Homemade Granola

 Ingredients:

5 cups oats

1/2 cups coconut oil

1 cup maple syrup or honey

1 t. vanilla

1 t. salt

1 T. cinnamon (or more)

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup raisins (or any other mix ins)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (you may need two)

Mix everything in a bowl

Transfer to prefered baking sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes

Let cool and store in airtight container

Enjoy!

Spicy Rigatoni Pasta

 Ingredients:

1 lb. Rigatoni pasta 

1 lb spicy italian sausage

1lb mild italian sausage

1 white onion, diced

2 T. garlic, minced

1/3 cup tomato pasta

1 cup vegetable broth

1 1/2 c heavy cream

1 t. garlic powder

1 t. onion power

1 t dried basil

1 t. oregano

1/2 t. thyme 

salt and pepper

optional: red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, fresh parsley

Instructions:

1 lb. of dry rigatoni noodles, cook according to the directions and save 1/2 cup pasta water.  Strain and set aside.  

Add1 l lb. spicy Italian sausage and 1 lb mild Italian sausage to a pan on medium high heat. Cook 8-10 minutes until browned.  rumble and set aside.

to the same pan, Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a pan on medium heat.  Add 1 diced white onion ad 2 tablespoon of minced garlic.  Cook 2 minutes.

Add 1/3 cup tomato pats, 1 cup veggie broth and 1 1/2 cup heavy cream.  Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, salt and pepper.  Simmer sauce 5 minutes.

Add cooked rigatoni and reserve pasta water. Add cooked sausage and mix well.

Top with crushed red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. 

Shredded Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 chicken breast

1 large jar of favorite salsa

1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

Mix together and place in a crock pot 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.   

Chicken and Dumplings

 1 Rotesserie Chicken 

32 oz. low sodium chicken broth

small onion, diced

2 cups frozen mixed veggies

2 cups bisquick 

2/3 cups mild

 2 T. dried parsley

Add the shredded rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, diced onion, frozen mixed veggies and bring to a boil in a pan on the stove top.  Make the dumplings by mixing the bisquick, milk and parsley together.  Drop the dumplings into the boiling stew.  Cook for 10 minutes uncovered and an additional 10 minutes covered for until done. 

Chicken Burrito Rice Bowls

 

1. 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenderloins 
2. 1/3 cup fresh cilantro 
3. 1 t. garlic powder
4. 1/2 t ground cumin 
5. 1/2 t. salt
6. 1/4 t. pepper
7. 1 T. olive oil
8. 1/3 cup yellow or white onion diced
9. 1 T. garlic, minced (3-4 cloves)
10. 1 cup salsa verde 
11. 1 cup chicken broth
12. 1 (4 oz) green chilies
13. 1 (15 oz) black bean (drained and rinsed)
14. 1 cup long grained white rice 
15. garnish ideas: salsa, cilantro, limes, tortilla chips, sour cream, guacamole, avocado, cheese, jalapeno, diced tomato  
16. Instructions:
17. Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces
18. In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with salt, pepper, ½ tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, ⅓ cup fresh chopped cilantro — set aside
19. Cook chicken in the olive oil.
20. Sauté. ⅓ cup of the yellow onion for 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add in garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
21. Add in seasoned chicken, followed by the salsa, broth, diced green chiles, and black beans. Stir to combine ingredients.
22. Cook long grain white rice.  
23. Serve and garnish with your favorite toppings

Summer Salads

 Yellow bell pepper

Red bell pepper

Green bell pepper

Cucumber

Red onion

Tomato avocado

Sunflower seeds

Salt and pepper

Light Italian dressing

Diced chicken 

Instruction

Mix all together.

One Pot Lemon Butter Ricotta and Zucchini Pasta

 3 T salted butter

1 small shallot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 T fresh thyme leaves

2 t. lemon zest

red pepper flakes

1 lb. short cut pasta

2 zucchini or yellow summer squash, grated about 2 to 2 1/2 cups grated

4 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

kosher salt and black pepper

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 c shredded gouda or fontina cheese

1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped 

Instructions:

In a large pot over medium heat, melt together butter, thyme, lemon zest and a pinch of red pepper flakes.  Cook until butter is brown, and lemon is fragrant about 3 minutes. Stir in the pasta and toss to coat in the lemony butter.  Stir in the zucchini and broth. Season with salt and pepper.  

Bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer about 5-8 minutes until pasta is al dente stirring often.

Stir in the ricotta, gouda and basil.  Cook another few minutes until very creamy and the basil is wilted. It should be creamy, but with just a touch of liquid. 

Divid the pasta among the bowls and top with thyme, basil and pepper flakes.  Enjoy immediately.  

Orange Chicken

 3-4 Chicken Breast

1 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup orange marmalade

1-2 tsp soy sauce (optional)

Cut up chicken into cubes and put in crock pot.  Mix together ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 2-3 hours. Serve over rice.