Tex Mex Meatloaf

Last night we tried the first recipe from Zone Meals in Seconds. I always love it when the first recipe I try from a new cookbook is a winner and this one was a MAJOR winner. Though this is Zone specific, Matt and I both agreed that we would eat it anytime. It’s your basic meatloaf, with a few interesting additions and served with a side of guacamole. Best of all, both kids loved it! Really, what’s not to like?

The full zone recipe has a side salad with romaine (we used baby greens), 1/4 C low fat cheddar per person, thinly sliced celery, shredded carrots and a 1/4 cucumber. Adding the salad makes it a full 4-block Zone meal if you’re interested. I added just a little salsa for dressing. I love me some salsa.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup  black beans
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder blend
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce (optional)
  • 1/3 cup non-instant rolled oats, uncooked
  • 15 ounces lean ground beef  (ground turkey works too)
  • 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 cup minced yellow or red bell pepper
  • 1 cup no-salt diced tomato with jalapeño
  • avocado

Directions

Mix and mash as you would any meatloaf. Place yummy mash in a 9×5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 60 to 75 minutes or until thermometer regisiters 160 for beef or 180 for poultry. Mash/chop avocado and season as desired for guacamole (we use chili powder and garlic salt). Serve slices of meatloaf with guacamole. Groan and say “oooh” a lot while eating.

We actually made this the night before and baked it about 15 minutes extra to compensate for the chillier meat temps.

 

 

 

Honey Chicken, Sweet Potato and Peach Kabobs

As I posted last week, I was intrigued by the recipe mentioned in the peaches round-up on theKitchnHoney-Glazed Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Peach Skewers. I picked it as my “must try” recipe for the week (I actually picked another too, couldn’t help myself). We tried this last night and it was a wild success! I will say that this is a bit too much work for me for most week nights. Matt cut and marinated the chicken at lunch and I came straight home and started the rest of the prep and let him pick up the kids. There were also quite a few dishes to do after the meal was over. But the results were worth it – adults and kids agree – and we would definitely do this again, but probably on a weekend.

Ingredients (serves 6)

  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 24 1 1/2 inch pieces
  • 3/4 C sherry vinegar
  • 1/3 C honey + 1 T
  • cumin
  • pumpkin pie seasoning
  • 4 T canola oil, divided
  • 2 med sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 24 1 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 large sweet onion, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces, layers separated
  • 3 lg peaches, pitted and cut into eighths
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

An hour or few before cooking, toss chicken with 2 T canola oil, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp cumin and some salt and pepper. Leave to marinate for a couple of hours.

When dinner time is approaching … Soak 12 twelve-inch skewers in water. Heat gas grill to medium. In a pot with a steamer basket, heat 1 inch of water to boiling. Steam sweet potatoes 10-12 minutes until soft, but not fully cooked.

Heat sherry vinegar in a small sauce pan over high heat. Boil, reducing volume by over half. Stir in honey, 1 T oil, and salt and pepper to your taste. Glaze should be thick enough to coat chicken, but thin enough to brush on easily. Thread skewers with chicken, onions, sweet potatoes and peaches. Reserve half of the glaze and brush kabobs with the remaining half.

Thoroughly oil the grates of the grill. Grill skewers 4-5 minutes covered until well- marked. Meanwhile toss pecans with remaining 1 T oil, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, salt and pepper. Place in foil “dish” and grill along side the chicken skewers, being careful to not burn these. Cook chicken until done and nuts until toasted.

Serve kabobs brushed with remaining glaze and sprinkled with pecans. Swoon.

