Chicken, Proscuitto, Asparagus Roll Ups

So I recently whipped this up on a whim and everyone who ate it was certainly glad I did.
The following post was written after a friend made it for her family:

"Oh my gosh!! My family went crazy over the chicken last night! Trent asked if I had been watching Chopped, on Food Network! Lol seriously start a blog...like today...I don't know how to top it tonight at dinner!"

I informed her I did have a blog but I haven't written in it since 2011! Yikes! So thanks to Katie for the kind words and Kristin K for suggesting I start it up again as well :-)

2 Large chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise, to make it thinner and easier to roll
The following ingredients are PER chicken breast:
2 slices thin prosciutto  
1 Tbsp Chive and Onion Cream Cheese
3 spears asparagus

I took each chicken breast, spread on cream cheese, layered with prosciutto, laid 3 spears towards the end of chicken, rolled and placed on EVOO drizzled baking sheet, with the rolled end of chicken face down, so that your chicken doesn't unravel while it bakes. Grind cracked black pepper over top, bc everything's better with a little kick. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.  

Happy Cooking!! :-)

Thai Peanut Chicken

To say that this is the easiest recipe EVER, would be an understatement.
If you cant brown chicken, throw in a bag of broccoli slaw and drizzle with bottled thai peanut sauce, you need my help, like STAT.

This recipe makes you feel like you're eating naughty, delicious take out, when in reality, its all protein, veggie deliciousness!

1 Pkg Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 pkg Broccoli Slaw
1/2 bottle Gluten Free Thai Peanut Sauce
Optional:
Cilantro
Honey roasted peanuts, small handful to top (this is optional but HIGHLY recommended)

When I first made this I was trying to beat Trevor home from work to have dinner ready after going to the grocery store, this recipe took me no longer than 10 minutes, easy.

I started by cubing up the chicken, browning, and adding a DASH of the sauce to marinade the chicken a little. Here's where it gets super tricky, open bag of broccoli slaw, dump over chicken, top with thai peanut sauce and saute for 5 minutes. Can you even handle it?? I hope you can because literally, that's ALL it takes!

1 cup is 165 calories. And honestly, sometimes its even better warmed up the next day....

Happy Cooking!! :-)

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Pepps

This recipe is ALL the taste, minus all the carbs and definitely a favorite in our household. I have never liked onions, I still say I don't like them, until I perfected the art of the caramelized onion. In all honesty, it was learned through googling. Google and YouTube are my saving grace often.

The recipe for us two, or one half each for a family of four:

2 large Green Peppers, seeded and halved
1 medium sized yellow onion
1/2 lb deli roast beef
4 cloves of garlic, diced
4 slices provolone cheese

First I caramalize the onion (we all have our own ways, google it ;-) )
When that process is about finished I add the diced garlic to the pan to brown and kick the flavor up a notch. If you like your peppers softer, drizzle a small amount of EVOO over the halved, seeded peppers and toss in the microwave for a few minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Place peppers on sheet pan, if you didn't throw them in the microwave, drizzle a SMALL amount of olive oil on them now. Stuff the peppers in the following order. 2-3 slices roast beef top with caramelized onions. top with one slice of provolone cheese. Then for looks, I like to top off with a few more onions. I always finish off with a little cracked pepper. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is a gorgeous golden brown.

The calories from skipping the bread, or in our case the fact that we have to eat gluten free, make this recipe one of our favorite healthied up meals.

Happy Cooking! :-)

Breakfast Go-To

When I decide that a hot breakfast is better than more sleep (this is NOT often) I always turn to my go-to meal.

Recently Ive started using Brown eggs. Yes, it kills me to spend more money on eggs than I have to, but there is a HUGE taste difference!

I make my omelet as follows...

2 Brown Eggs
Spinach 1/2 cup torn up
hot sauce (how ever much you like)
1/4 cup cheese of your choice
Optional:
*often I add 2 Tbsp of bacon bits, 25 calories, easy and yum!

It's filling, a great way to start my morning healthy, gluten free and delicious.

