Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Made these for my Halloween party. You can find the recipe here.

Thanks, Martha. You're a real babe sometimes.

Summer Squash Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

I know i've been going a little crazy on the soups lately. But it's cold. And you can freeze soup, warm it up & then eat it after a looong day of work.

I <3>

Ingredients

• 6 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 3 cups water
• 2 1/4 cups uncooked farfalle (about 6 ounces bow tie pasta)
• 2 cups finely chopped yellow squash
• 2 cups finely chopped zucchini
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Preparation

Bring broth and water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add pasta, and cook 8 minutes or until almost tender. Add squash and the next 7 ingredients (through pepper). Reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until pasta is done and squash is tender. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 4 (6-ounce) red potatoes
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup prechopped onion
• 1 1/4 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 bacon slices, halved
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions

Preparation

1. Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave on HIGH 13 minutes or until tender. Cut in half; cool slightly.

2. While potatoes cook, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add broth. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk; add to pan with 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; stir often. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream, salt, and pepper.

3. Arrange bacon on a paper towel on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a paper towel; microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes. Crumble bacon.

4. Discard potato skins. Coarsely mash potatoes into soup. Top with cheese, green onions, and bacon.

Chicken Corn Chowder

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 green onions
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen corn kernels, thawed and divided
• 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded cheddar cheese

Preparation

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove green tops from green onions. Chop green onion tops; set aside. Thinly slice white portion of each onion. Add sliced onions to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir in chicken, salt, pepper, 1 package of corn, and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.

While mixture simmers, combine the remaining corn and milk in a blender; process until smooth. Add milk mixture to pan; simmer 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Ladle 2 cups chowder into each of 4 soup bowls; sprinkle evenly with green onion tops. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese.

Salad Pockets

I'm the biggest salad junkie. So my favorite things today are these salad pockets! They're perfect because it's not a lot of bread. Make your salad and stuff it in. On their website they have different recipes for breakfast, lunch & din din.

Find it here.

Healthy Chicken Pot Pie

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas

I love Spinach anything.

Ingredients

• 1 2- to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
• 4 cups baby spinach (about 3 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack (6 ounces)
• 4 large flour tortillas (I always do whole-wheat)
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup store-bought fresh salsa
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Heat grill to medium. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, spinach, and cheese. Dividing evenly, place the mixture on one half of each tortilla. Fold the other half over to cover.
2. Grill the quesadillas until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve with the avocado, salsa, and sour cream.

Ravioli with Apples & Walnuts

Oh, hey there! Good news... I'm alive!

Ingredients

1 pound cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

1 crisp apple (such as Braeburn or Gala), cut into matchsticks

1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Kosher salt and black pepper

1/4 cup grated Parmesan (1 ounce)

Directions

Cook ravioli according to the package directions. [need timer]

Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add walnuts and cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. [need timer]

Add apple, parsley, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and toss to combine. Spoon over ravioli and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Butter Brickle Frozen Dessert

For real guys? For real?
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup white sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (12 ounce) jar caramel topping
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.In medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup melted butter and white sugar until well mixed. Press into bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
3.Bake 6 minutes, until set. Cool completely.
4.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
5.In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter and pecans until well mixed. Lightly pat onto a baking sheet.
6.Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until light brown. Crumble while still hot. Cool completely.
7.In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in condensed milk until well blended. Fold in whipped topping.
8.Spread half of the cheese mixture over the crust in the springform pan. Sprinkle half of the oat crumbles over the cheese mixture, and spread half of the caramel sauce over that. Repeat layers. Freeze until firm, remove pan sides and serve cold.

Zucchini Bread

Allrecipes.com is just a gem. You know that?

Well, I've been making Zucchini Bread likes it going out of style around my house. You tend to have more people (eh em, or BOYS) flock to your home when you have food cooking and I'm all about a full house of friends.

Check out the recipe I've been using here.

Que es muy bien.

I hope you all are having a lovely summer, eating lots of otter pops & spending plenty of time by the pool.

Summer Squash Pizza

You guys have heard me say this before, but i'm the biggest vegetable nerd/squash nut you'll ever meet. My kids are going to hate me... So of course I loved this.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into (1/4-inch-thick) slices
1 medium yellow squash, cut lengthwise into (1/4-inch-thick) slices Cooking spray
1 packaged pizza crust (such as Mama Mary's) or make your own of course!
2 plum tomatoes, cut into slices
1/4 cup (1 ounce) finely grated pecorino Romano cheese
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
Preparation
1. Prepare grill.
2. Combine oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, zucchini slices, and yellow squash slices in a large bowl, tossing gently to coat. Place squash mixture on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 2 minutes on each side or until tender.
3. Reduce grill temperature to medium.
4. Lightly coat pizza crust with cooking spray; grill 1 minute on each side or until lightly toasted. Arrange zucchini and squash over crust. Arrange tomatoes over squash; sprinkle with pecorino Romano cheese. Grill 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from grill; sprinkle with basil and oregano.

