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Salmon Casserole
With this recipe, I’ve included about 25% of the pasta that would be in most similar recipes. That’s a big secret. Just cut it back. You won’t miss it. This casserole focuses on the veggies, the protein and the sauce.
Creamy Tomato Shrimp Chowder
Talk about easy to make. This dish is done in a flash. If you’re like me, you’ll make a triple batch of the tomato base. You can freeze the portions.
Southern Tomato Pie
ZS-Holiday,Z3.5-Sides,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Appetizers,Z3.5-Vegetarian
Two things I love about living mid-South: fried green tomatoes, and tomato pie.
Strawberry “Almost Ice Cream”
Z2-Beverages,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Vegetarian,Z2-Desserts,ZSpecialties
Dieter Claire invented this recipe by modifying the fruit parfait recipe and adding extra frozen strawberries. She says, "it's as close to ice cream as you can get." We agree.
Beefy Pasta Casserole
ZS-Zola to Go,Z3.5-Entrees,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Beef
Pasta doesn’t have to be banned from ZLife. You just need to limit it and monitor how you use it. If you keep in mind that a FULL portion is a half cup cooked you’re on the right track. And just eat it on a special occasion.
Chicken Pot Pie Bake (for Turkey leftovers, too!)
ZS-Holiday,Z3-Poultry,ZSpecialties,ZS-Zola to Go,Z3-Entrees
The inside of this pie bake tastes just like Midwest comfort food. You won't even notice the potatoes are missing. It has just enough carrots to remind you how sweet they are. Same for the peas. The onion, celery and the mushrooms give it the depth of flavor you'll remember from childhood. The topping isn't your average pie crust. This one is low carb. So it's not like a biscuit either. I'm still trying to perfect low carb biscuits, so this is sort of a cross-breed.
Seared and Baked Pork Chops
This is an easy preparation with a homey vibe, when you want comfort food this is a sure bet.
Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip
ZSpecialties,Z3-Vegetarian,ZS-Holiday,Z3-Appetizers & Snacks
Talk about comfort food. This is the pure definition. Thankfully fat doesn’t make you fat so you can eat this at parties and not feel the guilt.
Roasted Butternut Squash, Egg and Cheese Casserole
This recipe is for all the vegetarians out there. Thank you dieter Nancy for this photo. For you non-vegetarians this makes a great side dish to go along with a grilled meat. We had this last night with grilled Andouille sausage and had a lovely meal.
Shrimp Cocktail Chowder
Talk about easy to make. This soup is done in a flash. If you’re like me you’ll make a triple batch. You can freeze the portions and just add shrimp bits when you go to serve it.
Caramelized Pears (ZReboot Version)
ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,ZSpecialties,Z3-Desserts
A no sugar variation of my caramelized pears recipe. Still very yummy!
Chicken Scallopini
ZS-Dieter Favorites,ZSpecialties,Z3-Poultry
A traditional Italian meal made the Plan Z way. My husband declared this one of his favorite meals of the year.
Beef Stroganoff
You can have your stroganoff and eat it too! Most stroganoff recipes are served over rice or a big pile of noodles. You don’t have to do that. You have other choices.
Chicken “Chimichangas”
ZSpecialties,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z3.5-Poultry
At first you’d think chimichangas would be high carb. The good news is they have low carb tortillas at the grocery store that taste the same as the traditional. Look for the low carb versions.
Pumpkin Mousse
ZS-Holiday,Z3-Desserts,ZSpecialties
Light and dreamy. If you like pumpkin you’ll love this smooth and easy dessert.
Breaking Thanksgiving Tradition
ZS-Holiday,Featured Posts,ZSpecialties
Everyone has their Thanksgiving traditions; especially when it comes to food. Do you ever think about breaking tradition and making something different?
Shrimp and Mushroom Casserole
This is elegant comfort food. It’s sort of like the American version of the French dish called Coquille St. Jacque.
Cabbage Rolls
We were really happy with the way it turned out and I think you could adjust the seasonings to your own taste if you want more garlic or more salt, etc.
Onion Chicken and Homemade Applesauce
"My mom wasn’t a cook which I think I’ve told you, so when she made pork chops she would put them in a dish, pour French onion soup (Campbell’s from a can) over them and serve it with applesauce.
Turkey Meatball, Sweet Potato, and Kale Soup
Z3-Poultry,Z3-Entrees,Z3-Soups & Stews
With the winter months peeking over our shoulder this hearty soup will shake off the chill while the leaves are still falling. ZTeam coach Grace made this at home and enjoyed it so much she wanted to share it with the Plan Z community!
Sloppy Joes
You could call this the “adult version” of Sloppy Joes. It does have some ZIP to it. Don’t be intimidated by the length of the ingredients list. The recipe is worth it. And you probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry.
Lobster Thermidor
Lobster thermidor is a classic dish. It’s decadent because of the cost of the lobster but it also has one of the dreamiest sauces you can possibly imagine.
Creole Soup (with or without protein)
This soup is super easy to make. If you are a fan of southern food this will hit the spot.
Easy Enchiladas
This dish comes together in a flash. If you are doing beef enchiladas, I recommend red sauce. If you are doing chicken, I recommend you go wild and use a green sauce.
French Crock Pot Rib Roast
ZSpecialties,Z2-Entrees,ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,Z2-Beef
Feels just like you are eating in the French countryside.
