HoldTheToast 2010 Recipe Contest!

These are the recipes that have been submitted for the HTT 2010 Recipe Contest.

RECIPE TESTERS NEEDED: See one that sounds good? Give it a try (following the instructions exactly), and then come back and give it a rating and your comments on how it tasted, how easy the preparation was, etc. To rate a recipe and tell us about how it went, click Add Comment. By submitting a rating for a recipe, you certify, upon your honor, that you have made this recipe according to the directions given, and have tried it.

To submit a recipe, email your recipe to contest@holdthetoast.com.

Please make sure to read the rules and guidelines for submitting and testing/rating recipes.

Avocado Smoothie

- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2, or 1/2 cup whipping cream plus 1/2 cup water (I suppose something like carb-countdown milk would work here, too, but I can't find it in any stores in SF)
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 tbs Splenda or 3 drops EZSweets
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Baconized Shrimp

Ingredients for 2 large servings:
12 slices bacon - thick sliced
1.5 pounds shrimp - peeled, de-veined, tails pulled (I use 31-40 size)
2 TB cajun seasoning blend (I use Penzey's)

Directions:

Banana Split Cheesecake

Butter 13x9 inch casserole dish.
Heat Oven to 350 degrees

Crust:
2 cups almond flour, or well-ground nutmeal (40g, 24g fiber)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2-3 tbsp Brown Sugar Twin (2g) (Canadian cyclamate version, or use Splenda)

Filling:
1 1/2 lb cream cheese, softened (3 8 oz packages) (24g)
1/2 box of SF banana creme Jello-brand pudding (12g)
1/4 tsp banana extract (or a few squirts of DaVinci banana syrup)
1/4 cup heavy cream (1.7g)
3 eggs (1.8g)
1/4 cup liquid cyclamate (sweetener equal to 1 cup sugar) (0g)
1/2 *small* (6-inch) banana (12g - 1g fiber)

Better for you Baked Beans

Ingredients

Turkey Bacon, 4 slices
Onions, raw, 1/2 cup, chopped
Garlic, 1 tsp, minced
Olive Oil, 1/2 tsp
Bush's Best, Pinto and Great Northern, Mixed Beans, 16 oz can
Edens Organic, Black Soy Beans, 15oz can
Heinz, One Carb Reduced Sugar Tomato Ketchup, 1/4 cup
Dijon Mustard, 1/2 Tbsp
Molasses 1tsp
Splenda, 1 Tbsp

Directions
Cut 2 bacon slices in half and set aside.
Chop other two slices. Put olive oil in pan, heat a bit, then add bacon, onion, and garlic.
While that browns (medium heat), drain beans in colander.
Remove onions mixture from heat, and add beans to deglaze.

Blue Cheese Bacon Liver Burgers

1 lb ground beef
1/4 - 1/3 lb cooked beef liver, whatever you have leftover
1 small onion, grated fine
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
1/4 cup real bacon bits

Grind up the liver in a food processor. Then throw in everything else and mix just til blended. Add salt and pepper if you want.

Grill or pan fry - Decadently good. The liver adds a depth of flavor (and nutrition!) to the burger and you don't even know it's there.

Brie Treat

1 wheel of brie cheese in a cardboard container (about 6 inches across)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown Sugar Twin
1/4 cup Splenda
4 tbsp butter (1/2 stick), sliced into 4 pats

Get a wheel of brie in a cardboard container and take it out of the
container and sit the cardboard ring on top of the brie like a "hat"
so it comes down just over the edge of the cheese but sticks up
about 1/2 an inch or so.

Mix chopped walnuts with sweetener, fill the cardboard
"hat" with it, then put the 4 generous pats of butter on top. Bake in

Chicken Francese

Here's my low carb version of the classic Chicken Francese ... a family and friend favorite. No one can beleive it's low carb:

Ingredients:

* 1 pound thin cut boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
* 2 TBS Soy Flour
* 3 eggs
* 2 ounces grated Romano cheese
* dash of pepper (white or black)
* 1 tsp dried parsley
* olive oil
* 1/2 cup chicken broth
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 lemon (juice of)

Directions:

* Lightly coat chicken breasts with soy flour - put aside

Chiptole Chicken Salad

Ingredients

Nasoya Nayonaise, Soy-based Sandwich Spread, 3 tbsp
Sour Cream, 3 tbsp
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce, La Costena, 1/2 pepper
Lime Juice, 1/2 t
Garlic, 1/2 t, minced
Chicken Breast, no skin, 131 grams in small cubes.
Cabbage, fresh, 56 grams, shredded
Yellow Peppers , 44 grams, chopped
Yellow Sweet Corn, Frozen, 1/4 cup kernels

Directions
Run first five ingredients through a blender or food processor. Pour over the rest of the ingredients and toss to coat.