Corn and Summer Vegetable Sauté

I'm all about good summer sides, and this one's easy peasy.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 4)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup sliced fresh okra (about 4 ounces)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1)
1 finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add okra; sauté 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add bell pepper and jalapeño; cook 5 minutes. Add corn; cook 5 minutes. Stir in beans; cook 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro; sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

Superfast on the Grill

So i'm not going to lie, I haven't even made these yet. I don't even have a grill. But, my roommate's Boo does, and he's quite proud of it. I will be making some visits this summer to try these ones out. So, thanks Cooking Light for these Superfast Grilling Recipes.

P.S. Umm, isn't summer the best?! Honestly, I'm dying right now. Love sunny summerness lovey loverness.

Chicken Pesto Strombolli

Sorry you guys, my real blog takes precedence over this one. I hope I haven't let anyone down.
But made this for lunch for my roomies today. So mmm mmm good.

Ingredients:

1 Whole Wheat Frozen bread Loaf
1/2 cup Pesto Sauce
2 cups Spinach
2 cups Cooked Shredded Chicken
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions:

Thaw bread according to package. (I laid my bread loaf on a cookie sheet & put a wet towel over the top the night before to let it rise throughout the night)
On greased counter roll out to a rectangle about the size of a cookie sheet
Spread Pesto all over leaving a 1 inch space from edge
Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan on top of pesto. Sprinkle Mozzarella the layer of spinach, last your shredded Chicken.
Now roll, jelly roll style, starting at the long end.
Roll it all the way so it makes a long tube.
Place on a greased cookie sheet, make sure seam is on the bottom. Tuck ends under.
Brush with egg. Sprinkle with Parmesan and Garlic Salt.
Cut slits along the top to vent
Bake @350 until golden brown, 20-30 minutes.


chomp chomp.

BBQ Chicken Tenders

Ingredients
1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders (see Note)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups coarse dry breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat (see Note)
Olive oil or canola oil cooking spray
Preparation
1.Combine barbecue sauce, mustard and honey in a large bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup of the sauce in a small bowl. Cut any large chicken tenders in half lengthwise, then add all the tenders to the large bowl with the remaining sauce; stir to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2.Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
3.Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Lightly beat eggs in another shallow dish. Place breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish. Coat each tender in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip in egg and let any excess drip off. Then roll in the breadcrumbs, shaking off any excess. Place the tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Generously coat both sides of each tender with cooking spray.
4.Bake for 10 minutes. Turn each tender over and continue baking until the outside is crisp and the tenders are cooked through, about 10 minutes more. Serve with the reserved sauce for dipping.

Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients
1/3 cup dry sherry

1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 20-ounce can pineapple rings, plus 1/3 cup juice from the can
4 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed (see Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
Preparation
1.Whisk sherry, soy sauce, brown sugar and the 1/3 cup pineapple juice in a large bowl. Add pineapple rings and chicken and gently stir to coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
2.Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium-high.
3.Remove the chicken and pineapple from the marinade and pat dry; reserve the marinade. Oil the grill rack. Grill the chicken and pineapple until the chicken is cooked through and the pineapple is marked, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
4.Whisk the reserved marinade and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, whisking, until reduced and thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter. Serve the chicken and pineapple drizzled with the sauce.

Great Crepe Recipes

At our Tennessee house, we're all about Crepes.

I found some great Crepe recipes on the Cooking Light website. To check them out, go here.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Ingredients
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (about 2.5 ounces), divided
Cooking spray
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1 ounce whole-wheat flour (about 1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) carton light sour cream (such as Daisy)
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon chilled butter, cut into small pieces
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Spread oats in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 6 minutes or until oats are barely fragrant and light brown.

3. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; set aside.

4. Reserve 1/4 cup oats; set aside. Place remaining oats in a food processor; process 4 seconds or until finely ground. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine processed oats, flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.

5. Place granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/3 cup butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. (Batter will be slightly lumpy because of oats.) Spoon batter into prepared pan; spread evenly.

