The Hard Hearted Chef: Birthday Treats Lightened Up

We took a little time out this last weekend for a special occasion:

 Mom's 7@#$% Birthday!

I decided to make a few little treats that were actually good for you.

 Ready to indulge without making your doctor frown?

These recipes are nearly cholesterol free, and they make the sin a little more minor.

 Bananas Foster French Toast

1 loaf of bread

1 1/2 cups skim milk

2 cups of Eggbeaters

2 tsp cinnamon

Cooking spray

Wisk the milk and Eggbeaters together; add the cinnamon.

Spray one (or more) saute' pans with cooking spray and heat to medium.

Dip the bread in the egg to coat and set it in the pan. Cook until

golden, then flip it over and repeat.

I like to keep my french toast in the oven on 250 so it stays warm

until served.

Topping

5 firm, slightly green bananas, sliced

2 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 cup of a heart smart butter substitute

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups of pecans

1 tsp orange extract

1/2 cup rum

Melt the butter substitute in yet another saute' pan. add everything but the bananas

and stir with a wooden spoon on low until smooth. Glop in the fruit

and turn the heat up just a little, stirring constantly, until the bananas soften

a little and you have a thick, sticky mess, about 5 minutes.

Serve the sauce on the side and celebrate!

Mom was in the mood for cheeseburgers for dinner.

No Southern barbeque is complete without slaw, but mayonnaise 

is off the menu.

Here's a little recipe packed with crunch, flavor, and zero cholesterol!

Asian Slaw

6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

5 tablespoons chunky peanut butter

3 tablespoons soy sauce 

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons ginger

1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

5 cups thinly sliced green cabbage

2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage

2 cups shredded napa cabbage 

2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced 

2 carrots, julienned

6 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, oil, peanut butter, soy sauce, 

brown sugar, ginger, and garlic.

 In a large bowl, mix the green cabbage, red cabbage, napa cabbage, red bell peppers, carrots, green onions, and cilantro.

 Toss with the peanut butter mixture just before serving.

 And....YUM!

 Tomorrow we'll talk about the quick and easy dessert

that is NOT heart healthy, so I can't include it here,

but it's totally worth the splurge!