Basil Cream Chicken Thighs

This is a quick easy week night dinner, you can make a large batch if you have a big family to feed.  It's just me, so I try to make things that I can have for 2 nights....I'm getting to a point where I don't want to cook much.  But I still love to eat so for now it's a must.  I made this and had season rice with it.  Made for a great quick meal.

3/4 chicken breasts (pounded 1/2-inch thin)
2 teaspoons each of onion powder and garlic powder
1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon each of dried thyme and basil
salt and pepper , to season
For The Sauce:

4 cloves garlic , minced (or 1 tablespoon minced garlic)

1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley

1/2 teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried basil

1 cup milk (or half and half)*(I used 1/2 n 1/2 and a little cream and some butter about 1 1/2 TBL)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste

1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water , until smooth

Instructions

1. Coat chicken breasts with the onion and garlic powders and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken breasts until opaque and no longer pink inside (about 5 minutes each side, depending on thickness). Transfer to a plate; set aside.
3. To the same pan or skillet, heat another 2 teaspoons of olive oil and sauté garlic, with parsley, thyme and basil, for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
4. Stir in milk (or cream); season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Bring to a boil; add the cornstarch mixture to the center of the pan, quickly stirring, until sauce has thickened slightly. Reduce heat and simmer gently for a further minute to allow the sauce to thicken more.
6. Return chicken to the skillet. Sprinkle with extra herbs if desired. Serve immediately.

Thanks for  stopping by, have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things you L♥ve.

Donna

Chicken Thighs Marinated in Yogurt

It's been very cold here in KS so I've been looking for some easy healthy recipes.  I stumbled upon this one on Pinterest, sorry I forgot to get the blog it came from.  I like dishes that you don't have to fuss much with and can just pop in the oven.  I may make some sort of potato to pop in the oven to go with this....or may just have a salad. 

Ingredients
1 cup plain yogurt
2 Tbsp olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced
½ Tbsp dried oregano
1 medium lemon
½ tsp salt
freshly cracked pepper
¼ bunch fresh parsley
4-6 chicken thighs

Instructions

1. To make the marinade, combine the yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper in a bowl. Put lemon zest in bowl  . Also add the juice from half of the lemon (about 1-2 Tbsp). Stir until the ingredients are well combined. Roughly chop a big handful, or about ¼ bunch, of parsley and stir it into the marinade.
2. Add the chicken pieces and marinade to a gallon sized zip top bag. Remove as much air as possible, close the bag tightly, and massage the bag to mix the contents and make sure the chicken is well coated. Refrigerate the bag for 30 minutes.
3. After marinating for 30 minutes, either cook the chicken on a grill OR preheat the oven to 375 degrees in preparation to bake the chicken.
4. To bake the chicken, place the chicken pieces in a large casserole dish (9x13). Bake the chicken in the preheated 375 degree oven for 45-60 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week and always remember To Find the Time to Do all the Things YOU  L♥ve.

Donna

chicken and spinach stuffed shells

I made this back in October for my sister in laws birthday dinner.  I also made stuffed Manicotti which was delicious too.  They were both very good.  I just love Alfredo anything and this was a nice change.  I made the Manicotti with ricotta which was also very good.

adapted from here

Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells Serves: 8-10 servings

Serves: about 40 shells

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) box uncooked jumbo pasta shells
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups fresh chopped spinach
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15oz) container ricotta cheese
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (5oz) package shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1⅔ cups)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Instructions

1. Cook shells according to package directions. Be careful not to overcook them or they will tear easily when trying to fill them. Drain and set shells out individually on a cutting board or baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.
2. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease two 9x13 baking dishes.
3. In a large bowl, combine chicken and all the rest of the ingredients except mozzarella and spaghetti sauce. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella. Spoon into shells. *Tip: For easier filling, fill a gallon ziplock baggie with the filling and snip a quarter size hole off the corner of the bag. Then you can just pipe the filling into the shells.
4. Spread half of spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dishes. Arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce. Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. If you are freezing one of the 9x13 prepared pans, freeze it after this step. Include a baggy of the remaining mozzarella for when you cook it.
5. Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes.
6. Makes 8-10 servings.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the time to Do ALL the things YOU Love.
Donna

Chicken Carpese'

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook and when I saw the video I knew I had to try it.  First it's so simple to make, goes together very quickly and is really delicious.  There was no leftovers with this meal.  I made a side salad and sauteed onion, red and yellow peppers in olive oil with garlic.  The meal was really great.

