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Spicy {Slow Cooker} Sweet Potato and Chicken Stew

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours, 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces

1 large sweet potato or yam, peeled and chunked

1 yellow onion, diced

1 red pepper, seeds removed and diced

1 large zucchini, chopped

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

5 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

1 tablespoon curry powder

1/2 tablespoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less to your liking)

3 cups low sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/2 cup fat free half & half or light coconut milk

salt to taste

Directions

1.            Pull out the slow cooker (duh).

2.            Throw all the vegetables (including garlic) and the chicken into the slow cooker.

3.            Sprinkle the spices over everything and toss with a wooden spoon to mix.

4.            Pour the chicken broth over everything.

5.            Set your slow cooker to high heat (for 4 hours) or low (8 hours).

6.            In the last half hour of cooking, mix the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of the broth from the crockpot in a small bowl and pour the mixture back into the stew. Let cook for another 20 minutes to half hour to thicken, on low heat.

7.            Right before serving, stir in the half and half or coconut milk. This will give the broth a velvety texture!

8.            Season with salt to taste and serve with a sprinkling of flat leaf parsley or cilantro.

OH SO...CHEESY ORGANIC CAULIFLOWER BREADSTICKS!

INGREDIENTS

·  4 cups of riced cauliflower (about 1 large head of organic cauliflower)

·  4 eggs

·  2 cups of your favorite cheese

·  3 tsp oregano

·  4 cloves garlic, tsp of minced

·  salt and pepper to taste

·  1 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese (for topping)

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 425 F degrees. Prepare 2 pizza dishes or a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

      2.  Make sure your cauliflower is roughly chopped in florets. Add the florets to your food processor and pulse until cauliflower resembles rice or hand chop or grind.

      3.  Place the cauliflower in a pot with a little water and bring to a quick boil for about 2 minutes. Place the cooled cauliflower in a large bowl and add the 4 eggs, 2 cups of cheese, oregano, garlic and salt and pepper. Mix everything together.

      4.  Separate the mixture in half and place each half onto the prepared baking sheets and shape into either a pizza crust, or a rectangular shape for the breadsticks.

      5.  Bake the crust (no topping yet) for about 25 minutes or until nice and golden. Don't be afraid the crust is not soggy at all. Once golden, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.

      6.  Slice and serve with your favorite organic marinara sauce

NOTES

I don’t recommend a microwave, it kills so many of the good enzymes in our food. If you have no other method, use it for just long enough to make the riced cauliflower soft.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bites with Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dip

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bites

These little mouth watering gems are good for snacking and for appetizers at any party or gathering. They will surely be a hit!!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup shredded chicken
• 1/4 cup goat cheese
• 1/4 cup sharp cheddar
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
• 1/4 cup Panko
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons organic flour
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
•  

The Dipping Sauce

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup blue cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, blue cheese, garlic powder, dill, parsley, salt and pepper, to taste; set aside in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a mini muffin pan or coat with nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, combine quinoa, chicken, goat cheese, sharp cheddar, buffalo sauce, Panko, egg, flour, salt and pepper, to taste.
• Using a small cookie scoop, scoop the mixture evenly into the muffin tray, about 1 1/2 tablespoons for each.
• Place into oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden and set.
• Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Old Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings

Old Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves cubed
2 small cans organic chicken broth
1 onion, finely diced

4 med cut carrots cut on a diagonal

2 stalks of cut celery

Directions

Place the chicken,broth, onion,carrots and celery in a pot on the stovetop, and cover.
Cook about 30 minutes, drain off the broth into another pan to thicken for gravy.

Mix up 1/3 cup flour and water in a shaker container until runny then wait until the broth
is boiling and pour in the flour and water mixture while whisking .
Return gravy back into the original pot and bring back to a slow bubble.

Mix up the Dumplings:  recipe makes 6 dumplings

1cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBS margarine

Directions

Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt in medium size bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly.

