Showing posts with label weeknight dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weeknight dinner. Show all posts

9.25.2014

Pad Thai

My fiancĂ© and I LOVE noodly (totally just made that up) meals and are continuously looking for delicious recipes.  We found this super easy and quick Pad Thai recipe that is full of flavors, but we put our own spin on it to make it even healthier and more filling! This is great to make after a long day at work and all you want is take-out.  This version tastes even better and is much healthier.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Servings: 4
Serving Size: 2 cups
Points Plus: 6pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
8 oz. cooked rice noodles
4 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 fresh limes, cut in half
6 Tbsp. soy sauce, low-sodium
2 tsp. olive oil
Small bunch of green onions (use both green and white parts), chopped
1 medium garlic clove, chopped
2 eggs
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
3 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce (more if you like it SPICY!)

Directions:
Soak noodles according to package in hot water; drain when done.  In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, juice from 1 lime, soy sauce, and Sriracha sauce; set aside.  In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add white parts of green onions and garlic.  Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add eggs and cook, scraping the pan with a spatula until eggs are almost set.  Add drained noodle and sauce mixture to the skillet.  Toss until evenly coated.  Serve with lime wedges and top each serving with cilantro, green parts of the onions and 1 Tbsp. chopped peanuts.

Tip:
I like to add veggies to this dish to make it healthier and to add more texture to the Pad Thai.  I slice carrots with a peeler (the long way so they are thin) and bean sprouts.  Add these ingredients when you transfer the noodles to the skillet.  You could also add in zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower or whatever vegetables you like.  Just make sure they are cooked to your liking before serving!

XOXO - Laura


9.23.2014

Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomato and Mushroom Pizza

Hi there! I'm Nancy, Megan's Mom and Katie's Aunt!  I love finding and trying new recipes.  Sometimes I even bravely try them out for the first time when I have guests over!  Sometimes I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and others I just want to get it done, quick and simple.  Any way you look at it thought I like to eat healthy and tend to go meatless most of the time.  I like to show others that you can eat yummy meals that are plant based only!  I'm also excited that Megan & Katie decided to let me be a guest blogger!  Enjoy my recipes!

The flavor in this pizza is really big for only a few ingredients!  The sun dried tomatoes are packed with flavor and roasted broccoli has a delicious, caramelized, seasoned taste to it.  Mushrooms are the perfect complement to this trio of veggies.  String cheese is probably not what you usually think of for pizza, but is a great innovative idea for pizza cheese!

Servings: 3
Serving Size: 1/3 of pizza
Points Plus: 6pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 12 inch thin whole wheat pizza crust (I used Golden Home Ultra Thin)
1 cup broccoli florets, roasted
1/4 cup. sun dried tomatoes, diced
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced thin
6 light string cheese sticks

Directions:
Spread the broccoli evenly over the pizza crust.  Next, add the diced sun dried tomatoes and finally layer on the mushrooms.  Separate the string cheese into 8 pieces per stick and distribute evenly on top of the pizza.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Slice and enjoy!

Tip:
I like to cut my pizza into narrow slices because it makes it seem like I have more to eat and dinner takes a little bit more time this way.

XOXO Nancy



9.19.2014

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

There are so many ways to make boring baked chicken more exciting! Cheese is always a good place to start. This juicy baked chicken has a slight crust, which actually makes you think it's fried!

Servings: 4
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
Points Plus: 5pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. Italian bread crumbs
1/8 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 lb. chicken breasts (4)

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix together cheese, breadcrumbs and all seasonings in a bowl. One by one, coat each chicken breast with the cheese coating. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, flip, and then bake for 10-15 more minutes. 

Tip:
I just learned this crazy tip! To bake chicken, place a metal cookie cooling rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Place chicken to the rack and bake for the entire time your recipe calls for, no need to flip! The chicken juice will drip onto the rimmed sheet and your chicken will turn out crispy!

