The benefits of a probiotic witch hunt

The benefits of a probiotic witch hunt
Well, I have been really sick for about a week now, but that only means I have been watching more TV than usual, and I hadn't heard anything about this in the U.S. news. (Such as the fact that Dannon settled out of court earlier this year in a suit challenging the health claims of probiotics.)
I find Food Navigator stories quite enlightening sometimes! I am still too ill to be at all eloquent, so I'll simply leave you with the above link for now - definite food for thought, and a great place to bookmark.

Truly Low Carb Festive Fajita Salad

another sample recipe from Cooking TLC, Volume 1

• Romaine lettuce
• Onion and bell pepper strips (add jalapeno strips if you like HOT)
• Steak or chicken strips
• Hot Pepper sauce
• Shredded cheddar, jack, or pepper jack cheese
• Truly Low Carb Picante Sauce (or half as much of a commercial unsweetened salsa)
• Sour Cream
• Toasted low carb tortilla strips (optional)

Sauté onions and peppers with meat until veggies are tender-crisp and meat is cooked through.

Add several tablespoons (to taste) of hot pepper sauce to the pan. WARNING - Do not inhale or lean over the pan at this time! .... ooh-chi-mama, the fumes..... My favorite sauce is made with Scotch Bonnet peppers and 2-3 Tb. over 2 pounds of meat is plenty spicy for me.

Shake the pan gently, to burn the sauce onto the outside of the meat.

Melt cheese over the top and then slide the hot mixture right onto a bed of lettuce.

Top with the Picante Sauce or 1/4 cup commercial salsa, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkling of toasted tortilla strips. YUM. Fast, easy, filling, and never boring. I eat this once a week. Black soy beans would be a great addition too.

Carbs and calories vary wildly, depending on quantities and ingredients used - but one meal-size salad made with 2 cups Romaine, 6 ounces chicken, 1 teaspoon pepper sauce, 1/4 of a small onion, 1/2 an average bell pepper, 3 ounces cheese, 1/2 cup Truly Low Carb Picante Sauce, and 2 tablespoons sour cream has 673 calories, 42 grams fat (22 grams saturated), 16 grams carbohydrate (5 grams fiber), and 60 grams protein.

You can watch me prepare this dish on live TV (Denver Channel 2 News, Feb. 17, 2004):

order today!

Picante Sauce (Fresh Salsa) - sample recipe from Cooking TLC Vol. 1

One of my favorite recipes, to this very day!

1 cup finely chopped, fresh tomatoes
14 oz. can of diced tomatoes, with juices
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (may add more or less, to taste, I use 4-6 Tb.)
1/2 Haas avocado, diced (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon granular Splenda™
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 ounce chopped black olives (optional)
1 roasted minced hot jalapeno or habanera pepper OR 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
2 teaspoons ThickenThin Notstarch™ (optional, see variations)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and allow flavors to combine for at least a couple hours before serving.

Keeps in refrigerator for 4-7 days (but never lasts half that long).

12 servings, each about 1/2 cup: 33 calories, 2 grams fat (0 grams saturated), 4 grams carb (1 gram fiber)

VARIATIONS:

To omit the NotStarch, I recommend straining off the juices (save them to use when seasoning ground beef for taco salads or wraps?) You can also try 2/3 tsp. guar gum instead, but the NotStarch really is worth having on hand.

You may use all canned tomatoes (2 cans total) with excellent results, or use 2 cans Mexican-style canned tomatoes (I prefer Rotel™) and skip the lime juice and green chilies.

If you like the samples, you'll LOVE the book - order today!