Annebelle Joy's diet saving recipes

[Annabelle Joy]

Here are a few recipes that have helped me ensure that I don't break my diet.

AJ's Chicken Nuggets

Really,all that's mine in these is the size and how I use them. I think the original recipe comes from the Chicken section of the lifestyleclinic.com.au recipes. Lifted straight from the site, it's

CHICKEN MINCE - allowance
ZUCCHINI - 1/2 veg allowance (cut very tiny)
MUSHROOMS - 1/2 veg allowance (cut very tiny)
Onions Approx 2 TBSP
Dried Garlic Approx 1 tsp
Pepper Seasoning (1/2) tsp
2 Crackers finely crumbled.
Spray Oil.

In a bowl combine chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, onion and garlic.
Crush your crackers and add lemon pepper to the crumbs.
Roll your rissole into balls (I usually get about 8 small ones) then coat each ball and flatten it into the crumbs to make sure you get it all covered.
Spray your non stick pan with little bit of oil and cook to your liking!
Source: Gourmet Diet Chef (CENTRAL COAST)

The first version I saw was posted by hexi and, from memory, she mentioned just grated zucchini and grated yellow squash for the vegetables, mixed with the minced chicken and the crumbs. Emma recently posted a version (on this site) with kaffir lime leaves (not easy to obtain where I shop).

Anyway, my version is as follows:

Mince your full chicken allowance in a food processor.
Grate zucchini to half your vegetable allowance.
Add finely minced or grated any other vegetables that you have on hand to make up full vegetable allowance. Suggestions are any of: yellow squash, small quantity of fresh or dried tarragon, garlic, mushrooms, white or spring onions, celery.
Add curry powder to taste (roughly one teaspoon).
Crumb finely one or two crispbread (I use two) and add them.
Mix all together and make into nugget sized portions. I get 12 out of my recipe. Spray pan with oil and fry both sides until cooked and browned.

I then cool, package and freeze. If I am going out to a restaurant, or a finger food party, I microwave them until very hot and take them in my bag, just in a plastic bag. I can take them out one by one and eat them from my lap. They stay at least luke warm for up to a couple of hours. I did take them once when I wasn't sure if I'd be home, but did have a microwave available. I left them frozen until I needed them, so I could have returned them to the freezer if I hadn't needed them.


Ricecake and Mango Snack

I wish I could remember who gave me this hint. Please tell me if it was you. I love it and it's really helped when I've felt hungry between meals because it's quite filling. It even makes a rice cake a treat.

Slice half a mango allowance and spread the slices over one rice cake.
Eat and enjoy.

I've also used half a peach, half a nectarine and half an apple, grated and with cinnamon.

Tuna Vegetable Soupy Stew

This one came in handy when I arrived home late one night and realised that I hadn't taken any meat out of the freezer. It doesn't take long, petty much uses whatever you have on hand, and tastes good. It's also nice taken out, e.g. to work, and microwaved.

Tuna, full allowance
A mix of vegetables, full allowance, chopped finely. Anything that's available and seems suitable at the time. Suggestions are capsicum, celery, tomato, garlic, white or spring onion, cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, cabbage.
Pepper and a pinch of mixed herbs.
Water. Start with half a cup and add more if you need it.
Finely crushed crispbread, one or two.

Mix tuna, vegetables, herbs, pepper and water together and cook until vegetables are tender.
Add crispbread to thicken and serve. Alternatively, serve watery and eat the crispbread with it.


Emergency meal when out

Early on I went out for the day and forgot all about lunch. My solution at the time was to buy a small can of tuna and a Lebonese cucumber at a supermarket and eat those. However, a possible solution that can be carried with you in the car or even your bag would be a small tin of tuna and a tin of button mushrooms. Not exactly haute cuisine, and you might want to go somewhere private to eat it, but it is Cohen's food. Just know in advance how much tuna and how many mushrooms make up your allowance -- and have a can opener if you don't buy ring pull cans.


I'll add anything else that I might think of as I remember or discover it.

I hope this helps some of you.

AJ