Baked Chicken Bundles

Sometimes, you need to spend a little more time in the kitchen preparing a special dinner for family and friends.  Those recipes that take a little extra time are well worth the effort.  Chicken Bundles is a recipe I have tried several times over the years.  This is very easy, and the best part it can be made ahead.  Your looking at about 582 calories, however, if you use an imitation butter, you can save about 30 calories.  The only thing left is a quick salad.   

                                           



Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Serves: 8

1 (5-ounce) package RICE-A-RONI Chicken Mushroom Flavor
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Heat oven to 375 F.
In large skillet prepare RICE-A-RONI as package directs. Let cool 10 minutes. 
Pound each chicken breast half to 1/4-inch thickness. 
Spoon 1/3 cup prepared RICE-A-RONI on each chicken breast half.
Roll up chicken to completely enclose filling; secure with wooden
toothpicks.
Dip chicken in milk; roll in bread crumbs.
Arrange in 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish; set aside. 
In small bowl, combine margarine, thyme and pepper; drizzle evenly over chicken. 
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until chicken is done. 
Remove wooden toothpick before serving.

Corned Beef Sandwich

In order to make the perfect sandwich, you must have the perfect type of bread.  For an excellent corned beef sandwich, you start with a loaf of Maisano's New York Corn Rye bread.  It just doesn't get any better than this.  I've made a lot of sandwiches during my deli days, and I don't think you can get bread any better than Maisano's Rye.    Here's the perfect sandwich from my personal recipe box.

2      Slices       Maisano's New York Rye Bread

6      Oz.           Sliced Corned Beef

1      T              Mustard

½      Oz.         Lettuce

5      Chips       Dill Pickles

Place mustard on bread.  Add heated sliced corned beef and lettuce.  Cut sandwich in half.  Place pickles on the side.

http://maisanosbakery.com/

Cool Radiatore Melon Salad

I'm not sure where or when I first came across this recipe.  I know it's been in my recipe box for several years.  This is truly a keeper.  It's both fast, easy and wow an extra bonus.  Budget friendly.  Let me start by telling you radiatore is a small spring like pasta.  It cooks up in about 9 to 11 minutes depending on your likes. This recipe has so many variations, you'll never run out of ideas reinventing it.  I used watermelon instead of honeydew, and wow!  The limeade dressing gave it a good tart balance against the sweetness of the melons.  Next time, I'm going to try a variety of fruits without the pasta.   As you know I'm all about the deal.  Well this is a real deal. Very budget friendly.  The part I like the best?  There are less than 100 calories per serving.  (This recipe serves 6)  Try it, and let me know how you like it.

Amount	Unit	Ingredient	Preparation
1	Lb	Radiatore	Uncooked
1/3	Medium	Honeydew Melon	*Cut 1/2” Chunks
½	Medium	Cantaloupe	*Cut 1/2” Chunks
1	Medium	Cucumber	***Cut ½” Chunks
½	Cup	Limeade	Concentrate
2	Tablespoons	Vegetable Oil
1	Teaspoon	Chili Powder
1	Teaspoon	Salt

Prepare Radiatore according to package directions

While pasta is cooking, toss honeydew, cantaloupe and cucumber together in a large bowl

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together limeade, oil, chili powder and salt

When pasta is done, drain and rinse under cold water, then drain again

Toss pasta with fruit and dressing

Serve Cold 

* about 2 cups

** Peeled and seeded

French Vanilla Coconut Mini Pies

I always like a little something sweet to end a good meal.  For a real deal, try this little mini french vanilla coconut pie.  You can make these pies before starting dinner and they'll be ready for dessert.  Here's the tip, buy ready made graham cracker crust at your local grocer.  So, here's the deal the desserts will cost about $1.50 each.  There's an unlimited amount of possibilities when using instant pudding mix.  By using non fat milk your saving about 15 calories. 

Amount	Unit	Ingredient	Preparation
1	4 Ounce Packet	French Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 ¾	Cup	Non Fat Milk
½	Cup	Coconut Flakes
6	Mini	Ready Made Pie Crust

Prepare French vanilla pudding mix according to package directions, using 1 ¾ cup of milk.

Fold in coconut

Pour into mini pie crusts

Refrigerate until set

Garnish the top with additional coconut flakes before serving

Tangy Lemon Squares

A quick & easy snack. Great for after school.  There's no sugar in this one, so there'll be no sugar high's.

Amount	Unit	Ingredient	Preparation
Crust:
¾	Cup	All-Purpose Flour
1/3	Cup	Equal Sweetener*
1/8	Teaspoon	Salt
6	Tablespoons	Butter	Cut into pieces
1	Teaspoon	Lemon Peel	Grated
1	Teaspoon	Vanilla
Filling:
2	Each	Eggs
¾	Cup	Equal Sweetener**
½	Cup	Lemon Juice
4	Tablespoons	Butter
1	Tablespoon	Lemon Peel	Grated

For Crust, combine flour, 1/3 cup Equal® and salt in medium bowl. Cut in 6 tablespoons butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon lemon peel and vanilla. Mix with hands to form dough.

