Sunday, June 5, 2011

5 Layer Mexican Dip

This recipe comes from Ellie Krieger who has a cooking show on Food Network called "Healthy Appetite"
She is a registered dietitian and she tells you all the health benefits of the ingredients she cooks with!

This recipe is so delicious and tastes so fresh
Don't be put off by the long ingredient list, 5 layers of goodness requires lots of yummy ingredients!


  • Total Time: 23 min     Prep: 15 min       Cook: 8 min
  • Yield: 12 servings, serving size 1/2 cup
  • Ingredients

    • 2 teaspoons olive oil
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, preferably low-sodium, drained and rinsed
    • 1 tablespoon minced chipotle pepper in adobo (I never use this)
    • 4 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups corn kernels (10-ounce box frozen corn)
    • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
    • 2 ripe avocados
    • 4 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced (about 2 cups)
    • 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion
    • 1 tablespoon finely diced jalapeno pepper, optional
    • 3/4 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar

    Directions

    Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.
    Put half of the onion mixture into a food processor with the black beans, chipotle pepper, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, cumin, water and salt. Puree until smooth. Set aside.
    Add the corn to the skillet with the remaining onion mixture and cook for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro leaves.
    In a small bowl mash the avocado with the remaining lime juice. In a medium bowl toss together the tomatoes, scallion and jalapeno, if using. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.
    Spread the black bean dip into the bottom of an 8 by 8 glass baking or serving dish. Top with the corn mixture, spreading it out to form a single layer over the beans, repeat with the avocado, then the tomatoes. Top with cheese. Serve with baked chips.
    Per Serving:
    Calories 140; Total Fat 8 g; (Sat Fat 2 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 0.7 g) ; Protein 5g; Carb 16 g; Fiber 5g; Cholesterol 6mg; Sodium 245 mg

    Saturday, June 4, 2011

    Kim's Menu: Week Of June 6th

    Monday: Orange Chicken And Brown Rice with Steamed Veggies

    Tues: 5 Layer Mexican Dip, Spanish Rice, nachos

    Wed: Roasted Red Potatoes & Carrots, Caesar salad, grilled chicken

    Thurs: BBQ Chicken Salad

    Fri or Sat: Grilled Hamburgers

    Wednesday, June 1, 2011

    Kim's Menu: Week of May 30th

     ::: Sparking Strawberry Lemonade :::
    hurray for summer!
    Now on to my menu :)
    Monday: Memorial Day! Costa Vida with our friends
    Tuesday: Grilled Chicken / Zucchini from our garden / Salad with Olive Garden Dressing
    Wednesday: Steamed Broccoli / Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
    Thursday: Homemade Hamburgers! Kelli and Payne over for dinner!
    Friday: Texas Roadhouse with friends, don't eat too many rolls!!!

    Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

     
    This meal is great when you do not feel like running to the store.  I usually always keep potatoes on hand to make easy dinners and side dishes. Besides the long cooking time, this meal is quick to prepare and easy clean up.
     
    Recipe slightly adapted from www.excellenteats.blogspot.com
     
    1 TBSP Butter
    2 TBSP flour
    2 C milk
    1/2 medium onion (finely diced)
    1/2 tsp. salt
    1/4 tsp pepper
    1 TBSP. Parsley flakes
    1/2 - 1 c. grated cheddar cheese (amount used is to your own preference)
    2 pounds red potatoes (thinly sliced) *you can use russet or yukon potatoes as well!
    6 oz nitrate/nitrite free ham, cubed (Trader joes, boars head, or hormel natural)

    Preheat oven to 375.

    In a large saucepan, melt butter over low-med heat. Add onion and cook until onions are translucent. Mix in the flour , and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Add salt, pepper, and parsley. Turn heat up to medium and cook until mixture has thickened (will be several minutes). Stir in cheese and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds.

    Add potatoes and stir to mix thoroughly. Then pour mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish. 

    Cover with foil and cook for 25-30 minutes. Remove tinfoil and continue cooking another 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.


    Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. 

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    Kim's Menu: Week of May 9th

    This week has already started off crazy. If I don't plan my menu out on Sunday and go shopping Monday afternoon, then the whole week seems thrown off!!! But here we are on Tuesday and I might be able to pull it together since this week is not my typical week.

    Monday: In & Out Hamburgers. WHAT! In & Out hamburgers!!! I thought this was a blog about eating clean! Well check the title again... it says eating cleanER. haha but no seriously who has those days when after 11 hours of work you come home and are starving and all there is to eat is some lettuce or some eggs? Well that was my monday and I gave in. Now even though eating out is considered a NOT healthy choice, when you eat out it's important to make cleanER choices. Click on the IN & OUT link to read about WHY In & Out was a cleanER choice. Top it off with SHARING fries instead of getting your own, ask for NO cheese and add a little of your own when you get home, and of course... NO SODA!!!!!
    Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Pizza (Family Circle Magazine June 2011)
    Wednesday:  Tostadas
    Thursday: Tia Rosa's for Kelli's Birthday
    Friday: Leaving to California for the weekend! Vacations always = unhealthy eating. I am going to try and stock up on healthy snacks to avoid fast food overload.

    Next week will be SUPER CLEAN eating to make up for such a crazy week!

    Wednesday, May 4, 2011

    Clean Eating Guacamole

    This is my go-to recipe for guacamole. Instead of being loaded with fatty mayonnaise or sour cream, this recipe includes a few low fat changes to create a healthy, delicious garnish!

    Ingredients:
    - 3 ripe avocados
    - Juice of 1/2 fresh lime
    - 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro
    - 1/2 red or purple onion, minced well
    - 1 clove garlic passed through a garlic press
    - Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
    Preparation:
    1. Cut avocados in half.  Discard pit and scoop flesh into bowl. Place all ingredients in medium bowl and mix until just combined. Don't overmix. Enjoy with Trader Joe's reduced guilt tortilla chips or as a garnish on Chili Lime Chicken Tacos!

    Mini Chili Lime Chicken Tacos

     These chicken tacos are so quick and easy and a nice change to the typical beef based taco meat. I made ultra clean guacamole to go on top and they were awesome! 

    Recipe from Trader Joes
    Mini Chili Lime Chicken Tacos

    - 1 package TJ's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (frozen section)
    - 1 package corn tortilla or TJ's reduced guilt tortilla chips
    - Optional Garnishes: Lettuce, Cheese, Salsa, Guacamole, etc


    Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high flame. Add the four chicken burgers and cook through, crumbling burgers into taco-style meat as you cook. Set aside and keep warm. In a separate skillet, heat additional oil and lightly sauté tortillas until soft, turning frequently. Or, wrap tortillas in paper towels and place them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Fill tortillas with crumbled chicken and top with your favorite garnishes.
    *For taco salad lay a few tortilla chips on your plate and add chicken and topping!