Cooking Light

Kokosky (Coconut Meringue Cookies)

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Puffs of heavenly coconut bliss

Today is only the second week of November, yet I’ve made my first batch of Christmas cookies this year! I’ve decided to add a few additional varieties to my 10 Varieties of Czech Christmas Cookies post. So maybe I’ll have 13 or 14 in that post before Christmas?

Here I’m featuring melt in your mouth coconut meringue cookies, which are also popular on Czech Christmas cookie trays. Like most Czech cookies, they are made small to be one or two-bites each. Virtually the only fat in these meringues comes from the coconut, unless you decide to dip them in chocolate, as well. Continue reading →

Lovage Soup (Libečková polévka)

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Lovage soup in a bowl

lovage
Just coming up in the spring. More stalks to come.

The herb lovage (levisticum officinale) is much more commonly used in Europe than the United States, but I’m lucky to say that it is a part of my herb garden. My Czech husband and I found it at a garden center in New Jersey, several years back. This sturdy tall perennial herb has come up every spring since, and lasts into early autumn.

Lovage has a flavor reminiscent of celery and parsley, so goes extremely well in soups and many other recipes. The whole plant is edible, even down to the roots, but in this recipe I use the stalks and leaves. Lovage is the star ingredient of this soup, along with root vegetables that add additional flavors, thickness, and a bit of sweetness. It’s important to use stalks with younger leaves, otherwise it can be slightly bitter. The recipe can be made vegetarian, or even vegan, easily. Continue reading →

Cooking, Cooking Lightherbs, levisticum officinale, Libečková polévka, lovage, lovage soup, perennial, recipes, soup, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian

Diet-Friendly Wild Blueberry Blintzes

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Diet Friendly Wild Blueberry Blintz1 (3)
Each blintz is ~ 120 calories, excluding whipped topping and extra berries (as made below)

Fewer than 20 minutes drive from my house is a Polish food shop. Having a Czech husband, that store’s presence is valuable, since some products are the same or similar as ones he grew up with. They always have fresh blintzes for sale, which I especially enjoy eating. Since theirs are definitely not low calorie, I worked out a version that is diet-friendly, but still tastes plenty good. Continue reading →

Cooking, Cooking Lightblintz, blintzes, crepes, desserts, diet-friendly, low calorie, recipes, ricotta cheese

Beef Stroganoff – Diet-friendly version, but only the cook may know it

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Beef Stroganoff Light version
Beef Stroganoff served with egg noodles

In my household, Beef Stroganoff is both a comfort food, and yet more than worthy of serving to guests, including my diet-friendly version. I had never eaten or made this dish until about 15 years ago. My first version was loosely based on one considered fully “Core” for Weight Watcher’s former Core Plan, now the Simply Filling Plan. I’ve since reworked this recipe from its simpler version, to one that wows both my husband and I. Continue reading →

Cooking, Cooking Lightbeef, Beef Stroganoff, Cooking, Cooking Light, diet, low calorie, main courses, mushrooms, recipes, Weight Watchers

“Lightened Up” Almond Berry Clafouti

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Almond Berry Clafouti-big
Almond Berry Clafouti (w/o confectioner’s sugar)

So I’m almost finished the second week of my new weight loss plan. Many of you know that I enjoy posting recipes on occasion, so I thought I’d start posting some diet-friendly or “lightened up” ones, too. I’ve enjoyed a lot of new creations these past several days, as well as old ones I remember from the past. Continue reading →

Cooking, Cooking Lightbaking, cherry clafouti, clafouti, Cooking Light, desserts, diet desserts, diet-friendly, fruit desserts