Gobi Masala w/grilled shrimp & raita

Gobi Masala,
Grilled Shrimp,
Raita
& Brown Rice

This serves about 2 people.
(2-3 carb servings per person; @ 9 WW points per person)

Stuff you need for the Gobi Masala:
2 cups of cauliflower, cut up
1 medium onion, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes, drained
2 T of cilantro
1 T of greek yogurt (plain, nonfat)
1 cup of lite coconut milk
Spice powder -- 1 tsp each of red chile powder, coriander powder, cumin powder; 1/2 tsp of tumeric
1 tsp of poppy seeds ground together with 1 T of cashews
2 garlic cloves ground together with 1 hot green chile & a small piece of ginger
salt
1 T olive oil
salt to taste

Stuff you need for the grilled shrimp:
1.5 pounds of peeled, de-veined shrimp
Spice mix -- 1 tsp each of coriander powder, cumin, red chile powder, garlic powder, salt-free seasoning
1 T olive oil
1 lime
black pepper

Stuff you need for the raita:
1 8-oz. container of Greek yogurt (plain, nonfat) less the T needed for Gobi Masala
tiny amount of small-diced onion
1/8 cup of small-diced red pepper
1/8 cup of small-diced cucumber
1 tsp crushed cumin
1 lime (same one as for shrimp)
salt to taste

Stuff you need for the brown rice:
1 cup of brown rice
2 cups of water
1/4 cup of lite coconut milk

What to do so it's all done at the same time:
1. stir brown rice & water together; bring to boil; simmer covered for 30 minutes
2. lay shrimp in a single layer on a large, edged, cookie sheet; combine shrimp spice mix, sprinkle over shrimp evenly; drizzle with olive oil; mix with your hands until well-coated; set aside
3. stir all raita ingredients together -- you'll want just a single squeeze of the lime (sliced in half) and a small sprinkle of salt; set aside
4. preheat broiler (high)
5. make the gobi masala:
a. heat oil in a pan, add the chopped onions & saute until golden brown
b. add ginger, garlic, green chile paste & saute; add tomatoes & saute for 2 minutes
c. add the gobi masala spice mix with a pinch of salt & cook until tomatoes begin to absorb the mixture
d. add the yogurt & saute until well-blended; then add the cauliflower and coat well in the masala; cook for 2 minutes
e. add the coconut milk and the poppy seed/cashew grind; mix well, cover & cook 5-6 minutes or until cauliflower is tender-crisp
6. once you cover the masala, check the rice (it should be done) & add the coconut milk, stir & re-cover
7. put the shrimp under the broiler -- they will only need to cook for about 5 minutes so make sure your rice & cauliflower are done before the shrimp go in!
8. remove shrimp from oven; turn off rice; sprinkle masala with cilantro -- turn off all burners & broiler
9. eat! 1/2 of the shrimp, masala & raita = 1.5 carb servings; 1/3 cup of brown rice = 1 carb serving

Recipe: Honey Chili Roasted Almonds

Honey Chile Roasted Almonds

2 C raw almonds

1/4 C brown sugar
Pinch salt

2 Tbs water
2 Tbs honey
1 Tbs almond oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground roasted chile (more or less depending on heat)
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375

1. Toast almonds lightly in a dry skillet until fragant; don't allow to brown
2. Combine brown sugar and salt in a prep dish, set aside
3. In a large saucepan, bring water, oil, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, & chile to a light boil; stir in almonds and cook until the liquid has been mostly absorbed by the nuts
4. Transfer almonds to a large mixing bowl, sprinkle with sugar/salt mixture to coat
5. Turn almonds out flat on a lined cookie sheet; finish in the oven for 6-7 minutes or until the coating is glossy
6. Allow nuts to cool completely on parchment or waxed paper

Tips:
1) depending on your oven and your preferences, you may want to go down to 350 for less carmelization;
2) the chile will not be terribly noticeable up front, but rather comes in at the very end in a kind of warm finish

Nutrition info (my best estimates)
Serving size: approximately 1/4 cup of nuts
Servings per recipe: 8-9
Total grams of carbohydrate per serving: about 8

About Carbohydrates
One serving of nuts is appoximately 1/4 C. Two of these equals roughly 16g of carbohydrate, or one carb "unit" in the carb counting world of diabetes. Other common foods that are one carb unit (and, yes, direct metabolic equivalents to two servings of these almonds): one slice of bread, two Oreo cookies, 4 oz of orange juice, 1/2 a standard package of plain M&Ms.