Month: May 2021

Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza

Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza

If you like spinach artichoke dip then you will love these pizzas. Ingredients: Spinach Dip- 1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach ¾ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt ½ cup parmesan cheese grated 1 14 ounce can artichoke hearts quartered, rinsed, drained, chopped 2 scallions 

Pinto Bean Salsa Salad

Pinto Bean Salsa Salad

Are you looking for a tasty side salad with some zing?  This easy to make salad popped with texture and flavor.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Dressing- 1 garlic clove 1 ½ limes juiced 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon chili powder ¼ cup extra 

Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken

Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken

I love BBQ chicken.  This is simple to prepare and tastes great. The sauce is just WOW and the chicken is so moist, tender, and full of flavor.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 ½  cups your favorite BBQ sauce

¼ cup peach jam/preserves

1 clove garlic

Hot sauce optional

Olive oil

6-8 chicken thighs

Directions:

  1. Combine the barbeque sauce, peach jam, garlic, and hot sauce (if using) in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat for 8-10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  3. Drizzle olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
  4. Set chicken skin side down on the baking sheet.
  5. Roast 25 minutes. Brush with BBQ sauce.
  6. Flip over gently and brush the other side with BBQ sauce.
  7. Roast 7 minutes.  Add more BBQ sauce.
  8. Roast 7 more minutes.  Add more sauce.
  9. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees. 
  10. Roast 5-7 more minutes.
  11. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  12. I served this with Pinto Bean Salsa Salad and Sweet Potato/Carrot Fries (see recipes in Sides/Salads)
Strawberry Pie with Peanut Butter Crispy Crust

Strawberry Pie with Peanut Butter Crispy Crust

Strawberry and peanut butter = smiles I thought this pie filling tasted great over a graham cracker crust, but over a crispy peanut butter crust its insanely delicious. Ingredients: Crust- 2 cups crispy rice cereal ½ cup reduced fat peanut butter Filling- 3 pounds strawberries 

Powered Up French Toast

Powered Up French Toast

I hadn’t made French toast in years, but I was craving it so I decided to make French toast with a protein boost.  Ingredients: 1 loaf (I used Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Swirl bread) 4 eggs 1 scoop vanilla protein powder ½ cup milk Dash of 

Asian Ginger Chicken and Vegetables Kabobs

Asian Ginger Chicken and Vegetables Kabobs

Grilled chicken and vegetables taste so yummy!  You can customize these using your favorite vegetables although I think this combination is perfection.

Ingredients:

Kabobs-

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into cubes

1 red bell pepper cut into 1-2 inch strips

1 yellow bell pepper cut into 1-2 inch strips

1 red onion cut into wedges

1 yellow squash cut into ¼ inch slices

1 zucchini cut into ¼ inch slices

1 8 ounce package whole mushrooms

Skewers

Marinade-

¼ cup honey

1/3 cup Asian Ginger Plum Dressing (I used Wildtree, but any similar dressing will work)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients for the marinade. 
  2. Add chopped chicken and vegetables to a large bag or 9×13 pan. 
  3. Pour marinade over chicken and vegetables. 
  4. Let marinade soak in for 4 hours or overnight.  (I prep this as a freezer meal and thaw 48 hours prior to cooking).
  5. Skewer the meat and vegetables.  I usually do 1-2 skewers with chicken and fill the rest with the veggies.  After cooking I transfer everything to a clean 9×13 dish and let my family help themselves.
  6. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side until chicken and vegetables are cooked through and slightly charred on all sides. 
Portobello Mushrooms with Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella

Portobello Mushrooms with Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella

I can eat just about any form of portobello mushrooms.  These portobello pizzas are another tasty dish for all of the mushroom lovers out there. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients- 4 large portobello mushrooms 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided 2 garlic cloves 

Pretzel M&M Bites

Pretzel M&M Bites

These are so easy to make my 8-year-old makes them all the time.  You can use different flavored and colored melts and M&Ms or other candies to top these tasty bite size treats.  We made these for a dinosaur themed party and told my son 

Espresso Ricotta No Bake Cheesecake

Espresso Ricotta No Bake Cheesecake

Chocolate and espresso are a match made in heaven.  This light no bake cheesecake comes together quickly and tastes divine.  You will savor every bite. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Crust-

1 sleeve chocolate graham crackers

3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil melted

Filling-

½ cup heavy cream

1 ½ teaspoons powdered gelatin

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon espresso powder

8 ounces nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

15 ounces part skim ricotta cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Crust-

  1. Add graham crackers to food processor.  Pulse until a fine crumb.
  2. Drizzle melted coconut oil over crumbs.  Pulse to mix.
  3. Transfer crumbs to a pie plate.  Gently push down to make the crust.
  4. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Filling-

  1. Pour the cream into a small bowl.  Sprinkle the gelatin over the ream.  Let sit to bloom the gelatin for 5 minutes.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan and add the sugar and espresso powder.
  3. Warm over very low heat whisking constantly to dissolve the gelatin.  Do not let the mixture simmer or boil.
  4. Remove from heat and whisk until completely smooth.  Let cool for about 5 minutes.
  5. Beat the yogurt on medium high speed in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and smooth 1-2 minutes.
  6. Add the ricotta and beat until smooth.  Scrape down the edges to ensure an even mixture.
  7. Add the cooled espresso cream mixture.  Beat until smooth.
  8. Transfer the mixture to the pie plate.
  9. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
  10. Optional: Top with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or top with whipped cream.
Chorizo Breakfast Burrito Bowls

Chorizo Breakfast Burrito Bowls

Breakfast burritos honestly taste great any time of day.  These burritos are like a taco salad in a bowl with spicy chorizo.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 1 pound Mexican chorizo 1 large russet potato 1 red bell pepper diced ½ white onion diced