Other People’s Recipes — December 2012

While I’m always trying to come up with my own delicious recipes, sometimes I like to try out recipes that I get from other bloggers or cookbooks. That’s why I have a special page called Other People’s Recipes that I update every month with my greatest new finds (check out my Other People’s Recipes post from November!).

 

#1: Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

 

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

(Recipe from Lawfully Wedded Wife)

Ingredients:

2 lbs. yukon gold potatoes (about 5 medium potatotes)

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. cream cheese

1 c. buttermilk at room temperature

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Peel and cube your potatoes and put them in a pot of cold water.

Heat to a boil over medium heat, then cover an boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, around 30 minutes.

Drain the potatoes then place them in a large bowl.

Add the butter and cream cheese and mash everything together with a potato masher.

Mash the potatoes until they’re as smooth as you can get them.

Using a hand or stand electric mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the potatoes while slowly adding the buttermilk.

Whip until the potatoes are very smooth, adding more buttermilk if necessary.

Salt and pepper to taste and serve warm.

 

 

#2: Healthy Banana Bread

 

(Photo from Peanut Butter Fingers)

Healthy Banana Bread

(Recipe from Peanut Butter Fingers)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 egg

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray loaf pan with cooking spray

Combine whole wheat flour through salt in a bowl and set aside

Mix remaining ingredients together until batter is relatively smooth with a few lumps from the mashed bananas

Slowly mix flour mixture into banana mixture

Once batter is fully mixed, pour into loaf pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes

Cool, slice and enjoy

#3: Chicken Cheesesteak Subs

(picture from How Sweet Eats)

Chicken Cheesesteak Subs

(Recipe from How Sweet Eats)

Ingredients:

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 green pepper, sliced

1 sweet onion, sliced

8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated

1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 tablespoon flour

2/3 cup half and half

additional salt + pepper to taste

6 whole wheat sub rolls

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat a large oven-safe skillet oven medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Season chicken on both sides with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.

Place [chicken] in the skillet and sear on both sides until golden, about 2 minutes per side.

Once seared, place skillet in oven and roast chicken for 15 minutes. When finished, remove and let cool slightly, then shred into pieces.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

While chicken is roasting, heat a small skillet oven medium-low heat and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil.

Add peppers, onions, salt and pepper, stirring to coat and cooking until soft but not caramelized – about 6-8 minutes.

In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until it’s sizzling.

Whisk in flour to create a roux, cooking until mixture is golden and smells somewhat nutty – about 2 minutes.

Add in half and half and stir until milk is bubbling and thick, then reduce heat to low.

Add about 5 ounces of shredded cheddar and mix until combined and creamy.

To assemble, lay out 6 squares of aluminum foil and place a roll on each.

Stuff each roll with chicken, then drizzle with cheese sauce and stuff with peppers and onions.

Top with a handful of extra shredded cheddar. Roll each sandwich up TIGHTLY – almost cut the size in half.

Once all sandwiches are rolled, place on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove and eat!

Healthy Goals Checklist:

1. Consume at least 100g of protein. No check   So close, though! I got 93.5g yesterday.
   
2. Consume at least 20g of fiber. No check  I only got 17.4g.
   
3. Get at least 4 servings of fruits/veggies. Check! I had four servings yesterday!
   
4. Drink at least 100 oz. of water. Check! 
5. No more than one treat/dessert. Check!  I had a piece of leftover birthday cake from my birthday party.
6. Do stretches/leg exercises. Check!