Old dog, new tricks :)
beachwoman2006
Posts: 1,214 Member
In addition to crackers/chips/etc., I'm also a pasta addict. But the points/calorie hit for pasta is a big one. Two ounces of uncooked pasta is 200 calories (and 6 points). Have you SEEN how little 2 ounces of pasta is when cooked???
When I was at the grocery store yesterday, I noticed a container of zucchini noodles (aka zucchini spirals) in the produce section. I decided to them a try. Two CUPS cooked is 60 calories (zero points). I was not anticipating that I would like them because I'm not a fan of spaghetti squash (unless it's cooked with butter and brown sugar). But I was wrong!
I had them for lunch today. I cooked half the package (6 oz weighed-- which is a LOT) in a non-stick frying pan sprayed with a little olive oil and about a teaspoon of minced garlic. Once they were hot, I added 1/4 cup of homemade pasta sauce (hamburger, onion, green pepper, minced garlic, tomato sauce, herbs and spices and slow cooked). I couldn't believe how good they were! Zucchini really doesn't have a flavor of its own (same as pasta) and the texture of it was pretty much the same as al dente pasta.
So I've found another go-to dish that gets additional vegetables in AND satisfies my pasta craving.
When I was at the grocery store yesterday, I noticed a container of zucchini noodles (aka zucchini spirals) in the produce section. I decided to them a try. Two CUPS cooked is 60 calories (zero points). I was not anticipating that I would like them because I'm not a fan of spaghetti squash (unless it's cooked with butter and brown sugar). But I was wrong!
I had them for lunch today. I cooked half the package (6 oz weighed-- which is a LOT) in a non-stick frying pan sprayed with a little olive oil and about a teaspoon of minced garlic. Once they were hot, I added 1/4 cup of homemade pasta sauce (hamburger, onion, green pepper, minced garlic, tomato sauce, herbs and spices and slow cooked). I couldn't believe how good they were! Zucchini really doesn't have a flavor of its own (same as pasta) and the texture of it was pretty much the same as al dente pasta.
So I've found another go-to dish that gets additional vegetables in AND satisfies my pasta craving.
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I'm also enjoying the zucchini noodles as a carrier for Trader Joe's Turkey Bolognese sauce! TJ's has them in the freezer section.1
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Thanks, I've been wanting to try them. Now I have a little more incentive.0
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@beachwoman2006 - that sounds good.
Thanks for sharing.0 -
We've made them a few times with a spiralizer. Great for Lo-Mein.1
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Oh yes, I'm right there with ya' @beachwoman2006 ! I made the switch over a year ago and was really happy to re-open some "pastabilities" that just weren't worth it with the real deal. As I recall, whole wheat pasta did provide some improvement point-wise and I did find some I liked (some that gagged me too!). But most often now I substitute zucchini for pasta and am quite satisfied (though I still love me some real pasta every now and then)!1
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I Just got back from a trip to Rome where some of the eateries make fresh pasta in the fron window looking out at the street. Once you have tried it fresh its tough to go back to the packaged variety so I might as well give this zucchini noodles thing a try. Thanks Beachwoman1
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Whole wheat (and brown rice) pasta is another thing that isn't included in the zero-point foods list that WAS included in the Core food list.
I only found ONE brand of whole wheat pasta that I could tolerate and I can't remember the name of it. But I do remember that it was $6 for a one-pound box.1 -
beachwoman2006 wrote: »Once they were hot, I added 1/4 cup of homemade pasta sauce (hamburger, onion, green pepper, minced garlic, tomato sauce, herbs and spices and slow cooked). I couldn't believe how good they were!
I feel transported to Italy.
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I tried spaghetti quash a few weeks ago ad rather enjoyed it. A little more trouble perhaps but pretty good.
SW 400.8
CW 323.2
Next GW 300.0
Final GW 185.0
77.6 lbs Total lost0 -
I tried spaghetti quash a few weeks ago ad rather enjoyed it. A little more trouble perhaps but pretty good.
Many people like using spaghetti squash as a substitute for spaghetti noodles. I found it to be too sweet for something like a tomato-based sauce. But I love it with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Sort of defeats the purpose of it though. LOL
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We have an inexpensive spiralizer which is a bit of a pain to get alot out of, so we don't use it too often. Maybe I will give it an occasional try. I haven't seen zucchini noodles at any of our stores.0
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myallforjcbill wrote: »We have an inexpensive spiralizer which is a bit of a pain to get alot out of, so we don't use it too often. Maybe I will give it an occasional try. I haven't seen zucchini noodles at any of our stores.
I found these in the produce section of my local store (Food Lion). They're made by Del Monte.
I have a friend who bought one of the "As Seen on TV" spiralizers and she hates it. It takes forever to spiralize a zucchini.0 -
I have one, which I don't use that often, but it works like a charm.0
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I add chicken to mine with onions and about 1 lbs of light Teriyaki Sauce. I also do a ground turkey with mushroom in red sauce. Love these so much I actually got the "thingy" to make my own for Christmas.1
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