Cooking, Baking & Lovin: May 2010

Chicken & Cilantro Chimichurri & Corn Salsa

4 chicken breasts trimmed and pounded thin

1 envelope taco seasoning

3 cups fresh cilantro

1 large garlic clove

1/4 cup lime juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

In large Ziploc bag mix chicken with taco seasoning. Chill for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, in a food processor puree

cilantro, garlic, lime juice, olive oil and salt,

until you have a thick sauce.

For Black Bean Corn Salsa

1 can, 14 ounces, black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups frozen corn kernels defrosted

1 red onion chopped

1 teaspoons ground cumin

3-4 fresh jalapenos chopped and seeded

1 cup fresh cilantro chopped

1 lime, juiced

1 tsp Salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Grill Chicken until cooked through.

Slice Cooked chicken thin, top with Chimichurri Sauce.

Serve with black bean salsa and Cheese quesadillas.

Farmer Markets are coming to Town!!!

My family and I love taking advantage of the great deals and wonderful produce and products farmers markets have to offer. Finally, it's that time of year again! Farmers markets will be setting up within your communities. For those of you living in Colorado I thought you would find this link as helpful as I did. Offering locations and times of your local Farmers Markets!
Have fun shopping :)

http://www.ediblecommunities.com/frontrange/farmers-markets/farmers-markets.htm

Turkey Bolognese Sauce

May 15, 2010

1 package HOT Jenni-o turkey sausage (casings removed)

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 28oz can Muir Glenn Diced Tomatoes with basil

1 15 oz can Italian tomatoes

2 carrots chopped

1 medium yellow onion chopped

1 celery stalk chopped

1 carton sliced mushroom

1 1/2 Tbsp crushed Garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp tomatoes paste

1/2 cup chicken broth

Brown Turkey sausage (without casing) , in 2 tbsp olive oil. Add onion, carrots, celery and some salt. Cook until meat is cooked and veggies are tender, breaking up sausage into little pieces.

Add canned tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, mushrooms, tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer on medium low heat for 30 minutes, stir occasionally.

Serve over favorite pasta.

A Tweet Tweet Here & A Tweet Tweet There.....

May 12, 2010

Now you can follow me on twitter!

Since it appears twitter is sticking around

I jumped on the bandwagon!

Come Follow me!

http://twitter.com/chicthoughts

Lemon Cookies

May 11, 2010

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Cream of Tartar

3/4 cup Butter
1 1/2 cups Sugar

1 Egg

1/4 cup Fresh Lemon Juice

2 Tbsp Lemon Peel

1/4 Tsp Vanilla

Mix together flour, Baking soda, cream of tartar.
In separate bowl whip butter.
Add sugar to butter until mixed well. Add egg, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon peel.
Using your hands shape dough into a ball place in plastic bag
and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

For Glaze

Mix

3/4 cup powdered sugar

with

3-4 tbsp lemon juice

Place about a 1/2 tsp of glaze on each cookie.

(Makes about 2 dozen )

Delicious with coffee or hot tea :)

Slow Cooked Chipotle Pulled Pork Tacos

May 5, 2010

Happy Cinco De Mayo !!

3-4 pounds pork butt trimmed

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 Tbsp Crushed Garlic

1 Medium yellow onion

3-4 Chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

1 can low sodium chicken broth

2 cans Rotell

1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1 package corn tortillas

Taco Toppings:

2 jalapenos, sliced into rings and seeded

1 red onion, roughly chopped

Corn tortillas, warmed

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 lime, cut into wedges

Sour Cream

Diced Avocado

In food processor or blender blend one can of chicken broth

with 3-4 adobe pepper and 1 Tbsp crushed garlic. Generously season the pork butt
with salt and pepper. In 2 Tbsp Olive oil Brown the Pork well on all sides,
about 5 minutes per side; Place browned pork butt in slow cooker.
Cover Pork butt with Sliced yellow Onion, Rotell,
and Blended Chicken Broth with Adobe peppers chili powder, cumin, oregano and garlic.
Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily,
on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours.

Drain most of liquid

Shred pork with fork.

Fill warmed tortillas with pork and desired toppings.

Serve with Black beans and Rice

Trying to go more natural? ...

