Cinnamon Apple Chips

Good Morning All,
This was my nightly treat and snack during Phase 2 and honestly, still is today.  I love this!  So simple yet so satisfying.  It will solve any desire for sweet, salty, juicy and crispy all in one sitting. 
Pick your favorite apple, mine happens to be a huge Fuji Apple, 2nd runner up is HoneyGold or HoneyCrisp...whichever is in season.  Perfect for your night in while watching a movie or bring along to an outing so you can snack.  If you still have not tried celtic sea salt...your missing out.  I never thought salt could taste so different and so good.  Same goes for Vietnamese Cinnamon, you have no idea how good cinnamon is, until you try this.  Worth it 100%!

 Let me know if you get addicted to this snack as much as I have.

Cinnamon Apple Chips

1 apple, sliced very thin
sprinkling of celtic sea salt
sprinkling of Vietnamese cinnamon
mini dash of nutmeg

To play tricks on your eyes, slice your apple thin.  Leaving you with a huge pile of apples.  Plate them and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt, cinnamon and nutmeg as you wish.  Enjoy!   

Green Onions while on P2 and Herb Topped Tilapia

Good Morning my friends,
There has been questions and inquires off and on about the "Should I or shouldn't I use green onions?",  "Is using green onion mixing veggies?",  "Can I use green onion with other vegetables?" 
All of these questions and concerns are great!  It lets me know you are trying to follow the Dr. Simeon's protocol and that is much better than following an adapted version.  These are valid questions so I wanted to answer and give my thoughts to you and why I do add green onion to my recipes.  I will be placing this info in the HCG Food List page here.  That is where the permanent home will be for this info and I may reference to it now and again for newcomers. 

Green Onion-  is a perennial herb growing to about 1.22 m high, with 4 to 6 hollow cylindrical leaves. On top of the long stalk, greenish-white flowers are present in the form of solitary umbels growing up to 1-inch wide. The seeds of the plant are black and angular. The underground bulb, which is used medicinally, is made up of fleshy leaf sheaths forming a thin-skinned capsule.

Should I or shouldn't I use green onion with other veggies?-  Yes you can, but never have to.  Do not ever do something if you are not comfortable with it.  Simply leave them out.
 Is green onions mixing veggies?-  No it is not mixing veggies, green onion is an herb just like basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, etc...
 Can I use green onion with other vegetables?- Yes you can!  You can use it just like you do with normal seasonings.  Now don't go overboard but you can use it like a spice.  It is not mixing vegetables and is safe per the Dr. Simeons Pounds and Inches protocol.

***Now a recipe to honor the great green onion! It has offered a refuge to my palette while on Phase 2. 

Herb Topped Tilapia

4 TB water or broth

1 TB fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped green onions, sliced

1 TB fresh parsley, chopped (1 tsp dried)

1/2 tsp celtic sea salt

1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper

4 tilapia fillets

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Measure out and cut your 3.5 ounce white fish servings. Place fillets in glass baking dish. In a small bowl, combine water, lemon, green onion, parsley, salt, and pepper. Top fillets with the seasoning mixture.  Bake fillets for 15-25 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Note: This would also be great with chicken or shrimp too.

Phase 3/4:  Replace water with butter. 

Lemons and green onions are something that you can grow in your home during the winter too!  I grow herbs all year round, I just love fresh rosemary I can never grow enough or fast enough.

Wilted Citrus Spinach Salad

Good morning, welcome to all of the new comers!  I am so happy you have joined Phases To Forever.  Thanks for trying out the recipes, I hope you find a few favorite's to get you through like I did.  All though everything I post will be tasty, some stood out to me as staples.  Let me just highlight what was my mainstay throughout.  In no particular order, I ate many of these meals. 