XOXO - Katie

9.16.2014

3 Cheese Skinny Penne Bake

Three cheeses and pasta??  Ummm, yes please! This is a super easy weeknight meal that is lightened up with reduced-fat cheeses to make a great pasta bake.  The portion size isn't huge, but you could easily pair this meal with a veggie side for some extra nutrition.  My husband LOVED this and we both enjoyed that it made lots of servings - it made it easy to pack a serving for lunch the next day!

Servings: 8
Serving Size: About 1 cup
Points Plus: 5pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook/Bake Time: 30-35 minutes


Ingredients:
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 jar of pasta marinara sauce (24 oz.)
12 oz. penne pasta
1/2 cup cottage cheese, low-fat
1/2 cup ricotta cheese, part-skim
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, reduced-fat/part-skim
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. fresh oregano, diced
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, diced

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a large pot, cook the penne according to the directions on the packages.  Make sure your pasta is al dente because it will cook more while baking in the oven.  In a large skillet, add the onion and garlic and sautĂ© over medium heat until tender, about 3-5 minutes.  Add in the whole jar of pasta sauce to the skillet and stir until well combined.  Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Combine the cottage cheese, ricotta and 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a medium bowl.  Stir in the fresh herbs to the cheese mixture.  Assemble the pasta bake in a 9x13 pan.  Start with 1/2 of the pasta and sauce mixture, spread evenly on the bottom of the pan.  Next, layer in all of the cheese mixture; spread evenly across the first pasta layer.  Finish with the remaining pasta and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Tip:
Don't have any fresh herbs on hand from your herb garden?  That's okay, substitute in dried herbs instead.  Use 1 teaspoon for every tablespoon of fresh.

XOXO Megan

Recipe adapted from Skinnymom

9.11.2014

Acorn Squash w. Fried Egg

You can stuff an acorn squash with just about anything, and use it for a fancy side dish or even a filling whole meal. This fall squash is simply stuffed with an egg that bakes in the oven to sort of a poached consistency. Top this baby with a bit of cheese and you have the perfect fall flavor combo.

Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1/2 squash
Points Plus: 2pp
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Level of Difficulty: Easy


Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
2 eggs
Salt + pepper to taste
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cut your acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Spray the squash with cooking spray and place them on a cookie sheet, cut side up.  Bake them for 30 minutes then remove them from the oven. Crack an egg int the center of each squash, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Return to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove and enjoy!

Tip:
You could also add some veggies into the squash hole prior to breaking the egg.  Tomato and onions would be tasty!

XOXO - Katie

9.09.2014

Steak with Cream Sauce

Grilled steak alone is amazing, but add a creamy cheesy sauce and you have steak on a whole new level! This tasty cream sauce is simple to make and has a surprising depth of flavor for such few ingredients.

Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1 4 oz fillet + 1 1/2 T cream sauce
Points Plus: 6pp
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
2, 4oz filet mignons
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup white wine or chicken stock
1 wedge, Laughing Cow cheese, I used garlic herb
1 t olive oil
Salt + pepper
Cooking spray

Directions
Heat a grill pan to medium high and spray with cooking spray with cooking spray. Season steaks with salt and pepper, and set them on the grill pan, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked to desired temperature. 

Add olive oil to a small sauce pan and sautee garlic until softened, about 1 minute.  Stir in wine and cook until mixture has reduced by about half.  Whisk in cheese and remove from heat.  Stir until sauce is smooth.  Add about 1 1/2 T of sauce to the top of each filet and serve!

Tip
Try this creamy sauce on chicken or fish!

XOXO - Katie

9.02.2014

Greek Turkey Burgers

It's fun to find new ways to change up a tradtional turkey burger.  I love turkey burgers because they are guilt-free (well not completely, but you know what I mean) way to enjoy summer grilling!  This recipe is for a Greek style turkey burger with a creamy cucumber dill sauce that is a perfect condiment topping.

