Juicy Roast Chicken

I was always afraid to roast a whole roast chicken. There are always horror stories about super dried out chickens that are inedible. This one is NOT one of those. I know a lot of post ops have problems with chicken. I couldn't eat chicken for a year without discomfort. You will not have a problem with the moistness of this chicken. The white meat was even extremely moist.

• 1 whole 4-5 lb chicken



• olive oil



• lemon pepper



• salt



• dried rosemary



• 1 onion, roughly chopped



• 2 cloves garlic



• 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350. Remove insides from the chicken. Wash chicken. Cut lemon in half and squeeze lemon all over chicken. Rub the cavity and entire chicken with olive oil, salt and lemon pepper. Be generous. Stuff chicken with chopped onions, garlic cloves and the lemon. Then, under the skin where the breasts are rub olive oil and dried rosemary. Roast in oven for 2 hours or until popper comes up. I never enjoyed roast chicken as much as I did last night.

Chicken Cacciatore

This recipe is great for using up your leftovers. I didn't have to buy anything for this dish, as I had everything on hand. This is so easy and delicious.

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into strips



• flour



• cooking spray



• salt and pepper



• 1 large yellow onion, cut into strips



• 6 ounces mushrooms cut into pieces



• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic



• 1 16 ounce can tomato sauce



• 1/4 cup of water



• 1 Tablespoon of each: fresh Basil, Oregano and Parsley, chopped into small pieces



• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Heat a large skillet. Coat chicken strips with flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Spray skillet with cooking spray and brown chicken on all sides, approx 5 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate, respray, and add in onions on medium heat. Salt and pepper them. Cook for 5 minutes, lower heat to medium low and add in mushrooms and garlic. Stir for 1 minute then add in tomato sauce, 1/4 water, spices and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over wheat pasta, or plain. This is very good, I ate a good amount of it!

Chicken Mango Sausage, Peppers and Onions

My husband has now declared this is his NEW favorite dinner. I love going to trader Joe's and getting these ingredients, but you can pretty much get them anywhere. This is a fruity twist on traditional S,P&O's.

• 1 package chicken mango sausages, cut into bite sized pieces (I used trader Joe's, but you can get chicken sausage pretty much anywhere)


• 1 large yellow onion chopped into thin strips


• 2 bell peppers, I used red and yellow, cut into thin strips


• 1/2 cup frozen mangos (or you can use one fresh mango)


• 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic


• 2 Tablespoons mango salsa (you can find this is the Mexican foods section or dressing aisle in a jar)


• 2 Tablespoons mango juice (I used Goya)


• salt and pepper to taste


• cooking spray
  

Spray a large skillet and set on medium high heat. Add in frozen mango and cook for about 3 minutes. Then respray and add in onions and peppers. Salt and pepper and cook for 15-20 minutes until softened, but not mushy. Add in sausage and cook for about 5-10 more minutes. Add in garlic, mango salsa and mango juice, and cook just long enough to thicken the sauce. Serve over quinoa or brown rice. This is seriously delicious!

My Momma's Meatballs- WLS modified!

Some days I just want some yummy Italian meatballs! My mom makes these every Christmas with baked ziti. I love 'em plain!

• 1 lb lean ground beef (or meatball mix if you have it)



• 1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs



• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese



• 2 eggs (scrambled)



• 2 pieces of bread soaked in milk



• 2 Tablespoons fresh basil



• 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano



• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley



• 2 Tablespoons garlic powder



• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese



• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl add all the ingredients, except the mozzarella cheese. Make sure all the spices are chopped fine. For the bread, soak 2 pieces in a bowl of milk, before adding the bread, squeeze out excess milk and tear into little pieces (Just a side note, if you have cats, please watch this bowl at all times or else you will enter your kitchen to find your fat cat drinking out of your bread bowl.) Mix everything together, your hands work best for this. Form meatballs into about an inch round ball. Chop the mozzarella cheese and stick a piece into the middle of each ball, making sure the meat covers the cheese completely. Arrange on lightly oiled baking sheet.

Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Or until completely cooked through. Add to sauce and enjoy!

Carb Conscious Calzones

I recently rediscovered a recipe my mom used to make us when we were little. I never knew it was "healthy" for us. These little calzones are so delicious and easy.

• 8 Large whole wheat tortillas



• 3 cups part skim milk ricotta cheese



• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese



• 1/4 Parmesan cheese



• 6 slices ham lunch meat, chopped into pieces



• 1 medium tomato, cubed



• salt and pepper



• 8 pieces tin foil



• tomato sauce

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, chopped up ham and tomato, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mix well. To stuff calzones take a piece of foil, then place one tortilla on top. Add in about 1/2 a cup of ricotta mixture, and wrap up tortilla like a burrito, then tightly wrap foil around the calzone and place on baking sheet. Continue to do this with all 8. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve with tomato sauce for dipping!

Apple Pork Chops

Sometimes I get bored of pork. I wanted to spice up some pork chops the other day. And thus, a delicious, easy recipe for pork chops.

• 1 lb boneless, skinless thin pork chops



• cooking spray



• 1 medium jar cinnamon applesauce, sweetened with splenda (Note. I used real sugar applesauce because I am pregnant and artificial sweeteners are not good for pregnancy)



• 1 tablespoon cinnamon



• 1 tablespoon nutmeg



• salt, pepper and chili powder

Preheat oven to 350. Salt, pepper and sprinkle pork chops with chili powder (this will not make it spicy, but it will make it a little smokey, it's very good.) Spray large skillet with cooking spray, heat on medium high heat and brown chops for 2-3 minutes on each side. In a casserole dish add applesauce, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix. Then add pork chops and cover each with applesauce. Bake for about 20 minutes.

Crustless Taco Pie

I adapted this recipe from my mom, who used to make a similar pie, but with pie crust and a few other differences. My hubby loved this. It was excellent!

• 1 large whole wheat tortilla



• 1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey (I used turkey)



• 1 pkg taco seasoning



• 3 cups LF cheddar cheese



• 1 large jar salsa



• 1 cup crushed whole wheat tortilla chips



• LF sour cream
  

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare ground beef with taco seasoning as per envelope instructions. Place wheat tortilla in the bottom of a pie pan. Layer in 1/2 of the taco meat, then 1/2 of salsa, and 1 cups cheese. Then repeat with meat, salsa then on the top sprinkle chips and top with remaining cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes. Serve with sour cream and cheese on top. This is very tasty and full of protein!