Potatoes - Have You Heard This One Before?

Chilled Potatoes

 

Not all white foods are bad for weight-loss. In fact, plain boiled potatoes are the most filling food there is, according to the Satiety Index of Common Foods, an Australian study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. To maximize their flat-belly benefits, throw ’em in the refrigerator and make a potato salad. The cooling process will crystallize the tubers into resistant starch, which takes longer to break down in your intestine, producing fat-burning butyrate and delaying hunger pangs.

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Kathleen Brandt

Baked Vegetarian Rice Poppers

In our house brown rice is a staple. So using my wonderful rice maker, we make 6 cups of rice every 3 days (no one wants old rice). But sometimes, we have too much rice, so I make little rice poppers.

Using a combination of herbs, spices, and fillings, you can create a bit of fun! These are so versatile. Sometimes I make them totally vegan, no cheese required. Just use great seasonings (garlic, onions and saffron for a paella style works well. If you are a pescatarian, stuff a little shrimp or two in the center of each ball. For Christmas Eve I made these using cheese but still vegetarian. You can add peas or tomato paste to make them Italian style, taco seasoning and a TBS of thick salsa for Mexican style, or season with Thai herbs. The list goes on.  But here's the basic

Mix Together...

• 1cup leftover brown rice
• 1/4c-1/3c of herbs chopped finely (your favorites), great place to add a bit of flax or chia. Try any combination of onions mint, cilantro, garlic, even nuts.  Finely minced seeded peppers (red/green/yellow or jalapeno) Use fresh or dry, not frozen.
• 1-2 eggs for binding. I typically use 1 brown egg. 
• 1TBS of broth or wine
• salt/pepper to taste 
• pinch of red pepper flakes (to taste)
• 1/3c - 1/2c of Parmesan cheese

Roll Above Mixture In... 

• 1/4c of Parmesan.  Sometimes I tuck a small bit of mozzarella in the center for an extra treat, but this batch is "we are going to the beach in a few days" recipe.
• 1c bread crumbs 

Spray mini-muffin pan for poppers. For this batch, I moistened my hands with olive oil and rolled a spoonful of the mixture in the breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Cook in 400 degree oven until golden brown (15-20 minutes). Don't over cook. 

My recipe is a tasty snack and I've reduced the use of eggs, cheese, and oil.  But here is a more traditional recipe that I would consider "oven fried."  It too is very tasty, but if I have to drain treats on a paper towel, it is usually eliminated from my cookbook or revised.  You may wish to try this Baked Italian Brown Rice Ball recipe from Lisa's Kitchen. 

Kathleen Brandt

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