This isn't the healthiest dish I make, but it is a crowd pleaser and very convenient for parties, so I thought I would share. Everyone always asks for the recipe, and it's so easy!
Ingredients:
-1 large can chicken (found by the tuna, I get the all-natural, in water)
-1 pkg fat free cream cheese
-1 pkg fat free shredded cheese (I use sharp cheddar)
-1/2 pkg dry ranch dressing mix
-1/2 bottle buffalo marinade
Mix all ingredients together in a medium saucepan on high heat until melted. Serve with multigrain tortilla chips or celery sticks.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dessert
I have a bit of a sweet tooth and have a hard time finishing a meal without a bite of chocolate. To curb these cravings, I keep something that is quick, healthy, and chocolate in my house at all times.
My current favorite is the Healthy Choice Fudge Bar. They are a good portion and do not taste healthy at all.
http://www.healthychoice.com/product-Fudge-Bars_2002.html
I also like the Skinny Cow ice cream products, although the one that I usually get, the vanilla sandwiches, don't taste as rich as the Healthy Choice bars do. Still very good though, and a nice variety of products.
My current favorite is the Healthy Choice Fudge Bar. They are a good portion and do not taste healthy at all.
http://www.healthychoice.com/product-Fudge-Bars_2002.html
I also like the Skinny Cow ice cream products, although the one that I usually get, the vanilla sandwiches, don't taste as rich as the Healthy Choice bars do. Still very good though, and a nice variety of products.
Egg Scrambles
I like to keep a carton of Egg Beaters Whites in my refrigerator at all times. They have a long shelf life so are a lot more small-family-friendly than eggs, and they can make a wide range of dishes for breakfast or dinner.
For breakfast, having these in the fridge can keep me for going out for a bagel or chocolate croissant...which requires me spending money, eating unhealthy, and getting out of my pajamas earlier than I like. I like to make the Egg Beaters Whites with vegetables (green pepper, tomatoes, olives) and Tabasco. Once in a while I will make them with lox and capers.
For dinner, I try to use more typical dinner flavors, such as chicken, spinach, sundried tomatoes, and original Laughing Cow cheese.
For breakfast, having these in the fridge can keep me for going out for a bagel or chocolate croissant...which requires me spending money, eating unhealthy, and getting out of my pajamas earlier than I like. I like to make the Egg Beaters Whites with vegetables (green pepper, tomatoes, olives) and Tabasco. Once in a while I will make them with lox and capers.
For dinner, I try to use more typical dinner flavors, such as chicken, spinach, sundried tomatoes, and original Laughing Cow cheese.
Tacos
Tacos are a meal that most people like, and can be made very healthy and quick. They can also be made with a variety of ingredients depending on what's in your refrigerator.
I usually skip the tortillas and make a taco salad, with lean ground turkey, lettuce, fat free sour cream, black beans, black olives, diced tomatoes, and a little bit of fat free shredded cheese. You can add some spice by cooking the turkey with taco seasoning and adding a few drops of Tabasco or similar sauce.
I have heard good things about the Boca soy crumbles, but have yet to try them. Everyone I know that uses them loves them! That will be next on my list to experiment with.
http://www.bocaburger.com/products/crumbles.aspx
I usually skip the tortillas and make a taco salad, with lean ground turkey, lettuce, fat free sour cream, black beans, black olives, diced tomatoes, and a little bit of fat free shredded cheese. You can add some spice by cooking the turkey with taco seasoning and adding a few drops of Tabasco or similar sauce.
I have heard good things about the Boca soy crumbles, but have yet to try them. Everyone I know that uses them loves them! That will be next on my list to experiment with.
http://www.bocaburger.com/products/crumbles.aspx
Monterey Whole Wheat Pastas
A delicious meal that requires very little work is Monterey whole wheat pasta. Monterey Pasta Company makes a variety of good pastas, many of them being all natural and / or whole wheat.
My favorite is the whole wheat ravioli with chicken and sundried tomatoes. This pasta is so good that I do not put ANYTHING on it. I don't even cook it with anything aside from a little canola oil to keep it from sticking to the pot. My fiancee might prefer it with a light butter sauce or oil, and that is fine too. Still extremely easy and quick! The only bad thing about this pasta is that I like it so much that I want to eat the entire package by myself in one sitting...that makes it no longer healthy!