Servings: 6
Serving Size: 1 turkey burger + bun + 1 Tbsp. cucumber dill sauce
Points Plus: 8pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Grill/Cook Time:

Ingredients:
Cucumber Dill Sauce:
1 7 oz. plain Greek yogurt (I prefer the Fage brand)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp. dried dill
Fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)

Turkey Burgers:
1 1/4 lbs. ground turkey
1 egg
2 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup crumbled feta
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, dill and fresh lemon juice.  Whisk together with a small whisk until well combine.  Refrigerate until you are ready to serve the turkey burgers.  Wash and prep the onion, cucumber (the thin slices will be used as a burger topping) and dice the roasted red peppers.  In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, frozen spinach, roasted red peppers, onion, oregano, garlic, bread crumbs, feta and salt & pepper to taste.  Mix together (using your hands works the best) until all ingredients are well combined.  Divide the mixture into 6 and shape into burger patties.  Cook on the grill over medium high heat for about 5 minutes per side.  Check to make sure the turkey burgers reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees to make sure they are cooked through.  Serve with the cucumber dill sauce and the cucumber slices!

Tip:
One of my favorite parts of grilling is how easy it is to toast the buns while the burgers are finishing cooking.  We have a wire rack above our burners that works perfect - it's like a little shelf perfectly made for buns or bread. :)

XOXO Megan

    8.15.2014

    Grilled Pita Pizzas

    My husband actually came up with this idea for this recipe!  We are continuously finding new ways to use our grill and with a variety of different foods.  We love to make homemade pizza and thought why not try a grilled pizza of sorts.  Pitas worked great on the grill since they are already cooked and not just dough.  We went for a simple tomato, basil and cheese recipe, but you could easily make whatever kind of pita pizzas you feel like.  Be creative!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: 1 pita pizza
    Points Plus: 7pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook/Grill Time: 10 minutes

    Ingredients:
    2 pitas
    1 Tbsp. olive oil
    Fresh rosemary, chopped
    Kosher salt
    1 large tomato, sliced
    4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, reduced-fat
    Fresh basil leaves

    Directions:
    Wash and chop the fresh rosemary. Slice the tomato into thin slices. Lightly brush 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil on each pita.  Sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh rosemary.  Place the pita on the grill over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. After the pita has started to crisp up on the grill, add tomato slices, fresh basil leaves and top with 2 oz. of shredded mozzareall cheese.  Place back on the grill for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the cheese starts to melt.  Slice into quarters with a pizza cutter and serve immediately!

    Tip:
    Fresh herbs made such a difference!  We have a rosemary plant we've been using all summer long and it's amazing how much more flavorful the fresh variety is compared to a dried herb.

    XOXO Megan

    8.11.2014

    Santa Fe Stuffed Zucchini

    It's definitely zucchini season!  I don't know about you, but I love zucchini and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it.  I found this recipe which makes zucchini boats that are stuffed with a Santa Fe seasoned ground turkey mixture.  The original recipe calls for 12 oz. ground turkey and not the full cans of black beans or corn - I decided to make a bigger recipe and had some leftover stuffing mixture that I baked in a sepearte pan in the oven.  The leftover stuffing would be great over lettuce!

    Servings: 6
    Serving Size: 2 zucchini halves 
    Points Plus: 7pp
    Level of Difficulty: Medium
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes

    Ingredients:
    5 medium zucchini
    1 lb. lean ground turkey
    1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
    1 can corn, rinsed and drained
    1 jalapeno pepper
    1 tomato, diced
    1 clove garlic
    1/4 cup onion, chopped
    2 tsp. cumin
    Kosher salt
    1/2 cup salsa
    1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
    1 cup Mexican shredded cheese, reduced-fat

    Directions:
    Bring a large pot of water to to boil.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash and slice each zucchini in half length-wise.  Scoop out the insides of each zucchini half, leaving about 1/4 of an inch to form a zucchini boat.  Place the hollowed out zucchini halves in the boiling water and boil for 1-2 minutes.  Save the insides of the zucchini to add to the stuffing mixture.  Brown the ground turkey in a large skillet over medium high heat; season with salt to taste.  Once the turkey is almost cooked through, add in the black beans, corn, jalapeno, tomato, onion, garlic, zucchini and cumin.  Mix all ingredients together and simmer on low for about 20 minutes, covered.  Place the zucchini boats in a 9x13 baking dish.  Add about a 1 Tbsp. to the bottom of each zucchini half and then top with the turkey stuffing mixture, about 1/3 cup of stuffing will fill each boat.  Finish with 1 1/2 Tbsp. shredded cheese per half and top with fresh cilantro.  Bake for 35 minutes and then serve immediately.

