Chicken Florentine - Skinny Style

It's no secret that I love pasta bakes and Italian food! What I don't love are the calories and fats that come along with it... A few weeks ago, I got to thinking about one of my favorite dishes, Chicken Florentine, and ways to make it healthy. Here's what I came up with:

PS: This dish ROCKS! You're welcome ;)

Here's What You'll Need:

• 16 oz. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (Low Fat & Low Sodium Canned Chicken Works too!)

• 6 oz. Frozen Spinach, Thawed - Be Sure to Squeeze the Spinach to Remove as Much Liquid as Possible.

• 2-3 Large Cloves of Garlic, Minced 

• 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 2 Tbsp. Whole Wheat Flour

• 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

• 1 14.5 oz. Can of Salt-Free & Low Fat Chicken Broth

• 1 Tsp. Nutmeg

• 2 Tsp Dried Oregano

• 1 Tbsp. Black Pepper

• 1 Tsp. Italian Seasoning

• 1 Cup Part Skim Ricotta Cheese

• 6 oz. Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

• 8oz. Whole Grain Pasta - Spirals are my Fave, but Bow Tie Pasta Works Great too!

 Here's What You'll Do:

• To begin, cube up your chicken breast into bite sized pieces (skip this step if you opted for canned chicken). Once cubed to perfection, cook the chicken in a skillet. While you’re doing that, cook your pasta according to the package instructions.

• In a separate bowl, you’ll combine the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and spinach. Mix everything up until a smooth consistency is achieved.

• In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add whole wheat flour to pot, and whisk for 30-seconds.

• After whisking, add in your chicken broth, and stir until thickened – usually between 2-3 minutes. Then, you can add in your lemon juice, garlic, and seasonings (nutmeg, pepper, Italian seasoning, and oregano). Bring mixture to a simmer.

• Remove from heat, then add the blended cheese mixture from step 2, as well as the cooked and cubed chicken, and boiled pasta.

• Stir everything to ensure the noodles and chicken are evenly coated.

• Transfer everything to a greased 9x13 casserole dish.

• Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

• Enjoy!!

Craving More?
Find more healthy recipes, workouts, and fun fitness tips on my Nutrish & Delish Pinterest board!

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo

Nothing screams "comfort food" like a piping hot plate of fettuccine Alfredo, right?! It's no secret that pasta with cream sauce is my absolute fave - in fact, it was a "danger dish" that played a huge role in my reaching 251 pounds. Now that I've embraced a much healthier lifestyle, and deliciously healthy cooking habits, I've found a way to make that "danger dish" a guilt-free treat - you're welcome! :)

Here's What You'll Need
(8 oz. Serving)

• 2/3 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 6 oz. Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 1/3 Cup Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
• 2 TBS. Parmesan Cheese
• 1 TBS Neufchatel (Light cream cheese may be used as a substitution)
• 2 Tsp. Olive Oil
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Green Onions
• 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• All Your Favorite Seasonings! (I love garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, etc.)

Let's Get Started!
Whipping up this sauce has never been easier - seriously! While you've got your pasta boiling, combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, until desired temperature is reached. As you cook, stir occasionally. In a matter of minutes, you'll have a deliciously sinless, and oh-so-creamy, pasta dish on your stove top. The best part? Nobody will taste the difference! Give it a try, and see for yourself - Happy Cooking!

If you like this recipe, than you'll love all of my favorite recipes! Of course, all of my healthy cooking inspiration comes from Pinterest, and winds up on my Nutrish & Delish board; so be sure to follow me!

Roasted Honey Dijon Maple Potatoes

Let's face it, potatoes rock. Whether it's french fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or potato casserole, it's always right up my alley! However, it is important to find healthy ways to prepare and cook potatoes, otherwise, you're going to be busting out of your jeans with every bite... and nobody wants that, right?!