6. Combine remaining 1/4 cup oats, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, nuts, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until well blended. Sprinkle top of batter evenly with nut mixture. Bake at 350° for 38 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, top is golden, and cake begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes; remove from pan.

Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas

Ingredients
1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt (such as Fage Total Classic)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large)
1/2 cup chopped pitted green olives (about 20 small)
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
6 (6-inch) whole wheat pitas, cut in half
12 Bibb lettuce leaves
6 (1/8-inch-thick) slices tomato, cut in half
Preparation
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl; set aside. Combine chicken and next 5 ingredients (through chickpeas) in a large bowl. Add yogurt mixture to chicken mixture; toss gently to coat. Line each pita half with 1 lettuce leaf and 1 tomato piece; add 1/2 cup chicken mixture to each pita half.

Ingredients
1 (11-ounce) can refrigerated French bread dough
2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
Cooking spray
1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 ounces pancetta
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°.
Place dough on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal; press dough into a 12-inch circle. Crimp edges of dough with fingers to form a rim. Lightly spray surface of dough with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove from oven.
Arrange tomato slices on paper towels. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle garlic evenly over surface of dough; sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese evenly over dough. Arrange tomato slices on top of cheese; sprinkle with pepper. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 450° for 5 minutes.
Chop pancetta. Cook pancetta in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp; drain. Sprinkle pancetta over pizza; bake an additional 1 minute or until crust is golden. Sprinkle basil over pizza; let stand 2 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges.

Spinach, Chicken & Feta Salad

Ingredients
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped red onion
1 1/4 cups (1-inch) pieces yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
1 (7-ounce) package prewashed baby spinach
Preparation
Combine the first 9 ingredients, stirring with a whisk.
Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with black pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes. Turn chicken. Add onion; cook 4 minutes or until chicken is done and onion is tender, stirring the onion frequently. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Combine chicken, onion, bell pepper, cheese, chickpeas, and spinach in a large bowl. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad; toss gently to coat.

Chicken Souvlaki

Ingredients
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup plain Greek-style yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil, divided
1 1/4 teaspoons bottled minced garlic, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups sliced roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast
4 (6-inch) pitas, cut in half
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup chopped peeled cucumber
1/2 cup chopped plum tomato
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
Preparation
Combine feta cheese, yogurt, dill, 1 teaspoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic in a small bowl, stirring well.
Heat remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic and oregano to pan, and sauté for 20 seconds. Add chicken, and cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Place 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each pita half, and top with 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture, 2 tablespoons shredded lettuce, 1 tablespoon cucumber, and 1 tablespoon tomato. Divide onion evenly among pitas.

Garlic & White Bean Dip

Ingredients
1/2 cup Roasted-Garlic Oil, (recipe follows)
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed (see Tip)
1/2 cup Oil-Poached Garlic Puree, (recipe follows)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
1.Put oil, onion and salt in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until the onion is softened but not browned, 6 to 9 minutes. Stir in beans and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a food processor. Add garlic puree and lemon juice and puree until smooth. Serve warm or cold.

Roast Chicken with Potatoes & Butternut Squash

Ingredients
2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1 (3 1/2-pound) roasting chicken
Cooking spray
12 ounces red potatoes, cut into wedges
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 8 ounces)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and sage in a small bowl. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Rub garlic mixture under loosened skin. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack of a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Place rack in broiler pan.
3. Combine potatoes, squash, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Arrange vegetable mixture around chicken. Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 165°. Let stand 10 minutes. Discard skin.

Black & Blue Quesadillas

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
4 fat-free flour tortillas (for a healthier choice, I always buy whole wheat tortillas)
1/2 pound thinly sliced low-sodium deli roast beef (such as Boar's Head)
2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
4 teaspoons balsamic glaze (such as Gia Russa)
Preparation
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion; sauté 3 to 4 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Remove from heat.
2. Top half of each tortilla evenly with beef, onion, and cheese. Fold tortillas in half.
3. Return pan to heat. Coat pan and both sides of quesadillas evenly with cooking spray. Place 2 quesadillas in pan; cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges; drizzle with 1 teaspoon glaze.

Nutritional Information
Calories:233

Fat:4g
Protein:20.3g
Carbohydrate:27.9g
Fiber:2.3g

My Meatloaf

I don't have a picture. I know that's the worst thing ever, but you're gonna have to trust me on this one. My brother wants me to make it everytime I go home. So good & easy!