Number of Servings: 3

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
7 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into pieces
2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 extra large eggs , at room temperature
24 Splenda packets or 1 cup sugar equivalent (the carb count will be higher with the measures like sugar product)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Almond flour (process about 1 oz sliced almonds to make this at home)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 1/2 cups Hershey's sugar free chocolate chips

Chocolate-Coconut Candies

1 1/2 oz 72% chocolate (percent can vary, but try not to go below 70%)
3 tbsp coconut oil
1/3 cup thick coconut milk (note: the milk separates in the can into a thick creamy portion and a thinner more translucent portion. I just scooped out and used the thick creamy stuff only)
2/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes

Cocktail Meatballs

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 slice low carb bread, crumbled
1 T. heavy cream
1/4 c. water
1 small clove garlic, chopped
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 t. ground ginger

Mix ground beef with bread and cream. Form into small balls. Place in roasting pan and cover with mixture of remaining ingredients. Cook uncovered at 275 degrees (low temperature) for 1 hour. Serve warm with cocktail picks.

Note: You can also just form the ground beef into small balls and eliminate the bread and cream.

Coconut Pancakes

- 1/4 cup cream
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tbsp coconut flour
- 2 Tbsp whey protein powder (optional)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- pinch of celtic sea salt
- packet of Truvia if desired

Coconut-Ginger Chicken

6 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
2 cups grated unsweetened coconut
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp butter
1/2-1 inch chopped fresh ginger
(or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
1 clove garlic, grated
grated rind and juice of 2 limes
1/2 tsp chili powder
3 onions, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sweetener

Melt butter and gently saute coconut until lightly browned. Add
ginger, garlic, lime juice and rind, chili powder, onion, salt and
sweetener, and cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add chicken pieces and
coconut milk. Simmer 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Stir occasionally.

Coffee Jello

- 1 cup HOT brewed coffee or decaf (your choice)
- 2 packets of truvia (or sweetener of your choice to taste)
- one package Knox unflavored gelatin
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream

Pour the gelatin over the cold water in a small cup and allow to sit for a few minutes. Pour the coffee into a larger bowl. Then add the cold water/gelatin mixture and stir for several minutes until the gelatin has dissolved. Then add the heavy cream and stir.

Creamy Cucumbers

2 cucumbers sliced thin
½ C mayonnaise
½ C Milk ( Could use cream or half and half)
¼ t Stevia or sweetener with the equivalent of 2TB sugar

Scrape the mayonnaise into a large bowl. Slowly add the milk stirring until smooth at each addition ( If you add it too fast it lumps and you will need a whisk).

Add sweetener. Then add cucumbers. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Flounder Oscar

6-8 fish fillets (flounder, tilapia, sole are good choices)
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced (use other half in sauce)
1 bunch asparagus
l lb. lump crab meat
recipe for mock hollandaise, below

Greek Inspired Egg Salad

Ingredients:

6 large hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped olives (optional)
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
juice of ½ small lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Lettuce leaves

Directions:

Chop eggs and place in a large mixing bowl. Add green onion and olive.

In a small bowl, mix together yogurt, Dijon and lemon juice until blended. Add to egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over lettuce leaves.

Greek Spinach Bake

3 eggs
4-6 ozs. feta cheese, crumbled
1 small clove garlic, minced or pressed
1/4 c. chopped green onion
2 (10 oz) pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 t. dried dill

Grease a 2qt. shallow casserole. In medium sized bowl, beat eggs. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let rest and cut into squares.

