Chicken Enchilada Soup (Slow Cooker)

Chicken Enchilada Soup (Slow Cooker)

Holy cow! If you’re looking for a soup that’s going to fill your house with fragrant smells, this is the one you need to try! Not only is this soup tasty and healthy, but it’s one of those “set it and forget it” recipes. Yes, you heard me right! This is a slow cooker recipe you can get set up in the morning on your way to work and enjoy when you get home for dinner! It’s that easy!

This recipe was a HUGE hit during my last C1 Challenge, so I’m proud to present you with a soup that will likely become a staple in your household (bonus: your entire family will love this!). Another bonus is that this soup is 17 Day Diet compliant and you can enjoy this during all cycles!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 medium onion, diced

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 jalapeño, de-seeded and diced

1 Serrano chili, de-seeded and minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes

2 cups chicken stock (or broth)

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 Tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Low-Fat Sour Cream (optional)

Directions

Add the chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker.

Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, Serrano chili, and garlic on top of the chicken.

Next, pour the diced tomatoes and chicken stock over the top.

Sprinkle with the spices and seasonings over the top.

Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours. Use a fork to shred the chicken before serving. Garnish with cilantro and a dollop of low-fat sour cream.

Yields 4-6 Servings

Approved for all cycles

Photo courtesy of Jennifer S.

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Chicken Caesar Kebabs

Chicken Caesar Kebabs

These chicken kebabs were featured in my Summer C1 Challenge and they were a huge hit inside of my private Facebook group where we have fun with recipe swaps year round! This is a healthier version of the normally higher-fat caesar salad and is a perfect dinner for all cycles of the 17 Day Diet year round. Enjoy!

Chicken Caesar Kebabs

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks

2 whole romaine hearts, cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces or 4 whole romaine hearts cut in half (depending on preference)

20 grape tomatoes

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoons anchovy paste (optional)

2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning.

Thread the chicken chunks on to skewers. Place skewers into a shallow baking dish that they can lay flat.

On separate skewers, thread the lettuce pieces alternating with grape tomatoes. Place into another shallow baking dish that they can lay flat.

In a medium bowl, whisk together garlic through anchovy paste. Whisk in yogurt and olive oil.

Pour one-third of the dressing onto the chicken. Rotate the skewers to cover all the chicken to fully coat.

Pour one-third of the dressing over the lettuce skewers. Rotate the skewers to cover all the lettuce and tomatoes.

Cover both dishes and refrigerate for an hour to allow marinating.

Heat a grill or pan to medium high heat. Either coat grill with oil or heat oil in pan.

Place the chicken onto the grill or pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until chicken is 165 degrees. Allow to rest once done.

Put lettuce and tomato skewers onto the grill or pan. Cook for about a minute on each side. You just want the lettuce slightly charred.

When you’re ready to serve, drizzle remaining dressing over skewers.

Yields 4 Servings

Approved for all cycles

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie G – follow her on Instagram here: @stephieges

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Chicken and Broccoli Skillet Stir-Fry

Chicken and Broccoli Skillet Stir-Fry

1. In a large skillet heat about 1-1/2 tablespoons sesame oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add in broccoli florets and 4 tablespoons chicken broth; cover skillet and cook until the broccoli is just crisp-tender (about 2 minutes) transfer to a bowl.
3. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper, then add to the hot skillet with green onions; saute until the chicken is cooked through (about 3 minutes).
4. Add in remaining 2 tablespoons chicken broth, hoisin sauce and oyster sauce. Add in the broccoli florets back to the skillet; toss to combine until heated through (about 1-2 minutes).
5. Transfer to a platter or large bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
6. Serve with cooked rice.
7. Delicious!

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Original article and pictures take geniuskitchen.sndimg.com site

Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Chicken and Broccoli Bake

This recipe I’ve featured in a few past Challenges as well as my Yummy! recipe book for Cycle 1 of the 17 Day Diet. This version is from my book (the Challenge version is slightly different, but I like this one better, plus it’s easier to make).

The photo above is courtesy of Diane Perrier, a member of my 17DD Blog Facebook Community!

Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 pound boneless chicken breasts, diced

salt and pepper, to taste

2 large broccoli heads, florets removed

2 garlic cloves, minced or grated

1/2 cup diced white onion

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp onion powder

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until slightly browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and any juice from the skillet and add to a bowl.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain.

Using the same skillet from the chicken, heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion and cook for 5-8 minutes or until the onion is very soft and translucent.

Whisk in the broth to the onion mixture and stir until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Add the thyme, parsley and onion powder.

Stir the cooked chicken, the broccoli florets into the mix and toss to combine.

Remove from the heat and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove the foil and broil until the cheese is lightly brown, about 1-2 minutes.

