Spinach, Mushroom and Swiss Stuffed Chicken Breast

This one is definitely a keeper! Let's just say my new favorite thing is spinach. My next venture will be to try spinach in a smoothie, yes, a smoothie. For now let's stick to this amazing taste of goodness.

What you need:

2-4 fresh chicken breasts

2-4 slices of reduced fat swiss cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan shredded.

1-2 cups fresh spinach

2 tbls cooking wine

3 garlic cloves-grated

10-15 white mushrooms

1/4 cup chopped red onion

salt and pepper to taste

Paprika

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/4 cup olive oil

Heat coconut oil in frying pan. Add grated garlic, onion, salt and pepper, and 10 mushrooms (diced). Saute all together and put in food processor to make a paste like texture.

Next, add spinach and remaining mushrooms (sliced) to skillet along with paste mixture with cooking wine and cook until tender.

Next, butterfly the chicken by cutting in half length wise but, not all the way through. I then use a meat tenderizer and pound out the chicken. Salt and pepper the chicken to your liking.

Put a slice of swiss on the chicken and place about 1/4 cup of the spinach mixture onto the chicken and sprinkle with Parmesan. Roll the chicken up and secure together with a tooth pick. Make sure to put the seam side down. Repeat with remaining chicken and mixture.

Finally, brush olive oil on top of the chicken and sprinkle with paprika, salt and pepper.

Heat oven to 375. Place chicken in oven for 20-25 minutes. Make sure chicken reaches internal temp of 160 degrees.

ENJOY!!!

Salsa Ranch Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas

I don't make this often since it contains wheat, flour and carbs. This would be my one "bad" meal a week, but I still try to keep it healthy :).

This is one of my favorites, but is not low in carbs. I only have this every once in a while and this recipe was inspired by a Weight Watchers recipe.

What you will need:

4 Fresh Chicken Breast (diced)

8 Multi-Grain or 100% Whole Wheat Fat Free Tortillas

1 cup Black Bean Corn Salsa ( I like Kroger brand Private Selection)

4 tablespoons Philadelphia Reduced Fat Onion and Chive Cream Cheese

1/2 packet of Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Mix

1/4-1/2 of a red onion-diced

1/4 cup SteamFresh super sweet corn

1/4 cup black beans (any brand)

1 teaspoon Cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cloves of fresh grated garlic

Optional:

sprinkle of FAT FREE Kraft cheddar

Combined diced chicken, corn, black beans, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, salsa and ranch into frying pan. Cook all ingredients until chicken is fully cooked.

In the meantime spread the cream cheese onto each tortilla. Can usually make 3-4 quesadillas (using 6-8 tortillas).

Once mixture is cooked set aside.

In a separate pan place the tortilla into the pan on medium heat. Make sure you do not place the cream cheese side down. Scoop the mixture onto the quesadilla until fairly covered and sprinkle with cheese. Place the top portion of the tortilla (cream cheese side down this time) on top of the mixture and press firmly, especially sealing edges.

Let cook 2-3 minutes on each side, cut with a pizza cutter and serve. Enjoy!

Oh What Fun

Had fun doing a mini shoot today of Cole and the girls :)

Breakfast Stack

Okay, I decided to go off track here from my traditional spinach, mushroom and egg white omelet. I ventured further and made what I call a "stack".

What you will need:

5 eggs (egg whites only)

1 slice of turkey bacon

1 slice of swiss cheese

1 Deli (thin) slice of honey ham

1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese

A sprinkle of paprika

A dash of salt and pepper

Take 3 egg whites for your base. Did you know that egg whites taste best when you let them sit at room temperature for a bit? Yea, well if you did great, but this is something I just recently learned so leave the eggs out for about 20 minutes. Vigorously, mix the egg whites and pour into a microwave safe dish that has the diameter of approximately 3 inches. For me, I used a measuring cup. Cook in microwave for 45 seconds. Put this layer on a plate.

Next, sprinkle layer with a half tablespoon of grated Parmesan. Also, dash some salt and pepper to your liking. At the same time I am usually frying the turkey bacon on the stove. If you like your can fry your slice of ham too, but I cooked mine in the microwave for 45 seconds.

Add the bacon to the stack by breaking in half. Add the slice of ham. Immediately add the slice of Swiss so that the Swiss can melt over the stack.

I then take two more egg whites, mix, and heat for 30 seconds and add to the top of the stack.

The final steps are to top with the remaining Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of paprika and some salt and pepper.

I served with 4 medium strawberries.

The entire meal is low carb and high in protein. The stack and strawberries contain approximately 328 calories!!! YEA healthy and low in calories!!!!

Now, the next question you may ask is, "okay Liz, this looks good but how do I eat it?" Well, I got myself a knife and fork and cut it all up and ate it! There is no right or wrong way to eat a stack.

Meatza

1.5 pounds LEAN ground beef, preferably grass fed beef

1 can tomato paste

1/2 cup water

1 egg

1 tsp dry basil or 1.5 tsp fresh basil

1 tbls Italian seasonings

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tsp organic brown sugar

6 cloves garlic dived

1 packet dry zesty Italian dressing mix (not using entire packet)

2 cups reduced fat mozzarella

1/2 cup reduced fat mild cheddar

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl mix ground beef (uncooked), 1/3 packet zesty Italian, 2-3 pressed garlic's, egg, and 1/4 Parmesan cheese. Mix well and pat out on to pizza pan making the base for the pizza. I also shape the edge of the meat like crust. Try to spread the meat out as much as possible because it will shrink. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese and place in oven for ten minutes.

While meat is cooking combine tomato paste, 1/3 packet Italian dressing mix, Italian seasoning, basil, brown sugar, and water into sauce pan. Let simmer for 10 minutes.

When meat is done cooking remove and drain grease. Also, blot of grease with paper towels.

Sauce the pizza with the tomato mixture and cover with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and sprinkle with 3 chopped garlic cloves.

Add whatever toppings you prefer and place back in over for 5 minutes. Then put the broil on and crisp up the toppings and make the cheese brown and bubbly! ENJOY!

Pizza topping ideas:

Turkey Bacon

Turkey pepperoni

Red bell pepper

Yellow bell pepper

Green bell pepper

Onions

Mushrooms

Tomatoes

Jalapenos

Banana Peppers

Parmesan cheese

Pineapple

Canadian Bacon

Italian sausage

Also, can make pizza crust base with ground turkey or chicken.

Fruit Salsa

As promised, here is my fruit Salsa recipe:

5 Strawberries diced

1/2 Mango diced

6 rings fresh pineapple diced

3 kiwis diced

3-4 tablespoons strawberry fruit preserves or jam

Mix all together and chill for 4 hours. You can serve with cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips or eat it straight just like me!

Enjoy!

Leah Grace is here!

Leah was born on 01/23/2012 with typical chromosomes. She did not have down syndrome. My c-section went well and we were so relieved that everything went okay. I will say the worst part was the catheter and IV!!

Oh we love her so much! All 8 lbs and 7 ounces of her.