Thai Peanut Chicken Salad

This is a yummy, quick, easy, delicious weeknight meal! I cut the original recipe in half but doubled the noodles, and added peanuts and edamame.

INGREDIENTS:

Sauce:
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
3/8 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon dry cooking sherry
1/8 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce

1 cooked and shredded chicken breast
8 oz. linguine or Chinese egg noodles, cooked to al dente and chilled
2 heads hearts-of-romaine lettuce, chopped or 1 head regular romaine, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1/2 large English cucumber, peeled and cut into ¼-inch slices
Pinch salt, or more to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Handful peanuts
Handful of cooked edamame

DIRECTIONS:

Whisk peanut butter, vinegar, sesame oil and sherry in a bowl until smooth. Add soy sauce and Sriracha sauce, and stir to blend. 

Combine remaining ingredients with sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Original Recipe: Good Dinner Mom

Crispy Pesto Gnocchi

This is a super quick weeknight meal! This can be a side dish or a main dish (if you eat a ton, like me!).

INGREDIENTS:

Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sea Salt, to taste

Gnocchi:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (1 lb.) package potato gnocchi
3-4 cups baby spinach leaves
Freshly shredded Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

Make Pesto:
Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the cheese and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

Make Gnocchi:
Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain completely. 

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden and crisp, about 3-4 minutes.  Turn the gnocchi and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 3 more minutes. 

Remove from the heat and stir in 1/3 cup of the pesto and the baby spinach. Toss together in the pan until the spinach just starts to wilt. You might have leftover pesto. Serve warm and garnish with Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, if desired. 

*A good leftover use of the pesto is the Chicken Pesto Spinach Pizza.

ORIGINAL RECIPE: Drop Dead Gorgeous

Chicken Pesto Spinach Pizza

Image courtesy of A Zesty Bite

I made this last night and Trip and I both really enjoyed it. We are definitely going to experiment with different toppings!

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken:
1 large chicken breast
Seasoned salt
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
1/2 cup Tuscan Italian dressing

Pesto: 
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sea Salt, to taste

Pizza:
Refrigerated Pizza Dough from Trader Joe's
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Handful fresh spinach leaves

DIRECTIONS:

Make chicken ahead of time:
I do my trusty crockpot method: Sprinkle some onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt with a bit of water. Cook on low for about 4-6 hours. Then shred and pour some Italian dressing on the chicken and keep warm. This can be also be done the day before or the night before. 

Make pesto:
Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the cheese and pulse until combined. Season with sea salt, to taste.

Make pizza:
Preheat the oven to 475.

Stretch the dough out into a circle and place on pizza baking sheet. Create a small crust by folding the ends up a bit. 

Using a brush, spread out the pesto onto the dough up til the edges of the crust. 
Place the chicken pieces and spinack on the pizza. Top with the mozzarella cheese (you can use more or less to preference).

Cook for 10 minutes until the cheese gets a bit brown on top and the crust is slightly brown. 

Meatloaf

This is a modification of the Pioneer Woman meatloaf recipe. I've made it probably a handful of times, and it's tasty (and I'm not usually a meatloaf fan). I make it without the bacon, and have found that it tastes exactly the same, just less greasy. I cut the recipe in half, since it's just the two of us. Also, it has always taken me WAY longer to cook it through than her recipe calls for, and I've made it in three different ovens. So here's my slightly modified version:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup Whole Milk
• 3 slices White Bread
• 1 pound Ground Beef (make it close to room temperature)
• 1/2 cup (heaping) Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
• 3/8 teaspoons Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 2 whole Eggs, Beaten

Sauce:

• 3/4 cup Ketchup
• 1/6 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour milk over the bread slices. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.

Place the ground beef, milk-soaked bread, Parmesan, seasoned salt, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Pour in beaten eggs.

With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined. The reason for the close-to-room temperature beef is that otherwise your hands will FREEZE. Plus, it will lower the temperature in the oven and take longer to cook. Don't leave it out too long on the counter though, you don't want bacteria!

Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan, which will allow the fat to drain.

Make the sauce: add ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a mixing bowl. Stir together. Pour 1/2 of the mixture over the top of the meatloaf. Spread with a spoon.

Bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes, then pour a bit of the sauce over the top. Slice and serve with remaining sauce. If the meatloaf is still pink inside, keep cooking til cooked through.

Original Recipe: The Pioneer Woman

Pulled Pork Tacos with Sweet Chili Slaw & Avocado Cream

I just made these last night, and they were wonderful! The sweet chili slaw added a nice zing to the taco, and the avocado cream was a good twist on the usual guacamole topping we do. These will now be in our regular dinner rotation.

I made a few minor adjustments to the original recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5-2 lbs. pork tenderloin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces low sodium chicken broth
• Tortillas, for serving
• Cheese for topping (I had jack cheese on hand)

SWEET CHILI SLAW:

• 2 cups sliced green cabbage
• 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 1/2 lime, juiced

AVOCADO CREAM: 

• 1 ripe avocado, chopped
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons greek yogurt

DIRECTIONS:

Mix together the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Pat the pork tenderloin dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mix on the pork til it's totally covered. 

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Make sure the skillet is really hot before adding the pork (should immediately sizzle). Sear the pork on all sides just until it is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the pork and place it in the crockpot. 

Pour the chicken broth into the hot pan and scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate the seared pork deliciousness into the broth. Then pour over the pork in the crockpot. Cook for 6-8 hours on Low (Mine was super tender and done at 6 hours).

After the pork is done, remove the top and pull the pork apart with two forks. Toss it well with the broth and then cover it and let it cook for another 15 minutes or so. Taste the pork and season it additionally if desired.

To make the slaw, add the cabbage to a medium bowl. Toss it with the sweet chili sauce and the lime juice, adding in a pinch of salt. You can make this a few hours ahead of time and keep it in the fridge if desired.

To make the avocado cream, add the avocado, lime juice, and greek yogurt to a medium bowl and blend with a fork until creamy.

Assemble the tacos by adding some pork to each tortilla and covering it with a drizzle of the avocado cream. Add the slaw on top and sprinkle on a bit of cheese.

Original Recipe: How Sweet It Is

Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowl

This is similar to the Peanut Ginger Quinoa recipe I blogged about last month, but just different enough that it warrants another blog post. Instead of a very strong peanut flavor, it has a bit of kick to it with the addition of the sweet chili sauce. I doubled the recipe, and made some minor adjustments to the original. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
• 1 chicken breast
• large handful shredded carrots
• 2/3 cup shelled edamame
• 2/3 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

SAUCE: 

• 4 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons creamy peanut butter
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Cook chicken breast. I put a chicken breast in my small crockpot, covered it with garlic powder, onion powder, sweet chili sauce, and some water to cover the bottom of the crockpot, and cooked on low for 5 hours (or until you can easily shred it). 

Prepare quinoa according to directions. I used low-sodium chicken broth, and it was so much more flavorful than water, so use it if you have it. 

While quinoa is cooking, combine all of the sauce ingredients together in a large bowl and whisk well to combine. Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. 

Once quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid, mix quinoa in the large sauce bowl and toss well to coat. 

Add in dry ingredients to the large bowl and mix well. 

Original Recipe: How Sweet It Is

Spicy Sausage Pasta

I made the recipe a couple weeks ago, and we both liked it. I cooked the pasta too much, so I'm decreasing the cook time, but other than that, it was delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb smoked sausage
• 1.5 cups diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz penne pasta
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions

Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.

Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. 

Makes 4 servings.

Original Recipe:  Kevin and Amanda

Easy Pad Thai

This isn't an authentic Pad Thai dish, but it's a quick and tasty weeknight meal. I double the amount of sauce from the original recipe, as the first time I made it, it was quite dry. I also add chicken, because Trip doesn't consider it dinner unless there's meat in it. And of course, I take out the cilantro. :)

INGREDIENTS:

CHICKEN:

• 1 chicken breast
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• kosher salt
• black pepper

SAUCE:

• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
• 6 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 squirt (about 1/8 teaspoon) Sriracha (optional)

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces dried, wide and flat rice noodles
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 3 scallions (green onions), white and green parts, separated and thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 large eggs, light beaten (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped roasted, salted peanuts

Cook chicken as preferred. I either bake it in the oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, or stick it in the crockpot if I remember. Sprinkle some garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper on it before cooking. 

