- Show all
- Featured Posts
- Uncategorized
- Z2-Appetizers & Snacks
- Z2-Beef
- Z2-Beverages
- Z2-Desserts
- Z2-Entrees
- Z2-Pork
- Z2-Poultry
- Z2-Salads
- Z2-Sauces & Dressings
- Z2-Seafood
- Z2-Sides
- Z2-Soup
- Z2-Vegetarian
- Z3-Appetizers & Snacks
- Z3-Beef
- Z3-Desserts
- Z3-Entrees
- Z3-Pork
- Z3-Poultry
- Z3-Sauces & Dressings
- Z3-Seafood
- Z3-Sides
- Z3-Soups & Stews
- Z3-Vegetarian
- Z3.5-Appetizers
- Z3.5-Beef
- Z3.5-Desserts
- Z3.5-Entrees
- Z3.5-Pork
- Z3.5-Poultry
- Z3.5-Seafood
- Z3.5-Sides
- Z3.5-Soups & Stews
- Z3.5-Vegetarian
- ZS-5 Ingredients or Less
- ZS-Dieter Favorites
- ZS-Holiday
- ZS-Zola to Go
- ZSpecialties
Beef and Vegetable Soup
Tastes very much like the traditional version but this one doesn’t include higher carbohydrate vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Still quite delightful, though. Brings back memories of grandma.
Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Z3-Vegetarian,ZS-Holiday,Z3-Appetizers & Snacks,ZSpecialties
Talk about comfort food. This is the pure definition. Thankfully fat doesn’t make you fat so you can eat this at parties and not feel the guilt.
Shrimp Cocktail Chowder
Talk about easy to make. This soup is done in a flash. If you’re like me you’ll make a triple batch. You can freeze the portions and just add shrimp bits when you go to serve it.
Beef Taco Soup (EASY)
What’s the difference between chili and taco soup? Broth, of course. There is more broth in taco soup is more so it’s thinner than chili. The internet tells me that chili is technically considered a stew. Go figure.
Mushroom-Bacon Soup
I had a hankering for bacon. My husband wanted mushroom soup. And this recipe was born.
Onion Chicken and Homemade Applesauce
"My mom wasn’t a cook which I think I’ve told you, so when she made pork chops she would put them in a dish, pour French onion soup (Campbell’s from a can) over them and serve it with applesauce.
Healthy Orange Creamsicle
ZS-Dieter Favorites,ZSpecialties,Z2-Desserts,Z2-Vegetarian
We have to thank Dieter Claire for inventing this recipe. She modified the fruit parfait recipe and developed a strawberry "ice cream" recipe and this recipe with frozen mandarin oranges. She says, “it’s like an orange creamsicle.” YUM!
Angela’s Shortcut Ratatouille
Z2-Vegetarian,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Entrees,ZSpecialties
When you need some serious cold weather comfort food, ratatouille hits the spot. This shortcut ratatouille-inspired recipe was submitted by dieter Angela. She Zolafied the original recipe and created a delicious ZReduction veggie sauté that can be made in less than half the time of a traditional ratatouille.
BBQ Bean Hash
Z3.5-Beef,Z3.5-Entrees,Z3.5-Sides
When I was a kid my father traveled a lot. When he was gone, sometimes my mom would let us just fry up some hamburger meat and add a can of Campbell’s baked beans. We called it bean hash. I loved it.
Beef & Vegetable Stew
This stew will contain your meat and vegetable portion, serve with salad greens for a complete meal.
Hot Brown Open-faced Sandwich
This is fast to make and is a wonderful comfort food addition to your recipes.
Chicken Pot Pie Bake (for Turkey leftovers, too!)
Z3-Poultry,ZSpecialties,ZS-Zola to Go,Z3-Entrees,ZS-Holiday
The inside of this pie bake tastes just like Midwest comfort food. You won't even notice the potatoes are missing. It has just enough carrots to remind you how sweet they are. Same for the peas. The onion, celery and the mushrooms give it the depth of flavor you'll remember from childhood. The topping isn't your average pie crust. This one is low carb. So it's not like a biscuit either. I'm still trying to perfect low carb biscuits, so this is sort of a cross-breed.
