While trying to eat well, I don't want to abandon all of the tasty foods I have enjoyed for so long. Therefore I will try to take some of my favorite fattening foods and give them a makeover, keeping the tasty side but changing the ingredients and preparation. When an attempt is successful, I will share the results.
Here is the first contestant: potato skins. Next to Buffalo wings, my favorite junky snack is potato skins- deep fried with bacon and cheese, then used to scoop up sour cream. My lips are smacking and drool is dripping!
These potato skins are delicious, don't get me wrong. What about the nutritional value of them, though? One serving has 250 calories, 17 g of fat, and 510 mg sodium, without the sour cream!
Here is my alternative which can be enjoyed as a meal, not just a snack: the twice baked potato. One serving, which I am saying is 1/2 of a potato (or one side stuffed), has 275 calories, 11 g fat, and 239 mg sodium. Okay, so the makeover recipe doesn't have fewer calories per serving, but the serving of twice baked potato is larger than the skins. A yumilicious alternative to the fried potato skins. I calculated the nutritional value by looking up the ingredients in the recipe and calculating the total, so the calories may be even fewer!
Twice Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients
2 large baking potatoes
salt
1 c low fat plain yogurt
2 tbsp butter
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Rinse potatoes and scrub to clean.
2. Place potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
3. Bake potatoes in 400 degree oven for 1 hr. Cool for about 15 minutes.
4. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the inside flesh of the potatoes. Place potato flesh in large bowl.
5. Add yogurt and butter to potato flesh. Mash together and stir.
6. Spoon potato mixture into skins, distributing evenly. Sprinkle tops of stuffed potatoes with cheese.
7. Bake in 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. Enjoy with a dollop more of yogurt.
I was a skeptic about using plain yogurt to replace sour cream, but it really tastes great. My younger children, who are extremely picky about what they eat, could not tell the difference when it was mixed into the potatoes or served on top of them.
You could decrease the fat and calories more by omitting the butter and using nonfat yogurt too. I also added more flavor and virtually no calories by scattering a few fresh chives over my potato.
This was such a satisfying and flavorful dinner. Try it and let me know what you think.
Isn't it amazing how we can cut back on some high calorie foods in a recipe and everyone still finds it delicious. Also, you do a wonderful job of cooking with a camera in your hand. I am very impressed how you always manage to have pictures of each step of your recipes. And your pictures all turn out great!
ReplyDeleteWell, my children have been a real encouragement when it comes to taking pictures of our food. Even our youngest ones are all asking to take a picture of their dinner plates.
ReplyDeleteEven last night, we whipped up some chocolate cupcakes and my daughter insisted on taking a picture of them.
Thank you for the compliment!
Oh my. My absolute favorite. I love potatoes, so this just hits the spot! Nice makeover too!
ReplyDeleteThese were insane yummo! Yes you must always have pictures of everything. You canonly get som epictures once. Like what if the tray just decided to fall on the floor before we ate em. Then you would not have a picture or maybe you would have a very good picture. I cannot decide which. I would probably like the smooshy one personally. he he he
ReplyDelete