Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fall Harvest Chicken

Fall flavors are in full swing and I am always looking for new flavor combos to change it up. I wanted to play off the classic recipe my mom made as a child using brisket. Since my time is limited during the week I figured chicken would help speed it up.

Ingredients:

1 Pound Chicken Breast sliced thin

1/2 Onion Sliced Thin

1/2 Pound Mushrooms sliced think

6 Prunes Chopped

1/2 Pomegranate seeds plus 2 Tbs for garnish

3/4 Cup Water

2 Tbs Balsamic

1 Tbs Brown Sugar

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

Start by sautéing the onions with brown sugar in a well sprayed pan until they start to become translucent.  While onions cook, salt and pepper the chicken breast on each side. Place the chicken in the pan with onions and brown on each side. This should take no longer then one minute per side on high heat. Remove chicken from pan and place on a plate. To the pan add balsamic and water and mix well, scraping the bottom of the pan a bit. Add the prunes, pomegranate and mushrooms then lower heat to medium. Add chicken back to pan and bring liquid to a simmer. Cover pan partially and turn chicken every few minutes. Cook until liquid is almost gone. Serve chicken with onions, and fruit on top. Garnish plate with extra pomegranate seeds.

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Tropical Shrimp Salad

Summer time flavors are always a treat on a hot day. A nice cold entrée that is filled with flavor and fun to eat is always a winner. This recipes is super simple and great for a BBQ or picnic.

Ingredients:

1/2 Pound Medium Shrimp (Peel, Cooked and Chilled)

1 Mango (Peeled and Chopped) and/ or Chopped Seedless Orange

1 Chopped Red Pepper

1 Cup Cherry Tomato’s Sliced in half

1 Lime

1/2 Chopped Cilantro

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

Start by mixing lime juice well with salt and pepper. Add fruit, peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. Mix together well and finally added in shrimp. Mix it all and chill in fridge until ready to serve.

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Chicken Pop

No matter what your making it will always taste better if it looks better. Any simple recipe can be taken up a step if you make it eye appealing. This recipe is a play of my famous chicken wing but done in a whole new way.

Ingredients:

20 Chicken wings separated keep only the drumstick half
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1 Tbs Garlic Powder
1 Tbs Onion Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Pepper
2 Tbs Paprika

Start by taking each chicken wing drum stick in one hand and a sharp pairing knife in the other. Gently slice the small tendon either side on the bone on the long skinny side. Then using the knife scrape the meat up towards the fatter end on the bone. Your trying to create something of a broccoli shape. Repeat this with each wing and then place in a bowl. Toss with olive oil and coat each wing well. Next, add all the seasoning and gently toss everything together coating everything in all the seasoning. Place each wing on an oiled and foiled baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes then flip each wing over and cook an additional 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot and have fun plating the wings with different sauces and styles. Enjoy!

Check out a clip of me making this recipe in the video section of my blog.

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Tasty Bite

One of the best parts of what I do is getting to review new products. I love coming home to a new new package of goodies that I get to try and play with.

Last week I received a box of Tasty Bite Indian items. The each item comes in its own shelf stable and microwavable bag. Prep is simple, just cut a slit in the bag and microwave for 1 minute. You can eat right from the bag in a rush or get a little fancy pairing with some rice, veggie, bread or protein. As much as I love to cook, I am also very busy. The idea of having something super easy, gluten free and healthy is a dream come true. The best part is that this stuff is GOOD!!!

Most items are around $3.50 each and you get them all on-line at Tasty Bite Store.

One night I came home late, grabbed the bag of Bombay Potatoes and heated in the microwave. Paired it with a scrambled egg and was simple amazed. In the gluten free world it is so hard to find anything quick to eat that is pre-done, healthy and taste good. Tasty Bite is on to something great!

Since my boyfriend loves Indian food I decided to get creative and made a nice meal for us in minutes. Starting with the Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma that I heated in the microwave. Then, on a pan I quickly cooked 3/4 Pound of medium shrimp with a little salt and pepper. Added the Korma to the pan and simmered for a few minutes on low heat. Served with rice and a salad. We have a complete meal in minutes and it was even better then take-out.

