Another delicious curry dish for you today. This one comes together in just over 20 minutes. I love a dish that has a mix of protein, vegetables, and rice. Its just so simple and satisfying. And this one is so colorful to boot!

1-2 large chicken breasts, cut in half length wise
1 red bell pepper, chopped into strips
1/2 large onion, diced
1 large garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons green curry paste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup snow peas
3 cups rice, cooked
1 can coconut milk
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger
Handful of basil leaves, chopped
2 tsp fresh lime juice

Cook your rice.
Chop and brown your onion and bell pepper in your oil with salt and pepper until tender. 
Add your chicken to the pan and salt and pepper it as well, brown your chicken on all sides. 
Add your garlic, oyster sauce, and curry paste. Add your coconut milk and bring to boil. Simmer on medium low for 15 minutes. Add your snow peas and cook for another 5 minutes. Then add your basil and lime juice and mix together. Serve over rice. 

You could make this as spicy as you wanted by adding extra spicy curry. But around these parts, we keep things pretty mild since we are sharing our meals with a 2 year old. Luckily the savory robust flavors of this dish make even the vegetables lick your lips delicious. Hope you enjoy it!

When you are in the need for an easy weeknight meal, this dish will fit the bill. Its a one pot meal, less dishes is always a win in my book. Also, everything is super easy to assemble and throw together. Nothing to baby sit and no steps in this recipe are tricky. 

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cans black beans, rinsed
1 can corn, rinsed
1 tablespoon dried cilantro
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tablespoon cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper 

Heat your oil in a large skillet. Pat your chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and sprinkle each side with salt, pepper, and cumin. Place your chicken in the skillet and saute for about 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. There should be a nice golden crust on the outside of your chicken. Remove your chicken from the pan and saute your onions in the drippings with salt and pepper until golden and translucent. Add your bean, corn, parsley, cilantro, & pepper flakes to the pan and heat through. Add your vinegar at the end and stir. Place your chicken on top. You can also serve this dish over rice if you are like me and need carbs with every meal. Wink wink. 

Simple, affordable, tasty. 
Enjoy!

I make a mean mushroom risotto. (I don't mean mean as in will punch you in the face and shove you in a locker mean, but this certainly will knock your socks off.)

It's creamy and filling and surprisingly low fat. Its so satisfying, and easy to make, it's one of the recipes I come back to most. If you watch a lot of competitions on the food network, you know risotto is a dish that can intimidate a lot of chefs because timing is important. Its not just something you can neglect. But I've found a fool proof way to cook it. If you have 20 minutes, you can easily have a successful meal with this. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup arborio rice

1 pkg mushrooms (portobello or porcini mushrooms are nice, but even white mushrooms will do) 

2 cans chicken stock

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 

1 cup white wine

6-7 sprigs of fresh thyme 

Salt and pepper 

1/2 onion chopped 

Dice 1/2 of an onion. 

Put a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. 

Add your onion and sauté for a couple of minutes. 

Then add 1 cup arborio rice to the pan and sauté a couple more minutes. As you do this start your timer for 22 minutes. 

Add 1 cup white wine and cook on high until the liquid is absorbed. Stir frequently. 

While this cooks chop up 1 pkg of portobello mushrooms. (Or whatever type of mushroom you like.) In a separate pan cook your mushrooms in some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook the mushrooms down until nice and tender. Set aside. 

Back to the rice. You will now add 2 cans of WARM chicken broth in 1/2 cup increments. (I pop mine in the microwave to heat it up.) Keep stirring the risotto frequently and only add the next 1/2 cup when the previous liquid has been absorbed. Your goal is to get all of the stock absorbed by the time the timer says 22 minutes. You may need to turn up or down the heat based on how much time is left. I usually keep mine on high the whole time and just stir it constantly. 

Then stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. 

Add 6 or 7 sprigs of Tyme. 

Add in your mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste. 

This should give you a very creamy and rich tasting dish! I know you will love it and hopefully come back and remake it as often as I do. 

Enjoy!

My husband decided to call this dish a Southwestern Hay Stack. He said even though the name doesn't sound very gourmet, its a pretty descriptive way for you to picture what this meal is about. Its basically like a Hawaiian hay stack, but with more of a Mexican flair. 

This meal is something that is deeply satisfying and healthy at the same time. I love win win dishes like that. Its easy to whip up and a meal where you can do lots of the prep ahead of time. Again, a win win. Normally when I make this dish, I add shredded cheddar cheese to it. I forgot to do that today and guess what? It was just as good. So I'm leaving the cheese out of the recipe because if it doesn't need it, why add the expense or calories? Right? 

Ingredients: 

2 cups uncooked white rice 
2 chicken breasts
1//2 cup salsa + extra for garnish
2 tsp fajita seasoning 
2 ripe avacados
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 can black beans
1 can corn
2 tsp dried cilantro 
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt & Pepper

Place your chicken breasts, 1/2 cup of salsa, and fajita seasoning in a slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to high and cook for 3-4 hours or until your chicken breaks apart when cut. 

While your chicken is cooking, you can also cook your white rice in your rice cooker. 

When your chicken is almost ready, you can begin to cook your beans. Add your olive oil to a warm pan. Then add your onions, salt and pepper them. Let them sauté until they are translucent. Add your garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Then add your beans, corn, cumin, and cilantro. Let those mix on low heat while you make your guacamole. 

Cut and mash your avocado in a small bowl. Add salt, pepper, and lime juice, stir together. 
Take your chicken out of the slow cooker and chop it into small pieces. 

Assemble your "haystacks" part by part. Rice, beans, chicken, guacamole, then add salsa on top as your garnish. 

My husband said I could make this meal once a week and he would be a happy man. He loves fresh tasting healthy recipes, but that also leave you feeling satisfied. Hopefully this will satisfy your family as well. 

Enjoy!