May 3, 2010

I am by NO means a health nut. However, after watching too many Oprah and Doctor Oz shows, I slowly stopped buying products with hydrogenated oils and dyes. I look for products that are more natural with less sugars. I was so shocked at all the crap that was in everyday things we ate. Especially in my kids snacks. After trial and error I have found products that my family and I love. My kids still enjoy the typical kids snacks, occasionally. I haven't banned anything, and when they are with friends or at other homes its inevitable. It's all about moderation, right?
Many of my girlfriends have asked me what I buy so here is a list of some of our favorites.

Here are our food staples that are dye free and have NO hydrogenated oils.

Cereals

Chex Cereal (rice or corn)

Kix or Kix with berries (target)

Peanut butter Bumpers (with organic cereals)

Kashi brown sugar oatmeal

Whole Grain Cheerios

Cascadian Farm Granolas

Bare Naked Granola Fit

Fruit Snacks

Fruit Leathers (Costco in bulk)

Cliff fruit twists

Annie fruit snacks

Snacks

Whole grain goldfish

Royal Gold Pretzels

Low fat popcorn

(CHECK POPCORN INGREDIENTS FOR COLORS (dyes) AND HYDROGENATED OILS

Newman's or natural are good brands. )

Sensible Portions Veggie Straws (at Costco like a chip)

Honey Sticks (Vitamin Cottage has fun flavors)

Annie bunny snacks

Grains

Ezekiel bread (I like the sesame one)

Udi breads (sunflower or sprouts)

Whole grain pastas

Rice pasta (target has them reasonable priced)

Brown Rice

Whole wheat tortillas ( check for hydrogenated oils on all tortillas)

Annie Boxed mac and cheese

Red Mill Pancake and waffle mix

Spaghetti Sauce

Classico tomato basil sauce

(least amount of sugar)

Spreads

Natural Almond Butter (Costco best price)

Natural Skippy Peanut Butter (target good price)

Honey

Fruit only jams

Bars

Cascadian Farm Granola bars(vanilla chip and choc chip YUM)

Nature Valley Oats and Honey granola bars

Cliff Bars

Frozen Meals

Mickey mouse chicken nuggets ( Costco)

Chicken veggie pot stickers ( Costco)

Alexia frozen french fries, sweet potatoes, tater tots

Kashi Frozen Waffles

Popsicles

"Just fruit" Popsicles

Natural Popsicles (sunflower)

Dairy

Blue Bell cheeses for snacks (Costco has bulk )

Organic String cheeses

Horizon Natural go-gurts

Greek Yogurts

( I eat plain Ones, kids love the honey flavored ones)

Organic Plain Milk

Juice

Only 100% dye free juice boxes

Meats

Jenni-o Ground turkey

Bare Chicken (target)

Ground Buffalo (Costco)

Sprouts, Sunflower, Target, Costco and Vitamin Cottage carry a lot of these products and when on sale they are really no more than products loaded with dyes, hydrogenated oils and sugars.

I am always looking for good snacks for kiddos

and new healthy products.

Please Post your Favorites under comments!

A Simple Spring Lunch

Sweet Berry Salad with Almonds

1/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce

Honey

1/3 cup Sliced Natural Almonds

Crushed Garlic

Olive Oil

4 chicken breast

(trimmed and pounded to even thickness)

Strawberries

Blackberries

Spring Salad Mix

Brianna’s Home style Blush Vinaigrette

In a small saucepan simmer on low heat 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce with ¼ cup honey and 1 tsp crushed garlic 1 minute until honey is dissolved. Remove from the heat, set aside.

For the Candied Almonds In a heavy, nonstick skillet heat 1-2 Tbsp Honey with 1/3 cup natural sliced almonds, stirring constantly. Remove from heat once honey dissolves and almonds are coated. Quickly spread onto foil-covered surface, lightly salt, allow to cool. Break apart, if necessary

Preheat a grill or large grill pan to medium-high. Rub the chicken with the 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken until cooked through, turn heat to low and brush glaze on each side of chicken. Pull chicken off grill and let rest.

Meanwhile, toss spring lettuce mix with one carton slice strawberries and one carton blackberries.

Slice Chicken Thin. Top salad and berries, sliced chicken and Almonds. Dress with Brianna’s Home style Blush Wine Vinaigrette. (I buy it at Target)

Serve with Crusty Bread and Favorite White wine!