This is an easy and delicious meal that’s perfect to make when kale is in season. I love the versatility of this nutritional powerhouse, and wilted greens with pasta is one of my favorite combinations. Enjoy this spring pasta dish with an Italian sparkling water or your favorite vino with Italian music playing in the background.
Ingredients: 8 ounces whole wheat orzo pasta 2 teaspoons olive oil ½ pound Italian chicken sausage 1 bunch kale, stems removed and chopped 1 teaspoon oregano Pinch of salt and pepper 1 cup chicken broth ¼ cup sliced green olives 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1½ tablespoon lemon juice Feta cheese, crumbled
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned. Add kale, oregano, salt and pepper, and sauté until kale is tender and wilted.
Add pasta, chicken broth, olives, lemon zest, lemon juice and simmer for 10 minutes.
This pizza tastes like buffalo wings and cheese pizza had a baby. When it is game day and you can’t decide which of your favorite appetizers to serve, just combine them into one delicious pizza. My grilled pizza tastes more like a flatbread with a thin crispy crust and it is really quick to make. You’ll have a meal on the table in less than 20 minutes, leaving you more time to cheer on your favorite team.
Round out your meal with cauliflower buffalo bites. Just make extra sauce, coat the cauliflower and roast in your oven until tender. Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese dip or ranch dressing.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons hot sauce 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon onion powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 medium chicken breasts, cooked and thinly sliced 2 tablespoons corneal 1 homemade or store bought pizza dough ball, about the size of a grapefruit ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles 2 celery sticks, trimmed and thinly sliced
Directions:
Add butter and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When butter has melted, whisk in the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce, honey, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat to simmer and stir occasionally until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat, add chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat.
Sprinkle cornmeal over a large cutting board or flat working surface. Use a rolling pin to roll or your hands stretch (I do a combination) the pizza dough to a thin layer, about ⅛ inch thick and 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Prepare the grill for medium-high, indirect heat. For a gas grill, leave one or two burners off and for a charcoal grill, place coals on one side and use the coal-free side.
Place crust on the grill (a pizza peel is handy here) and cook for about five minutes, until top of crust starts to bubble and light brown grill marks appear on the bottom of the crust. Remove crust from grill. Top cooked side of crust with chicken and buffalo sauce. Add cheeses and top with celery slices.
Return pizza to the grill and cook for about five minutes, until cheese has melted and bottom of crust has light brown grill marks. Remove from grill, slice into 8 wedges and serve.
Frozen corn from last season’s harvest is a special treat to enjoy this time of year. It shines in my Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, which also features delicate squash. A perfect blend of winter and summer produce to enjoy this time of year when drastic weather changes leave you sporting flip-flops one day and snow boots the next. This colorful bowl of produce will surely brighten your day regardless of the weather you are experiencing.
The ingredient list may look long, but the recipe is easy to prepare and is mostly hands-off. Topping your bowl with oven-baked tortilla strips elevates this simple bowl of soup to restaurant quality, but without extra the calories of fried tortillas.
Soup Ingredients: 1½ pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 small delicata squash, seeded and chopped, leaving the skin on 1 medium onion, peeled and diced 1 large jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped 1 tablespoon chili powder ½ tablespoon ground cumin ½ tablespoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ¾ teaspoon salt 2 (14.5 ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 cups frozen yellow corn, defrosted 1 lime
Tortilla Strip Ingredients: 4 corn tortillas ½ tablespoon olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt
Place chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker and top with delicate squash, onion, jalapeño, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika and salt. Add tomatoes with their juice and chicken broth. Cover with lid and cook on high for one hour. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for five hours.
Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Place shredded chicken back in the slow cooker and add corn and lime juice. Stir to combine and continue cooking on low while you prepare the tortilla strips.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil and cut into ¼-inch thin strips. Place tortilla strips on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Bake for about 12 minutes, until crisp and lightly browned.
Serve soup topped with tortilla strips and optional toppings of choice.
A salad you can hold in your hand is the perfect backyard grub to serve on a hot summer night. The fresh vegetables make a colorful presentation for this build-your-own dinner, and you can change or add more protein options by grilling pork or tofu along with your chicken. Grill your meat and slice your toppings in advance to have a meal you can serve in just a few minutes on a busy night or on an evening when you’d rather kick back and enjoy the sunshine.
Wrap Ingredients: 1 head romaine lettuce 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 pint cherry tomatoes 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced 1 small red onion, thinly sliced ¼ cup feta cheese crumbles ¼ cup pitted Greek olives, thinly sliced
Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients: 1 small cucumber, roughly chopped 1 cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt 1 lemon 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
Directions:
Trim the bottom of the lettuce and separate leaves. Wash and set on a towel to dry.
In a small bowl, combine oregano, garlic, nutmeg, salt, pepper and olive oil. Stir to combine and rub the mixture over chicken. Grill chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat and thinly slice.
Combine cucumber and yogurt in a small bowl. Zest and then juice lemon, adding 1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice to the bowl. Add garlic, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Add lettuce leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and olives to a couple of large plates along with the Zatziki sauce, and serve buffet style.
This low-carb take on nachos is a perfect way to use your late season bell peppers and tomatoes. Leave out the chicken and add another type of bean, like pinto, for a vegetarian version. I love to serve this delicious and nutritious meal on game days. Cheer on your team with this healthy dish and hopefully you can celebrate a win.
Ingredients:
4 large bell peppers
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
1 (15 ounce) can, no-salt-added black beans
2 tomatoes, diced
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 avocado, cubed
Sour cream for serving
Directions:
Preheat oven to broil on high heat. Slice bell peppers into thin strips and place them in a baking dish. Broil for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through the cook time.
