restaurant style salsa

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• ¼ cups Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• ¼ teaspoons Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• ½ whole Lime Juice

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

pulled bbq chicken sandwiches with cole slaw

pulled bbq chicken sandwiches

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14-ounce) can low-sodium tomato sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons molasses
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 whole rotisserie chicken, skin removed, meat shredded into thin strips (about 4 to 4 1/2 cups)
6 whole-wheat sandwich thins
6 large green lettuce leaves

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, vinegar, molasses, pepper and liquid smoke and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add chopped chicken, return to a simmer, and cook an additional 10 minutes.

Split rolls. Place a leaf of lettuce on each roll, then pile on 3/4 cup of the chicken mixture onto the roll.

*For an unhealthy and delicious option, add turkey bacon and blue cheese.

cole slaw

1/2 cup nonfat Greek-style yogurt, or 2/3 cup regular plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (16-ounce) bag shredded coleslaw mix

2 teaspoons caraway seeds

If using regular yogurt, place it in a strainer lined with a paper towel and set the strainer over a bowl. Let the yogurt drain and thicken for 20 minutes.

In a large bowl whisk together the Greek or stained yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Add coleslaw mix and caraway seeds and toss to coat.

give credit: healthy appetite pulled bbq chicken sandwiches and healthy appetite cole slaw

chocolate-almond meringues

3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup superfine (caster) sugar*
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chocolate chip morsels)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer and beat until foamy. Add sugar and almond extract beat until meringues hold soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Fold in chocolate gently until just incorporated. Using a pastry bag or a sealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off, pipe meringue by the tablespoon onto cookie sheets. Bake for 40 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from parchment paper. Transfer to an airtight container.

give credit: healthy appetite

stuffed turkey burgers

1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey breast
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers, divided
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Divide turkey into 4 equal sized rounds. Make 2 equal sized patties out of each round so you have 8 patties total. Sprinkle 4 of the patties with 2 tablespoons each of roasted red peppers and cheese, and top with remaining patties working the turkey around the edges to seal burgers closed. Season with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Grill or broil until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

give credit: healthy appetite

meditteranean chicken salad

8 cups arugula

• 1 rotisserie chicken, bone out and shredded
• 1/2 english cucumber, chopped
• 1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
• 1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 3/4 cup crumbled Feta (about 3 ounces)
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 2 cups pita chips, broken into pieces
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 
  
• In a large bowl, add the lettuce, chicken, cucumber, chickpeas, onion, feta, olives, and pita chips to the oil and vinegar. Add ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper, and toss.

vegan chili

i've never used smart ground before, but i tried this recipe that calls for it and loved the chili.

1 Large Onion chopped (white or red onion)
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
1/2 Teaspoon Coriander
1 Teaspoon Dry Oregano
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
3 Minced Garlic Cloves
2 Large Diced Tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatos)
8 oz Sliced Mushrooms
2 (4oz) canned green chilies
1 bag smart ground (Mexican seasoned)
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 can black or pinto beans (rinsed)
Salt as needed

Chopped Green Onion (on side)
Grated Cheddar (on side)

• Mushrooms should be rough chopped.
• Sauté onions until light brown. Add mushrooms and cook 3-4 minutes.
• Add garlic and all seasonings and sauté 4 minutes more.
• Add remaining ingredients and stir until hot and the right consistency. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

give credit: the ellen degeneres show

black bean dip

3 cans black beans, drained and mashed or pulsed.
2 foil wrapped packages of cream cheese (1/3 less fat)

1 bottle fisher weiser raspberry chipotle Sauce
1 bunch green onions, chopped
cilantro chopped, to taste
1t salt

1t pepper

1t cumin

1t garlic powder

1t chili powder

1t cayenne pepper

heat oven to 350 degrees. spray a 9x12 pyrex with non-stick spray. mix all seasonings with mashed black beans. spread evenly in your 9x12 pyrex. melt cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl, about 2 minutes, stirring half way through. spread melted cream cheese on top of beans. pour raspberry chipotle on top of cream cheese.

bake for about 20-25 minutes.

top with green onions and cilantro and serve with frito scoops.

halves easily.