Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

chicken

Recipe of the Week: Balsamic Chicken Berry Quinoa Salad

This flavorful salad is perfect to meal prep to bring for lunch! Even better is making a homemade, sweet & tangy raspberry vinaigrette!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

For the dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon raspberry jam
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For the salad:

  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 3/4 cup quartered strawberries
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds (or chopped roasted almonds)
  • 2–4 cups arugula or baby spinach

Instructions:

  1. Add chicken and marinade ingredients to a large bag. Marinate chicken for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. While you are marinating your chicken, make your quinoa: Add 1 1/2 cup water to a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Then, stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for exactly 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and let stand covered for another 5-10 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Quinoa will pop upon cooking and expand. To help separate the grains, use a fork and fluff the quinoa. Set aside.
  3. While the quinoa is cooking, chop all your ingredients for your salad.
  4. Next, make your raspberry vinaigrette. Add all ingredients for the dressing to a small bowl and mix until well-combined. Set aside.
  5. Once ready to cook chicken, preheat grill to medium high heat. Lightly oil the grate. Grill chicken breasts for 6-8 minutes per side, or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink. Once chicken has cooked, transfer to a cutting board and dice into bite sized pieces.
  6. Make the mason jar salads by dividing ingredients evenly between 4 (32-ounce) large mason jars in the following order: dressing, strawberries, cooked quinoa, blueberries, chicken, goat cheese, avocado, arugula, almonds.
  7. When ready to serve, pour contents from the mason jar onto a plate or into a bowl and enjoy! Makes 4 large mason jars.
  8. To make vegetarian: replace chicken with 1 (15oz) can chickpeas

Nutrition Facts:

Amount Per Serving (1 mason jar salad)
517 calories
Fat: 29.5g, Carbohydrates: 35.1g, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 5.6g, Protein: 32.3g
Original recipe from Ambitious Kitchen can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Grilled Chicken, Lentil and Peach Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup French green lentils
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 small (6 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 large (6 ounce) stone peaches, halved and pitted
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed mint leaves, torn
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves, torn

Directions:

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the lentils are just tender, about 25 minutes. Drain.
  2. While the lentils are cooking, preheat a grill over medium heat. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, oil, shallots, vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic and pepper. Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a medium bowl, add the chicken and toss to coat, set the remaining dressing aside.
  3. Place the chicken and peach halves, cut side down, on the grill. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Cook the peaches until charred on the cut side and softened slightly, 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes. Cut chicken into thin slices and the peaches into bite-size pieces.
  4. Divide the warm lentils among 4 plates. Arrange the chicken and peaches over the top. Sprinkle with the herbs and drizzle each salad with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining dressing. Serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Serves: 4
Serving Size: 1/4 of the lentils, 1 chicken breast, 1/2 peach, 1/4 cup herbs, 1 1/2 tablespoons dressing

Per serving: Calories: 258; Fat: 10g; Carbs: 26g; Dietary Fiber: 8g; Sugar: 14g; Protein: 19g

 

Original recipe from My Fitness Pal can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Buffalo Chicken Sliders w/ Sweet Potato Buns

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
  • 2–3 Tbsp. buffalo sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. almond flour
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 large sweet potato, sliced into ¼-inch rounds (with skin intact)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • Optional: ¼ cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
  • Optional toppings: Sliced tomatoes, leaf lettuce, sliced red onion, avocado slices, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375*F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange sweet potato slices in a single layer on baking sheet. Brush lightly with olive oil, salt & pepper, to taste. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and tender, flipping them over halfway through baking time.
  3. In medium bowl, combine chicken, garlic, green onions, buffalo sauce, almond flour and black pepper. Mix well.
  4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat; about 400* F
  5. Divide chicken mixture into 8 portions. Flatten them into patties. When grill is hot, place patties over direct heat. Grill 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through but not overcooked.

 

Original recipe from The Real Food RDs can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6 lettuce wraps

INGREDIENTS:

For the Firecracker Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons chili paste (like sambal oelek)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • a small knob of fresh ginger, peeled
  • a clove of fresh garlic, peeled

For the Lettuce Wraps:

  • 1 container extra firm tofu
  • 4 ounces brown rice noodles
  • lettuce leaves, for wrapping
  • peanuts, cilantro, lime for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Noodle Prep: Soak your noodles in a bowl of lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes while prepping the rest of the recipe. You want the noodles to be soft and flexible.
  2. Sauce: Blend all the sauce ingredients together in a small blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
  3. Tofu: Press the tofu with a few paper towels to get some of the moisture out. Cut the tofu into small pieces. Heat a little oil in a nonstick skillet. Add your tofu. Stir-fry until golden brown, usually let it sauté for at least 15 minutes. Add about half of the sauce to the pan. Stir-fry for another 3-5 minutes. As the sauce browns, it will form small crispy pieces around the tofu. Transfer tofu to a bowl.
  4. Noodles: Drain and rinse your noodles. Add another swish of oil to the pan and plop the noodles in. Add about half of the remaining sauce. Stir fry for just a minute or two until coated. Add a splash of water if it’s too sticky. Remove from heat immediately and toss with the tofu.
  5. Lettuce Wrap It Up: Fill your butter lettuce leaves with the noodle/tofu mixture . Top with peanuts, cashews, cilantro, scallions, lime, and/or Sriracha if you want.

Protein Options: It’s super easy to swap out your protein here. You can try ground chicken or turkey.

Soaking the Noodles: If you don’t soak the noodles long enough they will require more liquid in the pan to cook, which makes them boil into a big glob. Be sure to soak them until they are very soft.

