Strawberry Squares South Beach Style Food

STRAWBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven 350°F.
• Combine flour and sugar.
• Cut in the butter until crumbly.
• Press into 8-inch square baking tin.
• Bake until a very light golden colour about 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a medium saucepot place two cups crushed fresh or thawed strawberries.
• Add 1/2 cup white sugar, and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat; add Jello powder and stir well until dissolved.
• Chill until slightly thickened.
• Prepare Dream Whip dessert topping according to the package directions using the 1/2 cup milk and teaspoons vanilla which it calls for.
• Fold half of the prepared Dream Whip into the slightly thickened strawberry mixture and pour into cooled crust.
• Chill in fridge until set. (This should be about one hour or so).
• Beat the icing sugar into the remaining dessert topping and spread over the set layer.
• Chill until serving time.

STRAWBERRY COBBLER SQUARES

Steps:

• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch and lime zest and juice to a bowl. Toss to combine and set aside.
• For the crust and crumble: In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, brown sugar and baking powder. Pulse until a loose crumb forms; continue to pulse as you add the cream.
• Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter. Dump two-thirds of the flour mixture onto the prepared pan and press flat. Top with the strawberry mixture, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle over the remaining flour mixture, followed by the turbinado sugar.
• Bake the bars until the top is golden and the strawberry layer is thick and bubbling, 28 to 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.
• For the icing: Whisk together the powdered sugar and lime juice until smooth.
• Cut the cobbler into small squares and drizzle with the icing. Add to a platter and serve.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE (SOUTH BEACH DIET P1)

Steps:

• Pierce the squash in several places, put on a plate and microwave until tender (mine took about 20 minutes).
• Allow cool while you cook the meat and veggie mixture.
• Brown meat with garlic, onion, salt and pepper, and bell pepper.
• Drain and add Italian spice and tomatoes.
• If it seems really liquidy, cook some of the liquid off.
• Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds and discard them.
• Use a fork to scrape the spaghetti into strands and mix gently with sauce mix.
• Transfer to a large casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake uncovered for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake 10-15 minutes more.

SPICY MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP (SOUTH BEACH STYLE!)

Steps:

• Cut your chicken breasts into small strips about 2 inches long.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeño; cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, 5 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cumin; cook 30 seconds more.
• Add broth, increase heat to high, and bring to a rapid simmer. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir the pan making sure to get all the bits of onion, jalapeño and cumin are well mixed into the soup and not stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Stir in salsa (don't drain), bring back to simmer, season with salt and pepper to taste and top with cilantro if desired.

FROSTY STRAWBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. In a bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, walnuts and melted butter. Toast in the oven until walnuts are fragrant, about 15 minutes; stir occasionally. Sprinkle 2/3 of the walnut mixture evenly over the bottom of the 9x13 inch dish.
• In a large bowl, whip the egg whites with the lemon juice until they can hold a soft peak. Gradually add white sugar while continuing to whip to firm peaks. Fold in the strawberries.
• In a separate bowl, whip the cream with an electric mixer until stiff but not grainy. Fold into the strawberry mixture. Spoon over the crust in the dish and spread evenly. Top with the remaining walnut mixture. Freeze for 6 hours, or overnight.

SOUTH BEACH DIET SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350. Spray a 2 quart casserole with cooking spray.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Add cauliflower and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add beef and brown for 10 minutes, stirring to break up lumps. Add edamame and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes longer. Stir in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt. Transfer meat mixture to the casserole.
• With an electric mixer at medium speed, whip the cooked cauliflower with sour cream, egg yolk, and another pinch of salt. Spoon cauliflower evenly over meat. Top with cheese and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden on top. Serve warm.

SOUTH BEACH STYLE FLOURLESS TORTILLA CREPE

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients with a submersion blender or in a blender (this helps break down the grainy bits of ricotta.
• Heat a non-stick 8" skillet over medium-low heat (I used Calphalon's crepe pan).
• Spray with Pam.
• Pour 1/4 of the mix into skillet - turn pan until coated.
• Cover for 2 minutes (this helps to set the top a bit and makes flipping easier).
• Check crepe to see if bottom is browned.
• Flip when slightly brown.
• cook another 1 - 2 minutes.
• Move to a baking sheet lined with silicone baking mat and into a 200 degree oven for 10 minutes.
• Flip and bake another 5 - 10 minutes move to a cooling rack - cool completely.
• These make a nice roll up - but don't fill too much - they'll break!

FROSTY STRAWBERRY SQUARES (OAMC)

Steps:

• For crumb mixture, combine flour, nuts, margarine, and brown sugar. Spread evenly on to a cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes; stir occasionally.
• Sprinkle 2/3 of the crumbs into a 13x9 baking pan.
• In a large mixing bowl combine egg whites, strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.
• Beat with an electric mixer on high speed about 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form. In a small mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form.
• Fold whipping cream into strawberry mixture.
• Spoon evenly over crumbs in baking pan. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top.
• Cover, label and freeze for least 6 hours or until firm; Serve frozen.