Chicken breast meatballs and Instant pot sauce

Spaghetti and meatballs is a favorite in this house, just like in Bread and Jam for Frances. I've been on a low carbohydrate kick and also like to get in my omega fats, so I substituted flax meal for any binding agent. This especially helps for Middle Child, who hates salmon in all its forms.

#16 No-Grain Chicken Breast Meatballs

6 chicken breasts, ground (you can sub any kind of ground meat)

3 tbs Montreal Steak Seasoning

1 c flax meal

1 egg

Mix by hand. Shape into meatballs and roast at 400F for 35 minutes.

#17 instant pot tomato sauce

1 big ass can of tomatoes (#10 can)

1/2 c balsamic

Basil

Oregano

Salt, pepper, garlic to taste

Cook in instant pot on the soup setting. Eat on everything. Zoodles, noodles, toast. You can also cook for 4-6 hours in a slow cooker.

What are your favorite tomato sauce recipes? My grandma was from Tensleep, Wyoming and not Italy, so I'd love to hear any hand me downs!

Chicken Tikka Masala

I adapted the recipe from here. 


5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 can crushed tomato
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves


Add to slow cooker:

1 1/2 cups plain greek yogurt 

1 can evaporated milk

Frozen mixture

Cook on high for 4 hours.  Keep warm until ready.  Add Sri Racha to taste.

Asian Chicken with Broccoli

1 bag frozen broccoli
2 tbs Chinese rice cooking wine
3 chicken breasts, frozen
3 tablespoons tamari
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tbs minced fresh ginger (I used leftovers from  making homemade ginger ale.
1 tbs minced garlic
1 teaspoon sesame oil

 Mix together all ingredients and freeze.  When ready, put in slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours.

Quick Moroccan Chicken with Olives

Olive oil
1 onion, diced
2tbs lemon juice
1 ½ tsp garam masala
1 tsp paprika
2 tbs garlic salt
2 chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1 c Greek cracked green olives

Saute onion for 5-7 minutes, until brown around edges.  Add spices and cook another minute.  Salt and pepper the chicken then add to pot.  Stir to cover.  Stir in broth and olives and cook until done, through, 10-12 mins.  Stir in lemon juice and serve.

Park City Chicken

Adapted from Rachael Ray
3-4 chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 tbs McCormick’s Smokehouse maple
½ tsp chipotle powder
1 tsp cumin
1 onion, diced
2 tbs agave nectar
1 cup cashews

Cook chicken in oil with seasoning on medium high heat. Served with veggies.

Cheddar Dijon Pork

2 pork chops, cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion, diced
2 tbs garlic
1 tbs thyme
1 tbs dill
1/2 c Greek yogurt
1/2 c shredded cheddar
heaping spoonful Dijon mustard

Cook the onions and pork in the spices.  In the last few minutes, add the rest of the ingredients.

Would also be really good with chicken.

Lemon Tapenade Chicken

Most if this week's recipes come from a Canadian Living cookbook that DH picked up for me while he was in Toronto.  This recipe can also be found here, on their website.

1 onions, chopped
2-3 chicken breasts
1 tbs garlic powder, cumin, pepper, dried oregano, ground cumin
2 bay leaves
1 can chicken stock
Juice of 1 lemon (~2 tbs)
I packet Equal (or sugar)
1 tbs tomato paste
1/2 c pitted olives or 1/3 c tapenade

Brown onions and chicken in olive oil, adding garlic, cumin, bay leaves, and pepper.  Cook about 15 minutes.  Add chicken broth, lemon juice, tomato paste, and sugar.  Cook another 15 minutes.  Add olives and heat through.  Served with green beans and quinoa.

This was a great, tasty chicken and onions dinner.  We enjoyed it on a January weeknight while watching the first half of Star Wars with the kids.

