Sashi Made A Recipe: Cauliflower Burger "Buns", "Tortillas", and "Pizza Crust"

 

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a wheat intolerance and I really do feel better when I avoid it. But bread is GOOD! So, so good. So I try to not have wheat more than once a day, if at all. I have tried so many (bad) wheat-free alternatives that, most of the time, I'd rather just do without bread or pasta. So coming up with a "bun" made with just cauliflower, egg, and cheese is a wonderful, wonderful thing! This same mixture can be used to make "tortillas" and "pizza crust!"AND they use frozen riced cauliflower to make it even easier!

Cauliflower "Buns"

• 10-12 oz bag frozen riced cauliflower, either thawed or microwaved for 1 minute less than the directions
• 1 egg
• 1 oz finely shredded part-skim mozzarella (preshredded will work okay but shredding it yourself will work better since it melts better)
• Optional: 1 tsp seasoning of your choice, like garlic powder

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
2. Place the thawed riced cauliflower in a large clean kitchen towel (NOT terry cloth) or several layers of strong paper towels. Gather up the corners of the towel and squeeze, squeeze, SQUEEZE as much moisture as you possibly can from the cauliflower.  
3. Add the dried riced cauliflower to a medium bowl and stir in the egg, cheese, and optional seasoning until well mixed.
4. Take 1/4 of the mixture and gently form it into a ball with your hands. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and gently press it into a flat 3" circle. Repeat with the rest of the mixture for a total of 4 "bun" halves.
5. Bake for 20 minutes then flip each one. Bake for 5-10 minutes more.
6. Cool on a wire baking rack then refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.

Makes 2 "buns" 

On WW Blue 💙: 1 point for 1

Cauliflower "Tortillas"

• 10-12 oz bag frozen riced cauliflower, either thawed or microwaved for 1 minute less than the directions
• 1 egg
• 1 oz finely shredded part-skim mozzarella (preshredded will work okay but shredding it yourself will work better since it melts better)
• Optional: 1 tsp seasoning of your choice, like taco seasoning or chili powder

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
2. Place the thawed riced cauliflower in a large clean kitchen towel (NOT terry cloth) or several layers of strong paper towels. Gather up the corners of the towel and squeeze, squeeze, SQUEEZE as much moisture as you possibly can from the cauliflower.  
3. Add the dried riced cauliflower to a medium bowl and stir in the egg, cheese, and optional seasoning until well mixed.
4. Take 1/3 of the mixture and gently form it into a ball with your hands. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and gently press it into a flat 5-6" circle. You want it as thin as possible but not so thin you get holes. Repeat with the rest for a total of 3.
5. Bake for 10 minutes then flip each one. Bake for 5 minutes more.
6. Cool on a wire baking rack then refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.

Makes 3 "tortillas"

On WW Blue 💙: 3 pts for all 3

Cauliflower "Pizza Crust"

• 2 ~ 10-12 oz bag frozen riced cauliflower, either thawed or microwaved for 1 minute less than the directions
• 2 eggs
• 1.5 oz finely shredded part-skim mozzarella (preshredded will work okay but shredding it yourself will work better since it melts better)
• Optional: 2 tsp seasoning of your choice, like garlic powder and oregano 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet or pizza pan with parchment and set aside.
2. Place the thawed riced cauliflower in a large clean kitchen towel (NOT terry cloth) or several layers of strong paper towels. Gather up the corners of the towel and squeeze, squeeze, SQUEEZE as much moisture as you possibly can from the cauliflower.  
3. Add the dried riced cauliflower to a medium bowl and stir in the egg, cheese, and optional seasoning until well mixed.
4. Form the mixture into a ball on the prepared baking sheet and gently press it into a flat 11" circle. 
5. Bake for 25 minutes then carefully flip it on the pan. Bake for 5-10 minutes more.
6. If you have the time, let it cool on a wire rack before using it, but it's not necessary. 
7. Top it with minimal sauce (too much will make it soggy) and whatever topping you like. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 
8. Cut and serve.