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.

Add scallion whites and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add eggs and cook, scraping skillet with spatula until eggs are almost set (about 30 seconds). Transfer eggs to a plate.

Add noodles, scallion greens, and sauce to skillet. Cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are soft (about 1 minute). Add egg mixture and toss to coat, breaking eggs up gently.

Serve noodles with lime wedges, topped with peanuts.

Original Recipe: Brownies for Dinner

Grilled Balsamic Flank Steak

Here is another great flank steak recipe. This one is also super easy and delicious. The recipe serves four, so this is a great weekend meal with friends. We often pair it with the grilled corn feta salad recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb. flank steak
• ¼ c. balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• salt and pepper

Combine balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic in a large ziplock bag. 

Add steak, turn to coat; marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature (or 4 hours in the refrigerator, if making ahead of time). 

Grill until desired doneness. We do ours about 4-6 minutes per side depending on how hot our grill is.

Remove from grill and let stand, covered loosely with foil for 10 minutes.

Cut meat in thin strips against the grain.

Original Recipe: Point-less Meals

Beef with Snow Peas

This is a Pioneer Woman recipe that I tried when I first started to learn how to cook. I loved her website because she showed how the food was supposed to look at each stage of the process (something very valuable for a newbie cook like myself!). 

This recipe is very quick...the longest process is cooking the rice. The sauce is delicious, and you can substitute the snow peas for any vegetable (peppers, broccoli, onions). When I first made the dish, I had a Teflon pan, and burnt the Teflon off because the recipe said to make the skillet HOT. Oops. I still don't have a cast iron skillet, just stainless steel pans, so I don't get it super hot, just hot enough. :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound Flank Steak
• 1/2 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 3 Tablespoons Sherry Or Cooking Sherry
• 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon Minced Fresh Ginger
• 6 ounces, weight Fresh Snow Peas, Ends Trimmed
• 5 whole Scallions, Cut Into Haf-inch Pieces On The Diagonal
•  Salt As Needed (use Sparingly)
• 3 Tablespoons Peanut Or Olive Oil
• 1 cup Jasmine Rice

Cook rice according to package directions.

Trim as much of the fat off the steak as you can. Then slice it very thin against the grain in long strips.

In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, sherry, brown sugar, cornstarch, and ginger. Pour half the liquid over the sliced meat in a bowl and toss with hands. Reserve the other half of the liquid. Set aside.

Heat oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add snow peas and stir for 45 seconds. Remove to a separate plate. Set aside.

Allow pan to get hot again. With tongs, add half the meat mixture, leaving most of the marinade still in the bowl. Add half the scallions. Spread out meat as you add it to pan, but do not stir for a good minute. (You want the meat to get as brown as possible in as short amount a time as possible.) Turn meat to the other side and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove to a clean plate.

Repeat with other half of meat, allowing pan to get very hot again first. After turning it, add the first plateful of meat, the rest of the marinade, and the snow peas. Stir over high heat for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Check seasonings and add salt only if it needs it. Mixture will thicken as it sits.

Serve immediately over rice. 

Original Recipe: The Pioneer Woman

Bacon, Mushroom, and Spinach Risotto

This recipe is heavenly. So creamy and flavorful, Trip and I ate the entire amount in one sitting. I made some slight adjustments to the original recipe: I used 8oz. of cremini mushrooms, not 12 oz of three different kinds. I also used store bought low sodium chicken stock, not homemade. I also took out some of the bacon grease, since it seemed like too much (I used another brand of bacon the second time around and there wasn't as much grease, so I guess it depends which brand you have). Finally, I didn't have asiago cheese, so I used parmesan. You'll definitely get an arm workout stirring this for 30 minutes straight, but it's so worth it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 6 bacon slices, chopped
• 1 cup chopped shallots
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 4 cups baby spinach (a couple large handfuls)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Asiago cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Bring chicken stock to a simmer in a small saucepan (do not boil); keep warm over low heat.

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add bacon to pan; cook 8 minutes or until crisp, flipping occasionally. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon. If there is too much grease (should just cover the bottom of the pan), remove. Cut up bacon into bite size pieces.