Yields 4 Servings

Approved all cycles

Photos Courtesy of Cari G. Follow Cari on Instagram.

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Cauliflower Tortillas

Cauliflower Tortillas

A member of my community was craving a low-carb tortilla to use with my Slow Cooker Mexican Cilantro Chicken recipe I recently introduced in my C1 Challenge. She made a few adjustments from another cauliflower hash brown recipe I provided and came up with a Cauliflower Tortilla solution! Here’s Wendy’s version:

Cauliflower Tortillas

Ingredients

1 large head of cauliflower

2 large Eggs

1/2 to 3/4 cup non or low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (enough cheese to bind everything together)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Remove florets from head of cauliflower and rinse well.

In a medium size bowl, add your cauliflower florets and microwave on high for 3 minutes, or steam them on the stove top in a large pot, until cauliflower is cooked.

Allow cauliflower to cool for a few minutes. In a large bowl, mash the cauliflower until you reach a smooth consistency.

Place mashed cauliflower into either paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze all excess liquid from cauliflower. It’s really important to get as much as the liquid out of the cauliflower as possible.

Wendy’s tip: squeeze all liquid from cauliflower until your cauliflower resembles “sawdust” type of consistency and dryness.

Add all other ingredients to cauliflower mixture into a bowl and mix well to combine.

On a greased baking sheet, form 6 to 10 round-shaped tortillas (your number of tortillas may vary depending on the size and thickness of your tortillas).

Bake for 15 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

Allow to rest for 7 to 10 minutes to allow tortillas to firm up prior to serving.

Wendy’s tip: make these earlier in the day if you can, and toast them up prior to dinner to get them a little crunchy!

Yields 6-10 tortillas, depending on the size you make them.

Approved for all cycles

Photo courtesy of Wendy Y.

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Cauliflower Soup with Toasted Pine Nuts

Cauliflower Soup with Toasted Pine Nuts

Silky cauliflower soup gets a creamy, tangy flavor boost from plain yogurt which pairs perfectly with dried mint and toasted pine nuts.

Brisk Fall days practically beg for a satisfying bowl of warm soup. As a proud member of Stonyfield Organic’s Clean Plate Club, I decided to create a recipe using local, seasonal produce that incorporates one of my favorite foods: plain yogurt.

It can be tempting to celebrate the season with heavy comfort foods but wouldn’t it be great to ring in the new year already feeling good about ourselves? Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for hot, fresh cider donuts but don’t forget to fill the body with good things, too!

Speaking of good things, cauliflower might not be bright red or leafy green but it is LOADED in health benefits:

• Full of B vitamins including riboflavin, niacin and thiamine.
• A natural source of dietary fiber, cauliflower helps promote digestive health while also keeping you fuller, longer.
• Pregnant? Cauliflower is a great source of folate which helps prevent birth defects.
• Antioxidant-rich cauliflower has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
• An excellent source of Vitamin C, loading up on cauliflower is a great way to strengthen the body’s immune function – just in time for cold and flu season!

Even better? Cauliflower is affordable, versatile, readily available and absolutely delicious.

Your fork is waiting.

Original article and pictures take cdn.thelemonbowl.com site

Cauliflower Parsnip Mash with Roasted Garlic

Cauliflower Parsnip Mash with Roasted Garlic

A while ago I posted this simple cauliflower mash that is still quite a popular recipe. Since the holiday season is here I thought it would be nice to experiment a bit more with the idea of using cauliflower in a mash. I made this delicious cauliflower parsnip mash with roasted garlic. You’ll only need a few ingredients and you can let your blender do all the ”mashing”.

I usually use parsnip in recipes when I roast veggies or I add it to a soup, but parsnip in a mash is delicious too! It brings such a delicious, almost nutty flavor to this mash. Of course, the roasted garlic is also a game changer when it comes to bringing flavor into a recipe.

If you are a potato mash lover, you’ll for sure love this mash too. Whereas my previous cauliflower mash is on the light side when it comes to taste compared to a real potato mash, this recipe is much more rich in taste. Of course, you could just make a real potato mash if that is the flavor you like, but I love cauliflower a lot and wanted to create a cauliflower mash with more richness in taste and texture.

Although the name says ”mash” it’s actually a puree because there’s no mashing involved. I just blended everything in a powerful blender.

This recipe makes a great side dish for the holiday season, but I know I’ll make this mash way more often!

If you give this mash a try, I’d love to know. Leave a comment below or let me know on Facebook or Instagram. Oh and don’t forget to tag your picture #thegreencreator on Instagram. I’d love to see your recreations!

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This cauliflower mash is delicious and rich in taste because of the added parsnip and roasted garlic and you can let your blender do all the work.