Ingredients:
5-6 boneless chicken breast
1 1/2 container of cherry tomatoes *I used yellow and red*
3-4 TBL balsamic vinegar
5-6 cloves garlic
Fresh Basil
Provolone Cheese or Mozzarella  *original called for Mozzarella I used Provolone*
salt and pepper
olive oil

In a large sauce pan heat olive oil, salt and pepper both sides of chicken breast add to heated pan.  Cook about 6-8 minutes on each side, set aside.  In same pan add balsamic vinegar then the garlic, cook for a minutes or so...be careful and watch the garlic you don't want it to burn.  Add the tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, add chopped basis then add the chicken back to pan place cheese on top of each piece and then  cover and let cook until the cheese melts.  Just before serving add some more fresh basil.
Serve on a large platter and place tomatoes on top of chicken pieces.
Enjoy
Hope you try this recipe it's great.  Have a great week and always remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things Y♥u L♥ve.
Donna

Jalapeno Popper Chicken *low carb*

My grandson and son in law love hot spicy things so this one is  a perfect dish for them.  I made mine without the jalapeno's and my daughters without the bacon.  I also made brocolli  and  rice for the boys.  I've been trying low carb again to try and get some weight off.  It's been hard trying to walk with working and my hip.   This is a great low carb recipe so hope you give it a try.

without Jalapeno

adapted from here

Ingredients

5 Slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
4-6 boneless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat (If thick, flatten a bit with mallet)
1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
8 Ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 Cup mayo
1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
4-6 fresh jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (seeds and ribs removed)
cilantro sprigs for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Cook bacon to crispy, set aside. Season chicken breasts with a little salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat either in the same pan you used for the bacon (pour off all but 1 Tablespoon of grease) or use a different skillet and add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Depending on the size of the breasts, cook each side 3-4 minutes, or until juices run clear. While chicken is cooking, remove seeds/ribs from jalapenos. Chop peppers finely. Once chicken is done, move to plate and set aside. Add chopped jalapenos to pan and saute briefly. Turn off heat. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, mayo, a little salt and pepper to taste, garlic powder. Add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses (I reserve a little for topping before baking), sauteed jalapenos, crumbled bacon. Place chicken back into skillet (or other ovenproof dish), top with cream cheese mixture, sprinkle a little additional cheddar and Parmesan if desired. Bake in oven until well heated (about 20 minutes). Thanks for stopping by, have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things You L♥ve. Donna

Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

I saw this on FB and decided that I would make it.  Easy peasy recipe and not much work at all to create as great dinner that the whole family will love.  Well let me rephrase that...my daughter requested that her chicken not have bacon on it.  LOL  Michael Symon would say "who doesn't love bacon, bacon makes everything better".    HMM my daughter doesn't agree.  :)


6-8 boneless chicken breast (pounded)
6-8 oz ricotta cheese
small bunch of fresh parsley chopped
12-16 slices of bacon
salt and pepper

Preheat oven 450° and line a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper (easy clean up)
Pound out the chicken breasts then spread ricotta on them then sprinkle with parsley, salt and pepper.  Roll up then wrap bacon around to cover, you will need 2 pieces per breast (unless the are small).
Place in oven and cook for about 40 minutes until bacon is crisp and chicken in done.
Serve and enjoy with your favorite sides

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

Corn Chowder with bacon and potatoes

I have been craving this soup for a week or so, and our weather here in Kansas has been just crazy.  One day 77 and the next barely in the mid 30's.  So this was the perfect time to make this.  I've never made corn chowder before and I've only had it a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

This came our sooooooooooooooo yummy....I will make it again for sure.  I took this to work and shared with some of my co workers and they all loved it.  Just enough left for 1 one serving.  Which I will totally enjoy.

