Chicken Noodle Soup

With homemade noodles

Serving size 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrot sticks, peeled and chopped (or buy carrot chips a put about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 celery sticks, chopped 
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 cups reduced sodium chicken broth (if you do not use reduced sodium it may be too salty) 
• 1 pound cooked chicken breast, diced (Rotisserie chicken is easy and delicious)
• Homemade egg noodles (recipe below)
• Fresh or dried parsley

Homemade Egg Noodles (Make this first to give noodles time to dry)

• 3 egg yolks 
• 1 whole egg
• 6 tablespoons cold water
• 2 teaspoons salt 
• 2 cups flour

Directions for Noodles

1. Beat eggs until well mixed
2. Beat in water and salt
3. Stir in flour until combined and separate dough into 3 balls 
4. Flour surface well and roll each ball out thin and cut into small stripes with pizza cutter
5. Place parchment paper and let dry while cooking the soup

Directions

1. Place a large pot over medium heat and add olive oil. Add vegetables, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. 
2. Add chicken broth and raise heat to bring liquid to a boil. 
3. Add dices chicken and return soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook chicken for two minutes. Add egg noodles. 
4. Cook soup an additional 5 minutes or until noodles are tender and floating. 
5. Remove from heat. Stir in Parsley and serve hot. 

Zucchini

Easy, Healthy, Delicious!

Serving size 2

Ingredient

- 1 Zucchini

-  1/2 T Coconut Oil or any other high heat oil (Olive oil is okay)

- Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions

1. Shred zucchini with a food processor or grader. 

2. Turn on stove to medium high and add oil. Heat oil till warm.







3. Add zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook until zucchini becomes warm and soft. About 3 - 5 minutes.



Serve with your desired dish

Enjoy!

15 Minute Roasted Sweet Potato

The most delicious way to enjoy a Sweet Potato

I am not a fan of the traditional sweet potato with the marshmallows and all that. So I thought that i just didn't like sweet potatoes. Turns out I just needed to find a different way to make them.  

Serving size 1

Ingredients

- Sweet Potato
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pinch of Chives (Optional)
- Dollop of Sour Cream (Optional)
- Parmesan Cheese

Directions

1. Scrub the skin of the potato clean. Use a vegetable brush and running water to remove any dirt and grime off the skin of the sweet potato.

2. Take sweet potato and pierce it with a fork a few times.

3. Place it in the microwave on medium-high for 6-7 minutes (depending on how big your sweet potato is) turning about every 2 minutes.

4. Once the potato has been cooked in the microwave you cut the potato in half. Then, without cutting all the way through on the ends you cut each half into squares. 

5. Take a few slices of butter and put in between some of the squares. Season with salt and pepper and then sprinkle Parmesan on top.

6. Broil the sweet potatoes on medium-high for 6-8 minutes (depending on how crispy you like yours). I like mine crispy but you have to watch them.

7. Garnish with chives, pinch of Parmesan cheese and a dollop of sour cream and you have the best-easiest sweet potato ever!

Note:

For a healthier version do steps 1 and 2 and then place in oven on tin foiled cookie sheet on 400 F for 45 - 55 minutes. Then finish with steps 4 - 7. This way the microwave will not kill any nutrients.  

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

A favorite for the whole family

Serving size 6 - 8

Ingredients

- 4 large chicken breasts 

- 2 Sleeves Ritz Crackers, Crushed 

- 1/2 t salt

- 1/4 t pepper 

- 1/2 C milk 

- 3 C Cheddar Cheese. grated 

- 1 t Parsley Flakes (optional) 

I have been using this recipie so long
it was written in my recipe book.

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 400 F

1. Cut chicken into halves 

 2. Use 3 separate bowls for milk, Cheese, and ritz crackers with salt and pepper.

3. Dip each chicken piece first into milk, then cheese, and then cracker mix. Press down into cheese and crackers. 

4. Spray 9x 13 pan and lay chicken flat.                (I have a small family so I cut the recipe down      to 3 chicken breasts and only use an 8 x 8 pan)

5. Sprinkle parsley over the chicken.

6. Cover with tin foil and bake at 400 F for 30 min.

7. Remove tin foil and bake an additional 10 minutes. 

Serve with your favorite sides and 

Enjoy!

For Sweet Potato recipe click here

For Graded Zucchini recipe click here

Fun Side note:

My grandpa puts ketchup on EVERYTHING. I made this recipe for a family get together one evening and he told me. "baby this chicken is so good, I don't even need my ketchup." LOL

Lemon Chicken Pasta

This is probably my favorite pasta, in the world. 

