Wanting to avoid the April freak-out when I realize that my arms are chunking out of my cap sleeve spring dresses and my knees look doughy (I wish someone would have told me that after 30, even your knees gain weight!), I needed a way to cheat the system a bit. What could I chow down on that would be filling and comforting, yet won't reside rent-free on my hips for the next few months?
Foie gras. Out. Heavy meats. Out. Lasagna. Sad to say it: out!
And then I did a little experiment...
And you know what? It worked!
I actually figured out a way to trick my brain into believing that I ate a steaming bowl of delicious pasta...sans pasta.
This is a little something that I call the Italian Girl Stir-Fry.
I generally don't do recipe posts, but this cheat is too good (and too easy) to not share with you on this icy weekend in January.
Here's what you're going to need:
1 bag of fresh spinach (one bag of the prepackaged spinach serves one) or a pound
1 medium sized onion
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon of chopped or minced garlic
2 tablespoons of good olive oil
1 tablespoon (or more) grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Dice up onions 2. Wash spinach well 3. Put in cute bowls (optional) 4. Trickle olive oil in a large sauce pan on medium heat and saute the garlic for about a minute. For that extra taste of ye homeland, I use my own infused garlic and basil extra virgin olive oil. It gives it that mamma mia kick but it's not required.
5. Toss in onions and cook until golden.
6. Add spinach and lightly stir with a wooden spoon
until all the leaves are wilted.
7. Distribute tomato sauce evenly over spinach.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Sprinkle graded parmesean.
10. Mangiate, mangiate.
You can add whatever veggies tickles your fancy; mushrooms, peppers, fresh tomatoes, the options are endless.
This has been my go-to recipe during these past few cold weeks that has kept me full and fueled. Now that the pasta cheat is tried-and-true, any suggestions on how to cheat raclette?
Test it out and tell me what you think!
Bon week-end!
