Chicken Tortilla Soup with Corn & Spinach

This one is really easy and delicious. I got it from Jamie, but thought it worth sharing. Thanks Jamie. :)

2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cups fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup frozen or canned corn kernels (I use hominy sometimes too)
4 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach (4oz)
2 cups diced chicken breast
1/2 cup salsa
Juice of one lime
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
1 ounce tortilla chips

1. Heat oil in deep medium saucepan over medium-high heat. saute onion until translucent.
2. Pour in broth. add corn and spinach. reduce heat to medium and cook until corn is heated through and spinach is bright green, 3 minutes. mix in chicken, salsa and lime juice. season soup to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. (I omit the pepper).
3. to serve, divide soup among 4 bowls. top each with cilantro, crushed tortilla chips and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings: 313 calories per serving.

Southeast Asian Chicken & Noodles

My family really liked this one too, which surprised me since it has so many herbs. But I think the rice noodles won them over. I don't make it often, because I don't think the rice noodles have much in the way of nutrients, but it's a light summery meal. Found here via stephmodo.com

Time: 30 minutes. Chinese long beans (or regular green beans) and plenty of fresh herbs turn this Thai-inspired dish into a whole meal.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)
Ingredients

* 8 ounces Thai flat rice noodles
* 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic
* 8 ounces yard-long beans (Chinese long beans) or regular green beans, cut into 2-in. pieces
* 2 boned, skinned chicken breast halves (1 lb. total), sliced 1/2 in. thick
* 1/4 cup Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
* 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
* 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, divided
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves, divided
* 1/2 cup chopped green onions, divided

Preparation

1. In a large pot, cook noodles in boiling water until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain noodles and transfer to a large serving bowl.

2. Heat oil in a large wok or frying pan over high heat. Add garlic, long beans, and chicken. Cook until chicken is slightly browned, stirring often, about 4 minutes.

3. Add fish sauce, broth, sugar, ginger, lime juice, and 1/4 cup each basil, mint, and green onions, stirring to combine. Bring mixture to a boil and pour over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining basil, mint, and green onions.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
341 (26% from fat)
Protein:
34g
Fat:
10g (sat 1.9)
Carbohydrate:
30g
Fiber:
4.2g
Sodium:
1673mg
Cholesterol:
66mg

Chicken Pesto

My friend, Katie, made this for dinner for us one night and it was really great. I tried making it and it is really very easy too. I added some parmesean and provolone cheeses (since I had them) and it was yummy.

Chicken Pesto Recipe:

Ingredients (for 2):
Angel Hair Pasta (approx 2 cups)
2 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
I jar of Basil Pesto Sauce (Costco has some, Publix has some)
1 Tomato (chopped)
2 cups of Mozarella Cheese

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Coat chicken breasts with pesto sauce (both sides) and bake for 15 min on cookie sheet
3. Add cheese and chopped tomatoes on top of chicken breasts and bake for 3-5 more min
4. Cook Angel Hair Pasta while chicken is baking
5. Put chicken breasts on top of angel hair pasta

Orange Chicken

Sauce:
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 c orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup lemon juice (I didn't put any in)
1/3 cup rice vinegar (I used regular white)
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup packed brown sugar (I used 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I didn't use that-- too hot for the kids)

I added 1 small can of mandrin oranges and sprinkled sliced almonds on top.

3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Chicken:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
(I cooked the chicken in a skilled w/lid in 1T of olive oil and 1 c of orange juice)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper \
1 T garlic powder
3 tablespoons olive oil





DIRECTIONS
Pour 1 1/2 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, chopped onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool 10 to 15 minutes.
Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag with the flour, 1 T garlic powder salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces, seal the bag, and shake to coat.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken into the skillet, and brown on both sides. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil.
Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium low, add the chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

add mandrin oranges and put sliced almonds on the table to sprinkle on top!

Nutritional Information
Asian Orange Chicken
Servings Per Recipe: 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 404

Total Fat: 11.2g
Cholesterol: 34mg
Sodium: 774mg
Total Carbs: 68.5g
Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
Protein: 17.6g

Bow Ties with Chicken and Dried-Tomato Pesto

8 oz. bow-tie pasta
2 cups frozen peas and/or chopped roasted red peppers
1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped or shredded purchased roasted chicken or cooked chicken
1/4 cup fresh basil, snipped
Freshly shredded Parmesan Cheese (optional)

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions, except add peas to pasta water for the last 2 minutes of cooking time, if using. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water when draining pasta and peas. Place drained pasta and peas back into the pot.

2. Meanwhile, for dried-tomato pesto, in a food processor or blender, combine the drained dried tomatoes, olive oil, almonds, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cover and process until almost smooth. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and blend until combined.

3. To the pasta (and peas if using) in the pan, add reserved 1/2 cup pasta water, dried-tomato pesto, roasted red pepper (if using), and chicken. Toss gently with snipped basil. If desired, serve with additional Parmesan cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Gorgonzola Chicken Breasts

Sooooo Good! And very easy.

