Broccamole

I have officially joined Weight Watchers, and of course the day before Super Bowl.  I was looking for "healthy" dips for the game, and it was sure hard.  I saw something for broccamole, and I thought that I would give it a try. I LOVE guacamole so I really was not getting my hopes up, because I did not think anything could be as tasty.  I was surprisingly wrong, this was delicious and so much better than guacamole.  I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a healthy dip.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving size: 6-8 people
WW Points: 1 point for half cup
Recipe adapted from: Domestic Fits

Ingredients

•  3 cups of  cut broccoli (1 large head of broccoli)
• 2 tablespoons of  chopped green onion
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 2 ounces of fat free sour cream
• 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon of onion powder

Directions

1. Steam your broccoli for about 10 minutes, you want the broccoli to be very soft. 
2.  Add your broccoli and the remaining ingredients to your food processor.
3. Process your mixture until smooth.
4. Chill for about 1 hour.
5. Enjoy

Final Product

Ovaltine, Banana and Peanut Butter Breakfast Smoothie.

My sister in law has been drinking this smoothie for a while now, and I deciede I would try it.  I really am not a smoothie person, and thought it would be way too much work for breakfast.  Boy was I wrong, this takes 3 minutes to make and is so filling.  I drink this at about 8 in the morning and am not even close to hingry till about 2.  It is very good for you, much better then stopping for a breakfast sandwich.  This really is the perfect smoothie for the morning.

Prep time: 1 minute
Cook time: 2 minutes
Serving size- 1 smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 banana (any size you want)
• 2 heaping tablespoons of ovaltine
• 2 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1.5 cups of ice
• 1 cup of milk

Directions

1. In your blender place all ingredients and blend for about 2 minutes.
2. Enjoy!

Home-made Taco Seasoning

This may sounds like a very easy recipe, but I never knew how easy it was to make your own taco seasoning.  I have tried many different mixtures of spices, and this is definitely the best tasting.  This is 1000 times better for you than using the packaged seasoning, and cheaper.  This cuts out all the preservatives, and really can't beat the taste.

Serving size: This particular recipe is for 1.5 pound of ground beef/ ground turkey
Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

Directions

1. When your taco meat is done browning remove from heat, and add 1/4 cup of water. (I do not like my tacos with any sauce, so if you want more liquid you can add)
2. Add the above ingredients, and mix well
3. Enjoy!

Final Product

Skinny Bang Bang Chicken

When I was in my first job I loved going to happy hours.  One of my favorite happy hours was at Bonefish Bar and Grill.  I would never get dinner, only appetizers and drinks.  They have this appetizer called Bang Bang Shrimp, and it was seriously one of my favorite appetizers EVER.  I was on the search for the recipe, but everyone I at   was pretty unhealthy.  I found a skinny version, and was so excited to try it.  It did taste different than the sauce at Bonefish, but it was equally as delicious, and a lot better for you.  I decided also to do it over chicken, and not shrimp.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Serving size: 4 people

Recipe adapted from:  The Cookie Rookie

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used the thin sliced ones)
• Adoba seasoning 
• 1 5.3 oz container of plain Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons of Siracha sauce
• .5 teaspoons of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Green onions for topping.

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. While oven is pre-heating sprinkle your chicken breasts with Adoba
3. Bake chicken for 10-15 minutes (until cooked through)
4. While chicken is baking, place you Greek yogurt, sweet chili sauce, Siracha, sugar and garlic in a small bowl and mix well.
5. Once your chicken is cooked, place your sauce on top of chicken and place back in the oven for 3 minutes to warm sauce.
6. Serve over your choice of rice or pasta, and sprinkle with green onions

Final Product

Blackened Cajun Chicken

Now that the holiday's are over, and I have ate all my leftover I get to cook again.  I received a lot of  fun cooking things for Christmas, that I am very excited to use!  I went out to dinner with my mom and had a blackened chicken, and it was really good.  I wanted to figure out how to make it and finally tried last night.  This was so easy to make, and it was really good.  It had a different taste then the restaurant (I believe they blacken theirs on a grill) but I liked it just as much!

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 4 people

Cook time: 20 minutes

Recipe adapted from: Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

I did not use measurements on the seasonings, because you only need to sprinkle the seasonings on each piece of chicken.

• Paprika
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Black pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil'

Directions

1. Place your chicken on a large plate, and sprinkle both sides with each of the seasonings.
2. While seasoning your chicken, place oil in a large pan with a lid, and let heat.
3. Once oil is heated place your chicken in pan, and cover.
4. Cook for 6-8 minutes on each side (until blackened!)
5. Enjoy,

I served my chicken with yellow rice and corn, and it was a great combination.

Final Product

Copycat KFC Bowl

I am not a huge fast food person, but I have to admit I LOVE the KFC bowl.  The combination of chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and gravy all mixed in one is just so great.  KFC is SO expensive though, that I rarely get the bowl.  I saw that one of my friends on Facebook decided to make her  own, and I knew I had to try that right away.  These are so easy and cheap to make, not to mention a lot better for you.  This does differ from the typical KFC bowl because I did not fry my chicken.  If you love fried chicken then fry instead of saute.

Prep. time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serving size- This made 4 bowls

Ingredients

• 2 packages of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes (you can make your own if you want, these were just much easier and taste great)
• 1 can of sweet corn
• 1 pound of chicken cut into bite size pieces
• 1 package of instant gravy
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 2 tablespoons of Adoba seasoning
• 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs
• Mexican cheese for topping

Directions

1. In a pot cook your mashed potatoes according to directions
2. While your potatoes are cooking, place your chicken in a large bowl.  Add your flour and Adoba, mix well.
3. Place your oil in a pan, add your chicken and cook till brown (about 10-15 minutes)
4. When potatoes are done, cook you corn and chicken.
5. In your serving bowl place a cup of potatoes, top with chicken, corn, gravy and sprinkle with Mexican cheese.
6. Enjoy!

Final Product

Lemon and Olive Oil Pasta with Basil Pan Seared Scallops

The other day I was grocery shopping, and they were having a huge sale on seafood.  I love scallops and they were on sale for 8 dollars.  I got a little over a pound, and decided that I was going to make some sort of pasta.  I made pasta last night, and it was so good.  It was so simple, and the olive oil sauce was a nice change from creamy and red sauce.  The way the scallops were cooked was PERFECT.  I would strongly suggest this for any scallop lovers, and the lemon gave an awesome twist.

Serving size- 4-6 people
Prep time- 5 minutes
Cook time- 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 box of bow-tie noodles
• 1 pound of bay scallops
• 3/4 cups olive oil
• 2 lemons (cut in halves)
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning
• 2 tablespoons of dried basil
• 9 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese

Directions

1. In a large pot, boil you water and cook pasta.
2. While pasta is cooking place your scallops in a large bowl.  Add 1/4 olive oil, juice from 3 halves of your lemon, 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder and lemon pepper seasoning,  Mix scallops until they are all coated.
3. In a pan melt 1 tablespoon of butter, and place half of your scallops.  Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of basil, and cook 4-6 minutes (until nice and golden brown)
4. Cook the other half of your scallops just like step 3.
5. Once pasta is cooked remove from pot, rinse and place in large bowl.
6. In the same pot you cooked your pasta add the rest of your butter (7 tablespoons),  remaining olive oil (1/2 cup) 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder, juice of half of lemon and  your Parmesan cheese. Cook until butter is melted, and add to your pasta.
7. Add your scallops to the pasta mixture, mix well and serve!

Final Product