Gina Homolka's Blog, page 178
April 10, 2018
Roasted Asparagus
This quick and easy recipe for oven roasted asparagus is the perfect Spring side dish. This basic recipe can be seasoned many different ways; add lemon juice, garlic or shaved Parmesan for variations.
This is super easy side can be served with just about from poultry, to steak or pork.
How To Roast Asparagus
This simple method will give you tender-crisp asparagus in about 10 minutes. I simply spritz it with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Then I roast the asparagus in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Roasted Asparagus Ideas and Variations
After the asparagus is roasted, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top.
After the asparagus is roasted, top it with 1 ounce of shaved Parmesan.
Add 1 clove minced garlic to the asparagus before roasting.
More Asparagus Recipes You May Enjoy
Asparagus with Lentils and Poached Egg
Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry
Chicken Teriyaki Asparagus Stir Fry
Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Serve cold Roasted Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette
April 9, 2018
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans are a quick and easy summer side dish thanks to the instant pot with all the hearty, filling, baked bean flavors you love.
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans
April 7, 2018
Skinnytaste Meal Plan (April 9-April 15)
A free 7-day flexible meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy the new meal plan for the week!
If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc. You should aim for around 1500 calories* a day.
There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.
Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing!
PS – If you want to make your own meal plan, you can search for recipes by course in the index.
THE DETAILS:
Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated Weight Watcher Freestyle Points for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!
The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan. I’ve even included brand recommendations of products I love and use often. Cross check your cabinets because many condiments you’ll notice I use often, so you may already have a lot of them.
And last, but certainly not least, this meal plan is flexible and realistic. There’s plenty of wiggle room for cocktails, healthy snacks, dessert and dinner out. And if necessary, you can move some things around to make it work with your schedule. Please let me know if you’re using these plans, this will help me decide if I should continue sharing them!
MONDAY (4/9)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and a pink grapefruit (0)
L: Easy Shredded Harissa Chicken (2) with 1 cup cubed cucumbers (0), ½ a whole wheat pita (2) and Skinny Tzatziki (0)
D: Carrot Ginger Soup (3) with Quinoa and Spinach Patties* (5)
Totals: Freestyle Points 12 , Calories 862*
TUESDAY (4/10)
B: ½ cup quick oats (4) with 2 tablespoons skim milk (0), pinch salt (0), ½ cup sliced strawberries (0) and 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (2)
L: Easy Shredded Harissa Chicken (2) with 1 cup cubed cucumbers (0), ½ a whole wheat pita (2) and Skinny Tzatziki (0)
D: Grilled Shrimp Tostadas (4) with Quick Mexican Brown Rice (5)
Totals: Totals: Freestyle Points 19, Calories 998*
WEDNESDAY (4/11)
B: 4-Ingredient Flourless Banana-Nut Pancakes (4)
L: Easy Shredded Harissa Chicken (2) with 1 cup cubed cucumbers (0), ½ a whole wheat pita (2) and Skinny Tzatziki (0)
D: General Tso’s Chicken (5) with 1 cup cauliflower “rice” (0)
Totals: Freestyle Points 13, Calories 882*
THURSDAY (4/12)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and an orange (0)
L: Easy Shredded Harissa Chicken (2) with 1 cup cubed cucumbers (0), ½ a whole wheat pita (2) and Skinny Tzatziki (0)
D: Orecchiette Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli (8) with an arugula salad** (4
Totals: Freestyle Points 16, Calories 870*
FRIDAY (4/13)
B: 1 banana (0) with 2 tablespoons peanut butter (6)
L: Asparagus, Egg and Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette (3) and an apple (0)
D: Grilled Garlic Dijon Herb Salmon (1) with Houston’s Couscous (7)
Totals: Freestyle Points 17, Calories 1,056*
SATURDAY (4/14)
B: Easy Bagel (3) with 2 tablespoons light cream cheese (3) and ½ a grapefruit (0)
L: LEFTOVER Orecchiette Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli (8)
D: DINNER OUT!