Add shallots, oil, thyme, and garlic to pan; cook 6 minutes or until shallots are tender, stirring occasionally. 

Stir in mushrooms; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add rice, and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. 

Stir in sherry; cook 1 minute or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. 

Stir in 1 cup stock; cook 4 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. 

Add remaining stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of stock is absorbed before adding the next (about 25 minutes total). 

Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute. 

Remove from heat; stir in bacon, cheese, salt, and pepper. Devour.

Original Recipe:  My Recipes

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Trip LOVES when I make this, and it's so easy! The original recipe calls for Hidden Valley dry ranch mix, but I make my own, since the Hidden Valley mix uses MSG. Double the recipe if you're feeding more than 3.

• 1 lb chicken breasts (3 big breasts)
• 4 oz.Italian dressing (I like Annie's Tuscan Italian Dressing)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon dried chives
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed

Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours or until chicken is done. Shred with fork and serve with warm tortillas and all your favorite fixings (lettuce, tomato, salsa, guacamole, cheese, etc.). 

Original Recipe: Chef in Training

Baked Tacos

This is a favorite in our house. Baking the tacos makes the cheese all melty and makes the shells a bit soft so they don't break apart so easily when you bite them. I cut the original recipe in half, since it's just the two of us, and switched up the cheese. These are still good leftover the next day. 

INGREDIENTS (makes 12 tacos):

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• dash cayenne pepper
• 4 oz. tomato sauce
• 8 oz. can refried beans (I use Trader Joe's vegetarian refried beans, made with no lard)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 12 hard taco shells (I use Trader Joe's shells, made with no lard)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a small bowl combine dried minced onion, chili powder, cornstarch, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and set aside.

In a large skillet brown ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess liquid. Add refried beans, tomato sauce, and prepared taco seasoning. Mix well.

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, standing up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. 

Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tacos are heated through. Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving.

Original Recipe: Blog Chef

Brie, Bacon, and Basil Pasta

I found this on Pinterest, and have made it a handful of times. The last time I made it I BAKED my bacon first (who knew?? thanks mom for the recommendation!), instead of frying it in the pan. The overall dish was just as tasty, and not quite as greasy. I added more bacon than the original calls for, because more bacon makes everything better.

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 oz pasta
• 1/2 cup pasta water - reserved
• 6 pieces thick sliced bacon
• 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 lb brie, cut into cubes
• 10 basil leaves, cut into a chiffonade
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Put aluminum foil on a 1" thick baking sheet. Place bacon strips on there, and cook in oven at 400 degrees for anywhere from 17-22 minutes (depending on how you want it and how hot your oven is). Take out of oven, let cool, and break into bite size pieces.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining, then drain the pasta and set it aside.

Heat large skillet with some olive oil (and a little of the bacon grease if you want) and add onion and saute over medium high heat until the onions are caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and toss for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

Add the cubed brie along with the reserved pasta water. Stir constantly until the cheese is melted and then add the cooked pasta to the mixture and toss to combine.

Add the basil and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Serve immediately. This is also wonderful leftover.

Original Recipe: What's Gaby Cooking

Penne Bake

This is a great meatless Monday recipe. Trip keeps wanting me to add sausage to this...I keep putting him off. I've never used smoked paprika before, and it really does make this dish. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• pinch crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 (26 oz) can diced tomatoes (or crushed, whatever you prefer)
• 1/2 pound penne pasta, cooked
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400.

In a large skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium-high. Once the butter starts bubbling, add the onions. Saute until they start to soften, 5 minutes. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and paprika. Saute another minute. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer 5 to 10 minutes.

Add in the cooked pasta and spinach. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Pour mixture into a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Original Recipe: Bev Cooks

Creamy Parmesan Chicken

I found this recipe online, and while it isn't the healthiest dish, it's super tasty! I cut the recipe in half and use three breasts, and there is still plenty to cover the chicken. It takes longer to preheat the oven than it does to prepare the topping, so it's a great weeknight meal. I pair it with orzo rice from Trader Joe's and whatever vegetable we have. I tried to make it healthier once by substituting the mayo for greek yogurt. It's still tasty, but it's a totally different taste, and it doesn't brown at all, so there isn't much crunch. Trip will eat one breast, I'll eat half, and I use the other breast and a half for chicken salad sandwiches for lunch the next day.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or greek yogurt, if you're feeling healthy)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• panko bread crumbs (optional)

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Combine mayo, cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper in bowl and mix thoroughly.

