Tag Archives: easy

Cheddar Steak Quesadilla

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One of my guilty pleasures is Taco Bell’s steak quesadilla.

steak quesadillas

I love it. I don’t care if it’s not real meat and how it has a thousand calories. I just love it.

But since it’s horrible for my diet, I decided to make a lighter version to satisfy my cravings.

There’s 3 reasons why I love their steak quesadillas:

1) Steak. Love it. Can eat it every day and could never be a vegetarian.

2) Cheese. Melted. Gloriuos cheese.

3) Their mild sauce. Perfect in this. Just perfect!

So for my steak quesadillas I used lean beef filet, low-fat cheddar and for the sauce a simple fry sauce (lite mayo+ketchup+a pinch of cayenne) and well it turned out ahhmazing! For the tortillas I found 100 calories whole wheat tortillas in the store and they worked and tasted great!

So if you’re craving some quesadillas but don’t want to ruin your diet, go ahead and make these I promise they’re just as good!

And did I mention they take 20mins to make? Yep, do it.

Cheddar Steak Quesadillas

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean beef filet
  • 1 cup low-fat cheddar, shredded
  • 4 whole wheat 100 calorie tortillas
  • 3 tbsp light mayo
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions:

  1. Spray a heavy skillet with cooking spray and heat up over high heat.
  2. Season the steak with salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet.
  3. Cook on each side until browned and rare to medium-rare.
  4. Let rest on a cutting board for 10mins. Slice thin.
  5. In a small bowl combine the mayo, ketchup and cayenne.
  6. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray.
  7. On half of the tortilla spread 1 tbsp of mayo spread, top with sliced steak and 1/4 cheese. Fold over. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
  8. Cook the quesadilla in the preheated skillet until golden brown on both side and the cheese melts.
  9. Slice and serve with salsa and sour cream.

steak quesadillas nutrition

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White Chocolate Mousse no eggs, no butter!

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I love chocolate mousse.

white chocolate mouss

It’s one of those classic desserts that is perfect for any occasion.

You just can’t go wrong with it.

And as much as I love Julia Child and her chocolate mousse, I have to stay away from it if I want to fit into my bikini….

I mean all the eggs and butter?

Yikes! I think I’m gaining 5lbs just thinking about it.

But it is absolutely delicious…sigh..

Well this little version will satisfy your cravings completely!

It’s super rich, sweet, creamy, easy to make and takes no time! :)

You will not miss the eggs and butter, I promise :)

White Chocolate Mousse

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cup skim milk, divided use
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 package Hershey’s White Chocolate Instant Pudding
  • 2 cups lite cool whip, thawed, divided use

Directions:

  1. In a large microwave safe bowl, heat 1 cup milk on HIGH for 2 mins.
  2. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted.
  3. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and white chocolate pudding and beat with a hand mixer for 2 mins or until thickened.
  4. Refrigerate for 20 mins.
  5. Remove from the fridge and add 1 1/2 cup cool whip. Beat to combine.
  6. Distribute among 6 wine or dessert glasses and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  7. Serve with remaining cool whip on top.

Adapted from: RecipeKitchen

 

Cream Cheese Stuffed Lemon Pepper Chicken

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I’ve been loving prosciutto and stuffing chicken with cheese lately. Like totally obsessed.

green beans

But this obsessions like any other will pass, I promise.

Just like my obsession with everything peanut butter and chocolate is starting to slowly fade.

Ok maybe not. I don’t think that will ever pass.

What can I say I love the simple things.

And I just love me some lemon pepper chicken.

Add some cheese to the mix and I’m pretty much in heaven! Deelish!

I actually cooked my chicken in the same baking sheet I made my roasted green beans in.

I’m all about not doing dishes, so this was a perfect one pan meal!

Just put everything in the oven and in 20mins Voila! dinner and side all ready!

Cream Cheese Stuffed Lemon Pepper Chicken

Serves: 2 (easily multiplied)

Ingredients:

  • 2 4oz chicken breasts
  • 1 oz fat-free cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • sprinkle of dried basil, pepper, sea salt and red pepper flakes

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Pound chicken breast thin.
  3. Season both sides of each chicken breast with a pinch of sea salt, pepper and basil.
  4. Place 1/2 oz of cream cheese in the middle of each chicken breast, a pinch of red pepper flakes and a drizzle of lemon juice. Roll up. Secure with a toothpick.
  5. Place on a baking pan and drizzle the tops of the chicken breasts with the remaining lemon juice.
  6. Sprinkle parmesan on top and bake for 20mins or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
  7. Serve with roasted green bean bundles.

stuffed chicken nutrition

Best Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Who said that if you’re trying to lose weight you can’t eat cookies?

chocolate cookies 2

Well definitely not this girl! I strongly encourage it :)

There’s a million chocolate chip cookie recipes out there so why choose this one?

Well because it’s super easy to make and it’s swimsuit friendly :)

Each cookie has only 124 calories! So go ahead, indulge and grab 2!

Only 33 days until the sunny beaches of Puerto Vallarta! Can you tell how excited I am! :)

I bought 2 new swimsuits and 5 dresses! And I’ve been working out like a maniac…

And I finally went tanning yesterday! It feels soo good to finally have some color :)

So after a long workout, go ahead reward yourself with a skinny cookie! You earned it :)

chocolate cookies

Best Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes: 15 cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I used regular dark chocolate chips because I was out of minis)
  • a sprinkle of sea salt

Directions:

  1. In a bowl with electric or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugars until fluffy.
  2. Add the egg, vanilla and applesauce and beat to combine.
  3. Slowly add the flour and baking soda, beating until combined.
  4. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  5. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2hrs or preferably overnight.
  6. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350F.
  7. Drop the dough by rounded tbsp on a cookie sheet.
  8. Sprinkle each ball of cookie dough with sea salt.
  9. Bake for 9-11mins.
  10. Let cool completely before digging in :)

chocolate cookies nutrition

Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

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Once again, with the prosciutto.

green beans

I.just.can’t.help.it

As you might very well know by now, our household of two is not big on vegetables.

Like we eat them because we have to..In other words I shove them in my husband’s face while screaming “Eat it, it’s good for you!” yes we are definitely not veggie lovers!

Yet, green beans is one vegetable we both don’t mind eating and actually quite like it.

Especially when is roasted….

Yum! And these little bundles are totally fab! You put them together in no time and then roast them in the oven for 20mins.

What a great side dish! And you should definitely make them for your next get together, people will go nuts! They are soo adorable :)

Besides the ingredient list is very short and sweet. Green beans, Prosciutto, sea salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. That’s it! :)

Soon I’ll be also sharing the chicken recipe I served with the green beans. But today it’s all about green beans. And prosciutto.

Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

Serves: 2 (easily multiplied)

Ingredients:

  • 16 green beans, washed and ends broken off
  • 2 slices prosciutto
  • sprinkle of sea salt and pepper
  • a drizzle of olive oil about 1tsp

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  3. Wrap 8 green beans with the prosciutto and place seem side down on the baking sheet. Repeat.
  4. Sprinkle the green bean bundles with sea salt and pepper.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil.
  6. Bake for 20mins.
  7. Enjoy immediately :)

green bean bundle nutrition

Tomorrow we are eating cookies.

Cheese Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Prosciutto topped with Sea Salt

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Well that was a long title.proscuitto chicken

But it truly describes exactly what this is.

Juicy, moist chicken, stuffed with spicy and creamy cheese spread, wrapped in salty and slightly crispy prosciutto and topped with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Talk about a fantastic dinner in 25mins.

Really I am serious when I say this, you will have this dish on your table and in your belly in 25 mins!

And guess what!? It’s light. Shut up!

At 290 calories and 7 points how can you go wrong?

It’s fancy enough to impress guests yet soo simple – perfect for a quick weeknight meal :)

Serve it with a side salad and you have a guilt-less delicious dinner that does not taste skinny at all! 

Cheese Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Prosciutto and topped with Sea Salt

Serves: 2 (easily multiplied)

Ingredients:

  • 2 4 oz each chicken breasts
  • 1 wedge Weight Watchers Jalapeno cheese spread
  • 2 slices prosciutto
  • a sprinkle of dried basil, pepper and sea salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Pound the chicken breasts thin.
  3. Spread half of the cheese wedge on the bottom half of each chicken breasts then roll up.
  4. Sprinkle the rolled chicken with a pinch of pepper and basil.
  5. Wrap the prosciutto around the chicken roll and place seem side down.
  6. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.
  7. Bake in preheated oven for 20 mins or until juices run clear.
  8. Serve with a side salad.

proscuitto chicken nutrition

Spicy Chicken Sausage Marinara Pasta

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I love pasta.

chicken sausage pasta

Any pasta.

And any sauce.

Vodka, alfredo, marinara, carbonara you name it, I love it all.

But I think the most comforting has to be marinara.

This dish takes about 20 mins to make from start to finish and is incredibly deelish!

The sause is slightly sweet and tangy with a little spice, the sausages are little bundles of love that we absolutely adore, add some shredded parm on top and there you have it fabulous dinner ready in no time :)

You can also add some green or red peppers to the sauce that will go great with the sausages too but since we are not big on peppers I left them out.

Enjoy :)

Spicy Chicken Sausage Marinara Pasta

Serves: 5

Ingredients:

  • 5 spicy chicken sausages
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 14 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • a pinch of red pepper flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 10 oz spaghetti pasta, cooked according to package directions.

Directions:

  1. In a deep saucepan, heat 1/2 tsp olive oil over medium high heat.
  2. Add the sausages and brown on all sides.
  3. Remove to a plate.
  4. Add remaining 1/2 tsp olive oil.
  5. Add the onion and saute until soft and translucent.
  6. Add the garlic and cook for 30sec.
  7. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and pepper.
  8. Bring to a boil.
  9. Add the sausages back to the pan, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 10mins.
  10. Remove the sausages to a cutting board and rest for 5mins. Slice.
  11. Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan and mix to combine.
  12. Serve the pasta with the slices sausages and some shredded parmesan, if desired.

spicy chicken sausage pasta

Jalapeno Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers

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Today it’s all about burgers.

jalaepno chicken burgers

Chicken Burgers that is!

But not dry and bland chicken burgers, that’s booring!

cheddar jalapeno chicken burgers

Moist, delicious, slightly spicy chicken burgers! Add some BBQ sauce and some cheddar and you have probably the yummiest chicken burger there is!

Yum! Now I’m not saying that these burgers are better than beef because well that’s really not possible, but they are wonderful in their own way and definitely a great leaner, healthier alternative :) A great change from the ordinary!

And even my beef-loving husband really enjoyed them! He loves anything BBQ really so I knew it would win him over! ;)

The only thing that was missing for me was bacon because let’s face it bacon makes the world a better place but hey for a hot beach bod sometimes you have to make sacrifices :)

Jalapeno Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground chicken
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup panko
  • 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 whole jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • salt, pepper and a sprinkle of garlic powder
  • 4 slices super thin cheddar (45calories)
  • 4 tbsp BBQ sauce
  • burger buns*
  • pickles*
  • light mayo*

Directions:

  1. In a bowl combine the chicken, egg, panko, bread crumbs oregano, jalapeno, salt, pepper and garlic salt.
  2. Mix until everything is incorporated and shape into 4 burger patties. Do not overmix.
  3. Grill until the burgers are cooked through.
  4. Melt the cheese on the burgers.
  5. Top each burger with 1 tbsp BBQ sauce.
  6. Serve on burger buns lightly coated with light mayo and pickles.

*Nutrition Facts do not include this items.

chicken burgers nutrition facts

Cappuccino Pancakes with Mocha Syrup

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I love coffee.

pancakes

And I am totally addicted to Starbucks.

When we moved into our new house I realized there was a Starbuck’s on my way to work.

I didn’t have to go out of my way at all!

A Starbucks with a drive-through that is never really busy.

It doesn’t get any easier for a coffee addict to get their fix.

I adore their white chocolate mocha (soy milk with whipped cream) , Starbucks gets expensive.

I was spending $5 a day, 5-7 days a week, every week.

That $5 adds up real quick!

So when I got my Costco membership I saw that they have the Starbucks Frappuccino bottles that by the way are totally deelish for under $1 a bottle.

That’s some huge savings :) Enough to buy a new pair of shoes :)

So bye-bye Starbucks drive-through and hello convenient cheap bottles of yumminess :)

So anyways, I love coffee.

And these pancakes are totally coffeelicious :)

They are kind of cakey (in a good way!) and dense, not overly sweet and the mocha syrup has a nice coffee punch and then top it off with a big dollop of cool whip that taste like ice cream (ice cream for breakfast-yes please) and you have an ahhmazing reason to wake up!

Wake up and smell the coffee!

Cappuccino Pancakes with Mocha Syrup

Serves: 4

Ingredients for pancakes:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tbsp instant espresso
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 2 tbsp light butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, espresso, sugar and salt.
  2. Make a well in the middle and add egg, milk, butter and vanilla.
  3. Stir just to combine but batter will be a little lumpy.
  4. On a preheated griddle, pour 1/4 cup of batter and cook for 2 mins or until little bubbles form all over surface.
  5. Flip and cook for another minute.
  6. Repeat will remaining batter.

Ingredients for mocha syrup:

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp instant espresso
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a small saucepan whisk all the ingredients together.
  2. Over medium low heat bring the mixture to simmer, stirring frequently and cook for 5 mins or until thickened.
  3. Turn the heat off and stir in vanilla.
  4. Pour over pancakes.

Very Slightly Adapted from: Pastry Affair

Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie

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Hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine’s day :)

Sorry I haven’t been on in like 10 days but I just haven’t been feeling like blogging lately.

It’s not that I don’t have material to share, I certainly do.

I just haven’t been feeling like writing it all down.

But it’s time to get back to it :)

SO here we have deconstructed chicken pot pie :)

pot pie

This recipe is super easy to make, like OMG ridiculously easy and soo very tasty!

And instead of using pie dough I used biscuits. Why? Because I hate pie dough! I’ve had a handful of terrifying experiences with it and since I’m not ready to face my fears yet I just try to avoid it as much as possible.

I had some leftover honey biscuits from when I made the beef stew so I decided to use them in this and it definitely turned out fab!

The filling is creamy and rich, with lots of chicken (yum!), peas and I love the addition of corn, top it with a honey biscuit and you have a perfect weekday meal straight from Comfortown :)

Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 10 baby carrots, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp light butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup skim milk
  • 1 1/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1/4 tsp dried basil
  • 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
  • 1/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
  • 4 Grands! honey biscuits
  • serve: chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. In a pot over medium high heat, add the EVOO.
  3. Once hot add the onion and carrots.
  4. Cook until softened and onions are translucent about 5 mins.
  5. Add the garlic and saute for 30 secs.
  6. Remove to a plate.
  7. Reduce the heat to medium and add butter.
  8. Once melted, stir in the flour.
  9. Cook for 1 min, stirring frequently.
  10. Whisk in the milk, broth and basil and continue whisking to break up any lumps.
  11. Let the sauce simmer and thicken (about 1-2 mins).
  12. Turn the heat off and add in the vegetables, chicken, peas and carrots.
  13. If the filling is too thick add in a little more chicken broth.
  14. Spray a 2qt baking dish with cooking spray.
  15. transfer the filling to the baking dish and top with the biscuits.
  16. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through*.
  17. Serve with chopped parsley.

*Check the package directions on the biscuits you are using to check for cooking time and temperatures.