phase 2 recipe: coconut bark for the uninitiated

I should really start taking my own photos. ...But I'm so laaazy!

Alright, so I’m down 1.5 pounds today! Yay. I think it has to do with the coconut bark I ate yesterday. I found the recipe here, but I’m going to tweak it a bit to fit my tastes. This is what I’m proposing (I’ll try it out tonight or tomorrow to see what I think):

Coconut Bark Retooled

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp. coconut oil
3 packets of Sugar Twin (or other calorie-free sweetener)
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. skim milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Microwave the coconut oil for about 10 – 15 seconds, until partially liquefied.
2. While microwaving, mix sweetener and cocoa powder, then add to the oil. Add vanilla and stir.
3. Finally, add skim milk and stir quickly to prevent setting.
4. Spoon into individual silicone baking cups or candy molds, or onto baking parchment/tin foil. Put in refrigerator for about 1 hour to set. One half of the candy is a serving.

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 17
Simeon’s Allocations Used: milk (all day), cut out Melba toast to balance the carbs therein.

NOTE: Now, you might be like “WTF Kira? Coconut oil is super high in calories!” Yeah, I know that. But you don’t count it because it can’t be properly digested by the body, and isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream. In other words, it’s a free fat… So it’s safe for Phase 2. The downside is too much of it will give you the runs (because it isn’t properly digested), so don’t overindulge!

Chocolate Strawberry “Pudding”

So, I recently gave this Phase 2 Chocolate Pudding recipe a try, and it was okay. Something about the cottage cheese didn’t quite work for me, though, so I tried something a little different tonight. Also, please be aware that the portion of cottage cheese in that recipe represents MORE than two normal protein servings for Phase 2, so I’d highly recommen going with 1/3 cup of cottage cheese and 1 tsp. of cocoa powder. But I digress. Here’s my take on the recipe:

Ingredients:

4-5 large strawberries
1-2 (1g) packets of Sugar Twin (or other calorie-free sweetener)
1/4 cup silken light tofu (soft, if possible)
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 Tbsp. skim milk

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to about 400 degrees F. Slice and hull the strawberries, then plop them in an oven-safe container, sprinkle with some sweetener, and place in the oven.
2. Meanwhile, plop the tofu, milk, cocoa, and sugar into a food processor, and pulse to mix (there will be some flecks of tofu, ignore them for now).
3. Let the strawberries cook for about 15 more minutes, checking often. Once you can see significant liquid in the bowl, remove from the oven.
4. Spoon about half of the strawberries and all of the juice into the food processor, and process until smooth. Scrape into a bowl, and mix in the remaining cooked strawberries. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 30
Simeon’s Allocations Used: 1/2 protein serving, milk (all day), 1 fruit serving.

NOTE: Save the remaining tofu for another pudding the next day, or just have a smaller-than-usual protein with your main meal.

hcg phase 2 recipe: light lemon curd

Yummmm.

Lemon curd is one of my comfort foods. This is great drizzled over strawberries, or on Melba toast.Because there is no butter, this is a very pale curd.

Now, the flavour of the artificial sweetener will be STRONG in this. So, pick one you like! I use Stevia or Splenda, but pick whichever one works best for you. Post-HcG diet, this will be super tasty with sugar or Xylitol instead of artificial sweetener, a less-fatty alternative to regular lemon curd.

Light Lemon Curd

Ingredients:

1/2 of a large egg
5 – 6 packets of Stevia (or other artificial sweetener)
1 lemon

Directions:

1. Grate the lemon to get about a tablespoon of zest (no white stuff!). Juice the lemon to produce 1/8 cup of juice.
2. Beat together the lemon juice & zest with the egg and sweetener.
3. Pour the mixture into a double boiler (or put a heat-proof bowl over a pot of boiling water) and stir very quickly. It will thicken almost immediately.
4. Remove from heat as soon as it begins to thicken. Serve over strawberries sprinkled with sweetener or on Melba toast! Yum!

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 30
Simeon’s Allocations Used: protein (modicum), lemon juice (all day)

NOTE: There will be one 1/2 egg left over. Mix this with three egg whites for one protein serving (as an omelette or scrambled or whatever), or save it for the next day to make another lemon curd batch!

hcg phase 2 recipe: pseudo apple cobbler

Best apples ever - Fuji!

Okay, yes, I am posting this on April 1st, but it’s not a joke, this is seriously good. It doesn’t taste exactly like apple cobbler (obviously, there’s 0 fat in this dish and 0 sugar!) but it’s tasty and fills a niche. Enjoy.

Pseudo Apple Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 Fuji Apple
1 Melba Toast
2 packets of Stevia
1 tsp. of Cinnamon
1 tsp. of Nutmeg
1 Tbsp. skim milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
2. Core and cut the apple into wedges – the smaller the better. Arrange in a small oven-safe dish.
3. Combine one packet of Stevia with one half teaspoon of cinnamon and one half teaspoon of nutmeg in a large spoon, the sprinkle over the apples.
4. Grind the piece of (unflavoured) Melba toast into a powder (food processor helps), and mix with remaining Stevia and spices. Sprinkle over apples.
5. Take the teaspoon of skim milk (or vegetarian equivalent) and drizzle over apples and crumb mixture.
6. Bake for 20 -30 minutes, depending on your oven and such. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 125
Simeon’s Allocations Used: Milk (all day), Fruit (one meal), Melba Toast (one meal)

hcg phase 2 recipe: pseudo hamburger helper

Tastes ALMOST like this.

So, obviously this doesn’t taste exactly like the cheesy, noodle-y hamburger helper. Rather, it’s closer to the tomatoe-y type. Still, it’s very tasty and hits the spot. I recommend using Yves Veggie Cuisine’s Original Veggie Ground Round, because it’s got fewer fat and calories than a chicken breast with no skin, even though the carbs/sugars are higher. The protein value is good, too!

Pseudo Hamburger Helper

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Veggie Ground Round (or equivalent TVP)
1 tomato
1 slice of an onion
1 clove of garlic
1 packet of Stevia
1 tsp. of poultry seasoning
1 tsp. of herbes de provence
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/4 cup of water
sprinkling of cayenne (optional)

Directions:

1. Slice the tomato into wedges and toss in pan along with onion slice and chopped clove of garlic. Add seasonings. (I like strong flavours, so + / – the spices and salt to your preference)
2. Cook over medium heat. The tomatoes will provide enough liquid. Once that starts to dry, add the tablespoon of vinegar.
3. Add the Veggie Ground Round and warm it before adding the water. Cook until the Veggie Ground Round starts to soften and crumble a bit, and whole mixture begins to look Hamburger Helper-ish in consistency.
4. Remove from heat, spoon into bowl and enjoy!

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 100
Simeon’s Allocations Used: protein (one meal), vegetable (one meal)