With our BVI bareboat charter trip coming up, Scott and I have been trying to lose some weight. He recently watched a documentary about the infamous Keto Diet and decided we should try it. Since I love to cook, this would be an interesting change.
I don’t really miss the carbs, but it’s trying to find the replacement for them that can be difficult. We had decided a few weeks ago, to stay on the boat the first weekend of March because the weather looked great. Unfortunately, when the weekend arrived, the weather was CRAZY!
What do we prepare on a stormy night that is Keto friendly?
Normally I would bake some kind of pasta, but we needed something that was keto friendly. That’s when I decided to try and make zucchini lasagna. How hard can it be? Not hard at all.
How did it turn out? GREAT! The only issue is that zucchini is full water, so you really have to do your best to dry it out. Ours came out a bit watery, but it tasted amazing. Conclusion? Make it again, but let it sit for about 15 minutes to let it set up.
116 oz jarmarinara sauceWe use Mezzetta Homemade Italian Plum Tomato
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, slice the ends off of the zucchini. Holding the zucchini upright, slice thin pieces and lay on a paper towel. Lightly sprinkle salt on each piece.
While the zucchini is drying out, heat a skillet on medium high heat and add sausage, pork, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. After 5 minutes, add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook until browned. Remove from heat and drain any grease.
In a bowl, mix Parmesan, Mozzarella and Italian Seasoning. (in our video, I added them separately just to save a bowl)
Spray a 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray. Dab each zucchini slice with a paper towel to absorb any extra liquid. Begin layering the lasagna by placing zucchini slices on the bottom of the pan.
Add cooked meat, then sauce.
Layer with cheese.
Repeat layer. For the final top layer, arrange zucchini slices, top with sauce.
Top final layer with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Put a cookie under the pan, as it may over flow with liquid from the zucchini.
Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a side salad.
This chicken and orzo soup is amazing and perfect for a cold winter night. Now that winter has arrived, Scott and I plan on staying on the boat a few winter nights to see if we like it. There’s something romantic and cozy about bundling up on a cold night and making homemade soup.
Everyone loves homemade chicken soup, but it can also take a few hours to make (if you are making your own broth). The best part about this chicken orzo and kale soup, is that it’s not only tasty, but it takes just a few minutes to make. That makes for the perfect soup recipe on a boat, when you don’t have a lot of time or space.
One great thing about this chicken & orzo kale soup recipe, is that you can alter it however you wish. Don’t like kale? Use spinach. Don’t like orzo? Use cooked wild rice. The most important thing to remember, is to have your favorite blanket and a movie ready for after dinner. Enjoy!
In a Dutch oven or large stock pot heat oil and saute carrots for 2 minutes. Add celery and yellow onions and saute for 3-4 minutes until tender. Add bay leaf, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute.
Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add chicken, orzo, crushed red pepper and curly kale. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until orzo is tender. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty warm bread.
Cucumber & Tomato with Bruschetta – the perfect summer time appetizer!
Everyone loves tomato and basil bruschetta and recently I decided to mix things up a bit. The typical recipe includes red onion, which can be too overwhelming during a party. So for my last batch, I replaced it with an English Cucumber and it was the hit of the party!
I also used red wine vinegar, instead of balsamic to keep the flavors zippy and light. When entertaining, I serve the tomato mixture in bowl, next to the bruschetta. This allows guests to pile on as much as they want, or very little.
Most recipes for bruschetta have you baking the bread in the oven. I love to fry mine in a mixture of olive oil and butter. My father-in-law goes crazy for my bruschetta and it’s because it’s crunchy, yet soft. It does take a bit more time, but it’s worth it. When serving this on our boat, I make it ahead of time at home, as we don’t have the space to fry the bread.
This is a twist to the traditional Italian recipe for bruschetta. Adding cucumber gives it freshness, perfect for a hot summer day. I made this and the grilled bruschetta for my family last weekend and it was a huge hit!
In a small bowl, melt the butter and mix with the olive oil. Add red pepper flakes, garlic salt and ground pepper. Heat skillet to medium high heat – watch your heat as you go, as to not scorch your bread.
Using a basting brush, slather both sides of the bread with the olive oil mixture and fry until golden on both sides. Remove with tongs onto a plate with paper towels to absorb the excess oil. If not serving immediately, allow to cool and then cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
Cucumber & Tomato
In a medium bowl, mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Add cucumber, tomato and chopped fresh basil. Toss gently to mix. Serve within an hour.
