Chicken with Balsamic Brown Sugar Reduction

Sorry I havent posted in a long time... I've actually been working, so I haven't had time to cook, but I'm back, and I cant believe how much I've missed my kitchen.
Here's a really easy, three step recipe, that tastes like it should be in a 4 star restaurant. Don't let the balsamic vinegar scare you, my better half isn't a fan of balsamic vinegar, and he loved it. After boiling it for so long, it really turns sweet.

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar substitute (splenda brown sugar) or 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Pre-heat oven to 400
Bake chicken for 25-30 minutes
Meanwhile, over medium heat, bring balsamic vinegar to a boil, whisking often
Add brown sugar, continue to whisk until sauce thickens
Use a spoon to scoop up and pour out sauce, to see how thick it is, it should stick to spoon
Once sauce is ready, remove chicken from oven, pour sauce over top and serve :)

Enjoy

Roasted Veggie and Bacon Pasta

Came home from camp today, to an empty fridge, and since it was Easter Sunday, everything was closed, so I had to make due. This tasted great :)

3 cups whole wheat pasta
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
8 strips of bacon
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp basil
2 small tomatoes, chopped
12 asparagus tips
1/3 cup chopped cabbage
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts
1/3 cup cheese

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
In a small oven safe dish, mix 1 clove minced garlic, tomatoes, asparagus, artichoke hearts and cabbage
Coat with 1 tbsp olive oil
Bake for 15-20 minutes
Meanwhile, heat a large deep pan over medium heat
Fry bacon until almost done
Remove bacon and reserve 2 Tbsp bacon fat
Bring a large sauce pan with salted water to a boil, and cook pasta 10-12 minutes
Heat remaining olive oil in frying pan
Saute remaining garlic until just browned, add roasted vegetables, bacon and pasta
Add left over bacon fat
Stir in cheese, heat until just melted
Salt and Pepper to taste

We served this with garlic bread and it made a great, fast meal

Mashed Maple Sweet Potatoes

Easy twist on mashed sweet potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes
1tbsp butter
2tbsp maple syrup
salt and pepper to taste

Bake potatoes in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 45-50 minutes
Remove from oven, place in medium bowl, mash with potatoe masher
Add syrup, butter and salt and pepper to taste

ENJOY :)

BBQ Chicken Packets

Its BBQ Season :)


2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, washed and fat trimmed
1/2 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
1 medium zucchini
Basil Pesto
Tinfoil for baking

Pre-heat barbecue close at medium high heat
Meanwhile, cut tinfoil into rectangles, and grease with a bit of olive oil
Place 1 chicken breast per foil
Spread pesto on top of chicken breast
Place cleaned, chopped veggies on top of chicken
Fold up foil, making sure its nice and sealed
Place packets on barbecue, and cook covered for 25-30 minutes

Ill be serving this with salad and mashed maple sweet potatoes :)

Rhum Baked Bananas

Easy, somewhat healthy desert.

2 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise
1/3 cup rhum (or orange juice if you prefer)
3 tbsp splenda brown sugar (double it if you use real brown sugar)
1 tsp cinnamon


Grease a small glass baking dish with a little bit of butter
Place bananas in dish, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon
Pour rhum over bananas
Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes
Serve on top of vanilla ice cream, or with frozen whipped cream :)

Very very tasty

Lime Cilantro Tilapia with Salsa

Last night we ate this with our irish peas and cabbage scottish style. Very easy, very quick and healthy tilapia recipe.

4 small tilapia fillets
2 TBSP lime juice
2 TSP cilantro
1/4 cup salsa

Place fish fillets in a deep baking dish
Pour lime juice and sprinkle cilantro on top
Cover with foil, refrigerate for 1 hour
Pre-heat over to 350 degrees
Place covered fish in oven, bake for 15 minutes
Add salsa to fish, bake uncovered for another 15 minutes

Easy and Done :)
Enjoy

Irish Peas and Cabbage... Scottish Style :)

Wanted to change up the irish peas and cabbage recipe a little bit, and since we have some scottish blood, figured the name was fitting. This recipe is simple, I actually made some today for my father while I was eating lunch, takes 15 minutes.

2 cups frozen peas
1/2 head green cabbage shredded and washed
10 sliced of bacon, diced
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
1 TBSP butter
2 TSP olive oil
2 TBSP chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

In a deep frying pan, heat 1TBSP olive oil over medium heat
Meanwhile, boil a small pot of water, and blanche peas (cook for 2 minutes)
Add bacon, cook until just browned
Add onions, and cook until they just start to change color, about 5 minutes
Add cabbage and peas, stir well
Add butter and chicken broth, stir and cover
Lower heat to low-medium and let simmer for 5-10 minutes

AMAZING :) mmm