Cajun Chicken Pasta

 

Cajun Chicken Pasta

8 ounces uncooked linguine1 pound chicken breast strips
1-2 tsp Cajun seasoning (or to taste)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 cup fat free low sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup skim milk
1 tbsp flour
3 tbsp light cream cheese
fresh cracked pepper
2 scallions, chopped
salt to taste
Smart Balance cooking spray


Prepall your vegetables. In a small blender make a slurry by combining milk, flour and cream cheese. Setaside.

Seasonchicken generously with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and salt.

Prepare pasta in salted water according to package directions.

Heat a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; spray with cooking spray and addhalf of the chicken. Sauté5 to 6 minutes or until done, set asideon a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken. Set aside.

Add olive oil to the skillet and reduce to medium; add bell peppers, onions, and garlic to skillet, sauté 3-4 minutes. 

Add mushrooms and tomatoes and sauté3-4 more minutes or until vegetables are tender. Seasonwith 1/4 tsp salt, garlic powder and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

Reduce heat to medium-low; add chicken broth and pourin slurry stirring about 2 minutes.

Return chicken to skillet; adjustsalt and Cajun seasoning to taste, cookanother minute or two until hot, then addlinguine; tosswell to coat. Topwith chopped scallions and enjoy!

Weight Watchers: 8 Points+

This recipe came from SkinnyTaste.com - what an amazing website - check it out!

Outback Bread

 

Outback Bread

1 1/4 cups room temp. water
2 T. butter, margarine or vegetable oil
1 T. caramel color
1/4 cup honey
1 3/4 cups wheat flour
2 cups all purpose flour
1 T. cocoa
1 T. active dry yeast
1 T. vital wheat gluten
1/2 teaspoon salt
cornmeal

Add ingredients to your bread machine in the order your machine suggests.  When dough cycle is complete, divide the dough into 4 pieces.  Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes and shape into loaves.  Roll the dough in cornmeal and place on a greased cookie sheet or in load pans.  Let the dough right for another 20 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
 

This recipe came from Frieda Loves Bread.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes

 

4 Large baking potatoes

8 strips bacon (dice before frying)

1/2 Cup chopped green onion

4 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan cheese

1 Cup Sour cream

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp. White pepper

4 Tbsp. Melted butter

Paprika

 

Scrub potatoes; dry and prick with fork.  Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.  While potato is cooling slightly for easy handling, fry bacon in small skillet till crisp.  Drain off excess drippings leaving about 3 Tbsp in skillet.  Add onion and saute till just tender but not brown; remove skillet from heat.

 

 

 

Cut the top off of the potatoes; scoop out potato insides carefully, and put in a mixing bowl.  Start to mash and add bacon, onion, sour cream, cheese, and seasonings (except Paprika and butter).  Mix and mash untill well blended (but do not really whip them - you want to feel a little texture).  

 

 

 

Spoon mixture into potato shells and drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with Paprika.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or till lightly browned.  

 

 

 

These can be made ahead and heated just before serving time.  You can also freeze them, just be sure to thaw them before baking.

Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Non-stick cooking spray

2 large tart apples (such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady), chopped

1 1/2 cups skim milk or almond milk

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup Coach's Oats 

3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon cinnamon (more or less to your taste)

2 tablespoons milled/ground flaxseed or chia seeds

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

 

 

Spray a 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine chopped apples, milk, water, oats, sugar, butter, and flax- stirring to combine. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.  Stir 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt into the oatmeal just before serving.

 

 

 

Divide these up into containers and you have breakfast eat morning!

 

This recipe is taken from Chocolate Broccoli!

 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

 

 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

 

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

 

Cheesecake Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Apples:

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 

Streusel Topping:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

 

Drizzle:

1/2 cup caramel topping for drizzling after baked

                             

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

 

 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.

 

 

 

For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.  Sprinkle Streusel topping over apples.

 

 

 

 

 

Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold and enjoy! Make 16 servings.

 

 

 

This recipe comes directly from The Girl Who Ate Everything blog!

Mozzarella Stuffed Peppers

 

Mozzarella Stuffed Peppers

These are great for your next party or even as a side dish.  All you need is mini peppers and string cheese.  Cut the peppers in half, stuff with string cheese, and broil for 10 minutes!  It's that easy.

Beer Can Chicken

Beer Can Chicken

4 Tablespoons dry rub (like McCormick's Applewood Rub)
1 1/2 full can of beer
1 3-4 lb chicken

Rinse and pat chicken dry.  Rub the chicken generously with the dry rub.  Using a foil pie pan, stand your chicken over the can of beer.  I used a stand specifically designed for can barbecuing chicken on the grill.  This made the process very easy.

Preheat your grill and place the chicken, in the pie pan, on the grill.  Roast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Always use a thermometer to be sure that your chicken is done.  Your chicken is safe to eat when the thigh registers180 degrees.

When done, carefully move the chicken and pie pan to the counter to rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

Black Beans and Rice with Chicken and Apple Salsa

Black Beans and Rice with Chicken and Apple Salsa

1 cup chopped peeled Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion, divided
1 teaspoon (or more) fresh lime juice
1/3 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 cups cooked brown or white rice

1 2–3-pound rotisserie chicken, skin discarded and meat shredded

4–6 lime wedges

Combine apple, 1/4 cup cilantro, 2 Tbsp. onion, and 1 tsp. lime juice in a small bowl; toss to coat. Set apple salsa aside.

 

 

 

Combine remaining onion, bell pepper, and oil in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until completely softened, 6–7 minutes. Add garlic and next 3 ingredients; stir constantly for 2 minutes. Stir in broth and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer briskly, mashing some of the beans with the back of a spoon and stirring often, until sauce is thickened, 8–10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and more lime juice, if desired.

 

 

Divide rice and beans among plates. Top with some chicken and apple salsa. Garnish with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and lime wedges.

 

This recipe comes from Bon Appetit!

Lemon Shortbread Bars

Lemon Shortbread Bars

2 cups better, softened

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

4 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

2 tablespoons lemon juice

 

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine all shortbread ingredients except flour in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add flour; beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

 

 

 

Press dough evenly into lightly greased 15x10x1 jelly-roll pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.

 

 

 

 

Combine all glaze ingredients in small bowl with wire whisk until smooth.

 

 

Spread thin layer of glaze over cooled shortbread; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lemon zest, if desired. Let stand 30 minutes to set. Cut into 2 1/2x1-inch strips.

This recipe comes from the Land O Lakes website!

Crockpot Porkchops

Crockpot Porkchops
 

4 Pork Chops, bone in

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Package Onion Soup Mix

1 Package Dry Pork Gravy Mix

1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth 

                      

First place the pork chops down in the bottom.

 

 

 

The remaining four ingredients will be mixed in a mixing bowl and then poured over the top of the meat.

 

 

 

Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.

 

This recipe comes from The Crockin' Girls!