Hula Pizza

The folks at my house are big pizza fans (I know it’s rare to find an American who isn’t). We’re completely happy with the garden variety mushroom and pepperoni variety (we frequently order it from down the block), but we also like something a bit different. We’ve put lots of different things on pizzas including buffalo chicken, shrimp scampi and various “Mexican” combinations. I don’t think we’ve had a loser yet. Surely this wasn’t it! This pizza, adapted from a Devin Alexander recipe I saw in the Biggest Loser Family cookbook, combines slightly disparate but always yummy ingredients into something really tasty and unexpected. It was a hit with the whole family. Matt and I ate it in its entirety.Tabby (who normally loves pineapple) ate all of the chicken and handed Ben her pineapple.  Ben picked off and ate all pineapple, including Tabby’s and then licked off all the cheese. #facepalm

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Continue reading “Hula Pizza”

Chicken Cheese Steaks

from: Adapted from Everyday Food

Ingredients
1 lb chicken
2 bell peppers, whatever color you like (I say red and orange – pretty and tasty!), cut into strips
1 large onion, cut into strips
2-6 garlic cloves, minced
6 oz of provolone cheese, shredded
olive oil
salz und pfeffer
sandwich rolls of your choice

Directions
Heat the broiler. Smack that chicken down flat with a mallet so it cooks evenly, then brush olive oil and salt and pepper both sides. Broil it, 5-7 minutes a side (you have to do both sides). It may still be a teeny bit pink in the center, but that is AOK. You’ll cook it a bit more later.

While the chicken is cooking, toss peppers, onions and garlic with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. When the chicken comes out, swap the peppers for the chicken and put them in the oven for 5-7 minutes. Cut up the chicken. When the peppers are starting to get done, add the chicken back in and cook for a minute or two. Then sprinkle with that cheese and cook a couple more minutes until it gets all melty.

Serve on rolls (toasted or un, your choice).

Chicken Gyros

from: Annie’s Eats

Ingredients
For the tzatziki sauce:
16 oz. plain yogurt (use greek to skip the straining time)
1/2 hothouse cucumber or 1 regular cucumber, peeled and seeded
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press (or finely minced)
1 tsp. white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Extra virgin olive oil

For the chicken:
4 cloves garlic, smashed
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 heaping tbsp. plain yogurt
1 tbsp. dried oregano
Salt and pepper
1 1/4 lbs. chicken pieces (I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts)

To assemble:
Pita bread
Fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
Red onion, sliced thin

Directions
To make the tzatziki sauce, strain the yogurt using cheesecloth over a bowl. Let strain for several hours or overnight, if possible, to remove as much moisture as possible. If you use Greek Yogurt, though, this step can pretty much be skipped as it is already drained.

Shred the cucumber. Wrap in a towel a squeeze to remove as much water as possible. Mix together the strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

To prepare the chicken, combine the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Whisk together until mixed well. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl and mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Cook the chicken as desired, either in the skillet or with the broiler. If you like your onions cooked a bit (I do), broil or cook them along with the chicken. Once the chicken is completely cooked through, transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes.

Assemble pitas, sauce, tomatoes and chicken together and ENJOY.

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

from: http://phemomenon.blogspot.com/

Ingredients
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 large limes)
2 teaspoons to 1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 large cloves of garlic, finely minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts), cooked and shredded
12 corn tortillas
2 cups of Mexican cheese blend, shredded (1 small bag usually is 2 cups)
1 14-oz can of green enchilada sauce (mild or medium, to your taste)
1/2 to 3/4 cup of heavy cream
nonstick cooking spray
1 Tablespoon of chopped cilantro, to garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the cooked and shredded chicken in a medium sized bowl. Set aside. In a small bowl, place the honey, lime juice, chili powder and minced garlic or garlic powder. Whisk together thoroughly to combine. Pour this mixture over the chicken and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to marinate while you prepare the tortillas, 30 minutes or up to 1 hour, in the refrigerator.

Heat a large griddle till a drop of water skitters across (about 350 degrees F). Spray the surface with non-stick cooking spray or a oil it with a little bit of canola oil in between each round of tortillas. Heat tortillas about 20 seconds on each side till warm and flexible and some golden brown spots have appeared. Remove the tortillas from the griddle and keep them between a couple of paper towels until ready to use.

