Carrot Zucchini Cake

My daughter did the baking today- and this was to help use up our numerous Zucchinis and carrots we got.  Really yummy!

2 eggs
3/4 C brown sugar
1/2 C canola oil
1/4 C honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C shredded carrot (about 2 large carrots)
1 C shredded zucchini (about 2 small zucchinis)
1/2 C chopped pecans (optional)
1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Frosting
8 oz reduced fat Cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp Lemon Juice.

 Preheat oven to 350C. Mix together eggs, brown sugar, canola oil, honey and vanilla until well blended.  Fold in the carrot and zucchini.  Then fold in the dry ingredients (minus the pecans).

Pour into a 9x13 pan and cook for 22-25 minutes until done.  While it cools prepare the icing. Simply mix together all ingredients for the frosting and then spread onto a cooled cake. Top with pecans.

Makes 12 servings:348 calories

Turkey Burgers and Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

First day back to school.  We're following the 91 day de clutter challenge and started today. This I felt deserved a good BBQ since it's still super nice and hot out! We had some catch up cleaning out completely our fridge and pantry today we were hungry after!


Turkey Burgers: 

1lbs (2 packages) Ground Turkey- Lean
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup Italian blend shredded cheese
1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 tsp Italian blend herbs
1 Egg

Mix items together, form into patties.  This will make either 6 big patties or 8 regular size.  I went for 6 jumbo as our family is 3 member big. I will say this recipe held together the best of any turkey burgers I've made so far!

Grill over high heat (500F) until cooked through and juices run clear.

Served on a whole wheat bun,

6 servings: 446 calories (with bun but not toppings)


Prosciutto wrapped Asparagus

1 bunch asparagus
1 package (10 slices) Proscuitto
1/2 package Velata Smoked Gouda 
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tsp Lemon Juice

Whisk olive oil and lemon juice together. Break asparagus ends off (bend each stalk and it will naturally break off where the fiberous section meets the tender part). Toss asparagus in the Olive oil mixture.

Place slice of Proscuitto down, place on 3-5 stalks of asparagus (Larger stalks you'll need 3 bunch with youngers stalks use closer to 5) place a tsp of Cheese and then roll up.

Grill over medium heat (400F) until stalks are tender, prosciutto is crisp.

Servings: 9 Calories: 95/serving

Easy Peasy Chicken dinner- quinoa style.

If you liked my cheesy quinoa and cauliflower recipe, or if you liked my Easy Peasy chicken dinner this one sorta combines them. It was SO good  Seriously comfort food to the max and not bad health wise!

2 chicken breasts chopped into chunks
1 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 head broccoli chopped
1 package Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cooking Cream (i used herb and garlic but any would work)
1 tbsp olive oil 
1/4 cup water

Get your broth boiling in a pot and add your quinoa.  Simmer for 5 minutes then cover and set aside.
 
In a large non stick sauce pan/skillet add oil and chicken.  Cook until mostly done. Add broccoli, 1/4 cup water and turn down.  Cook for a couple minutes until broccoli is starting to soften and turn bright green.

Add the Philly Cream sauce, mix in the Quinoa.

Serve!

Serves four (large portions) 440 calories

Chicken Salad wraps

OK these were worth running around for the almond butter.  Although I almost tried this recipe with peanut butter and I do think it would turn out well with either one.  After cooking the chicken this took a whopping 5 minutes to put together so awesome recipe for left over cooked chicken.

This made 6 wraps for us- which fed as a complete small meal 3 of us

• 2 cups chopped chicken (I did two large chicken breasts- keep in mind the larger your pieces the more of a cup it fills so if you get all inspired and chop it up small you won't need quite 2 cups)
• 1/4 cup red grapes chopped
• 1 apple (I did gala, original recipe states Fuji) chopped
• 2 tbsp Honey
• 4 tbsp Almond Butter
• 6 large romaine lettuce leafs 

Cook your chicken, let cool (or use left overs). Chop, the finer the chop the better it tastes in my mind. Mix in all your ingredients together in a bowl.

Place on your lettuce, wrap (hint lay it along the spine of the leaf and curl the two sides in) and enjoy!  Kids loved this and we will for sure be making it again

Calories per serving (2 wraps) according to Myfitnesspal : 351

Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers

These turned out really well.  I sorta winged the recipe and will probably tweak abit- which i'm going to note in the recipe here what i'll do different next time.  Kids loved these and had left overs for lunch the next day.

