Garlic Mushrooms in Creamy Sauce - 2 points, Belated Music Friday

I found mushrooms on sale and felt that a creamy, peppery sauce was called for.

Garlic Mushrooms in Creamy Sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/8 cup white wine
1/4 cup low fat sour cream

1. Heat a medium pan over medium heat; spray with non-stick cooking spray or kitchen spritzer.
2. Saute garlic in pan for 1 min. Add mushrooms, continue cooking for 5 minutes.
3. Add spices and wine. Reduce heat to simmer; cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are done.
4. Stir in sour cream; rewarm.
5. Yields 4, 2 point servings

I served this over rice. The delicious, cheesy bread on the side was a store bought treat.

I finished the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne. It was an excellent book exploring the cultural differences between those in poverty, the middle class, and the wealthy. While I think it would be useful to anyone, it is especially outstanding for teachers. I feel that I understand my students much better than I did before.

I didn't get my Friday Music for you last night because I was out late at one of those girly parties where one eats snacks and buys things. So, even though it is Saturday, here is the song my Zen DJ has chosen for your Friday Music. We haven't had any English music for a few weeks, so the DJ must have decided to get back to Britain. This is one of my favorites (obviously, or it wouldn't be on my Zen) "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay.

Quick Mushrooms - 2 points

Here is another great recipe from 1000 Vegetarian Recipes. It was super fast, but very tasty. Instead of serving it on toast, I made some whole wheat sourdough muffins to accompany it.

Quick Mushrooms
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 lb white mushrooms, quartered
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a medium skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add the onions and saute until brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring, 4 minutes or until soft.
3. Sprinkle with salt.
4. Yields 4, 2 point servings

I just finished re-reading a favorite book: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, but Sherman Alexie. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Alexie speak at the Southern Festival of Books. He is every bit as funny and charming in person as he is in his wonderful books. This particular book is one of the most contentious in the academic world at the moment; it is being banned all over the country because of its - in my opinion - unflinching honesty.

What is a book that you have re-read?

Sauted Mushrooms - 1 point

Sauted Mushrooms
1 lb fresh mushrooms, washed, halved
1 oz red wine
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a small bowl, mix all ingredients except mushrooms.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Add mushrooms to skillet, pour sauce mix over mushrooms.
3. Once the sauce has heated through, cover the pan and reduce heat to low. Simmer 5-8 minutes, until parsley has wilted and mushrooms have darkened.
4. Yields 4, 1 point servings

Mushroom Pita Pizza - 4 points

Tomorrow there is a breakfast at work, which means that I need to make sure to carefully budget my points. I wanted a low point lunch to take with me, so I grabbed a low carb pita and made this little pizza for only 4 points.

Mushroom Pita Pizza
1 low carb pita
1 tbsp store bought marinara sauce
1 tbsp chopped onion
1/8 cup sliced mushrooms
1/8 cup reduced fat feta cheese

1. Spread pita with marinara sauce. Sprinkle onions and mushrooms over sauce; top with feta.
2. Bake in 350F oven for ten minutes.
3. Turn oven to broil. Cook pizza for additional 2 minutes, just to brown.
4. Yields 1, 4 point serving