California Salad

Turkey Cubes or leftover chicken
Crumbled Goat cheese
Dried blueberries (or cranberries)
Pecans
Honey Mustard Dressing
2 c shredded lettuce

Occasionally, while shopping, my kids have meltdowns.  Even if you don't have kids of your own, you've probably seen it.  Laying in the cart, crying, or screaming, sometimes laying on the floor in that completely unselfconscious way.  Often, this is because they're hungry or tired.  I often try to carry the spare granola bar, or bag of nuts.  But sometimes we visit the Target Cafe.  And, I was surprised when I found a salad that I loved!  I was starting to look for excuses to eat there.  Then, I wised up and realized that I could make it in about 5 minutes at home.

Quick Greek Salad

Feta
Leftover chicken or turkey
Tomatoes
Pecans
Parmesan Garlic Dressing
2 cups shredded lettuce
pitted Greek olives

White Turkey Chili

I just made some white turkey chili with the last of the thanksgiving turkey.  It was fantastic, and ridiculously easy.
2 cans of white beans (I used one each of Great Northern and Navy), drained and rinsed well
1 can green chilis
1/2 c sauteed onions
2-3 big handfuls of diced turkey breast
1 can chicken broth
1 can-full of water
1 can of corn
Cumin, smoked salt, and cilantro to taste

Add all the ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for ~1 hour.  Eat!

Creamy Caper Chicken

4 chicken breasts, sautéed

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbs dried dill

1 tbs garlic powder

1/2c sour cream

2 tbs capers

¼ c nonfat greek yogurt

Sautee chicken breasts in olive oil.  Remove chicken and add rest of ingredients.  Mix and heat through, then pour sauce over chicken.  Good with steamed spinach or asparagus.

Made 23 june, 2010 before going to the John Hiatt concert with mom.  This was fantastic. 

Curried Coconut Chicken Salad with Dates

Adapted from a Whole Foods Recipe for leftover turkey or chicken. Serve with lettuce as wraps, or stuffed in whole wheat pitas.


1 small can coconut milk (not light coconut milk)
1 1/4 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 c vinegar onions, preferably rice vinegar
2 tbs brown mustard

3 cups cooked shredded chicken, dark or white meat
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup roughly chopped dates
1/2 cup roughly chopped cashews
1/4 cup finely shredded coconut

Measure 3/4 cup coconut milk into a bowl and stir in curry powder, garlic powder, salt, mustard, and shredded chicken. Toss to coat well.  Add dates, coconut, and cashews.  

Parmesan Chicken Bites

4 chicken breasts, sliced
2 c parmesan
¼ c Montreal Chicken seasonings
2 eggs

Cover slices in eggs. Dredge in parmesan mixed with chicken seasoning. Fry in olive oil on medium high head. Made this with the kids 9 june, 2010 and Brenna loved dredging the chicken. Couldn’t get enough of it. And she said it tasted better than chicken nuggets.
I had meant to add breadcrumbs, but forgot and it turned out pretty well and much more South Beach Diet friendly

Soy Poached Chicken

2 pounds chicken breasts
3 c water
1/3 c dark soy sauce(recipe called for ¾ c, but we were short)
1/3 c Chinese black vinegar
4 tbs chopped ginger
4 large garlic cloves
4 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp sesame oil
¼ tsp hot chile flakes

Simmer liquid ingredients. Add chicken breasts and simmer gently for 6-8 mins. Turn off heat and let stand for at least 30 mins. This chicken came out a bit dry and not as flavorful as I like. Might be worth trying again.

This was from John Ash's book.

Sauteed Chicken

4 individually frozen chicken breasts, not thawed
3 tbs Montreal Chicken seasoning
1 tbs garlic salt

Slice and season with oil and seasoning. Sauté on medium high heat until cooked through.

(#3 of 2010-2011)

Baked Chicken

4 individually frozen chicken breasts, not thawed
Olive oil
3 tbs Montreal chicken seasoning

Season and bBake at 350 for an hour.

This is the basis for so many of my recipes!

(#2 of 2010-2011)