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Kamis, 13 Oktober 2011

Recipe: Pollo in Potacchio



I'm a big fan of Gina's website, skinnytaste.com. I'm also a big fan of crock pot cooking. When I saw Gina giving instructions for making Pollo in Potacchio (braised chicken with rosemary, garlic and tomato sauce) in a crock pot, I had to try it. The recipe can be found here.


The ingredients were all pretty much things that I keep on hand. My husband graciously agreed to sharing a little of his white wine with me. I don't usually cook with wine, but this recipe called for a very small amount of it. One thing I did goof up was that I used diced tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes. I didn't notice my mistake until it was too late, so I had to add a small can of tomato paste to thicken the sauce.


Braising the chicken was a little messy, but I'm sure it added to the flavor of the meat. Because I had so much chicken, I had to braise the meat in two batches. I didn't worry about not getting rid of all the pinkness because I knew the meat would be cooking in the crock pot for a long time.


The carrots, celery, onions and garlic smelled good when they were cooking. If I make this meal again, I'll probably add more of the vegetables.


At this point of the cooking process, the chicken was still on the bone. I set the heat on low and cooked the chicken for about eight hours. On the advice of a friend, I used a crock pot liner to help with the cleanup after everything was cooked. It was a wise decision. I also think adding diced tomatoes was a good idea, since it meant my sauce had big chunks of tomato.


The chicken turned out so tender that it fell completely off the bone. I think I'd have preferred the chicken to keep its shape while still being tender, so next time I'll try making it in a large pot. The taste was fantastic, as was the smell of the house. There's something very comforting about food cooked in tomato sauce.

Because of some of my substitutions, I'm sure the calorie count is a little higher per serving than the 123 calories listed in the original recipe, but probably not by much. It will make a great meal served over rice with a side of vegetables.
READ MORE - Recipe: Pollo in Potacchio


Rabu, 05 Oktober 2011

Crock Pot Recipe: Chicken Dijon



I found a super simple recipe for chicken dijon made in the crock pot, so I figured I'd try it out. My favorite recipes are ones that are easy to follow and don't require a lot of ingredients or work.


The recipe stated that I could make this dish with 4-6 boneless chicken breast halves, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (although I used cream of chicken, since I don't like mushrooms), 2 TBSP dijon mustard and 2 TSP cornstarch. After reading some of the user comments about the recipe, I decided to add 1 cup skim milk and double the dijon mustard and cornstarch. (Ideally, I would have used more soup, but I only had a single can.)


After combining the soup, milk, dijon mustard and cornstarch in a mixing bowl, I added the chicken to the crock pot and poured the liquid over the chicken. The chicken cooked overnight on the low setting.


It initially looked like there was a lot of liquid in the pot, but after cooking the chicken overnight, most of the soup and milk mixture was absorbed. It was a lucky thing I doubled the amount of liquid.


I used five small individually wrapped chicken breasts from Perdue for this recipe, so I ended up with a nice amount of leftovers. The chicken was so tender it almost fell apart when I removed it from the crock pot. I tasted a small piece and it literally melted in my mouth. The dijon flavor was noticeable, but not overpowering.


I plated the chicken with broccoli spears and a serving of Green Giant peas and corn (the only other vegetables I had on hand). The chicken is about 225 calories, so with the added vegetables the calorie count comes to approximately 350 calories.

Recipes don't have to be complicated to be delicious.
READ MORE - Crock Pot Recipe: Chicken Dijon


Senin, 03 Oktober 2011

Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup



After years of using a blender to puree food, I finally bought a food processor. I had butternut squash in my refrigerator, so I figured I'd test the food processor by making some soup. The other ingredients were all things I had on hand: margarine, onions and stock. The recipe actually specified using all chicken stock, but I was a little short and used mostly chicken with a little vegetable stock.


I cooked one cup of onions with one tablespoon of maragrine in a large pot. Then I added a whole butternut squash (cut into cubes) and six cups of stock. I simmered the squash until it was softened, then put it into the food processor using a slotted spoon. There was so much squash that I had to puree it in two batches.


Once the squash was pureed, I put it back into the leftover liquid in the pot and stirred it all together. I added a bit of salt, pepper and nutmeg. Then I poured myself a small bowl of soup and ate it with a few Triscuit crackers. Yum!


I divided the remaining soup into four servings. My mother in law gave me a set of ramekins that are perfect for storing soup, since they have plastic lids and can be stacked in the refrigerator.


My guestimate is that each serving is about 250 calories. I'll probably have this soup for dinner during the week. I like to finish the day with something a little on the lighter side.
READ MORE - Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup


Minggu, 02 Oktober 2011

Crock Pot Recipe: Pot Roast with Yellow Potatoes and Baby Carrots




I used my new crock pot to make pot roast last night. I browned beef in a pan with a little olive oil. After removing the meat from the pan, I added red wine and beef broth. I put the meat in the crock pot, followed by the liquid and scrapings from the pan. Then I added yellow potatoes and baby carrots.


After cooking all of the ingredients on high for about an hour, I changed the heat setting to low and let the food cook overnight. I woke up to something that smelled and tasted delicious.


