Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight did you lose?
Being healthy is one of my main priorities and this includes
losing weight. Between January 2003 and August 2006, I
have lost 110 pounds total. My latest goal is to lose
another 20 pounds by Christmas 2006.
How did you lose the weight?
30 pounds were shed via the Atkins Diet. The small-meals
diet, which closely monitors calorie intake, accounted
for the rest of my weight loss.
Some people may believe that being on the small-meals
diet requires sacrificing delicious cuisine, which is
false. It only meant that I had to become wiser about
what I put into my body. I still enjoy a variety of foods
including fish, brown rice, apples, and various JELL-O®
Brand Sugar Free Fat Free desserts.
Another plus to my nutritional journey is that it has
allowed me to flex my creative culinary muscle in the
kitchen. I've concocted healthier, homemade alternatives
to several local favorites, including Portuguese Sweet
Bread and Malasadas. And I would like to share my recipes
with you:
My Favorite Recipes
Portuguese Sweet Bread
(Note: This whole wheat, fat free, sugar free bread is
drier compared to regular Portuguese Sweet Bread)
Ingredients
- 11 cups whole wheat flour
- 5 cups SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener
- Egg substitute equaling 12 eggs
- 4 packages yeast
- ˝ pound Promise® Buttery Spread
- 2 cups Original 8th Continent® light soymilk
- 1 tablespoon salt substitute
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- Pam® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
Directions
- Preheat bread machine to 325 degrees F. Spray loaf
pan with cooking spray.
- Dissolve yeast in ľ cup hot water, 1 tablespoon
salt substitute, and 1 teaspoon SPLENDA® . Whisk together
and set aside to proof yeast.
- In a separate bowl, add Promise®, egg substitute,
lemon extract, and cream together. Beat well.
- Add dry ingredients and yeast mixture. Mix well
until dough begins to pull away from bowl. Place in
greased bowl and cover to let rise to double, which
should take approximately 1 to 3 hours.
- Place into greased pan and bake at 325 degrees F
for 45 minutes.
- Remove loaf from the bread machine and let it rest
for a few minutes before removing from the pan.
Malasadas
(Note: These whole wheat, fat free, sodium free malasadas
are drier and harder texture than regular ones)
Ingredients
Yeast Mix
- 4 packages yeast
- ˝ cup warm water
- 3 teaspoons SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener
- 2 teaspoons whole wheat flour
- 1 medium Irish potato, boiled & mashed
Butter Mix
- ˝ cup Promise® Buttery Spread
- 2 cups SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener
- 1 teaspoon salt substitute
Milk Mix
- Egg substitute equaling 8 eggs, beat until thick
- 3 cups Original 8th Continent® light soymilk
- 1 cup potato water
- 2 teaspoon lemon extract
Sugar Mix
- 9 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener
Directions
- Combine sugar and butter mixes with yeast mix. Stir
until well dissolved.
- In separate bowl, blend milk mix ingredients together.
- Slowly pour blended milk mix into sugar mix.
- Make the sign of the cross on top of dough.
- Dough should be sticky. Allow to rise in warm area.
Cover bowl with towel or blanket.
- Heat canola or olive oil in pot (or wok, if possible).
Dip tablespoon in oil and scoop some dough and drop
into oil. Cook and wait until dough turns over b
- Roll dough in SPLENDA® and cool on wire rack.
