Curried Chicken Soup with Herbs

Found a recipe for a curry chicken soup online.  It was SO good but included ingredients like sugar and white rice which I try not to eat.  I altered the recipe to make it a bit healthier.  This soup is incredible!! I hope you enjoy. xo

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of chicken
• 2 carrots sliced diagonally
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, very thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry
• 1/3 cup quinoa
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1 lemon cut into wedges

Directions:

Combine the chicken, carrots, bay leaf and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Add 3 cups broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is firm, about 20 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, heat the butter in another saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, honey and 1 teaspoon salt then cook until the onion is soft, 5 minutes. Add the curry powder and cook for 1 minute. Add the quinoa and the remaining 3 cups broth. Increase the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.  

Fish the chicken from the broth and shred the meat into pieces then return the chicken to the same broth.  

Puree the quinoa mixture in a blender until smooth then return to pan. Pour in the shredded chicken and broth, stirring gently to combine. Toss in the chopped herbs and serve the soup with lemon wedges. 

YUM!

Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped
• 1 20 oz package ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon water

Directions:

1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute; remove from heat to cool.
4. Stir the turkey, cooked quinoa, onions, tomato paste, hot sauce, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until well combined. The mixture will be very moist. Shape into a loaf on a foil lined baking sheet. Combine the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire, and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Rub the paste over the top of the meatloaf.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 50 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let the meatloaf cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Best Salad On The Planet!

This salad is a recreation of a salad Aaron and I had out at a restaurant for dinner one night.  It was so incredibly good I decided to try to make it myself and share the recipe with all of you! Enjoy! xo

Fresh greens

Ingredients:

• Fresh greens (I like romaine)
• 1 oven roasted chicken breast
• 1 small can of pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup of caramelized onions (saute about 1/4 of a thinly sliced red onion in olive oil and salt until golden)
• 1/2 cup of crushed cashews
• 2 slices of bacon, cooked and diced
• Honey mustard dressing
• Finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese 

Directions:

If you don't already have oven roasted chicken breast, season a chicken breast with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 375 until done.  Wait for chicken breast to cool then chop up into small pieces and put in a small bowl.  Dice the pineapple pieces even smaller than they already come, and add to chicken in bowl.  Add crushed cashews, bacon pieces and carmelized onions to chicken and pineapple mixture.  Chop greens (mixed greens or romaine) up to smaller pieces and add to a large bowl.  Pour chicken mixture into bowl with greens.  Add as much honey mustard as you like (don't over dress the salad) and toss well until everything is well coated.  Top with finely shredded sharp cheddar.  Serve and enjoy! 

Jamie's Blackened Chicken Caesar

I've been making this salad for years and have quite a few fans of it so I decided to post it up here and share it with the world! Enjoy! ;) xo

Chicken Ingredients & Directions:

• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 chicken breast halves
• olive oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Place the chicken either in a large ziplock or underneath saran wrap and tenderize until thin.  If you don't have a meat tenderizer, use a cup (that's what I do).  Mix all of the spices listed above in another large ziplock.  Add chicken one piece at a time to spice mixture and shake to coat.  Sear chicken about one minute per side in a little olive oil then transfer to a baking sheet.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until juices run clear.

Salad Ingredients & Directions:

• Half of a head of romaine lettuce chopped
• 1 lemon
• 3 cloves of minced garlic
• Parmesan cheese
• Half of an avocado
• Half of a red onion thinly sliced
• Croutons
• Your favorite caesar dressing (we light Newman's Light Caesar dressing because it's very low in calories)
• Fresh ground pepper

In a large bowl mix together lettuce, avocado, onion and croutons.  Pour dressing, juice of half a lemon, parmesan and garlic on top.   Toss salad well to coat, or cover bowl with a plate and shake until all ingredients are well coated.  Divide salad between two plates.  Top with a little more parmesan, fresh ground pepper and lemon wedges.  Slice the blackened chicken and place on top of salad.

Greek Salad

Ingredients:

1 8oz. block of Feta cubed

1/2 cup of pitted calmata olives sliced

1 cucumber - sliced and quartered

1 red bell pepper - diced

1 yellow bell pepper - diced

1 pint of cherry tomatoes - halved

1/2 of a red onion - sliced thin

2 teaspoon of dried oregano

1 teaspoon of dijon mustard

4 cloves of garlic - minced

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Place all vegetables in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl mix together the oregano, mustard, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over veggies and let sit for a while before enjoying! 

Braised Balsamic Chicken (From Allrecipes)

I'm posting this link to my site because this is a regular dish around our household.  Super healthy, very quick to make and so delicious I wish I could take the credit for it!! ;-) I serve it over rice.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/braised-balsamic-chicken/

Kathy's Brocolli Salad

I first tried this salad at my family's Thangsiving gathering.  I was skeptical at first because it looks like a big bowl of good health and I like to be naughty on the holidays, but I tried it anyway.  One of the yummiest things I've ever eaten! It's super healthful to top it off!  Thanks to my mom for this recipe. Enjoy! xo

Ingredients:

1 bunch brocolli
1 bunch cauliflower
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup cranberries
1/2 cup mayo (I like the lower fat olive oil mayo)
1/2 cup greek yogurt
3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of honey
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper

Directions:

Finely chop the brocolli and cauliflower and put in a large mixing bowl.  Mix in cheese, sunflower seeds, cranberries and set aside. 

In a smaller bowl mix together the mayo, yogurt, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper then add this to the brocolli mixture and combine.

Banana Cinnamon Pancakes (Gluten Free!)

Don't let the "Gluten Free" steer you away.  These were probably the most delicious pancakes I've ever had! We even put some peanut butter on them as a topping instead of syrup and served with bacon and fried eggs. They were TDF and healthy too!

