Easy Sauteed Chicken and Vegetables

Tonight's dinner was inspired by the fact that I had some "use it or lose it" vegetables in my fridge!  I wanted to make a low carb meal and this was the perfect candidate!  Keep in mind that any kind of dish like this can be altered to fit your tastes and to what you have on hand. The salad was made out of veggies that were fading fast and had to be consumed in the next couple of days!  I used lettuce, spinach, shredded carrots, grated radishes, chopped green onion, and dressing. 

As for the chicken-veggie skillet, I didn't measure anything.  I just used what I had on hand!  So the recipe for this dish is short and sweet.

Chopped veggies ( I used zucchini, green onion, mushrooms)

Chopped chicken

Olive oil, salt, pepper, all purpose seasoning

*Saute everything together in a pan. 

*Serve with side salad for a complete low carb dinner 💚

Coconut Chia Pudding 🖤 (Copycat Carnival Cruise Line's Tropical Chia Pudding)

Back in August my hubby and I were on a cruise to Bermuda!  At the Sunday brunch that they had on the ship, they offered chia pudding as a menu option.  I absolutely loved it!  It was so creamy and topped with the best berries and bananas!  I have tried to recreate it a few times but nothing compared. After some tweaking, I have finally figured it out!  It really is good for you and a great low carb option!  This pudding is also diabetic friendly because I used Splenda instead of sugar!  The recipe is for two half containers full. (I leave room on top for fruit!) 

Coconut Chia Pudding

3/4 c Coconut Milk

2T Chia Seeds

2T Splenda (I used 3 packets)

1T sugar free maple syrup

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup bananas, blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries

Whisk everything (except for fruit) together in a bowl. Pour into containers and let sit in fridge to let it thicken. When you're ready to eat or serve, top with fruit.

*You could also add some coconut flakes 

This is the closest I have come to copying that recipe!  I hope you try it and let me know how you like it if you do!  

Valentine's Garden Pizza 💗🍅🍄🍕

First, Happy Valentine's Day!   I hope you had a great day celebrating, or not celebrating!  We kept it low key and the boys got some of their favorite candy and I made red velvet cake for dessert. 💗 For dinner, I had originally planned to make chicken parm sandwiches but I changed my mind at the last minute.   Instead, I decided to use up some vegetables, fresh mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni from the fridge and make some pizza!  I used Trader Joe's pizza dough for both pizzas!  

One pizza is for my picky eaters.  (This was so good!  Literally just pizza dough, pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, and pepperoni!) (Pic at bottom)

 

The second pizza is my Garden Pizza!   It's for the more adventurous family members.  

Garden Pizza 🍅🍄

1lb pizza dough (spread out on round pizza pan)

1small jar pizza sauce (I used great value brand)

Fresh Mozzarella cheese

Mushrooms, sliced

Grape tomatoes, sliced

Fresh baby spinach, diced

*Pre heat oven to 375

*Spread out pizza dough.  Cover with pizza sauce. Place cheese on pizza. 

* Top with spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes.  

* Bake for 8-10 mins at 375°

Adventurous Garden Pizza

Picky Eaters Fave Pizza

Taco-Tater Tot Casserole

Tonight I decided to try something different.  I knew I wanted some kind of "comfort food" but I couldn't put my finger on it.  Then I was browsing Pinterest and found some ideas for tater tots casserole.  Then I started brainstorming ways to change it so my family will like it!  Long story short, I came up with a Mexican version!   I'm calling it Taco-Tater Tot Casserole!  This is one of my favorite dinners I've made in a long time.  It definitely has the comfort food factor.  I served mine with a store bought Southwestern Salad kit and some corn with a little chili-lime seasoning from Trader Joe's!  

Taco-Tater Tot Casserole

1-2lb ground beef

1Tbs Onion Powder

1Tbs Garlic Powder

Salt & Pepper

1 packet taco seasoning 

1 can red enchilada sauce

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

2cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 bag frozen tater tots

2cups pepperjack cheese

1. Preheat your oven to 375° and grease a 9x13 casserole dish.  Brown the beef on the stove, drain, and then add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Then add the diced tomatoes as well as the enchilada sauce and taco seasoning. 

2. Pour meat mix into prepared baking dish.  Top with the cheddar cheese.  Then layer the tater tots on top of cheese.  Bake, uncovered, for 30-45 mins.  Then top with the pepperjack cheese and bake for another 10 minutes. 

*Side note*

You can add corn or black beans to your meat mixture as it's cooking!

Hello, February! ❣️

Goodbye, January!  Helllloooo, February!  I consider January a "trial month".  You know, when you try to hype up your resolutions so that you actually keep them but then forget all about them.  Then nearing the end of what seams like a year long month, you remember that you didn't even touch your well thought out New Year's resolutions.  You start to feel guilty thinking your brand new year is already shot.  Well...have no fear!  That's what February is for!

Not only is February the month of love.  It's also a take #2 on of those goals you set for yourself!  It's a new month to get serious and remember that you can start today and work towards those untouched resolutions!  One of my resolutions is to read 39 books this year since I'm turning 39 in May.  I. Have. Not. Read. One. BUT...I can start today.  Who cares that I haven't started yet?  There's still plenty of weeks left to complete my goal!  Another resolution was to eat healthier and lose 50lbs.   I've only lost 1 pound so far!  BUT...I didn't GAIN a pound.  So, that's a win in my eyes!  

It's okay to consider February a fresh start and new beginning!  It's the month of love.  A reminder to show love to others and also yourself!  

❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

Coming up this month on Let's Dish!:

*More dollar store dinners! (I had a huge positive response to my previous posts on this!)

*Three freezer meals 

*Sharing my favorite items from Trader Joe's

*2 Copycat recipies from two of my favorite restaurants

*Make two of your own spice blends with me