Monterey pastas are found in most grocery stores. In my grocery store, they are located by the gourmet refrigerated cheese and meats.
http://www.montereygourmetfoods.com/index.cfm/monterey_pasta_company.htm
My favorite is the whole wheat ravioli with chicken and sundried tomatoes. This pasta is so good that I do not put ANYTHING on it. I don't even cook it with anything aside from a little canola oil to keep it from sticking to the pot. My fiancee might prefer it with a light butter sauce or oil, and that is fine too. Still extremely easy and quick! The only bad thing about this pasta is that I like it so much that I want to eat the entire package by myself in one sitting...that makes it no longer healthy!
Monterey pastas are found in most grocery stores. In my grocery store, they are located by the gourmet refrigerated cheese and meats.
http://www.montereygourmetfoods.com/index.cfm/monterey_pasta_company.htm
Ready Made Dinners
The fastest meal is a ready made meal. Fortunately, if you live close to a good grocery store, ready made meals don't have to be expensive (restaurants) or unhealthy (frozen.)
I am very fortunate to live next door to a very good grocery store. The Dominick's in the West Loop (Halsted and Washington) has a really good selection of fresh, healthy meals that you only have to throw in the oven or on the grill.
I have had chicken kabobs in a mango marinade, chicken florentine, and coconut tilipia, all ready in 45 minutes or less with almost no effort from me. My fiancee says he could eat the chicken kabobs once a week they were so good.
The store also has a really good deli department with all kinds of sides, pasta salads, sandwiches, and fresh sushi.
If you're lucky enough to live next door to a grocery store with a similar selection, ready made meals are a great option when 15 minute meals are 15 minutes too much for you.
http://weeklyspecials.dominicks.com/customer_Frame.jsp?drpStoreID=1875
I am very fortunate to live next door to a very good grocery store. The Dominick's in the West Loop (Halsted and Washington) has a really good selection of fresh, healthy meals that you only have to throw in the oven or on the grill.
I have had chicken kabobs in a mango marinade, chicken florentine, and coconut tilipia, all ready in 45 minutes or less with almost no effort from me. My fiancee says he could eat the chicken kabobs once a week they were so good.
The store also has a really good deli department with all kinds of sides, pasta salads, sandwiches, and fresh sushi.
If you're lucky enough to live next door to a grocery store with a similar selection, ready made meals are a great option when 15 minute meals are 15 minutes too much for you.
http://weeklyspecials.dominicks.com/customer_Frame.jsp?drpStoreID=1875
Another Easy Side - Salad
Another easy and quick side is a salad. I make mine with only a few ingredients because I don't want to buy a lot that will go bad, and I don't want to have salad for a week straight.
My favorite easy combo is lettuce (any kind you like,) cucumbers, dried cranberries, pine nuts, and light cucumber ranch dressing. The cranberries and pine nuts have a long shelf life and don't need to be refrigerated. I was surprised to find when looking at the nutritional information on some salad dressings, that the light cucumber ranch was lower in calories than all of the light balsamic vinegar dressings I saw. Shows that foods aren't always what you think and you need to read labels!
Since this salad requires a little bit of prep work (cutting the cucumber and pulling the lettuce,) I tend to make it with very basic entrees, like a marinated chicken breast.
My favorite easy combo is lettuce (any kind you like,) cucumbers, dried cranberries, pine nuts, and light cucumber ranch dressing. The cranberries and pine nuts have a long shelf life and don't need to be refrigerated. I was surprised to find when looking at the nutritional information on some salad dressings, that the light cucumber ranch was lower in calories than all of the light balsamic vinegar dressings I saw. Shows that foods aren't always what you think and you need to read labels!
Since this salad requires a little bit of prep work (cutting the cucumber and pulling the lettuce,) I tend to make it with very basic entrees, like a marinated chicken breast.
Penne Arrabiata
Another one of my go-to meals from allrecipes.com!
This is for those who like it spicy! I love this recipe because it cures my pasta craving without being too unhealthy.
I will put the link for the web recipe at the bottom, but I make a modified version so I will put my recipe here.
Ingredients:
-1/4 cup canola oil
-6 cloves garlic, minced
-1 tbsp crushed red pepper
-2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes with garlic and oregano
-1 bunch fresh basil, shredded
-1 12 oz package whole wheat penne pasta
-1 tsp garlic powder
-1 tsp oregano
Instructions:
-Put penne pasta in a large pot filled with water and a tbsp of oil, turn heat to high and cook until desired texture.
