Creamy Spinach Baked Chicken Breasts

 -2 (8-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts 

-3/4 teaspoon table salt

-3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

-2 cups chopped fresh spinach, stems removed 

-3 ounces cream cheese

-1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

-1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes

-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• Prepare Chicken: Preheat oven to 425 F. Slice each chicken breast in half; resulting pieces should be no thicker than 1/2 inch (Note 4). If moist, pat dry with paper towels. Spread out chicken pieces in single layer on baking tray lined with parchment paper. Season both sides of chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Make Topping: Cook spinach on skillet on stovetop until wilted. Separately, microwave cream cheese until very soft, about 20 seconds. Stir together cooked spinach, softened cream cheese, cheddar, tomatoes, and garlic in bowl until well-mixed. Evenly spread mixture across tops of chicken pieces.
• Bake: Bake uncovered at 425 F until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes, depending on size of chicken pieces. Let cool at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving (Note 5).

Balsamic Pot Roast

 

• 3-pound boneless chuck roast
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups beef stock
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)
• Handful fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped (optional garnish)

1. Rinse the roast in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove any hard fat. Season both sides of the roast with the salt and pepper.
2. Warm a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
3. Add olive oil to the pot and sear both sides of the roast, about 3-5 minutes per side. Add bay leaves to your slow cooker. I like to use a 6-quart oval for this recipe.
4. Remove the roast from the pot and place it on top of your bay leaves in your slow cooker. Pour the balsamic vinegar, beef stock, rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder into the pot. Bring to a boil. Stir occasionally, using a wooden spatula to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
5. Once the liquid comes to a boil, pour into the slow cooker over the roast. Cover. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours (until the roast is pull-apart tender) or 6-8 hours on low. When it is done the meat will pull apart with barely any effort. If you have to put muscle into it, let it cook another hour.
6. Remove the bay leaves. Use 2 forks to break the roast into chunks. Remove any large pieces of fat.
7. If you prefer to serve your roast in an au jus, it is ready to serve as is. To turn the au jus into a gravy, sprinkle the xanthan gum over the roast and stir to combine. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Black Beans

 

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (16 oz) can black beans, do not drain
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• In a small sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes, just until the onions begin to soften. 
• Add the undrained black beans, cilantro, cumin, and salt. Stir well and reduce heat to medium low. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. 
• Serve sprinkled with more chopped cilantro and cotija cheese if desired. Enjoy!

+++++++++++++++++++++

• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt to taste

Ravioli in Creamy Pesto Sauce

 -2 package Ricotta Cheese Ravioli 
-1 Tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
-2 shallots, sliced thinly into half-moons
-salt and pepper to taste
-8 ounce jar pesto 
-12 ounce bag frozen peas
-1 ladle of hot pasta water
-8 ounces heavy cream
-1 tsp lemon zest (zest of one lemon)
-4 fistfuls baby spinach
-freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste
-1 cup toasted pine nuts, optional

Easy Hamburger Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 (1lb) box medium pasta shells
• 1lb ground beef
• 2 (10oz) cans tomato soup
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 onion, diced
• garlil, salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook and drain the pasta according to the package directions.

2. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grease and 9x13 baking dish.

3. In a large skillet, brown and chop the ground beef with garlic powder, salt and pepper (or any seasoning of your choice).

4. Add the cooked pasta, tomato soup, a half cup of water and HALF of the cheese to your skillet with the browned beef; stir and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

5. Pour the mixture into your greased dish and top with the remaining cheese.

6. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes (I also like to turn the broiler on for the last 2-3 minutes to brown the cheese).

7. Serve immediately and store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands Biscuits 8 biscuits
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small package frozen veggie mix: carrots, peas, corn and green beans
• 2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
• 1-2 cups chicken broth adapt to your preference
• 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup regular size
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large sauce pan heat the butter on medium heat. Add the veggie mixture to the pan and saute until the veggies are tender, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Whisk in the chicken broth and the Cream of Chicken soup. Let the sauce simmer for 1 minute to thicken. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
4. Turn off the heat and add the cooked shredded chicken to the mixture, stirring until the filling is well-combined. If the filling is too thick, stir in extra chicken broth.
5. On a parchment lined sheet pan bake the biscuits for half of the time listed on the can for a “pre-bake”. Take them out of the oven.
6. Pour the filling into a buttered 13×9-inch baking dish. Top the filling with the 8 biscuits (partially baked), flip them over top to bottom to unsure even baking on the other side. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Casserole

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoon garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons 
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 24-ounce package frozen ravioli
• 2 cups fresh spinach rinsed and rough chopped
• 2 to 3 cups cooked chicken chopped or shredded
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil cut chiffonade-style

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium skillet or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. I am in love with my  because they heat evenly and are super durable.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add flour and stir to combine. Cook 1 minute. Add cream cheese and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 1 cup milk and stir to combine. Once thickened and bubbling, add the remaining milk. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often, until cream cheese has melted and sauce thickens.
• Add Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Remove from heat.
• Pour about 1/4 of the sauce into the bottom of a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish. Spread the sauce over bottom of the dish.
• Add frozen ravioli to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Top pasta with chopped spinach and chicken so the ravioli is covered.
• Pour the rest of the sauce over the chicken and spread evenly around the baking dish. Sprinkle all over the top the casserole with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the ravioli is cooked. Turn your oven to broil on HIGH and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the top of the casserole is golden.
• Carefully remove from the oven. Sprinkle basil over the casserole. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm with extra Parmesan if desired.

Chicken Yakisoba

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 head green cabbage ($0.41)
• 1 medium yellow onion ($0.55)
• 2 medium carrots ($0.25)
• 1 small crown broccoli ($0.70)
• 1 inch fresh ginger ($0.52)
• 1 large chicken breast ($1.66)
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil ($0.08)
• 2 3 oz. packages ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded ($0.50)
• 1 tsp sesame oil, optional ($0.19)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce ($0.24)
• 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce ($0.20)
• 2 Tbsp ketchup ($0.05)
• up to 1 Tbsp sriracha hot sauce ($0.26)
• 1 Tbsp sugar ($0.02)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Before you begin, prepare the meat and vegetables for stir frying. Peel the ginger with either a vegetable peeler or the side of a spoon and then grate it with a cheese grater. Peel and grate the carrots with a large holed cheese grater. Remove the core from the cabbage and cut into thin strips. Slice the onion into thin strips. Cut the broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Slice the chicken into thin strips.
• Begin boiling a medium pot full of water for the noodles. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the grated ginger, saute for about 30 seconds to one minute (its okay if it sticks to the pan but don’t let it burn). Add the chicken strips and cook until they are no longer pink (about five minutes).
• Once the chicken is cooked through, add all of the vegetables. Stir and cook until wilted (about 5-10 minutes). Meanwhile, once the water boils, add the noodles and cook just until tender (2-3 minutes). Drain, return to the pot (with the heat turned off) and toss with the sesame oil to keep from sticking.
• In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, ketchup, sriracha, and sugar. Use only 1/2 tsp of sriracha if you don’t want it spicy, use up to 1 Tbsp if you like it hot. Stir until the ketchup and sugar are dissolved. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the chicken and vegetables with the heat still on medium high. Add the noodles, stir to coat everything in the sauce, and heat through (just a few minutes).