Spray the sides and bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with cooking spray. In a medium bowl combine the enchilada sauce and the heavy cream. Spread about 1/2 cup of the mixture in the bottom of the oiled baking dish. Add a large spoonful (about 2 tablespoons) of the chicken mixture to the center of each tortilla in a line. Cover the chicken with a large tablespoon (or big pinch) of cheese, then roll the tortilla up from one side to make a rolled enchilada – it will be more of an over lap on the seam side that rolled tightly. Place the enchilada seam side down in the baking dish starting at one end with the long edge parallel to the longest side of the pan so that you end up with two columns of six enchiladas each.

Repeat with the remaining chicken, cheese and tortillas. You will use about 1 1/2 cups of the cheese for the filling and set the remainder aside for topping the enchiladas in the pan. Add the remaining marinade mixture to the enchilada sauce and cream mixture, if desired. Pour this mixture over the top of all the enchiladas. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake the enchiladas for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and starting to brown on top. Serve with sour cream, black beans, and rice or a green salad for a great meal.

Chicken Croquettes

from: Parenting

Ingredients
4 mini­whole-wheat pitas, split
1 cup chopped cooked chicken (such as Perdue)
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place split pitas on a baking sheet. Put chicken, carrot, corn, and barbecue sauce in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Spoon 2 tablespoons chicken mixture onto each pita. Sprinkle 1 Tbs of cheese on top of each, and bake until cheese is bubbly, about 8 minutes.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
238 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 523 mg sodium, 38 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tsp lemon juice
1 tbs white wine vinegar
2 tbs canola oil
1 tbs honey
1 tbs peeled, grated ginger
Salt and pepper to taste

4 small flounder fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each
4 cups snow peas (about 3/4 pound)
Lemon wedges

Directions
Whisk the first 7 ingredients (OJ through S&P) together to create the dressing.

Place each fish fillet on a large square of foil and turn of the edges of the foil. Top each fillet with 1 cup of snow peas and 2 tablespoons of dressing. Fold the foil around the fish to form a pouch, and crimp so it is sealed.

Put the foil pouches on a baking sheet and bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Service with rice and garnish with lemon.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
273 calories, 11 g fat, 118 mg sodium, 68 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
2 1/2 lb beef brisket
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package dried onion-soup mix
2 tsp dry mustard
3/4 cup water
12 baby carrots

Directions
Brown the brisket on all sides in a large skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with pepper. Place in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup mix, mustard, and water. Stir well. Pour over brisket. Add carrots to pot and stir. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours — meat will be soft and tender, almost falling apart.

Remove from cooker and let stand for 15 minutes before slicing thin. Serve on sandwich buns, with ketchup or mustard.

Nutritional Info (1/8 recipe(
237 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 385 mg sodium, 83 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Cooking spray
6 oz-package stuffing mix
4 cups broccoli florets
4 chicken cutlets (approximately 4 oz each)
1/2 cup jarred chicken gravy
Pepper

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spritz center of 4 sheets of foil with cooking spray. Prepare stuffing according to package directions, excluding butter. Place 1/4 stuffing in center of each foil sheet. Top with 1 cup broccoli and a chicken cutlet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons gravy over each cutlet; sprinkle with pepper.

Seal packages and place on foil-covered baking pan. Bake 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (to 170 degrees). Reheat remaining gravy and serve on the side.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
318 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 880 mg sodium, 66 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1 cup rice
2 Tbs butter
½ small onion, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
10-oz package frozen peas
Pinch salt
¼ cup chicken broth or prepared bouillon
30 basil leaves (about 1 cup loosely packed)
cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Prepare rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until quite soft but not brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the peas and a pinch of salt, stir thoroughly with the garlic and onion mixture, then add the chicken broth. Cover pan and bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes (not more, or the peas will be overdone).