That's a closeup of what I consider a serving of meat and potatoes. I'm not sure what the exact calorie count is because I didn't measure all the ingredients. Next time I make it, I'll count more carefully. I suspect it's about 400 calories for 4 ounces of meat and some of the vegetables.


I'll have plenty of leftovers for this week's lunches, if my hubby doesn't eat a lot of it, too!
READ MORE - Crock Pot Recipe: Pot Roast with Yellow Potatoes and Baby Carrots


Kamis, 29 September 2011

Recipe: Turkey Sausage-Gnocchi Soup



Recipe and picture from Cooking Light.
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/healthy-5-ingredient-soup-recipes-00400000048543/page10.html


INGREDIENTS

1 (4.5-ounce) link hot turkey Italian sausage
2 cups water
1 (16-ounce) package vacuum-packed gnocchi (such as Bellino or Vigo)
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium beef broth
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese


PREPARATION

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble.

Add 2 cups water and next 3 ingredients to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until gnocchi float to the top of pan. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle each serving evenly with cheese.


MY NOTES

This recipe was very short on vegetables. I added 1 cup each of baby carrots and baby zucchini, and 1/2 cup chopped onion. I increased the meat to 2 sausage links, and also substituted vegetable broth for beef broth. I seasoned the soup with Italian seasoning.

With my additions, the calories increased to about 200 calories per 1 cup serving, before adding the cheese. The recipe made 8 servings.


NUTRITION

Yield: 7 servings. 1 cup equals 182 calories, 4 g fat, 10.5 g protein, 25.1 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g fiber, 809 mg sodium.
READ MORE - Recipe: Turkey Sausage-Gnocchi Soup


Jumat, 02 September 2011

My Garden Runneth Over




Our tomatoes are finally ripening in our garden. This is a picture of a small portion of our tomato crop. We always end up with enough to feed the neighborhood. Good thing I have a friend who loves to can food. She's taking some of these to use in her own kitchen.

Tomatoes make a nice light afternoon snack. They don't have a lot of calories, and they can be served sliced with a little seasoning. There's no need to do anything fancy with them. One recipe I would like to try is this one. It's a good way to save tomatoes without having to go through the canning process.

For anyone curious about our garden, my husband has been doing container gardening in a greenhouse that he bought this summer.

Pictured: outside view of greenhouse, with squash growing on a trellis

Pictured: tomato plants have taken over the inside of the greenhouse
READ MORE - My Garden Runneth Over


Senin, 22 Agustus 2011

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash




One of my favorite vegetables to cook and eat is butternut squash. It's so easy to prepare. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While the oven is preheating, prepare the butternut squash by cutting it into fairly even pieces.


In a large bowl, mix the butternut squash with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper and any other desired spices.


Pour the butternut squash onto a shallow baking pan. Arrange the butternut squash into a single layer. Bake for 40 minutes.


By the time it's done cooking, the butternut squash will be very soft. The finished dish is so good, I can eat half the tray in one sitting. Luckily, 1 cup of butternut squash is only 82 calories. Add 80 calories for the olive oil. Divided into multiple servings, it's a low calorie way to enjoy a great source of vitamins A and C and fiber.


If I can cook this, anyone can!
READ MORE - Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash


Kamis, 18 Agustus 2011

Recipe: Kielbasa-Bean Slow Cooker Soup



Recipe and picture from Food.com, but original recipe is from Weight Watchers.
http://www.food.com/recipe/ww-kielbasa-bean-slow-cooker-soup-296150


INGREDIENTS

58 ounces fat-free chicken broth, four 14 . 5 oz cans
16 ounces low-fat smoked sausage
15 ounces canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
15 ounces canned black beans, rinsed and drained
4 medium carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 large onions, chopped
1 teaspoon thyme
14 1/2 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained


PREPARATION

Mix all ingredients, except tomatoes, in a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker (crockpot). Cover and cook on low-heat setting at least 6 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Stir in tomatoes; cover and cook on high-heat setting until heated through, about 15 minutes more.


NUTRITION

Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving. Per serving: Calories 195.8; Total Fat 2.5g; Saturated Fat 0.6g; Cholesterol 11.9mg; Sugars 4.8 g; Sodium 1799.1mg; Total Carbohydrate 32.3g; Dietary Fiber 8.5g; Sugars 4.8 g; Protein 12.4g.
READ MORE - Recipe: Kielbasa-Bean Slow Cooker Soup


Selasa, 16 Agustus 2011

Recipe: Ranch Style Pretzels



Recipe is from my own collection. I don't remember from whom I received it.
Picture from CopyKat Recipes: http://www.copykat.com/2009/03/27/ranch-pretzels/


INGREDIENTS

1 pkg. Ranch Style Hidden Valley Dressing (dry)
1 c. peanut oil
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 bag (broken) pretzels


PREPARATION

Mix first five ingredients in a bowl. Dip the pretzels into the mixture and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes. Spoon the rest of the mixture over the pretzels and bake again for 10 more minutes.


NUTRITION

Yields 14 servings for a 14 ounce bag of pretzels. Approximately 250 calories per serving. This will vary based on what kind of oil and pretzels are used.
READ MORE - Recipe: Ranch Style Pretzels


 
 
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