PRINT:

Ingredients

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled*
1/4 cup butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
1 large red bell pepper, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1 medium yellow onion, diced (1 1/4 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced slightly less than 1/2-inch thick (3 cups)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2  cans corndrained
1 can creamed corn
1  cup half and half
1/2 - 1 cup heavy cream
3 oz cream cheese
3 oz Cracker Barrel White Cheddar Cheese
2 tsp dried thyme
Chives, chopped
sour cream


Directions:

Boil cubed potatoes until almost done, drain.
In large sauce pan cook bacon til crispy, set aside but leave fat in pan.  Add 1 TBL of butter to fat and then add 1/2 chopped onion.
Preheat oven to 450°, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the red pepper cut in half and the other half of the onion.  Cook until tender.  Set aside.
Back to bacon fat and butter, when onion is opaque add the garlic.  Add 2 TBL flour and stir until you get a wet sand look.  Add the chicken stock slowly and use whisk to stir so you get a nice smooth mixture.  Add all the corn, cooked pepper and onions and cook for about 10 minutes.  Add the Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper to taste.  Add the half and half and potatoes and cook for about 20 minutes at real slow low simmer.  The potatoes will continue to cook.  At this point I turned off the heat and let the flavors meld.  I finished the soup the next morning.    I melted butter in the microwave, added 2 TBL flour and made a roux.  I then added a 1/3 cut heavy cream and mixed til smooth.  I added that to the soup, added more heavy cream and simmered for about 10 minutes.  I then added the thyme and the cream cheese and simmered until the cheese melted.
When you serve garnish with chives and sour cream.  Enjoy with your favorite bread.
YUM, YUM, YUM
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things You L♥ve.
Donna

Balmasic Honey Chicken Thighs

I found this recipe on Pinterest, the gal has a great  site.  It looks so yummy that I just had to try it and I'm so glad I did.  I made it twice once on a trial run to see if the family would like it then made it for them and it was a big hit.  So will for sure make this again.

This recipe is so easy and quick.  Great for the week nights when you really don't want to spend much time in the kitchen after working all day.

Printable

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 dashes ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons water
Chopped parsley, for garnishing

Directions:

Season the chicken with the salt and ground black pepper.

Heat up a skillet on medium heat and slowly pan-fry the chicken, skin side down first, until both sides of the chicken become nicely browned and crispy. Remove the chicken and discard the chicken fat.
Add the olive oil and butter to the skillet, saute the garlic until slightly browned, follow by the honey, balsamic vinegar and water. Add the chicken back into the skillet and simmer and reduce the sauce until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat, garnish with the parsley and serve immediately.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

Chicken Lo Mein

Lately I get cravings and just have to make what it is that I want to eat.  This time it was Asian Flare type stuff.  I've always wanted to make lo mein and wanted it to taste like the stuff from a local small Asian place.  Well think I finally found a recipe.  I found it here and she's right most of her stuff in Damn Delicious!!! I also made her Crab Rangoons, those were great too.  The Asian place here doesn't put all these great veggie's in their Lo Mein but the flavor of this is great.  So guess I won't have to spend the money for take out.  Also I found at our local Asian store they had fresh egg lo mein noodles.  The most time consuming part of this dish is of course all the cutting and preparing.  Oh yeah one other thing, I used rotisserie chicken, our local market had them on sale.....so one less thing to cook.  I made a very large fry pan of this and my grandson wanted to eat it all....I only let him have 1/2 so I could have something for dinner and also leftover so I won't have to cook the next day.
I omitted the mushrooms because I'm not a fan.

Printable
Ingredients: 
8 ounces lo mein egg noodles*  
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced (didn't use)
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 carrot, julienned
1/2 cup snow peas
3 cups baby spinach
1-2 cups cooked chicken

For the sauce

2 tablespoons  soy sauce, or more, to taste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (I used fresh)
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha, or more, to taste (I used sweet chilli sauce)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, ginger and Sriracha; set aside.
2. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions; drain well.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in snow peas and spinach until the spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Stir in egg noodles and soy sauce mixture, and gently toss to combine.
5. Serve immediately.

Hope you give this a try, you'll be glad you did and may possibly not visit the local Asian Place again.
Have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

 

cracklin Chicken

My daughter found this on Pinterest and wanted me to make it for our Thursday family dinner.  Its is really good and so quick to make.  So if you're looking for a quick week night meal give this a try.  This would be great to make and then put in your salad.   This was a huge hit so I will for sure be making this again.

