Monday, September 22, 2008

Salsa Chicken Breasts

Salsa Chicken Breasts

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin)
1 jar peach or pineapple salsa
1 can of corn
Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Place chicken in a baking dish, top with salsa and cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli florets (washed and broken into bite sized pieces)
1/4-1/2 cup mayo
2 small boxes of raisins
3/4 cup pecan pieces
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 tbsp unprocessed sugar

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. You may have to add about 5-7 tbsp of water to make sure the mayo sticks - add a tbsp at a time so it does not get watery. Chill for 20-30 minutes.

Banana Sushi and Pizza Casserole

Banana Sushi
1 Tortilla
1 Large Banana
Peanut Butter

Spread the tortilla with peanut butter, lay banana crosswise and roll up. Slice to resemble "Sushi".

Pizza Casserole
Cooked pasta (any shape)
Any veggies
Pizza Sauce
Pepperoni (leave out or use soy version for vegetarian)
Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)

Mix pasta and veggies in a casserole dish, layer pepperoni and cheese on top. Bake until cheese is melted.
*Use low fat versions of all ingredients if desired.

(Thanks to Kristi at Adoption.com)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Apple Pork Chop Bake- Great for an Autumn Night!

Ingredients:
4 boneless pork chops (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
1 medium sized green apple- Finely Chopped or sliced very thin
1 package Stove-Top Stuffing Mix (or your favorite)
Cinnamon*
Shredded Cheddar Cheese*

*Since I made this up one night- I didn't measure, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and maybe 1/2 cup of cheese.

Spray a glass 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare stuffing mix in a bowl. Add apple and cinnamon to the stuffing- mix well. Place pork chops in prepared baking dish, cover with the stuffing mixture, sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 20-25 minutes until pork chops are done. Enjoy!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

One really easy meal and its very flexible is a stir fry. If you have chicken, beef, pork and any fresh or frozen vegetables- you are good to go. I defrost a pound of chicken, add fresh broccoli, carrots, onions, etc. I cook the chicken until its no longer pink (about 7-10 minutes). Take the chicken out- keep warm (I use the setting on the microwave- or just cover it). Add the veggies until tender and add the chicken back to the pan. I also make sauces (soy sauce with orange juice and a little crushed red pepper flakes) or buy some bottled sauces in the Asian section of the grocery store. I also like to make some instant brown rice. This is so easy and is ready in minutes- which is the key!

I can't wait to get some ideas from you guys! Please email them to me at olimom1@yahoo.com!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Everyone to the KITCHEN TABLE!!!

Hi! I'm Julie, a stay at home mom of 2. I have a 5 year old kindergartner and a 22 month old boy. I'm a stay at home mom and married to the love of my life.

As a parent, I want the best for my children. I also want them to grow up knowing that family time is a priority. I think the best way to instill this is to sit down (somewhere) for dinner together most nights. If you are like me, you have seen articles and studies about how important family meals are. Meals are not solely for filling empty bellies. Even though we read these studies, I thought this would be a great place to share ideas, recipes, tips for quick healthy meals, and games for the dinner table to keep everyone in their seats. We all have school, work, soccer practice, errands to run, houses to clean, etc. But lets try to help each other make some special memories and healthy habits for our children.