• Healthy Meals

    Savory Steamed Broccoli

    Hi Everyone!

    Today I am talking about a healthy snack that is quick and easy to make, steamed broccoli! I know a lot of us are working from home these days and I don’t know about you but I have been browsing my pantry and fridge for snacks all day long. It’s weird how when you aren’t home you don’t feel hungry as often. The hardest part for me is trying to snack on something healthy! I have a solution to this problem, at least for some of the time. 

    Ingredients

    1-2 Broccoli Crowns (I like the crowns because they are cheaper, usually about $1 a crown)

    4 Cups Water

    Spray Butter (to liking)

    Salt/Pepper for Taste

    Instructions

    1. Start boiling your water in a medium saucepan.  
    2. While you are waiting, cut your broccoli crowns into small pieces to your preference. Add these to your steamer basket. 
    3. Once the water starts boiling and your broccoli is in your steamer basket, place the steamer basket into your saucepan and cover. Change heat to medium. Set a timer for 10 minutes. 
    4. When the timer goes off, remove from heat and enjoy! I like to add I can’t believe it’s not butter spray butter and salt/pepper to taste! 

    I always try to keep a few crowns of broccoli in my fridge, along with other fruits and vegetables so that I can eat healthier snacks. I have even found that when I make too much broccoli for a snack you can just put it in the fridge and it heats up really well. Making it even easier to choose to eat something healthy. I have added a link below to a steamer basket that is similar to mine!

    I hope you loved today’s post, please let me know in the comments below. If you love my blog please subscribe below, it will help me to continue to be able to put out more content each week!

  • Healthy Meals

    Mouthwatering Lemon Parmesan Chicken and Asparagus

    Hey Everybody!

    Today’s recipe is one for mouthwatering lemon parmesan chicken and asparagus. I am not kidding you; my mouth is literally watering as I type this. This meal is so delicious, it leaves you constantly thinking about when you can have it next! As I have mentioned before, I am known to be a picky eater so getting those veggies in is so tough for me. I have learned to love asparagus because of this meal!

    I got this recipe from one of my good friend’s Lars Sundwell.

    He got the recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron, though they call it one pan lemon parmesan chicken and asparagus. I think that title is misleading as this uses many items in the kitchen in order to prepare. (Though it is well worth it every time)

    This recipe generally takes about 40 minutes from start to finish.

    Ingredients

     1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders

    1/3 cup flour

    1 cup panko (found on the Asian Cooking Aisle)  

    1 cup parmesan cheese separated

    1 teaspoon dried parsley

    1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

    3-4 lemons

    1 tablespoon minced garlic

    8 tablespoons melted butter separated

    1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning

    1 pound asparagus

    3 tablespoons olive oil

    3 tablespoons honey

    Optional: fresh parsley, 1 lemon for topping

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
    2. Grab three bowls. Add the flour to one bowl.
    3. Combine panko, 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, dried parsley, garlic powder, about 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir.
    4. In the final bowl, add 1-2 teaspoons lemon zest, 4-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on lemon flavor intensity desired), minced garlic, and 5 tablespoons melted butter. Stir. Remove 4 tablespoons of this mixture and set aside.
    5. Slice chicken breasts to the size of tenders (about 1 and 1/4th inch strips) or use chicken tenders.
    6. Coat in flour, heavily dredge in garlic lemon mixture, and then coat in the Parmesan panko mixture.
    7. Place on prepared sheet pan. Use any remaining Parmesan panko mixture and sprinkle over tenders. Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning over the tenders (I use Mrs. Dash lemon pepper)
    8. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes and remove.
    9. Flip the tenders to the other side.
    10. Place the asparagus next to the tenders and drizzle the reserved lemon butter sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese over the asparagus and toss with tongs.
    11. If desired place lemon slices over the chicken (optional)
    12. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F.
    13. Meanwhile, whisk remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1-2 teaspoons lemon zest, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and 3 tablespoons honey in a small bowl. Add some pepper and parsley if desired.
    14. Remove from the oven and top with the honey lemon mixture and fresh parsley if desired and enjoy immediately.
    15. Do not top chicken breasts with the honey lemon mixture unless eating immediately and aren’t planning on having leftovers since it will make it soggy.

    If you want to visit the original site go to: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/one-pan-lemon-parmesan-chicken-and-asparagus-video/  

    They even have a printable version of the recipe!

    A few things that I have learned through making this recipe several times is that I like to steam my asparagus before baking it in the oven, if you forgot to get the lemons at the store it’s not the end of the world lemon juice works just fine, if you are cooking with your husband in the room make sure he knows that you set extra sauce to the side that you will be using (mine thought it was just another dirty dish and washed it down the drain lol).

    Let me know what you think about this recipe in the comments below. If you love this please subscribe as well! You have got to try this one out. You will not be disappointed.

    [email-subscribers-form id=”1″]

  • Healthy Meals

    Delectable Zucchini Fries

    Hey Everybody!

    Today’s recipe is one for delectable baked zucchini fries. I unfortunately consider myself to be pretty picky so finding a way to get my vegetables in can be really hard. I have been working hard to find recipes that I love so that I eat all the servings I should be without gagging them down.

    I found this recipe on Pinterest, which is my favorite place to find new ideas.

    This recipe comes from budgetbytes.com:

    Ingredients

    1 lb. Zucchini Squash

    1/4 cup All Purpose Flour

    1/8 tsp. Salt

    1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

    ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese (Fresh or Grated)

    1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning Blend (I used Olive Garden actual dressing)

    1 Large Egg

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
    2. Rinse and dry the zucchini. Cut the ends off and then cut each one into strips, approximately 1/3 inch thick.
    3. Place the zucchini strips in a large zip lock bag and add the flour and salt. Shake the bag to coat the zucchini in flour. In a wide, shallow bowl combine the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. In a second, wide, shallow bowl, whisk a raw egg with about 1 Tbsp of water until fairly smooth.
    4. Cover a baking sheet with foil and then place two wire cooling racks over top. One by one, take the flour coated zucchini strips and dip them in the egg and then the seasoned bread crumb mixture. Place the breaded zucchini on the wire cooling racks. The wire racks keep the zucchini up off of the baking sheet and allows hot air to circulate underneath, which will prevent soggy bottoms. Also make sure there is a small amount of space between each strip to allow circulation.
    5. Once all of the zucchini strips are breaded, bake them for approximately 15 minutes or until they are a medium golden brown color. Cooking time will vary with the thickness of your zucchini strips, so keep a close eye. I personally cooked mine for 25 minutes as I like mine pretty crispy.

    If you want to visit the original site go to:

    https://www.budgetbytes.com/baked-zucchini-fries/

    They even have a printable version of the recipe! This site has a ton of great recipes, I’m sure I’ll be sharing more of them with you guys in the future.

    Let me know what you think about this recipe in the comments below. If you love this please subscribe as well!

    [email-subscribers-form id=”1″]