My first love, so important that it inspired this whole blog.  I could not live without my Greek Chicken during or after P2. 
Asian Slaw, this baby was one of my most prized salads.  The dressing itself can be used over any lettuce and not just over shredded cabbage. 
My go to spice mix for tacos long before P2, many Taco Seasoning have sugars and starches for filler.  Not mine! Try this for full taco flavor. 
When you think you just can't drink another glass of water....Faux- Fruit Punch, so good even non- tea drinkers will love.  Also for your drinking pleasure, the Ginger Syrup made into Homemade Ginger Ale is something I still make today and long after P4.  Cold and flu season this is a must!  Your so hot now that you got pregnant?  Morning sickness cure! 
I am a chicken eater and this is fabulous when shredded into a huge pile.  It is ok to play tricks on your eyes in P2, try this Faux-tisserie Chicken made with a sugar free, starch free Homemade Seasoned Salt.

You all may have completely different favorites.  Tell me below in the comments what your go-to meals have been.  From here or not is ok.  This way you can share and get ideas from others for your next meal. 

And now onto the new recipe. This is a nice warm spinach salad that wilts into a great meal.  Beef, shrimp, chicken or fish.  Use a double batch of the dressing to cook some meat up or use leftover, either way this is a great winter side dish using the citrus that is in season. 

Wilted Citrus Spinach Salad
1/2 package of fresh baby spinach

Dressing
1 whole orange, squeeze halfway, cut up orange and place over spinach, use juice for dressing
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
1/4 C water
1/4 cups Fresh Cilantro, Chopped
10-15 drops Valencia Orange or plain stevia
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp celtic sea salt
1/8 tsp fresh cracked pepper

Wash and dry spinach. Place cleaned and dried spinach in a large bowl, add cut up orange. Heat juice of halfly squeezed orange, apple cider vinegar, water, cilantro, stevia, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large skillet over high heat. Bring to boil and pour over spinach and cut orange; toss to coat and wilt slightly. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

Note:  Can use your 1/2 grapefruit instead of an orange, or a whole lemon and still eat a fruit.

Phase 3/4:  Replace water with grapeseed, olive or coconut oil.  Replace onion powder with chopped shallots.

Spinach Salad with Oranges

Happy New Year!!!! 

How many of you are starting today?  I bet many of you are!  Good luck, happy losing!

 It is citrus season and what better way to enjoy the seasons fruits while on VLCD.  We can enjoy the fresh lemons, oranges and grapefruits while in Phase 2 so take advantage of it!  Try the Broiled Grapefruit for dessert, add lemon to your salads, and teas.  Add a peppered grilled sirloin, chicken or shrimp to the top of this salad.  Double the dressing and cook your meat in it for a nice fresh and tender result.  Salads are easy to bring along on the go, we under estimate how good salads can be, don't get into a rut...change it up and keep it new and exciting.  It makes the time pass more quickly, gives you a focus and keeps your imagination active.
I have made this and it is fantastic!  I have not photoed it yet, but will soon and will update...

Spinach Salad with Oranges
1/2 of a  (10 ounce) package fresh spinach

1 orange, peeled, segments and chopped bite size
2 green onions, sliced
2 TB cilantro, chopped

Dressing/ Marinade:

2-4 TB water (mix in 2 and if too strong that add until it is your taste)

1 TB apple cider vinegar

1 tsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos

1/4 tsp stevia (Valencia Orange is good but plain is ok too)

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp celtic sea salt

fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

In a salad bowl toss the spinach and oranges and herbs, set aside.  In a small bowl whisk the vinegar, Bragg's, stevia, onion powder, salt and pepper until mixed well. Pour water in and whisk, taste and add more water if desired. Pour over spinach and oranges, serve with grilled peppered beef, chicken or shrimp.  Make additional dressing and cook your meat in it or use as a marinade!

Phase 3/4:  Use a healthy olive oil, grape seed oil or coconut oil in lue of the water for dressing.  Add additional veggies to the salad, bell peppers, red onion, brocolli florets, snow peas, etc...  I think a few drops of sesame oil would be really good too.