Holiday Green-bean Casserole

1 LB BAG OF FROZEN FRENCH-CUT GREEN BEANS
2/3 OF A JAR OF FIVE BROTHERS ALFREDO SAUCE WITH MUSHROOMS
1 SMALL CAN OF MUSHROOMS, MORE, IF DESIRED
PORK RIND CRUMBS (MAYBE 1/2 A CUP OR SO)
A LITTLE MELTED BUTTER
DRIED ONIONS

MIX FIRST 3 INGREDIENTS TOGETHER
ADD SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
TOSS THE PORK RIND CRUMBS WITH THE MELTED BUTTER AND DRIED ONIONS.
POUR THE GREEN BEAN MIXTURE INTO A CASSEROLE DISH AND TOP WITH PORK RIND MIXTURE.
BAKE TILL BUBBLY AND CRUMBS ARE LIGHTLY BROWNED
CAN ALSO TOP WITH SOME PARMESAN CHEESE

Hot Almond Gruyere Spread

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup Best Foods or Hellman's mayonnaise
8 ounces shredded Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
2 green onions, chopped
1/8 tsp. smoked or regular paprika
Pinch freshly-ground nutmeg (regular ground nutmeg is OK but fresh is better)
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon bits, green onions, paprika and nutmeg. Stir in the Gruyere cheese. Transfer to small ovenproof casserole dish. Sprinkle half of the almonds on top.

Hot and Sour Soup, Vegetarian

Ingredients

Vegetable Broth, 100% Fat Free, 3 small cans
Mushrooms, canned, 1 cup
Bamboo shoots, 1/2 c sliced into strips
Distilled White Vinegar 5 Tbsp
Soy Sauce, Less Sodium 3 Tbsp
Red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp
Pepper, black, 1/4 tsp
Silken Extra Firm Lite Tofu, 1 block, cubed
Egg, fresh, 1 large beaten
Scallions, raw, 1/4 cup, chopped
Sesame Oil, 2 tsp

Directions

Hot Poppers

12 - 15 fresh jalepeno peppers
1 8 ounce box Philly cream cheese
1 1/2 TBL Ranch Dressing Mix powder
2 TBL minced green onion
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
1 TBL real bacon bits
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional...and can add more depending on how hot you want these to be!)
12-15 slices of bacon (partially cooked)
Grated Monterrey Jack Cheese (can use pepper jack cheese or cheddar)

Kool-Aid Kupcakes

1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
5 eggs
3/4 c Torani SF Lemon Syrup
1 big teaspoon vanilla
3/4 c coconut flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 packet pink lemonade Kool-Aid (regular with no sugar added, not the sugar-free kind) (I've also made this recipe with the mandarin orange flavor, and it was great.)
1 ½ T poppy seeds (optional)

Mix all together and bake! I made 12 cupcakes with this. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes or cooked through.

Icing:

1 package cream cheese room temp
2 tablespoon butter room temp
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 zest of a lemon

Low-Carb Sushi Fix

1 can of tuna—(or shrimp)
Mayonnaise about (1 T)
Anything else I want in my tuna salad—green onion chopped, celery finely chopped, thin cucumber spears, chives
Japanese seasoning (bonito flakes, sesame seeds)
Toasted nori sheet

Soya sauce
Wasabi

Mix up the tuna, as for tuna salad (you can get as creative as you want), spread on the nori along one edge, roll-up, (wet edge with water). Place seam down—I cut with scissors, into about 5 pieces.

Marinated Green Bean Salad

2 (16 oz) cans green beans, drained
2 (16 oz) cans yellow waxed beans, drained
1 (16 oz) can black soy beans, drained (OPTIONAL)
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
5-10 black olives, chopped
1/3 c. cider vinegar
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 T. Splenda
1 t. celery seed

Drain all beans and in a large bowl, combine with onions, peppers and olives. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the vegetables and toss. Refrigerate to marinate.

Meat Loaf Low-Carb

I wanted to make meat loaf but wasn’t sure what to substitute for the bread, cracker and oatmeal I usually use. I pondered this and decided to try cauliflower since I’ve been subbing with it for potatoes and rice. I was so surprised when my SO went back for a THIRD helping, he loved it! This is a very versatile recipe; tweak the seasonings to your taste or mood. This is a really quick recipe to put together.

1 ½ - 2 lbs. ground beef, or in combination with ground pork or fowl (I usually keep at least ¾ of the mix as beef)
1 – 1 ½ cups ‘riced’ fresh cauliflower

Melissa's Maryland-Style Crabcakes

Three tablespoons olive oil
2 six ounce cans of crabmeat
one medium egg (a smaller medium egg if possible)
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1/4 cup wheat bran

Heat oil over medium heat. Drain the cans of crabmeat as well as you can, the less moisture the better. Mix egg, wheat bran, and old bay seasoning together. Shape as well as you can into four small cakes. Fry until golden brown on both sides about seven to ten minutes. I like to serve these on a bed of lettuce with a mixture of about a half teaspoon of Old Bay and mayonaise with a squirt of lemon on top.

