Pasta with Veggies

This recipe was really simple, so I'm kind of embarrassed to even put it up, but Dylan actually ate it, so I thought I'd share. I think you can substitute in a variety of veggies, but I love zucchini and tomatoes together.

1 tbsp olive oil
1 zucchini diced
1 tomato diced
1 to 2 tbsp of grated parmesan
1 clove crushed garlic
1/4 cup chicken stock (or white wine if making for adults)
1 to 2 cups of cooked, diced chicken or white fish (I used tilapia because we had some leftover)
a little chopped parsley, salt and pepper to taste
Campellini or fun shaped pasta

Cook pasta to al dente according to directions on box.

Meanwhile, saute zucchini in olive oil over medium heat until they start to get soft, add tomatoes, continue to saute until tomatoes start to break down. Add grated parmesan and garlic and meat, let simmer for a minute or so then add chicken stock (you can deglaze if you have any yummy brown bits at this point). Cook for 1-2 minutes. Mix sauce and meat with drained pasta, garnish with parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I wrote up this recipe myself, so if it's hard to follow, I apologize. Feel free to shoot me and email and I'll try to explain it better.

Lemon Spaghetti

6 oz spaghetti
1/2 t lemon zest
1/8 c lemon juice
1/8 c olive oil
pinch crushed red pepper flakes
parsley
Parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti as directed.

Combine next four ingredients (through pepper flakes) - whisk to mix.
*Omit pepper flakes for kid-friendly version*

Drizzle sauce over cooked spaghetti. Top with parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Original Source: Cooking Light

Spicy Chicken and Avocado Pasta

This is one of our favorite meals - because it tastes good and is quick and easy to make.

Feeds: 2-4 people

1/4 c olive oil
2 T white vinegar
4 t roasted herb and garlic McCormick grill mates seasoning
2 chicken breasts
1/2 box linguine
1 can zesty tomatoes with jalapenos
Jalapeno jack cheese
1 Avocado

Combine first three ingredients. Place chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag and add marinade. Marinate chicken for 30 minutes.

Grill chicken or bake in oven (on a broiler pan) for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Boil water and add linguine. Cook 10 minutes. Drain. Add tomatoes to linguine.

Chop cooked chicken. Divide linguine, chicken, grated cheese, and avocado among plates.

Italian Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 red pepper, seeded, small diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons (about 3 cloves) chopped garlic
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup marinara sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat and add the peppers, onions and garlic. Saute until just soft, remove to a plate and cool.

When the peppers and onions are cool, combine all of the remaining ingredients together except for the marinara. Pack the meat mixture into an oiled loaf pan, if you do not have a loaf pan, form the meat mixture into a loaf shape on an oiled oven tray or baking dish. Top with the marinara making sure to spread evenly over the top.

Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F in the middle of the meatloaf. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Michael Chiarello at Foodnetwork.com

***This was a great simple meatloaf recipe! When I made it I didn't have any bell peppers so I left those out. I also read a lot of the recipe comments which stated that this tastes just as good with ground turkey instead of ground beef, which I'll try for next time.***

Overnight Coffee Cake

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over coffee cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Combine confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over warm coffee cake.

Original Source: Lisa Zimmerman

Chili Chicken Tacos

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1-2 T chopped canned chipotle chilis in adobo
1T chili powder
salt and pepper

In a slow cooker, combine chicken, garlic, chiles, chili powder, 1t. salt and 1/4t. pepper. Cover, cook on low for 8 hours (or 4 hours on high).

Transfer chicken to a serving bowl and shred, using 2 forks; moisten with cooking juices. Serve in taco shells with toppings.

Original Source: Lisa Zimmerman

Lactation Cookies

These oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are designed to boost your milk supply. Eat four per day... they have added weight loss benefits, too!

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups steel-cut oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2-4 tablespoons brewer's yeast

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 5 minutes. Beat butter, sugar and brown sugar well. Add eggs and mix well. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla and beat well. Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mix. Stir in oats and chocolate chips (add more chocolate chips if you want - 1 cup doesn't seem like enough). Scoop onto baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Let sit for a couple of minutes then remove to rack to cool completely.