Makes 1 ~ 11" crust

On WW Blue 💙: 4 points for the whole crust

Served with my Jalapeño Black Bean Burgers

Sashi Made A Recipe: Roasted Lime Cauliflower Tacos

 

I've been trying to incorporate more meatless meals into the rotation and this is one that I think is going to become a regular around here.  It's very slightly adapted from the first Thug Kitchen (now called Bad Manners) cookbook which never fails me when it comes to recipes and good food. I have all 3 of their books and plan to get the newest one when it comes out in November... or after Yule if I don't get it as a gift. (*wink, wink*)

Roasted Lime Cauliflower Tacos with Quick Lime Slaw

adapted from the Roasted Beer and Lime Cauliflower Tacos recipe on pg 166 

For the tacos

• 1 head of cauliflower (~1.5 lbs)
• 1 cup vegetables or chicken broth (I used 1 packet of sodium free chicken bouillon from Herb-ox mixed with 1 cup hot water)
• 1.5 Tbsp hot sauce (I used Cholula)
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 1/2 tsp coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder, divided 
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika 
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 8 corn or flour tortillas
• Quick Lime Slaw, below
• Optional toppings: sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, roasted corn, etc.

For the Quick Lime Slaw 

• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried cilantro,  optional
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt 
• 12-16 oz package of cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spritz lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Cut the cauliflower into small bite size pieces. In a large saucepan, mix together the broth, hot sauce, lime juice, coconut aminos/soy sauce, and 1 tsp garlic powder.  Heat over medium-high heat until it starts to simmer. Add the cauliflower and stir to coat the cauliflower. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Drain and set the cauliflower aside. 
3. In a large bowl, stir together the olive oil, chili powder,  paprika,  remaining 1/4 tsp garlic powder,  cumin, and salt. Add the drained cauliflower and toss to coat well.
4. Spread the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes,  stirring once halfway through.
5. Meanwhile,  rinse out the large bowl and dry it with a clean towel. In it, stir together the lime juice, rice vinegar,  olive oil, dried cilantro, and salt. Stir in the cole slaw mix until well coated. 
6. Serve the cauliflower on tortillas topped with the slaw and any additional toppings that catch your fancy.

Makes ~8 tacos

On WW Blue 💙: 1 pt for 2 tacos, not counting the tortillas 

Sashi Made A Brave Choice

 

Ellasaurus Rex, Taylor Alxndr, Mr. Elle Aye, Geneva Blaus, Lala Ri, Taejah Thomas, Candis Cayne

On Saturday, my husband and I went to My Sister's Room with our best friends to see a drag show that was also a fundraiser for GA Equality.  Even though there were too many people for my comfort, I was able to appease my ochlophobia by getting a place to sit with my back against the wall and my safe people on either side of me.

Mr. Elle Aye

They had Venmo and Paypal info posted for all the fabulous queens so I was able to tip them that way instead fighting my way to the stage.  I love that they have that option now!

Lala Ri from Season 12 RuPaul's Drag Race

Other than simply getting up the nerve to go to the show, which was a big deal in and of itself, I decided to make my way to the stage to tip one performer during her last set: Candis Cayne.  It was hard being surrounded by a crowd like that but one of our friends helped me get up front and stayed with me.

Me waiting for her to come to the front of the stage

Candis Cayne noticing me waiting (I'm behind the drunk lady's hand)

Eye contact and tip received!

I am not one to get fanatical over celebrities but this moment made me ugly cry. LOL  She is such an amazing lady and performer and someone I have admired ever since I first learned about her.  So being brave and pushing past my fear was worth it!

Sashi Made A Recipe: Sheet Pan Creole Chicken & Shrimp

 I am definitely obsessed with sheet pan dinners right now.  Sheet pan fajitas and sheet pan fried rice are 2 that I make almost every week because they are so simple AND tasty!  So finding another recipe that is a hit for both my husband and I is a definite winner in my book.  Especially since chicken breast and vegetables are 0 points on WW Blue. AND this one incorporates shrimp which I loooooooove.