1lb ground turkey
1 cup rolled oats
2 eggs
1/2 a package of frozen spinach thawed and drained (In the one that comes in cubes this worked out to about 6 cubes)
1/2 a cup of feta- go for the crumbled- don't make the mistake I did and be cheap and get the block.  If you can find some with some flavor in it- go for it
Salt and pepper to taste

Pretty simple to make-mix the above ingredients, try to not over work it-mix enough to mix well but then just form into 8 patties.  We BBQ'd these. OIL your BBQ or grill before putting these on they stick like crazy. Cook until well done throughout (several minutes each side).

We served with tomato and fresh lettuce from our garden with grilled asparagus on the side.

Works out to about 177 calories per patty 

Stuffed Potatoes- Light calorie version!

I love potatoes.  I'm trying very hard to shed some pounds and become healthier.  My cooking is part of that journey- that's about more than loosing weight.  But this recipe helps on both counts. It worked out (according to Myfitnesspal.com) to 90calories per serving! I used the microwave to cut down on the length of time these took to prep- and finished in the oven. Preheat to 425F

• 3 russet potatoes- medium size
• 1 cup shredded lite cheese +2 tbsp kept aside (I used marble) 
• 1/2 cup broccoli frozen - chopped (the smaller the piece the easier to get the kids to eat it)
• 1 1/4 cup skim milk 
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp garlic
• salt

Microwave the potatoes (3 potatoes in my microwave was 12 minutes).  Don't forget to pierce them with a fork first. While they are in the microwave mix the flour nutmeg a dash of salt and the garlic in a sauce pan.  Whisk in slowly 1 cup of milk while warming over medium heat.  Bring to a boil for 5 minutes (or until thickens) stirring and keeping it from burning.  Add the cheese, remove from heat and stir until it melts together.

Remove the potatoes from the microwave (use oven mitts) and cut in half. Scoop out the insides leaving about 1/4" left.  In a bowl mash together the potato you scooped out and the milk.  Mix in 1/2 the cheese sauce and the broccoli. On a baking sheet place the empty shells and fill with the mashed mixture. Pour over the remaining cheese sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese.

Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are warmed through, cheese melted on top.

Makes 6 servings.  We paired it up with Caesar salad (yes that was store bought) and steaks!

Tourtiere- aka french meat pie

This is really one of my favorite things of all time.  They are hard to find.  Years ago when my family was dealing with quite the tragedy my local horse community pulled together and brought us frozen meals.  It's what kept my kids fed for the weeks my then husband was in the hospital and kept me from eating nothing but fast food.  Someone ( I yet to know who) made us a Tourtiere.  I had never heard of them before and it became a favorite of our family.  Occasionally I've found them frozen, they usually pale in comparison. A local bakery makes them and they are awesome, but expensive, and only come in single servings. 

This recipe is very close to the local bakery.  This recipe makes 3 Pies. I cheat and use premade pie shells.

6 Pie shells (1 for base and one for the top of each pie)
1.5kg ground pork
2 medium potatoes- shredded
1tbsp Butter
1 large onion
2tsp All spice
1tsp Cinnamon
2tsp pepper- to taste (Seriously don't go easy on this- the stronger the pepper the more flavor it has)
Water
 (The original recipe had 1tbs Vinegar but I forgot it and it still was awesome- so I say it's optional)


Thaw your pie shells but do not cook them.
Pulverize your onion-I used my blender.  Take out your largest sauce pan, heat the butter and add the onion heating until the onion becomes clear.  Add in your ground pork and thoroughly cook.
While it is cooking shred your two potatoes and add them to the ground pork.
Add your spices. Ample spices keep this from being a boring dish- be generous with that pepper!
Add just enough water to cover the meat (and vinegar if you choose so) and turn down to a simmer.  Simmer for 45-60 minutes until water is evaporated stirring occasionally.

Preheat oven to 425F.  Fill your 3 pie shells with meat then use your remaining 3 pie shells to create a top. (I'll admit the pie in the picture had the best crust- but was not filled as high).  Cook until shells are cooked.  If your going to freeze and reheat later on leave them just a bit under cooked (not quite golden brown shell) so you can reheat in the oven with out burning the crust!)

