Chicken Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

This came out yummy. I've made this in the past with butter, Jimmy dean Sausages, bread and it was higher in fat and calories. You'd think it's zucchini come on I'm eating lighter right LOL.. Well now you can. This was 287 cal and 8 g of fat. I had mine with rice and broccoli and it was about 505 cal and 8 g of fat.

This serves 2 people you could serve 4 with it if you wanted a smaller meal.

Ingredients
2 medium Zucchini
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup Betty Crocker Homestyle stuffing mix (turkey flavor)
1/2 cup water
2 Al fresco Chicken sausage Roasted Garlic (You can use another sausage as long as it is under 140 cal &   8g fat)


Directions
Preheat oven to 375

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the center leaving a well for the stuffing. Put the scooped zucchini into a frying pan on high with the onions and sausage that has been quartered and sliced into 1/4 slices. Cook until sausage is done or if using fully cooked sausage just until the onions are translucent. Turn off the heat and add the stuffing mix and water, stir until moistened and let sit till water is absorbed. Place zucchini in a pan cut side up and divide the stuffing mix with the 4 halves. Cook for about 25-30 min. or cooked to your liking. Some people in my family like it a little on the crunchy side and others like it mushy. So it all depends on your taste. Serve this with some rice and broccoli for a complete meal under 505 cal and 8 g fat.

Homemade Version of McDonald's Southwestern Chicken Salad

Now this wasn't exact to taste but pretty darn close I say. I'd say you could make a few of these salads in advance for the week if you wanted this for lunches etc. You can lower the calories and fat too if you can find a light or fat free Southwest Dressing. I just used what we had (hidden valley)  Which was 100 cal and 10g of fat. No pics this time will have to make again and take a  photo. But here's the recipe for ya!!

Ingredients:
Marinade
1/2 tbs lime juice
1/2 tbs honey
1/2 tbs yellow mustard
1/4 tsp cilantro
1/8 tsp chili powder

4 oz chicken breast

3 oz spring salad mix
1 1/2 tbs chopped pablano pepper or green pepper
1 1/2 tbs black beans
1 1/2 tbs corn
1/4 cup chopped/diced tomatoes
2 tbs fat free cheddar cheese
3 Lays santitas tortilla chips ( can substitute for baked Doritos)
2 tbs Hidden valley Southwest chipotle salad dressing 


Directions:
1. Grill or broil chicken using cooking spray (only spray lightly)

2. Make marinade lime juice, honey, yellow mustard, cilantro and chili powder in a small mixing bowl, set aside. Once chicken is done slice into strips and let sit while working on the rest of your salad.

3. In a small frying pan lightly spray with cooking spray and char the corn and tomatoes. You can also do this in the broiler but you must keep close eye the corn will burn and dry out.

4. Layer your salad in a large bowl, add black beans, tomatoes, corn, pepper, cheese and chips (broken into smaller pieces) Then toss the chicken in with the marinade and top off salad with that and the Southwest dressing.

This is
403 calories 
15 g fat 
Like I said if you take out the dressing and use fat free or light ranch with a dash of hot sauce, 1/8 tsp chili powder , 1/8 tsp cumin it would be less. If you can find Newmans Own Southwest dressing it would be 120 cal and 6 g of fat. You will just need to subtract 100 cal and 10 g of fat from the meal and add in your own choice of dressings calories and fat.

Chicken Pasta Primavera for 1 or 2 light lunches

I made this dish tonight and it is very filling  lower in fat was a bit high in calories but this can be either cut down my reducing the pasta to half. This is for one person or 2 for a light lunch.

