Weeknight Bites: Chicken and Prosciutto Salad with Asiago

October is my favorite month for a few reasons. For one, it's the month when the leaves on the trees really start to change (at least here in Georgia), and the world just kind of looks...magical. I love that. I also love the cool, crisp air of the mornings and the chill that sets in after the sun goes down. Then we have Halloween, which is one of my very favorite holidays, again falling in October. Both my dad and my brother have birthdays this month. And, last but absolutely not least, my husband and I celebrate our anniversary. See why I love October so much?

For our anniversary, the hubby and I are taking a trip back to the Bahamas, where we went on our honeymoon two years ago. We enjoyed our time there so much that when we started thinking about taking a trip this year it wasn't too hard to decide where we wanted to go. We'll be staying at Atlantis, though this time we're keeping our budget in mind a little bit more than we did before; last time we stayed at The Cove (which, by the way, was beautiful and I would recommend to anyone going there for a special occasion! it's completely worth it), but this time we're staying at the Royal Towers - which is that big building you see on all of their commercials. Woo!! 17 days and counting until we're on our way!

With a little more than two weeks before we head out, I'm locking myself down on diet and drinks (I know I'm not the only woman in the world who does this) to make sure I feel at least somewhat confident in a bathing suit, considering the fact that I don't normally have to wear one this time of year. So, I've been scouring the pages of Cooking Light to find delicious and nutritious meals to make between now and then. I think the hardest thing for me is to reign in my take-out lunches, but with a dinner like this I can *almost* afford to eat poorly one meal of the day. This salad incorporates 2 of my absolute favorite ingredients (asiago cheese and prosciutto) and is super light and yummy! The rotisserie chicken makes this so easy to make during the week, and the homemade croutons don't disappoint.

2 slices sourdough bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Canola cooking spray

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/8 tsp garlic powder

3 tbs EVOO

2 oz very thin slices prosciutto, chopped

2 tbs fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt

2 (5-oz) packages baby arugula (or use mixed greens - as shown in picture)

1 1/2 ounce Asiago cheese, shaved

6 oz shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place bread cubes on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with basil and garlic powder and toss to coast. Place in preheated oven and bake for 8 minutes or until crisp.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbs oil to pan, swirling to coat. Add prosciutto and saute 4 minutes or until prosciutto is crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Combine 2 tbs plus 2 tsp olive oil, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl and stir well. Place arugula or mixed greens and half of cheese in a large bowl. Add juice mixture and toss well to coat. Divide salad evenly among plates and add chicken, prosciutto, remaining cheese and croutons evenly among each serving.

This recipe will serve 6 two-cup portions or 4 larger servings. I'm also including the nutritional information below, in case you're interested.

Until next time....

Cheers!

Calories: 193

Fat: 11.5g (sat 2.9g, mono 5.8g, poly 1.3g)

Protein: 14.4g

Carb: 8.9g

Fiber: 1.5g

Chol: 37mg

Iron: 14mg

Sodium: 481mg

Calc: 142mg

*All nutritional information from Cooking Light Magazine, April 2012 

Slow Cooker Special: Poblano Jalapeno Chili

It's been a little while since my last post, but don't worry - I still have more slow cooker recipes to give you, even after September comes to an end! My life has been pretty crazy over the last couple of weeks, so I'm sorry for my brief absence. It seems like, lately, even fitting in sleep has been a chore!

Today's recipe is one that my husband and I like so much that we apparently wolfed it all down before I could take a picture. Oops. My mistake! While the meal finishes up in the slow cooker, you will need to put in a little extra effort on the front end (you'll see what I mean when you read the recipe - it's not too bad). This chili is perfect for game day or a relaxed weekend afternoon, and it makes enough that you'll have leftovers for one of those weeknights where heating up is about all you can/want to handle.

After all, isn't chili kind of the quintessential fall meal? It's great for serving guests, versatile depending on flavor preferences, and, generally speaking, it's easy to put together. There are a lot of ingredients in this particular recipe, but don't let that overwhelm you. The end result is truly delish, which makes the effort completely worth it. Thanks go out to Cooking Light for this one. I hope you enjoy it!

FYI - You won't need to finely chop any of the chiles or onion in this recipe - a rough chop will work just fine. 

Poblano-Jalapeno Chili

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

1 tbs canola oil

3 cups chopped onion (1 large)

1 cup chopped, seeded poblano chile (2 large)

8 garlic cloves, minced

1 12-oz Mexican beer (like Corona)

1 tbs chili powder

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

3/4 tsp kosher salt

2 1/2 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce

1 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

2 15-oz cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 14.5 oz can diced, fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained

3 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded*

1/2 cup light sour cream*

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves*

*optional

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add ground beef. Cook 10 minutes or until browned. Drain and remove from pan. Wipe pan clean.

