Tag Archives: dinner in under 30 minutes

Leftover Turkey Tuscan Orzo Pasta

Posted in 30 minute meals, chicken, holiday favorites, main meal, pasta by

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray for a slimming friendly version
  • 1 onion , finely diced
  • 3-4 garlic cloves , minced
  • 55 g | ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes , rinsed for slimming version
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • 150 g | 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • 300 g | 10½ oz leftover cooked turkey or chicken , diced small
  • 2 tbsp white wine or stock to deglaze pan, optional
  • 500 ml | 2 cups homemade chicken stock
  • 240 g | 1 cup reduced fat sour cream
  • 60 g | 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese to serve (optional)
  • Lemon zest , to garnish (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to season to taste

Process

STEP 1. Heat a tablespoon of oil (from the sun-dried tomatoes jar for extra flavour!) in a large frying pan.

STEP 2. Add the onion and stir to coat in the oil and cook the onion over  low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the onion to soften but not burn.
STEP 3. Stir in the minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, salt, and paprika. Sauté for a few minutes.

STEP 4. If the pan is getting a bit dry you can deglaze it with a splash of white wine/ vermouth (or chicken stock).
STEP 5. Add the orzo pasta and stir to toast in the oil and seasonings.

STEP 6. Stir in the diced turkey (or chicken).
STEP 7. Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan (orzo may have a tendency to stick).

STEP 8. Add sour cream and stir to combine. 
STEP 8. Cover the pan and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway.

STEP 9. Uncover the pot and use a wooden spoon to give it a good stir. The orzo should be cooked and the dish creamy and delicious. Add handfuls of fresh spinach, stirring into the creamy orzo until it wilts.


STEP 11. Grate some fresh Parmesan over the dish, check the seasoning and serve. SOOOO YUMMY!

Yum Yum Lobster Tails

Posted in entertaining, low-carb, main meal by

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This was my first time making lobster tails and it DEFINITELY  wont be my last. It is easy peasy and oh so yummy. You can make these for a special occasion or to make an ordinary occasion special.

BAKED LOBSTER TAILS WITH GARLIC BUTTER

INGREDIENTS

4 lobster tails
5 cloves garlic, minced
¼ c. grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
4 tbsp. Butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix together garlic, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and melted butter and season with salt.
2. Using kitchen scissors, cut the the clear skin off the lobster and brush the lobster tails with the garlic butter seasoning.

3. Place the lobster tails on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake the lobster tails for 15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Italian Marinated Chicken

Posted in AP's Favorites, bbq, chicken, main meal by
This moist and delicious chicken is marinated in yummy Italian flavors and is perfect for both grilling on the BBQ or pan roasting on the stove.
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ITALIAN MARINATED CHICKEN 

PREP TIME: 10 mins
COOK TIME: 10 mins
TOTAL TIME: 20 mins
SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS

  • 1.5 lb. (around 6 pieces) chicken thigh fillets, skinless and boneless
  • 4 1/2 Tbsp. grapefruit balsamic vinegar  (I like 41 Olive)*
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Black pepper
  • 2½ tsp mixed Italian dried herbs (either a packet mix or mix herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary and thyme)
  • 1 tsp dried red chili flakes (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place all ingredients except for the chicken, in a small jar and shake well to combine.
  • Put the chicken in a ziplock bag and add the Dressing Marinade. Massage / mix to coat the chicken. Set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes. Ideally it should marinate for 3 hours or overnight.
  • Grill/BBQ Method: You shouldn’t need any oil, but if you are concerned, brush your grill with oil. Heat the grill on medium high and cook the chicken for around 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
  • Stove Method:  Preheat ½ tbsp oil in a large non stick fry pan over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook each side for around 4 to 5 minutes, or until dark golden brown and cooked through.
  • When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the grill/fry pan onto a plate, loosely cover with foil and set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Serve the chicken with your favorite tossed salad and toasted bread.
* You can substitute with chardonnay or apple cider vinegar, or even lemon juice if you prefer.

Note: This can be made with breast fillets too, but just be careful with the cooking time as you don’t want to overcook it.

 

Herb Roasted Tilapia

Posted in cut calories, entertaining, fish, low-carb, main meal by

 Herb Roasted Tilapia

Yield: 2 Servings
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 boneless tilapia fish fillets
1/2- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons EVOO
3-4 large sprigs fresh thyme
4-6 large green olives with pits
1 large egg

Directions

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Skinny Chicken Parmesan

Posted in chicken, cut calories, italian, low-carb, main meal, weight loss ideas by

Skinny Chicken Parm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

1 lb. thin-sliced boneless chicken breast (or chicken tenders)
1 egg, beaten
shredded parmesan cheese (enough to coat the chicken)
1-2 tomatoes, medium diced
½ brown onion, sliced
Italian seasoning (2-3 shakes)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil, chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions Continue reading →

Caesar Salad with Salmon and Oven-Toasted Sourdough Croutons

Posted in cut calories, Dani's Favorite, fish, low-carb, main meal, salad, vegetarian by

Caesar Salad with Salmon and Oven-Toasted Sourdough Croutons

Ceasar Salad with Seared Salmon

Makes: 2 Servings

It is rare that my oldest daughter is home and we get to cook together.  Yesterday was one of those treats.  Together we whipped up a delicious Caesar Salad and turned it into a hearty entree by adding a flakey, pan seared salmon fillet and homemade croutons. The creamy dressing is light and tangy.  This is an easy dinner prepared in less than 30 minutes.   We enjoyed it out on the back patio.  The meal together was heaven on earth!