Combine chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place chicken in a medium bowl and add seasoning mix. Drain and rinse beans, and add them to the bowl of chicken, stirring to combine.
Remove bell peppers from the oven and top with chicken and beans, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Broil for about 4 more minutes, until cheese is melted.
Remove nachos from the oven, top with avocado and serve with dollops of sour cream.
Move over croutons, cornbread tastes better with this hearty salad. Garlic lovers will love the sautéed garlic scapes along with tangy ranch, crunchy bacon and buttery lima beans. It’s a perfect meal to make with leftover cornbread and grilled chicken. If you have extra cornbread, store it in the freeze and defrost for future salads.
Salad Dressing Ingredients: ⅔ cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt ¼ cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic scapes or green onion ½ teaspoon dried dill ¼ teaspoon white pepper ⅛ teaspoon salt
Salad Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil 3 tablespoons garlic scapes or green onion, sliced 1 large head green leaf lettuce, leaves separated and torn Cornbread, prepared 1¼ pound chicken breast, grilled 1½ cups lima beans, prepared from fresh, frozen or canned 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, buttermilk, vinegar, garlic, green onion, dill, pepper and salt. Whisk until well combined. Cover and refrigerate salad dressing until ready to serve.
Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic scapes or green onion slices and sauté until lightly browned.
Place an equal amount of lettuce on four plates and add a slice of cornbread in the middle. Top each plate with ¼ of chicken, lima beans, bacon and sautéed garlic scapes. Drizzle with ranch dressing and serve.
Lettuce wraps are a creative way to enjoy fresh lettuces and they are also fun to make, eat and serve. I love dishes that you can dive in and assemble at the table as you share a meal with family or friends. This one is super fast and easy to make and a light meal to enjoy with a hot cup of asian tea.
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons canola oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound ground chicken 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 1 medium bell pepper (any color), chopped 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos 1 teaspoon sriracha 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger 1 head green leaf lettuce, leaves separated
Optional Ingredients: Handful of fresh basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons Peanuts, chopped Brown rice, prepared
Directions:
Add canola and sesame oils in a wok or large skillet and heat to medium-high temperature. Add garlic and cook for about a minute or until fragrant. Add chicken and break up with a spatula until it starts to brown.
Add carrots and bell pepper to wok or skillet and cook stirring frequently until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes.
In a small mason jar, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, siracha and ginger. Shake until evenly combined and pour sauce over chicken and vegetables. Stir to evenly coat and cook for another minute or two.
Place chicken and vegetables on a serving platter along with lettuce leaves and sprinkle with peanuts and basil if using. Assemble wraps at the table and serve with brown rice if desired.
Tender cabbage coated in mildly spiced peanut sauce replaces noodles in this delicious Thai bowl. Carrots and bean sprouts add color and crunch to this veggie packed dish paired with your favorite protein. It is really quick to make and you can even turn this into a 10-minute meal if you grill your protein and make your sauce in advance. Leftovers are delicious the next day if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.
Ingredients: ½ cup light coconut milk 1 tablespoon red curry paste ¼ cup peanut butter 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos ½ lime, juiced 3 to 4 dashes of Sriracha hot chili sauce 2 large or 3 medium carrots 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 medium head of cabbage, cored and finely shredded 2 green onions, thinly sliced 4 ounces bean sprouts Grilled chicken, shrimp or tofu Optional: chopped peanuts
Directions:
In a blender or food processor, combine coconut milk, curry paste, peanut butter, soy sauce, juice from lime and Sriracha hot chili sauce. Process until smooth and creamy.
Trim and peel carrots. Cut carrots into noodles using a spiralizer and set aside.
In a wok or large skillet, heat sesame and canola oil over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and cook stirring frequently for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.
Pour ⅓ cup sauce over cabbage and cook for an additional minute. Serve cabbage in bowls topped with carrots, green onions, bean sprouts and grilled chicken, shrimp or tofu. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and drizzle a little extra peanut sauce if desired.
Think beer can chicken only better, roasted with bourbon whiskey and seasonal apples. With the use of a pottery chicken baker from Sam Hitchman Ceramics, this meal is extremely easy to make and can be served from oven to table with this functional piece of art. Sam provides a general recipe guide when folks purchase a pottery dish, which I used to craft my version that is perfect for fall entertaining. This dish pairs well with mashed butternut squash or sweet potatoes.
I love the hands-free time you get with a slow roasted meal. While your oven is doing all the work, enjoy a delicious cheese plate and sip on a glass of wine or bourbon.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 (3 to 4 pound) whole roasting chicken, giblets removed
bourbon whiskey
3 medium apples, cored and chopped
1 large onion, peeled and diced
½ cup dried cranberries
1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine nutmeg, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and ginger. On a workable surface, pat the chicken dry and rub half the spice blend under the skin and the rest over the top of the chicken. Set aside.
Fill the center cup of your pottery chicken baker ¾ full with bourbon and add apples, onions, cranberries and a cinnamon stick in the ring of the dish. Set chicken in the dish, bottom down, over the center cup. Maneuver legs to help stable the chicken over the produce. Cover the top opening of the chicken with a small piece of foil to prevent steam from escaping.
Place chicken in a cold oven. Then, set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the pottery to heat with the oven. Cook for 1½ to 2 hours, until the internal temperature in the breast area of the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Slice chicken and serve with a big spoonful or two of apple mixture on top.
Foodie Fox 