Sana Italian! (Healthy Italian)
Happy Monday Friends! Or as the Italians Say
“Felice Lunedì!"
Ha! I don’t know Italian, but I love how the words sound! So romantic!!!! Do you agree?
I have never been to Italy, someday…God willing. However, I am afraid I would gain 50lbs because I LOVE PASTA! But, I am told over there you walk a lot for starters and their pasta is healthier…something about their pasta is fresh from flour, water, and eggs. They do not get it from a box. They literally make it homemade and it is made from 100% durum wheat, called semola di grano duro in Italian. Basically, it is higher in protein and stands up to the rigors of cooking.
There is your lesson on why Italians can eat pasta daily and not blow up like we American’s. Just sayin….
However, today I don’t have a traditional lasagna recipe. I have a healthy version of lasagna that I think you will love. Full disclosure. Two of my four boys love this and two hate it. Oddly it is my youngest, Graeme, and Trey who love it. My two college boys are like, “Mom, seriously? Add some noodles!”
Back story: Trey decided to go Keto back in late April and lose a few pounds. It has been GREAT for him, but hard for me now with my diagnosis. Keto, if you do not know, is high (healthy) fat, adequate protein, and low carbs. There is a lot of good research on this diet, but when you are fighting high LDL the verdict is out. My motto is: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. But, while trying to get my LDL levels down I need to watch my fat. So it has been a balancing act over here.
I am happy to report my husband is down 26lbs and feels and looks GREAT!
But, like any diet, check with your doctor before you go “balls to the wall with it.” I will do a post in the future on the benefits of Keto because we have learned a lot.
One thing that we have learned is that it is a very good diet for Veterans who suffer from PTSD. Fascinating right!
More on that in the future!
For today, if you are thinking of going Keto, if you are Keto, or if you are just trying to limit your carbs but love Italian….LOOK NO FURTHER!
KETO LASAGNA
I got this recipe from LOW CARB YUM 5-INGREDIENT KETO and I tweaked it because 5 ingredients was a little bland for us.
Ingredients:
1/2 of a yellow onion chopped
2- 3 garlic cloves minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. ground meat (or turkey)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 tub of ricotta cheese (1 and 12/ cups)
1 ball of mozzarella (8 ounces) sliced
1/2 cup to 1 cup grated parmesan (we like cheesy!)
1 (25 ounce) jar marinara sauce (low carb) we use Rao’s
Salt and pepper to taste and if you like add your favorite Italian seasoning
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375
In a large skillet, heat your olive oil on medium.
Add your chopped onion and cook until the onion is translucent.
Add your minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add your sausage and cook it through.
Then add your beef and cook it through.
You can add your seasoning here or mix it in your marinara sauce.
Remove from the heat and drain off any excess fat.
Transfer the meat mixture to the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch deep baking pan.
Spread the ricotta on top, followed by the Parmesan.
Then pour the marinara sauce over the layers and top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 25 minutes and maybe for the last 2 to 3 minutes put it on broil and get that mozzarella nice and toasty brown in some spots.
*You can add an egg to the ricotta before mixing and it will be easier to spread and the egg will add a little more protein!
Serve with a Salad and if not staying Keto add some garlic bread!
Bon Appetit!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Turkey Bolognese with Options
How many mom’s out there want to cook healthy but your kids don’t necessarily want to bite off (no pun intended) on it? I know that is always a problem in my house! Especially since I am raising ALL boys who can eat me out of the house in one day! Anyone else have this problem?
What do you do when you have a problem? You get creative! This year I hope to be able to help more families like mine get creative so everyone is happy! What am I talking about? I am talking about recipes that are easy for mom with options of being uber healthy with an option of being maybe a little less healthy. Not terrible, just not as healthy.
What does this look like? Well if the recipe calls for noodles Mom and Dad if they choose will use zoodles (zucchini or squash noodles). If it calls for rice, Mom and Dad will use cauliflower. Options. That is all. Plain and simple and easy enough to make everyone happy.
Do I eat this way all the time? LORD NO! Do I try to? LORD NO. But when I can I do and my vow to you is to TRY to give you options in the future so everyone is happy. After all isn’t that what we all want? Happy, healthy, kids and homes!
Turkey Bolognese (inspired by Primal Mom)
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground turkey
zucchini noodles or squash noodles (you can get them in the produce section already spiraled) If not purchase yellow squash or zucchini and use a spiralizer or veggitti to make noodles
Angel Hair Pasta (this is your less health option) and you will cook per the package instructions
1-2 shallots chopped (I prefer two and my little secret is cook with a shallot always and watch your dishes burst with flavor)
2-3 tablespoons chopped jar garlic
1/2 chopped onion
2 containers of cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1-2 handfuls of fresh basil
1-2 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
Parmesan, salt, and pepper for seasoning and garnish
PREP
In one large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add your chopped onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add your ground turkey and cook thoroughly for 5-7 minutes.
While that is cooking in another large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat on medium heat. Add your shallots and saute for 3 minutes then add your garlic and saute 3 more minutes. Next add tomatoes, fresh basil, oregano, and once your turkey is cooked through add that. Cover and let simmer for at least 10 minutes.
The skillet that you used for your turkey add butter and melt. Add your noodles and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add salt and pepper for taste.
If using real noodles please cook now according to the package
Plate noodles and top with the turkey and tomato mixture and juices. Add parmesan, salt, and pepper!
Serve with salad and garlic bread and everyone is happy!
Bon Appetit!
Amy
Everyone needs an adorable Apron like this to cook in!
Easy and Quick Carbonara
Easy and Quick pasta recipe with bacon! Yes Please!
It's officially summer here as our youngest son is out of school. With that comes long summer days in the sun and lots of kids coming and going at the Berry house. I try to get dinner on the table by 6:30 during the school year, but when summer hits.....forget it! I am lucky to make it happen by 8:00 and that is only if it happens. So I am always looking for easy quick recipes or making up easy quick recipes. I did just that last week with the following recipe.
I was in the mood for something with bacon and Graeme wanted pasta so I combined the two and made my own version of a carbonara. It turned out pretty good and everyone was pleased. Including me as it was super easy and I got my bacon fix! Give it a whirl and let me know what you think and while you are at it, if you have any recipes I could try I would love to try them and share them!
Carbonara
Ingredients:
1 Package of pasta uncooked (I used the thin pasta in a box)
Bacon (I used 10 slices)
2-3 Tablespoons crushed garlic from the jar or 1 garlic clove crushed
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1-4 ounce can of mushrooms, drained
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1.5 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Prep:
Preheat oven to 375 and place your bacon on a cookie sheet and cook on 375 for 20-30 minutes until bacon is cooked to your liking. Crumble bacon and set aside.
Save the grease from the cookie sheet.
Boil your water for your pasta while bacon is cooking and cook your pasta according to the package directions.
In a large skillet place 2-4 tablespoons of your bacon drippings and saute your garlic for about 2 minutes over medium heat.
Add your green onions and mushrooms and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
Drain pasta, and place in big serving bowl.
Stir egg yolks into hot pasta immediately after draining it.
Stir in bacon, garlic, green onions, cheese, salt and pepper: toss.
Serve immediately with a green salad and garlic bread.
Easy Peasy and so good!
Bon appetit!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
do you love bacon!?