Cottage Cheese Pesto

Stumbled across this recipe and was delighted that it was sooooo good!!!!
Recipe Courtesy  Martha Shulman


Ingredients
2 plump garlic cloves, halved, green shoots removed
1/2 cup fresh basil or parsley leaves, or a combination
1 cup low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan


Directions
Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic. When the garlic is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

Add the basil and/or parsley, and process until finely chopped. Stop the machine, and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients, and process until smooth and creamy. Serve with pasta, or as a dip or spread.

If serving with pasta, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of the cottage cheese pesto per serving (in my home, that’s 3 ounces of dry pasta). Add a spoonful of the pasta cooking water to the cottage cheese mixture to dilute it before tossing with the pasta.

Yield: Makes 1 heaped cup (about 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons).
Advance preparation: This will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator. It will become more pungent, however, and the green will fade.

**My variation: Can substitute the basil/parsley for rosemary and it was yum too. I have used this recipe on pasta and as a dip with ritz crackers. For some extra umph, I added smoked salmon (you can find it in the refridgerated section in your grocery) into the food processor.

I used no sodium chicken stock instead of water when I made it for pasta....Don't dilute too much!

No food processor? Try the blender, just takes a little more time and effort.**

NY Times 

Cottage Cheese Nachos

Recipe courtesy me

Serves 1

Ingredients

1-2 TBSP fat free cottage cheese
1 lb of lean ground beef
1 pack of low sodium taco seasoning
1 can of your favorite beans
Your favorite tortilla chips
**Optional: your favorite cheese and salsa, OR 1 can of Rotel and 1 box of velveeta (extra naughty)**

Directions

Cook ground beef until no longer pink, add a packet of low sodium taco seasoning, and throw beans in for a few minutes before taking off the heat. Mix ingredients and enjoy :)
Top with desired toppings~
If using the rotel and velveeta, cut the velveeta into little chunks and microwave until gooey, then add the rotel. Be warned, velveeta can explode in the microwave if heated too long... ;)

**My favorites: I use low sodium black beans, and unsalted tortilla chips mixed with a few salted ones**

Fluffy Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Recipe from Wholefoodsmarket.com

Serves 4

In these moist and tender pancakes, the cottage cheese adds quality calcium and protein. Serve with a bit of butter and maple syrup or, for a special treat, top with fig spread.

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons canola oil
Canola oil cooking spray

Method

In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, cottage cheese, milk and oil. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and whisk until completely blended.

Spray a large skillet or griddle with cooking spray then heat over medium heat. Working in batches, form each pancake by spooning about 1/4 cup of the batter onto the skillet. Cook, flipping pancakes once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to plates and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 6.5oz/186g-wt.): 310 calories (120 from fat), 13g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 220mg cholesterol, 600mg sodium, 33g total carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 9g sugar), 17g protein

**My version: I use whole wheat flour, don't add sugar, and sometimes use unsweetened soy milk. Instead of syrup, I use fruit sweetened fruit preserves (no sugar added) or fresh or frozen berries with some plain yogurt** This recipe says it serves 4 but at my house it serves 2 LOL!

Pancake recipe