Chicken and Tofu with Italian Roasted Potatoes

Hey! An abundance of activities have been keeping me from really documenting some of my meals but that's a great thing as a whole. It means that my Writing and Photography are moving steadily on the right tracks. I did manage to grab camera to share this meal with you just before I attended another Webinar.

Thursday's Treat...Chicken and Tofu with Italian Roasted Potatoes!

Ingredients:
-chicken (your preference is fine I just tenders because of the size)
-potatoes (I feel red cook faster)
-olive oil
-Italian seasoning
-oregano
-salt
-brown sugar
-Sazon accent
-sweet peppers
-firm tofu
-onions
-Sazon criollo
-parm cheese

I first prepped the chicken with pinch of salt, 2tbsps of Brown sugar, 2tbsps of Sazon Accent & Sazon Criollo and mixed in a large bowl. Set aside and cut up 1 pack of Firm Tofu into 1/2 inch cubes, 6/8 small sweet peppers into 1/2 in pieces, 1/2 inch slice of red onion chopped into 1/4's. In a large skillet add 2tbsps of Olive oil to medium heat once ready add your chicken pieces and cook for 15 minutes then add your tofu, peppers and onions cover and cook for another 20 minutes. You add your Tofu last 20 minutes because you don't want them to break down if they cook too long.

As that is cooking I took 5 large potatoes and cubed 1/4 inch pieces, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1tbsp of oregano, 3tbsps of minced garlic, 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, 3tbsps of Italian seasoning and mixed all up in another large bowl till fully coated. I set my Toaster Oven to 400 and used my baking tray with a sheet of aluminum foil for easy clean up and laid out my potatoes. I cooked them in two batches because they all wouldn't fit for even cooking but that was fine because not everyone was home at the same time. I let the potatoes cook for 15 minutes turned them over and cooked for another 15 minutes and done!

The mix in flavors was really pleasant and the Tofu soaked it all in delish!!!

Always stress free xo,

Mari

Super lazy Chicken and Pasta

One of the perks of your child getting older is they can fend for themselves when it comes to dinner. Gone are those days when you just have to cook because you don't want them to eat crappy food. Yes sorry guys no matter what the commercials say chain food restaurants is still crappy food for the most part.

I've commented before how my lil mama and I though we live under the same roof sometimes due to our schedules can't sit down to dinner like we use to so we schedule dates. The other day after work though I was super tired, had numerous pictures to edit from a camera date I had gone out to and still wanted to squeeze in a workout and walk in the park. I always take out something each morning to prepare even if for lunch next day and this time it was my go to chicken tenders. I looked in my pantry and saw packet of Pasta sides Chicken flavor and just went with it.

Thursday's Treat...Super lazy Chicken and Pasta!!!

Ingredients:

-Knorr pasta sides packet

-pieces of chicken(tenders work best for small portion size)

-lemon pepper seasoning

-honey 

I told you this was super lazy you just handle your chicken as you normally would. I wash/rinse mine out with some lemon juice then cold water and seasoned with 2 tbsps of lemon pepper and 2 tbsps of honey. Let it sit for a few, turned my toaster oven to broil at 325 and prepared my baking sheet with strip of aluminum foil sprayed with some Pam so chicken wouldn't stick. I placed in toaster oven for 20 minutes turning once halfway.

Ten minutes in I prepared the water for the pasta side, 2 cups. You can add margarine or butter but I opted out and left with just the packet flavoring. I let it cook for 10 minutes. Turned off the flame set it aside cut my chicken into smaller pieces so I could sprinkle on my pasta.
Served myself and set a plate aside for lil mama when she got home.
It was tasty, fast and filling. Delish!

I love getting out of the kitchen with enough time to really engage in the things I love. I was able to edit while I ate(I don't always have gadgets on at dinner table but this was solo night me time) then head out to the park. Enjoy!

Always stress free xo

Mari

Broiled Mediterranean Chicken w/ Roasted Cauliflower

I will begin by sharing that I don't think I have ever knowingly eaten Cauliflower. But because I am trying to stay on the healthy veggie train I saw this beautiful head and decided to take it home with me and give it a try.

I goggled and asked friends for suggestions put them all together and came up with this. Nothing like finding something that works and adding your own twist.

Thursday's Treat...Broiled Mediterranean Chicken w/ Roasted Cauliflower!

Ingredients:
-cauliflower
-chicken cutlets
-parm cheese
-olive oil
-lemon juice
-parsley
-garlic cloves
-paprika
-oregano
-salt
-pepper

I enjoy Mediterranean dishes because of all the herbs and spices etc that you get to use. I enjoy taking all my little bottles out and sprinkling a little of this and that lol the small pleasures of life.

I started with washing my chicken then prepped it with 1tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of Olive oil, 1 tbsp of parsley, 1 thin sliced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp of oregano, pinch of salt and pinch of pepper mixed well and set aside. Then I moved on to my Cauliflower first I cut the head down to smaller florets and added 1 1/2 tbsps of Olive oil, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper, 2 tbsps of Parm cheese and 1 thin sliced garlic clove mixed well in a bowl and then on a baking sheet use piece of aluminum foil spray with pam lay the cauliflower out and place in toaster oven on bake at 450 for about 25 minutes.