    Tip:
    Maybe Santa Fe isn't your favorite seasoning?  Try taco zucchini boats instead!

    XOXO Megan

    Recipe inspired by Skinnytaste  

    8.01.2014

    Pasta w. Sausage & Peppers

    Sausage + peppers is a traditional 'manly' dish. My husband requested it a few weeks ago and how could I say no?  I love sausage. I love peppers. Essentially this is a simple pasta alfredo version with spicy sausage and sweet peppers.  It makes super leftovers and has really great flavor. 
     
    Servings: 4
    Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups cup
    Points Plus: 8pp
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Level of Difficulty: Easy

    Ingredients
    Pasta
    2 cups whole wheat penne pasta, uncooked
    1 green pepper, diced
    2 links of spicy chicken sausage diced, I prefer Trader Joes
    Cooking spray
    4 T parmesan cheese

    White Sauce
    3 T flour
    1 1/2 cups fat free milk
    1 egg
    1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
    1 T light butter
    A touch of fresh ground nutmeg, about 1/4 t
    Kosher salt + fresh ground pepper

    Directions
    To prepare pasta:
    Cook pasta according to package directions, haha.
    Spray a skillet and add green peppers.  Cook on medium heat until soft, about 7-10 minutes.  Don't burn! Add diced chicken sausage until cooked through.

    To prepare the white sauce:
    Add flour to a sauce pan and gradually whisk in flour until smooth. Add nutmeg and whisk over medium heat until the sauce beings to thicken, about 10 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and whisk in your parmesan cheese, egg and butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    To serve:
    Combine white sauce, pasta, sausage and peppers. Top each bowl with 1 T parmesan cheese.

    Tip
    Here is a hilarious article about traditional sausage and peppers and I HIGHLY recommend!

    XOXO - Katie
    
    

    7.29.2014

    Honey-Mustard Chicken

    Grilled chicken is such an easy weeknight dinner!  This honey-mustard sauce is a new variety of grilled chicken with some sweet and salty honey-mustard flavor.  Check it out and see what you think!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
    Points Plus: 6pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

    Ingredients:
    3 Tbsp. honey
    2 Tbp. Dijon mustard
    1 tsp. dried thyme
    Kosher salt
    Freshly ground pepper
    2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

    Directions:
    In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard and dried thyme and mix well with small whisk.  Start the grill and heat to a medium-low temperature.  Season each side of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.  Grill the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through (about 25 minutes).  During the last 5 minutes, brush frequently with the honey-mustard mixture. Serve immediately with a side salad or veggie!

    Tip:
    I would recommend adding one final coat of the honey-mustard mixture on top of the chicken after you take it off the grill - this will make sure you get good flavor!

    XOXO Megan

    7.15.2014

    Hummus Melts

    These tasty little hummus melts remind me a bit of a tuna melt!  I am not a huge fan of tuna, but I do love hummus and saw these on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it myself.  I picked some of my favorite veggies to layer on top of the hummus and topped each open-faced sammie with some shredded mozzarella.  Easy peasy weeknight dinner!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: 1 English muffin - open-faced 
    Points Plus: 5pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes

    Ingredients:
    2 English muffins
    4 Tbsp. hummus
    1 medium tomato, sliced
    1/3 cucumber, sliced
    Kosher salt
    4 Tbsp. shredded mozzarella, reduced-fat

    Directions:
    Toast the English muffins in your toaster and top each 1/2 with 1 Tbsp. of hummus.  Layer on the veggies starting with a slice of tomato on each half.  Sprinkle the top of the tomato with a dash of kosher salt to really bring out the flavor.  Layer thinly sliced cucumbers on top of the tomato and finish with 1 Tbsp. shredded mozzarella.  Place all 4 English muffin halves on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  Serve immediately!