Ingredients:
boneless chicken thighs *skin on*
salt and pepper
ghee or butter and oil mixed *for frying*
large cast iron skillet

As the person that posted this says it's so much cheaper to buy bone in thighs and just removed them yourself.  It's not rocket science and oh so easy.
Turn the thigh skin down, get a good boning knife or kitchen shears and just start cutting along the bone taking your time and then cut around the knob at the end and remove.  It's really that simple.
Dry the pieces well and then salt the skin side *as the chef's say make it rain* which means hold your hand up high and sprinkle the salt on your chicken.  You can season the under side with salt and pepper or add some other spices if you like.  Guess you like a bit of kick you could add some chilli powder or such.  I just did the plan salt and pepper.  Was great.

Heat the oil and butter then add the chicken skin side down.  Cook for about 7 minutes *DO
 NOT MESS WITH IT* just let it cook, you can move the pan around on the stove to be sure that all the parts are getting cooked the same.    Check after about 7 minutes to see if it's nice and golden brown...like above... then flip and cook for about another 3 minutes.  Drain on paper towel....ENJOY!!

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna
 

Cheese, Chilli Chicken Taquito's (baked)

This is what we had for New Years Day.  Usually we have some sort of  big meal, either Ham, Roast Pork or sometimes even Turkey....but this year we just weren't in the mood for all that.  I myself was really craving something Mexican and I haven't made Taquito's in some time.  I also made some of these with white corn.  I used white corn tortillas, chicken breast and the list of other ingredients follows:

Ingredients:
4 large boneless skinless chicken breast
1 large onion diced
1/2 can of mild rotel
salt/pepper
2 tsp chilli powder
queso cheese for filling, didn't really measure
1/2 cup white corn (canned) drained)
4 oz cream cheese
Hatch green chilli
White Corn Tortillas (warmed, makes it easier to roll them)

***  warm the tortilla in a dry skillet, it makes them so much easier to roll and they don't break **
Directions:
Saute some chopped onion in pan, add chicken *I put the breast in and cooked then cut*, return the chicken to the pan  add seasoning, rotel, corn and the green chilli, if you use it.  Cook until all combined.  Warm tortilla and then fill, don't over fill, roll and place on a greased lined parchment paper baking sheet.  Spray the tops of tortilla then top with cheese.  Bake 375° for about 15-20 until
shells are golden and cheese is melted.  Serve with avocado and sour cream and of course more cheese.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the time to Do ALL the Things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

Chicken Thighs with Apricot glaze

This dish is just wonderful.  Has just the right amount of sweetness and the fresh basil and mustard gives it such a wonderful depth of flavor.  A must try.

adapted from here

1 1/4 pounds, or about 3 bone-in & skin-on chicken thighs (pasture-raised)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
Apricot Basil Glaze
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smooth dijon mustard
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/2 cup Cascadian Farm Organic apricot preserves
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced basil
Rub chicken thighs with 1 tablespoons olive oil and salt, then let sit while you prepare the sauce so that they come close to room temperature.
For sauce, heat olive oil to medium high heat in a small saucepan. Add shallot and salt, cooking for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Stir in mustard, vinegar and preserves. Lightly simmer for 5-6 minutes, until slightly thickened. Stir in basil and turn off heat.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to medium high heat in a 12 inch cast-iron skillet. Wait until very hot, then add chicken thighs skin side down. Cook for 3 minutes, then turn heat down to medium and continue to cook for 8 more minutes so that it can “fry” in it’s own fat, until skin is golden brown. Flip and cook for 10 minutes.
Transfer skillet to oven and cook for 8-10 minutes longer, until meat is cooked through and juices run clear. Transfer to a plate, smother with glaze, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Remember to Always Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

chicken cordon bleu Casserole

This is a very tasty dish, especially if you like the original Chicken Cordon Bleu.  It has all the same ingredients but in a casserole form.  You could add some other things I guess, like broccoli,  or other veggie just use your imagination.

