Zero-Calorie, Zero-Carb, Gluten-Free - NoOodles

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about these zero calorie, zero carb, gluten-free "miracle" noodles lately and have really wanted to try them!  Lucky me, I stumbled upon an amazing deal on Groupon for NoOodle Shirataki Zero-Calorie Noodles.  

It was only $36.00 for 24 8oz. packs of these all natural noodles!  

Regularly, they would be $72.00.  Plus, I got free shipping. Cha-Ching!

The arrival!

One pack of NoOodles.

NoOodle's angel-hair pasta provides a healthy alternative to traditional noodles thanks to its complete lack of calories, net carbohydrates, gluten, fat, sodium, and preservatives.  Derived from yam flour, these high-fiber noodles require a simple rinse or dry fry to prepare before starring in your favorite soup, salad, or entree.

NO Calories... NO Fat... NO Net Carbs... NO Soy... NO Gluten... NO GUILT!!!

NoOodles Nutrition Label

So, now time to tell you my thoughts about these suckers :)

Upon opening the bag, there is a very foul fish like odor that is released *BLEH* they reek!  So naturally I did what I always do and Googled this stench right away.  I quickly found on the NoOodle website that this is a FAQ and the aroma does not mean the noodles are spoiled.  The smell is from a mineral called lime (calcium hydroxide, as seen the the ingredients above) which is apparently used in many foods and drinks as a firming and neutralizing agent.  It is harmless, but they recommend rinsing and draining the noodles to remove the smell prior to adding them to your recipes.

Speaking of recipes, this is the first meal I made using the "no guilt" noodles!

 

Ingredients:

- 4oz chopped grilled chicken breast

- 1 cup of steamed broccoli

- 4 oz NoOodles (drained and pat dry with a paper towel)

- 1 tbsp Walden Farm's Sesame Ginger Dressing

Instructions: 

Mix all of the ingredients together and microwave for 1 minute!

Easiest thing ever made?! Quite possibly!

As far as taste and texture goes, NoOodles are translucent, similar to Asian style noodles or angel hair pasta, and have no flavor.  So, you can add any of your favorite sauces or soups to your dish and the pasta will absorb those flavors. You can cook them with your favorite spaghetti or Alfredo sauce, or you can experiment with different vegetables and herb dressings until you find a dish that suits your taste and is delicious and healthy!

Enjoy!

Spicy Spaghetti & Meatballs

This just in... I made this dish last night for dinner!

Ingredients:

- 1 package of NoOodles (drained, rinsed, and dried)

- 1/4 cup diced yellow onion

- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes & green chilies

- 2 tsp Mrs. Dash Italian Medley seasoning

Instructions:

Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray, place all ingredients in pan and cook on medium-high heat for 2 minutes, turn heat down to medium and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Makes 2-3 servings.

Serve with 2 Turkey Muffins (recipe on my blog).

Bon Appetit!

Baked Spinach Salmon Burgers

This is a great meal because the main ingredients are powerful SUPERFOODS packed with nutrients!  And personally, I love spinach and I love salmon, so why not mix them together and make a delicious recipe out of it? :)

But first, I'd like to provide you with a few facts about our two key ingredients:

Salmon -
As you may already know, salmon is a highly nutritious food. Of course, it is high in protein, and Omega-3 healthy fats. But did you know that a serving salmon provides a full day’s requirement of vitamin D, which is essential for the maintenance of bone density?  Salmon also contains over half of the necessary B12, niacin, and selenium, and is an excellent source of B6 and magnesium.

Spinach -
Low in calories and high in vitamins, spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence.  One cup of the leafy green vegetable contains far more than your daily requirements of vitamin K and vitamin A, almost all the manganese and folate your body needs and nearly 40 percent of your magnesium requirement. It is an excellent source of more than 20 different measurable nutrients, including dietary fiber, calcium and protein.  And yet, 1 cup has only 40 calories!

So, here is another amazingly healthy, high protein (18.5g protein), low calorie (only 143 calories per patty!) recipe that is easy to make and only takes a few ingredients!

Baked Spinach Salmon Burgers

Serves 4

 

 Ingredients:
- 15oz of canned salmon, drained
   (I used 3 5oz cans)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped baby spinach
- 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/3 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- Fresh black ground pepper to taste
- Lemon juice to taste





Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine ingredients and mix well.
*Tip* If mixture is too dry, add more egg whites, if mixture is too wet, add more oats.
- Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- Form mixture into 4 patties (should be about 1/2 inch thick) and place on baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes in the oven (mine took only 10 minutes).
 

Now, I was making this meal for not just myself, but hungry boys as well, so I had to beef it up a bit!  I used a 5 Grain Flax Artisan Foldit Flatbread in place of a bun (one flatbread is 90 calories).  On the flatbread I spread all natural, no salt added, Stoneground Mustard.  Then I put a slice of Swiss cheese, added some fresh baby spinach, and chopped up a large tomato and red onion and placed slices on top.

Some suggestions if you are trying to reduce your caloric/carbohydrate intake:
* In place of a bun, use romaine lettuce leaves.
* Skip the cheese, or use low fat mozzarella instead.

Side Dish: Steamed Squash
As a side dish, I seasoned and steamed squash.  I washed and sliced 4 zucchinis then put them in a large Ziploc bag with a tablespoon of Mrs. Dash Original seasoning and shook the bag up real good to make sure all the slices were coated.  I let the zucchini sit in the seasoning while I was preparing the patties then popped em in my steamer for 7 minutes.  Voila!

Nutritional Facts: (per patty only)
143 calories, 3.6g fat, 304.4mg sodium, 76.4mg potassium, 9.2g carbs (1.8g fiber, 0.8g sugar), 18.5g protein

ENJOY!

References:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/408658-what-are-the-benefits-of-canned-pink-salmon/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/2700-facts-health-benefits-spinach/

Overstuffed Bell Peppers

This was my first time making stuffed peppers and now I must say I am addicted!  I will certainly be making this recipe again, and soon!  It provides a perfect balance of lean protein, complex carbs, and veggies.  I used whatever I had in my fridge and pantry and this was what I came up with :)

OVERSTUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Ingredients:
- Organic Tomato Sauce (enough to cover the bottom of a casserole dish)
- 5 Large Bell Peppers
- 1/2 cup Yellow Onion, chopped
- 1.5 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Mrs. Dash - Italian Medley
- 2 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey
- 1 cup Organic Brown Rice (could sub quinoa), COOKED
- 1 cup Zucchini, diced
- 3 oz Fresh Mozzarella
- Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Cover the bottom of the casserole dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce.
- Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes.
- Place in a casserole dish.
- Spray pan with olive oil and cook the onions until translucent (5-7 minutes). 
- Add minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Season ground turkey with Mrs. Dash then add the ground turkey and brown.
 

- In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground turkey, cooked brown rice, and zucchini.
- Scoop mixture into each bell pepper half.
- Sprinkle ground black pepper on top of each to taste.
 

- Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. If desired, uncover, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, and bake an additional 5 minutes.

- Scoop tomato sauce from bottom of the pan and drizzle on top to serve.

Serving Size:

1 serving = 1/2 bell pepper

Serves 10

Nutritional Facts:

177.8 cal, 4.8g fat, 66.6mg cholesterol, 133.1mg sodium, 172mg potassium,

11.8g carbs (1.9g fiber, 2.7g sugar), 24.1g protein

ENJOY!