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Fettuccine Alfredo That Won't Kill You

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:30:12 PDT

Here, OnSugar blog Fresh Tart shows us how to cure that craving for fettuccine alfredo without the caloric setback.

My son is a big fettuccine alfredo fan. Restaurant versions are terrifyingly caloric, unnecessarily soaked in cups of cream and cheese, some even enriched with egg yolks. I've come up with a not-so-over-the-top version for him that I actually prefer. I use real cream, but not too much. A little goes a long way.

See what makes this dish health-conscious yet craveworthy when you keep reading.

Taste Test: Domino's Bread Bowl Pastas

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:00:53 PDT

The world of fast food is certainly quick paced, so the second Domino's begun advertising five flavors of pasta housed in a bread bowl, it seemed everybody was buzzing about it. When Party and I first got word of these monsters, we were simultaneously shocked (who came up with the concept?), appalled, and eager to try them. Yesterday turned out to be the Domino's day of reckoning - to find out how the bowls stood up to their shock value,

read more. It's hard to fathom why Domino's rolled out this concept of carbs inside more carbs, but the fact that competitor Pizza Hut has already racked up more than $500 million in sales of its Tuscani Pastas and lasagna, puts things more into perspective. However, as soon as we opened the delivery, we were faced with many unanswered questions: How many people was each bread bowl supposed to feed? Was the dish designed to be eaten like a pizza, or were we supposed to eat the pasta first, then the bowl? Pasta Primavera: This bread bowl was filled with pasta, baby spinach, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and a goopy, oily Alfredo sauce. While the sole vegetarian option was filled with vegetables, I questioned whether the dish contained any protein. Chicken Carbonara: Although this tasted somewhat like carbonara, it was covered with similar globs of white sauce. Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese: This was our least favorite. We love macaroni and cheese, but the flavors of the dish - bland, artificial nacho cheese, subpar penne, and a yeasty bread bowl - just did not seem to meld at all. Italian Sausage Marinara: If we had to choose a best of the tasting, it would have been the Italian Sausage Marinara, which was rather reminiscent of regular pizza delivery with breadsticks. But then again, why not just order pizza and breadsticks? Chicken Alfredo: All of the bowls were loaded with sodium (I drank water for hours afterward), but the Chicken Alfredo was swimming in a sauce that was over-the-top salty, to the point of being unpleasant to eat. Unsurprisingly, the Pasta Primavera, Chicken Carbonara, and Chicken Alfredo flavors - which possess the same mysterious creamy white sauce - all taste remarkably similar. The bread bowl itself, which tastes a lot like Domino's breadsticks, was satisfying, but overall, unless we were starving and had no other options, or were carbo loading for a marathon the next day, we wouldn't eat this again. Have you tried any of the Bread Bowl Pastas? If so, what was your assessment of them?

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken and Lemon-Broccoli Alfredo

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:45:14 PDT

When a recipe calls for a canned sauce make the sauce your own by adding fresh herbs, savory spices, or grated cheese.

In this dish a refrigerated container of light Alfredo sauce is jazzed up with lemon zest and several grinds of black pepper. Served over seared chicken breasts and sautéed vegetables, it makes for a delicious and crowd pleasing meal. Sound scrumptious? Wait until you check out the recipe:

Not Your Regular Nachos: Italian Nachos

partysugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:40:19 PDT

Let me just say that taking a gorgeous, appetizing picture of nachos is hard. The image certainly does not do these amazingly delicious Italian nachos justice. They were so good that I ate an insane amount all by myself. What exactly are Italian nachos? A creation I invented based on a little web research. I took elements from several recipes to make my own version.

First I fried pieces of tomato basil tortillas. Next I made an Alfredo sauce and heated up finely chopped Italian sausage. The chips were seasoned with salt and dried oregano before being topped with the sauce, sausage, and a heavy sprinkling of mozzarella cheese. The whole thing was topped with a tomato, sun-dried tomato, black olive, and pepperoncini salsa. The final result was to die for.

For more details on how I made them,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Low-Fat Fettuccine Alfredo

partysugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:11:39 PDT

I love everything about creamy, decadent pasta sauces. However, I know they're incredibly unhealthy. That's why I enjoy making lighter versions like this low-fat fettuccine Alfredo. The recipe calls for skim milk and tons of crunchy, green broccoli. A small amount of good quality parmesan cheese adds depth and flavor. To recreate this classic pasta dish in a more healthful manner,

Fast & Easy DInner: Chicken Alfredo Pesto Pasta

partysugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:43:33 PDT

Although I love both Alfredo and pesto sauce, I had never thought of combining the two! If you are stuck in a boring chicken and pasta rut, try this recipe for a pasta flavor fusion. Start with a quick and simple Alfredo sauce and mix in several tablespoons of pesto to create a dish that is full of depth. If you dislike red peppers, feel free to substitute fresh or sun dried tomatoes or steamed broccoli. To experiment with this recipe tonight,

Chicken Alfredo Pesto Pasta
From Kraft Foods
Image Source

8 oz. (1/2 of 16-oz. pkg.) angel hair pasta, uncooked
2 tsp. oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups milk
1/2 cup (1/2 of 8-oz) cream cheese
1 large red pepper, cut into strips or 1 1/2 cups roasted red pepper strips
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. pesto
1 tbsp lemon zest, optional
1/2 cup pitted dry cured olives, optional

Cook pasta as directed on package.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 7 min. or until cooked through.
Stir in milk and cream cheese spread; cook 3 min. or until cream cheese spread is completely melted and mixture is well blended.
Add peppers, Parmesan cheese and pesto; stir. If using the lemon zest and olives add to mixture as well. Cook 3 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Drain pasta. Add to cream cheese mixture; toss to coat.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Italian Food Break Down: Numbers to Know Before You Mangia!