• CAULIFLOWER PARSNIP MASH:
• 5 medium parsnips (1 lb) peeled & chopped into 1-inch chunks
• 1 medium head cauliflower (~2 lbs), broken into pieces
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt (optional) I used onion powder instead….
• 1 teaspoon minced rosemary
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 5 macadamia nuts, roasted and crushed for the topping
• one spring onion for the topping
• ROASTED GARLIC (use 4 fresh roasted cloves in the mash):
• 1 head garlic

1. Slice the macadamia nuts with a knife or transfer to a dry kitchen towel and smash with the flat side of a knife to create chunks.
2. Roast the garlic: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut a ½-inch slice off the top of the whole head of garlic to expose the cloves and place cut-side up on parchment paper.
3. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden and tender. In the last 5-7 minutes add the macadamia chunks.
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the parsnips and cauliflower for 10 to 15 minutes or until tender. Scoop into a blender.
5. Add 4 to 5 cloves of the roasted garlic to the blender along with the nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and a pinch of pepper. Blend to a smooth consistency.
6. Taste and add additional salt, onion powder or nutritional yeast if desired
7. Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the rosemary. Add more pepper, if desired, and top with roasted macadamia chunks and spring onion.

This recipe reheats perfectly - the flavors become more integrated and delicious the next day. Store for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the oven or microwave and stir before transferring to a serving dish.

Original article and pictures take thegreencreator.com site

Cauliflower Nachos

Cauliflower Nachos

Trying to lose weight means giving up your favorite salty, cheesy and carb-filled favorite dish: nachos….or does it?

If you’ve been around the 17 Day Diet block for a while, you’ll notice a trend with cauliflower — substitute your favorite carbs for this versatile veggie, and you instantly have a healthier version of your favorite comfort food. Here’s a dish a fellow 17dd’er, Michelle L., recently made. She made a few tweaks to the original recipe and had herself a healthy dish! It’s super easy and very yummy!

Cauliflower Nachos

Ingredients:

2 small heads (or 1 large head) cauliflower, chopped

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 c. low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded

Low-sugar Salsa, for serving

Green onions for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Add cauliflower to a large baking pan or dish and drizzle with olive oil. Mix all spices and salt together and sprinkle over cauliflower. Toss to coat.

Roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes until golden and crispy. Check about half way through and gently toss cauliflower, if needed.

Top with cheese and return to oven until melted, about 5 minutes more.

Garnish with your favorite low-sugar salsa and diced green onions.

Yields 3-4 servings.

Approved for all cycles.

Photo Courtesy of Michelle L. Follow Michelle on Instagram and you’ll fall in love with her feed of yummy food!

Original recipe can be found here.

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Cauliflower Crusted Pizza!!

Cauliflower Crusted Pizza!!

Report Inappropriate Recipe

Introduction

Are you on the 17 Day Diet (including cycle 1), are you looking for a low fat and low cal version of pizza but with a non diety taste? Look No further! I LOVE PIZZA ( i even have a poem on my blog) and when I started the 17 DD I thought it was loong gone out my life but recipe has totally changed me! You can split with others or have it all for yourself (4 serv. equals only 540 cal.!) Enjoy!

Ingredients

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press

evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with garlic powder, oregano and parsley.

Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

While the crust is cooking, cook up your toppings if needed. For this pizza I used chopped chicken breasts, mushrooms and 1/2 of a large onion and sauted til cooked and tender in cooking spray.

Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese.

If you're entertaining you can cut into 4 slices or if you've good all week and need a nice feeling meal of comfort make it personal for under 550 calories!

Serving Size: Makes 4 slices

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CHRISTAL9.

Original article and pictures take www.sparkpeople.com site

Carrot & Apple Soup

Carrot & Apple Soup

A recipe I featured on My 17dd Blog’s C1 Challenge was Carrot soup. The recipe was initially met with some hesitation due to the ingredients, but after participants tried the concoction, they were blown away! Where cumin is listed, feel free to substitute with your own favorite spice such as cinnamon, ginger or something entirely different!

This recipe is approved for all cycles. However, you may want to eat the soup for your lunch as it contains a good amount of fruit. Enjoy!

Carrot & Apple Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 onion, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced

4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces

4 cups low-sodium, non-fat vegetable broth

1 teaspoon cumin (or your favorite spice)

Salt and pepper

Chopped chives or parsley, as garnish (optional)

Directions

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add apple and carrots and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the apples and carrots are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove from the heat and puree with an immersion blender or, in batches, in a blender. Season soup with salt and pepper. Garnish with chives or parsley and serve.

Yields 3- 4 Servings

Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site

Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits

Buffalo Chicken Wings & Blue Cheese Sauce

Original article and pictures take i0.wp.com site

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms, a gluten free and easy stuffed mushroom recipe with chicken, blue cheese, ranch, celery, carrots, and red onion.