Ingredients

2.5 lbs of ground beef

3 eggs

1 C of Milk

2 Peppers (any kind you like, I usually use 1 yellow & 1 red)

1/2 C of red onion

Olive Oil

Brown Sugar

Ketchup

Preparation

1. Saute onions & peppers in skillet with Olive Oil until tender and carmalized.

2. In separate bowl, mix meat, eggs & milk together. This is gross. I understand. Maybe get the hubby to do it. Add in peppers & onion.

3. Put in pan & bake in the oven at 400 for 45mins-1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, mix brown sugar and ketchup together. I didn't put measurements because you'll just have to do it unti it gets the right consistancy for your tastes. Some people like it more tangy, some people like it more sweet.

5. When meatloaf is done, take it out of the oven and drain excess juices.

6. Pour the brown sugar/ketchup mixture on top & stick it back in the oven on Broil for about 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Molasses Black Pepper Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon molasses
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces 4 (2-ounce) sandwich rolls, cut in half horizontally
12 dill pickle chips
Preparation
1. Combine first 9 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 23 minutes or until chicken is done and tender. Remove from heat; shred with 2 forks to measure 2 cups meat. Place 1/2 cup chicken on bottom half of each roll. Top each with 3 pickles and top half of roll.

Nutritional Information
Calories:294
Fat:6.5g
Protein:22g
Carbohydrate:35.6g
Fiber:1.8g

Grilled Ham, Muenster & Spinach Sandwiches

Just a note! Make sure to look at the categories of the food (on the right hand side of the blog & at the bottom of each post). This one is 5 ingredients or less. La la la love it.

Ingredients
8 (3/4-ounce) slices crusty Chicago-style Italian bread (about 1/2 inch thick), toasted
8 ounces thinly sliced lower-sodium deli ham (such as Boar's Head)
4 (1-ounce) slices reduced-sodium Muenster cheese (such as Alpine Lace)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup mild chowchow (such as Braswell's)
Cooking spray
Preparation
1. Layer each of 4 bread slices with 2 ounces ham, 1 slice Muenster cheese, 1/2 cup baby spinach, 1 tablespoon chowchow, and 1 bread slice.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat sandwiches with cooking spray; add to pan. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned and cheese melts. Cut sandwiches in half, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories:315

Fat:11g
Protein:20.8g
Carbohydrate:32.4g
Fiber:1.7g

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesean

Ingredients
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Cooking spray
1/2 cup jarred tomato-basil pasta sauce
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients in a shallow dish; place egg whites in a bowl. Place panko in a shallow dish. Dredge 1 breast half in flour mixture. Dip in egg whites; dredge in panko. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken, flour mixture, egg whites, and panko.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to pan; cook 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Turn chicken over; cook 2 minutes. Coat chicken with cooking spray; place pan in oven. Bake at 450° for 5 minutes. Turn chicken over; top each breast half with 2 tablespoons sauce, 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 3 tablespoons mozzarella. Bake 6 minutes or until chicken is done.

Nutritional Information
Calories:401
Fat:16.9g
Protein:44.4g
Carbohydrate:15.9g
Fiber:0.6g

Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers

Ingredients
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Cooking spray
2 cups thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 cup thinly sliced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots (about 1 large)
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, fennel seeds, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Brush chicken with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; sprinkle spice rub over chicken. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Turn chicken over; cook 1 minute. Arrange chicken in an 11 x 7–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until done.
3. Heat remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, shallots, and rosemary; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Stir in vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve bell pepper mixture over chicken.

Corn & Bacon Chowder

Ingredients
2 bacon slices
1/2 cup refrigerated prechopped celery, onion, and bell pepper mix
2 (16-ounce) packages frozen baby gold and white corn, thawed and divided
2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup (3 ounces) reduced-fat shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (such as Cracker Barrel)
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Preparation
1. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan; crumble and set aside. Add celery mixture and 1 package corn to drippings in pan; sauté 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
2. Place remaining 1 package corn and 1 cup milk in a blender, and process until smooth. Add pureed mixture to vegetables in pan; stir in remaining 1 cup milk, salt, black pepper, and cheese. Cook over medium heat (do not boil), stirring constantly, until cheese melts. Ladle chowder into bowls. Top each serving evenly with reserved crumbled bacon. Sprinkle with additional black pepper, if desired.

Beefy Corn and Black Bean Chili

Ingredients
1 pound ground round
2 teaspoons salt-free chili powder blend (such as The Spice Hunter)
1 (14-ounce) package frozen seasoned corn and black beans (such as Pictsweet)
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium beef broth
1 (15-ounce) can seasoned tomato sauce for chili (such as Hunt's Family Favorites)
Reduced-fat sour cream (optional)
Sliced green onions (optional)
Preparation
1. Combine beef and chili powder blend in a large Dutch oven. Cook 6 minutes over medium-high heat or until beef is browned, stirring to crumble. Drain and return to pan.
2. Stir in frozen corn mixture, broth, and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Ladle chili into bowls. Top each serving with sour cream and onions, if desired.

