Zucchini Pancakes

Awesome recipe from Skinnytaste! These have great flavor. I could easily eat the entire batch myself. The recipe doesn't call for it, but I like to put just a bit of light sour cream on top of the pancakes!

2 medium zucchini, grated (I use the attachment on my mandolin)
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/4 c fresh chives
1/4 c parsley, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 eggs
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
6-8 tbsp whole wheat flour
kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste
olive oil spray

Grate zucchini using the large holes of a cheese grater and place in a large bowl. I used the same mandolin attachment I use to make zucchini noodles. But instead of lengthwise - I grate the zucchini through the other way so the strands will be short. (That may not make sense...) Anyway, then add flour, shallots, garlic, parsley, chives, eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and spray oil to cover pan. Drop tablespoons of the batter into the skillet. Cook about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Set aside and keep warm. Spray more oil in the skillet as needed, and continue with remaining batter. Makes about 20 small pancakes. (My pancakes were a little bigger and I got 14 pancakes.)

Original recipe found here.

Sauteed Cabbage with Sausage and Mushrooms

Wow - this is GOOD. Easy too. I know I will be making this dish often. It's been a week since I made this (yes, I am behind on my posting). Just typing the blog entry about the dish makes me want some right now!

8 oz chicken or turkey sausage, cut into rounds (I used Johnsonville Apple Chicken Sausage)
2 tsp olive oil
2 c sliced mushrooms (I like baby bellas)
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced 
1 small head of green cabbage, hard core removed and sliced
1/2 tsp dried sage
dash cayenne pepper (I used more than a dash because we like the spice)
2 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat. Once it is browned, set aside. Add 1 tsp oil to the pan, then add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Saute until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are tender. Remove them from the pan and set aside.

Add the remaining oil, then add the cabbage and start sauteing. Season with sage and cayenne. When the cabbage begins to soften, return the sausage and mushroom mixture to the pan. Cook until the cabbage becomes very tender. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper to your liking. Add more cayenne if you want the saute to be really spicy. Toss in the vinegar at the last minute, then serve immediately. YUM!

Original recipe found here.

Roasted Cabbage Wedges

New favorite way to eat cabbage - without a doubt. It is so easy and SO DELICIOUS!!

1 medium head of cabbage, cut into quarters, core removed
3 tbsp real bacon bits
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1 tbsp lite soy sauce
1/4 tsp salt/pepper, each

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Lay each wedge on aluminum foil and drizzle marinade over each wedge - make sure it gets in all the nooks and crannies. Top with some bacon bits and wrap up. Bake for 30 min, let cool, and enjoy!

Original recipe found here.

Skinny Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

You would never know this soup is "skinny"! I also had no idea making my own tortilla strips was so easy. I love my crock pot because I like to think about it sitting there cooking during the day. :) It was also super cold today, so soup was appropriate. Approved by Will - and he can be picky about his chicken tortilla soup.

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 c chopped onion
16 oz can black beans, drained/rinsed
16 oz can kidney beans, drained/rinsed
8 oz can tomato paste
10 oz pkg of corn kernels, frozen
2 -10 oz cans of diced tomatoes w/ chilies 

1 pkt reduced-sodium taco seasoning
1 tbsp chili powder
32 oz reduced-sodium chicken stock

6 corn tortillas, cut into strips
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional toppings: light sour cream, cheese, jalapeños, avocado, green onions, cilantro

For Soup:
Place chicken on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients.
Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

For Tortilla Strips:
Preheat oven to 350. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. If you don’t have 2 sheets than you will have to bake in shifts. Cut the tortillas into thin strips. Place strips evenly on baking sheets. Mist the tops with more cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the strips are golden brown.

Serve on top of the soup, along with any other toppings you like!

Original recipe found here.

Broccoli Parmesan "Meatballs"

Whoa! WHOA. These are so good. In fact, I think they were even better (if that's possible) for leftovers for my lunch today. I served these with spaghetti squash - I mixed in broccoli slaw because I needed to use the broccoli slaw. :) We used our favorite marinara sauce and sprinkled some Parmesan and green onions on top. You can serve them however you like though! Lots of different possibilities! Even as an appetizer with a little marinara or some kind of yummy sauce. 

Before going into the oven.

After:

1/2 c raw almonds
1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets & steamed (about 2 c)
1/2 c shredded Parmesan
1 tsp minced garlic
1-2 eggs, lightly beaten (recipe called for 1, I thought I needed two... but I think I had more than just 2 c of broccoli)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the almonds in a food processor. Process until they're coarsely ground. Put the ground almonds to a medium bowl. Now place the broccoli florets in the food processor and pulse until chopped. Add the chopped broccoli, Parm cheese, and garlic to the almonds and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the egg(s).

Spray a mini-muffin tin with olive oil spray. Form the broccoli mixture into balls, squeezing them a little to make sure they hold their shape, and place each one in its own cup in the muffin tin. I got 22 balls, but I may have had more broccoli than I needed. Bake until meatballs are golden on the outside and heated through, about 30 minutes. I did flip mine after about 20 min. Remove tin from oven and run a butter knife along the edges of each muffin cup to loosen meatballs before gently popping them out. Serve however you'd like!

Original recipe found here - great step by step pictures.