Of course, I've found an incredible recipe for Honey Dijon Roasted Potatoes, and it is out-of-this world. The original recipe isn't totally un-healthy, but you know me, I just love to "healthify" things as much as possible. So, as always, I took the original recipe and added my own healthy spin to it.

Here's What You'll Need:

• 16 oz. Red Potatoes, Chopped
• 1 Small Onion, Chopped (More or Less to Preference)
• 2 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 TBS. Dijon Mustard (Grey Poupon is my Fave!)
• 2 Tsp. Honey
• 2 Tsp. Sugar-Free Maple Syrup
• Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste

Here's What You'll Do:

• Begin by pre-heating your oven to 425 degrees.
• While it's heating, whisk together all ingredients (except for the potatoes and chopped onion).
• After all ingredients are fully whisked and blended, toss the potatoes and onion into the mix. *Be sure every potato and onion is fully-coated!
• Coat a non-stick baking dish with Pam cooking spray
• Pour the entire mixture into the dish.
• Pop it into your pre-heated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until tender. *Be sure to stir the potatoes a few times while they are baking to make sure everything is completely coated in that delicious mixture!

Serving Suggestions
I used this as a side dish to a light chicken dish and some baked asparagus. Obviously, it was a huge it! Nobody even knew it was healthy! So, these divine little potatoes have earned themselves a slot in my weekly meal rotation ;)

Simplified Meal Planning
Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is! If you need a quick and delicious recipe for dinner, breakfast, lunch, or even a side dish or snack, you'll find it all on My Favorite Recipes page above. I find all of my cooking, workout, and recipe inspiration on Pinterest, and pin it all to my Nutrish & Delish board for easy access. Where do you find your inspiration?

Pesto Ranch Chicken Breast

Crock Pot Love
Oh, how I love my crock pot! It's awesome for whipping up an easy dinner or creating my signature spiked apple cider - but that's a totally different topic that I won't get into right now. 

Pesto Ranch Chicken  Breast
On my menu plan for this week, I am making a deliciously tasty recipe that I found on Pinterest (of course!). The recipe is called "Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken Thighs," but, I am going to "healthify" it with a few simple substitutions. And you know what? Nobody will know the difference! ;)

How To Healthify
The original recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but I'm going to use boneless, skinless breasts instead. Even though you can easily trim the fat off of the thighs, breast meat is always a healthier option - plus, who wants to waste time trimming fat?! Not me! The recipe also calls for chicken broth. Of course, I'll swap out original broth with a low sodium, fat free version like Shelton's.

Here's What You'll Need

• 8 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 6 oz. Jar of Pesto
• 1 16 oz. Package of Ranch Seasoning
• 1/2 Cup Shelton's Chicken Broth (or any fat free, low sodium broth)

Get Cookin'
I'm about to blow your mind with how easy this recipe is to prep, so brace yourself. All you're going to do is place everything (the chicken breasts, pesto, ranch seasoning, and broth) into the crock pot, give it a little stir to mix everything up, and place the lid on top. Voila; that's it! Cook it on high for 3-4 hours, or if you've got time to spare, cook it on low for 6-8 hours.

Pairing Suggestions
I plan on serving the chicken on a bed of whole wheat angel hair pasta with a homemade Greek yogurt Alfredo sauce, and one of my favorite sides of all time, Parmesan zucchini. Recipes for both of these delicious sides can be found on the My Favorite Recipes page above.

Follow Your Faves!
Follow my Nutrish & Delish board on Pinterest to stay connected to all of my healthy recipes and fitness tips! Happy Cooking :)

Cheeseburger Mac Attack

No, you're not dreaming. This really is a healthy dish.

If you’re sitting around wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve got an amazingly delicious recipe that will knock your socks right off. What’s even better is that it’s super easy to make; even the culinary challenged can pull this one off! The best part? It’s healthy! Yes, that’s right, going to town on this mouthwatering meal will not give you thunder thighs or a muffin top!  So, go ahead; dig in!

