Skinny Chicken Piccata

Serves 6

Prep Time 10 Mins                                                  Cook Time 40 mins

 Ingredients

• 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1/4 Cup seasoned flour ( season with salt & pepper)
• 2 tsp. olive oil & olive oil pam
• Zest and Juice of 2 lemons
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp. chopped garlic ( more or less to taste we LOVE garlic)
• 3 Tbsp. Capers
• 6 oz pasta ( I use whole wheat spaghetti but you could use anything on hand)
• 1 Tbsp. corn starch mixed with water
• 1 Tbsp. Butter
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cut chicken breast in half length wise to create 6 breasts
2. Pound chicken if needed to make them all the same thickness
3. Heat 1 tsp olive oil over med high heat
4. Dip chicken in flour shaking off any excess spay chicken with Pam
5. Cook chicken in batches making sure not to crowd pan ( Add 2nd tsp olive oil for 2nd batch of chicken) 3-4 mins per side
6. Transfer to wire rack and keep warm in oven
7. Make pasta according to directions once chicken is done and before starting sauce

To make Sauce

1. Remove pan from heat and add garlic allowing it to brown but making sure not to burn.
2. Add wine and scrap up brown bits on bottom on the pan, cook for 3-5 mins until the alcohol has cooked out (you should be able to smell it)
3. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil
4. Add zest and juice of the lemons
5. Stir in corn starch whisk until thickened
6. Once thickened add capers and parsley
7. Finish sauce with butter
8. Remove 1/2 cup of sauce from pan then add pasta to sauce and combine.

Plate pasta then top with chicken and reserved sauce.

Cast Iron Pizza

Serves 4

Prep Time 10 mins                                                  Cook Time 30-40min

Ingredients

• 1 package store bought pizza dough ( or you can ask your local pizza place if they sell dough) (Don’t use the Pillsbury refrigerated dough)
• Fresh mozzarella cheese shredded ( as much or as little as you like)
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• Peperoni (or any of your favorite toppings)
• Flour
• Corn Meal
• 2 Tsp Honey
• 1 tsp Crushed red pepper
• Olive Oil
• Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Hear oven to 500 degrees or as high as your oven goes mine only goes to 475.
2. Roll dough out so it will fit inside your cast iron skillet.
3. Dust skillet with flour and corn meal.
4. Heat pan on stove top on Med until hot
5. Form dough in skillet pushing it up the sides (watch your digits since an is hot)
6. Heat on stovetop until the dough starts to bubble.
7. Remove from heat and brush dough with olive oil.
8. Top with cheese and peperoni ( or other toppings) and place in oven.
9. Cook for 20-30 mins.
10. Remove from oven and top with Parm cheese.
11. Melt honey with a little hot water and add crushed pepper
12. Remove pizza from pan and brush crust with honey mixture.
13. Let cool slightly and slice and enjoy.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is a easy quick WW recipe perfect for those busy nights to have dinner ready when you get home. You can double it and use the pork in so many other ways. This is the same pork I use for the BBQ baked potatoes.

Serves 6                          Prep time 5 Mins                    Cook time 4-5 hours on high 6-8 on low

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Pork Loin
• 1 Onion chopped
• 3/4 Cup BBQ sauce
• Whole Wheat hamburger buns
• Fresh express coleslaw kit

Directions

• Put pork onion and BBQ sauce in crockpot. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 6-8 hours.
• Once pork is done shred with forks
• Make coleslaw according to directions. I add Salt pepper and poppy seeds to mine.
• Toast buns
• Top buns with pork and coleslaw and enjoy.

 

Crockpot Kings Ranch Soup

Nothing better than coming home on a rainy night after a long day at work and having a nice BIG pot of soup ready to go for dinner.

Serves 6-8

Prep Time 20 mins                                                                     Cook Time 6 hours

Ingredients:

• 4-5 chicken breasts (depending on size)
• 6 Tbsp. butter
• 1/2 Cup flour
• 6 Cups chicken broth ( I use low fat reduced sodium)
• 2 Garlic cloves minced
• 4 tsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can diced green chili’s
• 1 jalapeño
• 2 Cups reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• Toppings: fresh chopped tomato, avocado, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, tortilla chips.

