keep your diet real

Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t like tacos (except for my dad)?! Tacos are fun to eat and equally fun to make…especially for kids! I highly recommend trying this recipe for your family…or another taco recipe. Taco night can quickly turn into a healthy, fun, simple, and inexpensive weekly family dinner. Plus…it’s a really great way to encourage your kids to try new foods…especially veggies!

Recipe: BBQ Turkey Tacos with Broccoli Slaw (serves 4)

Ingredients (tacos):

• 1 lb 99% lean ground turkey breast
• 1 tablespoon of canola or olive oil
• 1/2 – 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
• Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)
• Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
• Tacos shells (6-8)
• Suggested garnishes: broccoli slaw, corn salsa, sliced avocado, lettuce, shredded jack or cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, cilantro, fresh lime juice

Ingredients (broccoli slaw):

Recipe adapted from this recipe by Closet Cooking

• 2 cups broccoli slaw mix (shredded broccoli, shredded carrots)
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 large bunch of fresh cilantro (chopped)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• sesame seeds (garnish)

Directions (slaw):

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients (except the broccoli mix and sesame seeds). Stir until combined.
2. Add the broccoli slaw mix and stir until thouroughly combined.
3. Now transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Ready to serve!
4. Store in the refrigerator for later use if you are not planning to use immediately.

Directions (tacos):

1. In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of canola or olive oil on medium/high heat until oil is heated and the bottom of the pan is coated with oil.
2. Next, add the 1 lb of turkey meat to the pan. Cook on medium/high heat, stirring frequently with a metal spatula, until turkey is fully opaque white/tan in color (usually takes about 15-20 minutes). You will most likely need to add water (1/2 – 1 cup) a little bit at a time to keep the meat moist as it cooks because it is so low in fat.
3. Add the garlic powder, salt and pepper to the turkey meat and stir.
4. Add the BBQ sauce and stir to combine.
5. Now the meat is fully cooked and you are ready to assemble the tacos.
6. Load taco shells with taco meat, broccoli slaw, lettuce, cheese, avocado, and any other garnishes!

This is a simple healthy spring/summer recipe that kids enjoy eating and helping to prepare!

What is your favorite kind of taco? Veggie, chicken, beef, pork, fish, etc.?

Try my scallop tacos!

Chicken parm is a recipe that has intimidated me for years. I enjoy eating it at restaurants or when someone else makes it but I have avoided making it myself…probably because the stakes are so high. I was afraid that I would make it for someone in my family then seriously mess it up and never live it down (this is a legitimate concern, I’m Italian).

A few months back Kevin’s Mom gave me a bunch of cooking magazines. In one of the magazines I found a recipe for chicken parm roll-ups. (side note – preparing food in roll form intimidates me less …exception being sushi). This happens to also be true for lasagna….see my recipe for lasagna rolls with spinach. Finally I faced my fears and fiddled around with the recipe ultimately to arrive at this one (which we really enjoy). I am now convinced that both chicken parm and lasagna are tastier in roll form. Hope that you enjoy it too!

Recipe: Chicken Parm Roll-Ups

This recipe has been adapted from a recipe by Cook’s Country

Ingredients

• 1 lb of thinly sliced boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (anywhere between 2-4 chicken breasts depending on thickness)
• 1.5 cups of tomato sauce (Simple Italian Tomato Sauce)
• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil – chopped
• 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley – chopped
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Served with steamed green beans and side of whole wheat linguini

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, basil, parsley, and a few pinches of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set bowl aside.
2. In a 9×9 baking dish pour the tomato sauce into the bottom and set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
5. Place chicken breasts into a plastic Ziploc bag and cover with clean kitchen towel. Using a meat tenderizer or rolling pin, beat chicken breasts until they flatten out/become thinner.
6. Place clean paper towel on flat surface and lay out each chicken breast.
7. Top each chicken breast with some of the basil/cheese mixture.
8. Roll up each chicken breast tightly and arrange in the baking dish seam side down.
9. Cover the chicken parm rolls with the remaining mozzarella cheese and panko bread crumbs.
10. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Is there a recipe that you are intimidated to make?

This is a less greasy version of the classic meatball recipe. Enjoy!

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I can’t compete with my Nani’s stuffed peppers…

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