Remove from heat and transfer contents to the bowl of a food processor. Add the basil leaves. Process for about 15 seconds, until the peas are beginning to be mashed and the basil is chopped but there are still many whole pieces of pea in the mixture. Combine thoroughly with the cooked rice and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

from: Weight Watchers Shortcuts Cookbook

Ingredients
1/2 C plain fat-free Greek-style yogurt
1 T lemon juice
1 T chopped fresh mint
12 oz packaged fully-cooked turkey meatballs
4 6-inch multi-grain pitas
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

Directions
Combine yogurt, lemon juice & mint in a bowl and set aside. Spray large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium. Add meatballs and cook, covered, turning frequently until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Cut a pocket in each pita. Fill with 3 meatballs, tomatoes, cucumber and about 3 T of the yogurt sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info (1 pocket(
353 cals, 9 g fat, 787 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 26 g protein, 144 mg calcium

from: adapted from Rachael Ray's Recipe

Ingredients
grilled or roasted chicken breast, cut into small chunks or strips
buffalo sauce (we like Frank's best)
scallions
monterey jack cheese
bleu cheese crumbles
finely chopped scallions
pizza crust of your choice

Directions
Toss the chicken in the sauce and assemble the pizza as you would any pizza. This seems to work paticularly well if you put the jack cheese on last since it contains the bleu cheese crumbles.

Bake it up … and enjoy (possibly with celery and carrot sticks and a beer?)!

from:

Ingredients
1 pound uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)
1 small onion(s), chopped
14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes, with chiles, drained, reserve 1 Tbsp of liquid
1 cup canned yellow corn, drained, or frozen, thawed corn kernels
10 items olive(s), Kalamata, sliced
2 Tbsp canned jalapeno peppers, pickled, chopped (optional)
3/4 tsp table salt, divided
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup polenta, quick-cooking
3 cup canned chicken broth
1/3 cup salsa
1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican-style cheese
2 Tbsp cilantro, or scallion, fresh, chopped (optional)

Directions
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef and onion, stirring frequently, until meat is fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes; drain off any liquid. Stir in tomatoes and reserved liquid, corn, olives, jalapenos (if using), 1/4 teaspoon of salt, cumin and pepper; simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Meanwhile, in a small pot, combine cornmeal, broth and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt; stir well. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until cornmeal is thick, about 5 minutes.

Spoon polenta onto a large serving plate and top with beef mixture. Top with salsa, cheese and cilantro (or scallion). Divide into 6 portions and serve.

from:

Ingredients
3/4 pound dry lasagna noodles
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 large Spanish onion, peeled, cut in half and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 Tbsp rosemary, fresh, chopped
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup Coca-Cola Diet Coke, or other brand
1 sprays cooking spray
6 medium portobello mushroom(s), stems removed, caps cut in half and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 tsp table salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cup fat-free skim milk
3 medium garlic clove(s), chopped
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, fresh, divided (Parmigiano Reggianno recommended)

Directions
Place a large pot of water over high heat; bring to a boil. Add noodles; boil for 10 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Drain noodles and briefly rinse under cool water to prevent sticking; set aside.

Place a very large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and onions; cook, without stirring for 3 minutes, and then continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for another 7 minutes. Add rosemary and water; scrape up any food from bottom of pan using a wooden spoon. Cook until water evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add soda and cook until onions are nicely browned and soft, about 3 to 4 minutes; remove to a large bowl and set aside.

Coat same skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, without stirring, until they start to brown, about 2 to 3 minutes; sprinkle with salt and stir. Continue to cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and mushrooms are browned, about 3 to 4 minutes; add to onion bowl. (If mushrooms are too cramped in skillet, either use 2 skillets or cook them in 2 batches.)

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

To make sauce, place same skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and butter; allow butter to melt. Add flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until combined, about 1 minute. Add milk, a little at a time, stirring to prevent lumps; bring to a boil. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring continuously, until thick, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add nutmeg and 2 tablespoons of cheese; stir to combine and set aside.

