Now if you know me, you know I love cooking with alcohol. I know, I know, but it gives such great flavor to foods! This was not the dish that I had intended to spend my weekend experimenting with, actually didn't even get to work on that dish. I only found a few of the ingredients but I will be working on it soon. So yesterday as I was getting ready to go to church I had the tv going and of course it was the Food Network. The Pioneer Woman came on, never seen it, but she was talking about this Penne pasta recipe that she was working on and I thought to myself, "I can easily transform this dish and cut over half the calories down." I also thought that I could spice it up because hers seemed rather bland and you may know that just won't cut it for me. So without further delay, I present to you Spaghetti Squash Alla Vodka, yum :)
Spaghetti Squash
Cooking instructions as follows
http://hcgfoodrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/08/spaghetti-squash-with-ancho-pepper.html
After cooking let it rest for about 20 mins and begin the making the sauce.
Vodka SauceIngredients:
1 large shallot or small sweet onion
2 cloves garlic
2 pads of butter, divided
Olive Oil
1/3 cup of Vodka*
Half a large can of Tomato Puree
1 Cup plus splash of Heavy Cream
1/2 tsp Sugar Sub
1 tsp Italian Herb blend
1TBSP Ancho Chili Pepper Flakes
1TBSP Fresh Chopped Basil, plus some for plating
1/3 cup Grated Percino Romano or Parm, plus some for topping
Salt/Pepper to taste
*Now if you are not one to add a little booze to your dish you can do the same thing with a low sodium 99% fat free Chicken Stock, it won't be quick the same but it will still be good. My true suggestion is to run down to the local liquor store and grab a 1/2 pint of a cheap vodka :)
Cooking:
In a large sauce pan with one melted pad of butter and olive oil set to medium heat, add your diced onion. Cook until it is transparent, then add your minced garlic. Let that cook for about 2 mins, the name of the game is low and slow, you get the best flavors that way. While this is cooking and you are moving those onions around often, slice your spaghetti squash lengthwise making sure you cut off both ends first and let it cool for a few mins. before attempting to scoop out the guts. It's okay if it gets a little cold, we are going to toss the "noodles" in the sauce later and that will warm them back up.
After you have cooked the garlic and onions down some, add the vodka. I turned down the heat to medium low for this part. You will want to let the vodka reduce down to about half it's size, this will take about 2-4 mins. but keep an eye on it and stir frequently That's when I started to scoop out the guts of my spaghetti squash. *(Now if you are using chicken stock, it will likely take longer for it to reduce and there is no need to reduce to heat.)
Once your vodka has reduced, add half the large can of tomato puree and stir well making sure everything is thoroughly incorporated. Turn up the heat back to medium and add the one cup plus a splash of heavy cream. Now I know what you all are thinking, "that's not healthy"! I never said that it was fat free, I believe that fat is okay in moderation and you can cut back in some areas to give way to others. Also because we don't have a true starch our bodies are able to dispose of the fat a lot quicker.
After adding the cream, add the spices, pepper flakes, sugar sub, 1 pad of butter, salt/pepper** and let cook for about 5 mins, again stirring often. When this is happening begin to scrape down the sides of your spaghetti squash to get your "noodles". After the 5 mins, add the "noodles" and cheese and let cook on low for about another 5 mins. Before the last minute, add the chopped basil, reserving a few pinches for plating.
Top with some more grated cheese and a pinch of basil. It's so good!!!!
**TASTE, TASTE, TASTE! I always taste my sauces while cooking, it's the only way you will know if it is seasoned right. For me that meant about 1 1/2 TSP of Salt and 1 TSP of pepper.
Now if you have to have a meat with this, which to be honest I didn't miss it, you can cook some boneless chicken breast in the oven in chicken broth and slice them up and toss them in.
Well I truly hope you enjoy this dish and don't be afraid to lick the plate, I sure did :) Til next time.
Oh and depending on the size of your spaghetti squash you can get about 4-6 portions out of this and for a cup of this dish, less then 250 calories.
Next up, Chocolate Brownies!!!!
FAQs
Oddly enough, if you eat over 500 calories/day, or foods not on the diet (i.e. a bite of a donut), you will often have severe hunger. It seems counter-intuitive, but it is important that your fat stores are full when you begin the 500 calorie/day diet, since your body uses these first for energy.
What happens if you eat sugar on HCG diet? ›
If sugar is brought into phase II or phase III of the HCG Diet protocol weight loss will simply not happen. If you are on the HCG Diet, any sugar that does not come from the fruits or vegetables on the phase II protocol is not welcome.
