What's Cookin' ??

So, I guess we'll stick with food this week. I'm kind of liking weekly themed posting (must be the teacher in me). Tonight for dinner I prepared roasted chicken and broccoli with farfalle/bow tie pasta (cute, cute). Those who know me well enough know my overall dislike for pasta (sorry, pasta people out there). I don't know what it is, I've just never been a fan of it. I've always been more of a meat and potato kind of girl (thanks to my mom, she makes THE BEST mashed potatoes you would ever want to eat). This pasta dish seems to be the only pasta I can eat and actually enjoy! And not for nothin'...it's a skinny girl recipe...even better, huh!? I mixed together two recipes (Chicken Piccata/Roasted Broccoli w Garlic/Oil) to come up with this tasty dish. Perfect for the start of a busy work week! Enjoy.

Ingredients

• 8 oz high fiber or low carb pasta
• 3 Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
• 1 1/2 lbs broccoli florets
• 6-8 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt and fresh pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 tbs light butter
• juice of 1 lemon, lemon halves reserved
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup fat free chicken broth

Preheat oven to 450° (hotness, I know). In a baking dish combine broccoli, chicken, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Roast broccoli and chicken about 25-35 minutes, tossing half way, until both are browned and tender.

Meanwhile, boil salted water in a large pot. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.

For the sauce, prepare a saute pan. Over medium heat, melt butter, add the lemon juice, wine, chicken broth, the reserved lemon halves, salt, and pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Discard the lemon halves. Mix together the broccoli, chicken and pasta. Pour the sauce over bowl of pasta and mix well. Serve with a slice of lemon, a sprinkling of fresh parsley and a glass of Perrier sparkling water and you are good to go!

Stickin' to it

I am happy to report that my healthy lunch plan has been working! Yayy! So far, so so good. I have been looking forward to my lunches each and every day and have been pretty satisfied with my healthy choices. Here is a sneak peek into tomorrow's lunchbox. Have a great week everyone!

Chobani Pineapple Greek Yogurt with 1/2 cup of Fiber One Cereal and freshly sliced pineapple chunks

Lettuce, sliced red pepper, tomato, broccoli slaw, salsa...I will wrap these with a Weight Watchers Pita

Sound good? Try it!

Inspired by Taralynn of Undressed Skeleton

Clean Eating

Pictures via Pinterest/Undressed Skeleton/Taralynn Mcnitt

Yes, friends...clean eating. This girl right here, ME. The hamburger loving, fast food visitor (okay more like a member), daily coffee chugger has been eating "clean" over here the last couple of days...and I am so proud of myself! Haha! Things have been busy with my never ending school to do lists and I have been finding myself eating things that are just plain BAD for my body because they seem to be so much more quick and easy. Not good. I have been lacking energy and needed a quick switch from my unhealthy everyday diet plan.  So, as I was researching some yummy lunch recipes I fell upon this blog.  Taralynn of Undressed Skeleton has some pretty amazing breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack ideas and well-balanced grocery lists that I have fallen in love with (not to mention her amazing, inspirational story...phew, you go girl). Sure, lunch has taken me a couple more minutes (15 mins or so...uh huh) to prepare, but they have left me feeling so much more balanced and healthy overall. Feeling good so far...hopefully this will last. Buh-bye burgers and fries...there's a new, healthy girl in town. ;)