To assemble lasagna, spread 1/3 cup of sauce over bottom of a 9- X 11-inch lasagna pan or baking dish. Place 3 noodles over sauce in a single layer; spread with 1/3 cup of sauce and about 1 1/2 cups of onion-mushroom mixture. Top with 1/4 cup of sauce and then 3 more noodles; spread with 1/3 cup of sauce and about 1 1/2 cups of onion-mushroom mixture. Top with 1/4 cup of sauce and then 3 more noodles; spread with 1/3 cup of sauce and about 1 1/2 cups of onion-mushroom mixture. Top with 1/4 cup of sauce and then top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes; change oven temperature to broil. Broil until top of lasagna is crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 to15 minutes.

from: Giada De Laurentis

Ingredients
1/2 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
28 large (2 1/2-inch-diameter) white mushrooms, stemmed

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Stir the bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano, garlic, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium bowl to blend.

Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up. Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Serve.

from: Vastness of the Internet

Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9×13 inch pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick

from: Vastness of the Internet

Ingredients
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions
Melt chocolate and the butter together. Let cool and blend in the sour cream, vanilla, and salt. Gradually add the confectioner's sugar until the frosting is of spreading consistency, beat well.

from:

Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion(s), thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potato(es), thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

from: adapted from Parenting.com

Ingredients
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 cup salsa
1 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup lowfat cheese
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1 cup dry instant rice
1 1/2 C water
pepper
lettuce & tomato to serve

Directions
In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up the chunks. Drain off any fat. Add taco seasoning mix, water, salsa, and corn; cook, uncovered, stirring until mixture boils.

Stir in rice and pepper; cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 6 minutes.

Fluff rice-and-beef mixture with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese, cover, and let stand for 2 minutes, or until cheese melts. Uncover and serve with lettuce and tomato.

from: Parenting.com

Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 large eggs
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 cups large chunks of rotisserie chicken breast
1 small onion, in chunks
Salt and black pepper
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
3/4 cup shredded cheddar

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees farenheit. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Put bread crumbs in pie plate.

Pulse chicken, onion, salt, and pepper in food processor until finely chopped. Add to eggs, and stir to combine. Mix spinach and cheddar into remaining half. Form 4 logs, roll in crumbs; place on second sheet.

Bake croquettes for 22 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown, turning halfway through.

Nutritional Info (1 croquette(
205 calories, 11 g fat (5.5 g saturated), 5 g fiber

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

from: Parenting

Ingredients
4 mini­whole-wheat pitas, split
1 cup chopped cooked chicken (such as Perdue)
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place split pitas on a baking sheet. Put chicken, carrot, corn, and barbecue sauce in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Spoon 2 tablespoons chicken mixture onto each pita. Sprinkle 1 Tbs of cheese on top of each, and bake until cheese is bubbly, about 8 minutes.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
238 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 523 mg sodium, 38 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tsp lemon juice
1 tbs white wine vinegar
2 tbs canola oil
1 tbs honey
1 tbs peeled, grated ginger
Salt and pepper to taste

4 small flounder fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each
4 cups snow peas (about 3/4 pound)
Lemon wedges

Directions
Whisk the first 7 ingredients (OJ through S&P) together to create the dressing.

Place each fish fillet on a large square of foil and turn of the edges of the foil. Top each fillet with 1 cup of snow peas and 2 tablespoons of dressing. Fold the foil around the fish to form a pouch, and crimp so it is sealed.

Put the foil pouches on a baking sheet and bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Service with rice and garnish with lemon.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
273 calories, 11 g fat, 118 mg sodium, 68 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
2 1/2 lb beef brisket
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package dried onion-soup mix
2 tsp dry mustard
3/4 cup water
12 baby carrots

Directions
Brown the brisket on all sides in a large skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with pepper. Place in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup mix, mustard, and water. Stir well. Pour over brisket. Add carrots to pot and stir. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours — meat will be soft and tender, almost falling apart.

Remove from cooker and let stand for 15 minutes before slicing thin. Serve on sandwich buns, with ketchup or mustard.