Tangy-and-Sweet

Serving size 4

Ingredients

- 8 ounces angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions (half of a 1-pound box)

- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 1 1/2 pounds)

- 1/2  C honey

- 1/4 C lemon juice

- 2 T olive oil for sauce + 1 tablespoon for cooking chicken

- 1 T apple cider vinegar

- 1 T lemon pepper seasoning blend for sauce + more for sprinkling over chicken

- 1/2 t salt, or to taste

- 1/2 t black pepper, or to taste (If your are not a huge pepper fan I would skip this or just add 1/4 t)

- Thyme leaves from 2 or 3 sprigs, to taste (Optional) 

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to directions on box, drain, and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, add the honey, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, pepper, optional thyme, and stir to combine; set sauce aside.

3. In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, add chicken, generously sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning, and cook chicken over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, flipping intermittently so all sides cook evenly. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts and sizes of pieces. Chicken should be about 90% cooked through.

4. Turn heat to medium-low, and carefully add the sauce noting that it may bubble up in the first few seconds.

5. Allow sauce to bubble at a low boil for about 5 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and reduced some, and chicken is cooked through. Stir sauce and flip chicken intermittently throughout.

6. Add pasta to skillet with the chicken and toss to combine and coat. Serve immediately. 

Chicken and pasta are best warm and fresh, but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently prior to serving.

Enjoy!

Monte Cristo Sandwich

The perfect Brunch

Serving size 4

Ingredients  

- 8 slices white bread (I used Texas Toast)

- 4 slices Swiss cheese (Colby Jack tastes great too)

- 4 slices turkey

- 4 slices ham

- 1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

- 2/3 cup water

- 1 egg

- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

- 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper (Optional) 

- 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting (Optional)

Directions

1. Heat half of the oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and water.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper.
4. Whisk into the egg mixture until smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator.
5. Put sandwiches together by placing one slice of turkey, cheese in the middle, and then ham.
6.Cut sandwiches into halves or quarters, and secure with toothpicks.
7. Dip each sandwich quarter in the batter so that all sides are coated.
8.Deep fry in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides.
9. Remove toothpicks and arrange on a serving tray.
10. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Chicken Salsa Tacos

I have had a lot of people ask and re-ask for this recipe because it's...

The easiest and best crock pot recipe ever!

Serving Size

Approx. 20 - 25 Tacos

Ingredient 

- 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Thawed)

- 1 envelope Taco Seasoning

- 1 jar (24 oz) Pace Salsa (or your favorite salsa)

Directions

Place thawed chicken, taco seasoning, and salsa into crock pot. 

Cook on High for 4 - 6 hours or Low for 6 - 8 hours

Shred chicken with 2 Forks 

Put chicken in tortillas along with your favorite toppings.

This meal is much to large for my family. I always cut the recipe in half and just place the unused half of the taco seasoning in a little plastic baggie. It's enough to feed 4 people and have plenty of left overs. Just adjust your cooking time. Cook in crock pot on High for 3 hours or on Low for 5 hours.

If you have time, click here for a great tortilla recipe to go with this.

If this is one of your fast nights these are my favorite store bought tortillas. They are uncooked so you do have to cook them on the stove but it takes maybe 1 minutes and they are so good. They can be purchased at Walmart usually next to the cheese and butter.

Flour Tortillas

                                                                           

Serving size 

Approx. 6 - 8 Tortillas

Ingredient

- 2 C Flour

- 1 1/2 t Baking powder

- 1 t Salt 

- 2 t Vegetable Oil

- 3/4 C Warm Milk (Heat up in microwave until warm. About 1 - 2 minutes)

- Extra Flour for rolling

If dough is to sticky add 1 T flour at a time. (Do not over flour else they will just taste like flour). 

Directions  

1. Mix all ingredients together and kneed.

2. Damp a kitchen towel with warm water and cover bowl letting it rise for 10 - 20 minute. 

3. Make individual balls about 1.5 inch for small tortillas or 2.5 inch for large tortillas. 

4. Use a rolling pin and roll each tortilla flat on a floured surface (it will rise when cooking).

5. Cook on skillet 

6. Serve with your favorite meat and toppings.

Tips:

• If it is too hard to roll out or dough keeps shrinking put the skillet to warm and place slightly rolled dough on it just until dough is warm (Do not leave on skillet too long or have skillet to high. You do not want tortillas to cook at this point.) After warming on skillet begin again to roll tortillas out. 
• If you start to see bubbles forming in tortilla as they are cooking on the skillet you did a great job with the dough. If not, its ok, just practice making tortillas more often. 

Tortilla making is one of those things you have to perfect. It takes time. My husband and I started doing "tortilla night" every Sunday with our friends. It became a tradition and that is how we perfected our tortillas. We are great tortilla making partners :)

Practice makes perfect!

Have fun and Enjoy!

