Place chicken into a bowl. Add cheese and egg. Stir to combine.
Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Shape into a 6”-8” circle. The thinner, the crisper the crust.
Bake for 5-8 minutes until there are no wet spots on the crust.
Cover with desired toppings and cheese. Bake for 8 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Hack: You can substitute one 10 oz can of chicken for this recipe. Open and drain the canned chicken. Spread it on a parchment-lined baking pan and bake at 350℉ for 10 minutes. Cool and continue with the recipe.
Keyword chicken, crust, easy, easy meal, easy prep, fast and easy, healthy, high protein, keto, low calorie, low carb, pizza, quick and easy
Pineapple Pork Chops are the perfect combination of sweet and savory with an Asian flair. This dish is super fast, super easy and super healthy so enjoy!
Remove pork chops from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature, about 1 hour. Dry chops with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the pork chops on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove chops from the skillet, and set aside.
Turn the heat down to medium.
Mix the chicken broth, soy sauce and vinegar into the skillet, and bring to a simmer.
Return the pork chops to the skillet and add pineapple. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10 - 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the pork chop should read 145℉.
Remove chops from the skillet and set aside.
Mix honey and cornstarch into the skillet with the chicken broth mixture. Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken.
Serve broth with cooked pork chops and pineapple.
Hack: Balsamic vinegar can be substituted for Chinese black vinegar.
Hack: Unsweetened canned pineapple can be used in this recipe.
Keyword Asian cuisine, Asian food, Chinese cuisine, Chinese food, easy meal, easy prep, fast and easy, one pan meal, one skillet meal, pineapple, pork, pork chop, quick and easy
Did you know? You can plant the top of your pineapple to generate a new plant! Fair warning: It takes between 12 and 18 months to be ready to harvest.
Cut chicken into 1” cubes and thinly slice scallions.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, scallions and garlic. Saute until no pink remains in the chicken, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Return pasta to the pan.
When chicken is fully cooked, turn the heat down to medium, add cream and bring to a simmer. Sprinkle flour into cream, whisking constantly to thicken the sauce.
Add tomato and shredded cheese to cream sauce and heat until cheese is melted.
Pour chicken and sauce over pasta and toss to coat.
Hack: Substitute your favorite cheese and/or pasta or use whatever you have on hand!
Hack: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keyword alfredo, bowtie pasta, chicken, creamy chicken, easy meal, fast and easy, pasta, quick and easy, quick meal preparation
Did you know? Traditional “white” pasta has gotten a bad rap lately but there are plenty of healthier alternatives out there, either with carbs or without!
Place a large pot of water on high heat to boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente, 10-11 minutes. Drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water, but do not rinse.
Heat olive oil in a heavy saute pan over medium heat and add bacon. Cook until bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon from the pan, leaving drippings, and set aside.
Add asparagus and onion to the saute pan. Turn heat up to medium-high and saute until the mixture begins to brown. Stir in salt and broth.
Turn heat down to medium, cover pan and simmer until asparagus is tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in black pepper.
Add balsamic vinegar, pasta and bacon to the saute pan. Continue to cook for 1 minute, or until warmed through. Add pasta water if the mixture seems dry.
Toss with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Hack: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months.
Hack: Separate any remaining uncooked bacon slices and roll them into individual pinwheels.. Place on a cookie sheet in the freezer to freeze bacon slices. Place in a sealable freezer bag or container. The slices can then be thawed and used in the portions desired.
Keyword asparagus, bacon, easy, easy meal, easy prep, fast and easy, pasta, quick and easy, quick prep, rotini, skillet meal
Did you know? Traditional “white” pasta has gotten a bad rap lately but there are plenty of healthier alternatives out there, either withcarbs orwithout!
What pairs perfectly with a pork roast? Why, cranberries, of course! This slow cooker cranberry pork roast is easy to make and is bursting with flavor!
In a small bowl, mix cranberry sauce, honey and onion powder. Pour over pork roast.
Cook on low for 10-12 hours.
Remove pork from the cooker, shred and stir back into the sauce.
Serve over rice, egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Hack: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze in serving-sized portions for future use.
Hack: Fresh cranberries are only between October and December, which is why they’re such a holiday favorite! Take advantage of that time window to buy a few extra bags for your freezer. Did you miss your chance? Check the freezer section of the supermarket where you're likely to find some in the berry section.
Pork chops with apples and onions is a one-skillet meal that’s quick, easy and bursting with flavor! This all-in-one meal is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Season pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat then add the pork chops. Cook until browned (3-5 minutes on each side) and remove to plate.
Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to the same pan then add apples and onion. Cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with sage, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
Whisk together broth and mustard and add to the pan.
Slide pork chops back in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, until pork chops are finished cooking and liquid is reduced by half.
