Tuesday: Spicy Meatballs w/Fiery Chili Sauce and Parmesan Pepper Sweet Potato Fries

Parmesan Pepper Sweet Potato Fries:
1 large sweet potato cut in small sticks
1t reduced fat Parmesan cheese
1/2t extra virgin olive oil
1/8 garlic powder
1/8 paprika
cayenne
salt
pepper

Toss all ingredients in a bowl. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and cook for 8 minutes at 450 degrees. Flip the potatoes and bake for 10-12 minutes until they are tender and have brown spots. Makes 2 small servings.
These were pretty good, but I would like them more crispy. I will make them again because sweet potatoes are better for you. I DO NOT like sweet potatoes, but with this recipe the sweetness is faint.

Spicy Meatballs with Fiery Chili Sauce:
1 lb ground beef (96% lean)
8t cooked brown rice
1t dried parsely
1t Italian seasoning
1t fennel seeds
1/2t garlic powder
1/2t red pepper flakes
1/2t dried minced onion
10T Chili sauce
1/2t hot-pepper sauce
S&P

Combine all ingredients except the sauces in a bowl. Mix well and form the mixture into 1" meatballs. Place on a baking sheet and cook for about 7 minutes until they are barely pink inside. Combine the sauces and pour over the meatballs. Makes 4 servings.
I was proud that I finally made a great meatball - the seasoning was good and I have always had trouble trying to make them (I usually buy the frozen ones). It was a good meal, but a little spicy. Spicy is good, but I don't think I was in the mood. I will make these again, but without the sauce. Unless I am craving a good tastebud kick.

Thursday: Lean Lemon Chicken & Bobby's Broccoli w/Cheese Sauce

Tonight's meal was interesting......

I am not a clumsy person. Some people are known to be clumsy or unlucky at times, I am not. I don't typically run into things, fall down or bruise randomly without a cause. After a few years of cooking I managed to have an incident with this meal. While cooking the chicken I happened to splash hot olive oil onto my face and neck. Lovely burns. They really are not noticeable, but holy goodness they BURNED (until my sweet husband went to Walgreens and got some meds). This isn't the recipes fault - it is completely the cooks. :) I didn't follow directions well.

Bobby's Broccoli with Cheese Sauce 
3 cups (.5 lb) broccoli florets - I used fresh
1/4 C zesty cheese dip

Boil 4 cups of water. Add broccoli and cook for roughly 3 minutes or until the veggie is crisp/tender. Drain and pat dry. Spoon dip in microwaveable bowl and heat in short intervals (15 sec) until warm. Mix the broccoli and cheese and enjoy!
This was surprisingly good. It was yummy and I will make it again. Great for kids and husbands who may have a hard time eating vegetables. I added pepper for more flavor.


Lori's Lean Lemon Chicken
2t garlic powder
2t lemon pepper
1/2 t seasonsed salt
4 small, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray
1 cup lemon juice - freshly squeezed (5 lemons)
4 slices of lemons

Combine garlic powder, lemon pepper, and salt. Mix to blend and rub seasoning evenly over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate chicken for 15 mins or more for flavor. Heat a skillet over high heat until a drop of water sizzles on it. Remove pan from heat and LIGHLTLY MIST with olive oil spray. Place chicken in pan and cook 2-3 mins on each side to brown. Place chicken in an 8 x 8 non stick (or lightly greased) baking dish and spray each chicken piece with 2 sprays of the butter. Pour lemon juice over the chicken and top with a lemon slice. Cook for 22 minutes (or until chicken is cooked) at 400 degrees.
Seasoning was great. Definitely more of a healthy dinner choice and the chicken was not dry. I will make it again when I can master not burning myself.

Weekly Challenge

Since I am a stay at home wife and have more time on my hands than most, I am going to have my menus planned a week at a time with recipes from the cookbook of that week.  I will give you my thoughts on the recipes and if they are lucky enough to end up in my recipe box. :) At least 3 meals must be from the book of the week - each meal needs 1 main entree and 2 sides (a dessert can be a side).

This Week's Cookbook is drum roll please

I bought this cookbook before I started watching the show......I mean  i bought it years ago and I just now started watching the show - which I have become obsessed with. This will be a fun one to use for this week. I run my 5K this Saturday so I am trying not to heat too unhealthy and my husband typically doesn't like "healthy" foods so I can give you honest feedback. 

Check back on Thursdays/Fridays for the recipes and reviews. I'll also post the cookbook for the next week so if you have any suggestions on a cookbook for me to use, please leave a comment (you must be a follower of this blog before I can accept the challenge)! I'll even take suggestions for meals  - they don't have to be healthy ideas although those are nice for everyone who is still sticking to their New Years resolution. 

I think this will be fun and something different for me to do. I had forgotten some of these cookbooks that I even had. Please send some followers my way if you think of anyone who might enjoy this challenge!