Sheet Pan Creole Chicken & Shrimp

adapted from EatingWell.com

• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 bell peppers, any color, deseeded and cut into 1" pieces
• 2 c. cherry tomatoes
• Cooking spray
• 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces
• 10-12 oz raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 c. corn kernels: fresh, frozen, or canned & drained

1. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.  Place it on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 425ºF.
2. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, thyme, black pepper, salt, and cayenne.  Reserve 2 tsp of the mixture in another small bowl.  
3. Add the remainder of the spice mix to a large bowl.  Whisk in 1 Tbsp of the olive oil until spices are smooth.  Add the peppers and tomatoes and stir coat well.
4. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and coat with cooking spray.  Spread the coated vegetable mixture on the baking sheet and return it to the oven.  Roast for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 tsp of the spice mixture and 1 Tbsp olive oil to the same large bowl used for the vegetables.  Whisk until smooth.
6. Add the chicken pieces and whole shrimp to the large bowl and toss until all are well coated.
7. When the vegetables are done, remove the baking sheet from the oven.  Add the chicken/shrimp mixture and the corn to the pan; stir to combine then spread evenly across the pan.
8. Roast until the chicken and shrimp are cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 10-15 minutes longer.
9. Serve as-is or over rice or riced cauliflower.

Makes 4 servings

On WW Blue 💙: 2 points per serving

Sashi Made A Recipe: Boom Boom Sauce

 

I was first introduced to Boom Boom Sauce at work in the cafeteria.*  It was on a shrimp po'boy and I was immediately hooked.  Once I knew they had this spicy ambrosia over at the hot sandwich station, which was also open for breakfast sandwiches, I started getting a small cup of it to put on my eggs as well as fries and pretty much anything else I could think of.

When I found a recipe for it on It Is A Keeper, I knew I had to make a slightly healthier version so, instead of mayo, I just used nonfat plain yogurt.  Easy peasy and just as tasty!  AND, on WW Blue, it's only 1 point for 2 Tbsp!

Boom Boom Sauce

• 1/4 c. plain nonfat yogurt OR plain nonfat Greek yogurt (either one works)
• 1 Tbsp ketchup
• 1 Tbsp sweet chile sauce (I use Maggi which is available in many major grocery stores)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 - 1 tsp sriracha sauce, depending on your level of spice tolerance

Mix everything together in a small bowl until well mixed.  Refrigerate in a covered container until needed.  This is definitely better if you can make it ahead of time.

Makes 6 Tbsp

On WW Blue 💙, 1 point for 2 Tbsp

*Pre-pandemic, there were about 6,000 people that worked in our office buildings.  While this made parking a challenge for those who came in late, it meant that our company provided a lot of things to make it easier to stay in the building.  We had a Starbucks, CVS, Minute Clinic, drycleaners, and bank on site.  But our cafeteria was ah-ma-zing!  At breakfast, they had a short order grill, an omelet station, a breakfast sandwich station, a bagel/pastry station, and premade breakfast sandwiches as well as oatmeal, grits, cold cereal, etc.  At lunch, though, SO MANY options.  Short order grill, cold sandwiches made to order, hot sandwiches made to order, a self-serve salad bar, chopped salads made to order, pasta made to order, Mexican, Italian, Indian, Chinese, sushi, and spa cuisine (baked and steamed options).  I'm sure there is more that I am not remembering.  It was cheaper than going out to eat and, for the price, pretty darn good.  I read once that they served about 3,000 meals for breakfast and lunch.

The cafeteria is only opened partially right now since 95% of us are still working from home, but when the office opens up again, I hope the cafeteria will be back full capacity!

Sashi Made A Trip to SC!

 

I love my dorky rainbow-ish sunglasses!

This past weekend my husband and I took a road trip to South Carolina to see his parents who moved there last month from Michigan.  It's so nice to have them 50% closer than they were before!  At 7.5 hours, it's still a hefty drive but much better than 14+.  Their new house is gorgeous and you can tell his mom is having fun decorating it.

We didn't do a whole lot except visit at the house which is perfectly fine with me.  But we did go out for dinner both nights we were there.  The first night, we went to The Grumpy Monk where I had a buffalo chicken sandwich without the bun.  It was really good!  

The second night, we went to Bonfire, A Smokin' Taqueria which was AMAZING!

