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! ;-)