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.
How much weight can you lose on hCG in 21 days? ›
Most hCG patients lose 1-2 lbs per day.
You may ensure your weight loss goals by increasing your vegetable intake. 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? ›
However, as the evidence shows, HCG hormone injections do not influence the amount of weight that people lose. Any weight loss is due solely to reducing calories.
What condiments can I have on hCG? ›
Seasonings: With each meal the juice of one lemon or lime is allowed. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, and most other herbs and spices are fine to use as seasonings. No oil, butter or dressings of any kind can be used.
What is the maximum calories on the HCG diet? ›
So why has there been so much talk about the HCG diet? Perhaps it's because the diet recommends severe calorie restriction — typically just 500 to 800 calories a day. People who follow diets so low in calories are likely to lose weight, at least in the short term.
Why am I gaining weight on the HCG diet? ›
During this period, amount of calorie that is takeninto the body is high. This is to stock up the body for the future days of low calorie intake. This phase is the preparatory phase that sets the body for the fat release program. During this loading phase, you may observe some weight gain.
How much weight can you lose in 40 days on HCG? ›
In general, people who want to lose 15 pounds or less will need 23 days of HCG medication while people who need to lose more than 15 pounds will need 40 days of HCG medication.
Will HCG help me lose belly fat? ›
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 long can I stay on the HCG diet? ›
You cannot do this program for ANY less than 26 days. If a client has more weight to lose, he or she can continue the diet for up to 43 days but that is the maximum allowed time for the diet to remain safe and effective.
Why was HCG banned? ›
Because hCG and estrogen blockers produce marked increase in blood testosterone concentration in men, this provides strong evidence to support the banning of hCG and estrogen blockers in men.
During the maintenance phase you will increase your calorie intake to 1500 calories, making up 3 meals and snacks. It is important that these meals are comprised of healthy foods. You may now consume any meats, eggs, fruits, cheeses, milk, vegetables and low sugar dairy products.
How to lose weight fast on HCG diet? ›
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.
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 tomato while on HCG diet? ›
One five-ounce serving of lean protein like white fish, lean beef, egg white, or crab. Add vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, spinach, beets, radishes, celery, and cauliflower. Ideally, the vegetables should be steamed or eaten as a salad. Certain types of fruit can complete the meal.
Can I eat banana on HCG diet? ›
Approved Food List for the HCG Diet. ANY veggie but NO starchy peas, corn, potatoes, or beans. Should take it easy with carrots and beets too. 2 (two) servings of ANY fruits but NO bananas, pineapple or grapes!!!
What happens if you overdose on hCG? ›
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away.
What happens if you eat 500 extra calories? ›
An increase of at least 500 to 1000 calories each day will promote a one to two pound weight gain per week. It takes an extra 3500 calories to gain one pound of body weight.
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.