Chili Con Carne
Z2-Entrees,ZSpecialties,Z2-Beef,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Soup,ZS-Zola to Go
This is a meaty chili with some veggies tossed in for crunch factor. Makes a satisfying lunch.
Turkey Fricassee
ZS-Holiday,Z3-Entrees,Z3-Poultry,ZSpecialties
I love to take the leftover turkey and transform it into something different. French comfort food. BIG YUM.
Summer Veggie Casserole with Pepperoni
This dish is easy to put together. The spouse or the kids can help chop and it comes together fast. You can be doing other things while your dinner bakes in the oven. Makes great leftovers, too.
Caramelized Pears (ZReboot 3.5 Version)
ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,ZSpecialties,Z3.5-Desserts
Chris’s cousins sent us a HUGE box of fruit as his get well wish. There are only two of us, so in order to use the fruit I have had to get creative! Oh, my, these are yummy!
Butternut Squash Puree by Chef Josh
ZSpecialties,ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,Z3.5-Sides,ZS-Holiday,Z3.5-Vegetarian
Cooking does not have to be complicated. In this recipe Chef Josh shows us how to make a simple and delicious puree using butternut squash. Easy. Decadent. Delicious.
Famous Burger Meatloaf
ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Entrees,ZSpecialties,Z2-Beef
This is a “Whopper” of a meatloaf, designed to taste like the famous burger. I hope you enjoy.
Dieter Angela’s Ground Turkey “Meatzza” Crust
ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z3-Poultry,ZSpecialties,Z3-Pork
Angela says, "I love pizza, so I was looking for alternatives. I was disappointed to find cauliflower crust is not much lower in carbs than a traditional pizza crust. I came across that recipe for a meatzza crust and was pleasantly surprised. It satisfied my pizza craving, and I could have a slice of pizza without needing a fork! For those pizza cravings, here’s a recipe for a meatzza crust."
Roasted Fennel
ZS-5 Ingredients or Less,Z2-Vegetarian,ZSpecialties,Z2-Sides
Fennel has a distinct flavor, but when it's roasted, the flavor mellows. If you like fennel, this recipe is great, and it's very easy to make.
Taco Casserole
This is a throw it together FAST meal for any weeknight. It is not a spicy dish but you can if you wish, add hot sauce at the table for a little extra zing.
Hot Wing Dip
ZS-Holiday,Z3-Appetizers & Snacks,ZSpecialties,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z3-Poultry
Most folks think of chicken wings as being a guy thing and even a sport fan thing but anyone can love this dip! I served it as a breakfast buffet item and it was hands down the dish that got the most comments and compliments. I think it was because it was so unexpected. The comments came from men and women alike but I must admit the guys were the ones who went gaga over this.
Outlaw Chili Verde
Z2-Pork,ZS-Holiday,Z2-Soup,ZSpecialties
This award-winning chili recipe won best Verde Chili by the International Chili Society in 2018. "Texas Chuck," the creator of this awesome recipe, made this chili using Mild Bills Spices (in case you're trying to get his authentic flavor).
Beef and Vegetable Soup
Tastes very much like the traditional version but this one doesn’t include higher carbohydrate vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Still quite delightful, though. Brings back memories of grandma.
Cheeseburger Casserole
I found this recipe online. I didn’t have to do much to make it Zola. It tastes very much like a cheeseburger. The way to make it exciting though is to make sure you pile on the toppings that you like on your burger. You can feed the whole family with this and no one will miss the bun.
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Dieter Jessica made this meal on one of her first days of ZReduction. It was so delicious she wanted to share it with everyone.
Chili #4
ZS-Zola to Go,Z2-Soup,ZSpecialties,Z2-Entrees,Z2-Beef
I have designed several chili recipes for Plan Z. This is one of those that is very straightforward and simple. It doesn’t even have a lot of ingredients.
Apple Crisp
There’s something about the potential of smelling apples baking with cinnamon and nutmeg that conjures up fond memories of my mother in the kitchen.
Hot Brown Open-faced Sandwich
This is fast to make and is a wonderful comfort food addition to your recipes.
Zola Lasagna
What makes this Zola lasagna is a reasonable amount of pasta. Most lasagna recipes run at least 3 or 4 layers of noodles. This one has 2. And I promise, you won’t miss the other two layers.
Tomato Basil Soup
ZS-Dieter Favorites,ZS-Zola to Go,Z2-Soup,ZSpecialties
Tomato basil soup is very easy to make. It comes together in a flash. The addition of cooked chicken elevates it to a one bowl meal.
Frito Meatloaf
ZSpecialties,Z2-Entrees,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Beef
This meatloaf makes six servings. When you serve it, remember that your crunch item is already included, so no breadstick or crackers with this meal.
Creamy, Cheesy, Garlicky Shrimp
This dish tastes very much like Shrimp Scampi that you might order in an Italian restaurant. The addition of cheese takes it over the top in terms of BIG YUM.
Creole Meatloaf
Z2-Beef,ZS-Dieter Favorites,Z2-Entrees,ZSpecialties
This is a wonderfully moist meatloaf. It has a kick from the Cajun spices but not all that much and you can adjust according to taste. This transports well to work.
Italian Sausage Tart
This meal is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. With a side salad it makes a nice brunch offering too!

















































