Quick and Easy Garlic Balsamic Chicken

Super quick and easy (but yummy!) chicken... it tastes a little like Chicken Marsala and is absolutely delicious!!!!

Here is the original recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-breasts-with-balsamic-vinegar-and-garlic/Detail.aspx I read all the reviews and simplified it accordingly!

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rinse the mushrooms and pat dry. Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat and saute the chicken until it is nicely browned on one side (about 3 minutes).
2. Add the garlic. Turn the chicken breasts and scatter the mushrooms over them. Continue frying, shaking the skillet and stirring the mushrooms. Cook for about 3 minutes, then add the vinegar, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cover tightly and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
3. Transfer the chicken to a warm serving platter and cover with foil. Set aside. Continue simmering the sauce, uncovered, over medium high heat for about 7 minutes. Swirl in the butter or margarine and discard the bay leaf. Pour this mushroom sauce mixture over the chicken and serve.

Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Chicken

I love this. It taste completely decadent, but is not a calorie suicide like most Italian meals. I saw multiple recipes online, but it was very easy to adapt to a healthier version. Please excuse my lack of exact measurements...it is really up to your preference. You just need:

Chicken Breast
Frozen Spinach (defrosted)
Fat Free or Low Fat Ricotta Cheese
Italian Seasoning
1 Garlic Clove
Marinara Sauce

Just cut your chicken breast in half to butterfly it. In a separate bowl make your filling by combining the spinach, ricotta, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic clove. As I said before, the amounts are pretty much up to your taste.
Put your filling on top of one side of the butterflied breast, then place the other half back on top (I am sure you could just pound it down as well then fold, this was just easier to me).
Drizzle a little EVOO on top to keep it from burning, and then bake on 350 for about 25 minutes.
When it is still really hot, cover with the marinara sauce and let it sit for a few minutes to cool and settle.

Gary and I shared 1 chicken breast and it was satisfying because of the filling.

Fabulous Fajitas... No Grill Required!

(Pics courtesy of Recipe Zaar... I am not used to this whole blogging thing yet and forgot to take my own!!!!

Okay... so this was actually a mis-read of thel recipe on my part (oops!) in which I originally thought the whole recipe was meant to be made stove-top... Turns out the meat is actually meant to be grilled, but by the time I realized that, I had all the ingredients prepared and was in no mood (or state of dress) to hike out to the cabana grill that is currently our only option grill-wise. Sooo... I tried it all stove-top and was pleasantly surprised!

Here is the recipe (from Recipe Zaar): http://www.recipezaar.com/Chilis-Fajitas-8595

The only modification I made was stir-frying the meat on the stove in the same pan as the veggies. It turned out great!!! Hubby said they were better than the pre-marinated stuff we used to buy to grill! To complete the whole Chili's illusion, I went by their "To Go" counter this morning and picked up chips and salsa (waaaay more than you could ever eat at one meal!) for $3.00!

Chili's Fajitas Recipe #8595

Serve on flour tortillas with cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce.

SERVES 4

For the marinade

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Meat

• 1 lb top sirloin steak or boneless skinless chicken breast

Vegetable sauce

• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 dash salt
• 1 dash black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Vegetables

• 1 large Spanish onion, sliced thin
• 1/2 green pepper, sliced thin
• 1/2 red pepper, sliced thin
• 1/2 yellow pepper, sliced thin

1. Combine the lime juice, water, oil, garlic, soy sauce, salt, liquid smoke, cayenne pepper, black pepper and either the sirloin OR the chicken in a Tupperware container, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Discard leftover marinade.
3. Grill meat over medium flame 4-5 minutes on each side.
4. Cut meat into thin strips.
5. Set aside and keep warm.
6. Combine the 2 Tbls. water, soy sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper and olive oil.
7. set aside.
8. cook onion and peppers in oil until brown.
9. remove from heat.
10. pour reserved mixture over onions and peppers.
11. combine meat, onions, and peppers.