Nutritional Info (1/8 recipe(
237 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 385 mg sodium, 83 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Cooking spray
6 oz-package stuffing mix
4 cups broccoli florets
4 chicken cutlets (approximately 4 oz each)
1/2 cup jarred chicken gravy
Pepper

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spritz center of 4 sheets of foil with cooking spray. Prepare stuffing according to package directions, excluding butter. Place 1/4 stuffing in center of each foil sheet. Top with 1 cup broccoli and a chicken cutlet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons gravy over each cutlet; sprinkle with pepper.

Seal packages and place on foil-covered baking pan. Bake 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (to 170 degrees). Reheat remaining gravy and serve on the side.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
318 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 880 mg sodium, 66 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1 cup rice
2 Tbs butter
½ small onion, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
10-oz package frozen peas
Pinch salt
¼ cup chicken broth or prepared bouillon
30 basil leaves (about 1 cup loosely packed)
cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Prepare rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until quite soft but not brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the peas and a pinch of salt, stir thoroughly with the garlic and onion mixture, then add the chicken broth. Cover pan and bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes (not more, or the peas will be overdone).

Remove from heat and transfer contents to the bowl of a food processor. Add the basil leaves. Process for about 15 seconds, until the peas are beginning to be mashed and the basil is chopped but there are still many whole pieces of pea in the mixture. Combine thoroughly with the cooked rice and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

from: Weight Watchers Shortcuts Cookbook

Ingredients
1/2 C plain fat-free Greek-style yogurt
1 T lemon juice
1 T chopped fresh mint
12 oz packaged fully-cooked turkey meatballs
4 6-inch multi-grain pitas
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

Directions
Combine yogurt, lemon juice & mint in a bowl and set aside. Spray large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium. Add meatballs and cook, covered, turning frequently until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Cut a pocket in each pita. Fill with 3 meatballs, tomatoes, cucumber and about 3 T of the yogurt sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info (1 pocket(
353 cals, 9 g fat, 787 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 26 g protein, 144 mg calcium

from: adapted from Rachael Ray's Recipe

Ingredients
grilled or roasted chicken breast, cut into small chunks or strips
buffalo sauce (we like Frank's best)
scallions
monterey jack cheese
bleu cheese crumbles
finely chopped scallions
pizza crust of your choice

Directions
Toss the chicken in the sauce and assemble the pizza as you would any pizza. This seems to work paticularly well if you put the jack cheese on last since it contains the bleu cheese crumbles.

Bake it up … and enjoy (possibly with celery and carrot sticks and a beer?)!

Mediterranean Meatball Pockets

from: Parenting

Ingredients
4 mini­whole-wheat pitas, split
1 cup chopped cooked chicken (such as Perdue)
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place split pitas on a baking sheet. Put chicken, carrot, corn, and barbecue sauce in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Spoon 2 tablespoons chicken mixture onto each pita. Sprinkle 1 Tbs of cheese on top of each, and bake until cheese is bubbly, about 8 minutes.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
238 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 523 mg sodium, 38 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tsp lemon juice
1 tbs white wine vinegar
2 tbs canola oil
1 tbs honey
1 tbs peeled, grated ginger
Salt and pepper to taste

4 small flounder fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each
4 cups snow peas (about 3/4 pound)
Lemon wedges

Directions
Whisk the first 7 ingredients (OJ through S&P) together to create the dressing.

Place each fish fillet on a large square of foil and turn of the edges of the foil. Top each fillet with 1 cup of snow peas and 2 tablespoons of dressing. Fold the foil around the fish to form a pouch, and crimp so it is sealed.

Put the foil pouches on a baking sheet and bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Service with rice and garnish with lemon.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
273 calories, 11 g fat, 118 mg sodium, 68 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
2 1/2 lb beef brisket
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package dried onion-soup mix
2 tsp dry mustard
3/4 cup water
12 baby carrots

Directions
Brown the brisket on all sides in a large skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with pepper. Place in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup mix, mustard, and water. Stir well. Pour over brisket. Add carrots to pot and stir. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours — meat will be soft and tender, almost falling apart.

