De-lish: Chicken and Potatoes with a Twist

Flavorful, colorful and stuffed with the goodness of spinach.

I think your going to love this one.

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Wash and quarter four servings of fingerling potatoes.

Toss with two sprigs of rosemary (remove stems, chop leaves), two tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.

Spread onto parchment paper on cookie sheet.

Flatten four chicken breasts individually with kitchen mallet.

Spread 2 tablespoons of cream cheese, a sprinkle of garlic powder and one cup of baby spinach onto each breast.

Roll chicken breasts into a tight roll (keeping spinach tucked.)

Press crushed corn flakes onto exterior. (I’m sure there are classier options – post yours on FB)

Spray non-stick cooking spray onto baking dish and transfer chicken.

Bake potatoes until brown and crispy.

Bake chicken to internal temp of 165 degrees.
(I started the potatoes for ten minutes at 450. Then, lowered the temp to 350 and added the chicken for about another 20 minutes.)

Enjoy!

Shopping list:

Four chicken breasts
Four cups baby spinach
Small cream cheese
Garlic powder
Small box of cornflakes
Fingerling potatoes
Fresh rosemary

Zero to Delicious in Five Minutes

Delicious, fresh, filling salad in five minutes.

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You need:
mixed greens (pre-washed)

pecans

goat cheese

balsamic vinegar

olive oil

                                                              raspberry jam

Toast pecans on small pan over low heat, tossing often.
Place 3 cups of mixed greens in large bowl.
Seal 2 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of raspberry jam into a small plastic-ware container, lid, then shake vigorously.
Pour dressing over greens.
Toss to coat.
Scrape 1 ounce of soft coat cheese over greens with fork.
Remove pecans from heat once they start to lightly brown (should begin to smell delicious at this point) and place over salad.

Add to a protein for a spring meal or alone as a filling snack.

Enjoy!

Love it? Share your favorite salad with us on our Facebook page.

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Side note: This picture includes fresh raspberries. Although delicious on their own, it didn’t work in the salad for me. Save them for dessert.

Taste of Summer

The quickest of “quickies” – a recipe via pictures!

I told both my daughters: “pick out any fruit you’d like as a special treat” during a recent must-get-out-of-the-house-trip to Mariano’s. What did they select? Lemons.

Initially perplexed as to how to serve these fruits, I, of course landed on… lemonade. An easy, fun, 128 calorie sweet treat with 36% of your RDA of Vitamin C. Couldn’t we all use a taste of summer right now? Fun, easy, inexpensive and terribly refreshing – enjoy!

No martini shaker?
Fill pint glass with ice.
Place two tablespoons of sugar into pint glass
Cut one large lemon and squeeze both halves over strainer into bowl to separate seeds from juice.
Pour juice from bowl into pint glass full of ice and sugar.
Fill glass with water.
Pour full pint glass into empty glass of equal size.
Repeat transfer back and forth until well mixed.
Strain and serve.

Have a martini shaker?

Fill shaker with ice.
Place two tablespoons of sugar into shaker.
Cut one large lemon and squeeze over strainer over bowl to separate seeds from juice.
Pour juice from bowl into shaker full of ice and sugar.
Fill with water.
Close and shake well.
Strain and serve.

Call or email to start your preparation for summer:
773-680-6824
Strength Training Exclusively for Women
Chicago, IL

All You Need Is Love…

LOVE SOUP that is!

Love soup in jar

Sometimes a delicious, healthy, home cooked meal makes all the difference. Love Soup is high in fiber, inexpensive and something you could make a month in advance or even give as a gift. How many recipes can tout that? Enjoy!

Jar ingredients: bottom up layers in a quart sized jar (pasta sauce jars work well)

  • 10 beef bullion cubes (or 10 vegetarian soup base cubes for vegetarians)
  • 1/4 cup dried minced onion
  • 1/2 cup dried split peas (green or yellow or combo)
  • 1/2 cup Creamettes
  • 1/4 cup barley
  • 1/2 cup dry lentils
  • 1/3 cup long grain white rice
  • 1 cup uncooked tricolor rotini or spiral pasta to fill jar

Love soup in bowl

Soup cooking instructions to include with jar:

LOVE SOUP

In a large kettle, brown 1 or 2 lbs of lean ground beef or meat alternative. Remove tricolor pasta from top of jar and reserve. Add the rest of the jar contents to the kettle with 12 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Then, simmer 45 minutes. Add tricolor pasta and simmer 15 minutes more. Serve with your favorite bread and salad. Serves six to eight.  Enjoy!

Note: You may also use Italian sausage, meat substitute or stew meat, instead of ground round.  Feel free to add any leftover cooked vegetables or chopped tomatoes (add any raw vegetables at beginning.)

If too thick, add a can of broth or water.

Child Making Love Soup Blakely Fit

I had my daughter help with her teachers’ gifts last year. She loved it! Make a funnel out of foil or parchment paper to help with their aim. We tied ribbons on the jars and included a little card with instructions (email if you would like a copy.)

Love soup in bag

To help with future dinners, I actually make several at a time in resealable bags. Then, when it’s time to cook, I just brown some ground round, add water, bag ingredients and simmer. Everything cooks in one pot. Dinner is ready in an hour with little actual work in the kitchen.