Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Posted in MEALS, Slowcooker by Katherine

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 5 hours

Ingredients:

3 large skinless chicken breasts (2 1/2 to 3 pounds total)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup mixed blackberries and blueberries
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup garlic hoisin sauce
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion

1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Sliced green onions, for garnish

Directions:

Arrange the chicken breasts in the slow cooker so that they are not overlapping.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, blackberries and blueberries, sugar, hoisin, olive oil, and onion, and then pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover the slow cooker and cook the chicken on LOW for 4 to 5 hours until the chicken is fully cooked.

Using tongs, remove the chicken from the slow cooker (reserving the liquids) and place it on a cutting board. Shred the chicken into smaller pieces.

In a small saucepan, whisk together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water.

Transfer the liquids from the slow cooker into the small saucepan set over medium-high heat . Bring the sauce to a boil and cook it until it reduces and has thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken, tossing to combine. Serve the chicken topped with green onions.

Serve with rice and broccoli

3May2017

Creamy Healthy Pasta Salad

Posted in MEALS, Salads by Katherine

Creamy Healthy Pasta Salad

Ingredients

12 ounces cooked pasta
1 cup frozen peas thawed
1 cup sweet corn kernals
1 cup chopped kale
1 cup of steamed broccoli, let cool
1 diced grilled chicken breast

For the Dressing:
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
a ripe avocado
juice of a lime (about 2 teaspoons)
kosher salt to taste

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package instructions for al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain the cold water. Pour the pasta in a large bowl.
Toss the pasta with the peas, corn, kale, broccoli and diced grilled chicken.
In a smaller dish mix together the Greek yogurt and avocado. You will have to smash up the avocado, so I usually use a fork to smash/stir. When the mixture is creamy and smooth, squeeze in the lime juice. Stir.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and veggies in the bowl. Stir to coat.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

5Dec2016

Cranberry Chicken

Posted in Date Night, MEALS by Katherine

Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients:

5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (16 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
2 (1 ounce) packages dry onion soup mix
1 cup French dressing

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in 9×13 inch baking dish. Mix cranberry sauce, soup mix and salad dressing and pour mixture over chicken. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

12Apr2015

Oven Baked Chicken Kabobs

Posted in Family Night, MEALS by Katherine

Oven Baked Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

12 wooden skewers
4 extra large boneless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1/4 cup Russian salad dressing
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 -3 small zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
16 ounces whole fresh mushrooms
2 -3 assorted bell peppers, cut into chunks
1 large red onion, cut into chunks
1 -2 lb mini baby red potato, sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
1 pint small tomato

Directions

Soak 12 wooden skewers in water overnight so they won’t burn in the oven.
Place uncooked cubed chicken in a 9×13 pan.
Mix all marinate ingredients together (soy sauce, Russian dressing, sesame seeds, lemon juice, garlic powder, ground ginger) and brush over chicken (use all of the marinate sauce). Cover with wrap and place in refrigerator. Allow to marinate 4-6 hours, save the marinate sauce as you will be using it later to baste the kabobs.
Cut up all veggies in to 1/2″ slices or chunks ( not the baby tomatoes or whole mushrooms).
Alternate your assorted veggies on the skewers with the marinated meat. fill those skewers! the more on the skewer, the more satisfied you will be. we find two (2) skewers per person is more than enough.
Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees.
Place skewers on greased jelly roll pans (i use Pam spray) or any lipped baking pans to catch any drippings. approximately 5-6 kabobs should fit on each pan depending on the pan size and skewer length. baste each skewer with the marinate sauce — use it all up!
Place the basted skewers in the pre-heated 450 degree oven on the center rack. bake for 10 minutes, turn over once. bake for 10-15 minutes longer (20-30 minutes maximum of baking time total depending on size of chicken chunks). check chicken on a few of the skewers to make sure it is thoroughly cooked; also, if using potatoes, check them for doneness. If chicken is not completely cooked, bake an additional 5-10 minutes longer than noted above.
Remove the kabobs from the oven and let sit a few minutes. serve with a side of wild rice and mixed greens salad.

19Feb2015

Chicken Parmesan with Stuffed Pasta Shells Casserole

Posted in Family Night, MEALS by Katherine

First Bake the Chicken,

Ingredients

3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, beaten

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°. Combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and garlic powder in shallow dish. Dip chicken in egg, then crumb mixture; turn to coat.
Arrange chicken in 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake 20 minutes.

In the meantime….

Cook the 20 of Jumbo Pasta Shells according to instructions -let cool

Pour enough of your favorite spaghetti sauce to lightly cover the bottom of a 13 x 9 shallow baking dish.

In a mixing bowl combine

1 (32oz) container of ricotta cheese
2 beaten eggs
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup of grated parmesan

Stuff Pasta Shell with mixture 1TB per shell and place in baking dish

Cut the Baked Chicken into bite size pieces and place on top of stuffed shells

Pour the remainder pasta sauce over shells sprinkle mozzarella over shells

Cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes

23Nov2014

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Posted in MEALS, Slowcooker by Katherine

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 5 hours

Ingredients:
3 large skinless chicken breasts (2 1/2 to 3 pounds total)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup mixed blackberries and blueberries
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup garlic hoisin sauce
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion

1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Sliced green onions, for garnish

Directions:

Arrange the chicken breasts in the slow cooker so that they are not overlapping.

Using tongs, remove the chicken from the slow cooker (reserving the liquids) and place it on a cutting board. Shred the chicken into smaller pieces.

In a small saucepan, whisk together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water.

Serve with rice and broccoli

2Sep2014

Slowcooker Brown Sugar and Garlic Chicken

Posted in MEALS, Slowcooker by Katherine

Ingredients

4-6 chicken breasts
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons water

Directions:

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.

Place chicken inside slow cooker.

Mix together brown sugar, vinegar, soda, garlic, soy sauce, and pepper together. Pour over chicken.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Take chicken pieces out of slow cooker and pour remaining sauce into saucepan.

Place saucepan over high heat. Mix together corn starch and water, pour into saucepan, and mix well. Let sauce come to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes, or until it starts to thicken and turns into a glaze.

Remove from heat and let sit for a minute or two (it will continue to thicken as it cools down).

This can be served over rice or pasta