Remove from cooker and let stand for 15 minutes before slicing thin. Serve on sandwich buns, with ketchup or mustard.

Nutritional Info (1/8 recipe(
237 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 385 mg sodium, 83 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Cooking spray
6 oz-package stuffing mix
4 cups broccoli florets
4 chicken cutlets (approximately 4 oz each)
1/2 cup jarred chicken gravy
Pepper

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spritz center of 4 sheets of foil with cooking spray. Prepare stuffing according to package directions, excluding butter. Place 1/4 stuffing in center of each foil sheet. Top with 1 cup broccoli and a chicken cutlet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons gravy over each cutlet; sprinkle with pepper.

Seal packages and place on foil-covered baking pan. Bake 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (to 170 degrees). Reheat remaining gravy and serve on the side.

Nutritional Info (1 packet(
318 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 880 mg sodium, 66 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1 cup rice
2 Tbs butter
½ small onion, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
10-oz package frozen peas
Pinch salt
¼ cup chicken broth or prepared bouillon
30 basil leaves (about 1 cup loosely packed)
cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Prepare rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until quite soft but not brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the peas and a pinch of salt, stir thoroughly with the garlic and onion mixture, then add the chicken broth. Cover pan and bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes (not more, or the peas will be overdone).

Remove from heat and transfer contents to the bowl of a food processor. Add the basil leaves. Process for about 15 seconds, until the peas are beginning to be mashed and the basil is chopped but there are still many whole pieces of pea in the mixture. Combine thoroughly with the cooked rice and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

from: Weight Watchers Shortcuts Cookbook

Ingredients
1/2 C plain fat-free Greek-style yogurt
1 T lemon juice
1 T chopped fresh mint
12 oz packaged fully-cooked turkey meatballs
4 6-inch multi-grain pitas
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

Directions
Combine yogurt, lemon juice & mint in a bowl and set aside. Spray large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium. Add meatballs and cook, covered, turning frequently until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Cut a pocket in each pita. Fill with 3 meatballs, tomatoes, cucumber and about 3 T of the yogurt sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info (1 pocket(
353 cals, 9 g fat, 787 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 26 g protein, 144 mg calcium

Chicken Pie with Cornmeal Crust

from: Matt & Jess original

Ingredients
1/2 C refried beans or black beans
1/4 C cooked ground beef (seasoned as you or your baby likes it)
2 T cheddar cheese

Directions
If using black beans, mash them with a fork. Then combine beans, beef and cheese together.

from: 171

Ingredients
2 C ricotta cheese
3 T greated parmesan cheese
1 scant cup all purpose flour
salt
pesto, butter and more parmesan to serve

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Mix the ricotta, flour, parmesan and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. With lightly floured hands, roll the dough into thin sausages (5/8 inch thick is recommended). Cut into little dumplings about 3/4 inch long.

Drop them into the boiling water and cook for about 45 seconds (they will rise to the surface). Remove with a slotted spoon and serve immediately with pesto (sun dried tomato is very good), butter and parmesan.

from:

Ingredients
buffalo mozzarella
good tomatoes
romaine lettuce
balsalmic vinegarette dressing

Directions
Cut up the mozarella, tomatoes and romaine into good bite-sized pieces. Toss together with the balsalmic vinegarette dressing.

from: Everyday Food

Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for the cups
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
4 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for the cups
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for the cups 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions
Heat oven to 375° F. Generously butter, flour, and sugar eight 6-ounce ovenproof coffee cups, mugs, or ramekins. Wipe the rims clean.

Place the butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Set it over a pan of simmering water, and heat, stirring once or twice, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes.