Ingredients:
1 cup red and yellow peppers
1/2 cup frozen broccoli
1/4 chopped onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced thin 1/8 carrots
4 tbs fat free cream cheese
2 tbs shredded ramonao cheese (or parm cheese fat free works cuts the fat down 3 g so 4 total)
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
1 4 oz chicken breast
1/8 tsp garlic powder
3 oz penne pasta  or 1 1/2 servings
salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray

Directions:
1. In a frying pan spray with cooking spray, sautee mushrooms for about 3 min or until just cooked. Remove from pan. Add sliced carrots and add some water cook for about 5 min or until slightly crunchy. Strain water and remove carrots from pan.
2. Spray chicken with cooking spray and cook through in the frying pan. Take out from pan and slice into 1/2 inch slices.Set aside..
3. In a saucepan cook pasta for 5 min less than cooking time. Drain and add pasta, chicken, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, onion, pepper, cream cheese and 1/2 cup water cook for about 5 min just until pasta is cooked and broccoli should still be slightly crunchy. If it seems like the sauce is too thick add a little more water stirring occasionally while cooking.  Add garlic salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the 2 tbs of ramano and serve.

Like I said this makes a lot it can be used for 2 people or for 2 meals. Very yummy and filling. Would be great with a side salad too.

694 Calories
7 g Fat 
You can cut the cal down by ommiting the chicken and cutting back the pasta to 1 serving. Still yummy and filling.
439 calories
4.5 g fat

Crock Pot Freezer Meals Who Knew!!

Crock pot meals, who would have thought freeze them so they are easier to prepare. I  have done this for casseroles or easy meals. Never thought do this for the crock pot till one day I was browsing Pinterest and came across a pin for freezer meals. First off I love the convenience and the fact I can make them healthy for myself and family. I have purchased those bagged frozen meals that you prepare in the crock pot, and found they tasted like, well lets just say I wasn't a fan. So coming across a pin linked to Momma and Baby Love they gave me a few ideas. I tried the Healthy BBQ chicken recipe, Found it to be a little bland and found the Sweet Potatoes to be a little gritty from freezing. So next time potatoes will be added or roasted day of,  But here's my spin on this one....

Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken
1 large green pepper, cut into strips .
1 large red pepper, cut into strips
1 large yellow or orange pepper
2 zucchini, chopped into 1inch slices then quartered
1 large onion chopped
2 tablespoon quick cooking tapioca (if not using tapioca flour will do, but add when cooking not freezing).
4 lrg chicken breast ( I cut each in 2 so I had 8 peices)
Mix in a bowl before placing in back 
1 15-ounce can of tomato sauce.
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup prepared bbq sauce
1 tbs applecider vinegar
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoon  yellow mustard.
2 clove garlic, finely minced, about 2 tablespoons.
1 teaspoon salt
 (potatoes can be added day of cooking for a less gritty texture. add about 1/2 lb per bag of quartered sweet or red potatoes )

Label your 2 gallon freezer bags with the instructions. Remember if not adding tapioca to add the flour step here.

Empty contents into crock pot adding (here is where you'd write flour or potatoes) cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8. (this depends on  your crock pot times may need to be adjusted)


Divide everything into two, one gallon freezer bags  and put in the freezer.

Here's one more from   The Test Kitchen of Melissa Fallis  that I will be testing tonight. I did change it up just a little.
Teriyaki Chicken (1 Bag)

• Cut medium Onion into Large Chunks
• (1) 20oz can pineapple  (undrained)
• (2) Garlic Cloves chopped
• (2) Chicken Breasts ( I slpit these in 2 so I had 4)
• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 16 oz frozen broccoli ( don't add to freezer bag this will be added during the cooking process)

Label your bag as so: Add 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce to mixture. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. 30 Minutes before meal is done add 1 16 oz bag of frozen broccoli. Serve over Rice.


I have done 2 stews, remember add everything but flour, cornstarch or potatoes (none, atleast for me, freeze well) and have the starters for a chili Added all the ingredients (used stew meat had left overs from the 2 bags of stew cut into smaller peices) left out the beans will add those 30-45 min before chili is done. I will try to post a recipe for both later. But search the web there are so many different ideas out there to try...
Kaela