Well I thought I was starting this year off to a great Bang then of course, I get sick!! I have gone a long time without getting sick. I come into contact with a lot of really sick patients with all kinds of nasty germs so I guess it was something that was going to come my way eventually. Well I have been in bed for 3 days now just trying to get better. I decided to take on a new series that I didn't watch while on the air, Greys Anatomy. I figured, hey I work in a hospital, maybe I can learn a thing or two from the show. Season 1 seems like a bore but I hear it gets better so I will still keep going with it. There is only so much TV I can take so I figured, hey why not write a blog entry, so here I am!
With the new year I know many of you out there have been trying to eat better, or cook more healthier meal choices at home. We have been cooking lots of great meals here in this household and wanted to share them with you. I apologize but I didn't really snap many pictures from what I made but I will still share the recipe and any tips I have on each dish. Click on the picture to take you directly to the recipe.
First on the list, this is one of my go to meals. I make this quite a bit and its a hit at the house. It usually makes enough for us to eat for dinner, plus a lunch for the next day. You can never go wrong with soup, I don't care if its hot or cold outside, I absolutely love soup and Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of my absolute faves.
*Some tips with this soup, this recipe makes a lot, I actually cut it in half and it still makes about 4-5 portions.
* This recipe gives you a recipe in it to make crispy tortilla strips,( Steps 5 and 6) I never make them, I just top with regular tortilla chips, but you are more then welcome to try making them.
* The fiancé loves dishes with heat, I don't really like spicy, but I do add half of a fresh jalapeño to this and its enough spice. I just chop it up real well and add it in at the same time I am adding the corn tortilla strips to be sautéed.
* I use about 2 big chicken breast for this recipe. I boil them in water until fully cooked, then set aside until cooled and then tear the chicken with my hands and a fork, I then usually season with McCormicks salt-free SouthWest seasoning.
* I top my soup with jalapeño jack shredded cheese, cilantro, more fresh lime juice, sliced avocado, and tortilla chips. We even topped with a dollop of sour cream before and it was yummy.
* Very quick and easy recipe and so so so so GOOD!
Fish Tacos are another favorite of ours. This is such a quick and easy meal that you can make in no time at all. Make sure to make the sauce, its absolutely amazing!
* I use tilapia filets, since I have those readily available in my freezer at all times, but you could use and choice of fish you like.
* The sauce is very good. It calls for plain yogurt which I didn't have at the time, so I used light sour cream which tasted just as well.
* There is a recipe for pico de gallo on there, I have never made it because I don't like it, so I can't comment on it. But if you like it, try it out.
* I actually didn't even sear in the pan like the directions said to do, I use a little bit of olive oil on each piece of fish then coat the fish in the rub and place each piece in aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes.
* I like to use corn tortillas or at HEB they make a corn and flour mix tortilla thats really great.
* Toppings for these tacos that I love to use is the Avocado Cream Sauce, fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, avocado slices, queso fresco, and a slaw mix that usually has cabbage, carrots and broccoli to give the taco a crunch (You can find all kinds of great slaw mixes usually in the bagged salad section)
* Great side dishes that I have made with this include roasted corn, cilantro lime rice, spanish rice, black beans.
This is one of the best salads I have ever had, SouthWest Chicken Salad, all the ingredients are great but what makes this even better is the dressing used for this, Its amazing.
* I use the McCormicks salt free SouthWest seasoning for the chicken.
* Recipe calls for corn on the cob then cutting it off, I don't have time for that so I just use frozen corn from the bag then that way I Know exactly how much I want to use.
* Here is the link to make the dressing.
* I didn't have champagne vinegar on hand but I have red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar, I have used both and both have tasted fine.
* The chipotles in the adobo sauce can be very spicy. I sometimes only use 2 because I don't like things to be overly spicy.
This next meal, Jalapeño Popper Turkey Chili is great on its own, but we love to take a twist on Frito Pie and make it with this chili! Talk about good! The fiancé even made it for his fire station and he said all the guys were pretty pleased with it. Trust me it will leave your belly feeling full and happy.
* I do this just like a fruit pie, fritos in a bowl, top with this chili then cheese on top! YUMMY!!!
This is a dish that I have never personally made but my fiancé has made quite a few times. Its actually one of my favorite things he makes and I request it frequently. Baked Almond Flour Chicken Tenders with Avocado- Cilantro Dipping sauce. Like the other recipes, this sauce too is amazing and definitely goes very well with the chicken.
* I don't normally make this but I know the fiancé doesn't make it exactly like the recipe says. This is a paleo recipe and he doesn't make it completely paleo.
* Recipe calls for homemade sriracha, umm we just use the stuff thats in the bottle, much easier and convenient.
* We don't always have coconut flour, so we just end up using Almond Flour and regular flour.
* We learned that the parchment paper is essential to keep the tenders from sticking as bad.
* Don't forget to flip the tenders half way through the baking time, helps to make it crispy all the way around.
* Like I said make sure to make the sauce, its super yummy.
* We usually have mashed potatoes with this and some sort of vegetable as sides.
Everything is better if its in Taco form right?? We seem to always have tortillas laying around from some recipe we make so I made these Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos the other day. Not only were they good but fast and easy like so many of the other meals I like to make.
* Not many variations with this recipe. I don't make the slaw mix though, I usually buy my own slaw mix like I mentioned before in the fish taco recipe. I like the slaw crunch mix that has cabbage, carrots and broccoli.
* You can use any kind of salsa or sauce for this, even try some of the above sauces from other recipes, bet that would be very yummy!
* I paired these tacos with wild rice and roasted corn for sides.
To go with these dishes here are a few sides that we also make. I love Roasted Corn. Its so simple and easy. I tend to buy bags of frozen corn and have in the freezer always ready to go. Here is a quick simple recipe. Remember you can add any spices you or other ingredients to make it more to your liking.
* Recipe calls for vegetable oil. I hardly ever use vegetable oil in cooking so I either use Olive oil or Coconut Oil.
* I like to add queso fresco at the end to kind of give it that street corn feel.
I love cauliflower. Raw or cooked. When I ran across this recipe I knew I had to make it. I have only made it once but let me tell you, its very tasty and I definately will be making it again. Maple Sriracha Roasted Cauliflower is packed full of flavor and its also very good for you.
And now for a great dessert, Healthy Banana Cookies, only 3-5 ingredients , mix , bake and thats it. These are a big hit at our house and they are healthy too so you can't go wrong.
Ingredients: -2 Large Old Bananas
- 1 Cup of Quick Oats
- Whatever you want to add, I usually add chocolate
chips, coconut and nuts.
Just mash the bananas and mix the oats and other ingredients to it.
Place small dollops on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and thats it.
Hope you enjoy a few of the recipes that make our tummies happy at our household. Cant wait to share more great ideas with you soon.
I'm going to have to try the srracha (sp) califlower
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