Mushroom and Spinach Side Dish

4 Servings

This side dish makes four servings; it's perfect to keep in your fridge to add to stir-fries or pasta dishes. Use as many different mushrooms as you can find, especially the healthier varieties like shiitake, enoki and oyster mushrooms. The dried porcini or cepes really add a lot of flavor. You'll find them in little packages near the produce stands.

Ingredients:
1/2 oz dried porcini or cepes mushrooms (optional)
2 tsbp olive oil, preferably extra virgin
1 lb mixed, fresh mushrooms
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp herb and spice blend
2 cups organic baby spinach leaves

Instructions:
If you're using porcini mushrooms or cepes, put them in a dish with enough hot water to barely cover and let them soak for about 20 minutes. Wash and slice the fresh mushrooms and remove any tough stems. In a large pan with a cover, heat the oil and sauté the mushrooms, including the soaked porcini and the soaking liquid. Stir well, cover and cook gently for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and herb blend, cover and cook for another 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Add the baby spinach leaves to the mushroom mix. Stir to wilt them briefly, and the dish is ready to serve, or to store in the fridge for later use. You may want to add salt and pepper to taste but most people find it's not necessary.

Spinach and Ginger Frittata

1 Serving

This light, low-carbohydrate breakfast or lunch dish combines two of Dr Weil's favorite ingredients - greens and fresh ginger. Baby spinach or other baby greens work great in this recipe.

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup spinach leaves (or other greens) torn
1 egg
1 egg white
1 tsp fresh grated ginger root
1 tsp Italian or other seasoning mix
1 tbsp salsa

Instructions:
Tear up the spinach leaves and steam very briefly. (Put the torn leaves in a small saucepan with 1/4 cup of boiling water, cover the saucepan, turn off the heat and allow to steam for about 3-5 minutes. Baby spinach leaves take just 3 minutes.) Fold into the beaten

eggs with the grated ginger, salsa and seasoning. Cook on a non-stick pan sprayed with cooking spray, turning as needed until the eggs are set.

Mushroom and Spinach Side Dish

4 Servings

This side dish makes four servings; it's perfect to keep in your fridge to add to stir-fries or pasta dishes. Use as many different mushrooms as you can find, especially the healthier varieties like shiitake, enoki and oyster mushrooms. The dried porcini or cepes really add a lot of flavor. You'll find them in little packages near the produce stands.

Ingredients:
1/2 oz dried porcini or cepes mushrooms (optional)
2 tsbp olive oil, preferably extra virgin
1 lb mixed, fresh mushrooms
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp herb and spice blend
2 cups organic baby spinach leaves

Instructions:

If you're using porcini mushrooms or cepes, put them in a dish with enough hot water to barely cover and let them soak for about 20 minutes. Wash and slice the fresh mushrooms and remove any tough stems. In a large pan with a cover, heat the oil and sauté the mushrooms, including the soaked porcini and the soaking liquid. Stir well, cover and cook gently for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and herb blend, cover and cook for another 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Add the baby spinach leaves to the mushroom mix. Stir to wilt them briefly, and the dish is ready to serve, or to store in the fridge for later use. You may want to add salt and pepper to taste but most people find it's not necessary.

Spinach Pita-Pizza

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

1/8 pound spinach, raw bunch or bagged
4 mushrooms, medium, fresh
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon olive oil, extra virgin
2 tablespoons chicken broth, fat-free, low-sodium
1 pita, whole wheat, large
2 tablespoons reduced sodium spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 ounces mozzarella cheese, part-skim
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon oregano, dried
10 baby carrots
1 cup tossed green salad
1 tablespoon fat-free salad dressing, favorite flavor
Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash and chop spinach, mushrooms and garlic (peeled).
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add garlic and saute´ for one minute.
Add spinach and mushrooms and heat until spinach is wilted, adding chicken stock, a small amount at a time as needed, to prevent sticking. Remove from heat.
Place a pita round on a flat baking sheet lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Spread pita round with spaghetti sauce.
Spread spinach mixture on top of prepared pita; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese that has been shredded, basil and oregano. Bake pizza in oven for 8 to 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve with raw carrots and tossed salad.
Prepare salad with washed greens, your favorite crisp vegetables and fat-free salad dressing of choice.