NUTRITION:

Serves: 6
Calories Per Serving: 397
Fat 27g, Carbohydrate 27.4g, Protein 13.1g, Sugars 8.3g

 

Original recipe from Pinch of Yum can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: One Pot Chicken & Spring Veggies

This recipe comes from the kitchen of our own Exercise Physiologist, Corynne! All you need is 30 minutes and one pan to make this delicious meal. Feel free to substitute your favorite vegetables. Thanks for sharing!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1-2 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 lb. Chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 cup Asparagus, halved
  • 1/2 cup Mushrooms, diced
  • 1/4 cup Sun dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. In a large pan on medium heat, cook olive oil with garlic and sun dried tomatoes, for about 5 minutes. Remove contents from pan and put in a bowl on the side.
  2. Cook the mushrooms in remaining olive oil (you can add more oil if needed) for about 5 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper as desired. Remove from pan and put in the bowl with the sun dried tomatoes.
  3. Add the asparagus to the pan and cook for about 10 minutes or until tender. Set aside in same bowl as the sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms. Then cook chicken breast for 5-7 min or until lightly browned with garlic, garlic powder, salt and pepper as desired.
  4. Put everything back in the pan and mix together for 30 seconds. Enjoy!

Recipe of the Week: BUFFALO CHICKEN STUFFED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Let’s talk about twice baked squash loaded with chicken, veggies, and savory buffalo sauce. Make it for the family or hide the leftovers for yourself!

PREP TIME: 15 MINS
COOK TIME: 45 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR
YIELD: 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 ¼ lbs chicken breast, cooked and shredded
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash, halved
  • 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
  • 2 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced
  • ½ cup diced red bell pepper
  • ½ cup Mild Buffalo Sauce
  • Optional: ¼ cup Ranch Dressing or Homemade
  • Optional: ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:
TO ROAST THE SQUASH:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Slice both ends from squash and discard. Stand squash up on one of it’s cut ends and use a large knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop seeds and stringy insides out using a large spoon.
  3. Place squash cut-side down on the baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until squash is tender. Baking time will depend on the size of your squash, larger squash requiring a longer cook time. When squash is tender, allow to cool slightly before using a fork to gently scrape the squash into a large bowl. Reserve the squash shells.
  5. While squash is roasting, cook the chicken.

TO COOK THE CHICKEN:

Directions for Instant Pot: Insert rack into inner pot. Add 1 cup water or broth. Lay chicken on rack. Secure lid and select ‘Poultry’ setting and increase time to 17 minutes (19 if the breasts are really thick). At the end of the cooking time, allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes then flip the vent valve and release the remaining pressure. Move chicken to a cutting board to cool slightly before shredding with two forks.

Directions for Stovetop: Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp. avocado or coconut oil and swirl pan to coat with the oil. Add chicken and ½ cup water. Once the water begins to simmer, reduce heat and cover. Cook chicken for 15-18 minutes or until cooked through. Move chicken to a cutting board to cool slightly before shredding with two forks.

TO ASSEMBLE THE STUFFED SQUASH:

  1. Place squash shreds, chicken, celery, onions, peppers and Buffalo sauce in a large bowl. Toss well to coat. Spoon squash mixture into the squash shells.
  2. Return the stuffed shells back to the baking sheet and place in 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

NUTRITION:
SERVING SIZE: 1/4TH RECIPE
CALORIES: FAT: 14g, CARBOHYDRATES: 13g, PROTEIN: 36g

Louise’s Recipe Notes: Prepped the chicken breast ahead of time using my slow cooker with a layer of chicken broth on the bottom, then added a drop of olive oil, salt & pepper. I also used both a red & green pepper to add more vegetables. Since I’m not a fan of bleu cheese, I swapped that out for thinly sliced cheddar on top when it went back in the oven!

Original recipe from The Real Food RDs can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Chicken and Lentil Chili

Time to break out that slow cooker and make this hearty chili the whole family will enjoy! Loaded with beans, chicken and vegetables, it’s easy to prep in the morning and let it simmer all day while you work from home.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cups chopped carrots
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed
  • 1 cup dried black beans, rinsed
  • 4 cups no-salt-added, chicken broth
  • 1 8-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

  1. Coat slow cooker with cooking spray. Place onion, carrots and garlic in bottom. Top with chicken, lentils and black beans. Stir in broth, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin and salt.
  2. Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir before serving. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1 tablespoon cheese. Garnish evenly with cilantro.

Nutrition Information

Serves: 8
Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Per serving: Calories: 282
Total Fat: 6g; Cholesterol: 38mg; Sodium: 448mg; Carbohydrate: 39g; Dietary Fiber: 18g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 28g

 

Original recipe from My Fitness Pal can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Immune Boosting Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup

Give your immune system the support it needs with this delicious, warming soup! This recipe is packed with ingredients that are good for you, too.

Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 medium lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1 fist full of fresh ginger (washed, with skin on)
  • 2 quarts of chicken broth
  • 1 can of organic coconut milk (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown.
  2. Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper to pan and cook until softened (about 5 minutes).
  3. Add 2 quarts chicken broth and ginger with skin on and bring to a boil. Note: the longer you boil the ginger, the stronger the flavor will be.
  4. Reduce heat, simmer 35-45 minutes
  5. Remove ginger and discard
  6. Remove the chicken, shred and set aside
  7. Add lemon zest and squeeze lemon to taste. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes then add shredded chicken
  8. Option to add 1 can organic coconut milk (it makes the broth creamier!)

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 130
Total Fat: 8.5 g
Saturated Fat: 5.2 g
Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
Protein: 9.2 g

 

Thank you to Korr.com for sharing this recipe! You can find the original recipe here!