What happens when six dedicated foodies who are paid to eat need to lose weight? After years of cooking and tasting as many as ten different dishes a day, the staff of the Family Circle test kitchen joined that majority of Americans who want to lose anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds. Their backgrounds are diverse — from working moms to singles — but their weight-loss goal united them. So the team went on a 15-week diet. Check out the recipes they dined on to reach their goal in their book, “Family Circle: Eat What You Love & Lose,” below.
CAULIFLOWER PARMESAN
MAKES: 6 servings
PREP: 10 minutes
BAKE: at 375 for 55 minutes
INGREDIENTS
» cup packaged seasoned bread crumbs
1 head cauliflower (about 2 ¾ pounds), separated into equal-size flowerets (7 to 8 cups)
1 jar (26 ounces) fat-free chunky marinara sauce
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (½ pound)
» cup grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 375. Scatter 2 tablespoons bread crumbs over bottom of 11 x 7 x 1½-inch baking pan. Place half the cauliflower on top. Pour 1½ cups marinara over cauliflower. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons bread crumbs over sauce. Repeat layering, ending with mozzarella. Cover with foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil. Sprinkle top with Parmesan. Bake 15 minutes or until Parmesan is melted and golden. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Nutrient value Per Serving: 207 calories, 8 g fat (5 g saturated), 16 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 689 mg sodium, 25 mg cholesterol.
SPICY SAUSAGE PIZZA
MAKES: 6 servings
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 10minutes
BAKE: at 425 for 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
½ pound hot Italian sausage links
1 ready-to-use thin crust Italian pizza bread shell (10 ounces)
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
¾ teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
½ red onion, thinly sliced
½ sweet red pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
2 ounces reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about ¾ cup)
Fresh basil, for garnishing
DIRECTIONS
Place oven rack in lowest position. Heat oven to 425. Coat 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Cook sausage in nonstick skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool. Slice into thin rounds. Place pizza crust on prepared pan. Spread with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan. Arrange sliced sausage, onion, and sweet peppers over sauce. Sprinkle shredded Jack cheese over pizza, leaving a 1- to 2-inch border around edge. Bake on lowest rack for 10 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with fresh basil. To serve, cut into 6 slices.
Nutrient Value Per Serving: 245 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated), 14 g protein, 25 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 779 mg sodium, 23 mg cholesterol.
Excerpted from “Family Circle Eat What You Love & Lose : Quick and Easy Diet Recipes from Our Test Kitchen” by Peggy Katalinich and Susan McQuillan. Copyright © 2003 by HarperCollins, Inc. Published by Harper Collins, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt can be used without permission of the publisher.