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Tropical Pasta Salad

Pasta salad in the gluten free world can be a challenge. You need to be able to give the salad flavor with out weighing it down with all the dressing. This recipe is filled with summer flavor.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Gluten Free Pasta Twist
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
1 Mango Diced
1/2 Cup Cilantro
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 Pepper
1 tsp Oregano
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1/2 Sugar

Cook pasta making sure you do over cook it. You want the pasta to be firm and not loss any shape. While pasta cooks, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, sugar and oregano.
When pasta is done run under cool water and drain well. Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl and add tomatoes sliced in half, cilantro and mango. Toss is all together and then add dressing before serving. Enjoy!

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Stuffed Chicken

I made this recipe in minutes and was shocked by how well it came out. A great way to change up that normal week night chicken breast.

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breast

1 Bell Pepper

4 Tbs grated Parm Cheese

1/4 Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 Wine ( What ever kind you are drinking)

1/2 Tbs Salt

1/2 Tbs Pepper

1 Tbs Oregano

Butter Fly the chicken breast. This means slice chicken in the middle leaving one side uncut so that it opens like a book. Salt and pepper the chicken all over and place in a bowl. Add a mixture of the vinegar, wine and oregano and allow it sit for an hour. While waiting roast the red pepper whole in the oven at 500 degrees or on broil. Once it starts too blacken, remove and peel off skin. Cut of stem and remove seeds. Slice the pepper in half so you have two flat pieces. When chicken is ready lay each breast open on a plate. Lay one piece of pepper on top of each and fill with 2 Tbs of cheese. Fold the breast closed and place in baking dish. Pour remaining marinade on top and cook for 15 minutes at 350 degress. After about ten minutes I spooned some sauce on the bottom over the chicken to help keep it moist. Enjoy.

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Walnut Crusted Salmon

Salmon is truly my favorite fish and I am always looking for new and fun ways to change it up. I always see nut crusted seafood item’s on restaurant menu’s but they are never gluten free and they are always high in calorie. My version is easy to make and you will feel good about it.

Ingredients:

1-2 Pounds of Salmon Cut in to Serving Size Slices

1 Cup Crushed Nuts (Walnut, Pecans, Pistachios)

1/2 Cup Chopped Parsley

1 Lemon Cut into Wedges

1 tsb Salt

1 Tbs Butter or Oil

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place Crushed nuts, parsley, 1/4 lemon, salt and butter in food processor to blend it all together into a paste. Spread even amounts of nut mixture on each piece. Splash a little more lemon on top and place in the oven. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 mins. depending on size and then boil on high for an addition few minutes until tops begin to brown. Enjoy!

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Baked Wings

Since I was young I have always loved Chicken Wings. Being gluten free and also always health conscious I have found a way to make great wings with out all the extra oil from frying. My recipe is super easy and cuts down on 1/3 of the calories, super easy to do and avoids cross contamination from using a regular fryer. They are so good you can full anyone to thinking you ordered them from takeout.

Ingredients:

30 Cleaned Chicken Wings

2 Tbs Olive Oil

2 Tbs Paprika

1 Tbs Garlic Powder

1 Tbs Onion Powder

Start by washing and drying the wings. Place wings in a big bowl and coat all the wings with oil. Add all the seasoning and mix well. Pour wings on two foiled and well sprayed baking sheets. Make sure the wings do not overlap. Bake at 400 degrees for 60 min then flip them over and cook an additional 30 minutes.

Serve warm with any dipping sauce and celery sticks. A healthy alternative to the high calorie blue cheese dressing is 1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt + 2 OZ Blue Cheese Crumbles + Pinch of Salt.

Enjoy!!!!

Pumpkin Hummus

As always I continue to look for fun new ways to use pumpkin. I was trying to come up with something fun for a brunch and I figured a pumpkin spread would work great. With an idea of hummus in my mind this is what I created.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin
1 Can Chickpeas
2 Tbs Peanut Butter
2 Tbs Almond Milk
1/2 Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
2 tsp Pumpkin Spice
2 Tbs Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Splenda

Start by blending chickpeas, almond milk and peanut butter in a food processor until smooth. Nest add all remaining ingredients. Once its well blended place in a clean bowl and store in fridge until you read to serve but for at least 30 min.

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