[MarieD]

This makes a quick lunch or supper. Chicken could be substituted for the shrimp. Definitely low-cal, but I haven't calculated the totals.

Great Low Fat Soup

2 Cups Chicken Broth
1 Cup Frozen Artichoke Hearts
½ Zucchini, Sliced or diced
1 Tsp Minced Garlic
½ Can Diced Tomatoes
½ Tsp Oregano
1 Cup Shelled Raw Shrimp (Fresh or Frozen)
1 Cup Fresh Raw Spinach
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Bring broth to a boil, add Shrimp and cook for 2 minutes. Remove Shrimp with slotted spoon. Add Artichokes and simmer 5 minutes. Add Zucchini, Tomatoes, Garlic, Oregano, and Salt and Pepper. Simmer an additional 5 minutes. Add Shrimp and Spinach; cook until Spinach wilts and cooks – about 3 minutes more. Serves 2.

[MarieD]

Here's one more that my family has been eating for 10 years and loves- healthy and light, but tastes rich like pure mashed potatoes:

Vegi-Whip

1 Small Head Cauliflower, cut into florets
2-3 Baking Potatoes, cut into chunks (Potatoes and Cauliflower should about equal each other)
1 Bay Leaf
1 Small Onion, diced
2 Cloves Garlic, sliced
1/4 Cup Light Butter or Margarine (or Molly McButter)
Low-Fat Milk
Salt and Fresh Pepper to taste

Place Cauliflower and Potatoes in a large pot with Bay Leaf, Onion & Garlic - cover with water and add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain into a colander and return to the pot (remove Bay Leaf). Mash with butter or substitute, Milk and additional salt and pepper. Great with low fat gravy.

[Greekgirl]

Thanks Marie! I love mashed potatoes!

Here is another one with potatoes:

This is a traditional Dutch recipe, very tasty, and very easy to make. Actually, this dish is said to be made first by the Dutch of the city of Leiden in 1572(!), when the Spanjards were besieging the city. The Dutch won, and the Spanjards fled the camp that was situated just outside the city walls. When the people of Leiden (famished after months of siege and starvation), got into the camp, the first thing they saw was big pots of this stuff, abandoned. Up to today, the city still celebrates this event every year on the 3rd of October, with this HUTSPOT, Herring, and whitebread!

Serves: about 6
Time to prepare: 15 min (+ let simmer 1 hour while you do other things)
Low fat, low cal

Ingredients:
1 kilo (=about 2 lb) carrots
1 kilo onions
1 1/2 kilos (3 lb's) potatoes, peeled and cut into 4 if big
0% fat milk as much as needed (1 to 2 lb's) to make a puree
2 lb lean beef (optional)
Butter (optional, but if you put butter in, put it in at the very end, this will make the taste stronger so you need a lot less)
Low-cal gravy (from a packet)

salt (knorr powder), pepper, nutmeg

How to:
Take a BIG pan. Put all the ingredients in, except for the milk. Use only just enough water to cover (you have to make a puree out of it afterwards. Meat on top.
Bring to the boil and let simmer covered on a low fire for an hour or so. check the water, it must not completely damp out (but neither should it be a soup)
When ready,
Take out the meat and put aside. Keep warm.
If there is a lot of water left, pour some out (but not all). Mash all ingredients until mash, but keep it a bit chunky. Add milk as required to make smooth. (Put butter in and let melt)

Put into deep plates, make a hole in the middle and serve with gravy and the meat.

This is a very rustic recipe but VERY nice!
Enjoy!

[fruitface]

This is a recipe I created after tasting this at the Catfish Parlour in Austin. Everybody loves this & it has hardly any fat. A lot fresher than the mayo laden salad:

Shred one cabbage
Shred two carrots
Dice 3 green onions
Mince 1/2 Cup cilantro

Shake dressing & add to veggies:
1/2 Cup white vinegar
1/4 Cup splenda
3 Tbs Veg Oil
Salt & Pepper

Try this - you are in for a surprise!

[MarieD]

Looks like a great recipe - do you use a lean roast for the beef? Or steak?

I love vegetables mashed together with potatoes.

Thanks!

[Greekgirl]

Hi Marie,

Actually the best meat is not the leanest, so steak would be better than roast which would get a bit too dry when cooked with water. Just don't use really fat meat.
you could also try cutting up the pieces afterwards and put them in the mash. that's nice, too.

I've started a new thread with the same subject as this one is getting huuuge, and will be continuing on that one. see you there!
Vassiliki from Athens