Hack: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Keyword apples and onions, cooked apples, easy meal, fast and easy, fried pork chop, one pan meal, one skillet meal, pan seared, pork chop, quick and easy
Place pork and onion in the slow cooker. Combine the rest of the ingredients and pour over the roast. Cover and cook on low 10 hours or until fork-tender.
Remove roast to plate and use two forks to pull the pork into small pieces. Return to the sauce and serve.
Hack: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze serving-sized portions in freezer bags or containers for up to 3 months.
Trying to start a new program of healthy cooking for one? Old habits die hard but here are a few tips to help get you back on track to start eating healthier!
Healthy Cooking for One
We’ve all seen him. That guy in the checkout line at the grocery store, the one we know is single and lives alone. 4 frozen dinners, 1 deli sandwich, 6-pack of beer and an economy-sized bag of Cheetos.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Just because we’re single, it doesn’t mean we’re doomed to a future of breakfast cereal, frozen pizza for one and Ramon noodles.
Nor must we choose drive-thrus or gas station hot dogs. I often who came up with THAT idea. Like, was someone pumping their gas and suddenly thought, “Well, this makes me want to eat a smoked sausage!”? (Yes, I’m kidding. Here’s why gas stations started selling food).
We have a choice. I’d like to share a few things that I’ve picked up along the way to make cooking for one a bit easier and, hopefully, a little more fun.
Healthy Ways Start to Your Day
Healthy Ways Start to Your Day
Running late this morning? Always keep some bananas, frozen strawberries and yogurt on hand to make a smoothie. It just takes a minute and you can drink it on your way to work!
Overnight oats are convenient and the flavor combos are endless so you’ll never get bored. They can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge so go ahead and throw together a few one evening for a week of quick breakfasts.
Everybody loves Sunday morning breakfast! Make a crustless quiche to enjoy with a leisurely cup of coffee and the newspaper. Store a few pieces in the fridge for up to 5 days for a healthy lunch and put the rest in the freezer for another time!
Play It Again, Sam
Play It Again, Sam
No big plans for your day off? Make a big pot of spaghetti sauce and freeze it in portions for use another day. Might as well freeze up a batch of meatballs to go with it, too!
A dozen mini pork pies make a great grab-and-go lunch (or, rather 12!).
Make a dinner recipe that serves two and take the leftovers for lunch. Or make a recipe that serves three or four and have some left for an easy meal later in the week.
Make connected meals. For example, when making potatoes for garlic chicken, do a few extra and use the leftovers to go with Korean beef (instead of cooking rice).
Or save some potato cubes unmashed to make potato salad. While you’re boiling the eggs for the potato salad, throw in a few extra for egg salad.
And always, always, make extra rice to package up in single serving sizes and store in the freezer!
Strategic Contingency Planning
Strategic Contingency Planning
It happens. You get stuck working late, encounter a major traffic jam on the way home or get caught up in a lengthy conversation with a friend. Then it’s too late to cook that dinner you had planned or you’re just too tired.
Make sure you’ve stocked up on a few items that have a decent shelf life and are quick and easy to throw together.
Eggs, cheese, peanut butter and pasta are excellent choices, as are crackers, rice and bread (store this double wrapped in the freezer if you need to!). Frozen fruits and vegetables require no prep at all so they can easily be used in a pinch.
Think of Ways To Be Creative!
Be Creative!
Decide to go to the farmers market, choose something you haven’t had before then go home and create a meal.
No, honestly, I “wing” a lot of my recipes and it always turns out fine.
Ok, almost always as there was the “Fennel Incident”. Fennel, as it turns out, tastes like black licorice. Gross. Who knew?
Dress up your go-to meals. Grilled cheese? Mix it up with a two cheese combo, mustard and a couple of pickle slices. Add a splash of cream and some croutons to your tomato soup. Swap out the ketchup on your burger for some thousand island dressing.
Presto Chango! Leftovers don’t have to be the same thing that they were when they were originally left over. (Say THAT 5 times fast!) Pair the grilled chicken and roasted carrots you had last night with chopped onion, soy sauce, leftover rice and – BOOM! – a delicious (and definitely not leftover) stir-fry.
Riddle Me This
Riddle Me This
Who do you have to answer to anyway? Cooking for just you allows you to eat what you want, when you want, using whatever ingredients you want and as spicy (or not) as you want.
Who’s gonna even know? So what if that tuna and spaghetti thing didn’t measure up to your expectations? I’m not gonna tell and you don’t have to either!
No one’s watching, right? Pour a glass of wine, turn up the 80’s pop music and have a dance party in your pajamas while cooking pasta for the 3rd day in a row. Because you can.
Life is what you make it so make it good. Be brave, be bold, be empowered. And above all, have fun.
What are your thoughts on cooking for one? What are your favorite recipes and strategies? Let me know in the comments below!
