Creamy Green Bean Gratin

OH YUM. Gratins are the best. Try green beans!

1. boil green beans until tender but not fully-done, about 5 minutes.

2. toss grean beans with 1/4 cup sour cream, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, salt,  pepper. [you can also experiment with cheddar, or a blend of cheeses.] place in a greased baking dish. 

3. top with crushed saltine crackers or stale bread and some more cheese.

4. bake for 30 minutes or so at 400 F until top is browned.

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Bacon Penne

Ok so this sound sinful BUUUUT if you use skim milk, a thickening agent, and bacon bits [vegetarian] then you have a very low fat sauce!

Otherwise yeah, bacon and cream, go for it. 

1. fry bacon if using, crumble, or set aside bacon bits. The equivalency of about 8 strips. 

2. chop up about half a cup of sun-dried tomatoes. 

3. is you used bacon, use a tablespoon leftover bacon grease and fry up diced onion, and 2 cloves minced garlic. add in 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon flour to thicken, or low fat sour cream, or just go for half and half.

4. simmer until thick, add in sundried tomatoes and bacon and stir until all incorporated. taste, adjust salt and pepper [although you definitely shouldn't need salt] and add a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

5. serve over pasta, with some black pepper and parmesan cheese. 

Sriracha Spaghetti Sauce

Yes, I went there. fusing Sriracha [asian chili sauce] and an italian classic? yes please.

Ingredients

IF MAKING MEATBALLS: 

1 lb ground pork

1 lb turkey (ground)

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

13 cup breadcrumbs (plain dried)

2 egg whites

34 tsp dried oregano

coarse salt

ground pepper

FOR SAUCE, SIMMER: 

2 tsps extra-virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion (diced)

2 garlic cloves (roughly chopped)

1 can crushed tomatoes crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup sauce (sriracha)

make and fry meatballs if using. [otherwise, just use vegetables: olives, peppers, onion, mushrooms, etc, or just plain ground meat. But keep the cilantro, it's tasty, unless you're genetically  disposed to hating it... sucks for you]

boil pasta, drain.

simmer sauce, taste and adjust. 

Spaghetti with Basil, Tomato, & Shrimp

Whip this up, super easy and delicious.

1. fry or grill shrimp with garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

2. boil pasta, toss with 1 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh basil, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt, and pepper. 

3. top with shrimp and cherry tomatoes and serve. 

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.