Return pan to stovetop over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat. Add chopped jalapenos, garlic, onion and poblano and saute 10 minutes. Add beer, scraping the pan to loosen browned bits. Cook for 12 minutes (liquid should evaporate by half). Add chili powder, cumin and salt and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

Add beef, chile-onion mixture, marinara, broth, beans and tomatoes to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours. Serve with cheese, sour cream and cilantro, if desired.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Slow Cooker Special: Pizza Pasta

Remember Jack? That little kid who lives inside me and begs for junk food every chance he gets (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can read about him here)? Well, Jack loves me right about now, because last night I kicked my normal "Cooking Light" approach to dinner out the window and made a meal that most any kid will love.

Yes, it's important to eat healthy, but sometimes...well, come on. You just want to cheat. And if you ask me, cheating every now and then is absolutely acceptable. In fact, I encourage it (clearly, since I'm giving you this recipe!).

If you like pizza (and who doesn't?), you're going to LOVE this meal. It's so easy and delicious that you'll probably want to make it every night. Ok, not every night - but more often than you probably should.

True to form, I've included a spicy component in the dish; however, before you get scared, I do want to point out that the crushed red pepper you see in the ingredient list actually serves as more of a flavor infuser than an added blast of heat. If you really don't like spicy, you can leave it out - but if you're not afraid to try it, go ahead and make the recipe as is.

 1 lb uncooked macaroni (or any small pasta)

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (2 cups and 1 cup)

2 10 oz jars pizza sauce 

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 tsp italian seasoning

pepperoni (use your own discretion)

Add uncooked pasta, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, soup, water, crushed red pepper, italian seasoning and pepperoni to slow cooker and stir to mix well. Cook on low for 3 1/2 hours.

Add 2 cups mozzarella cheese to cover the top of the pasta (do not stir) and top with additional pepperoni. Cook for another 30 minutes on low until cheese is melted.

Just like pizza, this pasta is also versatile when it comes to the flavors that you like. This is essentially a base recipe for the pasta, so feel free to add any of your favorite pizza ingredients - black olives, onions, green peppers, sausage, etc. Don't worry about cooking the pasta before you put it in the Crockpot - it will cook on it's own with the sauce, soup and water. 

Until next time...

Cheers!

Mix of the Month: (Slow Cooker) Spiced Apple Cider

Yesterday was such an unbelievably beautiful day that I found myself wishing I could leave the office early to go home, sit on my deck with a great book and just enjoy the weather. Instead, I settled for going out to lunch with some of my girlfriends from work. My one hour trip to the world outside of the office was so fantastic that, on my way home last night, I made the decision to whip up a batch of hot spiced apple cider and spend the evening on the porch. What a great idea! This cider is spiced perfectly, smells great, and will warm you right down to your bones. You get a little extra zing from the rum, but don't worry - it's the perfect amount for a relaxing, smooth drink to sip on while enjoying your fall evening.

And, on top of being a great fall drink, this mix of the month also fits in perfectly with Slow Cooker September! I promised you nothing but slow cooker recipes, didn't I?

4 cups apple juice

1/2 cup Captain Morgan spiced rum (or your favorite brand)

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 orange, sliced (keep remaining orange for adding slices as garnish)

Add apple juice, rum and spices to a small slow cooker (I use my 2 qt. version for this). Stir to blend spices and add oranges. Heat on low for 3 hours or high for 1 1/2 hours. Serve hot, with small slices of orange for garnish if desired.

Note: You'll find that if you follow the recipe exactly (with all of the spices free-flowing), they won't dissolve in the liquid; instead, they'll settle at the bottom of your Crockpot (or, once served, your cup). This didn't bother me, but if it's less than desirable for you there are ways around it. If you have a tea ball, you can use this to infuse the spices into the mixture (just add the spices to the ball and add it to the mixture while it cooks). Or, if you don't, strain the liquid through a coffee filter as you pour it into your cup; this should filter out the majority of the spices.

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Special: Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what each of you thought when you read the title to today's blog. I wouldn't be surprised if many of you looked at this post and thought "Chicken noodle soup? I can only eat that when I'm sick."

Ok, ok. It's kind of true. What do we eat when we have the flu? Chicken noodle soup, of course. When it comes to feeling under the weather, this dish is a key factor for recovery.