Once my Cauliflower was done I set aside in a serving bowl and used same baking sheet to lay out my chicken cutlet pieces, I lowered the temp to 325 switched to broil and put my timer on 20 minutes turning my pieces at 10 minutes in. I served meal with some Avocado slices yummy!!!

I will be adding Cauliflower to my shopping list more often, thanks to my volunteer team at the Far Rockaway pantry for suggesting this wink wink. Enjoy!

Always stress free xo

Mari

Grilled Chicken w/Linguine and Alfredo sauce

Hello my lovelies, I have to get this out of the way...It is cold as heck in NYC and I am not happy about it. Didn't the darn Pope take away my sunshine and warmth? OMG!

I had to scramble in my drawers looking for some socks.

Anyway I shouldn't whine about it I'm a Fall baby so sometimes this does happen. I had baby #2 (my grandma) duties the other night which btw her new meds combo seems to be working 6 nights in a row sleeping well yippy!!! some drinks this weekend for sure and I had left some pieces of chicken out just in case I would have to be quick in the kitchen, which I ended up having to be. I grabbed a few things and here you have it.

Thursday's Treat...Grilled Chicken w/Linguine and Alfredo sauce

Ingredients:

-chicken tenderloins or cutlets

-linguine pasta

-plum tomatoes

-adobo seasoning

-parsley

-roasted garlice alfredo sauce

Seasoned a few strips of chicken with 1 tbsp of parsley and 1 tbsp of Adobo seasoning mixed well and set aside. Started on the pasta and began to cook that for about 10 minutes.

Turned my George Foreman Evolve Grill on preheat 5 minutes sprayed with PAM, then set for 10 minutes at 325 degrees added my pieces of chicken. Both my pasta and chicken were ready around same time. Drained the pasta, placed some on my plate, cut some pieces of chicken added that, added 2 tbsps of Alfredo sauce mixed well and topped with cut pieces of  plum tomatoes. Tasty and quick, Enjoy! 

Always stress free xo.

Mari

Broiled Garlic Chicken

My loves, who's watched Sons of Anarchy? Can I just say that I love that show? That I can totally watch it over again! Yes I'm late but I got here.

illustration by idigitaltimes.com

In early July when my grandma had her spill and I was running around a bit nutty I found comfort in watching this series on Netflix. I watched seven seasons in less than two weeks because on some days I would get in at least four episodes. Yes it may seem a bit much to some but Jax just grabbed my attention and I couldn't let him go!!! SOA!!! great writing, great stories and amazing actors. 

illustration by ew.com

illustration by pinterest.com

(omg that face AND an accent? yes, yes and yes!!!)

Any way...on one of my afternoons of SOA watching I made the following for lunch

Thursday's Treat...Broiled Garlic Chicken!

Ingredients:

-chicken cutlets

-soy sauce

-pepper

-butter

-garlic knots

Preheat toaster oven, lightly spray some PAM on a baking pan and set aside. I added 2 tbs of butter, 2 tbs of Soy sauce, 1/4 tsp of pepper and 3 garlic cloves cut into small pieces into a small bowl and placed in microwave for 30 seconds. I placed my pieces of chicken in bowl and mixed well for several minutes. I then laid pieces out with few garlic chunks on top and placed in toaster oven on broil setting for 20 minutes. Halfway through I drizzled some more of my sauce on chicken just to maintain moist and flipped to the other side.

After 20 minutes I removed and served with Avocado, Plum tomatoes and Spinach. Hit the spot quick and easy and I didn't miss a beat on my show!!!

Enjoy, 

Always stress free xo.

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Hey my sweets! Hope you are all doing well this August day wow yes we are already in August.

Things are beginning to slow down for me on my grandma end which is a blessing. I actually was able to cook something in my kitchen this week AND remember to document so I could share with you.

Thursday's Treat! Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients:

-chicken (I used cutlets & tenders for faster cook time in the kitchen)

-Teriyaki sauce/marinade

-garlic

-sugar

I always do a quick wash per say of lemon juice and cold water on any type of poultry or meat I plan to cook so of course that's what I did first. Then I rinsed one last time with cold water and in a bowl I added 1/3 cup of Teriyaki sauce, 2 tbs of garlic powder and 2 tbs of sugar mixed well and added my chicken pieces. I add the sugar for a kick of sweet but if you don't want that kick you can totally just remove.

I let it sit for about 20 minutes while ran an errand and came back. Normally I just season and move on. Turn toaster oven on, set to bake @425 degrees. Place aluminum foil on bake sheet spray some Pam and place chicken pieces leaving some space between. Bake for 30 minutes, done!

I served mine with Spinach and Sweet Peppers my lil mama ate hers with Avocado and Kale. I loved the coloring the sauce gave it while it baked nice golden brown! I am taking some leftovers to work tom so I will make a wrap. However you want to serve it works well with numerous things.

Quick and easy, nice clean and always the best part healthy option.

Always stress free xo.