Butternut Squash Puree by Chef Josh
ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,Z3.5-Sides,ZS-Holiday,Z3.5-Vegetarian,ZSpecialties
Cooking does not have to be complicated. In this recipe Chef Josh shows us how to make a simple and delicious puree using butternut squash. Easy. Decadent. Delicious.
Easy Enchiladas
This dish comes together in a flash. If you are doing beef enchiladas, I recommend red sauce. If you are doing chicken, I recommend you go wild and use a green sauce.
Beefy Pasta Casserole
Z3.5-Entrees,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Beef,ZS-Zola to Go
Pasta doesn’t have to be banned from ZLife. You just need to limit it and monitor how you use it. If you keep in mind that a FULL portion is a half cup cooked you’re on the right track. And just eat it on a special occasion.
Breaking Thanksgiving Tradition
Featured Posts,ZSpecialties,ZS-Holiday
Everyone has their Thanksgiving traditions; especially when it comes to food. Do you ever think about breaking tradition and making something different?
Caramelized Pears (ZReboot 3.5 Version)
ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Desserts
Chris’s cousins sent us a HUGE box of fruit as his get well wish. There are only two of us, so in order to use the fruit I have had to get creative! Oh, my, these are yummy!
Cincinnati Chili (EASY)
Z3-Beef,Z3-Soups & Stews,Z3.5-Beef,Z3.5-Soups & Stews
This is a famous chili that probably should not even be called a chili. It was invented by two brothers who emigrated from Europe in the 1920’s. Of course, they lived in Cincinnati. When finished this will look sort of like chili but it’s served on spaghetti. There are no beans and it’s not spicy. It’s flavorful for sure, but not “hot.” Don’t let the list of ingredients throw you off.
Tomato Basil Soup
ZS-Zola to Go,Z2-Soup,ZSpecialties,ZS-Dieter Favorites
Tomato basil soup is very easy to make. It comes together in a flash. The addition of cooked chicken elevates it to a one bowl meal.
Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Bread
Everyone loves pumpkin, right? Well, how about a tea bread that’s made with pumpkin? Sort of like banana bread. Or even make it with sweet potato puree.
Chili with Beans
This is a simple chili. It’s a takeoff from an old Betty Crocker recipe. Can’t get much simpler than that!
Southern Tomato Pie
ZS-Holiday,Z3.5-Sides,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Appetizers,Z3.5-Vegetarian
Two things I love about living mid-South: fried green tomatoes, and tomato pie.
Sunday Chicken
Pierre Franey was a cooking hero of mine. He was the original “60 Minute Gourmet.” I adapted this recipe from one of his and turned it into a wonderful diet meal.
Baked Chicken with Shiitake Mushroom Sauce
If we had a gourmet comfort food category this recipe would be the first one. Its easy to make, very satisfying, and tastes delicious. A great meal for a rainy day.
Tomato Steak Stew
Made this tonight and was very happy with it – it would count as your vegetable and your meat although you could definitely add a green salad. I found it to be very filling.
Pumpkin Mousse
Z3-Desserts,ZSpecialties,ZS-Holiday
Light and dreamy. If you like pumpkin you’ll love this smooth and easy dessert.
Braised Red Cabbage
For all you cabbage lovers out there, this recipe is a ZReduction take on a German classic. While you can whip this dish up in about 30 minutes, red cabbage tastes sweeter the longer you cook it -- so if you are on ZReduction and like your cabbage a little sweeter, cook it low and slow until the flavors mellow and meld to your liking.
Creole Soup (with or without protein)
This soup is super easy to make. If you are a fan of southern food this will hit the spot.
Potatoes Brabant (Zola Style)
I don’t eat potatoes very often but these are worth the splurge a few times a year. The yellow potatoes they are made from in my recipe are lower in carbohydrates than a Russet potato, so that’s a bonus, too.
Vegetable Soup
As the weather gets colder and the nights get longer this makes a wonderful soup. Or if you get a cold while on Plan Z this might be just the ticket!
