Appetizer Recipes For LA Weight Loss

  • *SPINACH STUFFED MUSHROOMS*

    exchanges per serving-1 Starch, 1 Veg

    1 box (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, cooked
    20 large fresh mushrooms
    5 green onions, finely chopped
    2 cloves garlic crushed or minced
    1TBSP low sodium chicken broth
    1/2 cup dried diet bread crumbs
    1 TBSP lemon juice
    1 egg beaten

    Preheat oven to 400 deg.
    Remove stems from mushrooms, chop stems finely
    Arrange mushroom tops on a cookie sheet. In a large frying plan, saute onion, garlic and mushroom stems in broth. Combine spinach, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, egg and sauted mushroom mixture. Fill mushroom tops with 1/20 of mixture. Bake in preheated 400 oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve hot

    Serving size: 5 mushrooms, recipe makes 4 servings.

    Nutritional info: 99 cals, 6.7g protein, 13g carb, 3g fat, 195mg sodium
  • *CUCUMBER VEGETABLE DIP*

    exchanges per serving-3 veg, 1 protein

    4 or 6 oz 1% cottage cheese (according to plan)
    1/4 medium cucumber, chopped unpeeled
    10 medium radishes, chopped unpeeled
    5 small green onions with tops, chopped
    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    1 teaspoon dill

    Combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth.
    Cover and chill until serving time.
    makes 1 serving.




    *SPINACH DIP*

    exchanges per serving-1 dairy 8oz, 2 veg

    1/2 cup cooked spinach, chopped and drained
    1 container non-fat plain yogurt
    5 green onions with tops, finely chopped
    1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves, crushed
    1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
    Dash of pepper
    1 clove garlic, crushed

    Mix all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
    Serve with melba toast, rice cakes or raw veggies.

    Makes 1 serving.




    *CREAMY FRUIT DIP*

    exchanges per serving-1 LA Drink Mix, 1/2 Protein

    1 tropical peach or wild berry passion LA Drink Mix
    2 oz 1% cottage cheese

    combine all ingredients; blen until smooth. Use with fruit(according to plan).
    Cut up your fruit in bite size pieces and dip.

    Makes 1 serving.
  • Hummus
    *HUMMUS*

    exchanges per serving-1 Protein, 1 Fat

    Ingredients
    1 cup cooked chickpeas
    1 tablespoon lemon juice
    2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
    1 teaspoon olive oil
    2 tablespoons plain, nonfat yogurt
    1 tablespoon parsley
    1-2 tablespoons water


    Place all ingredients in the food processor.
    Blend on high until forms smooth paste.
    If mixture is still dry, you may add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of water to create a smoother paste.
    Serve chilled.
  • *TORTILLA ROLL-UP APPETIZER*

    Ingredients:

    2 oz fat-free cream cheese,
    2 oz light cream cheese, softened
    5 green onions, sliced
    1/4 cup salsa
    2 oz shredded light or reduced-fat cheddar
    cheese
    5 (8 inch) whole wheat or spinach tortillas
    1/4 cup chopped black olives
    1/2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

    Preparation Instructions:
    In a medium bowl, with a hand-mixer, blend
    cream cheeses until soft. Add onion,
    salsa, and cheese. Stir until well
    combined. Divide cream cheese mixture
    among tortillas. Spread a thin layer on
    each. Sprinkle each tortilla with black
    olives and lettuce. Roll each tortilla and
    refrigerate about 4-6 hours before slicing.
    Just before serving, slice each tortilla
    roll into one inch pieces.

    Makes 10 servings

    Serving Size:
    4 pieces

    Each serving counts as:
    1 Starch
    1 Vegetable
  • *HORSERADISH DIP*

    exchanges per serving-1 8oz. dairy, 1 vegetable

    1-8oz. container nonfat plain yogurt
    5 green onions, finely chopped
    1 clove garlic, crushed
    1/2 Tablespoon paprika
    1 teaspoon horseradish
    1/2 teaspoon dried whole tarragon, crushed
    1/4 teaspoon pepper

    Combine all ingredients, stir well.
    Chill at least 3 hours for flavors to combine.
    Serve with an assortment of fresh veggies.
  • Portabello mushroom "fries"
    Portabello Mushroom "Fries"


    Ingredients:

    4 large Portobello mushroom caps
    2 tbsp salt-free steak seasoning, such as Mrs. Dash
    Olive oil cooking spray
    1/2 cup egg substitute, beaten
    1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
    1 cup fresh bread crumbs
    1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
    1/4 tsp Morton Lite Salt
    1/8 tsp fresh black pepper
    1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan

    Preparation:

    Preheat a grill pan over medium-high to high heat.
    Scrape the gills off the underside of Portobello mushroom caps with a spoon. Brush caps gently with a damp cloth to clean them. Spray caps lightly with olive oil to keep them from sticking to the grill pan and season the caps with steak seasoning.
    Grill mushrooms 3 or 4 minutes on each side under a loose tin foil tent until just tender. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.
    Slice grilled caps into 1/2-inch strips. Turn strips in egg, then coat in mixture of parsley, bread crumbs and cheese. Cook "fries" over medium high heat in a nonstick skillet generously coated with cooking spray.
    "Fries" will brown in 2 or 3 minutes on each side.

    Makes: 4 servings
    Serving size: ¼ recipe
    LA Exchange: 1 Vegetable, ½ Dairy, 1 Condiment
  • Apple berry salsa and chips
    Apple Berry Salsa & Chips

    Ingredients:

    2 medium granny smith apples
    1 pt. strawberries, diced
    2 Kiwi ( peeled and diced)
    1 small orange
    2 Tbsp brown sugar substitute
    2 Tbsp Apple Jelly( sugar free)


    Baked Cinnamon Chips
    2 ( 6 inch ) flour tortilla
    1 Tbsp brown sugar substitute
    2 tsp cinnamon

    Preparation:
    Salsa:
    Chop Apples, strawberries, kiwi and orange with food chopper ( hand held)
    In a medium size mixing bowl mix brown sugar substitute and sugar free apple jelly.
    Stir in the chopped fruit.


    Chips:
    Lightly spray flour tortilla with water on a baking sheet. May use non fat, non stick spray like Pam instead of water.
    Combine sugar and cinnamon together and divide in half.
    Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges each.
    Sprinkle each tortilla with the cinnamon mixture.
    Place in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minute or until desired crispness. Do not burn.

    Makes: 4 servings
    Serving size: ¼ of fruit recipe, 4 chips
    LA Exchange: 2 Fruits, Starch