Sweet Taters

Not a home run but a triple…. It was very good but I need to fix a couple of things.  One too much salt, everyone else said it was fine and they didn’t taste it, but I did and it was too much maybe ½ Tsp. Next when you use apple Sauce for butter in the crumble you get a paste not crumble.  Next time I may use Brummel & Brown.  Outside of that you would never miss the extra sugar, or butter as for taste.  All in all I am calling it a success, just need to fix the topping so that is more aesthetically (Spelling?) pleasing.

Sweet Potato Souffle

Music and Food

OK so as you can tell cooking is my passion, one of my other passions is music.  So my question this week is what bands or songs do you like to listen too as you cook.  Please limit to three, and I will start.

Green Onions by Booker T and the MG’s

Wabash Cannonball by The Carter family

Car Jamming by The Clash

This Week it is Sweet Potato Soufflé

OK This week it is Sweet Potato Soufflé.  For those that don’t know this it is a sweet potato casserole with a sweet nut topping.  We have had this in our family at every major meal since I was like 5.  So unlike last week this is a true Southern Alternative.  Everything is ready just have to throw it together this evening.  Wish me luck, below is the Nutritional value of the original.

So Whats Next

OK time to start working on next week, so here are the three options vote for what you want...

Fried Green Tomatoes with Remoulade
Deviled Eggs
Sweet Potato Souffle`

SA Buffalo Chicken Dip

OK so apparently I can tweak Franks Red Hot’s Buffalo Chicken Dip because I have gotten nothing but good reviews.  I was a bit scared it would not turn out good but I even liked it and I am my worst critic.  So let’s talk tweaks.  So to start off, I did simple things such as lite cream cheese and fresh boneless skinless chicken breast.  I substituted the blue cheese with nonfat feta, and made a blue cheese dressing substitute with low fat Greek yogurt and blue cheese crumbles.  The biggest tweak I was surprised about was the hot sauce.  I changed the Franks red Hot out for Texas Pete and lost just a little over 5000 mg in sodium….  *shock*  So that  said let’s talk Pro’s and con’s.

Pro:

Reduced the Calories by 1/2

Reduced Fat by 2/3

Made it with fresh chicken breast

Added a little fiber

Cons:

The Texas Pete made it spicier (con for some yum for me)

So be low is the breakdown of the Mine vs. Original and the full recipe is here.

Letting the cream cheese soften and baking the chicken.  First time so I am nervous, but I have faith I can do this. I forgot the link to the original so here it is.

http://www.franksredhot.com/recipes/franks-redhot-buffalo-chicken-dip-RE1242

Frank's Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip

OK so my first attempt is an easy one, I plan to make a Frank's Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip alternative with just as much flavor and creaminess.  Think I can do it?

Here is what the original looks like as for Calories and Fat..

Ideas

OK give me some ideas of what to tweak, don't hold back the greasier and sweeter the better...  I mean Fried Chicken and Chocolate Cake.

In The Begining

Hello my name is Daryl Jiles and I am overweight.  I have lost weight and gained it many times, but after getting over a pretty rough issue called a Pulmonary Embolism I have finally decided I am done with the up and down.  I have done almost every diet despite the fact that diets don’t work you need to make a lifestyle change.  So how does a food loving cook change his lifestyle?  Well that is what Southern Alternative is all about.  I plan to use this blog for two things first to have accountability for my weight loss, and second to try and share my discoveries.  Over the next few well years hopefully I plan to take classic dishes, (Especially the southern dishes I grew up on) and make them leaner and healthier.  After all I love to eat why not make what I eat healthier.  Either way I would love some ideas from people on what to make and I plan to make segments if you will, such as trips to the market etc.  Wish me luck guys, not just for the blog, but mostly on my journey.