But what about the REST of the time? Unfortunately, I know several people who can't (or won't) eat things that they directly associate with illness. Even asking about particular dishes usually results in a disgusted face and a firm "no, thank you" head shake. This is especially true of today's soup variety. Let's face it: of all the soups out there, chicken noodle gets a bad rap.

For round three of Slow Cooker September, I'm sharing a recipe that I hope will change your mind about this "only when I'm sick" soup. This version is so hearty and flavorful that it truly trumps the watered-down, bland mess that comes out of the can. In fact, you might even find that it rivals some of your favorite comfort foods.

3 boneless chicken breasts

1 bag frozen mirepoix soup mix

1 tsp seasoning salt

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbs dried parsley flakes

1/2 tsp dried marjoram

1 bay leaf

6 cups chicken broth

2 cups water

2 cups wide egg noodles (uncooked)

Add chicken to bottom of slow cooker and cover with frozen vegetables. Add spices and top with chicken broth and water. Cook on low for 6 1/2 hours. 

After 6 1/2 hours, remove bay leaf and shred chicken breasts finely with a fork. Add 2 cups egg noodles and stir to cover with liquid. Cook on low for an additional 20 minutes or until noodles are tender. If noodles need to be cooked longer, check for doneness every 10 minutes until ready.

Here's to making chicken noodle soup an enjoyable dish - even when you're NOT sick!

Until next time...

Cheers!

Slow Cooker Special: Pot Roast

I think it's probably safe to say that we all have a favorite meal as a kid, something that we like so much that we beg our parents to make it over and over again without ever getting sick of it. Those meals can become a source of nostalgia once we get older and move out on our own because, let's face it, no one can ever make that recipe quite as perfectly as our parents did/do. Growing up, there were a few meals my mom made in regular rotation that I absolutely had to have once I left the house, and today's recipe happens to be one of them.

I can't picture doing an entire month of slow cooker recipes without sharing one for pot roast. It just wouldn't be right. So...here you go. This one is simple, requires minimal ingredients and will put a smile on the face of everyone who eats it. I promise.

As usual, this recipe includes an ingredient that can make this meal spicy or mild, depending on how much you use. I'll leave that part up to you.

2 cans whole tomatoes in juice

2 cans whole white potatoes, drained

1 large onion, sliced

3lb. pot or oven roast

McCormick "Grill Mates" Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning*

*to taste

Place sliced onion in bottom of slow cooker and season with Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning. Add pot or oven roast, tomatoes with juice and potatoes. Season with Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning. Cook on low for 10 hours.

If you hadn't guessed, the spicy steak seasoning is the component of this dish that will take it from mild to spicy. Both ways are really delicious! I would suggest using at least a healthy 1/3 cup of the seasoning all over the roast and veggies to really add some flavor, but feel free to play with the ratios to fit your tastes. I usually serve with white rice, but my husband likes it by itself. It all depends on what you like!

Stay tuned for more slow cooker recipes in the month of September!

Until next time...

Cheers!

Slow Cooker Special: Buffalo Chicken Sliders

September is here, and I couldn't be happier. I've been chomping at the bit in anticipation of Fall and all of the wonderful things that come with it - if you couldn't tell from my last post. I'm even more excited about it because I've declared this month "Slow Cooker" month, meaning that everything I'm cooking is coming from my best friend, the Crockpot. To me, this means that the meals I cook this month won't just be easy; they'll be affordable, too. And, like most everything that comes out of the slow cooker, they will be absolutely delicious.

You can't see it, but I'm doing a happy dance. Seriously.

Tonight's recipe is not only a great dinner dish for you and your family - it also doubles as a perfect party plate for football season. Plus, it's versatile! Keep it simple with ranch or bleu cheese dressing or dress it up with tomatoes and lettuce if you'd like. Either way, this chicken comes out so tender and delicious that whoever is eating it will most definitely be back for seconds.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 packet dry ranch dressing mix

1 bottle buffalo sauce

2 tbs butter

Slider buns

Ranch/bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomato*

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker and sprinkle ranch dressing mix on top. Add 3/4 bottle buffalo sauce and cook on low for 7 hours. After 7 hours, add butter and shred chicken. Allow to cook for 10 more minutes and serve on slider buns. *Dress with optional toppings.

This recipe will serve six, so if you're planning on having more you'll want to increase the ratios as necessary. Keep in mind that these can be quite spicy, considering the fact that the chicken is cooking in the sauce all day - you may want to cook the chicken in a "milder" buffalo sauce and keep a spicier version on hand for those who like a "kick."

Until next time...

Cheers!