Bowtie Lasagna

I came across this recipe at the Tasty Kitchen blog and had to try it. Wow - it was good and I whipped it up in 20 minutes. YUM!

1 lb ground chuck
1 package bowtie noodles
1 jar (your favorite) pasta sauce (or homemade if you have time)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 cloves garlic; crushed (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

Cook noodles according to package directions.
Meanwhile, cook meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat; drain and return to skillet.
After noodles have cooked; drain and add to cooked meat. Drizzle with olive oil. Add sauce, garlic, seasonings, cheese and sour cream. Fold together and allow all to combine and melt together, over low heat for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
That's it. :)

Coconut Macaroons

Recently, I was at my favorite bakery in town buying a loaf of fresh bread when I smelled this sweet cookie. I usually would not buy coconut macaroons - I just never think about them. These cookies smelled so good that I had to buy one. Immediately after we devoured the cookie, Chad said I need to learn to make them. So, I did. I found an EASY recipe here and they were so good!

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325.
In a small bowl, combine the coconut, sugar, flour and salt. Stir in the egg whites and vanilla; mix well.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on a wire rack.

Spicy Peanut Chicken with Vegetables and Rice

My new favorite way to eat chicken! I could eat this one every week - it is that good! The spicy peanut sauce recipe came from my talented cousin. If you are worried about the spice, leave out the cayenne pepper.

Spicy Peanut Sauce
4 tablespoons hot water
4 tablespoons peanut butter - smooth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

In a bowl, whisk hot water over the peanut butter to smooth out the consistency. Then, add remaining ingredients and whisk together till well combined.

1 lb chicken breasts; cubed
2 red peppers; chopped
1/2 large, white onion; chopped
1 bag frozen broccoli (I bought the steam bags and steamed in microwave - then drained before using)
2 scallions; chopped
Cooked brown rice
1 1/2 tablespoons oil (peanut works best, but vegetable will work)
Salt and pepper

In a wok or large skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil and heat over medium-high. Add cubed chicken; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until chicken is cooked through. Add 2 spoonfuls of peanut sauce to chicken and toss to coat. Remove from pan and keep warm.

Add remaining oil to pan. Then add chopped red peppers and onions. Cook for 3-5 minutes until tender. Add steamed broccoli and scallions. Toss back in the chicken and adjust seasoning,

Serve over cooked brown rice and top with additional peanut sauce.  

Mexican Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas

Ok - these carnitas were awesome! Chad was eating the leftovers for lunch everyday; he could not get enough of them. Very flavorful and easy if you prep the night before. I found this recipe on Gina's Weight Watchers blog and made a few adjustments. Great blog with tasty low-fat recipes. Make these this week! You will not be disappointed! 

2 1/2 lb pork shoulder blade roast, lean - with all fat removed

6 cloves of garlic; cut in slivers

Homemade taco seasoning (found here) 

3/4 cup 99% fat free chicken broth

1 small can diced chilies 

2 bay leaves

A few dashes of hot sauce (optional)

Salt and Pepper

Season pork salt and pepper. In a medium pan over medium-high heat, brown pork on all sides for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. (This step is not necessary, but adds a lot more flavor!)

Using a sharp knife, insert blade into pork and cut small holes. Insert garlic slivers throughout pork. Season pork with taco seasoning all over.  

Pour chicken broth in crockpot, add bay leaves and diced chilies. Place pork in crockpot and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. After 8 hours, shred pork and remove any bones. Combine well with the juices, remove bay leaves and adjust seasonings. Let cook for another 15-30 minutes. 

Serve with corn tortillas (warmed over a gas stove is best), fresh cilantro, lime juice and light sour cream. I would also recommend light, shredded Monterrey jack cheese, salsa and avocado. 

Michigan Salad with Cinnamon Raisin Croutons and Cherry Maple Vinaigrette

A new restaurant opened in town called Twisted Rooster. Their menu is guided by locally grown product offerings and has a twist on every meal. We have been there a couple of times now and love the food! I have to say that their house salad is awesome! The croutons are made with Cinnamon Raisin Bread! I knew I had to recreate this one at home and I am so glad that I did.

For the salad:
1 bag mixed greens (I did a combination of spinach and romaine)
1 Granny Smith Apple; diced
6-8 Strawberries; sliced
1 package Dried Cherries (I had leftovers that I have been using in cereal!)
1 small bag Pecans; toasted
Blue cheese crumbles; as much as you want

For the croutons:
6 thick slices of cinnamon raisin bread; cubed
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons brown sugar

For the dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar (or cider vinegar)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 Tablespoon cherry juice
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Cover a baking sheet with foil.
Melt butter in a large skillet and add the bread cubes; toss to coat.
Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over bread cubes; toss to coat again. Spread cubes on the baking sheet and bake 10-15 minutes or until firm. Allow to cool.

Whisk together all the dressing ingredients.

Combine all salad ingredients, toss with dressing (as much as desired) and top with croutons.

Garlic Lime Chicken over Mexican Style Orzo

I saw this recipe for grilled garlic lime chicken and knew I had to make it. If you are looking for a flavorful and easy chicken recipe, try this one. 

I made (what I am calling) a Mexican style orzo pasta to go with the chicken. YUM! No recipe to source here as I made it up myself. I can't wait to make this one again. 

Garlic Lime Chicken

3-4 cloves of garlic; minced

1 lime; zested and juiced

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; pounded and halved

Combine garlic, lime zest and juice, olive oil and salt. Whisk with a fork to combine. Add chicken to the dish and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. 

Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Mexican Style Orzo

1 package orzo

1 cup reduced fat feta cheese

1 can reduced sodium black beans; drained and rinsed

1 can Ro*tel (diced tomatoes with chilies)

1 tablespoon olive oil

Juice of 1 lime

Salt and pepper

Cook orzo according to package directions; drain. Return to hot pan and add feta, black beans, Ro*tel, olive oil and lime juice. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. 

Top Mexican Style Orzo with Garlic Lime Chicken and Avocado slices. 

Chicago style dogs with Charm City Corn

This recipe was not intended to go up on the blog, but I am glad Chad had me take a picture of his plate before we ate. He must have known it was going to be a good one. Corn on the cob in the summer is classic and this recipe gives it a new spicy kick. 

Charm City Corn - recipe found here

2 cups water

1 cup milk

4 ears of corn

4 Tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

Salt and pepper

Dash of hot sauce

Bring water, milk and a pinch of salt to a boil in a large pot. Break ears of corn in half; add to the pot and cook until crisp-tender about 5 minutes, then drain. In the same pot, melt butter, Old Bay Seasoning and a dash of hot sauce. Toss the corn in the spicy butter and season with salt and pepper. 

For our Chicago style dogs, we used only the best hot dogs - Hebrew National. Cooked according to package directions (I like to boil and lightly grill). Place cooked dogs in a whole wheat bun and top with sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, sliced pickles, diced onion, mustard and pepper.