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
1/2 lb deli ham
6 slices swiss cheese
Sauce:
4 TBL butter
4 TBL flour
3 1/4 cp milk (I use 1/2 n 1/2 and water)
2 TBL lemon juice
1 TBL dijon mustard
1  1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp pepper
Topping
6 TBLbutter
1 1/2 cups  panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 TBL fresh parsley
salt and pepper

Direction:
preheat oven 350°
Boil chicken until tender, set aside...when cool cut.
Butter a 9-10 inch casserole dish, layer chicken, ham then cheese.  Pour sauce over top and then top with bread crumbs.  Bake for 30-45 minutes in 350° oven.  Top should be nice a browned.
Thanks for taking time to stop by, have a wonderful day and Always Remember to Find the time to Do All the Things Y ♥u L♥ove.
Donna

Ingredients

For the casserole:
1 whole cooked chicken, bones removed, meat diced or shredded (rotisserie chicken is excellent, should have 5-6 cups)
1/2 pound very thinly sliced deli-style honey ham, rough chopped
1/4 pound thin sliced baby Swiss cheese
For the sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste - See more at: http://foods-exclusive.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole.html#sthas

Ingredients

For the casserole:
1 whole cooked chicken, bones removed, meat diced or shredded (rotisserie chicken is excellent, should have 5-6 cups)
1/2 pound very thinly sliced deli-style honey ham, rough chopped
1/4 pound thin sliced baby Swiss cheese
For the sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste - See more at: http://foods-exclusive.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole.html#sthash.mwEMPHEj.dpuf

Ingredients

For the casserole:
1 whole cooked chicken, bones removed, meat diced or shredded (rotisserie chicken is excellent, should have 5-6 cups)
1/2 pound very thinly sliced deli-style honey ham, rough chopped
1/4 pound thin sliced baby Swiss cheese
For the sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste - See more at: http://foods-exclusive.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole.html#sthash.mwEMPHEj.dpuf

Ingredients

For the casserole:
1 whole cooked chicken, bones removed, meat diced or shredded (rotisserie chicken is excellent, should have 5-6 cups)
1/2 pound very thinly sliced deli-style honey ham, rough chopped
1/4 pound thin sliced baby Swiss cheese
For the sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste - See more at: http://foods-exclusive.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole.html#sthash.mwEMPHEj.dpuf

Ingredients

For the casserole:
1 whole cooked chicken, bones removed, meat diced or shredded (rotisserie chicken is excellent, should have 5-6 cups)
1/2 pound very thinly sliced deli-style honey ham, rough chopped
1/4 pound thin sliced baby Swiss cheese
For the sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste - See more at: http://foods-exclusive.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-chicken-cordon-bleu-casserole.html#sthash.mwEMPHEj.dpuf

Sweet and Sour Chicken (baked)

That was a very good meal, and not long to make. 
Instructions

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste
1½ cup cornstarch
3 eggs, beaten
¼ cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup (no sugar added)
¼ cup white vinegar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon  soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 carrot sliced thin
1 onion sliced
1 celery stalk sliced
1 small red pepper
Fresh Pineapple (can use 20 oz can of pineapple chunk drained)
2-3 TBL of the pineapple juice
sesame seeds to top

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
In separate bowls, place cornstarch and slightly beaten eggs. Dip chicken into cornstarch then coat in egg mixture.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned. Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 hour.
I stirred the chicken every 15 minutes so that it coated them in the sauce.
separate bowls, place cornstarch and slightly beaten eggs. Dip chicken into cornstarch then coat in egg mixture.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned. Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.  After the chicken is cooked, pour oil off and leave a tiny bit in skillet, add the onion saute for a minute or so then add the rest of the veggies.  Add to baking dish.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic salt, mix well add the pineapple. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 hour. Stir the chicken every 15 minutes so that it coated them in the sauce.  Just before serving you can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.  Serve with your favorite rice.   I always make cauliflower fried rice.
Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you like.  Have a great week and always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU LOVE.
Donna

LC Chicken Flour Tacos

I've been experimenting with some LC recipes so I can have a variety of food.  After a while its gets very boring eating salad 1000 different ways.
There are many good LC tortilla's out there.  Unfortunately for me the best ones I've found are made in Santa Fe, New Mexico and are not sold here in KS.  *sigh*...but the other ones out there will do as long as you have the right fillings.
This is a very easy quick lunch or dinner and you get your salad included.  :)
This recipe is for 1 but you could just double or triple it ingredients for as many as you would like to feed.