Bonfire

Andy and I started with an order of buffalo cauliflower which was crave-worthy.  I then got the grilled seafood sampler which had catfish, shrimp and oysters.  I can definitively say that I do not like oysters.  At all. LOL  But the catfish was seasoned and cooked perfectly and I will likely just get that the next time we go.  They don't offer healthy sides but that was fine.  I got my vegetables with the buffalo cauliflower. 😁

I don't have a lot of photos from the trip because, well, I suck at taking photos when I am out places.  I am so in the moment that I rarely think to stop to take photos.  And since this was the first trip we've taken in over 2 years, it was a little overwhelming.  But we had so much fun seeing his 'rents that it was 137% worth it.

I am happy to say that I stayed well under my points both days we were there and while traveling.  Of course, there was so much sodium in everything we ate.  We also ordered in the first couple of nights we were back home which also didn't help.  So with that, along with the fact that it's "that time" of the month, I did not have a loss this week but I am okay since I also did not GAIN.  NOT gaining while on a mini vacation is a win in my book!

Sashi Made A Fashion Choice: New Glasses!

 I am back to my beloved nerd style glasses which makes me happy!  On the same day that I went to pick them up, my new prescription sunglasses also came in the mail. 🤓😎

Sashi Made Progress!

Weight Watchers is doing something that I love: they send out milestone charms!  People who do in-person meetings get more but those of us who are doing digital only still get them for 5lbs, 10lbs, 25lbs, and each 25lbs thereafter.  I hit my 50lb milestone a few weeks ago so got my new charm. I am actually motivated by these charms.  Hey, whatever works, right?

I am down 60lbs as of today which was a nice surprise!  Even though today (Friday) is my weigh-in day, I often do find myself doing a "precheck" sometimes on Thursdays.  It was only down 1lb yesterday.  This is why I don't weigh myself daily  Those daily fluctuations would drive me batty!

May 2021

This is another way that I am keeping myself excited/motivated: STICKERS!  For each day that I am below my daily points, I get a star.  I get a smiley sticker for each week that I lose.  It's colorful. It's tangible. It's rainbow. It's ME! 🌈🍓🍊🍋🍈🍇

I use the back pages of this planner to keep track of the weekly menu, my measurements, and a running total of my weigh-ins.  Yes, most of this is available in the WW app as well but I get enjoyment from having a physical book with pages.  

Sashi Made A Drawing: Halloween Cards

Halloween 2020

When I was still sending them, I hand made my Christmas cards almost every year since I was 18. They started out with designs cut out of construction paper and grew up into other non-traditional designs, like gingerbread men cut out of sandpaper or Christmas trees cut out of green scrubbies.  Once my card list got into the 50's, I started having them printed because yikes!  That was a lot of cards to make by hand.  The 2 years I didn't make them, I actually had people contact me to specifically tell me that they were disappointed to receive a "generic" card... even though one of them was of my wedding pic to my ex. LOL (The other time I sent out purchased cards was because I had been sick and just ran out of time.)

In one way, it felt good that my handmade or hand-drawn & printed cards were appreciated.  On the other hand, it really started to feel like a burden.  And now, Christmas cards seem to be going away and those that do send them seem to be doing so just out of obligation. I know I fit that description for quite a while!

So now, instead of sending out Christmas cards every year, I send out Halloween cards.  Last year was just the 3rd year that I've done that, but it feels so much more... right... to me.  ❤❤❤

Halloween 2019

Halloween 2018

Sashi Made A Wine Label

 

My awesome in-laws recently moved from Michigan to South Carolina and are going to get back into wine making.  They asked me to design a label for their bottles which I was very excited to do!  These are currently being printed and will be sent directly to my in-laws.  I can't wait to see them (both my in-laws and the labels) in person!

Sashi Made A Recipe: Roast Beef Po'Boys

 

My husband requested that I make these and who am I to say no to him? The only issue is that I usually use chuck roast which is not low in calories/WW points. So after a little research, I decided that eye of round roast would probably work since it's a lot leaner and should get nice and tender in the slow cooker.  I was right! And by getting long hot dog buns instead of hoagie rolls (delicious, delicious hoagie rolls), it was easier for portion control. And, the best part, 1/2 cup is only 2 points!