·         Press dough evenly on bottom and 1/4-inch up sides of 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 350° F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool on wire rack.

·         For Filling, beat eggs and 3/4 cup Equal®. Mix in lemon juice, 4 tablespoons melted butter and 1 tablespoon lemon peel. Pour mixture into baked pastry.

·         Bake about 15 minutes or until filling is set. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.

·         Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Tips:      

*May substitute 8 packets of sweetener

**May substitute 18 packets of sweetener

By using butter, each square is about 178 calories.  I used Can’t Believe it’s not Butter and cut 60 calories off the recipe. 

Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia, just the name congers up all sorts of memories.  Picnics, days at the beach, or potluck dinners.  As for the recipe, the calorie count is under 100 per serving, and only 1 gram of saturated fat.  This is all made with canned fruit & sour cream. The only thing fresh is the grapes.  If you want to add 1/4 Cup coconut flakes, the recipe is still under 100 calories. Quick? You bet only about 5 min prep.  Easy?  Well how hard can it be to open a can of fruit.  You can put this together in the morning, refrigerate and you've got a great salad for dinner.  Or, instead of a late night snack of cookies, or ice cream how about a serving of ambrosia?  My only variation to this recipe I added 1 packet of equal.  

Amount	Unit	Ingredient	Preparation
1	Cup	Fruit Cocktail	Drained
½	Cup	Mandarin Oranges
½	Cup	Pineapple	Bits
½	Cup	Mini Marshmallows
¼	Cup	Maraschino Cherries
¾	Cup	Sour Cream	Light
¼	Cup	Red Grapes	Seedless

   Drain fruits well.

  Combine all ingredients mixing lightly but thoroughly

  Chill Well
Serve in lettuce cups if desired

Fresh Tomato Salad

This is the best!  This is one recipe that has been handed down through the generations.  My Nona (grandmother) brought from Piana degli Albanesi, Sicily.   It's quick, easy & delish.  The best tomatoes are, of course, fresh from the garden.  But, that can sometimes be difficult.  Try to buy vine ripen tomatoes, or if you go to the local farmers market they will have a better selection of locally grown tomatoes.






4 Vine Ripened Tomatoes
Salt & Pepper

Vinaigrette Dressing
Olive Oil
Red Wine Vinegar
Basil
Garlic minced

Wash and cut tomatoes into wedges.  Add Olive Oil & vinegar.   Add minced garlic and top with Fresh chopped basil.

A good rule of thumb for your dressing - Use about 2 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar.  I've also tried store bought balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  Both are good.



This is a "to your taste"  recipe.

Chicken Cacciatore

The secret is out!  My chicken cacciatore recipe was given to me by a chef from Rome, Ugo, over 30 years ago.  I've been making chicken cacciatore this way for over 30 years and it comes out perfect every time. If you google for chicken cacciatore recipes, you'll get a lot of recipes that are very similar, but none of the recipes I saw told the secret to making a great chicken cacciatore.

As you all know, I'm all about quick & easy.  This meal can be made in 30 minutes (multi-tasking required).  To make it go a little faster, instead of using whole chickens just get the thighs and drumsticks.  They do not have to be boned.  The recipe will serve 10, which is about 230 calories per serving.  

Serving suggestions:  Serve over any kind of pasta or rice.

And the secret?? is in step 2.  Bake out the fat and moisture.

Amount	Unit	Ingredient	Preparation
5	Each	Chicken Thighs
5	Each	Chicken Drumsticks
3	Tablespoons	Olive Oil
1	Each	Onion	Chopped
2	Each	Bell Peppers	Chopped
3	Cloves	Garlic	Minced
1	Cup	White Wine
1	Teaspoon	Oregano
1	Teaspoon	Sweet Basil
		Salt & Pepper	To Taste
6	Each	Tomatoes	Peeled & Chopped

1.       Wash chicken pieces & pat dry with paper towels.           

2.       Bake chicken in a 350 F preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until some of the
    fat and water bakes out of the chicken

3.       Put the chicken in a colander so all the liquids can drain.

4.       Discard the liquid

5.       Heat olive oil add onion, bell pepper & garlic

6.       Add chicken to onion mixture

7.       Cook another 10 minutes stirring occasionally

8.       Add  wine,  oregano, sweet basil, salt & pepper

9.       Cook another 10 minutes

10.   Add tomatoes & cook another 10 minutes

11.   Transfer to a platter & serve