Mexican Cabbage Casserole

1 Head cabbage, sliced thinly
1 pound ground turkey
2 cups green salsa (Mrs. Renfro's is our favorite)
1 cup sour cream
4 ounces cream cheese
4 green onions, sliced thin
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Oven-roasted Beef Short Ribs

4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs OR 3 pounds boneless
Adobo seasoning and/or Pasilla chile powder
Bacon fat or olive oil
1 1/2 medium onions, sliced somewhat thickly
8 oz. brown mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp. beef stock paste
2 cups dry red wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste (I like the tube type)
2 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar
6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Herb bundle (sprigs of rosemary, oregano, and parsley, tied together with kitchen twine)

Preheat oven to 325*.

Rani's Stuffed Peppers

4 large or 6 smaller bell peppers, any color
1 lb of frozen cauliflower florets, defrosted and then pulse-chopped to rice consistency
1 onion,chopped
1 lb bulk sausage (I use breakfast sausage
1 egg
4 oz grated cheese (I used cheddar) - OPTIONAL
1 cup lowest-carb tomato sauce you can find
olive oil or bacon drippings
1 packet artificial sweetener or a drop or two of stevia
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic,minced
smidge of allspice
any seasonings you like, to taste (I like Tony Crachere's creole seasoning in it)

Sesame Shrimp

Ingredients

Shrimp, cooked, 3 oz
Honey, 1 tsp
Ginger, ground, 1 tsp
Chili garlic paste, 1/4 tsp
Sesame Seeds, 1 tsp
Soy Sauce, 1 tsp

Directions:
Mix together Honey, Ginger, Chili Garlic Paste, and Soy Sauce.
You can use raw or cooked shrimp, toss it in the mixture and let it sit while you toast sesame seeds.
Spray a pan and toss in the mixture. Stir fry till heated through, or pink if you started with raw shrimp.
Plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Excellent with shredded, steamed cauliflower, steamed broccoli, or rice.

Servings: 1

Shrimp Florentine

4 packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained
3 lbs shrimp - cooked
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chopped scallions
salt, pepper, paprika
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat over to 350. Spread shrimp in the bottom of a casserole dish
and top with the spinach. Place beaten eggs, cream, water, wine,
scallion and spices in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat
until mixture starts to thicken, stirring constantly. Pour over the

Steiner Family Reunion Fauxtato Salad

Yields: 12 Servings

Ingredients

1 large head Cauliflower
1/2 Red onion diced
1/2 small Red bell pepper diced
1/2 small Yellow bell pepper diced
1/2 small orange bell pepper diced
4 ounces snow peas cut into 1" to 1 1/2" pieces
7-8 thin spears Asparagus (I used violet because that's what was given to me) cut into 1" pieces
2 Hard-boiled eggs chopped
2 cup Mayonnaise (the real stuff, not Miracle Whip--I make mine from grapeseed oil)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon White vinegar
2 tbs Heavy cream

Stuffed Mushrooms

You need:

2- 1 lb. boxes of whole button mushrooms
1 lb. ground sausage, any flavor
3/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

Do:
1. Brown the sausage in a Dutch oven or skillet.

2. Drain grease.

3. Wash mushrooms and pull the stems out to cut up in the sausage.

4. While sausage is cooling, add the mushroom stems and the Italian seasoning.

5. Divide the sausage mixture into two bowls.

6. Add the cheddar cheese to one bowl and the parmesan cheese to the other bowl. Mix well.

Yummy Pancakes (Husband Approved)

Fast and easy. Makes 5-6 large cookie size pancakes

2 Tbsp Butter (melt after measuring)
¼ Cup Almond Meal
¼ Cup Flax Meal
2 packets Splenda
1 Tsp Baking Power
½ Tsp Vanilla
2 large Eggs

· Melt Butter.
· Mix all ingredients – except eggs - into melted butter and stir.
· Mix the eggs into the rest of the ingredients until well mixed and a tiny bit fluffy.
· Cook in lightly greased non-stick frying pan (medium heat).