Friday, March 21, 2008

Creamy Rice Chicken and Spinach Dinner

  • 2 Tbsp roasted red pepper Italian Parmesan dressing
  • 8oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 3/4 C chicken broth
  • 1 C minute brown rice, uncooked
  • 2oz Neufchatel cheese, cubed
  • 4oz baby spinach leaves
  • 1/2 medium tomato, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat dressing in a large, deep skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook for 3 minutes. Add broth, bring to a boil.
2. Stir in rice, return to a boil, cover and reduce heat to medium; simmer 5 minutes. Stir neufchatel cheese into rice mixture until melted. Add spinach; cover, and cook until spinach is wilted. Stir mixture gently to mix in spinach, cover.
3. Remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Robyn's notes: I used cream cheese instead of Neufchatel. Easy and quick, he liked it.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Quinoa Mango & Black Bean Salad

  • 1/2 C quinoa
  • 1 C water
  • 1/4 C orange juice
  • 1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 small mango, diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 C canned black beans
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
1. Toast quinoa in a small dry saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it crackles and becomes aromatic, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly. Return the quinoa to the pot and add water. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk orange juice, cilantro, vinegar, oil, ginger, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Add mango, bell pepper, beans and scallions; toss to coat.
3. When quinoa is finished cooking, add to the mango mixture and toss to combine.

Robyn's notes: dicing mango is not the easiest thing in the world, but he really liked this, so it was worth it. GF - doublecheck your black beans.