Cod with Tomato, Basil & Garlic Sauce – A Hearty Meal
Scott and I try to eat fish at least twice a week and cod is one of Scott’s favorite types of fish. During the summer, we’ll buy fresh fish at Wild Salmon Seafood Market at Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle since we’re just five minutes away. This is one thing I am looking forward to about moving back to downtown Seattle (you can catch up on our latest blog here). When we are not at the boat, I try to find fresh wild cod from the grocery store, but it’s never quite the same.
Pacific cod is very dense and hearty, so you don’t need large portions. With this recipe, the flavor is all in the sauce. This is a perfect recipe for an elegant dinner party or for enjoying on your boat. It’s easy to make and delicious. It pairs great with herb noodles and asparagus, or you can pick your favorite sides too. Enjoy!
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Rinse cod and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and add cod. Cook on each side about 4 minutes, until golden brown. (Cod will not be cooked thru). Transfer to a plate and keep warm in the oven.
Heat remaining olive oil in same skillet on medium heat and add garlic, cooking until it is golden, about 2 minutes. Be sure to not scorch the garlic. Add basil, lemon juice, lemon zest and dry white wine. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 7 minutes until reduced by half. Add cherry tomatoes, sugar and crushed red pepper flakes.
Add cod back to the pan and cook on each side for about 3 minutes until cooked thru. Serve cod with tomato basil sauce on top.
Growing up, my mom always made homemade spaghetti sauce from scratch. That’s partly because we didn’t have jarred sauce when I was a kid. With the fast pace of the 1990’s & early 2000’s, it seemed as if everyone started buying jarred sauce due to its’ convenience. I certainly did. Now, many retailers including Safeway and Whole Foods have a huge variety of jarred sauces.
However, over time, I started to notice that most of the jarred sauces lacked true flavor and in fact, were packed with sugar. That’s when I started making my own sauce and freezing batches of it. Instead of using sugar, I use a stevia sweetener from Pyure Organics.
You can certainly make homemade spaghetti sauce on a boat, as you just need one pot. Give yourself a few hours though, because it is best after it’s been cooking all day. What’s great about this recipe, is you can tweak it anyway you want. If you want it spicy, add some crushed red pepper. Want more zip? Add some more vinegar. Less tangy? Add some sugar.
When I make my sauce, I try it every half hour or so, to ensure I’m getting the final flavor I am looking for. This is a hearty dish that will satisfy any hungry boater or crowd! Please share with us your favorite homemade sauces. Enjoy!
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven on medium high heat and add beef and sausage, breaking up the chunks. Brown meat all over.
Lower heat to medium. Add celery, carrots, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender, but do not caramelize. Add tomato paste and red wine and cook for about 2-4 minutes, until slightly reduced.
Add whole tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon to desired thickness & texture. Add vinegar and stevia & blend well. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Be sure to taste the sauce every half hour to ensure you get the flavor you want.
Serve with your favorite pasta noodles and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
This antipasto chicken salad recipe is perfect has a meal and it’s very easy to make. I make this recipe all year round, not just during the summer. You can add more meat to it for a heartier dish and serve it with warm crunchy bread for the perfect meal.
When Scott and I first bought our boat Kokomo, I didn’t think we would prepare that many meals on board. But once we fell in love with being at our marina, enjoying the views of DT Seattle, I love to eat on board. The biggest challenge I have is working in a small space with not a lot of counter space. With that said, I buy ingredients that are already cooked or prepared when I make meals on our boat.
In this recipe, I will either pre-make the chicken at home or buy cooked chicken from the deli at Safeway. You could also use a rotisserie chicken too. Enjoy!
This hearty salad is perfect for a hungry dinner crowd. Buy cooked chicken from the grocery store deli, add crunchy bread and you have dinner prepared!
Whisk the vinaigrette dressing ingredients until blended together. When ready to serve, toss salad ingredients with dressing (use as little or as much to your taste). Serve immediately with a warm baguette.
These tortellini pasta skewers are festive, easy to make and delicious! I buy tri-colored cheese tortellini, so they are not only festive but vegetarian. These are easy to prep on a boat for your next dock party and hearty enough for a dinner crowd. During the holidays, I want my appetizers to be festive and go with the theme. That’s easy to do with a vegetable platter.
I like to buy the Three Bridges Family Size Rainbow Tortellini. You can make these about two hours before serving and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
This weekend I am going to change up the recipe a bit and add a slice of salami, provolone cheese and an olive to the skewers. Anti-pasta salad on a stick! Yum. If you find other ways to make these, please share with us. Enjoy!
These tortellini pasta skewers are great appetizers. They are easy to make and can feed a crowd of hungry boaters or party guests. Using tri-color tortellini makes them festive for your next holiday party. Enjoy.