    Tip:
    I think these would be really good with some fresh basil added to the veggie layer!  You could also add in some baby spinach too.

    XOXO Megan

    7.11.2014

    Cilantro Lime Turkey Burgers

    Turkey burgers are a lighter burger option that still has a ton of flavor.  And for some reason, they remind me of summer! Trader Joes makes a delicious Cilantro Lime Turkey Burger, and I decided to try and recreate them in my own kitchen. The unique cilantro and lime flavors give these burgers a tasty Southwest feel!

    Servings: 4
    Serving Size: 1 burger + 1 bun
    Points Plus: 7pp
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
    Level of Difficulty: Easy


    Ingredients
    1 lb ground turkey
    2 green onions, chopped
    ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
    2 t garlic, minced
    ½ t salt
    ¼ t red pepper flakes
    ½ cup cilantro, copped
    Juice of 2 limes
    4 light buns, toasted
    Pinch of garlic powder
    1/2 avocado, sliced
    Cooking spray


    Directions
    Add ground turkey, green onions, bell pepper, salt, cilantro, red pepper flakes and lime juice to a bowl.  Mix with your hands until well combined.  I added all ingredients to my Kitchenaid and turned her on, letting the mixer do the mixing! When ingredients are well combined split the meat into four balls, then make each ball into a hamburger patty.


    At this point you could easily toss these burgers on the grill, but I grilled my burgers inside on a grill pan. Lightly coat your grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium.  Toss on your burgers and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until done.

    When burgers are done place them on a bun.  Lightly sprinkle each burger with garlic powder, and then toss with a few slices of avocado. Also feel free to add ketchup, mustard or any other zero point plus condiments!

    Tip
    You could easily make these burgers ahead of time and bring them to your summer BBQ to grill on the spot!


    XOXO - Katie

    7.08.2014

    Grilled BBQ Chicken

    We just bought a grill and it has been life changing!  Okay, that might be a little extreme... but it does make for some quick and easy summer weeknight dinners.  Our 2nd grilling attempt was to try our hand at barbeque chicken.  We used a store bought sauce for this meal, but I think it would be fun to try out a homemade BBQ recipe at some point.

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: 1 BBQ chicken breast
    Points Plus: 6pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy!
    Prep Time: 5 min
    Cook/Grill Time: 20 min

    Ingredients:
    2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
    Kosher salt
    Fresh ground pepper
    4 Tbsp. Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

    Directions:
    Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts.  Generoulsy season each side with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  Place on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes before flipping.  Cook the other side for an additional 5 minutes before adding the BBQ sauce.  Brush a generous amount of sauce on one side of the chicken breast and flip to cook and sear in the BBQ flavor.  You will probably end up losing some of the sauce on the side that is face down on the grill, but don't worry the taste will still be there.  Brush a coat of BBQ sauce to the top of the chicken breast and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes or until cooked through.

    Tip:
    A good hearty pair of tongs are a MUST when grilling!  They allow for easy flipping of chicken breasts and they help to minimize losing any BBQ sauce.

    XOXO Megan

    7.03.2014

    BLT Salad

    Who doesn't like a BLT? Take out the bread (and cut back on points plus!) and turn the BLT sandwich into a simple, healthy salad! We thought the flavors of the salty bacon, crisp green onions and juicy tomatoes were so good that we didn't even use dressing, just the salt and pepper provides enough seasoning!


    Servings: 2
    Serving size: 1 main course salad
    Points Plus: 5pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 10 min

    Cook Time: 10 min

    Ingredients:
    A large bunch of romaine
    12 cherry tomatoes, halved
    4 slices turkey bacon
    2 green onions, sliced

    2 oz. crumbled blue cheese
    Salt & pepper to taste

    Directions:
    Cook the turkey bacon according to the package instructions. Wash and plate out romaine for two salads. Wash the cherry tomatoes and cut each one in half. Wash and slice the green onions. Once the bacon has cooled, dice into small pieces. Add the tomatoes, green onions, 2 slices of diced bacon and 1 oz. crumbled blue cheese to each salad. Top with salt and pepper and serve immediately!