Stuffed Chicken Thighs

All day at work yesterday I kept thinking about stuffed foods. I kept picturing biting down on something yummy filled with more yummy stuff. I left some chicken thighs out in the morn thinking I would just make rice with it but when I got home I saw some peppers and cheese and decided to put them all together. 

Thursday's treat! 

Stuffed Chicken Thighs 

Ingredients:

-chicken thighs

-sweet peppers

-shredded cheese

-lemon pepper

-parsley 

-sage

-saźon clasico (any other seasoning that compliments above)

Prep your chicken pieces as you normally would. In a large bowl add 1 tbs lemon pepper, parsley, sage and saźon clasico (or any other complimentary herb/seasoning) blend together mix well. Let it sit for a few minutes while you cut 1 large sweet pepper into slices then halves.

Spray Pam or drizzle a little olive oil on a baking tray and set your oven / toaster oven to baking setting at 350 degrees.
Place your chicken pieces on the tray and with a culinary scissor or small sharp knife cut slits on thicker part of meat deep enough to stuff. Group your pepper pieces into 4, stuff into slots add 1 tbs of shredded cheese on top. I used a Mexican blend bag from Western Beef but you can use your fav cheese of course. I then used toothpicks to close slit so stuffing didn't spill out as it cooked.

I cooked these thighs for about 35 minutes when juices ran clear and meat temp hit 165 degrees. It wasn't very quick and easy in and out the kitchen but it was healthy and filling. I served ours with some Spinach Spring salad but next time I want to try mashed potatoes! Total time with clean up was about an hour.

If more than 4 pieces please double the recipe and enjoy!

Always stress free xo.

Chicken Quesadilla

Hey loves, are we getting ready for the kids to be done with school? Are they already home? I'm sure we have plenty on our plates as to what to do with the kiddies for the summer. I'm going to try to help by sharing with you another quick treat. 

Thursday's Treat...Chicken Quesadilla 

Ingredients:

-chicken cutlet or tenders

-mustard

-honey (raw if possible)

-lemon pepper

-wheat wraps

-sweet peppers

-tomatoes

-sour cream

-mozzarella cheese shredded (not pictured)

I used 2 tbsp of raw honey, 2 tbsp of mustard and 1 tbsp of lemon pepper mixed in a bowl then added my chicken (4) pieces (cutlet size) covered and let sit for about 10 minutes. I then cut my chicken into cube size pieces and placed on baking sheet sprayed with a little Spam and actually broiled for 10 minutes in my toaster oven, turning midway.

I chopped up 2 plum tomatoes and 1/2 of a sweet pepper, cube sizes, set aside. Once my chicken pieces were cooked I removed from toaster oven to cool lightly and changed setting to toast and placed my wraps in for a few minutes. I then removed them, spread a tbsp of sour cream on each wrap layered the chicken, cheese, tomatoes and peppers folded and placed them back in toaster long enough to be lightly crisp.

I cut the wraps into 3 triangles each and placed on a plate, everyone could grab their own. These measurements served 3 people. I would double slightly to taste if serving more. Nice glass of cold Green Tea and I was done.

Quick and easy light meal and fast clean up in the kitchen. I love Quesadillas because there are so many varieties as far as fillers and no way you can go wrong with it.

Enjoy!

Always stress free xo.

Chicken Thighs stewed in Teriyaki & Brown Sugar

March is just around the corner and I am so happy about that. Totally over this Winter. Between looking for parking, trying not to slip, wearing the same winter boots for past month and not being able to really go and hang out outside I am counting the days till Spring for sure.

I have a few things I am currently working on that require a huge bulk of my time so surely I don't want to invest to much time in my kitchen.

Last night I decided I would make something quick with Chicken Thighs. So this morning just before I left to work I took a pack out and left it to thaw out.

Thursday's treat!

Chicken Thighs stewed in Teriyaki & Brown Sugar 

ingredients:

-chicken thighs /no fat

-teriyaki sauce

-brown sugar

-small potatoes (optional)

-green salad (optional)

Wash and then season chicken pieces to your taste. I prefer the extra kick of sweetness so I sprinkle a little extra. Make sure you have mixed into a sauce consistency not watery!
Place a medium pot on stove to heat at medium setting then add 2 tablespoons of oil, I use olive oil or canola and 1 tablespoon of brown or regular sugar till it begins to caramelize.
When that begins to happen I carefully add the chicken pieces, pour about a cup of water and cover.

Lower flame slightly, making sure water isn't boiling to quickly this is what helps meat cook thoroughly and makes it tender.
Watching that water doesn't totally cook down, check after about 20 minutes, flip chicken pieces to other side add a bit more water if needed and cover again.
The water isn't suppose to be soupy, the idea is to stew and create a sauce.

After 30 minutes check with a fork for tenderness and thorough cooking of your meat.
If you are satisfied, turn off stove set aside. If you aren't add a little more water, flip pieces again and cover for a few more minutes.

I baked some small potatoes and cut up some lettuce on the side but you can have this with rice or even pasta.

Total time for me was around 45 minutes just because you want to make sure the meat is cooked properly and the water with the meat juices turns into a sauce consistency.
Enjoy!

Always stress free xo.