The Virgin Diet (30 page)

DIRECTIONS

Sauté the greens in the olive oil, place on plate. Top with sliced tomatoes and then poached eggs.

WEEK 4: DAIRY CHALLENGE MEALS

COTTAGE CHEESE AND FRUIT

INGREDIENTS

1 cup low-fat, organic cottage cheese

½ cup chopped apple

1 tablespoon walnut pieces

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Crudités

2 or 3 tablespoons hummus

DIRECTIONS

Top the cottage cheese with apples, walnuts and cinnamon.

Serve with crudités and hummus.

BLACK BEAN SOUP

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cooked black bean soup

1 chopped green onion

2 ounces shredded, organic mozzarella

2 cups spinach

4 ounces sliced, roasted chicken

½ cup fresh, sliced mushrooms and julienned red peppers

Extra-virgin olive oil vinaigrette

DIRECTIONS

Top the soup with the onion and mozzarella and serve.

Toss the remaining ingredients to create a salad.

KEFIR SHAKE

Prepare a Virgin Diet Shake using 1 cup low-fat, plain, organic kefir instead of water or coconut milk.

GREEK-STYLE YOGURT

INGREDIENTS

6 ounces plain, organic, Greek-style yogurt

1 cup fresh, organic strawberries

2 tablespoons chopped almonds

1 cup chopped, raw cucumber, zucchini and red pepper

DIRECTIONS

Mix the fruit and nuts into the yogurt and serve with the raw vegetables.

FLANK STEAK*

This marinade is awesome on any red meat! Flank steak is very lean, which means it can be a bit tough, so be sure to marinate it for at least 24 hours to help tenderize and flavor it!

INGREDIENTS

16 ounces flank steak

½ cup wheat-free tamari

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon dry mustard

2 minced cloves garlic

Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Combine all the ingredients and marinate for 24 hours. Grill or broil until done to your liking. Slice across the grain into thin slices.

*This recipe is for those of you who are not soy-sensitive.

JJ’S TEQUILA TREAT

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces tequila

½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

¼ cup peeled, seeded, crushed cucumber

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice

1 tablespoon finely chopped basil

DIRECTIONS

You can serve it over ice or add sparkling mineral water to it.

Although I don’t usually believe in food-or drink-based rewards, I treat myself to one of these when I finish large projects, like writing this book!

These are the items that I keep on hand so I can assemble healthy, delicious Virgin Diet meals in minutes!

FOR YOUR FREEZER

	Frozen berries (Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are wonderful.)
	Frozen shrimp
	Frozen veggies (Have a wide variety and use them for sides, soups and stir-fry.)
	Grass-fed beef tenderloin
	King crab
	Organic chicken and turkey sausages
	Organic, free-range chicken and turkey breasts
	Pasture-fed pork tenderloin
	Wild fish (My favorites are sole, salmon, scallops and halibut (Alaskan).)

FOR YOUR FRIDGE

	Asparagus
	Broccoli
	Chia seeds
	Coconut milk
	Dijon mustard (gluten-free)
	Flax seed (Grind fresh before use.)
	Fresh, low-glycemic index (e.g., berries, apples)
	Fresh salsa
	Guacamole
	Hummus
	Iced green tea (Make fresh, no sugar added.)
	Lemons
	Limes
	Mushrooms