Here’s What You’ll Need
For four servings:

• 5 oz. (about 1 1/3 cups) uncooked reduced-calorie, high-fiber elbow macaroni
• 10 oz. raw lean ground turkey
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp. ketchup
• 1 Tbsp. seasoning salt
• 1 Tsp. garlic salt
• 3 cups frozen cauliflower florets
• 2 Tbsp. light sour cream
• 2 slices 2% American cheese
• 5 wedges light creamy Swiss cheese
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• Optional Seasonings: Salt & Pepper

Let’s Get Cookin’

In a large pot, prepare the pasta very al dente. To make sure it’s cooked just right, go ahead and cook it for about half of the time indicated on the package. Then, drain all excess water and set aside.

While your pasta is boiling, combine the turkey, onion, seasoning salt, garlic salt, and ketchup and mix thoroughly. Once you’ve mixed it all up, stir in the cauliflower and cooked pasta, then transfer the mixture into the crock pot.

Cover with lid, and cook on high for about 3 hours. Or, if you’ve got time to kill, you can cook it on low for 7 hours. Whichever way you choose, just be sure the turkey is fully cooked.

Once the turkey is fully cooked and ready to go, break the cheese wedges and cheese slices up into little pieces and throw them into your crock pot, along with the other remaining ingredients. Be sure to stir everything thoroughly so that the cheese is mixed throughout and evenly distributed.

Then, you’ll cover once more, and cook for an additional 15 minutes to get everything melty and delicious. Your next step is simple: dig in! 

Nutrition Facts
Per Serving
300 Calories
9.5g Fat
38g Carbohydrates
13.5g Fiber
8.5g Sugar
24.5g Protein

More to Love
Like this recipe? Well, there's more where that came from! Check out all of my favorite recipes listed under the my favorite recipes tab above; I promise, you won't be let down! Or, if you're a Pintrest addict like myself, check out my Nutrish & Delish board for a ton of healthy tasty treats. 

Cooking With Greek Yogurt

Hey everyone! I’m so sorry that it has been so long since my last post; I’ve been all over the place lately! But, now that I am back in the swing of things, I am super excited to share a healthy little secret with you: Greek yogurt.

Well, as you all know, I’m a huge fan of healthy food that tastes unhealthy. In fact, it’s the only kind of healthy food I’ll eat. So, when I heard about the art of cooking with Greek yogurt, I was skeptical to say the least.

Simple Substitutions

Okay, I know you’re probably thinking that you know all about using it in place of traditional yogurt, and you’re totally right, but did you know that Greek yogurt can be used to create a mouthwatering cheesy pasta dish?! Didn’t think so… But, you heard me right! Simply swap in Greek yogurt with your favorite seasonings in place of a calorie packed cream or Alfredo sauce, and you’ve got yourself a delicious substitution that nobody will even notice. 
 
Conversion Chart
If you're worried about getting the recipe just right, don't be! Keep this conversion chart handy in the kitchen, and you'll be up to professional status in no time!

How unhealthy does this healthy Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo look? ;-)

To try out this healthy cooking phenomenon for myself, I gave it the ultimate test: I made Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo for Daniel and I to have for dinner. As he was approaching the stove top for seconds, I decided to let him in on my Greek yogurt secret. He had no idea!

 
The Best of the Best

Blueberry Banana Bread

Here’s a list of a few of my favorite Greek yogurt recipes that taste like the real deal:

• Creamy Tortellini With Mint & Smoked Paprika Oil
• Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken Breast
• Mashed Potatoes
• Greek Yogurt Biscuits
• GreekYogurt Ranch Dressing & Dip



Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken Breast

• Savory Lemon Chicken

• Cheesecake with Peaches & Honey 
• Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes 
• Blueberry Banana Bread

Think those sound good? That’s just the tip of the iceberg! On my Nutrish and Delish board on Pintrest, I feature a TON of amazing Greek yogurt recipes that are simply divine. Also, all of my favorite recipes are listed under the My Favorite Recipes tab above. Who would have thought that cooking healthy could be so simple and tasty?