Beef Bourguignon
Z3-Entrees,Z3-Soups & Stews,Z3-Beef
This is a remake of Beef Bourguignon. Who can resist this traditional French dish? So lush-tasting. It just about melts in your mouth.
Seafood Chowder
This is not the usual, thick, gloppy chowder since you are on ZReduction, but it will pass as a fancy, flavorful meal.
Chunky Chicken Chili
Z2-Poultry,ZSpecialties,Z2-Entrees,Z2-Soup,ZS-Zola to Go
We made this during a snow storm, the taste took off the chill of the day.
Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage “Stew”
I’ll admit it. I found this inspiration recipe online. I did not have to change it up much to Zola-fy it..it is soooo good!
Roasted Fennel
Z2-Vegetarian,ZSpecialties,Z2-Sides,ZS-5 Ingredients or Less
Fennel has a distinct flavor, but when it's roasted, the flavor mellows. If you like fennel, this recipe is great, and it's very easy to make.
Roasted Tomato Sauce
Z2-Sauces & Dressings,Z2-Vegetarian
You’ll think you’re eating at an Italian Grandma’s house when you taste this.
Strawberry “Almost Ice Cream”
Z2-Beverages,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Vegetarian,Z2-Desserts,ZSpecialties
Dieter Claire invented this recipe by modifying the fruit parfait recipe and adding extra frozen strawberries. She says, "it's as close to ice cream as you can get." We agree.
Turkey or Chicken Meatloaf
For a change of pace you can try a unique meatloaf. This one comes with an optional extra sauce in case you want to really ramp up the flavor.
Corn Dip
I came up with this recipe at the end of summer. I took what I call an “inspiration” recipe and Zolified it so we can enjoy it. It’s really tasty.
Shrimp and Mushroom Casserole
This is elegant comfort food. It’s sort of like the American version of the French dish called Coquille St. Jacque.
Chili Con Carne
Z2-Entrees,ZSpecialties,Z2-Beef,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Soup,ZS-Zola to Go
This is a meaty chili with some veggies tossed in for crunch factor. Makes a satisfying lunch.
Quick Coquilles St. Jacques (Scallops in a Creamy Mushroom-Parmesan Sauce)
I remember my first introduction to scallops like it was yesterday. As I took my first bite and swooned I knew these were to become a new favorite.
Curried Asparagus Soup
Serve in soup bowls with a protein of choice. In Z2 this is your veggie portion. You can have plain salad greens on the side if you need more. It’s very filling though.
Butternut Squash Casserole
Z3-Sides,Z3-Vegetarian,Z3-Entrees
Serve this at your next family event instead of potatoes and you’ll save 30% of the carbs.
Can be a vegetarian entrée or a side dish. SUPER Yummy because as the squash bakes it becomes sweet.
Creamy Leek Pie
Z3-Sides,Z3-Vegetarian,ZSpecialties,Z3-Entrees,ZS-Zola to Go
This recipe makes a yummy vegetarian lunch or side dish to go with a protein. I also put it in Zola to GO! because it can travel to a buffet.
Lockdown Chili (Z2 Version)
ZS-Dieter Favorites,ZS-Zola to Go,Z2-Beef,ZSpecialties
What better time to have a spicy chili than when I am in lockdown, practicing social distancing.
Creamed Orzo with Leeks and Parmesan
Z3.5-Entrees,Z3.5-Vegetarian,ZS-Holiday,Z3.5-Sides,ZSpecialties
Orzo is a wonderful, tiny pasta. This is the most requested side dish recipe I get from dinner guests–but watch your portion size. Enjoy!
Seafood Crepes
These crepes are very low carb and EASY to make. You can even make them ahead and store them in the refrigerator or freeze them. I made them at the same time I was working on my seafood and sauce for the stuffed crepes but if you’re not that coordinated in the kitchen, you can make the crepes first and just store them. You do have to keep a close eye on the crepes as they cook. Don’t get distracted. It’s much less stressful to make the crepes and then make the sauce. Both come together really fast so you’ll be out of the kitchen in a jiffy anyway.


















