-Meanwhile, heat rest of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, and saute for a few minutes.
-Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes, and saute for another minute.
-Pour in the diced tomatoes and basil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Drain pasta, mix together and serve!
This recipe would be good with a lot of variations, so feel free to customize. I made it last night with garbanzo beans and that was really good. Black olives would also be good.
This is for those who like it spicy! I love this recipe because it cures my pasta craving without being too unhealthy.
I will put the link for the web recipe at the bottom, but I make a modified version so I will put my recipe here.
Ingredients:
-1/4 cup canola oil
-6 cloves garlic, minced
-1 tbsp crushed red pepper
-2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes with garlic and oregano
-1 bunch fresh basil, shredded
-1 12 oz package whole wheat penne pasta
-1 tsp garlic powder
-1 tsp oregano
Instructions:
-Put penne pasta in a large pot filled with water and a tbsp of oil, turn heat to high and cook until desired texture.
-Meanwhile, heat rest of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, and saute for a few minutes.
-Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes, and saute for another minute.
-Pour in the diced tomatoes and basil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Drain pasta, mix together and serve!
This recipe would be good with a lot of variations, so feel free to customize. I made it last night with garbanzo beans and that was really good. Black olives would also be good.
Easy Vegetables
When I'm really tight on time, one of my fallback meals is grilled chicken or fish, and lemon pepper asparagus. My mom taught me how to make the asparagus and I love it because it is the easiest, fastest, healthy side!
All you do for the asparagus is place it in a microwaveable dish where it can lay flat. (Rows on top of each other are ok, just make sure that both ends fit in - I use a square Pyrex dish.) Then you put water into the dish until the bottom is covered (about an inch high, not enough to cover the asparagus.) Sprinkle lemon pepper on top. Cover, and microwave for 7 minutes or until desired texture. That's it! Drain any remaining water and serve.
The wonderful thing about this "recipe" (if you can even call it that!) is that it can be used for just about any type of vegetable, with any type of spice you prefer. I have seen recipes on the web for cauliflower with Cajun seasoning, and broccoli with seasoned salt. Choose whatever vegetables and spices go with your meal, and enjoy!
All you do for the asparagus is place it in a microwaveable dish where it can lay flat. (Rows on top of each other are ok, just make sure that both ends fit in - I use a square Pyrex dish.) Then you put water into the dish until the bottom is covered (about an inch high, not enough to cover the asparagus.) Sprinkle lemon pepper on top. Cover, and microwave for 7 minutes or until desired texture. That's it! Drain any remaining water and serve.
The wonderful thing about this "recipe" (if you can even call it that!) is that it can be used for just about any type of vegetable, with any type of spice you prefer. I have seen recipes on the web for cauliflower with Cajun seasoning, and broccoli with seasoned salt. Choose whatever vegetables and spices go with your meal, and enjoy!
Recipe Review: Slow Cooker Chicken Mole
I made this recipe the other night and it made the house smell so good! I made it for a group of people and everyone really liked it.
I did, however, make one big mistake. The full recipe called for the chicken breasts to be cut in half. At the store, I saw that they had chicken scallopine (thinly-sliced chicken) and I figured I would save myself some time and get those. Bad move! After cooking all day on low, the chicken turned out really dry for my taste. Everyone said it was still good and even took leftovers, but for my personal taste, I could only tolerate it together with a bite of the beets.
Next time, I probably wouldn't cut the chicken at all, and as some reviews said, it would probably be ok cooked on high for four hours instead. Maybe put it in when you get home from work, go to the gym and do errands?
I did, however, make one big mistake. The full recipe called for the chicken breasts to be cut in half. At the store, I saw that they had chicken scallopine (thinly-sliced chicken) and I figured I would save myself some time and get those. Bad move! After cooking all day on low, the chicken turned out really dry for my taste. Everyone said it was still good and even took leftovers, but for my personal taste, I could only tolerate it together with a bite of the beets.
Next time, I probably wouldn't cut the chicken at all, and as some reviews said, it would probably be ok cooked on high for four hours instead. Maybe put it in when you get home from work, go to the gym and do errands?
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