If your grocery store offers turkey Italian sausage in the butcher case, purchase one or two links to equal 4 ounces. If starting with a package of several sausages, freeze leftover links up to two months to use later.

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups 1% low-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
8 (1-ounce) slices day-old French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
Cooking spray
2 cups chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup apple juice
4 ounces turkey Italian sausage
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Directions
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add bread; toss gently to coat. Let bread mixture stand 20 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add juice; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove casings from sausage. Crumble sausage into pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes.
4. Add sausage mixture and cheese to bread mixture; stir well to combine. Spoon into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup vertically sliced red onion
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp white cheddar cheese (such as Cracker Barrel)
8 (1 1/2-ounce) slices hearty white bread (such as Pepperidge Farm) 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato
6 slices center-cut bacon, cooked
Preparation
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add 1 cup onion and garlic; cook for 10 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cheese over each of 4 bread slices. Top each slice with 1/2 cup spinach, 2 tomato slices, 2 tablespoons onion mixture, and 1 1/2 bacon slices. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cheese; top with the remaining 4 bread slices.
3. Heat skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Place sandwiches in pan, and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cheese melts

Zesty Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound tomatillos (papery skins removed), chopped
1 onion (preferably white), chopped
1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
kosher salt and black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1 2- to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 1/4 cups grated Monterey Jack (5 ounces)
8 6-inch corn tortillas
Pico de Gallo or salsa
Directions
1.Heat oven to 400° F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, onion, poblano, garlic, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a food processor, add the cream, and puree.
2.In a large bowl, combine the chicken, tomatoes, 1 cup of the cheese, 1/2 cup of the tomatillo sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
3.Warm the tortillas according to the package directions. Spread 1 cup of the remaining sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Roll the chicken mixture in the tortillas and place them in the dish, seam-side down.
4.Top with the remaining sauce and cheese. Bake until beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with Pico de Gallo.

Honey Chicken Skewers With Grilled-Corn Salad

Ingredients
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
kosher salt and pepper
canola oil, for the grill
6 ears corn, shucked
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 scallions, sliced
Directions
1.Place twenty 8-inch wooden skewers in water to soak. Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, honey, and Worcestershire sauce; set aside.
2.Slice the chicken lengthwise into twenty 1/2-inch-thick strips. Thread each strip onto a wooden skewer. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
3.Lightly oil the grill. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, basting with the ketchup mixture during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
4.Meanwhile, grill the corn, turning occasionally, until slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Cut the kernels off the cobs, place in a medium bowl, and toss with the butter, scallions, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Serve with the chicken.

Southwestern Chicken and White Bean Soup

Ingredients
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 tablespoon 40%-less-sodium taco seasoning (such as Old El Paso)
Cooking spray
2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup green salsa
Light sour cream (optional)
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Preparation
1. Combine chicken and taco seasoning; toss well to coat. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken; sauté 2 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned. Add broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
2. Place beans in a small bowl; mash until only a few whole beans remain. Add beans and salsa to pan, stirring well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thick. Serve with sour cream and cilantro, if desired.

Spicy Poblano and Corn Soup

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package frozen baby gold and white corn (such as Birds Eye), thawed and divided
2 cups fat-free milk, divided
4 poblano chiles, seeded and chopped (about 1 pound)
1 cup refrigerated prechopped onion
1 tablespoon water
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (2 ounces) reduced-fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Preparation
1. Place 1 cup corn and 1 1/2 cups milk in a Dutch oven. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.
2. Combine chopped chile, onion, and 1 tablespoon water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave at HIGH 4 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, place 2 cups corn and 1/2 cup milk in a blender; process until smooth. Add pureed mixture to corn mixture in pan. Stir in chile mixture and salt, and cook 6 minutes over medium heat. Ladle soup into bowls, and top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese.

last-minute lasagna

Ingredients
1 26-ounce jar pasta sauce
2 30-ounce bags frozen large cheese ravioli, unthawed
1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water
1 8-ounce bag shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
1.Heat oven to 350° F. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and spoon in a third of the sauce.
2.Arrange 12 ravioli on top and scatter the spinach over them. Top with half of each cheese. Cover with another layer of ravioli and the remaining sauce and cheese.
3.Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until bubbly.