!

Tip #4: Break it Down- ...into smaller sessions, that is. One hour of fitness does not have to be done all at once. For example, a 30 minute workout video, a 10-minute brisk walk at lunch and a 20 minutes of heavy housecleaning should do the trick for a day's worth of physical activity.

Tip #5: A Little is Better Than Nothin'- Don't blow off a workout because there isn't time to fit in the entire session. Get in what you can and give it 100%. If you can run the distance you normally do, try upping the speed or intensity for maximum calorie burn.

Fitting in fitness can be tough, but our health should be a top priority. All of the other things in our lives that demand our focus will not be getting much attention if we don't stay active; leading to sickness and lack energy. We owe it to ourselves and to the ones we care about to stay fit and healthy. Just think, if you already feel as if there isn't enough time to work out, can you really afford to be sick or sluggish?

Take care!