With an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the eggs, egg yolk, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup of the sugar until the volume doubles and the mixture becomes foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir the flour into the chocolate mixture, mixing until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, mixing until incorporated. FIll each cup about 1/2 inch from the rim. Bake until the cakes puff and begin to crack on the surface but are still a bit runny in the center, 13 to 17 minutes, depending on the size of the cups. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with the marshmallows and return to oven until the marshmallow begins to crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool for about 5 minutes. Sift the cocoa over the top.

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup whole-grain cereal flakes (like Wheaties or Total)
1/4 cup wheat germ, unsweetened
2 Tbs grated parmesan
6-oz package macaroni and cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup White Puree
1/2 to 1/2 cup Orange Puree
2 Tbs butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat casserole dish with cooking spray. Put cereal in zip-close bag and crush to coarse crumbs. Pour crumbs in a bowl and mix in wheat germ and parmesan.

2. Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions, adding White Puree, Orange Puree, or both (use no more than 1/2 cup puree total per 6-oz box of macaroni and cheese). Transfer to casserole dish, sprinkle with crunchy topping, and dot with butter. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until topping is golden.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
313 calories, 18 g fat (10 g saturated), 418 mg sodium, 45 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
1 yam, peeled and cut in chunks
3 carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
2 Tbs water

Directions
In a pot, cover yam and carrots with cold water. Boil 25 minutes, or until very tender.

Drain and puree in food processor with water until completely smooth (no telltale chunks!), 1 minute. If necessary, add up to 1 tablespoon water to make puree smoother.

from: Parenting

Ingredients
One 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 Tbs water

Directions
Pulse cannellini beans and water in a food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Puree should be the consistency of peanut butter. If necessary, add additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until there are no bean flecks visible.

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Two 10-oz packages frozen spinach
1 1/2 cups blueberries (if frozen, puree)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 Tbs water

Directions
Put spinach in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 6 to 7 minutes. Drain.

Puree spinach, blueberries, lemon juice, and water in a food processor until smooth, 1 minute. If necessary, add 1 tablespoon water to make puree smoother.

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Cooking spray
4 eggs
2/3 cup flour
Two 10-oz packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
24-oz container low-fat cottage cheese
3 cups grated reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Salt, to taste

Directions
Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with flour until smooth.

Add remaining ingredients and stir well to blend. Spoon into prepared dish, cover, and refrigerate.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 75 minutes.

Nutritional Info (1/8 recipe(
273 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated), 818 mg sodium, 140 mg cholesterol

from: Parenting

Ingredients
12-oz package frozen cooked winter squash
1 Tbs olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion (1 small onion)
1 Tbs flour
1 tsp salt, or to taste
3/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 1/2 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth

Directions
Thaw the squash in the microwave for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the onion, flour, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half and the milk. Add the broth and cook 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Add squash to the milk mixture and cook for about 2 minutes or until the squash is very soft.

Pour the soup carefully into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Serve hot.

Nutritional Info (1/6 recipe(
106 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated), 564 mg sodium, 12 mg sodium

from: Parenting

Ingredients
Filling
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2 pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 carrots, thinly sliced crosswise
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped, about 3/4 cup
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup low-fat milk
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Crust
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons peanut or olive oil

Directions
Heat broth and chicken in a large saucepan until boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove chicken to a 2-quart casserole dish and set aside. Add carrots to hot broth and simmer about 5 minutes, until fork-tender, then remove and add to the cooked chicken. Reserve the broth and set aside.

In another medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the reserved broth. Return to heat and cook, stirring until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat; blend in milk and salt, then pour sauce over chicken and carrots. Mix in the peas and parsley, and set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and baking powder. Using a fork, blend in the milk, egg, and oil. Pour over the chicken filling and spread to edges of dish with a spatula. Bake 45 to 50 minutes if 1 large pie (40 minutes if in 2 smaller casseroles, 35 minutes if 9 individual ones), or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly

Nutritional Info (1/9 recipe(
326 calories, 30 g protein, 11 g fat (4 g saturated), 24 g carbohydrate, 546 mg sodium, 92 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber