So, I have this way that I like to think of myself: creative.
I’m definitely a creative thinker. I often create things in general, and I often think about creating still more things.
But I have a confession to make.
Most nights, for dinner, I have one of two things: chicken sausage or chicken breast.
I don’t mind that my dinners are mostly made of chicken products, but I only have one setting when it comes to cooking chicken: The three amigos. Basil, Thyme, and Rosemary, and a little pepper (because pepper goes on almost everything I cook).
So, there it is. Most of that chicken will be consumed in one of two ways:
-doused in Frank’s Red Hot Wings and fried with a torn up string cheese in a wheat tortilla
-shredded up and turned into chicken salad.
Help. What else can I do with chicken that fits well with healthy eating? Or, vegetarians, what are your favorite alternate sources of protein?
Just wondering. I am seriously stuck in a rut over here.
Mrs. Thor 
Marinate the chicken in this (at least three hours, but overnight is better):
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce
Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Garlic (or garlic powder)
Thyme
Italian seasoning
After that, you can do many things:
Grill it
Put it in a baking pan plain and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes
Put it in a baking pan, cover with cheese and bake
Put it in a baking pan, cover with cheese and spinach and bake
Cut up onions, red and green peppers, yellow squash and zucchini, cover with cheese and spinach and bake
Any one of many variations of the above.
And as for vegetarian protein: eggs (I often have an omelet for breakfast), a quality veggie or black bean burger, beans, dairy products, nuts, peanut butter, tofu. I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.
I do love a black bean burger!!
that marinade sounds wonderful! 🙂
I’m really geeked about a new recipe I tried a few days ago: Chickpea Cutlets from Veganomicon. It’s made from gluten, bread crumbs, chickpeas and seasonings. They are strangely meaty in texture and have 16 grams of protein each. I baked mine with a little olive oil. I think they would be awesome with a creamy gravy.
http://www.theppk.com/2010/11/doublebatch-chickpea-cutlets/
I’m more of a one-pot meal kind of girl, but when I do eat a hunk of chicken I love it with a smoky peach salsa.
Sarah, I love Isa Chandra’s recipes. She rocks. I actually thought about making that recipe, too.
At Wegman’s they have a marinade called Chiavetta’s and it is very good. It takes minutes to work, high vinegar content requires you not to over marinate or it chemically cooks the chicken. I put on raw meat, get the grill ready and by then it is ready to cook. Tastes like the Cornell barbecue marinade of my youth. Yummm!
Second choice is I go to Sam’s buy a chicken all roasted(under $5) and eat it for days.
Night one- roast chicken with veggies, salad, mashed potatoes
Night two- take some of the chicken and put a bit of bob evans bb’q sauce on it microwave serve with salad and veggies
Night three- take all the veggies that are left over from the week, put chicken pieces in bottom of baking dish, add small amount of broth, bb’q sauce or materials in the bottom of the chicken dish that are cold broth, put veggies on top, top with thin layer of left over mashed potatoes, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake…makes a great Shepard pie kind of dinner.
I need to explain I don’t over do any of the ingredient that are high calories but a little adds taste and you don’t feel deprived.
More days or other meals- Any left over chicken can be used with salads or sandwiches or wraps or pita’s.
Thanks for the tips, Cathy!! Awesome. 🙂
i’m going to fb message (since i only have an old email addy) you a basic poultry chart that i created (as part of my cooking sessions curriculum). i’ll forward easy recipes soon, too.
I got the message! I will check it out tonight.