Layered Cornbread Salad

As you have probably noticed, if you've read many of my posts, I rarely make a recipe as is without making changes. One reason is that I can't stand going to the store more than once a week for special ingredients. Another is that I try to choose healthier ingredients to save fat and calories.

Here's the original:
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/corn-bread-salad/

Here are my changes:

Used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Used a homemade cornbread mix instead if store bought- super easy and even cheaper than buying a Jiffy mix!

Used black beans instead of pinto.

Added baby carrots (choppped)

Omitted bacon and added chopped black forest ham instead.

This was really good and will be great leftover too!

Penzey's Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad

While visiting Seattle last week, I visited Penzey's Spices store.  We have them in TX, but I had never been. I bought their peppercorn ranch seasoning and took a recipe next to it and made this when I returned home. It is soooo good! I made several changes to make it healthier and used what I had here. Definitely yummy! Their website is FULL of awesome recipes!

Used:
Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
Less mayonnaise than called for, to save calories.
Added grilled chicken breast, cut up
Steamed broccoli, cauliflower and carrots before adding so they wouldn't be too crunchy

Omitted:
Hard salami
Green peas

Here's the original recipe:

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/recipes/r-penzeysCreamyPeppercornPastaSalad.html

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Made this last week and again tonight :) I love how fast it comes together and it is low carb. We had it with a green salad. Very filling and even Ben approved!

Ingredients:
1 lb. Boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1 t. Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 regular sized jar marinara sauce (or homemade)
10 oz. Shredded mozzarella (I used low moisture skim kind)
2 T. Parmesan

In separate bowl:
1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
2 T. parmesan
3 T. Olive oil
1 t. Sea salt
1/2 t. Black pepper
1/2 t. Italian seasoning

Cook chicken in olive oil and garlic until done. Cut into bite sized pieces. Put into the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan, pour marinara over chicken. Sprinkle parmesan, sprinkle mozzarella.

Combine breadcrumbs, olive oil and seasonings. Sprinkle over the top of the cheese evenly.
Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Fast Chicken Caprese

This is a keeper! Super easy, flavorful and fast!  

Here is the original recipe: 

http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/chicken-caprese/#_a5y_p=1648086

Here is what I changed:

Used sliced provolone over each chicken breast instead of cubed mozzarella. 

10 Minute Vegetarian Stirfry

This was a super filling and nutritious meal! I just used what I had on hand. I love stir fry's because e you just add what you have on hand.

Ingredients:
2 T. olive oil
3 cups broccoli florets
1 cup red cabbage, chopped
2 cups fresh spinach
One package Seeds of Change brown rice and quinoa mixture (pre cooked)
3 T. soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 t. sesame oil
1 t. honey
1/2 cup water

Sauté veggies with oil for 3-4 minutes,  add rice mixture, almonds, soy, garlic, honey, oil and water. Cover and reduce heat for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Honey Almond Blueberry Muffins

These are really versatile and easy! Packed with a lot of filling but healthy ingredients.  I subbed blackberries for the blueberries since that is what I had. And peanut butter for the almond butter. Super easy! Could be frozen and microwaved.

http://www.taylormadebytaylorbee.com/2013/07/clean-healthy-honey-almond-blueberry.html?m=1

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Just had this and really enjoyed it. I must confess I cheated a bit with the crust. I did a plain graham cracker crust instead of the one on the recipe. Just processed graham crackers and melted butter and pressed it into a pie pan. The filling was the same as the recipe but I didn't have chocolate chips. Very delicious! And I loved that it didn't have added sugar. :)

Great for summertime when you don't want to turn on the oven!!

http://ifoodreal.com/clean-no-bake-peanut-butter-pie/

Light Key Lime Pie Bars

These are so yummy!! I have made them twice. Once for Easter and then my sister requested them for our mother's day lunch.

I recommend you double the filling ingredients.  Otherwise, the top layer is too thin. Keep the crust as is on the recipe. Use bottled lime juice if you want to save a little time. :)


http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/953475/3-healthy-easter-desserts

http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/953475/3-healthy-easter-desserts

Power Breakfast Bowl

This is a great thing to to the night before a busy morning. You stir it all together in a container and put it in the fridge overnight and Voilà! Breakfast us done for the next day!  I love that this breakfast has protein,  a complex carb and fruit! Great combo!!

Changes:
Used honey instead of stevia

http://www.muffin-topless.com/2012/11/08/strawberry-vanilla-power-breakfast-bowl/

Cheesy Greek Style Baked Quinoa

I found this on Pinterest and it is a keeper!! This was so filling and delicious! I had the leftovers for lunch today. I served this with oven roasted veggies to add even more good stuff to it.

My changes:
Omitted artichoke hearts.
Added 2 T. olive oil to the mixture.
Didn't use a food processor. Just stirred everything together and poured it in a dish to bake in the oven.

http://cookingwithcakes.com/cheesy-greek-style-baked-quinoa/

Simple Honey Dijon Poppyseed Dressing

I served this with spinach, strawberries and yellow cherry tomatoes. It was soooo good!

Whisk together:
3 T. honey
1 T. dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 t. poppyseeds
Salt and pepper

Almond Crusted Chicken Nuggets

These were super good and I will be making them again! :) I loved how fast this dinner came together. I paired them with some leftover quinoa that I made earlier this week and a green salad.

Ingredients:
1 large skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
Canola oil cooking spray
1/2 cup slivered almonds, ground in the food processor
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
1/4 t. smoked paprika
1/4 t. dried thyme


Directions:
Spray chicken pieces with cooking spray (or dip in olive oil) and coat with almonds and spices. Put on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

I served these with a simple homemade honey mustard sauce on the side. Just combine about 1/4 cup yellow or dijon mustard with 3 tablespoons of honey. You could also use this on your green salad as a dressing. 

BBQ Meatballs (freezer-friendly!)

I made a few changes to this recipe- it's very versatile! So add in what you and your family like and don't like.

Here are my changes:

Ground turkey instead of beef
Only made half the amount listed- cut everything by 1/2
Omitted onion
Added about 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

BBQ Sauce--
You don't need that much brown sugar- I only used around 1/2 cup.

I pre-cooked the outside of the meatballs in a pan before roasting in the oven. I found that the first time I made them, I put them straight into the oven and the drippings were kinda gross. So I avoided that by pre-cooking the next batch in a pan. Then, transferred them to the oven for about 15 minutes and then adding the sauce for the last 5 minutes.

Hope you give these a try!!

http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/05/4-weeks-to-fill-your-freezer-barbecued-meatballs-day-11.html#_a5y_p=947585

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

These were really yummy and filling! I used the recipe below as my guideline and just used what I had on hand.

My changes:
Used ground turkey instead of ground chicken
Omitted green onions and water chestnuts

Added chopped zucchini at the same time as the mushrooms to the sauce.

YUMMY!!! :)

http://www.self.com/blogs/flash/2012/10/recipe-asian-chicken-lettuce-wraps.html

Skinny Coconut Chicken

I'm bound and determined to get back on track with my First Place 4 Health weight loss goals!! I made this delicious chicken recipe tonight and Chris and I both agreed it was "food blog worthy" :)

I served it with a honey mustard sauce on the side with just an equal mix of raw honey and dijon mustard. So good and I will be making this again!! Give it a try!



http://www.skinnymom.com/2011/08/11/skinny-coconut-chicken/#.Uss7AhwwlM6