Serve with vegetable of your choice. A dab of sour cream is a nice addition as well.

Breadsticks- Cauliflower style

Yup another pinterest recipe.  I'll admit I'm going to double this recipe next time- and i'll also find my parchment paper so it actually is easier to flip them

1/4 Head cauliflower
1/2 cup mozza or italian blend cheese-divided
1 egg white
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning-divided(or like i did a dash each of oregano, rosemary, thyme and basil)
2tsp oil
2 cloves garlic 

Preheat oven to 350F

Rice your cauliflower.  Which after my research told me to - shred it with a grater.  Microwave for 5 minutes in a bowl. While it's microwaving in a small saucepan saute the garlic and oil.

Add the oil/garlic to the cauliflower and stir.  Add in 1/2 the cheese, 1/2 the seasoning then spread on parchment on a baking sheet. Sprinkle 1/2 the remaining cheese and 1/2 the remaining seasoning. Bake until lightly brown (about 25-30 minutes). Remove from oven let cool for a few minutes then flip (this is where parchment comes in handy flip onto a new piece then move to the new parchment to the sheet.  Of course I couldn't find my parchment so used my silicone mat- which I have one of only.  SO I did split them into larger pieces and then flipped those on the same sheet. Don't think it affected the outcome at all.
Sprinkle the new topside with the last cheese and seasoning and bake for another 10 minutes or so until brown.  Remove- let cool a few minutes then divide into sticks and move to a plate.  They firm up as they cool.

Serve with warm marinara sauce (that I admittedly bought in a jar from the store)

Cheesy Quinoa and Caulliflower

Ok this recipe may have won me over to both quinoa and cauliflower! So simple fast and easy to make.

1.5 cups Chicken broth (Vegetable broth would work well too for the vegetarians)
1 cup Quinoa
1 head Cauliflower chopped
1 cup Cheese shredded. I used marble-but a sharp cheddar would be great- experiment!(OK I put in more like 1.5 cups)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a pot bring broth and Quinoa to a boil.  If you like your cauliflower add it from the start.  If you like it a bit more al dente let the quinoa come to a boil and then add the cauliflower. Once it's boiling turn down to a simmer and cover for 15-20 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Turn stove off- add the cheese and cover.  Once cheese is melted stir, add salt and pepper to taste. I Garnished with just a bit of parsley.

If you like spicey- some hot sauce added would be great!

8 servings = 142 calories/serving!

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken: Fried Rice

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

Warning- this is REALLY good.  And worth the effort.  It's easy but takes some time to cook (1 hour) So get it into the oven then make the rest of your meal. Which for me gives it 1 more star of awesomeness.  Preheat oven to 325F 

• 3-4 chicken breasts cubed
• 1/2 cup corn startch
• 2 eggs beaten 
• salt and pepper 
• 1/8 cup oil 

Sauce:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 4 tablespoons Ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Soya Sauce

 Take your cubed chicken and season with salt and pepper. Then take each piece, dip into cornstartch, then egg and set aside.  Once every piece is done heat your oil in a large saucepan and then brown the chicken.  Turn several times and try to keep the pieces from sticking together

ready to go into the oven

Place into a 9x13 greased pan. Whisk together the sauce ingredients- pour over top and place into the oven.  Cook for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes stir the chicken so it gets covered again by the sauce.  Cook the entire hour it takes that long for the sauce to start to cook down to the proper texture. Serve spooning sauce over top

All done and ready to eat!

Fried Rice

This is my son's favorite thing.  I mixed it up a bit by using the non traditional veggies (Carrots and peas).

• two cups rice cooked
• 1/8 cup soya sauce
• 2 eggs
• veggies- frozen
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons oil (Sesame if you have it)

Heat the oil put in the frozen veggies and garlic over medium heat. Beat the eggs.  Move the veggies to one side of the sauce pan and poor the egg to the other side.  Think scrambled eggs. Cook the eggs for a minute or two then mix in with the veggies. 

Add the Rice, soya sauce  Stir and cook for a couple minutes then remove from heat and serve.

Giant Meat Balls

These turned out pretty good.  I was thinking Meatloaf but wanted something different so meat balls it was.

• 1lb ground meat- I used a mix of ground pork and lean beef
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• bread crumbs- Italian Style
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 red onion chopped

 Preheat oven to 350F
YES I'm terrible at chopping onions.  No comments on the photos please.  It's easy- Beat the eggs then add wtih all remaining ingredients into a bowl. Mix with your hands.  Form into ball size- Golf ball will take 30 minutes to cook Tennis ball size that I did took closer to 45 minutes.

Place in oven- cook- Enjoy!

Stir Fry Kale and Broccoli

Confession time again- I've never eaten Kale.  Well I might have- mixed in with something. A friend has been raving about kale chips. It made me curious.  I needed a veggie for tonight and this recipe looked good. It is now my official favorite way to make broccoli and the kale was great. And that's coming from someone who does NOT like greens. Kids ate it before the pork and potato salad!

• bunch of kale- stalks removed- torn into bite size peices 
• head of broccoli florets
• 2 limes
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil 
• 7 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes 
• salt to taste 

Heat oil and garlic in a large sauce pan for 2 minutes.  Keep an eye on it so the garlic does not brown too much.  Add in the broccoli and cook mixing constantly for 1 minute. Add in the Kale and cook stirring for 2 more minutes.  Sprinkle on the juice of the limes and add the sundried tomatoes mix and remove from heat.

Baked Potato Salad

Yum.  This is seriously my new favorite way to eat potatoes.  It's not quite potato salad in the sense it's not cold (refrigerated) I would warm it up just a titch when having left overs.

• 4 potatoes (I used yukon gold) 
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chives chopped
• 6 slices bacon 
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• salt & pepper to taste 

Mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, 3/4 of the chives and cheese- and set into the fridge.
Peel, cube and boil the potatoes- about 15 minutes.  Keep an eye on them- should be cooked but not as much as you would for mashed potatoes.   While they are boiling cook the bacon- drain on a paper towel and crumble 4 slices into the mix. Crumble the remaining two slices and set aside with the chives.

Drain potatoes, and let them cool.  Once cool gently mix in the sauce, top with the remaining chives and bacon crumbles.

Enjoy!

Yum Yum Pork Chops

A friend posted this recipe and I had to try it.  Though it got tweaked a bit to make it work with what I had on hand.

• 4 pork chops (mine weren't that big we made 6)
• 1/2 cup broth (I used beef) 
• 1/4 cup soya sauce
• 1/8 cup honey 
• 1/8 tsp garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1tbsp ketchup

Optional: veggies. We had sweet potatoes on hand- but potatoes, carrots etc would work great and taste delicious.

Preheat oven to 350F.
Brown the pork chops in a sauce pan and then transfer to a greased casserole dish.

Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over pork chops.
Cook for 1 hour.

If you do veggies a couple different ways to do them. 1- in the dish with the pork chops- worked really well. 2- make more of the sauce, toss in it and cook along side in the oven!

Beef Dip Crescent Rolls

I saw this idea on pinterest and had been chomping at the bit to try it.

Total time start to finish? 20 minutes. Can't get much better then that! Pair it up with a salad and voila easy meal. Kids loved it.

• package crescent rolls
• sliced or shaved roast beef
• swiss cheese 
• horse radish
• beef bouillon
• Worcestershire sauce
• Soya sauce
• tbsp chopped red onion

Ingredient hint: I used shaved roast beef from the meat counter. This would be great with left overs from a roast though (Truthfully probably even better tasting).  

That's my son rolling these up!

 Pretty easy- preheat oven to 375F.  Roll out the crescent rolls place a slice or two of roast beef folded on the wide end  A slice of cheese, a dollop of horse radish. Roll up. Don't worry the ends won't be covered it works out fine! Cook until brown- needs a minute or two longer then usual to cook through.

While they are cooking get out a small sauce pan.  You'll need about 1/4 cup of bouillon per person.  Add a good dash of the Worcestershire sauce (I put about 1tbps) and soya sauce in as well as the onion.  Let simmer on the stove while the crescent rolls cook. 

Serve!

Cheesey Cauliflower Cakes & Baked Chicken Tenders

Yes it's time for another confession- I do not like cauliflower. Now I've tried roasting it and that was marginally better...but really I need something drenching it with cheesy goodness to make it even slightly edible.

I will say this was ALMOST as good as mashed potatoes drenched in butter,made with real cream.  And with the sour cream it was not just edible- it was good.

