10
POWERHOUSE FLAVOR RECIPES FOR PHASE 2
Congratulations! If you are ready to move on to Phase 2, you must be close to reaching your goals. Take a picture of yourself for your vision board. Look over your notes on conquering your addictions and eliminating junk food from your daily menus. You have been following the Spice Diet way of eating for at least a month. Your taste buds must be thanking you. You must be getting accustomed to eating healthy, fresh food. A craving might pop up now and then—they never really disappear completely—but now you have plenty of ways to satisfy your cravings with smoothies, snacks, and desserts that feel very indulgent.
I hope you are ready for more adventures in knockout flavor! I am crazy about the foods of all nations and have included flavor profiles from many different cultures in my Phase 2 recipes. Having tried the Phase 1 recipes, you have embraced the big, bold flavors I love and have enjoyed the exotic and unconventional flavor combinations that comprise my signature style of cooking.
In Phase 2, your daily calorie count is bumped up. You can now add some starchy carbs to your diet, including whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and corn, to name a few welcome additions. These carbs can add another dimension to your diet, although you do have to stay mindful of portion control. If you are eating any grain or starch as a main course keep it to 1 cup for your serving. As a side dish, your portion should be ½ cup.
From an Almond “PB&J” Protein Smoothie to Candied Chickpeas, from Veggie Taquitos to South-of-the-Border Grilled Corn Soup, from Steve Harvey’s Favorite Lobster Mac and Cheese to Decadent Peanut Butter Cup “Ice Cream,” my Phase 2 recipes will continue to expand your palate with “foodgasmic” flavor.
Phase 2 is the way you should eat for the rest of your life. If you find yourself indulging too often and your weight starts to creep up, return to Phase 1—and of course keep using any of those recipes that you like during Phase 2! My rule of thumb is, if you gain five pounds or more, revisit the Phase 1 meal plans. You have put in a lot of effort to get where you are, and you don’t want those old eating habits to take a wrecking ball to your resolve. It’s a comfort to know that you can reset your diet anytime you want without having to give up delicious food.
You have probably developed a sense of how to put spices together with healthy ingredients. If you didn’t think of yourself as a cook before, I hope you are gaining confidence in the kitchen. I want you to enjoy making food that surpasses what you used to eat. Have fun with the Phase 2 recipes. Feel free to modify them to suit your tastes. The seventy-two Powerhouse Flavor Recipes in this book, plus the twenty-five spice blends that I will introduce to you in chapter 11, are a good foundation for preparing food that is as healthy as it is delicious.
PHASE 2 RECIPES
Breakfast
Savory Oatmeal Bowl (here)
“Granola” Oatmeal (here)
Lemon-Blueberry Pancakes with Sweet-and-Spicy Syrup (here)
Banana-Citrus Yogurt (here)
Green Drinks, Juices, and Smoothies
Almond “PB&J” Protein Smoothie (here)
Big Red Juice (here)
The Kale-leidoscope Green Drink (here)
Aloha Soda (here)
Lunch
Veggie Taquitos (here)
The Ultimate Tuna Salad (here)
Chicken Caesar Salad—Hold the Anchovies (here)
Salmon Quinoa Bowl (here)
Snacks and Appetizers
Caramelized Shallots and Spinach Dip (here)
Crispy Cauliflower Bites (here)
Candied Chickpeas (here)
Quick-Pickled Green Beans (here)
Bars
Chef Judson’s Citrus Protein Bar (here)
Soup
South-of-the-Border Grilled Corn Bisque (here)
Thai Shrimp Red Curry Soup (here)
One-Pot-Wonder Supreme Seafood Stew (here)
Dinner
Comfort Meat Loaf (here)
Honey-Lemon Baked Chicken (here)
Grandpa’s Vegetarian Chili (here)
New Orleans Pecan-Crusted Catfish (here)
Steve Harvey’s Favorite Cajun Lobster Mac and Cheese (here)
Salads and Sides
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes (here)
Asparagus Mélange (here)
Spiced Kale and Coconut Quinoa Stir-Fry (here)
Sweet Potato Crumble (here)