Ingredients

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Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles

Posted in AP's Favorites, cut calories, low-carb, main meal, pasta, vegetarian by

I just recently discovered the spiralizer – a fabulous kitchen gadget allowing you to turn traditional pasta meals into healthy low carb ones using vegetables instead of noodles.  Here is my latest family favorite.

SKINNY SHRIMP SCAMPI

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
3-5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
1/4 cup vegetable stock
Zest of one lemon
Juice of 1 large lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 – 2 pounds (4-5 medium-sized) zucchini, spiralized
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2-3 minutes.

Stir in  lemon zest, lemon juice and 1/2 of chicken stock; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer; stir in zucchini noodles until well combined, about 1-2 minutes. Add remaining vegetable broth if it seems to dry.

Serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan and parsley, if desired.

Stir-Fried Thai Noodles

Posted in asian, main meal, pasta, vegan, vegetarian by

Pad Thai,  is a savory, saucy, stir-fried noodle dish that I adore. Though the dish itself is said to have originated in China, it spread throughout Thailand in the 1930s and 1940s as street food. Using local ingredients and produce, Thai cooks transformed the dish’s flavor profile into what we recognize today. With peanuts, lime juice, ginger, chile sauce and coconut milk, this simple stir-fry has an array of harmonious flavors.  I stumbled upon this yummy vegan dish by Blue Apron chefs. It’s easy to make, and a quick and delicious meal perfect for any season.

Ingredients

Stir-Fried Noodles with Peanut Sauce, Gai Lan & Snow Peas ingredients
  • 8 Ounces Rice Noodles
  • 2 Scallions
  • ½ Bunch Gai Lan
  • 1 Lime
  • ¼ Pound Snow Peas
  • 2 Teaspoons Sriracha
  • 1 Tablespoon sweet soy sauce
  • 1 1-Inch Piece Ginger
  • ⅓ Cup Peanut Butter
  • ¼ Cup Peanuts
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Milk Powder

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients:Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Trim off and discard the snow pea stems; pull off and discard the tough string that runs the length of each pod. Halve the snow peas on an angle. Cut off and discard the root ends of the scallions; thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and green tops. Trim off and discard the ends of the gai lan stems. Quarter the lime. Peel and mince the ginger. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut milk powder and ¼ cup of water.

 

Cook the aromatics:

In a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of oil on medium-high until hot. Add the white bottoms of the scallions and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened and fragrant.

Add the vegetables:

Add the snow peas and gai lan to the pan of aromatics. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the gai lan has wilted. Turn off the heat.

Cook the noodles:

While the vegetables cook, add the noodles to the pot of boiling water. Cook 4 to 6 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and set aside.

Make the peanut sauce:

While the noodles cook, in a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, sweet soy sauce and as much of the Sriracha as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Whisk in ¼ cup of water; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Finish & plate your dish:

Add the peanut sauce and coconut milk powder mixture to the pan of vegetables; stir until thoroughly combined. Add the cooked noodles and the juice of all 4 lime wedges. Cook on medium-high, stirring to coat the noodles, 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through. Turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the finished noodles and vegetables between 2 dishes. Garnish with the peanuts and green tops of the scallions. Enjoy!

NOTE:

Coconut milk powder is an ingredient in most Southeast Asian cooking and is not the liquid inside a coconut. Coconut milk is classified as thick, thin, or coconut cream.  Canned coconut milk separates naturally and the top layer is the coconut cream.  This top layer is dehydrated to make coconut milk powder.  In a pinch, you could use canned coconut milk to replace the coconut milk power and the 1/4 cup water that the recipe calls for.

 

 

Lentil-Crusted Salmon with Spinach-Yogurt Dal and Apricot Chutney

Posted in fish, main meal, vegetarian by


I love Indian food.  The spices in this dish are a fragrant combination of cumin, cardamom, cayenne pepper and mustard seeds.  This  recipe is courtesy of Blue Apron.

Ingredients

  • 2 Salmon Fillets
  • ½ Cup Harvest Gold Lentils
  • ⅓ Cup Dried Apricots
  • 2 Ounces Spinach
  • 1 Bunch Cilantro
  • ½ Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons Ghee* (or clarified butter)
  • 2 Tablespoons Tamarind Concentrate
  • 1 1-Inch Piece Ginger
  • ¼ Cup Lentil Flour (or regular flour works too)
  • 1 Tablespoon Apricot Chutney Spice Blend**

Preparation

1. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Peel and mince the ginger. Small dice the apricots.

2. Start the dal:

In a large pot, heat half the ghee on medium-high until melted. Add half the ginger and half the spice blend. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add thelentils and 1½ cups of water; season with salt and pepper. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and slightly broken down.

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