I love to eat delicious food and lots of it, but I know I can’t eat bowls and bowls of pasta and still expect to be in great shape. I have found a way to do both. Every week I try new recipes that are easy to make (since I’m a busy girl), tasty, and excellent for a knockout body. If the dish or snack turns out great, I’ll share the recipe with you.
MEAL TIME
This week I tried stuffed portobella mushrooms. I found this recipe in the New York Times. Since I was making this meal for friends who love their meat, I had to find something that was going to be as rewarding as a good burger. The stuffed portebella mushrooms turned out to be as savory as any meat dish without the saturated fat or cholesterol.
Nutritional Benefits of the main ingredients:
Portobella mushrooms
- high in potassium, which lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke.
- Rich in selenium, an antioxidant that works like vitamin E to protect cells from free radicals that can damage skin and cause disease.
- Mushrooms are around 80% water so they are very low calorie, but packed with nutrients.
Brown Rice
-High in manganese, which aids in energy production and antioxidant protection
- High fiber, which helps avoid spike in sugar levels (causing weight gain), keeps your digestive system functioning properly, and keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time
- High in selenium, which helps fight chronic disease, and reduces inflammation in the body
Lentils
-High in protein, which builds and repairs leans muscle
- High fiber, which not only keeps your blood sugar level and fights fat, but can also help prevent heart disease
- High in iron, which is part of the key enzyme system for energy production and metabolism. Iron is also essential for women, because we can become deficient on during menstruation. Red meat is another great source of iron, but it’s high in fat and calories.
Cashews
- High in copper, which helps eliminate free radicals and assists in the production of melanin (the skin and hair pigment)
- High in monostrated fat, which can help to reduce triglyceride levels, lowering the risk of heart disease.
- High in magnesium, necessary to build and maintain strong bones.
Time 2 Cook
Preheat: oven to 350 degrees
Saute: 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 cup cashews
4 cloves garlic, minced
Mix: The combination above with
1 cup cooked brown rice (or grain of choice)
1 can lentils, rinsed and drained
¼ cup breadcrumbs
½ cup vegetable broth
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for garnish
Stuff: The mixture into
6 Portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed
Add: on top of the mushrooms
1 tomato, sliced into thin rounds
Sea salt & black pepper
Bake: 30 minutes
ENJOY!
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