Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad

Wow!  This meal was soooo yummy, with its perfect combo of the chicken, avacodo salsa and cilantro lime dressing.  I had it last night, and I wish I would have made more to eat it again today!  It was that yummy!

Cilantro Lime Chicken

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray

To prepare chicken, combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; toss and let stand 3 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until done.

Avacado Salsa

1 cup chopped plum tomato (about 2)
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 avocado, peeled and finely chopped $

To prepare salsa, combine tomato and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) in a medium bowl. Add avocado; stir gently to combine. Serve salsa over chicken.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing:

2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon lime zest

1/4 cup lime juice

1/2 cup sour cream

1 clove garlic, smashed

1 tablespoon honey

1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Special equipment: blender

Blend all the ingredients except the olive oil until smooth. While machine is running, slowly drizzle in the oil until incorporated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Serve over brown rice as follows:
brown rice
chopped romaine lettuce
cut up chicken
salsa
dressing

The meal is around 500 calories and serves 4.

found the recipe at myrecipes.com

"Its a lifestyle... not a diet..."

I recently had a baby and of course have some extra pounds to get rid of.  As a lover of food it has been hard for me to eat the way I really should to see the results that I want.  My friend over at www.fit2fat2fit.com

has helped me a ton in achieving my goals!  Check out his website and learn about his journey!  His motto is "It's a lifestlye, not a diet" and its been great applying it to my life. He has great meal plans that has helped me lose 5 pounds in a week and a half and an inch off my waist.  He has great, healthy food choices that really makes eating right a lot more easy that I thought it would be!!!  I now crave healthy food choices rather than fattening ones, and I can even pass up a candy bar now! lol

I for the next little while will be posting my meal recipes I find that taste great and are healthy choices!  Note the side column for "healthy" to see the recipes I find online and try in my kitchen. :)

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

This was so easy with just a few ingredients!

8 oz. Linguine

(I prefer Ronzoni Garden Delight, it makes the dish more colorful and healthy.)

2 tbsp. butter

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1 cup fresh broccoli flowerettes

1 lb cubed chicken

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp pepper

Cook linguine according to pkg. directions. 

Add broccoli for hte last 4 minutes of cooking time. 

Drain. 

Heat butter in skillet. 

Add Chicken and cook until browned, stirring often. 

Add soup, milk, cheese, pepper and linguine mixture with broccoli. and heat through. 

Serve with additional cheese.

Thanks to my sister, Jenny for this delicious, easy recipe!

Pork Roast Crock Pot

Oiy, pregnancy cravings... I made this because I was craving some sort of pork.  I tell you what... It was SO tender and SO juicy, I could have eaten the entire roast by myself!  This is something I plan on making again and again.

1 lb. small red potatoes

16 oz. package of baby carrots

1 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic

3 lb. bonless pork loin roast, trim fat

1/4 cup dijon or yellow mustard, depending on preference

1 tsp tyme

1 tsp italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups beef broth

Layer baby reds on bottom edge of crock pot.

Layer baby carrots on top on potatoes.

Layer chopped onions in center of potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the dish.

Mix in the garlic with the onions.

Mix mustard and spices and coat the roast with the mixture.

Put the roast in center of the dish and pour over the beef broth.

Cook for approx. 6 hours flipping the roast once.

Check about 4 hours... the meat is done when it shreds easily.

ENJOY!!!

Crockpot Chili

I made this for some friends of ours.  One guy had 4 bowls of it and begged for the recipe.  It really is an easy preparation soup and it mighty tasty! 

4 Cloves crushed Garlic

(I just buy the McCormick minced garlic in the spice isle.)

1 1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup green pepper

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. basil

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

(if you are making it for younger children don't put any of the cayenne in.)

1/4 tsp. black pepper

2 to 3 cups carrot sticks

2 large cans chopped tomatoes

2 cans kidney beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can black beans

1 cup tomato sauce

Put everything directly into crockpot with out draining the cans. Cook in crock pot for a few hours until bubbling.  Serve with sour cream and cheese on top.

Baked Potato Soup

Well, Autumn is back, and that means so am I!  :)  I have the hardest time wanting to be in the kitchen during the summer months and once it gets a tid bit chilly I find myself LOVING the kitchen!  I made this YUMMY soup for my cute family on Sunday, and the husband LOVED it.  My 1 year old gobbled it up too.  Hope you enjoy it!

2/3 cup butter

7 cups milk

4 green onions diced

1 1/2 cup shredded cheese ( I use sharp, and I add to taste)

3/4 tsp salt (Sea Salt is what I used and it tasted great)

2/3 cup flour

4 large potato peeled and cubed (boil first to make soft)

1 package Real Bacon toppers (found in the salad isle)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp Pepper

In large skillet melt butter.  Stir in flour, heat and stir til smooth.  Gradually ad in milk, stirring constantly until thickened.  Add soft potato cubes and onions.  Bring to a boil, stir constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until cheese is melted.  ENJOY!