    XOXO Megan

    6.25.2014

    Caprese English Muffin Pizzas

    Caprese is the first thing I think of when I think of fresh basil!  Here's a new twist on English muffin pizza... caprese salad style.  These are a delicious, easy weeknight dinner that comes together in a flash!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size 2 open-faced English muffin halves
    Points Plus: 7pp
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes

    Ingredients:
    2 English muffins
    4 tsp. olive oil
    Salt & pepper to taste
    2 oz. fresh mozzarella
    2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
    Fresh basil

    Directions:
    Toast the English muffins and lightly brush each half with 1 tsp. olive oil, salt & pepper.  Wash and slice the tomato.  Add tomato slices, fresh basil leaves and top with 1/2 oz. of fresh mozzarella on each English muffin half.  Broil in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese just starts to melt.  Serve immediately!

    Tip:
    You could also drizzle some balsamic vinegar on these caprese English muffin pizzas.  I'm not a huge fan, so I didn't add any to my version above!

    XOXO Megan

    6.24.2014

    Pesto Eggs Benedict

    Pesto eggs benedict, a simple twist on the original hollandaise classic. Remember that light and flavorful pesto? Well it goes great with a poached egg, English muffin and very thinly sliced ham.  this dish is sure to impress guests, or could be a simple breakfast-for-dinner option on a busy evening!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: Half of recipe
    Points Plus: 9pp
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Level of Difficulty: Medium

    Ingredients
    4 eggs, raw
    2 English muffins, toasted
    4 T foodlove's pesto
    2 oz very thinly sliced ham, cut into  slices
    Fresh parsley

    Directions
    The instructions to this recipe begin with 'how to perfectly poach an egg'.  It really is simple, all you need is a bit of patience, as it is best to poach eggs one at a time. Get out a small sauce pan and fill it with about two inches of water. bring the pot to a boil and add about a tablespoon of vinegar. Crack your egg into a small dish to avoid any shells getting in the way.  Take a large spoon, and swirl the water into a circle.  Get it moving fast - sort of like a little tornado! As the water is spinning drop the egg into the swirl, not the center.  This will help the egg stay together, it sort of catches itself by the quick movement and creates a nice shape, haha. The water will slow down, which is fine, just don't touch the egg after it has been dropped into the water.  Allow it to boil for 2-3 minutes and then remove it with a slotted spoon. If there are any 'egg parts' left in the water remove those as well. Set your egg on a paper towel and repeat the process!

    While your eggs are poaching away heat up your ham either on a skillet or in the micro.

    To assemble. Top each English Muffin half with 1 T of pest, then 1 poached egg followed by one thin slice of ham. Add a bit of fresh parsley to garnish, the parsley adds amazing flavor to this dish so don't leave it out!

    Tip
    You now how the old saying goes...practice makes perfect!  That rule applies to poaching an egg.  The vinegar is key to the process, it really helps keep the egg in one nice piece.

    XOXO - Katie

    6.17.2014

    Strawberry Almond Salad with Chicken

    A spinach, strawberry salad is a classic summertime salad!  This salad has a delightful blend of flavors.  I added in some almonds and a simply seasoned chicken breast to add some extra protein to this salad.  This is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is light and refreshing!

    Servings: 4
    Serving Size: 1 entree salad
    Points Plus: 5pp (does not include dressing)
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 10 minutes 
    Cook Time: 15 minutes

    Ingredients:
    Baby spinach
    2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
    Kosher salt
    Fresh ground pepper
    2 cups strawberries
    1/2 cup sliced almonds

    Directions:
    Wash and dry the spinach and plate out into 4 servings.  Slice each chicken breast in half (this will help to reduce the cook time) and cook in a saute pan until cooked through.  Generously season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Wash and slice the strawberries.  Top each salad with 1/2 chicken breast, sliced lengthwise, 1/4 cup of sliced strawberries and 1/8 cup of sliced almonds.  Serve with your favorite dressing!

