Bleu Chicken with Rice and Veggies Casserole

This chicken, rice and vegetable casserole was the fastest prepping meal I've ever made, and it was delicious.

4 - 6 chicken thighs
1 cup brown rice
1 medium yellow squash, diced
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water
4 - 6 slices deli ham
4 - 6 slices deli turkey
4 - 6 slices provolone cheese
rotisserie chicken seasoning
cilantro
black pepper


In a casserole dish, add chicken thighs. Around chicken thighs, arrange brown rice, yellow squash, peas and carrots, and garlic. Add water. Cover chicken thighs with rotisserie chicken seasoning to suit your taste. On top of chicken thighs, layer each: a slice of ham, turkey and provolone cheese. Sprinkle entire dish with cilantro and black pepper to taste.
Bake covered at 400 for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook for 15 minutes.


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Saucy Spinach Chicken Casserole

This chicken casserole recipe was absolutely delicious. The chicken was full of flavor!!

2 lbs chicken thighs
1 bag baby spinach
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cilantro
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tbs red wine vinegar
1/2 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can mushrooms
1 green pepper, diced
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 jar Ragu mushrooms & green peppers sauce
optional: brown rice or pasta of your choice

Preheat oven to 375. Layer casserole dish with the baby spinach. Top with green pepper, mushrooms, 1/2 of onions and 1/2 of minced garlic. Next, lay chicken thighs on top and drizzle with red wine vinegar. In a small bowl, combine basil, oregano, cilantro and black pepper. Mix and sprinkle on top of chicken thighs. Layer rest of onions and garlic on top of chicken. Pour Ragu sauce on top and sprinkle with a 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 1 hour at 375. Sprinkle with rest of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Check chicken for doneness. If necessary, cover casserole dish with foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes. Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 180.
If desired, serve over pasta of your choice, or a bed of brown rice.


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Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These are my favorite cookies. Delicious!!!!

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup(2 sticks) country crock, or unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet, or Hersheys dark, chocolate chips
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries


Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking soda, oatmeal & cinnamon in a small bowl. Beat country crock or butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar & vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and blueberries.
Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.
These are great served with a cold glass of milk.

Health Benefits
Even though these are cookies, they do have a few healthful ingredients.
Cinnamon is great for helping lower cholesterol and blood sugar and reduce arthritis pain.
Oatmeal provides fiber.
I use the Country Crock which contains calcium plus Vitamin D.
Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and helps lower blood pressure.
Blueberries are also full of antioxidants and help improve memory, protect against aging, cancer, heart disease, urinary tract infections, constipation and improve mood.


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Spinach Casserole

This spinach casserole recipe is great. I'm always getting requests for the recipe, so thought I would share it.Enjoy!:)

2 pkg. (10 oz. each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 container (8 oz) Philadelphia Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 cup Kraft Ranch Dressing
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups Kraft Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 cup crushed Ritz Crackers, divided

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix spinach, cream cheese spread, dressing, eggs
and 3/4 cup
of cheddar cheese in large bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup of crushed crackers.

Spoon spinach mixture evenly into greased 2 qt. ovenproof casserole
dish. Sprinkle with
remaining 1/2 cup crushed crackers and remaining 3/4 cup cheddar cheese.

Bake 20 to 25 min. or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.

Makes 12 servings.


Health Benefits:

Spinach is a superfood. It is full of calcium, folic acid, vitamin K, iron, vitamin C, fiber, carotenoids, lutein and bioflavanoids. It helps protect against cancer and heart disease, memory loss and cataracts.
Chives are great for the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems.
Onions are also another superfood which help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Eggs provide protein and cheese provides calcium for strong bones and teeth.
Try substituting whole grain crackers for some extra fiber.


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Slow Cooker Meatloaf

I'm not much of a meatloaf lover, but this Slow Cooker Meatloaf recipe changes my mind every time I make it. It is delicious, and super easy.

1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 slices bread, cubed
2 lbs. hamburger
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cilantro
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
6 red potatoes, quartered
seasoned salt

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat egg and milk. Add bread cubes. Add green pepper, onion, garlic, black pepper, cilantro and cayenne pepper and mix well. Add hamburger and form into a loaf. Add to slow cooker. Layer carrot chunks around edge of meatloaf. Sprinkle potatoes with seasoned salt, as desired, and lay on top of carrots. Cook for 2 hours on high and then 4 - 5 hours on low.


Health Benefits:
Egg provides protein.
Milk provides protein and calcium.
Hamburger provides protein, but make sure it is a lean cut.
Use whole grain bread for fiber.
Green peppers are great for the heart, as are onions, garlic and cayenne pepper.
Cilantro is great for the blood sugar and the heart.
Carrots are good for the eyes.
Red potatoes don't increase the blood sugar as much as white potatoes do. They also provide fiber and potassium.



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Cheesy Ham Roll Ups

I made these Cheesy Ham Roll Ups for dinner the other night and they were great! I was getting tired of bread and rolls, so the flour tortillas were a nice change.


2 1/2 tbs. olive oil
6 flour tortillas
Paramesan cheese
1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli ham
1/4 lb. thinly sliced provolone cheese
1 red pepper, diced
1/4 tsp. cilantro
Shredded mozarella cheese
Marinara sauce, optional

Brush 1 1/2 tbs. of olive oil on one side of tortillas. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, as desired. Layer tortillas with 2 slices of ham, 1 slice provolone cheese, handful red peppers. Sprinkle with mozarella cheese, as desired, and cilantro. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down on a baking sheet sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Brush tortillas with remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, as desired. Bake at 425 for 9 - 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce if desired.

I baked these in the toaster oven at 425 for about 5 minutes. If you use the toaster oven, keep a close eye on them as they brown quickly.

Health Benefits:
The deli ham provides protein, sodium too though.
Cheeses provide protein and calcium.
Red pepper contains lycopene which helps lower the risk of cancer. They are also a good source of fiber, Vitamins B6, A, C and folic acid.
Cilantro has many health benefits such as lowering blood sugar and cholesterol.

This recipe was adapted from a recipe in the Taste of Home Simple & Delicious magazine.

Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken

Slow cooker lemon chicken: very tender and great flavor. I wasn't sure I was in the mood for it, but am glad I made it yesterday. It surprised me as the chicken was very tasty and not dry at all.


2 lbs. boneless chicken breast, cut into chunks
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup water
2 tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. dried cilantro

Sprinkle the chicken with oregano, seasoned salt and black pepper.
Add water, lemon juice, minced garlic and chicken bouillon granules to the slow cooker. Stir and transfer the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle with cilantro. Cover and cook 3 - 4 hours on low.
I served this with a side of brown rice, cinnamon Monkey bread, and tossed salad.

Health Benefits:
Oregano has strong antibacterial and antioxidant vitamin properties.
Lemon juice is known for helping cool the body, so it's worth a try when you have a fever. Lemon juice is full of Vitamin C. It is known for killing bacteria and will neutralize meningococcus. typhoid, pneumococcus and staphylococcus when vaporized. Lemon juice seems to be useful in treating respiratory infections.
Garlic should be taken everyday. It's good for the heart, helps lower blood pressure and ward off colds.
Cilantro is great for reducing the blood sugar and helping with digestion.


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