2 LC flour tortillas
1 - 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 small onion diced
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/3 cup shredded colby/jack cheese
1 small tomato diced
1/3 cup water
1-2 heaping TBL of Taco seasoning (see below)
sour cream
olive oil for cooking chicken

Homemade Taco seasoning
2 tsp hot chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp fine black pepper
pinch of cayene pepper (more or less)
pinch of red pepper flakes (more or less)
The two above are based on the amount of heat you like
Mix all together.

In a skillet heat oil sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning then add chicken breasts and onion cook until almost done, remove chicken from pan and slice.  Return to pan and continue cooking, add more seasoning if desired.  Add about 1/3 cup of water and let simmer for about 5 minutes so the taco seasoning gets into meat.  You could use package Taco seasoning mix if you don't have or want to make our own.  Own is better though.  JMO
Heat your LC tortilla either on top of stove or in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.  Fill and top with your lettuce, tomato and sour cream.  Enjoy.  YUM

Thanks for taking time to stop by, leave a comment if you like would love to hear your thoughts.  Have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU L♥ove.
D♥onna

Southwest Egg Rolls (LC)

I saw a recipe on line somewhere for this type of egg roll and thought .....hmmmm I could make those and make them LC.  With all the lc items on
the market now it would be easy.  I bought some Mission LC tortilla's and the filling is induction friendly too.  You could have just the filling and maybe fry up a tortilla and cut them into chips to cut down on the carb count.  But really for 2 of these it's about 7 carbs and the tortilla are 3 net carbs each...so if you are on OWL these would be great too.

2 chicken breasts
1/2 onion chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup green beans

1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin
3-4 TBL chopped green chilli
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup cheese.... (Monterey jack or maybe pepper jack)
8-9 LC tortilla's
oil for frying and more for cooking filling

Filled eggroll:   Freeze them for about two hours.  They fry best if you do this step.
In a skillet, heat oil and add onion, red pepper and salt and pepper.  Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes.  Remove from pan.  Heat a bit more oil and sprinkle chicken with some chilli powder and cook until almost done.  Remove and shred or cut into pieces, return it to the skillet, add the veggies, the green beans and the spices.  Cook for about 3 - 4 minutes.  Add the cheese a cook for a minute or so.  Remove from heat.  Take about 1 1/2 TBL of filling and put in the center of a tortilla and roll like you would for making egg rolls.  Place in a pan or dish and put in the freezer for about an hour.  Heat the oil to 375° add the egg rolls a couple at a time and cook until golden. 
I served these with Spicy Ranch Dressing (walmart brand) mixed with sour cream.  Delish
Thanks for taking time to stop by, have a great weekend and Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things You L♥ve.
D♥nna

baked stuffed chicken rolls

This is a very tasty dish that the entire family will love.  It's loaded with so  much flavor and you would make it low carb if you like.  My changes for doing it low carb are in red.  These pictures are the low carb version because that's the way I eat now, but feel free to make it your way.  I made the fried green tomatoes that night also, and the pasta is Dreamsfield LC spaghetti and a nice salad.  Very filling meal.

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts (8 4-ounce pieces)
1 cup whole wheat Italian style bread crumbs (*I used low carb Italian flat-bread let it stay out til it was hard then processed to make crumbs)
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
5 ounces fresh baby spinach
1 clove minced garlic and olive oil for sauteing
½ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
⅓ cup beaten egg whites
3 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly slice
1 cup marinara sauce
fresh basil for topping


