Chicken Piccata with Oven-Fried Zucchini

ingredients:2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half and pounded into cutlets
salt and black pepper
all-purpose flour
nonstick spray
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. drained capers
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
fresh lemon slices
chopped fresh parsley
instructions:1.  Season cutlets with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.  Coat a saute pan with nonstick spray, add oil, and heat over medium-high.
2.  Saute cutlets 2-3 minutes on one side.  Flip cutlets over and saute the other side, covered, 1-2 minutes.  Transfer cutlets to a warmed platter; pour off fat from the pan.
3.  Deglaze pan with wine and add minced garlic.  Cook until garlic is slightly brown and liquid is nearly evaporated, about 2 minutes.
4.  Add broth, lemon juice, and capers.  Return cutlets to pan and cook on each side for 1 minute.  Transfer cutlets to warm plates.
5.  Finish sauce with butter and lemons.  Once butter melts, pour sauce over cutlets.
6.  Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Makes:  2 servings
Nutritional Information:  calories 449, fat 28g (10g. saturated), protein 41, carbohydrates 3, fiber 0g, cholesterol 129mg, sodium 259mg

This is tonight's dinner. It is a fairly light recipe....tomorrow is weigh-in at Weight Watchers. I really liked this recipe. It was very easy and quick. The lemon and capers gave it quite a zing!

Spicy Crab-Papaya Salad

YUMMY! I made this for dinner last night. I didn't want to post it before we tried it. It was delicious, but now....I'm trying to figure out what to serve it with or over it. It's really good alone, but I think it could be even better with something to go with it.

Combine 1 1/2 cups diced peeled papaya, 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions, 1/4 cup of finely chopped celery, 1 finely chopped jalapeno, and 1 pound lump crabmeat. Combine 3 T. canola oil, 2 T. cider vinegar, 2 t. suhar, 1 t. dijon mustard, 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper and 1/8 t. salt, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle vinegar over crab mixture; Toss. Chill. 4 servings (serving size 1 cup)

Calories 246; Fat 12.6g; Protein 23.3 g; Carbs 8.7g; Fiber 1.5g; chol 113 mg; Iron 1.3mg; Sodium 430mg; Calc 141mg

Nutty Monkey Malts--- Naughty and Nice! You can have it all.

This sweet, springlike treat has all the flavor without the guilt. No one will be able to resist this healthy and delightful snack. Chocolate, peanut butter and bananas.....is there a better marriage? If you really want to indulge, plop a spoonful of light or fat-free cool whip on top.

1/4 c fat-free milk
1 small banana, cut into chunks
1/4 c chocolate malted milk powder
2 T. reduced-fat peanut butter
2 c fat-free frozen chocolate yogurt
whipped cream, optional

In a blender, combine the milk, banana, malted milk powder and peanut butter. Cover and process for 10 seconds or until smooth. Add frozen yogurt. Cover and process 10 seconds longer or until blended. Stir if necessary. Pour into chilled glasses; garnish with whipped cream if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition facts: 1/2 cup (without whipped cream) equals 203 calories, 3 g fat, 1 mg cholesterol, 190 mg sodium, 39 carbs, 3 g fiber, 8 g protein. 5 weight watcher plus points. Serves 5

Kids will really love this. My 18 year old "kid" Kirstie goes bananas over it!!! (pun intended)

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Maple-Jalapeno Sour Cream

I tried this recipe last night....DELISH:) I got it out of the magazine Cuisine at home. ( I lightened it up by using fat-free plain greek yogurt) Here it is for all you adventurous people out there.

For the topping---
Combine:
1/2 cup fat-free plain greek yogurt
1 T. pure maple syrup
2 t. jalapeno, seeded, minced
1 t. fresh lime juice
Salt and tabasco to taste
Serve Potatoes With:
Maple-Jalapeno Sour Cream
Fresh Crispy Bacon Bits
Sliced Scallions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack positioned in the center. Bake directly on rack for 40-45 minutes, or until soft when pierced. Combine all topping ingredients; chill until ready to serve.

First Ever Blog

One of my friends recently suggested that I start a blog on recipes and cooking. At first, I thought "nah", I'm not good at writing. I gave it some thought and realized it would be a good way to share some recipes. Why not? I want readers to enthusiastically share my love of healthy, but still yummy, style of cooking. Be patient....I'm gonna give it a whirl!