Stir in milk to make a soft dough. Drop by spoonfuls into boiling stew. Cover and simmer 

without lifting lid. Dumplings will look wet on the outside but will be dry on the inside when 

cooked. So test the insides for doneness. 

You will love these once you make them. 

So will everyone at the table.

Simply Zesty!!

Zesty Taco Salad

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels or frozen, thawed
• 4 large diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain brown rice
• 1 15-ounce can black, kidney or pinto beans, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt ( or lemon juice)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup prepared salsa
• 2 cups shredded or chopped lettuce
• 1 cup shredded taco cheese blend
• 2 1/2 cups thin tortilla chips

·       

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and corn; cook, stirring, until the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Coarsely chop 1 tomato. Add it to the pan along with rice, beans, chili powder, 1 teaspoon oregano and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the tomato cooks down, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
2. Coarsely chop the remaining 3 tomatoes. Combine with cilantro, salsa and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano in a medium bowl.
3. Toss lettuce in a large bowl with the bean mixture, half the fresh salsa and 2/3 cup cheese. Serve sprinkled with tortilla chips underneath or around the edge for dipping.

Simply Healthy Cooking 4U: Simply Tasty!!

Simply Healthy Cooking 4U: Simply Tasty!!: Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients 8 cups 1-inch-thick slices cauliflower florets, (about 1 large head)...

Simply Sizzlin'!!

Grilled Mahi Mahi

Ingredients:

6 (6 oz.) mahi mahi fish fillets, 1/2" thick

Dressing:

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tbsp. honey

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt (you can omit)

1/8 tsp. white pepper

 Preparation:

• Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels. For dressing, in a small bowl combine cilantro, lemon peel and juice, oil, honey, garlic, and salt. Mix well.
•  Place fish fillets into glass baking pan and pour dressing over; turn fish to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Lightly grease indoor electric grill and preheat or fire up the outside grill.  Drain fish, discarding marinade. Place fish on the grill rack, tucking under any thin edges. If using a covered grill, close lid.
• Grill until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, about 2 to 3 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness of fish on a two sided grill. On uncovered grill, cook for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness of fish, turning once halfway through grilling. Makes 6 servings. 

Grilling fish can be tricky. I cheat and use foil on the grill with poked holes because I tend to flip the fish and it gracefully slides between the grates of the grill. 

Tell us your grilling secrets and enter to win a surprise! 

Write in your secrets below and we promise to tell!! (so sign your name:)

 

Simply Creamy!!

 

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni (2 cups)
• 1 3/4 cups low-fat milk (or unsweetened milk substitute)
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons of margarine
• 1 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese

 

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender.
2. Melt margarine and add flour until it's smooth.
3. Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 cups milk in another large pot over medium-high heat until just simmering.
4. Add warm milk a little at a time into the flour mixture, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in Cheddar cheese until  melted and creamy. You can return to stove to melt on very low heat and stir continuously until melted.

What do you add to your mac and cheese?? 

****Tell me in the comment section below,
                     and enter to win something healthy this week!!

Simple and Fun!!

 Cooking can be a chore if you make it one.

Keep it simple. 

Fix meals that only use 4 ingredients.

Take two days a week (usually Sunday & Thursday) and cut up veggies and fruits

Now here is your first recipe and it's healthy too!!

                                  BEEF STROGANOFF

 

1 lb Beef Round Steak, cut into small strips or chunks

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup sour cream

1 Package Egg Noodles or Favorite Pasta

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Brown the beef and drain

2.) Cook the pasta according to package directions.

3.) Stir into the Beef>Mushroom Soup,1/2 cup sour cream,1/4 cup of water, stir and heat until hot.   Add cooked noodles, Mix and serve immediately.

You can feel free to make substitutions and then add  your comment in the comment section. I will choose a winner every week to get a healthy surprise!! So add those comments !!

Think Healthy!!

Sandra