Meditteranean Chicken Salad

NOTE: you can easily use leftover chicken, but for this special salad I like to marinate and fry up chicken thighs. extra delicious.

1. marinate chicken thighs [boneless] in yogurt, lemon juice, lots of garlic, oregano, salt and pepper, and olive oil. for 2 hours or so.

2. fry until crispy on the outside, bake for another 15 to make sure the chicken is done.

3.toss together tomato, onion, olives, cucumber, green peppers with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon mustard, 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and pepper.

4. top chicken with salad, then top everything with feta cheese and fresh basil. 

Green Pesto & Tomato Sauce

An easy pasta sauce [basic though] so you can add everything and anything!

SIMMER: 2 tablespoons basil pesto with 1 can crushed tomatoes.

GOOD WITH:  meatballs, ground meat, peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, chicken breast

ADDITIONAL SEASONING: ground black pepper, oregano, fresh basil, more garlic, bay leaves

ALSO ADD: lemon juice, crushed walnuts or pine nuts, fresh grated parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes for spice

Chicken Taco Chili

A hearty low-fat chili. Yum!

YOU NEED:

1 can black beans, 

1 can kidney beans, 

1 can corn kernels, 

1 large diced onion

5 cloves minced garlic

16 oz tomato sauce, 

3 diced tomatoes,

1 packet taco seasoning,

 1 tbsp chili powder, 

3 boneless chicken breasts. 

You need to cook chicken breasts and shred or slice.

Fry up veggies with seasoning and garlic, then add sauce. add beans and corn.

Add chicken.

Simmer until done, crockpot is best. add in everything

garnish with cilantro, sour cream, and cheese.  

Garlic Shrimp & Broccoli Tomato Pasta

Oh, yum. This is as healthy as pasta goes, as long as you don't mind reeking like garlic for days. So good! 

1. in a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. add in 1 small chopped onion and 4 cloves minced garlic. Fry until fragrant.

2. add in broccoli and stir until softened, add in shrimp and fry until pink. 

3. add 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 more tablespoon olive oil OR sun-dried tomato pesto.

4. boil pasta, drain, reserving a couple tablespoons pasta water.

5. add a bit of pasta water to sauce/veggie/broccoli mix just to liquify it a little. finally add 1 diced tomato and simmer until well mixed and tasty.

5. top pasta with sauce, parmesan, fresh parsley, ground black pepper. 

Tortellini Minestrone

Get a healthy serving of vegetables with you pasta. 

1. get soft tortellini. cheese or meat.

2. in a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. add in 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1 small chopped onion or shallot and fry until transluscent. 

3. add 1 cup vegetable broth and 1/4 cup sour cream. simmer, then add in chopped vegetables such as green beans, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, asparagus, etc. 

4. add in tortellini.

5. simmer until thick and vegetables are soft. 

6. serve with lots of ground black pepper and extra parmesan. 

Caprese Bites

A cute and easy appetizer!

YOU NEED:

wonton wrappers or thin pie dough or phyllo, brushed with egg yolk

shredded or sliced mozzarella

finely diced tomato

finely cut fresh basil

1. brush dough with egg. spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. 

2. press dough inside, creating little "cups"

3. place some mozzarella, tomato, and basil inside. 

4. bake at 375 F for 20 mins until top has slightly browned. 

MORE IDEAS?

 BBQ Chicken, Blue Cheese

Cheddar & Bacon

Swiss & Ham

Speck & Gruyere

Brie & Apple

Gorgonzola & Mushroom

Pizza

Quiche [with egg] 

Pasta Pescatore

A zesty tomato-based Seafood pasta. 

YOU NEED:

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/3 Cup chopped Onion

3 Garlic Cloves, minced

Seafood of choice: clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster, crabmeat, scallops, calamari

1/2 Cup Dry White Wine

1 cup vegetable or chicken broth

3 Cups Pureed or Chopped Tomatoes

1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley

Salt & Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes

1 Pound Spaghetti Or Pasta Of Choice

TO MAKE: 

In a large saucepan, heat the oil and then cook the onions until they are soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.

Add the garlic, and cook another couple of minutes.

Add the wine and broth and bring to a boil, then add the clams and cook until they open, if using clams. 

Add the tomato sauce, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and add the remaining seafood, and cook over low heat while the pasta cooks.

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until it is "al dente".

Drain the pasta, top with a scoop of the tomato sauce and toss well.

Serve, top with seafood, fresh parsley or basil, parmesan cheese, and a bit of lemon juice.