I admit I’m a lousy cook. Mediocre, at best. That’s why I Love to Cheat doesn’t require cooking.
But when I ran across a site called Simply Recipes a few weeks ago, I got excited. Really excited.
Elise has delicious recipes that even I can prepare. For you low-carb dieters, she has a section with low-carb recipes. The Roasted Garlic Chicken Recipe and the Spinach Recipe listed below are both low-carb.
Elise also has sections for wheat-free, vegetarian, and quick recipes.
But I’m going to post the pictures and links to some recipes that can be used with the sample menus in I Love to Cheat or in menus you create yourself.
You’re also welcome to use these recipes if you follow another diet plan, but you’ll have to determine for yourself if they fit your diet.
I’ll post more at a later time. Just click the name of the food for a link to the recipe.
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
For I Love to Cheat dieters, here are sample menus that already have pancakes or where you can make easy substitutions.
On page 98, use this recipe as is, but adjust the size of the pancakes to approximately 4″ in diameter (meaning 4″ measured across the center from one side to the other).
Eat 3 pancakes with butter and maple syrup as listed. You can use the blueberries without making any other adjustments to the menu.
The same is true for pages 172, 202, and 232.
On pages 186 and 231, you can have the pancakes as described above, but top them with powdered sugar instead of butter and maple syrup.
On page 126, substitute 3 of these pancakes (again, approximately 4″ in diameter) for the waffles, keep the butter the same, and change the amount of maple syrup from 4 Tbsp. to 2 Tbsp.
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
Here are some sample menus that already have roasted chicken or where you can make easy substitutions.
On pages 93, 159, 193, and 218, you can use this recipe to make the roasted chicken for dinner. You can use any leftovers for lunch in the menus on pages 113, 142, 202, and 232.
On pages 123 and 127, you can substitute chicken for the pork chop or the roast beef for dinner. Use the same portion sizes listed.
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
I Love to Cheat has a mild chile con carne recipe. So I thought you might like this spicier version for a change.
On pages 91, 94, 129, 144, 175, and 206, you can use this chile for dinner. On pages 156, 177, and 204, it will make a great lunch recipe. If you don’t want to make it fresh, you can just heat up any leftovers.
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
I felt like I had to put in a vegetable before the final 2 recipes. You’ll see why shortly.
This sounds like a delicious sauteed spinach recipe. In I Love to Cheat, you can eat 1/2 cup cooked of this spinach for dinner instead of the cauliflower or broccoli au gratin in the sample menus on pages 90 and 128.
On pages 162 and 182, you can replace the kidney beans at dinner with 3/4 cup cooked of spinach.
And finally, on page 204, just eat 1/2 cup cooked of this sauteed spinach instead of the one listed.
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
On her website, Elise says this recipe is known as “fantasy fudge.” I can see why.
For I Love to Cheat dieters, you can use this recipe for the fudge listed in the snack section of the sample menus on pages 114 and 215.
It can also be used as a snack substitute for the banana nut muffin on page 99, the peanut chocolate candies on page 157, and the 2 cookies on page 179. Eat 2 pieces of approximately 1″ square each.
Mint Chocolate Pudding Cakes Recipe
(Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes)
My neighborhood Girl Scout delivered my Thin Mint cookies on Saturday. So in tribute to the Girl Scouts, I thought I’d list this recipe.
Elise says the cakes are usually inverted and served with raspberries, mint leaves, vanilla or mint ice cream, or whipped cream.
I estimate the cakes at about 400 calories each. The raspberries are 50 calories for 1/2 cup and the ice cream is 150 calories for one scoop or 1/2 cup. The calories for whipped cream depend on the kind you use.
This is definitely a decadent dessert. It can be eaten under the snack category of these sample Indulge Menus in I Love to Cheat.
On page 102, substitute one pudding cake with a 1/2 cup of raspberries for the parfait and the plum. On page 129, substitute the same for the cherries and the hot fudge sundae. On page 160, use this substitution for the yogurt and cheesecake snacks.
You can eat whipped cream instead of the raspberries, but you’ll have to check the container for how much whipped cream measures out to 50 calories.
On page 187, you can substitute one pudding cake with one scoop of ice cream for the candy apple and the graham cracker snacks. On page 211, substitute the same for the cookies and the corn bread snacks.
Even with I Love to Cheat, these pudding cakes shouldn’t be an everyday item. Oh, who am I kidding? This ain’t Carrot Sticks ‘R Us. If you can work them into your menus without getting hungry, go for it.
Thanks, Elise!
