Monday, December 15, 2025

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
Serves 6-8
adapted from Real Mom Kitchen

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
3 T. avocado oil
4 t. chili powder
4 t. cumin
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. salt
10 oz. can mild Rotel, diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained of excess juice
4 oz. can mild green chiles
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper, sliced (half green, half red)
12 flour tortillas
Toppings: cheese, sour cream, guacamole

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips on a half sheet baking tray. In a small bowl combine oil and spices into a paste.  Drizzle spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Add drained Rotel tomatoes, peppers, green chiles and onions to the pan and stir to combine.  Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.  Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.  


Monday, September 29, 2025

Chicken Alfredo Tortellini

Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
Serves 6
slightly adapted from Macro Friendly Food

1 (19 oz) pkg frozen cheese tortellini
1.5 lbs. cooked chicken, diced
1 large (or 2 small) head of broccoli, cut into bite-size florets

Alfredo Sauce:
2 c. low fat small curd cottage cheese
2 c. low fat 1% milk
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
2 T. cornstarch

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add broccoli and tortellini. Cook tortellini according to package directions and until broccoli is tender; drain and set aside. 

Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into pot used for the tortellini. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through and thickened slightly.  Toss tortellini, broccoli and cooked chicken in sauce.  







Thursday, August 7, 2025

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken and Peppers

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken and Peppers
adapted from Kelsey Nixon
serves 6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon Greek Seasoning (ex. Covenders)
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • kosher salt & cracked black pepper
  • 3 lbs. boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 lbs. baby potatoes, halved
  • 2 bell peppers, sliced
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta 
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
DILL SAUCE
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped
  • kosher salt & cracked black
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a sheet pan with non stick spray.

Add oil, vinegar, spices, garlic and salt and pepper to a gallon ziploc bag.  Add chicken and toss to coat.  Let marinate for up to an hour.  Transfer chicken to sheet pan, allowing excess marinade to drip off.  Reserve marinade.

To the reserved marinade, add potatoes, bell peppers and onion and toss to coat.  Transfer vegetables to sheet pan and arrange in an even layer around the chicken.  Add lemon slices and transfer to the oven to roast for 30-40 minutes (or until potatoes are tender).

Remove from oven and top chicken with crumbled feta and olives.  Roast for an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165 degrees) and potatoes are golden brown.

Serve with Dill Sauce and toasted pita bread.

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Eclair Cake

Eclair Cake

Crust:
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 c. flour
1 c. water
1/4 t. salt
1 T. sugar
4 eggs

Filling:
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened
2 small packages vanilla or chocolate instant pudding
3 c. milk
8 oz. Cool Whip 
chocolate syrup for drizzling on top (optional)
strawberry or banana slices to garnish on top (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On low heat in a medium saucepan, melt butter on low.  Add water and bring to a boil. Turn off burner and add flour, salt, sugar and mix into a soft ball.  Let cool 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and whisk until incorporated.  Spray a jelly rol pan or a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray. Spread the mixture out in the pan. If using a 9x13 pan, slightly bring the mixture up on the sides. Bake for 25-30 minutes.  The crust will bubble up on the edges and will turn slightly brown. Let it cool completely.

For the filling, in a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer and bowl) mix 1 cup of milk with the cream cheese and mix until creamy.  Add pudding mix and the rest of the milk and mix well together until creamy. Spread over the cooled crust. Spread the Cool Whip on top of the filling mixture.  Top with fruit and chocolate syrup if desired.


Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Steak Sandwiches

Steak Sandwiches
serves 4
slightly adapted from Kelsey Nixon

1 T. butter
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced (optional)
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 pkg (1 lb.) cooked beef roast (from Trader Joe's) or fully cooked sous vide sliced beef sirloin (from Costco)
4 ciabatta rolls (can sub baguette)
1 pkg Boursin garlic and herb cheese
microgreens or arugula (optional)

Melt butter in a skillet and add sliced onion.  Sauté over medium until golden brown and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes, adding 1 teaspoon of water every few minutes and stirring occasionally.  If using mushrooms, remove onions from pan and set aside.  Sauté mushrooms in 1 T. butter until soft, season with salt and pepper to taste.  Add onions back to the skillet.  Stir in balsamic vinegar, red pepper flakes and add sliced roast, including all juices from the package. Heat through, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.  

Slice ciabatta rolls and spray or brush lightly with olive oil on the inside.  Heat open faced in 400 degree oven for 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and spread with a generous layer of Boursin cheese. Add steak and onion mixture, along with greens if using. 



Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Creamy Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup

Creamy Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup
serves 6

2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 lb mild or hot Italian pork sausage, casings removed
1 c yellow onion
1/2 c chopped carrot
1 T minced garlic
1 t dry Italian seasoning
3 c chicken broth
1, 15 oz can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic
1, 9 oz pkg refrigerated cheese tortellini
3 1/2 c baby spinach, chopped
1 c half and half

  1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook, stirring to crumble, until browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add onion and carrot; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and Italian seasoning; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer; cook, covered, until the carrots are tender, about 5 minutes.  Uncover and return to a boil over high heat. Add tortellini. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil; cook according to package directions.  Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in spinach and half-and-half. Stir gently until the spinach wilts, about 1 minute. Ladle the soup into 6 bowls.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

White Bean Peach Caprese Salad

White Bean Peach Caprese Salad
from FoodsWithJudes
serves 6

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 avocado, cubed
1 peach (or mango), cubed
1/4 c. chopped red onion 
8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls 
1 T each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar
1/2 t coarse salt 
pepper to taste
balsamic reduction for drizzling over the top

Optional add ins for a more hearty dinner salad: (if adding these ingredients, double the oil and vinegar)
2 c rotisserie chicken, cubed
2 c. cooked quinoa
1 cucumber, chopped

Mix together all ingredients and drizzle balsamic reduction over the top.  Serve on a platter or shallow bowl.