Recipe of the Week – Chicken Balsamic

Chicken Balsamic
(serves 4)

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon butter

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rinse the mushrooms and pat dry. Season the flour with salt and pepper and dredge the chicken breasts in the flour mixture. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute the chicken until it is nicely browned on one side (about 3 minutes).

2. Add the garlic. Turn the chicken breasts and scatter the mushrooms over them. Continue frying, shaking the skillet and stirring the mushrooms. Cook for about 3 minutes, then add the vinegar, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cover tightly and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, turning occasionally.

3. Transfer the chicken to a warm serving platter and cover with foil. Set aside. Continue simmering the sauce, uncovered, over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes. Swirl in the butter or margarine and discard the bay leaf. Pour this mushroom sauce mixture over the chicken and serve.

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Ready: 30 mins

Amount Per Serving – Calories: 268 / Total Fat: 11.6g / Cholesterol: 77mg / Sodium: 320mg / Total Carbs: 9.9g / Dietary Fiber: 1.1g / Protein 30.9g

Recipe of the Week – Pumpkin Spice Cookies


Pumpkin Spice Cookies
(Serves 56)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/3 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1/2 cup apple butter
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F(190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.

2. Stir the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, ginger, and salt in a bowl.

3. Beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add 1 egg and allow it to blend into the mixture before adding the other along with the vanilla. Add the pumpkin and apple butter; continue beating. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the walnuts, mixing just enough to evenly combine. Drop spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Ready: 28 mins

Amount Per Serving – Calories: 74 / Total Fat: 2.2g / Cholesterol: 9mg / Sodium: 71mg / Total Carbs: 12.6g / Dietary Fiber:0.7g / Protein 1.4g

Recipe of the Week – Penne with Shrimp


Penne with Shrimp
1⁄4 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
11⁄2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped red onion
3⁄4 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon white wine
1⁄2 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1⁄4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 asparagus spears
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Mix in wine and tomatoes, and cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, steam asparagus 7 minutes or until tender. Mix shrimp into the skillet, and cook 5 minutes or until opaque. Toss with pasta and asparagus, and top with grated cheese to serve.

Serves 2 Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 25 minutes Ready: 35 minutes

Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 362 / Total Carbs: 48.1g / Protein 24g / Total Fat: 5.7g /
Cholesterol: 86mg / Sodium: 254mg / Dietary Fiber: 5.9g