Directions:

1. Place chicken in crockpot top with tomatoes, chili’s, & jalapeño.
2. Melt butter in large sauce pan once melted add garlic cook for 2 mins.
3. Add flour and whisk until light rue forms 2-3 mins.
4. Slowly mix in chicken broth and bring to a boil, once smooth and thickened remove from heat.
5. Add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt & pepper to taste.
6. Pour soup mixture over chicken and cook on low for 6 hours.
7. Shred chicken with forks either in crockpot or on a  cutting board.
8. Add cheese and cook on high for 30 mins to melt cheese.
9. Serve with any desired toppings, we like to enjoy it with a salad.

Baked Ziti

Serves 6-8

Prep Time 30 Mins                                                  Cook Time 30 Mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 Lb. extra lean ground turkey
• 1/4 Lb. or 2 Links hot Italian sausage
• 2 Cans diced tomatoes with garlic basil & olive oil
• 3/4 Box whole wheat penne pasta
• 1 package Spinach or Mixed Power greens
• 1 1/2 cups part skim mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1 jar pasta sauce

Directions

1. Brown Turkey meat and Sausage in large skillet sprayed with olive oil pam.
2. While meat is browning boil water for pasta and cook according to directions.
3. Once meat is browned add tomatoes and bring to a slight boil. (You can add more garlic here is you wish we LOVE garlic in our house)
4. Then add in greens ( you can really add any vegetables here mushrooms zucchini squash) I used to mixed power greens with chard, kale,  spinach.
5. Once greens are wilted add pasta sauce and bring to a boil.
6. Combine pasta and sauce in skillet
7. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese.
8. Cook covered at 400 degrees for 20 mins.
9. Remove from oven uncover and top with remaining cheese.
10. Cook for a additional 10 mins or until cheese is brown and bubbly.
11. Let sit for 5 mins then serve and enjoy.

BBQ Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

This is a replicate of a sweet potato I love from our favorite BBQ place Sauced. You can have it with a regular potato also if you don’t like sweet potatoes or mix it up for the family depending on who likes what . This is also a good meal when everyone isn’t eating at the same time you can keep the potatoes warm in a separate crockpot or at 200 in the oven. You can also change up the toppings to your liking.

 

Prep Time total 30-40 mins                                                                          Cook Time 6-8 hours total

Serves 6 (can sever more if needed) I had left over pork that I froze to use another time.

Ingredients

• 1 Lb. pork loin roast
• 1 Med onion chopped
• 1/2 Cup BBQ sauce
• Hot Sauce to taste
• 6 Small-Medium sweet potatoes
• 2 Cups sharp white cheddar cheese
• 2 Tbsp. Butter
• 3 Tbsp. Flour
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup beer
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 6 Slices center cut bacon
• 2 jalapeños thinly sliced
• 1 bunch green onions sliced
• 1 can baked beans  (I used Bush’s original but any kind would be good)

 

BBQ Pork

Place pork loin in crockpot top with onions, bbq sauce and hot sauce (if desired) cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Once done shred pork with forks and mix with BBQ sauce.

BBQ Pulled Pork

Sweet Potatoes
Clean potatoes wrap in foil and cook in oven at 400 for 45-60 mins or until soft.
Cheese Sauce
Melt butter in sauce pan, whisk in flour and cook 3-5 mins until light brown rue forms. Slowing stir milk into flour mixture in increments, once milk is incorporated add garlic powder, mustard, salt & pepper and  beer simmer for 3-5 mins. Add cheese in handful increments waiting until it melts before adding more. Simmer on low until thickened and smooth. If the sauce thickens up too much you can add more beer to thin it out.

Cheese Sauce

Toppings
Cook & Crumble bacon set aside. Cook Beans according to directions. Slice Jalapeños, Slice Green Onions
Assemble
Slice sweet potatoes down middle top with Beans, Pork, Cheese Sauce, Bacon, Jalapeños, & Green Onions.

Spinach Florentine pasta

This is a light and fresh pasta that we enjoy usually during the summer time when I can get good mixed cherry tomatoes from the farmers market. Can be made with chicken or scallops also.