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:00:00 PST

Who doesn't love a slice of cheese pizza, Lasagna or Anitpasto? And those Italian desserts like gelato or a cannoli - they're just so delicious, it's hard to hold back.

Each of these are based on a regular restaurant portion:

Antipasto Salad: 136 cals, 8g fat, 13g carbs
Bruschetta (1 piece with tomato and basil): 102 cals, 3g fat, 17g carbs
Chicken Cacciatore: 370 cals, 22g fat, 4g carbs
Capresse Salad: 154 cals, 11.8g fat, 4.2g carbs
Eggplant Parmigiana: 670 cals, 32g fat, 75g carbs
Fettuccine Alfredo: 780 cals, 55g fat, 53g carbs
Parmesan Garlic Bread: 259 cals, 13.4g fat, 29.2g carbs
Lasagna (meat): 400 cals, 17g fat, 36 cals
Lasagna (vegetable): 250 cals, 13g fat, 21g carbs
Manicotti (cheese and tomato): 230 cals, 14g fat, 18g carbs
Minestrone Soup: 260 cals, 6g fat, 28g carbs
Spinach and Mushroom Risotto: 219 cals, 5g fat, 37g carbs
Pizza (1 slice cheese): 222 cals, 5g fat, 35g carbs
Pizza (1 slice pepperoni): 249 cals, 7.5g fat, 35g carbs

Want to see the rest? Then

read more Ravioli: 300 cals, 12g fat, 30 carbs Spaghetti with tomato sauce: 540 cals, 13g fat, 105g carbs Spaghetti with meatsauce: 650 cals, 16g fat, 90g carbs Cheese Tortellini: 530 cals, 20g fat, 74g carbs Veal Parmigiana: 350 cals, 20g fat, 5g carbs Dessserts: Cannoli: 142 cals, 7.1g fat, 14.2g carbs Almond Biscotto: 110 cals, 2.5g fat, 21g carbs Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato: 241 cals, 16g fat, 24 carbs Raspberry Napoleon: 243 cals, 4g fat, 34g carbs Pasticiotti: 305 cals, 12.4g fat, 42.5g carbs Tiramisu: 310 cals, 15g fat, 39 carbs

Foodie Friday Link Time: Recipes For Seasonal Delights

Susi May — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:54:42 PST

This decadent-looking pumpkin pie is vegan - Lunch Box Bunch
Clever way to eat more veggies: make an edible acorn squash bowl - Vegetarian Times
Get cooking with cranberries! Six recipes to get you started - Blisstree
A healthier whole wheat, maple, bacon waffle, bring on the brunchin' - Health
A private affair: pumpkin cheesecake for one - Fitnessista
Taking a bit of the naughty out of pasta alfredo - Fit Bottomed Girls
Warm your body and soul with homemade chai - Mind Body Green

Tips For the Lactose Intolerant

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:27:31 PDT

How can a hot slice of ooey-gooey cheese pizza taste so good but make you feel so bad? If you're lactose intolerant, even one bite could have you racing to the bathroom. Here are some tips to help you deal with your dairy-filled world.

If your body can't tolerate any dairy products whatsoever, keep Lactaid pills with you at all times. Lactose intolerance is caused by a lactase deficiency, the enzyme needed to break down the lactose (milk sugar) in your food. If the lactose doesn't get broken down, it causes major bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Just pop a pill with your first bite of food containing dairy, and you're all set. If one pill doesn't offer the magic, take another.
A package of 60 Lactaid brand caplets costs around $15, so if you're going through three or more pills a day, this can be a big expense. Buy them in bulk and save some dough - Kirkland brand costs $16.50 for 180.
If you're not into popping Lactaid pills, avoiding dairy is your best bet, which means being a keen label reader. Look for words such as milk, milk powder, butter, buttermilk, cream, cheese, whey, curds, or milk solids. Hidden lactose can be found in baked goods, dressings, chips, instant soups, candies, pancake mixes, margarine, and even certain medications. If you think a food might have dairy in it, but you're not sure, don't take the chance.

Keep reading for more lactose intolerance tips.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:52:00 PDT

Salmon recipes for your Good Friday supper - Shape
Verde Potato Alfredo's got it all: basil, avocado, arugula, and more! - Lunch Box Bunch
How many hops does it take to burn the calories in a chocolate bunny? - DailySpark
Move over peanuts, walnut butter is the thing to try - Gluten-Free Girl
Quick, easy, and healthy brunch recipes; all perfect for Easter - Eating Well
Working with a nutritionist makes dieting make sense - Vitamin G