Ingredients:

• 1-1/3 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tb Honey 
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 2 Tb Vegetable Oil 
• 3/4 cup + 2 Tb Water, warm 
• 2 Egg Whites, stiffly beaten 
• 1 banana (sliced)
• Cinnamon
• Powdered sugar

Directions:
In a bowl combine the first 4 ingredients.

In another bowl combine honey, vanilla, vegetable oil and warm water. Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients; then gently fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites.

Ladle pancake batter onto a preheated and oiled pan.  Place sliced banana pieces in pancake and sprinkle with cinnamon. Flip pancakes over when they begin to puff and become lightly browned on the edges. Serve with powdered sugar sprinkled over pancakes.  You can top with syrup or peanut butter (either are deelish!) 

Linda's Angel Hair Pasta

This recipe was given to me by my mom's cousin Linda.  It is one of my all time favorites! I add chicken on top to make it a little more filling...Enjoy!!

Pasta Directions:

8oz. dried angel hair pasta
1 tblsp. plus 1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
2 tblsp. minced garlic
2 tblsp. minced shallots
1 1/2 lbs. roma tomatoes, diced
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1 cup coarsely crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parm cheese
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

Cook angel hair pasta until al dente, drain. (can add 1 tblsp olive oil).  While pasta is cooking, put 1/3 cup olive oil in saute pan, add pine nuts, garlic, (and shallots) and cook until fragrant, about 20 secs, then add tomatoes, feta cheese, parm cheese, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for a min then add pasta and mix to incorporate.  Serve.

Chicken Directions:

2 chicken breasts

*Trader Joes Black Pepper Sauce

Tenderize chicken then marinate in sauce for 30 minutes.  Broil 10 minutes on each side.  Slice and serve over bed of pasta.  Top with more parm, fresh ground pepper and a little fresh basil.

*If you don't have access to this sauce, just broil chicken with a little garlic, seasoning salt and pepper.

Jamie Lee's Guacamole!

I took a delicious family recipe my Aunt and Mother like to call "Gringo Guacamole" (lol) and expanded on it.  I think I have created quite possibly, the most delicious dip ever made! TDF! Try it out and give me your feedback!

Ingredients:

• Half of an avocado
• 1/4 cup of cottage cheese
• 1 handful of baby spinach
• 1/4 or so of chopped cilantro
• 1/4 of a red onion chopped
• 3 tablespoons of El Pato Tomato Sauce (sold in the hispanic section of the store)
• juice of a half a lemon
• 1/8 of a jalapeno
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• fresh ground pepper

Directions:

Throw all ingredients into a Vitamix (any blender should work) and lightly pulse ingredients until well combined but NOT smooth.  Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy! ;-)

Dill & Shallot Veggie Dip

I created this for a baby shower yesterday and it was a HIT.  I also liked it so much I came home and made a batch just for me…helps me eat more veggies! ;)

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of non-fat plain greek yogurt (I prefer the Chobani brand)
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (I use the reduced fat mayo that's made with olive oil)

- 1 tablespoon of chopped shallots

- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley

- 2 teaspoons of fresh finely chopped dill weed

- 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt

• Directions:
  Simply combine all ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour.  Serve with your favorite veggies or serve as a topping for baked potatoes! DEELISH!

Brie & Caramelized Onion Pastry

"This was one of the top ten most deliciously evil things I have ever eaten. Amazing!"
- Hillary Law

Sorry, no photo, but how can you really go wrong with cheese & pastry dough? ;)  

Ingredients:

- 2 small brie rounds
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 sheet of pre-made pastry dough


Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Slice onion in very thin slices.
- Melt butter in skillet over medium high heat then add onions.  Fry until caramelized.
- Cut sheet of pastry dough in half.  Place a couple scoops of the onions onto center of each half.
- Place a round of brie on top of onions.
- Wrap the dough around the onion and bri
- Place each round (seam side down) on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Brush beaten egg over each pastry
- Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes (or until pastry is golden brown)

Bon Appétit

Recipe #1

Tortilla Soup

This recipe was originally given to me by one of my best friend's, Leah Cox who got it from her mother!  It was perfect and delicious as is, but I took it and put my own twist on it by adding new ingredients that I thought would compliment it - and I was really happy with the finished product! Let me know what you all think!

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into large chunks)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion chopped up

3 cloves of garlic minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoon cumin

2 teaspoons of dried parsley

2 boxes of chicken broth

2 cans of corn (drained)

2 cans of black beans (drained)

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of condensed tomato soup

The juice of 2 lemons

1 jar of medium salsa (I like Newmans)

8 oz container of plain yogurt

Hot sauce

Garlic salt (a few shakes)

Salt to taste (quite a bit!!)

Pepper to taste

Avocado chunks

Grated sharp cheddar

Fresh cilantro finely chopped

Lemon slices
Fried tortilla strips (cut up tortilla into little strips and fry up in olive oil. Drain on paper towels)

Directions: 

In a large soup pot heat up the olive oil...when hot add the onion and garlic, chicken, cumin, chili powder, parsley, garlic salt and some salt and pepper.  Cook until chicken is browned. Add chicken broth, corn, black beans, salsa, lemon juice, few shakes of hot sauce, tomato soup, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil for about 10 minutes.  Fish the chicken pieces out of soup and allow to cool slightly. Then shred the chicken and add back to soup. Add the plain yogurt and stir until dissolved into soup. Add salt and pepper to taste (quite a bit of salt). You can also add more cumin and chili powder to taste if you want more of that flavor.  Let simmer for an hour (but you don’t have to wait that long, 20 minutes would be enough but the longer it simmers the more the flavors meld together!)

Serve in bowl with shredded sharp cheddar, avocado, lemon slices, cilantro, and tortilla strips on top!

Bon appétit,

Ms. jamie lee

xoxo