 

Serves 4

Prep Time: 10 Mins                                         Cook Time 20 Mins

Ingredients

• 1 Lb. Peeled and Deveined Shrimp
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. diced garlic
• 2 cups spinach
• I pint cherry tomatoes (I like the mixed ones)
• 8 oz. Whole wheat linguini
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Boil water according to pasta directions. Cook as directed
2. Heat olive oil over med/high heat
3. Add garlic and cook for 30-60 secs making sure not to burn
4. Add Shrimp and cook until opaque
5. Add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 mins or until the begin to burst
6. Add spinach and cook until wiled.
7. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid and drain pasta
8. Add pasta to shrimp mixture and toss to combine.
9. Add pasta water slowly until past is coated ( you won’t need it all)
10. Toss with parmesan cheese and fresh cracked black pepper
11. Serve immediately and enjoy

Chicken & Prosciutto salad

Serves 3

Prep 5 mins                                                                                  Cook Time 20-25 Add to dictionary

Ingredients

• 2-3 Chicken breast depending on size 12oz total
• BBQ rub
• 6 slices Prosciutto
• Asiago cheese shaved.
• Croutons (I like to make my own recipe below but any will do)
• 2 Ears corn on the cob
• Spring Mix
• Dressing ( I like to make my own recipe below or any balsamic is good)

Directions

1. Rub chicken with seasoning
2. Grill chicken over med/low hear for 20 mins flipping 1/2 at though cooking
3. While chicken is cooking pan fry prosciutto and place on paper towels
4. Husk corn and grill for 10 mins turning while cooking
5. Assemble salad dress and enjoy.

Dressing- Combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cub red wine vinegar, juice of 2 lemons, 1 shallot minced, salt and pepper. Shake to combine.

Croutons– Any day or 3 old bread ( I like to get the seeded cheese sticks from my farmers market) cut into cubes. Lay on baking sheet in one even layer spray with olive oil and season with natures seasonings ( or any other on you have on hand this is always my go to) mix to cover all the croutons. Bake on low 250-275 degrees for 15 mins, then turn over the croutons and bake another 10 mins. Let sit for 30 mins store in a air tight container.

 

Balsamic Chicken Sandwiches

Serves 3 ( or how ever many you want)

Prep Time 10 Mins                                                                     Cook Time 20-25 Mins

Ingredients

• 3 5-6 oz. chicken breasts
• 3 ciabatta rolls
• 6 slices of  prosciutto (thinly sliced)
• Asiago cheese thinly sliced
• 1 Cup spring mix
• Balsamic vinegar to taste (do yourself a favor and use a good balsamic for this)

Directions

1. Wrap each chicken breast with 2 pieces of prosciutto
2. Grill chicken on BBQ or indoor Grill for 15-20 mins flipping half way through
3. Cut ciabatta rolls in half and place on grill
4. Place cheese on top of chicken and cook until melted.
5. Combine spring mix and balsamic in small bowl
6. Place 1 piece of chicken on bottom bun top with spring mix  then top with top bun.
7. Cut in half and enjoy.

 

Mexican Lasagna

Serves 6

Prep Time: 20 Mins                                         Cook Time 40 Mins

Ingredients

• 1 Lb. Extra lean ground turkey
• Non-Stick spray
• 1 onion chopped
• 1/2 Cup each green & red salsa
• 2 Tbsp. taco seasonings
• 1 Can black beans (low sodium)
• 1 Can corn (no salt added)
• 1 Can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 8 Corn tortillas
• 1 Cup low fat sharp cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• Taco toppings optional ( avocado, olives, sour cream, cilantro, etc.)

Directions

1. Spray skillet with non-stick spray and heat on high
2. Add onion and cook for 3-5 mins until tender
3. Add turkey meat top with taco seasoning and brown 8-10 mins
4. Add salsa and simmer for 2-3 mins
5. Add tomatoes beans and corn and warm trough
6. Place 1/2 of the tortillas on bottom of a casserole dish that’s been sprayed with pam (you may need to cut the tortillas to fit the dish)
7. Pour 1/2 of meat mixture on top of tortillas and top with half the cheese
8. Top with remaining tortillas and meat mixture ( don’t add cheese yet)
9. Cover and cook at 400 for 30 mins
10. Uncover and add remaining cheese cook for another 10 mins or until cheese is melted.
11. Top with any taco toppings if desired