Healthy Chipotle Turkey and Spiced Potato Tacos: My Diary of Us

I could eat Mexican food every day of the week...I kid you not. But I obviously can't do that because the result would be me not fitting into my jeans and nobody wants that, especially me. And although cooking Mexican at home is never the same, but it can be done and it can be delicious (and healthy). It's a great way to get your fix without the high calorie margarita (which is kind of a requirement if you are at a restaurant) and without two baskets of chips being inhaled before your entrée arrives. My healthy chipotle turkey and spiced potato tacos get you all that flavor without the I had too much sodium, swollen fingers the next morning.

Yeah, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

This meal is perfect for any weeknight because it can be ready in thirty minutes and is a relatively inexpensive meal too. I doubt any family members will turn their nose up at taco night, and the leftovers are quite possibly better the next day.

PostedSeptember 16, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsTaco Tuesday, Taco night, Taco Recipes, Turkey tacos, healthy taco recipes, healthy weeknight meals, healthy, weeknight meals, Cook at home, Mexican recipes, Yum, 30-minute meals

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Baked Crab Cakes with Spicy Garlic Dipping Sauce: My Diary of Us

When I was a little girl, my grandfather would make me my favorite meal every time that we visited. While most kids might have preferred mac and cheese or something along those lines, I loved crab legs. He would do a huge boil and I would end up eating more than any adult at the table and this was all while I was only 5 or 6 years old. The tradition continued throughout my whole life and my love for crabs has never wavered. Luckily for me I married a Cajun with a father who can boil the best crabs probably anywhere and I'd be willing to bet on that. Since I don't ever boil crabs myself (because after tasting my father-in-law's, there will never be any competition), crab cakes are my go-to recipe when I have a craving. My baked crab cakes and spicy garlic dipping sauce hit the spot every time.

PostedSeptember 9, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsLouisiana seafood, local seafood, baked crab cake recipe, crab cakes, eat local, fresh seafood, crab recipes, appetizers, Lighter dinners, healthy, homemade, appetizer

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In high school, I became addicted to the Food Network. I watched it ALL the time, specifically I loved Rachael Ray and her 30-minute meals and even her sayings that might get on your nerves...I soaked it in. I grew up cooking with my mom, but I think it was Rachael Ray who taught me to properly chop and got me out of the box as far as cooking and wanting to try new food goes. There was something about being able to prepare an entire meal from scratch in 30 minutes that kept me watching. And no wonder, everybody needs a couple of quick meals in their back pocket for nights when you just need to get the food on the table. My 20-minute gnocchi skillet with smoked sausage and veggies has become my new go-to, fast and delicious meal.

A meal, that I think Ms. Ray herself would be proud of.

Gnocchi are potato dumplings and have the best pillowy texture, and I am a texture person through and through. I love the fact that like pasta, you can flavor it however you want to and with whatever ingredients are in the fridge. You boil it for 2-3 minutes and throw it in with the rest of the skillet and voila, dinner is ready.

PostedSeptember 5, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsGnocchi Recipes, Gluten Free, Gnocchi Skillet Recipes, Skillet Meals, 20 Minute Meal Recipes, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray, Farm Fresh, Eat Local, Weeknight meals

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My love of steak rivals most grown men. I can't help it, I love it. I crave it if I haven't had it in a while and love nothing more than that first bite off of the hot grill. Ninety percent of the time I just like it as is...some salt and pepper and throw that bad boy on a super hot pit. That sizzle is a sexy sound in my book. Then there is about ten percent of the time I like to do something different with steak. Something like these Cuban flank steak stuffed potatoes...because the flavor combos are the perfect marriage stuffed into a tender and salty potato.

And...I still get my sizzle.

Spicy with a touch of sweetness, every bite is the perfect combination of everything you could ever hope for inside of a good ole russet potato. I fell in love with Cuban flavors when we were in Miami and have been wanting to make something ever since...let's see it's almost August, so it only took me five months. The thing to focus on here is that I did make it, and the good news is, they were so delicious that I am sharing the recipe with you!

Get a little crazy and make some extra, you are going to want them for lunch the next day...and maybe the next.

PostedJuly 29, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

Tagsstuffed potatoes, cuban flank steak, flank steak, grilled, fresh, healthy, summer recipes, dinner, dinner recipes, clean eating, gluten free, Cuban food

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Fried Green Tomato BLT's with Caramelized Onion Mayo: My Diary of Us

Ok, so I am just going to throw this out there. This girl loves her bacon. There is nothing better than the smell of bacon cooking is there? It's just the ultimate comfort smell to me. One of my favorite dinners/brunch/lunch/breakfast (you get the idea) is a good BLT. There is something about the combination of flavors that just really does it for me. I am always looking for new ways to amp up the regular BLT (not that there is anything at all wrong with the regular), but just to give myself some variety since we have BLT's for dinner in the Spring and Summer almost weekly. Enter this delicious BLT with Oven Fried Green Tomatoes, Arugula and Caramelized Onion "Mayo".

Holy moly guys, this one is going to send your taste buds into over drive! It is absolutely to die for. The first time I made this for Canean, I am pretty sure he fell in love with me all over again. I might have fallen in love too a little...with the BLT.

It's one of those sandwiches where you go "mmm" and "oh my gosh" and "this is so good" and "isn't this so good" the whole time you are eating it. And it's ok, because the other people eating it with you are doing the same thing. And of course you know I had to make it to where it was somewhat healthy so I could still pile on the bacon. So instead of frying the tomatoes, I baked them in the oven and instead of using real mayonnaise, I mixed in some nonfat Greek yogurt to reduce the fat. It's sounding better and better right?

The flavor combinations of the smoky bacon mixed with the green tomato, peppery arugula, and the sweet onion mayo squished in between two pieces of your favorite whole grain toast are perfection.

PostedApril 2, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsBLT's, sandwiches, healthy, homemade

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We have had quite a bit of rain in Louisiana lately, and let me tell you I am over it! I just want my back yard to dry out for more than one day...is that too much to ask? It's March now and I'm ready for signs of spring.

One of the ways I combat my mood with yucky weather, is to make something yummy and delightful to cheer me up (I have probably told you that before, but honestly it helps.) Brings a little sunshine to my day if you will.

I have had a craving for Indian food for a bit, and I stumbled upon a recipe from a blog that I follow called Half Baked Harvest. It is called Butter Chicken and Tieghan (the author of the blog) had mentioned that she had made a healthier version, so I took a little peek at the recipe, and it looked so delicious. She has amazing recipes on her blog ya'll. If you haven't checked it out before, you should!

I made a few tweeks to make it my own, and let me tell you this recipe is on time (as Canean would say). She also suggested that if you are making the Butter Chicken, that you MUST make the homemade Naan to go with it...I was all like "homemade bread?" Twist my arm...okay, I'm in (like that was hard.) And I looove Naan, let's be honest, who doesn't really? If you don't we need to discuss our friendship.

This recipe was the perfect antidote to my rainy day leaving me happy and satisfied after eating it. Most of the fat has been eliminated, leaving plenty of flavor and deliciousness.

PostedMarch 7, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsIndian food, healthy recipes, cook at home, homemade

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