Place chicken breasts in 13 x 9 baking dish (pat dry).

Using spoon, scoop mixture out and cover the breast tops and sides, til all visible parts are covered with the mixture.

Sprinkle some bread crumbs on top for a nice crunch.

Bake in oven for about 40-45 minutes (depending on how thick the breasts are).

Original Recipe: Food.com

Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

I found this on Pinterest a while back, and it's a favorite. It's creamy but not greasy, and I love anything with pesto. This is great dish to pre-make ahead of time, then just pop in the oven later. You can also adjust the parm cheese/pesto/cream cheese ratio to however you like. I add in one more tablespoon of pesto than the original calls for. 

INGREDIENTS:

• Box of large pasta shells
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened 
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese + 1/4 cup for topping 
• 4 tablespoons pesto 
• 2 small chicken breasts, or 1 large chicken breast 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 
• salt and pepper to taste 

Cook chicken and shred. I like to cook mine in the crockpot ahead of time. I just put the chicken in there, and sprinkle some salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper and pour in a bit of low sodium chicken broth (or just water if I don't have broth), and cook on low for about 4-5 hours.

Prepare pasta shells as directed on package. Cook pasta shells only until al dente. The pasta will finish cooking when the dish is baked. Drain the pasta shells and set aside. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, except the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. Fill the pasta shells with the filling and place in a baking dish.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese over filled shells. 

Bake shells uncovered for 30 minutes or until shells are bubbling hot and cheese melts. 

Original Recipe: What's Cookin' Chicago

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

We have made this about five or six times and everyone raves about it. It's so easy, and so delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

• approx. 25 large shrimp (I use Trader Joes frozen shrimp, they come 21-25 in a bag. Thaw for about 18-24 hours in the fridge beforehand)
• 3/4 cup olive oil (I just guestimate, just enough to cover all the shrimp)
• juice of 2 lemons
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (less if you're a wimp, more if you're crazy)
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Put the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne, and salt in a large ziploc bag along with the thawed shrimp and marinate for a few hours in the fridge. 

Soak long wooden skewers in water for about 5-10 minutes so they won't burn on the grill. I pour water in a cookie sheet and put them in there.

After it's marinated, put the shrimp on the skewer, 5 to a skewer (just touching, but not squished).

Place on the grill for 2-3 minutes per side. DON'T OVERCOOK. Shrimp need to be pink and cooked through, but it doesn't take long. We have a charcoal grill, so you may need to vary the time if you have a gas grill. 

That's it! This is a great recipe for guests, as each get their own skewer. 

The original recipe (thanks Oprah!): Oprah

Peanut Ginger Quinoa

I have been making my version for lunch a couple times a week. So easy, and it really doesn't need exact measurements (which is always the sign of great recipe for me!). You can add/remove whatever veggies you like. I made a couple substitutions/omissions to the original (I detest cilantro, so this always gets removed from my recipes), so here is my version:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• handful shredded cabbage, depending on how much crunch you like 
• ½ red onion, diced (if I have it on hand, if not, it's not necessary) 
• handful shredded carrots (again, if I have it) 
• ¼ cup diced green onions (again, if I have it) 
• handful of peanuts (I use reduced-sodium roasted peanuts) 
• handful of edamame (I keep the Trader's Joes cooked ones in the freezer, then just thaw in the microwave) 
• Fresh lime, for a bit of tang 

For the dressing:

• ¼ cup all natural peanut butter (I just scoop out a spoonful) 
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (I'm lazy, so I just put in a few dashes of the jarred ginger) 
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce 
• 1 tablespoon honey (I just squirt a small amount in) 
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar (I like the tang, so I use more than the original) 
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Cook quinoa according to package directions (tip: ALWAYS rinse first). 

In a large bowl, just dump the veggies and dressing ingredients together while the quinoa is cooking. 

Once quinoa is done, pour it into the large bowl and stir everything til combined. I usually eat about half, and save the rest in the fridge for the next day. 

Original Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen