Protein Pizza Pie

 

     When the trending Protein phase has a baby with the trending Cottage Cheese phase, what do you get!?  My delicious Protein Pizza Pie of course…and I am not complaining…just making a joke at social media’s expense.  These are pretty easy to throw together, and the big bonus is these make 8 servings, so perfect for a group, or just to hang on for lunch all week.  In addition to these superlative macros, the taste is amazing, and super clean ingredients. So if your standard Pizza got a therapist, gave up Diet Coke, and started going to church, this would be the end result.  Love when my creations turn out as good as they were in my imagination!  #trythisone 😋

Ingredients for 8 Pizza Pie’s~

2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef

1 cup Oats

2 Eggs

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

Italian Seasoning, desired amount

Salt, desired amount

Sliced Purple Onion

Sliced Green Bell Pepper

4oz jar of drained Mushrooms

24oz Cherry Tomatoes

1 diced Yellow Onion

3 trimmed cleaned diced Carrots

1 diced Jalapeño 

Olive Oil

Cottage Cheese

Everything Bagel Seasoning

     Add Beef, Oats, Eggs, Garlic, Seasoning and Salt as desired, mix til well incorporated and divide into 8 equal portions, pat out on parchment lined cookie sheet, and top with sliced Red Onions, Green Peppers and Mushrooms.  Bake at 425 for 25 minutes.  Meanwhile, add Tomatoes, Onions, Carrots, and Jalapeño to parchment lined cookie sheet and drizzle or spray with Olive Oil, toss to coat and bake at 425 for an hour.  When done, remove, cool slightly and add to heavy duty mixer and whip til smooth.  Add a smear of Tomato Sauce to the top of Beef Pattie Crust, and then finish off with a dollop of Cottage Cheese and Everything Bagel Seasoning.  Enjoy 😉 

Mediterranean Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

 

     The only thing better than a Crockpot Meal is a Sheet Pan Dinner!  #amiright!?  (I know I am)  My Mediterranean Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner comes together in a flash, and the flavors merry to create a symphony of sensations.  I had this all week for lunch, and I never tired of it...in fact, I could eat it right now if it were in front of me.  This is definitely one I will keep in the rotation.  The Lemony hints hit just the right note with every mouthful.  And the high protein, vegetable laden ensemble will satisfy the pickiest palate.  Please give this one a try, you can thank me later!  ;)

Ingredients~

2 pounds diced Chicken Breast

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, more for Vegetables

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

Dash Salt, to taste

Dash Pepper, to taste

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Baby Carrots, desired amount

Cherry Tomatoes, desired amount

Green Beans, desired amount

Purple Onion, desired amount

Red Bell Pepper, desired amount

Chopped Zucchini, desired amount

Kalamata Olives, desired amount

Feta Cheese Crumbles, desired amount

Chopped Parsley, desired amount

Drizzle of Balsamic, if desired

     Add Chicken, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt and Pepper to big bowl, mix well to incorporate, and marinate for 15 minutes to 2 hours.  Meanwhile cut up your vegetables.  Add Carrots, Tomatoes, Beans and Onion to parchment lined sheet pan and bake at 425 for 15 minutes.  Note:  I separate my vegetables into two sheet pans so as not to over crowd, otherwise they will steam vs roast.  Remove the pans after baking, and add Peppers, Zucchini, Olives and Chicken to the pans, optional to add extra Oil or Seasonings, return to the oven for another 30 minutes, remove and top with Feta and Parsley.  I served mine with Lupin Flakes and a drizzle of Balsamic.  This was intensely good, no regrets, only rewards.  Enjoy :)

Oven Dried Strawberries

     Sometimes, things are so easy, it's almost embarrassing to share...but I quickly got over that! :)  Yes, this is simple but oh so fun!  And even better, see if you can get the kids involved in this one.  All you do is slice fresh Strawberries and line them up on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 for 4 hours, flip halfway through.  That's it...told ya there wasn't much to it.  But these are intensely delicious and a phenomenal topper for Salads, plus they pack a powerful crunch!  What's stopping you from trying!?...and the best part is that you can put these in the oven and head to the gym and be back in time to flip them! ;) #winning

Roasted Salsa

 

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     What’s better on a lazy Saturday afternoon than throwing together a batch of Salsa!  Especially when it comes together like a breeze.  With just a little chopping this can  be yours as well, …why buy bottled when you can make fresh!?  This recipe has a fun little twist with charring the veggies first to seal in the flavors.  And, BTW, I don’t limit my Salsa, I put it on everything.  Today we used it on our Swordfish, with boiled Potatoes and steamed Green Beans.  (No Complaints)  See how creative you can be, and take your meals to the next level with a few easy ingredients! 😋

Ingredients~

24oz carton of Cherry Tomatoes

1 chopped Onion

1 chopped Jalapeño 

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Salt to taste

2 Tablespoons Lime Juice

Cilantro to taste

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Swordfish Steak squeezed with fresh Lemon, bake at 400 for 20 min

Baby New Potatoes, boiled for 25-30 minutes

Fresh Green Beans, steams with 2 Tablespoons of Water in microwave for 10 minutes

     Add Tomatoes, Onion, Jalapeño, Garlic, Oil and Salt to parchment lined cookie sheet, toss to coat well with Oil, broil on Hi for 10 minutes or til charred til desired.  Add to heavy duty blender and blend to desired consistency, then add in Juice and Cilantro to incorporate to desired consistency.  Serve as desired, keeps well in the fridge for a week.  Enjoy 😉 

Protein Chicken Salad

 

     If you are ready for a “glow up” to your standard Chicken Salad, then keep reading!!!  My Protein version takes it to the next level, this is comfort food that loves you back!!!  With just a few simple ingredients, you can have lunch all week.  Plus,  you are going to love all my tricks I perform to keep it healthy and delicious all at the same time!  BTW, no measuring on this one, feel free to edit according to taste, my suggestions are simply that.😉

Ingredients~

2 pounds Chicken Breast

1 chopped Onion

1 chopped Jalapeño 

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

16oz container of Cottage Cheese

1/4 cup Brown Mustard

1 head chopped Celery

2-3 chopped Carrots

2 cups Purple Grapes

1/4 cup sliced Green Onion

     Add Chicken to lined Crockpot, along with Onion, Jalapeño and Garlic, heat on low for 3 hours or til fork tender.  First tip, shred with beaters for a quick and easy process, drain any excess juices, add to large mixing bowl.  Second tip, add Cottage Cheese to blender and whip til silky smooth, add to Chicken mixture, along with remaining ingredients, stir til fully incorporated, season as desired.  Third tip, enjoy! ☺️ 

Oven Sun Dried Tomatoes

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     It's good to have daughters out there always on the prowl for fun new ideas. (shout out to Courtney)  Thanks to my oldest girl, she shared a creative way to add high pitched flavor to any dish, and with a few short hours in the oven, your mouth can be brimming with smiles.  These Oven Sun Dried Tomatoes will make you do a happy dance in the kitchen, plus super simple and you just let the heat do most of the work.  Definitely on the to do list today!  :)

Ingredients~

Cherry Tomatoes (desired amount, the more the merrier)

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic (more to taste)

Salt (desired amount)

Pepper (desired amount)

Olive Oil (desired amount)

     Rinse and pat dry your Tomatoes, slice in half and add to parchment lined cookie sheet, sprinkle with chopped Garlic, and season with Salt and Pepper.  Lastly spritz (or drizzle) with Olive Olive and toss til well coated.  Bake at 300 for 2.5 hours, stirring a couple times for even cooking.  Enjoy, these are magical!!!  ;)

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Soup

 

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     Have you ever gotten to the end of the week and found several stragglers left in the fridge!?  Whelp, there is only one solution to that dilemma...make a big pot of soup!!!  Such was the case this week, and the star of the show was the fresh garden grown Asparagus my friend gave me, (shout out to Karen).  As long as you have a good base, you can turn about anything into soup.  My big secret is to start by sauteing an Onion in Olive Oil with Garlic and a dash of Cayenne Pepper.  Then you build the masterpiece from there!  What's your favorite soup that can be served all year round!? ☺️

Ingredients for one Pot~

1 chopped Onion

1 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

Dash Cayenne Pepper (optional)

4 cups Broth (less for thicker soup)

1 or 2 diced Potatoes

1 or 2 large trimmed, peeled and diced Carrots

Asparagus, trimmed and diced (desired amount, reserve some for garnish if desired)

1 diced Red Bell Pepper (reserve some for garnish if desired)

1 can Coconut Milk

Seasoning as desired

     Add Onion, Oil, Garlic and Cayenne to pot, heat on low til golden brown, this step may take awhile but worth going low and slow.  Add in Broth, Potatoes, and Carrots, bring to boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes or til vegetables are fork tender.  Lastly, add in remaining ingredients and simmer another 10 minutes.  When done, use immersion blender or add to heavy duty blender and whip to desired consistency.  Enjoy 😋

No Noodle Lasagna

 

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     How does the idea of a No Noodle Lasagna appeal to you!?  Let me stop you right there, because I like the idea and I don’t want you to harsh my mellow.  That being said, you gotta try it before you knock it.  It’s interesting how when you add all the spice, it covers the loss of the pasta (I’m being serious).  So this is basically a deconstructed Italian Dish, void of flour.  Once you experience my homemade roasted Red Sauce, there will be no more complaining.  #promise Once you mix this with ground Beef and serve with Cottage Cheese, there will only be smiles at the end of your fork!😉

Ingredients for 8 servings~

10 on the vine Tomatoes

1 chopped Onion

2-3 large Carrots, trimmed and diced (sub with Baby Carrots, and adjust quantity to taste)

1 diced seeded jalapeño or dash of Cayenne Pepper (optional)

2 Tablespoons chopped Garlic

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (more to taste)

Handful of fresh Basil Leaves (more to taste)

Salt, optional

2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef

2-3 large heads Broccoli trimmed and diced

2-3 Tablespoons Water

Cottage Cheese

     Dice Tomatoes and add to parchment lined pan, along with half the Onion, Carrots, half the Garlic and Jalapeño or Cayenne Pepper, toss with Olive Oil.  Bake at 425 for one hour.  Meanwhile, add Beef to skillet with remaining Onion and Garlic til well browned and crumbled, drain any excess fat.  Add Broccoli and Water to microwave safe bowl, and heat according to your microwave, usually 5-10 minutes depending on how much you have.  When Tomatoes are done roasting, remove from oven, cool slightly and add to heavy duty blender along with desired amount of Basil, reserve some for garnish if desired.  Next, pour Tomato Sauce into Beef and stir til well combined, season with Salt if desired.  Serve with Cottage Cheese and Steamed Broccoli for a high protein, completely satisfying meal.  Ciao 🇮🇹

Coconut Aminos Chicken

 

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     Raise your hand if you love one pan dishes!?  Tricked ya…I already know the answer!!!  Well you are gunna really be happy about this beaut, cause not only will clean up be easy, but it’s off the charts D-Lish!  And to make life even better this is so simple with minimal ingredients, and comes together in a flash.  So far, I can’t think of one single reason not to try it…can you!?  So put this in your rotation, and watch the smiles spread across your families faces…(or just forget them and have it for lunches all week like me).😉  PS. Thank you Becca for the inspiration, I am grateful when people share their ideas!♥️

Ingredients for 6-8 servings~

3 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs 

1 chopped Onion

1/4 cup Coconut Aminos (sub with Lite Soy Sauce)

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

2-4 cans of Green Beans (according to desire)

Wild mixed Rice, prepared according to directions, if desired (I cook mine in Bouillon and chopped Onion)

     Add Chicken to parchment lined pan and top with Onion, Aminos and Garlic, stir to incorporate.  If the pan you are using does not have sides, then stir in a bowl, then transfer to pan.  Bake for 20 minutes at 400, remove and add drained Green Beans to pan, return to oven for another 15-20 minutes.  Check Chicken to make sure it’s done.  Serve with Rice and Salad if desired.  Enjoy ☺️