MEAL PLAN – WEEK TWO

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Week Two –
“Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food”
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Daily Breakfast – Fruit/Tea (fibrous fruit + unsweetened tea of your choice)
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Daily Lunch – Energy bar/Fruits (fruits of your choice + energy bar of your choice)
(many different brands / types of Energy Bars are available – consult your doctor/nutritionist)
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Daily Dinner –

Monday – “Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth”
Tuesday – “Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast”
Wednesday – “ Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne”
Thursday – “Red Beet Delight”
Friday – “Sauteed Pork medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta”
Saturday – “ Karachi Butter Chicken”
Sunday – “Salad Florentine”
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Monday – “Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth”
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Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

Tuesday – “Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast”
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Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast

Wednesday – “ Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne”
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Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne

Thursday – “Red Beet Delight”
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Red Beet Delight

Friday – “Sauteed Pork Medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta”
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auteed Pork Medaiilons With Mushrooms And Pasta

Sauteed Pork Medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta

Saturday – “ Karachi Butter Chicken”
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Karachi Butter Chicken

Sunday – “Salad Florentine”
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Salad Florentine

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P.S.
Update after my own completion of Week Three :
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So far I have lost 19.5 lbs of weight in three weeks of “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” meal plan.
I feel much better, sleep much better and on top of all the benefits of living a bit more on the sensible side of life, I eat as much as I want. (Except on the two days of the week which allow me a dinner of anything I crave, although in much smaller portions).
I have to admit that I fell off the wagon twice:
– Once in Week One: I had a pizza for lunch 😦
– Once in Week Two: I had a couple of strawberry-filled doughnuts after dinner 😦

If you want to read more about my new, very much improved lifestyle, click HERE.
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Salad Portuguese

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This beauty of a salad will conclude Week One of “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” meal plan. (There will be an initial 4 week plan)
For everybody not yet interested in a bit of a healthier lifestyle, I suggest you try this salad anyway. Healthier and lighter food in my case does certainly not mean tasteless and boring. 🙂 (As is the case with so many other lifestyle food suggestions out there) 😦
Now, I understand that sardines are not everybody’s favorite seafood, but as usual, feel free to replace them with the seafood of your preference, such as shrimp, lobster, sole, salmon, clams, mussels, scallops, crab meat, etc.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
So far I have lost 12 lbs in two weeks of “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” meal plan.
I feel much better, sleep much better and on top of all the benefits of living a bit more on the sensible side of life, I eat as much as I want. (Except on the two days of the week which allow me a dinner of anything I crave, although in much smaller portions).
If you want to read more about my new, very much improved lifestyle, click HERE.
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P.P.S.
ChefsOpinion will of course keep its original format, content and attitude 🙂
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Salad Portuguese

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: dress frisee salad with mustard/honey vinaigrette, then dress cooked potato wedges, grape tomatoes, sliced onions and stuffed olives SEPERATELY inmustard/honey vinaigrette

: top frisee with sardines in tomato sauce, (PLEASE use a top notch product), sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper

: drizzle with remaining tomato sauce from can

: top with potatoes, grape tomatoes, onions and olives, sprinkle with fresh chervil or italian parsley

: Salad Portuguese

: Salad Portuguese

: Salad Portuguese

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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini
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This was the first “leftovers” dish I prepared from the “ROAST FRESH HAM WITH CARAWAY JUS” a few weeks back.
Remember, to make this dish “lighter and healthier comfort food”, you must cut back on the portion size big time – the pictured portion should serve three people 🙂

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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Link to Lattkes (Potato Pancakes) (Kartoffelpuffer)
Link to Apple Sauce (Apfelmus)
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Link to original dish Roast Fresh Ham With Caraway Jus
Link to the second leftover dish The German Dip
Link to the third leftover dish Gebratene Schweinehaxe

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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: soak porcini in hot water for 20 minutes

: saute chopped onions and garlic paste in olive oil

: add porcini and heavy cream, add kosher salt and cayenne papper, simmer

: Meanwhile, slice leftover cold pork, add to a pan with a bit of salted water and brush with butter, cover and VERY SLOWLY reheat, without simmering (too hot – it will dry out and toughen the meat

: reduced cream and mushrooms

: add demi glace

: simmer for another minute, check / adjust texture and taste

: cook the latkes in peanut oil

: almost……

: serve with greens and apple sauce, sprinkle with fresh herbs

: Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

: Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Here you have one of these dishes were you can have a meal fit for a king with a minimum effort of labor and a very reasonable cost of ingredients.
Just plan ahead and either cook the beef the day before you want to eat the soup, or, if you want to have it for dinner after work, start the beef and it’s broth as soon as you get up in the morning. Bring it to a simmer, let it cook for as long as you can before you leave the house, then just let the beef cool in the broth until you get home. Also at that point, soak the shiitake in some of the hot broth during the day. From there it will only take another 10 minutes to finish this sexy beauty (the time to cook the noodles) and voilà ! – ready for a soup as good (or better) as you can get in your favorite noodle-house. 🙂

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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Beef , Shiitake And and Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures

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: simmer beef with chilies garlic paste, grated ginger, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper and a dash of five spice powder

: remove beef, set aside, strain broth through a fine mesh strainer, check / adjust seasoning

: cut beef into bite size pieces

: remove shiitakes from soaking liquid

: remove stems, discard stems

: cook mung bean noodles (cellophane noodles), drain, coat with sesame oil, add lots of chopped cilantro

: plate noodles, top with mushrooms

: add beef, some lime wedges and a few chilies

: add broth, sprinkle with more chopped cilantro

: Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

: Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Hier Geht’s Zur Deutschen Seite

Hier Geht’s Zur Deutschen Seite.

