Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

HEALTHY CHICKEN IN FOIL




I posted this picture today on Little Magnolia Kitchen's Facebook page but I didn't tell what was inside.  

Well, now you know...it's a healthy chicken dish! 
this is before cooking

 Easy clean-up!

Healthy!

Low in Fat!

Really Yummmmmmmy!

Super easy to make!

What's not to love? 

I have been making this recipe for years and years and it is one of my family's favorites.  The recipe originally called for cooking sherry and different veggies but I changed it up a bit.  I really like the French Onion Soup in this recipe much better but you can try it both ways or find another liquid to try.  You can try different seasonings too.  You could go spicy, mexican, italian...lots of options!  

I always serve it with a mixed, fresh fruit salad and rolls.


Oh and by the way, speaking of rolls...have you tried the Rhodes Frozen Rolls?  They are amazing!  I used them for the first time at Thanksgiving this year.  I usually make homemade rolls but these were soooo easy and soooo good that I think these delightful little  diddies are my new best friends! Ha!

 
sorry I cannot get this picture to turn...ugh!

I literally opened the bag, sprayed a foil pan with Pam put the rolls in, sprayed a sheet of cling wrap with Pam, placed it on top of the rolls and walked away for 5 hours.  They rose up perfectly, I placed them in the oven for about 15 minutes and they were big, light, and fluffy.  I, of course, brushed them with honey butter when they came out of the oven....oh my gosh!!

Okay, here is the recipe...hope you try it.  Please let me know what you think if you try it by commenting here on the blog or Little Magnolia Kitchen facebook page.  Thanks so much for stopping by, it really makes my day!



HEALTHY CHICKEN IN FOIL
8 chicken breasts
3 russet potatoes, sliced into wide slices
4 yellow squash, sliced into wide slices
1 bag of small carrots
1 large yellow onion, sliced into rings

1 container of sliced mushrooms
1-1/4 sticks butter, sliced
2 cans French Onion Soup
Garlic Powder
Garlic Salt
Salt
Pepper
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, 8 - 16 to 18 inch long pieces


Preheat oven to 350 Degrees!





Wash and pat dry chicken.








Slice potatoes into wide slices so that they do not turn to mush while the chicken bakes. 

Do the same with the squash

Slice the onion into rings

Slice the butter into little pats.  It makes it so much faster and easier if you do this beforehand.  Gotta be careful with cross-contamination when dealing with chicken.

Tear off 8 sheets of Heavy Duty aluminum foil about 16-18 inches.

Place a piece of chicken on a piece of foil and season with garlic salt, garlic powder and pepper.


Place sliced potatoes on top of chicken

Place a pat of butter on top of each potato.  Salt and pepper the potatoes

Place a slice of squash on top of each pat of butter and season.


Place the carrots on each side of the chicken

Top with several sliced mushrooms and sliced onions


Spoon 3 to 4 teaspoonfuls of French Onion Soup over the top


Sprinkle more garlic powder, salt and pepper

Pull the two sides of the aluminum foil over the top of the chicken and fold down


Fold the ends to secure that the juices stay in the foil





Place the foil packets on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.


Open the foil packet, be careful to not burn yourself, and pour into a bowl.


I wonder if I could make cook these in a slow cooker?  I know 8 wouldn't fit but maybe 6...it's a thought!  Let me know if you try it!

ENJOY!



Friday, July 13, 2012

Get Healthy...Get Juicing!!


Okay, so I know that incorporating fruits and vegetables in the diet are one of  the keys to a healthy lifestyle but making myself juice on a regular basis is a battle.  I'm a lazy juicer!  But I don't want to be, so I am hoping that by writing about it on my blog it will motivate me to be a twice-a-weeker!!


My goal is to stay away from a daily handful of pills and regular doctor visits as long as possible and I want my family to enjoy the benefits of juicing!  




Look at how dry the pulp is in the left chute






I did some investigating online into what kind of juicer to purchase and I decided to get an Omega VRT 350 juicer.  I had another brand for a while but I felt like I was not getting the maximum amount of juice out of it. 


With the Omega VRT 350, the extracted pulp is basically devoid of liquid which means you get more juice using less vegetables.  Another reason I bought this juicer was for the warranty.  It has a 10-year full warranty and it is made in the USA.  


It is easy to use and it is easy to clean up.  I don't put any of the parts in the dishwasher...I wash it by hand but it is worth it (and for me to say that is huge)!




I am telling you the juice that comes out of this juicer is like nothing you will buy in a grocery store.  
It tastes amazing and fresh.  


My husband absolutely loves it when I juice oranges and I am not an orange juice drinker but....I love a big glass of freshly juiced oranges.  


And pineapple juice....oh my gosh....it tastes nothing like pineapple juice out of a can.  It actually tastes like a tropical drink.  

Not too long ago, I juiced a combination of carrots, apples, and ginger.  I'm not going to lie,  it wasn't my favorite....but knowing how good it is for me helped.



 If you are still not convinced....


Below is a list of some of the health benefits of carrots (taken from livestrong.com)

 1.  It is a fat-burning food
 2.  Lowers blood cholesterol levels
 3.  Keeps vision healthy 
 4.  Protects the immune system
 5.  Potassium content in carrots regulates blood pressure levels
 6.  Contains Falcarinol which has been linked to the reduction of tumor formation
 7.  Helps maintain healthy urinary and digestive tracts
 8.  Cleanses liver by ridding of bile and fat
 9.  Nourishes hair, nails, and skin
10. Loaded with vitamins and minerals
(If you have blood sugar issues, you should limit carrot juice to 4 ounces daily.)

These benefits are highest when carrots are either eaten raw or freshly juiced!


When I bought my juicer, I also bought the book below (I ordered it off of amazon.com).  It has recipes for energy, health, weight-loss and for things such as hair loss, upset stomach, blemishes, indigestion and more.  It is a great resource to have along with the juicer!  

 

This has got me thinking that I will take a drive to the Farmer's Market in the morning and see what veggies I can find to juice!

If you have a favorite juice recipe...please share!!  It would make my day to hear from y'all!

Happy Juicing!
(haha!  I know...so goofy)