Health Monster Smoothie

My Signature Smoothie 

Servings Size

Approx. 2 - 3 

Ingredients

- 1/2 C Orange Juice 

- 1/4 C Pinnacle Juice 

- 1/2 T Honey

- 1/2 T Flax seed 

- 1/2 scoop doTERRA's Terra Green Powder (Optional) Can be purchased here

- 1 Banana, sliced 

- 3- 4 Strawberries, sliced 

- 1/4 C Blueberries 

- 1/4 C  Pineapple, sliced 

- A handful of Spinach (about 1 C)

- A couple leaves of Kale (about 1/2 C)

- 1 Carrot, chopped 

- 12 - 18 Cubes of Ice 

 Directions

In a blender, add (in this order) Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Honey, Flax seed, Terra Green Powder, Bananas, Strawberries, Blueberries, Pineapple, Spinach, Kale, Carrots, and 6 Ice Cubes. Turn on Blender to Liquefy until blended. 

Add the rest of the Ice Cubes. Put blender on Ice Crush until Ice is mostly blended. Finally, turn blender to smoothie for about 10 seconds. 

Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

This is one of my favorite lunches or light dinners. 

So Yummy!

Serving Size

Approx. 4 - 5 Wraps

Ingredients

Makes 4 - 5 Wraps

- 5 Tortillas
- 2 - 3 Chicken Breast
- Garlic Salt, Onion Powder, and Mrs. Dash Chicken Grilling Blend to taste  (You can never have to much seasoning, well almost never)
- 1 - 2 T Olive Oil
- 1 - 4 T Buffalo Sauce (depending if you want a little flavor or like it really hot)
- 1/2 C Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 Big Broccoli trees diced small
- 1 celery stick diced
- Cilantro to taste, chopped
- Bleu Cheese Crumble to taste
- 8 - 12 Tomato Cherries cut in halves
- 1 Avocado

Directions

Chicken-

1. In a medium Braisier pan drizzle olive oil and add in chicken breast.
2. Sprinkle Garlic Salt, Onion Powder, and Chicken grilling blend over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on Medium heat for about 8 - 10 minutes.
4. Turn chicken over and and sprinkle seasonings again. Cook  covered for another 8 minutes.
5. Take chicken out of pan onto a putting board and cut into cubes.
6. Place chicken into pan and drizzle buffalo sauce over top. Cover and cook about 5 minutes.
7. Stir Chicken, add more buffalo sauce (if desired) and cover another 5 minutes.
8. Set aside

Broccoli Cole slaw-

1. In a medium bowl mix Greek yogurt, Celery, broccoli and cilantro.

Spread Broccoli Cole Slaw on tortilla 

Place chicken on top

Then tomato and bleu cheese crumbles

And desired amount of Alvarado

Fold Tortilla and  

 Enjoy! 

Cranberry Oat Energy Balls

Very Healthy, Gives you Energy, and Stops Hunger

And the surprising part is, they actually taste great!

Ingredients

1 C Oatmeal
1/3 C Almonds, chopped
1/3 C  Sweetened Shredded Coconut
1 T Ground Flaxseed
1/2 C Peanut Butter (Almond. I use Natural Peanut Butter that goes in the fridge)
1/4 C Honey (If you have allergies try using local  honey)
1 T Chia Seeds
1/3 C Dried Cranberries

Directions

1. Bake oatmeal, almonds and coconut in small pan in oven for 8-10 minutes at 350°, stirring after 5 minutes. Allow time for mixture to cool.

2. In a medium bowl microwave the Peanut Butter for 20-30 seconds until melted
3. Aadd the baked mix, flaxseed, honey, chia seeds and cranberries to the bowl
4. Form into 1.5" balls (this can be a little difficult so dont worry if they are not perfectly round)
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
6. Store in an airtight container

You can refrigerated for up to one week or freezer for up to 3 months.

These make more than I can eat in one week so I refrigerate a couple and put the rest in a freezer bag. When I am headed out and don't have time to eat I just take one or two out of the freezer and take it with me. Thaws in 5 - 10 minutes.

Note:
You can also put them in a 9 x 13 pan, refrigerate, and then cut into bars if you prefer.

Pizza Muffins

Ingredient

- Pepperoni 

- Marinara Sauce 

- Mozzarella or a blend of graded Cheese

- Biscuits 

Directions

Cut biscuits in half. Stretch out one half biscuit and place it in the bottom of muffin pan.

Add Mozzarella sauce, Cheese, and then Pepperonis . 

Place the other half of biscuit on top and pinch side together 

Enjoy!

Chicken Salad

Fast, Easy and delicious!

Ingredients

- 20 oz. Canned chicken (If you would like it healthier use boiled chicken breasts)

- 1/2 - 1 C Real Mayo (don't let it be to dry)

- 2 Celery sticks, dice finely 

- 1/4 C Walnuts or pecans, chopped 

- Garlic Salt and Pepper to taste

- Onion powder to taste (optional) 

Directions

1. Shred Chicken into a medium size bowl
2. Chop Walnuts to desired size in a slap chopper (I like mine really small just for the flavor)
3. Dice celery
4. Combined all ingredients into chicken bowl
5. Stir and serve on your favorite bread, crescent, or Salad  

Cover and put in refrigerator for 30 minutes for a better taste.

I like it on Hawaiian Rolls

           Also try it on my 

Strawberry Almond Chicken Salad

          Click Here for Recipe