INSTRUCTIONS
Prep the chicken: Cut the chicken into 8 pieces and pound the pieces until they are thin (for quick cooking) and have expanded in surface area (for more filling). Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl with 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and set aside.
Prep the filling: Chop the spinach and sautee it with the garlic and just a drizzle of olive oil for 2-3 minutes or until just barely wilted. Combine the sauteed spinach with the ricotta, Parmesan cheese, and 2-3 tablespoons of the egg whites. Place the remaining egg whites in a separate shallow bowl and set aside.
Assemble the chicken: Oil the bottom of a large baking dish and preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place one piece of chicken on a flat working surface. Put a spoonful of ricotta-spinach filling right in the middle and roll the chicken up so that the edges meet to form a “seam”. Dip the entire chicken roll in egg whites, and then roll it in the breadcrumbs. Place in a baking dish, seam side down. Repeat for the remaining 7 pieces of chicken. Bake for 25 minutes.
Finishing touches: After 25 minutes, the chicken should be cooked through (white on the inside) and browned on the top. Cover the chicken with the marinara sauce and slices of fresh Mozzarella. Bake for another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melting. Sprinkle with fresh basil.
NOTES
Don’t try to cram all the pieces too close together because if the sides are touching each other, they won’t get crispy. Leaving a little space between each piece allows the breadcrumbs to bake, brown, and get crispy.
Thanks for stopping by, sure hope you try this recipe.  Have a great day and Remember to Find the time to do ALL the things you L♥ve.
Donna

Low carb bread sticks

I was pleasantly surprised at how good these were.  The family liked them too.  I didn't have my marinara sauce ready at the time so used Ranch to dip them in.  (Update I did make them again and we all agreed they are better with the marinara sauce, makes them like Mozzarella  sticks)
I found this here, she has some awesome recipes....want to try almost all of them soon.
Easiest Bread sticks Ever
1 packed cup cooked, minced chicken breast  (I used rotisserie chicken)
1 cup packed mozzarella, shredded
1 Tbsp parsley, dried
1 tsp basil  (I used fresh)
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Process chicken and cheese together. Mixture will resemble a meal/thick, dense crumb consistency.
3. Firmly press chicken/cheese mixture to 1/2″ thick  into non-stick, miniature bread pans, about 4X8″ (if you have a regular pan, you can spray and line with parchment for easy removal and use that instead).
4. Top with parsley, basil, onion and garlic powder.
5. Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Let cool for five minutes in pan.
7. Invert onto a cooling rack until fully cooled.
8. Slice and serve.
Makes a hell of a lot of breadsticks.
These are such a great addition to food that can be eaten when you are doing LC life style.  Hope you give them a try because they are well worth making and will be a hit with all that try them.  It's also so shocking to know they are made of chicken.
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things You Love.
Donna

Faux Chicken Fried Rice

I have been making a lot of low carb dishes lately and this was one I made the other night to have as my veggie.  It's so simple to make and very low carb.  Hope you'll give it a try you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good it is.  It's also very quick to make, so yet another big plus.
printable:

1/2 head cauliflower - grated on the large hole of box grater
1 egg
1-2 TBL oil
1/4 of an onion diced
2-3 oz of cooked chicken cut up
Soy Sauce to taste
Sesame oil

In a large skillet heat some oil, (I use coconut oil) then saute the onions, til clear, add the egg and cook til it looks like scrambled egg, add your cauliflower and stir.  Continue to cook til done..it takes about 5 minutes.  Add some soy sauce and sesame oil to taste, cook a bit longer and the very end I added some cooked chicken.
You can add things to this recipe if you like, such as peas, green onion, carrots, etc.

I made this side to go with a Tilapia Parmesan piece of fish.  Dinner was really good.  Will share the fish recipe in an upcoming post, along with some of the other low carb items I've made.
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the Time to Do All the things You Love.
Donna
carb count for 1 cup faux rice 10.8 Fiber 8.2  Net Carb 2.6

Basil Lemon Roast Chicken

This is a very quick and easy dish to make.  You could stuff the chicken if you wanted but I made this one empty.

Ingredients:
1 large chicken ...think this one was about 3 1/2 lbs.
1 whole lemon
2-3 stems  fresh basil
2 fresh thyme springs
salt and pepper

Preheat oven 375°
Rinse the chicken and pat dry.  Place in a roasting pan, put a little salt inside the
cavity, the loosen the breast skin and place a thin slice of lemon and some basil between the skin and the meat.  Squeeze some juice on top then put the rest of the lemon and basil inside the cavity.  Put in oven uncovered and bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Test with thermometer for internal temp to be 160° - 175° and juices run clear.
With the drippings from the chicken you can make a nice gravy.  Just add some cornstarch or coconut flour *(low carb) to some water then to your drippings.  Add some thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
You can serve this with so many things for a quick meal.
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find The Time to Do all the things YOU love.
Donna