Totals: Freestyle Points 14, Calories 537*
SUNDAY (4/15)
B: Gluten-Free Lightened Up Banana Bread (4) with 1 cup chopped strawberries (0)
L: BBQ Chicken Salad (2) (recipe x 2) and an apple (0)
D: Filipino Adobo Chicken (5) with ¾ cup brown rice (5) and Roasted Asparagus (0)
Totals: Freestyle Points 16, Calories 873*
*This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc.
**Arugula salad includes 1 ½ cup arugula, ½ ounce shaved parmesan and 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
April 5, 2018
Teriyaki Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Spring is in the air and asparagus is season, which means I’ll be eating this Teriyaki Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry as often as I can, it’s one of my Spring favorites!
April 4, 2018
General Tso’s Chicken
This lighter General Tso’s Chicken is made with chunks of white meat chicken breast, lightly wok sautéed with an easy, healthier stir-fry sauce, and more than half the calories than if you ordered take-out!
General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s chicken is a sweet, deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants. This healthier lightened up version is wok sautéed instead of deep fried, and made without all the added sugar used in most restaurants.
Guys, I love making Chinese food at home because I have more control of what’s going into it. I’ve done so many take-out makeovers like Orange Chicken, Pepper Steak, and Cauliflower Fried Rice, so it’s hard to believe I haven’t posted a General Tso’s yet!
April 3, 2018
Carrot Ginger Soup
This healthy Carrot Ginger Soup is made with fresh carrots, a hint of fresh ginger and a touch of sour cream blended together until creamy, perfect for lunch or dinner. You can make it vegan or dairy-free by swapping the cream for coconut milk.
Carrot Ginger Soup
When I was a kid we had soup just about every night before our main dish because my Dad loved soup and my guess is it was also an easy way to get us to have more vegetables. I was usually not thrilled about this because I was pretty picky. But if it was a creamy pureed soup, I actually enjoyed it.
I mention this because I’m not a huge fan of cooked carrots, but when combined with ginger and sauteed onions then blended into a creamy soup, I actually love it, it brings me back to those days of sitting at Moms kitchen table with my pureed soup.
This nourishing soup packed with beta carotene comes together in less than 40 minutes.
What to serve with carrot ginger soup
I love having a soup and salad, especially for lunch.
A half sandwich such as a grilled cheese (my Brussels Sprout Havarti and Apple Grilled Cheese from my cookbook Skinnytaste Fast and Slow affil link would be awesome!!)
Easy Baked Coconut Shrimp is crisp and delicious, I also have instructions for the air fryer.
These Easy Garlic Knots are my husband’s favorite side for soup.
Print Recipe
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Carrot Ginger Soup
3 Freestyle Points
115 calories
Total Time: 45 minutes
This healthy Carrot Ginger Soup is made with fresh carrots, a hint of fresh ginger and a touch of sour cream blended together until creamy, perfect for lunch or dinner. You can make it vegan or dairy-free by swapping the cream for coconut milk.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large white onion, chopped
3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 lb peeled baby carrots
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream (tofutti sour cream or coconut milk for dairy free)
kosher salt and white pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh micro greens or chives, for garnish
Directions:
Stove Directions:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat; add onions and cook, stirring often, until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes.
Add broth, carrots, and ginger. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are soft, about 30 minutes.
Add sour cream, using an immersion blender (or in batches in a regular blender), carefully blend until smooth. Bring soup back to a boil, adjust salt and pepper to your taste.
Ladle into 4 bowls and garnish with a little more sour cream and fresh chives if desired. Makes 5 cups.
Instant Pot Directions:
Press saute in the pot and melt butter, add onions and cook, stirring often, until onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
Add broth, carrots, and ginger. Cover and cook high pressure 15 minutes, until the carrots are tender. Natural release.