Mini Roast Beef Po'Boys (slow cooker)

• 3 lb eye of round beef roast
• 1 Tbsp parsley flakes
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 1/2 c low sodium beef broth (I used 3 packets of beef Herbox sodium free beef bouillon mixed with 2 1/2 c boiling water)
• 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 10 oz bag shredded lettuce
• 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
• Long hot dog style buns

1. Place the roast in the bottom of a 4qt slow cooker.
2. In a small bowl, mix the parsley flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, brown sugar, turmeric and pepper. Sprinkle over the roast.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the broth, red wine vinegar, and Worcestershire. Pour over the roast slowly, mixing up the seasonings as you pour.
4. Cover and cook on low 9-10 hours or high for 4.5-5 hours.
5. When ready to eat, remove the roast to a large rimmed baking sheet, leaving the juices in the slow cooker. Turn the cooker up to high and leave the lid off. Mix the cornstarch and 2-4 Tablespoons of juices from the slow cooker until smooth. Drizzle back into the juices in the slow cooker, stirring while pouring. Let cook and thicken while shredding the beef with 2 forks, discarding any pieces of fat. Add the beef back to the slow cooker.
6. Serve with lettuce and tomato on the buns.

Makes 16 ~ 1/2 cup servings

On WW Blue 💙, 2 points for just the filling

The next day, I used the leftover beef to make rice bowls.  Here I have riced cauliflower, corn, diced fresh tomatoes with roasted garlic sauce.  Same yummy taste without the bread!

Sashi Made A Milestone: 50 lbs gone!

I reached one of my milestone goals!  I can't believe 50 lbs are gone already.  Unfortunately, this is only about 1/4 of what I need to lose but it's a GREAT start!

I am very rewards oriented so I had decided at the beginning that I needed to come up with something to look forward to that I wouldn't just purchase for myself but also something that wasn't a need.  Since I love all things miniature and since I love food and food-related things so much, Mini Brands fit that bill perfectly!  I have to thank my sister for starting this.  She gave me my first set for Christmas last year and I have been OBSESSED ever since.

I ordered a couple of sets after receiving my first but had a hard time justifying spending the money on them after that.  So now I can use this as an excuse to expand my collection while reducing my waistline. 

I hit the 25lb milestone the beginning of April :)

Sashi Made A Recipe: Jalapeño Black Bean Burgers

 

I often end up disappointed in black bean burgers from most restaurants because they end up being mushy. Like flavorful paste the squishes out of the bun on the first bite.  No bueno.  And so many of the frozen ones are either high in sodium or taste bland or both. I happened across these from Slender Kitchen and immediately realized I found my go-to with very tweaks. The main thing I switched up is using full fat cheese. I do not like fat free or low fat cheese at all. It just doesn't taste good to me. I also added a touch more mustard. I sometimes use regular yellow and sometimes Guldens. It depends on my mood. And my husband loves these, too, so it's all kinds of winning!

Jalapeño Black Bean Burgers 

• 1/2 c old-fashioned oats
• 15 oz can no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• Few grinds black pepper
• 1 jalapeño pepper, deeded, deveined, and chopped small
• 2 oz cheddar, finely shredded (1/2 cup)
• 1 Tbsp mustard 

1. In a small food processor, process the oats for 4-5 pulses until chopped fine. Add half the beans, the egg, cumin, salt, and pepper. Process on high until everything has been combined into a semi-smooth paste, about 30-60 seconds. Scrape into a medium bowl.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well blended.
3. Line a plate with a piece of parchment.  Divide the bean mixture into 4 parts and form each into a 3"-4" patty on the lined plate. It will be sticky. 
4. Place the plate in the freezer for 7-10 minutes or the refrigerator for 15 minutes to let the patties firm up. Don't leave in the freezer for longer than 10 minutes.
5. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and spritz with cooking spray.
6. Cook each for 4-5 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy.
7. I like mine with BBQ Ranch and my husband likes his with taco sauce. 

Makes 4 patties

On WW Blue 💙, 3 points per patty

I tried the L'oven Fresh Keto Buns from Aldi that people have been raving about on WW Connect because they are only 1 point. They were okay but had a stale texture and made my tummy really hurt. 🙁 I'm not surprised, really, based on how processed they are but the flavor/texture are not worth it. So I probably won't use them again. BUT I plan to try making cauliflower buns soon! 😁