From Mama's Table to Mine (2 page)
Read From Mama's Table to Mine Online
Authors: Bobby Deen
You see, I still want good food on the table, even when that food is good for me. And I also like it to be quick. I’m sure you’re as busy as I am, so I think you’re going to like the fact that these recipes make fast and easy meals. Take a dish like
Rotelle Pasta Salad with Garlicky Broccoli and Mozzarella
. Grill a piece of chicken or fish and set it alongside this quick make-ahead salad and you’ve got yourself an almost-instant meal. Or whip up
The Son’s Beef Vegetable Soup
, tack on a side salad, and you’ve got yourself a hearty lunch or light but satisfying dinner.
Because eating right is an all-day affair, I’ve included some of my favorite breakfast recipes too. I wasn’t always sold on breakfast, but nowadays, I make sure I get something into my body to fuel me up for the day. Whether it is something as quick and simple as a
Toasted-Waffle Ham and Egg Sandwich
or a dish that’s just a little more decadent like
Pecan Waffles with Strawberry Syrup
, these recipes have the nutrients to get me going.
In the middle of the day, armed with my fast and fresh sandwich, soup, and salad recipes, you’ll find it’s easier to make the right food choices. Soups, especially, are great to have around the house. I cook up a big batch of
The Son’s Chicken Noodle Soup
so that I have plenty in the fridge or freezer for a quick lunch. And that’s really helpful on days when I’m hungry and rushed and would be tempted to turn to fast food.
In the end, my healthy lifestyle is all about balance: between exercise, downtime, healthy food, and even splurges. I’ve shared some of the best tips that help me maintain a balanced life. Keep an eye out for exercise tips, smart serving suggestions, and some nifty chef’s secrets scattered throughout the book. Plus, there’s a special bonus chapter in the back containing a week of fifteen-hundred-calories-a-day menus; healthy activities and tips; party menus; tips for stocking the pantry, fridge, and freezer; and a helpful list of healthy lower-fat subs and swaps.
I guess this book is a little bit of a love letter to my Mama and my Mama’s people before her. It’s nice to know I don’t have to leave all their great recipes behind because the times have changed. I can enjoy my grits and still do right by my body! Now that’s a deal I think I can live with. In fact, that’s a deal I think I can live
better
with. And I surely do hope this book can do the same for you.
Some Favorite Appetizers
YOU KNOW THAT TIME OF THE DAY in the late afternoon when it’s not quite dinnertime but your stomach just won’t seem to believe you? I reckon that is just about the most dangerous time for trying to eat right. On the other hand, it’s also a chance to eat some of the most delicious food of the day. Because that’s the hour I start setting out appetizers. These first bites are some of my favorite foods, and I don’t like to deprive myself of a good eating opportunity. So I’ve devised ways to be smart about what I choose at this time of the day.
I like to look at my appetizers as the first part of my evening meal. I mean, what is an appetizer besides the lead-in to the main course? It should work with my main meal, not against it. My first course does the job of getting my appetite in the right frame of mind for what’s coming next. If I know what my main meal is going to be, I know what best to pair it up with on the appetizer end.
What I try to do is match a lighter-style appetizer with a heavier meal, and vice versa. If my main meal is going to be something like
Grilled Filet Mignon with Vidalia Onions
, I may decide on something like
Pickled Shrimp
to start with. With an ice-cold beer in hand, these babies are a nice bright snack to keep me satisfied as the grill heats up. If I’m planning on something a little lighter for dinner, like
Glazed Scallops with Pineapple Salsa
, I may just go with something a little heavier to get me going, like
Fiery Queso Fundido
or
Sweet and Savory Meatballs
.
And when I’ve got friends over for dinner, there’s nothing more hospitable than starting the meal out with some really special appetizers. Setting out some beautiful, bite-size
Mini Savannah Crab Cakes
or
Spinach-and-Cheese–Stuffed Mushrooms
tells them my Mama raised me right.
As an added bonus, these recipes are fast and easy to pull together. In fact, most can be finished off before your guests even knock at the door, making for more relaxed entertaining. With these appetizers in your lineup, you’ll find yourself free to leave the kitchen, mingle with your guests, and get in a few more bites of each tasty morsel of food you put out.
Makes about 2 cups / Serves 8 to 10
After: 3g fat, 78 calories
7g protein | 2g carbohydrate | 0g fiber | 232mg sodium
Based on 9 servings, does not include celery sticks for serving
Pimiento cheese is my pick-me-up food. When I’m lacking the motivation to get myself moving to do some exercise, I promise myself a pimiento cheese sandwich as a reward for a hard workout. While it may sound funny, just having a goal in front of me makes me work that much harder. Find your own pick-me-up food and use it the next time you need a little extra motivation in keeping healthy.
Serves 6
After: 2g fat, 104 calories
18g protein | 4.5g carbohydrate | .5g fiber | 201mg sodium
There are two reasons I keep the tails on my pickled shrimp. First off, I think it just looks a whole lot better. But more important, with the tails left on, you’ve got something to grab on to and no need for fiddly toothpicks. And, trust me, when this shrimp is brought out, there will be a whole lot of grabbing going on.