What foods are allowed on the HCG diet? ›
hCG Diet Foods List
- Lean Proteins. Lean Ground Beef. Under 10 grams of total fat, <4.5 grams of saturated fat per 3.5 ounce serving. Pork Loin, Tenderloin. Turkey Cutlets. Skinless Chicken Breast. ...
- Nonstarchy Vegetables. Cauliflower. Spinach. White Mushrooms. Zucchini. Cucumber. ...
- Limited Fruits. Watermelon. Honeydew. Cantaloupe. Berries.
Mid-Morning Snack: A small handful of raw almonds or walnuts can provide a satisfying crunch and a dose of healthy fats to keep you fueled until lunch.
How much weight can you lose in 21 days on HCG? ›
How much can you lose on hCG in 21 days? Most hCG dieters report a loss of 1 to 2 lbs a day. The weight loss phase typically lasts for 3-6 weeks and involves daily injections of hCG.
What are three disadvantages of the HCG diet? ›
HCG might encourage the production of androgen cells, which could result in the growth of certain types of cancers. However, diets that so severely limit calories have risks, such as gallstone formation, irregular heartbeat, limited intake of vitamins and minerals, and an imbalance of electrolytes.
Is avocado OK on hCG diet? ›
Phase 3 Meal Plan
You can eat healthy fats, like nuts, oils and avocados. However, you should still avoid starchy vegetables, added sugars and high-carb fruits.
How much weight can you lose in a month with hCG injections? ›
Most hCG patients lose 1-2 lbs per day.
It is important to eat high-fiber foods, which will help you feel full. Drink water to aid in removing fat from the body. After about 6 weeks, the body becomes immune to the effects of hCG.
Can you lose weight on hCG without following the diet? ›
The hCG diet limits calorie intake to around 500 calories per day for weeks at a time, making it an extreme weight loss diet. Any diet that's this low in calories will make you lose weight. However, numerous studies have found that the hCG hormone has no effect on weight loss and doesn't reduce your appetite.
How can I boost my weight loss on HCG? ›
Exercise – Moderate Exercise (based on your previous exercise levels) If you aren't losing as you would like stop exercising while on the diet. Increase water intake to 6-8 glasses per day. Try increasing your protein by . 5 ounces.
Why could this be the last diet you'll ever need? IT WORKS: It works- and it works FAST. Our patients average 36 pounds of fat loss in just 40 days.
Can I eat hamburger on HCG diet? ›
Specifically, you can eat beef like extra lean, grass-fed ground beef or buffalo, different lean cuts of chicken, and lean fish options like scallops, whitefish, and some shellfish including shrimp, lobster, and crab. Dairy lovers will love that this diet doesn't require that they give up all forms of dairy.
Can I eat pickles on HCG? ›
For dinner you could have roasted white fish paired with pickles made from cucumbers, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice and salt. If you have a problem finding recipes that add flavor to your meat and vegetables, try making HCG-friendly sauces and marinades.
Are blueberries allowed on HCG diet? ›
HCG-approved fruit includes grapefruits, oranges, apples, lemons, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. As for carbohydrates, people on the hCG diet can have one piece of Melba toast or one breadstick at dinner. Both are allowed because they don't have fat, sodium or cholesterol and are low in calories.
Can I have cheese on HCG? ›
Dairy. Aside from one tablespoon of milk per day, the HCG diet's weight loss phase does not permit dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, or any additional milk.
What happens if you cheat on HCG diet? ›
Expect the scale to go up a lb or to at least stall for 2-3 days! The heaviest consequence that comes from an HCG Diet cheat will be weight gain. Don't panic or get down about it. Just keep your mind dialed in and move forward.
Why only 500 calories on HCG diet? ›
Why only 500 calories per day? The HCG diet injections cause your hypothalamus to mobilize the fat already stored in your body. The 500 calories you ingest will be supplemented with about 2000 calories within your reserved fat released by your hypothalamus.
What happens if you eat carbs on HCG diet? ›
After you eat, the carbs you consume get converted into glycogen and stored in your liver for easy fuel consumption later. Only after these easy-to-access stores are depleted does the body turn to fat stores. This is one of the reasons it's so important to eat very few carbs during the HCG diet.
How many calories can you have on the HCG injection? ›
With hCG injections, your body is triggered to release up to 2,500 calories or more from your fat stores each day. Assuming you normally eat 2,000 calories per day, you limit calories by 1,500 plus you burn 2,500 extra calories from the hCG. This results in a total daily loss of up to 4,000 calories per day.