    Tip:
    I didn't think of this until afterwards, but you could toast the almonds in a small pan on the stove to really bring out the almond flavor and add a little extra something to this salad.  Non- toasted almonds were delicious though too!
    XOXO Megan

    6.16.2014

    Thai-Style Halibut with Coconut-Curry Broth

    There are so many tasty things you can do with a high quality cut of fish. I don't have a lot of experience cooking fish, or meat for that matter, so decided to try a different technique with this recipe.  I purchased some really lovely looking Halibut and decided to pair it with a coconut-curry broth.  Because of this I decided to try poaching the fish in the broth, to really help seep the tasty Thai flavor into the fish. It came together as an easy Sunday evening dinner, that is pretty too!

    Servings: 2
    Serving Size: 1
    Points Plus: 6pp
    Prep Time: 5 Minutes
    Cook Time: About 7 Minutes
    Level of Difficulty:

    Ingredients
    2 6-oz cuts of Halibut, skin removed
    1 t olive oil
    2 shallots, chopped
    1 cup chicken broth or stock
    1/2 cup light coconut milk
    1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
    1 scallion, sliced, green part only
    1 T fresh lime juice
    Fresh ground pepper + Kosher salt

    Directions
    In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil.  Add shallots and cook until they are soft, about 3 minutes. Add in the curry paste and stir, cooking about 30 seconds more. Add the chicken broth, coconut milk and a pinch of salt, allowing the mixture to simmer about 5 more minutes, until it has reduced by half.

    Season Halibut with a pinch of salt and add it to the coconut broth mixture.  Use a spoon to coat the fish with the sauce. Cover your Dutch oven and cook the fish for about 3 minutes on each side.  You will know the fish is done cooking with it flakes easily.

    Remove the fish from your pot and place it in a shallow bowl. Top with cilantro, scallions, black pepper and lime juice.  Ladle the sauce over the fish and enjoy!

    Tip
    As the recipe suggests, I also served this dish with a side of steamed spinach and brown rice!

    XOXO - Katie

    Recipe adapted from Food Network.

    6.11.2014

    Cilantro Lime Quinoa

    I'm a little on the fence about how I feel about quinoa.  I know it's really good for you and it's hearty and satisfying to keep you full longer, but I'm just not sure I love it.  That said, I am on a quest to try some more quinoa recipe to see if my taste develops.  This recipe has a great blend of flavors - lime, cilantro and jalapeno.  Check it out and see what you think!
    Servings: 6
    Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
    Level of Difficulty: Easy
    Points Plus: 5pp
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
     
    Ingredients:
    1 Tbsp. olive oil
    2 tsp. minced garlic
    1 jalapeno, diced
    1 medium onion, diced
    1 4 oz. can green chiles
    1 cup quinoa
    2 cup vegetable broth
    1/2 cup green onions, chopped
    1 15 oz. can chickpeas
    2/3 cup cilantro, chopped
    Zest from 1 lime
    2 Tbsp. lime juice
    Salt & pepper to taste

    Directions:
    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and saute the garlic, onion and jalapeno for 1-2 minutes.  Add in the quinoa, broth, green chiles, and salt & pepper.  Stir until everything is well combined.  Turn the burner to high heat and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cover.  Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the qunioa is fully cooked.  Transfer cooked quinoa to a large bowl and stir in the green onions, chickpeas and cilantro.  Zest and juice the lime and add to the bowl.  Finish with some additional salt and pepper and serve in bowls.
    Tip:
    Warning - this recipe has a lot of lime flavor between the zest and lime juice.  If you aren't a huge fan, I would recommending cutting back and only zesting 1/2 the lime and not using all the juice.  I for one LOVE lime flavor and added the full amount!

    XOXO Megan

    Adapted from Laa Loosh