(For your shopping convenience, this post contains affiliate links.)

Another Buffalo Chicken recipe for all my “Buffalo” lovers! All the flavors of buffalo chicken wings but stuffed in a mushroom! These Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms are perfect for a dinner party, tailgating, or just because you’re in the mood! I actually ate a bunch of them for lunch the other day. :) You could easily make these into a vegetarian appetizer or swap out the chicken for shrimp. Let the party begin!!!

These Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms are easy to make and you can even make them ahead of time. Start with some mushrooms either button or baby bella (crimini) mushrooms. Remove the stems and using a small spoon or fork, scoop out a bit of the inside to make room for the filling. You can discard the stems and inside or keep for another use. I like to chop it all up and put on salads or cook and add to pastas, sauces, soups, or all sorts of things!

Once your mushrooms are ready to go. Chop up all your veggies and chicken. You could substitute additional vegetables or chopped precooked shrimp if you’d rather. Make sure everything is FINELY chopped.

Mix your filling together in a bowl. Start with a little Frank’s Hot Sauce then add more in to your personal liking. The filling is almost like a buffalo chicken dip. Or think buffalo hot wings stuffed in a mushroom! Yum!

Stuff your mushrooms with a small spoon then top with blue cheese. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until mushrooms are soft and cooked through and cheese is soft and melted on top.

Serve warm. They reheat fairly well and I’ve also been known to eat a few cold on occasion, but your guest might not go for that. :) Hope you enjoy the recipe!

Here are a few more of my “Buffalo” recipes I thought you might enjoy:

Hope you enjoy!

A few more stuffed mushroom recipes you might enjoy:

Original article and pictures take i1.wp.com site

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Back in grad school when I started compulsively watching The Food Network, Racheal Ray’s 30 Minute Meals was one of my favorite cooking shows. I was a cooking novice, so her familiar ingredients, straightforward cooking techniques, and quick preparation of meals appealed to me. I had just moved in with John at that point, and most of Rachael’s dishes were comprised of foods we both liked. I was also drawn to her spunky personality and down-to-earth vibe.

That was then.

Now, I rarely watch Rachael’s new cooking show and I stay as far away from her talk show as I can. I suppose you could say I’ve joined the ranks of folks who can’t stand Racheal Ray. In order to keep this post from becoming a rant, I will refrain from listing her traits that I now find incessantly obnoxious. What I will do is admit that I still enjoy browsing through, and gaining inspiration from, Rachael’s recipes. This Buffalo Chicken Salad was inspired by not one, but two of her recipes.

Ever since I became a buffalo sauce fan convert, I’ve been keeping an eye out for recipes featuring the spicy condiment. While sifting through Food Network’s online compilation of recipes, I stumbled upon a salad concocted by none other than RR. The salad (linked below) was comprised of buffalo sauce-drenched chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy carrots, ranch salad dressing, and blue cheese.

I knew instantaneously that this was the kind of salad that John and I would both enjoy as a light dinner. I researched recipes for homemade ranch dressing, and found a recipe by RR (also linked below) that could easily be adapted to fit my nutrition standards. The combination of low fat buttermilk and 2% plain Greek yogurt was the perfect base mixture for fresh herbs and crumbled blue cheese; the finished product was a rich, flavorful, slightly tangy, and healthy ranch-blue cheese dressing hybrid.

If you’re looking for a man-approved entree salad, look no further. When served with a few whole wheat rolls to round out the meal, this Buffalo Chicken Salad is sure to fill you up while keeping you light.

Thanks, Rachael Ray.

Buffalo Chicken Salad

inspired by Rachael Ray

Ingredients:

• 4 cups chopped romaine hearts
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 1/2 cup homemade buttermilk ranch dressing (recipe follows)*
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, plus more for garnish if desired
• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast
• extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp hot sauce (add more if desired)
• 1/4 cup canned tomato sauce

Directions:

1. Combine chopped lettuce and shredded carrots in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine 1/2 cup homemade buttermilk ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
3. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Season chicken with salt and pepper, add to heated pan, and cook until done, about 4 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside to cool. Once cool enough to handle, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Reduce stove heat to low.
5. Melt butter in the skillet and stir in Worcestershire, hot sauce, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and remove from heat. Add the cooked chicken to the buffalo sauce, and stir to coat evenly.
6. Toss the lettuce and carrots with the dressing, and top with the buffalo chicken pieces and additional crumbled blue cheese, if using.

*Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

adapted from Rachael Ray

yields 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup low fat buttermilk
• 3/4 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped dill
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped chives
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Original article and pictures take www.healthyfoodforliving.com site