Cheesy Cauliflower Cakes

• head of cauliflower
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese 
• salt
• chili powder or hot sauce to taste
• 2 eggs (Don't skimp I did and used 1 and they fell apart)
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• oil (olive oil is my preferred)

Boil the cauliflower until soft- about 10-15 minutes. Drain and while still warm mash.  Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix together.

Heat oil in a large sauce pain/skillet. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup scoop out and drop into the oil.  Press flat and let cook until brown- then flip and cook the other side.  Really these are best warm- place into the oven to keep warm while you finish up cooking the rest.
We served them with a dollop of sour cream.

What would I change? I'd use a stronger cheese- shredded marble though delicious didn't add much flavor to this. Really I'd do anything I would with mashed potatoes- next time I think I'll try a parmesan/asiago with roasted garlic.

 

Baked Chicken Tenders

This was an easy recipe and really turned out well.  Baked not fried so much healthier.

• 2-3chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup bisquick 
• 1 egg
• paprika 
• salt and pepper
• garlic

Preheat oven to 450F. Slice the breasts length wise so they are even in thickness.  Whisk the egg with a couple tbsp's water and on another plate mix the rest of the ingredients.  Pretty simple dip into egg- roll in the mixture and place on your baking sheet.  You could place on a grate or one of those fancy silicone nubby matts that I'm currently lusting after.

These dipped fabulous into the Aioli I posted the other day.

Steak sauce, Crushed Potatoes and Baked Asparagus fries

Yup tonight was a big one 3 newish ideas. I'm going to list them in the order I made them.

Crushed Potatoes

This is a Pioneer Woman inspired recipe.

• Potatoes- small red choose same number as you would if you were baking potatoes for the meal.  For us that meant 3-4 medium size potatoes. 
• olive oil
• salt & pepper
• Rosemary or some other favorite herb
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

preheat oven 450F

Get your big pot out and boil the potatoes until they are firm but a fork can go through.  Place them onto a  non stick pan that you've lightly brushed with olive oil.  Don't cheat- don't use spray stuff.  Use the good stuff TRUST ME! Use your potato masher (or anything hard and flat ish) and squash that potato until it's sorta flat.

Brush with olive oil, sprinkle generously with salt (Really no go add some more trust me you'll thank me after), pepper, your rosemary. I tossed some parmesan on because well I love my cheese.
Place in the oven top rack for 20-25minutes.

Baked Asparagus 

• Asparagus- 1/2 to a whole bunch of it
• bread crumbs (I used a blend of panko and Italian)
• seasoning (As I used Italian breadcrumbs this step wasn't necessary!)
• Parmesan (Optional)
• 1 egg

This is an easy peasy way to bake asparagus. Tip them so you have just the good parts (I personally use the bend them and they snap at the right spot method).  Mix your egg and a couple tbsp water. Mix your bread crumbs on another plate. Now I don't own grated Parmesan so I sprinkled my shaved Parmesan over top of them at the end.  If you have grated mix it on in with the bread crumbs. Dip in the egg mixture, roll in the bread crumbs place on your non stick pan. (and if your some lucky gal who a rack-use a rack over your pan to get them even crispier). 

Bake at 425 for 10 -15 minutes until crispy brown.  (Note since I had my potatoes in already I lowered the temp on the oven to 425F when I put these in and it took just 10 minutes.

Restaurant 'ish' style steak with sherry sauce

• Steaks- the thicker the better
• Soya sauce 
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Spice (I use montreal steak spice personally- but for sure salt and pepper)
• Butter (Not margarine!)
• Sherry or Red cooking wine.
• flour

I've been won over to cooking steaks this style- so easy and if the oven is on gives really nice taste.  My steaks marinated  (while defrosting) in  the Soya Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce and montreal steak spice mixture.  In a cast iron pan (That can be placed in the oven) put a couple tablespoons of butter, a bit of salt and sear the steaks 2minutes on each side.  Spoon the butter back over the steaks and place into the oven at 425F. Leave in the oven for 6-7 minutes (gives me a medium well done steak when about 1" thick).

Remove from the oven and place the steaks aside to rest.  In the pan pour a 1/2 cup sherry/wine, a couple tablespoons flour and heat over low and whisk until thickened. Remove from heat. Spoon sauce over the steak.



Now I must say- I impressed myself with the fact I was able to time all this.  I got the potatoes into the oven.  The steaks had marinated while defrosting.  I prepped the asparagus and had it ready to place into the oven. I put them and the steaks into the oven at the same time.  And that lined up just about right time to remove the potatoes!