Trottole Alla Fortunello

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Although this dish might not look very “light and healthy”, the small portion served makes it as promised – “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food”. (I share the portions pictured with one of my neighbors) 🙂
I have, contrary to classic cooking methods, omitted to saute the coppa ham, prosciutto ham and the salame. I rather love the taste and texture of the protein without sauteing them over piping hot pasta (make sure you slice the coppa, prosciutto and the salame paper-thin), but as usual, if you prefer to saute them, don’t hesitate to do so.

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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Trottole Alla Fortunello

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: saute garlic paste in its own oil without browning

: add heavy cream, season with kosher salt, cayenne pepper and nutmeg

: simmer until thickened

: add blanched edamame and sweet corn, simmer one more minute

: add finely grated parmigiano reggiano

: plate pasta / vegetables

: top with paper-thin sliced salame

: add coppa ham, salame and prosciutto

: sprinkle with finely grated parmigiano reggiano and italian parsley

: Trottole Alla Fortunello

: Trottole Alla Fortunello

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DOWNLOADABLE DESKTOP CALENDAR FEBRUARY 2015

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Downloadable Monthly Calendar, February 2015, US Edition and International Edition
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To display the calendar on your computer screen :
> download the calendar of your choice to your desktop,
> right-click on the image,
> choose the option that says, “Set as Desktop Background”, (exact wording will depend on the browser you use).

If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference panel :
> Control Panel
> Display
> Desktop) and choose “Fit to screen” as the display mode of your background image. (Mac users will have to use different commands to the same effect).
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“Click here for “Blueberry Delight Recipe”
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February 2015 Calendar, US Edition :
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February 2015 Calendar, International Edition :
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Cauliflower Soup With Orzo & Shrimp Salad

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Today’s post on “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food”

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Week One – Thursday Dinner
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“Cauliflower Soup With Orzo & Shrimp Salad”
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Click here to see all pictures and Cooking Instructions
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At first I had planned to make a whole-baked cauliflower “Mornay“, but then I decided to prepare something a bit more exiting and I came up with this Beauty 🙂
I actually had it twice –
The first time, (inside, with the a/c blazing as usual) freshly prepared, with the slightly warm salad added to the piping hot soup .
The second time, (outside on the porch in the hot sun) both salad and soup chilled and refreshing.
Both versions were very tasty and satisfying, absolutely fit to be added to my list of all time-favorite soups.

Note: In order to be perfect, the soup must be blended until perfectly smooth and silky.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Cauliflower Soup With Orzo & Shrimp Salad

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Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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If this dish looks too spicy for you – relax 🙂
– The amount of chilies you can see in the pictures are good for my personal palette, but you should add the type (heat level) and quantity you prefer. I suggest you add chilies which are slightly milder than you can tolerate, so that you can add more of them and get that rich, fruity capsicum taste which you can only get by biting into a whole, fried or sauteed chili.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: season ground pork with five spice powder, salt and black pepper, saute in peanut oil

: add lots of sliced onions, stir fry until onions are translucent

: add chilies of your choice, garlic paste

: add ponzu seasoning, soy sauce

: add hoi sin sauce, oyster sauce

: add water, a dash of sugar, chopped cilantro, simmer for three minutes, check / adjust seasoning

: meanwhile, soak rice sticks in water for ten minutes, cook in boiling water for three minutes, drain, mix with sesame oil

: serving dish

: plate noodles

: top with chili-pork, sprinkle with cilantro

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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Sauteed Red Beet Leaves With Steamed Swai Filet, Aji Amarillo Sauce, Parmesan Shavings & Scallions

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Today’s post on “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food”

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Week One – Wednesday Dinner
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Sautéed Red Beet Leaves With Steamed Swai Filet, Aji Amarillo Sauce, Parmesan Shavings & Scallions
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Click here to see all pictures and Cooking Instructions
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Who would have thought that red beet leaves are so yummy? !
Definitely not me, having never even considered cooking them before. But now that I have been looking into a more balanced, healthier diet, I have discovered a number of ingredients I will use in the future which will both expand my repertoire and at the same time improve my nutritional values.
Some of you might wonder why I have added cheese to this dish, since parmesan and fish does not usually end up on the same plate, but here , in my opinion, it just goes perfect with the vegetable, so in this case it won against traditional restrictions.
And as far as the Aji Amarillo Sauce is concerned, because of its versatility, the bottled version has become a bit of a go-to condiment for me, convenient and oh-so-good 🙂 .
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