WALNUT STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

12 boneless skinless chicken breast fillets
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup fresh whole-grain bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
6 tbsp butter
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup white cooking wine
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped parsley

Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry.  Pound between two sheets of waxed paper until 1/4-inch thick.

In a bowl combine the cheese, walnuts, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper; mix together well.

Spoon the walnut mixture onto the chicken breasts, spreading to within a 1/2-inch of the edges.  Roll each up jelly roll style from the narrow ends.  Secure with toothpicks.

In a shallow plate combine the all-purpose and whole-wheat flours.  Coat the chicken rolls completely with the flour mixture.  Allow to stand for 10 minutes.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Brown the chicken rolls lightly then add the chicken broth, wine, and water.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.  Remove the chicken to a warm platter with elevated sides.  BE SURE TO REMOVE ALL TOOTHPICKS!

Increase heat under skillet to medium-low, add chopped parsley and cook until liquid is reduced to desired consistency.  Pour over the chicken to serve. 

Yield: 12 servings.

 

Note: File Photo

HOMEMADE CELERY SEED DRESSING

1 garlic clove
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup olive or canola oil
1/2 tsp celery seed
3/4 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp Splenda Granulated
1/4 tsp black pepper

1 small jar with a lid.  A jelly jar works well.

In a jar mash the garlic clove with the salt.  Add the lemon juice, oil, celery seed, mustard, paprika, Splenda, and black pepper.  Place lid on jar and shake well to blend.

Refrigerate.

Shake well before using on your favorite salad.

Yield: 1/2 cup

Note: This is a file photo.

PEPPERED TENDERLOIN ROAST

1 (3 to 4 lb) beef tenderloin, trimmed
5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive or canola oil
1 1/4 cups beef stock/broth

In a small bowl, combine garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper.  Rub this spice mix over the tenderloin; wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate tenderloin for at least 4 up to 48 hours.

To prepare roast:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees while roast stands at room temperature.

Heat the olive or canola oil in a large Dutch oven for 4 to 5 minutes per side.  Place a meat rack in the Dutch oven and place the tenderloin on the rack.

Bake the tenderloin, uncovered, for approximately 15 minutes per pound.  Meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tenderloin should read 135 degrees for rare or 155 degrees for medium.  Remove from the oven and let set while the temperature rises another 5 degrees.  Then allow to stand for 15 minutes before slicing.

Stir the beef stock or broth into the pan drippings and cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup.  Strain into a serving bowl or gravy boat and serve with the tenderloin.

 

Note: File Photo

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BREAD

1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder (not hot chocolate mix) + additional for dusting, if desired
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup Splenda granulated
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
2/3 cup sugar-free chocolate chips
Flaky sea salt for garnish, if desired. Omit if you have to be cautious about salt.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a loaf pan with nonstick butter-flavored cooking spray and dust lightly with cocoa powder; set aside.

In a large bowl, using a whisk, combine the 1/2 cup cocoa powder, flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

In a second large bowl, combine Splenda, egg and egg yolk until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and the melted butter; mix until smooth. Add the zucchini. Stir in the flour mixture, 1/3 at a time. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly in the pan. Remove to a wire rack to finish cooling. Sprinkle with the sea salt, if using.

Note: A friend shared a recipe with me from Delish wondering if diabetics could eat it. I redid the recipe to make it diabetic-friendly.

TANGY MARINATED FRESH BROCCOLI

3 bunches fresh broccoli
1 tbsp Splenda Granulated
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tbsp dried dill
1 1/2 cups canola oil
1 tsp garlic powder
lemon slices for garnish

Remove the stalks from the broccoli (can be saved and used later in soup, etc).  Separate the broccoli heads into smaller flowerettes and place in a shallow container; set aside.

In a small bowl, using a wire whisk, combine the Splenda, salt, pepper, vinegar, dill, canola oil, and garlic powder until well blended.  Pour the dressing over the broccoli tossing gently to coat all the broccoli.  Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring several times during that time.

To serve, garnish with the lemon slices if desired.

 Note: File Photo

CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE AND LEMON

1 can (20-oz) sliced pineapple in its juice
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp dried rosemary, crumbled
3 whole chicken breasts, split
1 tsp salt
1 small lemon, thinly sliced

Preheat broiler.

Drain the pineapple; reserve the juice.  Combine the juice with the garlic, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and rosemary. 

Arrange the chicken, skin side up in a shallow baking dish; sprinkle with the salt.  Broil until browned.

Stir the prepared sauce and pour over the chicken.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Arrange the pineapple and lemon around the chicken and spoon sauce over all.  Bake an additional 5 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings

This dish has the natural sugar of the pineapple and juice.  However, the protein of the chicken gives you a good carb to protein ratio.

Note: This is a file photo not this actual recipe.

PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOT GLAZE

4 boneless pork chops (about 1 1/4 lbs)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup apricot nectar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup sugar-free apricot preserves
2 cups hot cooked brown rice, optional

Sprinkle the salt and pepper evenly over the pork chops.  Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the pork chops to the skillet and cook until browned on both sides, turning once.  This should take about 10 minutes.

In a small bowl combine the apricot nectar, water, soy sauce, garlic, and preserves; mix together well.

Pour the apricot mixture over the pork in the skillet and reduce the heat to low.  Cover skillet and simmer until the pork is cooked through, about 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the chops.

Serve over the hot brown rice, if desired.  Add some steamed broccoli and you have a tasty, healthy meal.

 Note: This is a file photo.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH SPLENDA

4 medium sweet potatoes
3/4 cup Splenda Granulated
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 tsp grated orange rind
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
3 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
2 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp sugar-free maple-favored syrup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour or until done.  Cool to the touch; peel and mash.  Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease or spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside.

Combine the mashed sweet potatoes, Splenda, evaporated milk, orange rind and juice, vanilla extract, egg, flour, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter together.  Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.  Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

In a small bowl combine the panko crumbs, pecans, 2 tablespoons melted butter and the maple-flavored syrup together.  Sprinkle this mixture over the sweet potato mixture. 

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Yield: 14 servings.

 Note: File Photo

BREAKFAST IN A HURRY

When you have a busy morning and have to rush to get something healthy down, you can get by with the following:
1 100% whole-wheat mini bagel*
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 orange

Spread the peanut butter on the mini bagel.  Eat with the orange.

*If you do not have a mini bagel, eat only half of a larger one.

This breakfast has approximately 45 grams of carbs to 17 grams of protein making it fit the 1/3 as many protein as carbs rule.

I do not recommend this on a daily basis but it is perfectly okay from time to time.

 Note: Photo from Cooking Light

PRIMAVERA CHICKEN PIZZA

When you just have to have a pizza, make this healthy pizza rather than picking up the phone!

1 tube refrigerated pizza crust*

olive oil nonstick cooking spray

2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp lite Ranch salad dressing

1 pkg (6-oz) refrigerated cooked chicken breast strips, chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1/3 cup thinly sliced and diced red onion

1/2 cup torn baby spinach

1 1/2 cups shredded Italian-blend cheese

1 tsp pizza seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly grease a 12-inch pizza pan or use a pizza stone.

Unroll dough onto the pan. Starting in the center, press out the dough to the edge of the pan. Lightly spray the crust with an olive oil cooking spray. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and the garlic over the dough.

Bake the dough 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and spread the Ranch dressing over the top. Top the dressing with the chicken, bell pepper, onion, and spinach. Sprinkle the Italian-blend cheese and the pizza seasonings over the top.

Return to oven and bake 9 to 12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pizza is hot.

Yield: 4 servings

*Use the Cauliflower Pizza Crust recipe on this site.

 Note: Photo from Pillsbury