Cook pasta according to the package directions, approximately 4 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain pasta gently into a colander and return to pot.
Stir in pesto sauce and red pepper flakes. Thread a white tortellini first, follow with a sundried tomato, a green tortellini, a sundried tomato and a red tortellini. Place finished skewer on a platter and repeat with remaining pasta. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made two hours in advance.
When you are entertaining guests on your boat or at home, this Kalamata Olive Tapenade recipe is perfect!
These crostini with Kalamata olive tapenade are delicious and super easy to prepare. They are elegant enough for a cocktail party and hearty enough to feed your hungry boaters. You can make them in advance and they won’t get soggy!
I make these for family gatherings and other parties. If you don’t have time to make the tapenade yourself, simply buy pre-made tapenade and you are all set. The key to my crostini is that I fry them in olive oil and butter. My father in law likes to eat just the bread with no toppings.
You can prepare these about an hour before serving or if you make them earlier, simply refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving.
I fry my crostini in olive oil, but if you want to bake them that works too. Simply heat your oven at 400 degrees and place crostini on a baking sheet, sprinkled with olive oil and bake for about 5-7 minutes.
Mix olive oil with melted butter, garlic salt and red pepper flakes. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high. Using a pastry brush, coat each side of the baguette slices with olive oil mixture and place in pan. Fry on each side until golden, about two minutes each side. Be careful not to scorch them. Remove crostini onto a paper towel lined plate and continue with remaining bread.
Dice the Kalamata olives. Mix with garlic, oregano and olive oil. Set aside. Spread a spoonful of the mascarpone cheese on each crostini, top with tapenade and garnish with basil ribbons. Serve at room temperature.
Fresh cheese tortellini pasta can be found in the cheese section of your grocery store. While my Italian friends will only make fresh pasta from scratch, I find it much easier to just buy it freshly made. Our local Safeway and Whole Foods both have great selections of fresh pasta.
Pasta is one of the easiest things to prepare on a boat , since you really just need two pots. One for boiling pasta and the other for the sauce. When entertaining guests on a boat, the last thing you want to do is be spending time in the galley cooking all day. I would rather be sharing a glass of wine or a cocktail with my guests. What I love about this cheese tortellini pasta recipe is that it is super easy and hearty for the hungry sailors at dinner. I love to serve this over the Holidays as it is also festive in color.
Since this pasta is so rich, I love to pair it with a mild green salad.
Enjoy!
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Cheese Tortellini Pasta with Asparagus & MushroomsYum
This pasta is very rich and hearty. Serve it with your favorite salad and crusty bread and you have the perfect dinner!
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions, mushrooms, garlic and prociutto. Cook for about 5-8 minutes until prociutto is slightly crispy. Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
Cook pasta according to directions and be sure to not over cook or boil too hard. Reserve a 1/2 cup of pasta liquid.
Add whipping cream to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer for about 5 minutes until thickened slightly. Add asparagus and cook for another 3-5 minutes until tender. If you need to thicken the sauce more, add some of the reserved pasta liquid. Add pasta and shredded cheese to the cream mixture and blend well. Serve with crusty bread.
Italian vegetable noodle soup is one of my all time favorite soups. I’m one of the strange people who love soup all year round. Scott only likes it in cold weather and I was glad that the nights are finally getting cooler so I could make up a big pot of goodness.
Most soups require an all day simmer and lots of salt. Luckily, this soup is very easy and super flavorful. In fact, you can add your own favorite ingredients and it would be just as good. It’s also really easy to prepare on a boat, with only two pots.
This soup would also pair great with our Antipasto Chicken Salad recipe for a heartier meal.
Heat olive oil in a large stock pot and add onion, carrot and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes until tender. See my note below about my vegetable chopper.
Chop the European bacon and add to the pot. Again, you can find European bacon in the butcher section - it's a bit more smokey than regular bacon. If you can't find that, you can use pancetta or bacon, just make sure they are thick sliced. Cook bacon for about 5-7 minutes until slightly crispy. Season with salt and pepper.
Add diced tomatoes, thyme, summer savory, oregano and kale. I buy bags of chopped kale, but be sure to pick through the kale and remove any stems. Cook for about 3-5 minutes.
Add kidney beans and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 35 minutes. Add cooked ditalini pasta and simmer for 2 minutes. Top with shredded parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread.
Recipe Notes
As I have mentioned in most of my recipe blogs, I love our Onion Chopper Pro Vegetable Chopper, especially on our boat. No mess, easy cleanup and super easy to use!
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, especially on our boat. No mess, easy cleanup and super easy to use!