Add sour cream, using an immersion blender (or in batches in a regular blender), carefully blend until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Ladle into 4 bowls and garnish with a little more sour cream and fresh chives if desired. Makes 5 cups.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 4 servings, Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups
Amount Per Serving:
Freestyle Points: 3
Points +: 3
Calories: 115 calories
Total Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 13.5mg
Sodium: 114mg
Carbohydrates: 16g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 8g
Protein: 3g
All images and text ©Gina Homolka for Skinnytaste
March 31, 2018
Skinnytaste Meal Plan (April 2-April 8)
A free 7-day flexible meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points.
Hope you all have a wonderful Spring break! Sharing another week of meals, please let me know how I can improve these meal plans for you in the future.
If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc. You should aim for around 1500 calories* a day.
There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.
Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing!
THE DETAILS:
Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated Weight Watcher Freestyle Points for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!
The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan. I’ve even included brand recommendations of products I love and use often. Cross check your cabinets because many condiments you’ll notice I use often, so you may already have a lot of them.
And last, but certainly not least, this meal plan is flexible and realistic. There’s plenty of wiggle room for cocktails, healthy snacks, dessert and dinner out. And if necessary, you can move some things around to make it work with your schedule. Please let me know if you’re using these plans, this will help me decide if I should continue sharing them!
MONDAY (4/2)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and 1 cup grapes (0)
L: Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Pepper on Whole Wheat Bread (10)
D: Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
Totals: Freestyle Points 14, Calories 936*
TUESDAY (4/3)
B: 2 hard boiled eggs (0) and 1 cup grapes (0)
L: LEFTOVER Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
D: Grilled Steak Lettuce Tacos (4) with Mexican Cauliflower Rice (1)
Totals: Freestyle Points 9, Calories 894*
WEDNESDAY (4/4)
B: Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: LEFTOVER Crock Pot Minestrone Soup (2) with White Bean Caprese Salad (2)
D: Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir-fry (1) over ¾ cup brown rice (5)
Totals: Freestyle Points 15, Calories 1,007*
THURSDAY (4/5)
B: Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar (5)
L: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Avocado and Tomato (4) and an apple (0)
D: Crockpot Kid Friendly Turkey Chili (0) topped with 1 ounce avocado (1) and 2 tablespoons reduced fat cheddar (1)
Totals: Freestyle Points 11, Calories 906*
FRIDAY (4/6)
B: 6 ounces nonfat plain Greek yogurt (0) topped with 1 cup sliced strawberries (0) and 1 tablespoon sliced almonds (1)
L: LEFTOVER Crockpot Kid Friendly Turkey Chili (0) topped with 1 ounce avocado (1) and 2 tablespoons reduced fat cheddar (1)
D: Seattle Asian Salmon Bowl (7)
Totals: Freestyle Points 10, Calories 889*
SATURDAY (4/7)
B: Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins (8) with an orange (0)
L: Chicken Quiche (6)
D: DINNER OUT!
Totals: Freestyle Points 14, Calories 591*
SUNDAY (4/8)
B: LEFTOVER Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins (8) with an orange (0)
L: Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburger with Blue Cheese and Broccoli Slaw (8)
D: Chicken Francese-Lightened Up (2) with spinach salad (1)**
Totals: Freestyle Points 19, Calories 903*
*This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc.
** Salad includes 1 ½ cups spinach, ¼ cup halved grape tomatoes, sliced red onion, and 2 tablespoons light Italian dressing.
March 30, 2018
Chicken Quiche
This easy lighter chicken quiche is made with refrigerated pie crust and loaded with spinach and mushrooms but you can use any combination of vegetables. A great recipe to clean out the refrigerator!
Chicken Quiche
March 28, 2018
Super Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This super moist carrot cake recipe made from scratch is perfect for Easter or anytime of the year. Made with a can of crushed pineapple which makes it very moist, without adding a ton of fat.
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
March 27, 2018
Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie
A simple Greek inspired Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie combining savory flavors such as spinach, feta, Asiago cheese, dill and scallions. Perfect to take to a potluck!
Easy Crust-less Spinach and Feta Pie
Served with a salad, you can turn this into a main dish, or cut it into smaller wedges to serve as an appetizer. Also a great addition to brunch. Enjoy this warm or at room temperature.
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