This meal turned out great. My kids all had seconds of the potatoes and fought over the last steak.  If there was more asparagus (We only had 1/2 a bunch to use) they would have had more of those too. I was hoping this would be lunch left overs for me tomorrow I thought wrong.

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

This turned out really delicious.  I've made it once before with a different recipe and wasn't won over to the idea of eggplant but this recipe did it for me.

2 eggplants
2 eggs
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs*
2-3 tbsp Parmesan
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
1 can tomato based pasta sauce

*if you don't have Italian breadcrumbs mix in some herbs of your choice 

Yes I'm missing an eggplant in the photo two would have made this way better!

Preheat oven to 375F.
Peel and slice the eggplant.  In a flat bowl whisk the eggs and a couple tbsp water. On a plate spread some bread crumbs and mix in the Parmesan.  Take your slices of eggplant and drench in the egg, then roll through the bread crumbs.  Place slices on a non stick cookie sheet and into the oven.  Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the eggplant and bake another 10-12 minutes until soft through.

Remove from oven spread one layer on bottom of a baking dish (9x13) pour 1/2 the tomato sauce and 1/2 the mozzarella cheese.  Repeat another layer Eggplant, sauce, mozzarella. Place back into oven and bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.

I choose a tomato sauce with spinach and cheese in it.  Sneaking more good greens into me and the kids. I paired this up with a steak for supper but word on the street is that it's delicious with roasted potatoes as well which would be oh so easy to roast along side while making this!

Kids liked it so much they took left overs to school for lunch- leaving me with none.
Calories per serving (8 servings) 185! 

Turkey Walnut Meatloaf & Asparagus

Turkey Meatloaf.  This comes from an inspiration recipe here. I followed it pretty close- but I came home to not able to find my sage. Eek! So we tweaked
The walnut taste was not very apparent- my plan is to up the walnut content next time and to use sage as planned not rosemary! Paired it up with saute asparagus and parmesan mashed potatoes (we tossed some asiago cheese in those this time to add a bit different taste) 

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 large carrot, grated- we used several smaller ones straight from our garden
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 1/4 cup fat-free milk
• 1 egg beaten- we used from our own chickens
• 1.5 pounds extra-lean ground turkey breast (99% fat-free)
• 1/2 tsp Parsley (Dried)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp Rosemary (dried) 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

 Preheat Oven to 350F
In a sauce pan heat oil and carrot, scallions and garlic until soft.
Chop until fine walnuts and bread (I toasted mine to make it easier) with a blender/processor.
In a bowl mix milk and the eggs. Add in turkey, an slowly gently mix in the  mixture from the sauce pan and the bread crumbs/nut mixture and any remaining ingredients..

Transfer to a loaf pan and cook until 155F in center or around 45-50 minutes.

While this was cooking and we got the potatoes boiling we got the asparagus started.

Did you know easy way to tip them is to just hold each end and bend.  They magically will snap where the woody area starts (If you think it through really this makes total sense).
Place a small amount of butter in sauce pan, I added some minced garlic (1 clove) as well.  Saute until the tenderness you prefer. Remove from heat- add parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

Delicious meal folks!

Pastry wrapped stuffed chicken

Ok folks this was another winner with the kids. And pretty easy to do.

Original inspiration recipe is here.

4oz Cream Cheese
1 tbsp Scallion
Parsley
Salt& Pepper
Garlic
Chicken Breasts (3-4)
1 can crescent roll or frozen puff pastry sheets
1 egg 

Mix cream cheese, scallion, some parsley and garlic. You can do any combination of flavors here. My next time I'm going to try some Ranch dip mix. The cream cheese flavor is strong- so go hard on those seasonings!
Slice a deep slit in the Chicken (Note my chicken breasts look horrible as I accidentally got bone in breasts :( ) and stuff with the cream cheese mix. 
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Place stuffing side down on your pastry sheets. IF needed roll them out a bit and squish them together to make bigger sheets.

Mix up the egg in a bowl and brush edges of the pastry to help it stick and roll upcovering the chicken.  Baste remaining egg lightly over top.

Cook for 400F for about 30 minutes- watch to make sure the bottom doesn't get burnt.

We served with mixed veggies.