4 Chicken breast halves
1/4 lb chilled gorgonzola, sliced
1 T veg oil (or olive oil)
1/3 c water
2 1/2 T balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 425 with rack in middle. Pat chicken dry then cut a deep 3 inch pocket horizontally in long curved side of each breast. Fill each pocket with one quarter of cheese.
Season chicken all over with 1 t salt and 1 pepper.

Heat oil in an ovenproof 12 inch skillet over MH heat. Place chicken in skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn breasts over, then place skillet in oven and bake until just cooked through, 20 -25 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter

Return skillet to burner (remember the handle will be hot!) and add water and vinegar. Boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits and melted cheese, until sauce thickens slightly. Strain. Serve sauce over rice or chicken.

Chiang Mai Curry Noodles

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 Tablespoons red curry paste or pananeng curry paste
1/2 Pound boneless chicken, cut in big, bite-size chunks or boneless beef, such as tri-tip or flank steak, thinly sliced crosswise into 2-inch strips
2 Cups unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/4 Cups chicken broth
2 Teaspoons ground tumeric or curry powder
2 Tablespoons dark soy sauce or soy sauce
1 Teaspoon sugar
1 Teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 Pound fresh Chinese-style egg noodles, or 1/2 pound dried Chinese-style egg noodles, angle hair pasta or spaghetti
1/3 Cup coarsely chopped shallots
1/3 Cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 Cup thinly sliced green onions

Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and then add the garlic. Toss well and add the red curry paste, mashing and stirring to soften it in the oil, about 1 minute. Add the chicken and cook 1 to 2 minutes, tossing now and then to brown it evenly and mix it with the curry paste. Add the coconut milk, chicken broth, tumeric, soy sauce, sugar and salt and stir well. Bring to a gentle boil and adjust heat to maintain a lively simmer. Cook about 10minutes, until meat is cooked through. Stir in lime juice, remove from heat and cover to keep curry warm while you prepare the noodles.

Cook the noodles in a large pot of rapidly boiling water, until tender but still firm, as little as 2 mintues for fresh noodles and 7 minutes or more for dired. Drain, rise well in cold water, drain again, and divide the noodles among the individual serving bowls. Ladle on hot curry and sprinkle each serving with the shallots, cilantro and green onions. Serve hot.

Serves 4-6

This is taken from a great cookbook I own, called Quick and Easy Thai

Asian Noodle Salad

SALAD INGREDIENTS:

1 packages linguine noodles, cooked, rinsed, and cooled

1/2 to 1 head sliced Napa cabbage
1/2 to 1 head sliced purple cabbage
1/2 to 1 bag baby spinach
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin
1 orange bell pepper, sliced thin (if available)
1 small bag bean sprouts (also called “mung bean sprouts”)
3 sliced scallions
3 peeled, sliced cucumbers (I didn’t have a cucumber for the photos above, but they’re yummy in the salad)
LOTS of chopped cilantro—up to one bunch
1 can whole cashews, lightly toasted in skillet (again, I didn’t have them for the photos, but have used them before and they’re…sublime.)

DRESSING:

Juice of 1 lime
8 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
6 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 hot peppers or jalapenos, chopped
More chopped cilantro—LOTS

Mix together salad ingredients. Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve on platter.
*Dressing keeps up to three days before serving, WITHOUT cilantro.

THAI PEANUT SAUCE:

1 Tbsp minced garlic*
2Tbsp minced cilantro*
1 Tbsp minced mint*
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 to 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (start conservatively)
~1/3 cup peanut butter (chunky is great, but smooth is fine too)
1-2 Tbsp oriental fish sauce (start conservatively)
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp honey, plus extra as needed
up to 1/2 pint cream

• Combine all ingredients except honey and cream.
• Add honey and cream (start with 1/4 pint) to taste, to cut the saltiness, and reach desired texture.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups of sauce

Can be made a day or two ahead of time.

*For quick mincing, put garlic, cilantro and mint in a food processor (basil also works well as a substitute or as an addition)

NOTE:I found the salad recipe on thepioneerwomancooks.com and really, really liked it. I added grilled chicken and served it with a Thai Peanut Sauce and made it a main dish salad. It makes a huge batch, so I would consider making it for a gathering, or else splitting some of the ingredients with someone.

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo

INGREDIENTS

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 pound fettuccini pasta
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
• 3 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large skillet over medium heat combine chicken, 2 tablespoons butter, garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Saute onion, 2 tablespoons garlic and mushrooms until onions are transparent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Slowly add milk and half-and-half, stirring until smooth and creamy. Stir in Parmesan and Colby-Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until cheese is melted. Stir in chicken mixture, tomatoes and sour cream. Serve over cooked fettuccini.

I found this on allrecipes.com and really liked it. I actually kept the tomatoes separate as a garnish, rather than stirring them in, and also added chopped fresh basil.

Fruity Curry Chicken Salad

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 Golden Delicious apple - peeled, cored and diced
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 3/4 cup light mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl combine the chicken, celery, onion, apple, raisins, grapes, pecans, pepper, curry powder and mayonnaise. Mix all together. Serve!