Happy Cooking! :-) 

Extreme Couponer (in-training)

After much coupon clipping and planning today was finally my day. The list was LONG. including groceries, toiletries, medication etc. As the cart got more and more full I was just like the people of Extreme Couponing my heart was beating out of my chest...Just unloading the cart my mind was going crazy. I completely filled the belt and needed more space. Going over some (expensive) things Trevor had added to the cart, looking at all the fresh produce and meat. I did end up finishing the way I wish I would have but was very happy to discover in coupons alone, just those "useless pieces of paper" I save NINETY EIGHT DOLLARS! First step was using Trevor's Target discount, instant $19.55 removed. Phew. As I'm watching some coupons come up "coupon not found accept anyway" I'm thinking pleaseeee lady, accept anyway. 16 of the items were on sale as well so I felt pretty good about it. Here was my final haul:

8 lbs of chicken
2 lbs italian sausage 
4 lbs fresh fruit
6 lbs fresh produce
5 lbs fresh cheeses
 deli meats
frozen pizza
yogurt
butter
almond milk
almonds
steel oats
eggs
6 cans of soup
2 bottles of v8
fresh tortellini
several more items...


2 boxes of heartburn medication orig. $10.49/each for $3
toilet paper
Kleenex
Paper Towels
2 boxes tampons
heat pads
Trevors expensive mouthwash (cough cough)
4 Nivea lip balms for less than $2
toothpaste
glad containers



GRAND TOTAL: 7 bags of groceries/toiletries= $115!

I will bow now. I was aiming for more like $80 but still feel very accomplished in today's shopping haul! SO next time you go to throw away those coupons stop and remember $98 savings and I clipped for mayyybe 20 minutes. When you throw those ads you're throwing money out the window, take 20 minutes out of your day and keep that $ in your wallet and fill those cupboards/bellies!!

 p.s. I DO apologize for my failure to blog and give you my word I will continue to keep you posted on my recipes and savings as I am trying out two new recipes today!

XoXo Em :0)

Sky Rockets in Flight, Mediterranean Delight!

A little bitta this a little bitta that. I'm not a very big follower of actual measurment...so you'll come to find when I give you recipes I'll say "however much you want of..." but it all depends on how much you want, if you want leftovers etc. I'm a "single" gal with no kids, so I tend to make about 4 servings, depending on if Im cooking for my roomies, my super cute bf, or if Im meal planning for the week and making leftovers. This would be one of those times where I tell you "however much you want..."

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta

 2 Cups whole wheat penne

1 can quartered artichoke hearts

2 cans market pantry diced tomatoes w/onion and garlic

1 cup Kalmata olives

2 cups rotisserie chicken (torn into bite size pieces)

1/2 cup feta cheese (or however much you like :-)

* I added a little white wine to make it that much more delish!

Boil noodles. While doing so, toss chicken in frying pan with diced tomatoes and olives. Simmer. Splash in the white wine. Add noodles and artichokes once pasta is cooked. toss and top with feta cheese on top!

Before I liked tomatoes I always omitted them, now that I love them it makes this dish that much yummier!

Enjoy! :0)

*ps if any of you out there are making my recipes I'd love to hear your feedback. Did you like it? Did you add something to it? Do you have healthier substitution ideas?? Let us all know!!

4-1 = 3 lbs lost...

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Thomas A. Edison

Well people. I've lacked in this blog writing stuff, it's been a few days, in those few days I gained one pound back which brings my total weight loss for the week to 3 lbs. I think my problem this week was actually that I wasn't eating ENOUGH. Unruly concept I know but it's true! Have you started? Have you stayed on track? What has helped you the most? The other thing is I havent yet gotten back into my workout routine. It's a good thing Express keeps me running around like a maniac for the 6 hours Im there every day. Had I been working out though and not just watching what I eat, I'm sure my numbers would've been different. I shall post a new healthy recipe later today and tomorrow....wait for it...STATE FAIR BLOG! This is my "cheat" day. It's the best day in all 365 because not only do I get to eat delicious, guilty whatever I want food that day, I get to spend it with my best friend in the whole wide world, my Papa!! I love our annual Daddy/Daughter day and I'll make sure to post pics, do's and don'ts...although, im sure you wont find a "dont" at the Great Minnesota Get-together...well minus Deli Express sandwiches...who even gets those there?? Adios Amigos, until later.
XoXo

Skinny cooks can't be trusted.
American Saying