Cheddar Ranch Chicken

 

One of my go-to recipes when I need something fast and easy to make is this yogurt parmesan chicken – it’s pretty much impossible to mess up, and the chicken turns out moist and delicious.  I tried out this variation last week and it was great!  The ingredients are pretty similar, but this one used Panko bread crumbs, dry ranch mix, and cheddar cheese. 

I substitute Greek yogurt in any recipe that calls for mayonnaise.  In the half cup needed for this recipe, mayo would have 748 calories, while the Greek yogurt has 155.  Plus instead of 1 gram of protein, you get 8 grams.  I get the full-fat yogurt, but it still only has 11 grams of fat compared to 83 grams in the ½ cup of mayonnaise (there have been studies that consuming full-fat dairy products is actually associated with LOWER body weight…).  You get some calcium too as a bonus. 

Serve it with some simple sides and you’re good to go – I made potatoes and broccolini with ours. 

Cheddar Ranch Chicken (adapted from Buns In My Oven)

Ingredients:

·        8 boneless chicken tenders (the original recipe called for 4 chicken breasts)

·        ½ cup plain greek yogurt

·        2 T dry ranch dressing seasoning (1-ounce packet)

·        ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese (plus a little extra to melt on top towards the end)

·        ¼ cup panko bread crumbs

·        Cooking spray

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

2. Spray a large baking dish and place your chicken in it. 

3. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, ranch seasoning, and cheddar cheese. 

4. Spread over the chicken and sprinkle with panko.  Spray lightly with cooking spray. 

5. Bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked through.  In the last few minutes, sprinkle a little extra cheddar cheese over the top.    

First Watch – Tampa, FL

My friend, Katie, who I’ve worked with the past 3½ years, is moving to Louisville, Kentucky.  Since this is her last week in Tampa, we met up with her for breakfast this morning at First Watch. 

I’ve been there several times before and always had a great experience.  It has a laid-back atmosphere and the servers are very friendly. 

I’ve ordered the multigrain pancakes a few times in the past.  They always ask how many you’d like – but they are huge so I can’t imagine having more than one.  There are a bunch of unique variations – banana granola, cranberry nut, carrot cake, and more.  This time I tried the bacon cheddar pancake.  When topped with syrup, it was the perfect sweet & savory breakfast.  The bacon was a little sparse, but I’d still order it again. 

Katie had the Healthy Turkey omelet and topped it with hollandaise sauce – it is filled with turkey, feta and a variety of veggies.  And Lance had the Tri-fecta with a Belgian waffle, eggs, and sausage. 

It’s 5pm now and we’re still full from our breakfast! 

First Watch has several locations – we went to the one at 3712 Henderson Blvd

Tampa, FL 33609 and is open from 7am – 2:30pm every day. 

Pumpkin Seed Cheddar Crispbreads, Spanish Dry-Cured Meats & Smoked Gouda

I bought Doctor Kracker’s Pumpkin Seed Cheddar Crispbreads at Publix last week as an impulse buy.  I had never heard of the company, but they looked like a tasty snack.  They are organic and a great source of protein, fiber, and whole grains.  I love that they have so many whole pumpkin seeds – they are very hearty crackers. 

Then while picking up some beers from ABC, we noticed their Campofrio Tapas were on sale for $1.75 so we decided to give it a try.  It contained a trio of traditional Spanish dry-cured meats: ham, pork loin, and chorizo sausage seasoned with smoked paprika.  I especially liked the chorizo. 

And yesterday, we stopped by Trader Joe’s to pick up a few snacks.  We always get some sort of cheese while we are there – they have a huge selection and the prices are amazing for such gourmet cheeses.  This time we chose the Dutch Smoked Gouda – which is one of our favorites.  It has a smoky flavor and creamy texture. 

We put all these products together for a fancy cheese, meat, and cracker spread…probably the first time all 3 of these were combined on one plate, but they paired perfectly together!