Saturday, August 9, 2014

Quick Bites

Zucchini Tots 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/07/zucchini-tots.html 


A great way to get your picky vegetables eaters to eat zucchini!

Getting your family to eat their veggies can often be difficult. Well these kid-friendly zucchini tots are the perfect solution! They make a great side for breakfast or dinner!

I shared this recipe a few years ago, and we all loved them, but the only issue was I made them in a mini muffin tin, and they stuck to the pan. Here's a photo of them as mini muffins...


Then last year I made these cauliflower tots and baked them on a baking sheet and they were perfect. So last night I decided to try it out with this recipe, and the results were zucchini tot perfection – no more sticking to the pan!


I also like how they got a little crisp on the edges – so good! My husband LOVED these, and he's pretty particular when it comes to eating zucchini. One advice is to be sure to squeeze as much water out of the shredded zucchini, I just used paper towels. Some moisture will still remain, but they will turn out just fine.

I have tons of zucchini recipes here on Skinnytaste, so many I created an entire Pinterest board called Yummy Zucchini devoted to it. A few of my favorites are Zucchini Enchiladas (perfect for meatless Mondays), Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Zucchini and Mozzarella, Zucchini Pizza Bites and one of my summer favorite's – Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats. For breakfast you can try this Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, even the pickiest of kids will enjoy them!

Zucchini Tots 
Skinnytaste.com
adapted from The Two Bite Club
Servings:Serving Size: 4 tots • Old Points: 2 pts • Points+: 3 pts
Calories: 108  • Fat: 4.3 g • Protein: 6.8 g • Carb: 11.5 g • Fiber: 1.8 g • Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 262 mg (without salt)


Ingredients:
  • cooking spray
  • 1 packed cup grated zucchini
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 medium onion, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Grate the zucchini into a clean dish towel until you have 1 packed cup.  Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini, there will be a lot of water. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.


Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture in your hands and roll into small ovals. Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, turning halfway though cooking until golden.

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Chicken Rollatini with Prosciutto and Cheese



Chicken cutlets dipped in lemon and olive oil, gently coated in a combination of bread crumbs and romano cheese then rolled with prosciutto, cheese and red onion and baked until golden. Serve this with a simple arugula salad or tomato salad for a complete dinner.

I try to make a dish from my friend Julia's blog a few times a month to get show her some love, but also because she's a wonderful cook and I know her recipes won't fail me. I've had my eye on this one for a while, a perfect way to make chicken breasts if you're tired of the same old thing. I loved using olive oil and lemon juice to dip the chicken in before the breadcrumbs, it really added to the dish.

There is no need to season the chicken with salt, the prosciutto gives you all the salt you need. If you are watching your sodium, use low sodium ham in place of the prosciutto and use unseasoned breadcrumbs or make your own instead. I used Sargento reduced fat provolone cheese which was wonderful and really complimented the prosciutto!

A few other chicken breast recipes you may like: Lighter Chicken Saltimbocca, Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu, Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken and Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken.




Chicken Rollatini
Modified from Julia's Healthy Italian
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 chicken • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 4 pts
Calories: 168.6 • Fat: 6.4 g • Protein: 22.1 g • Carb: 4.6 g • Fiber: 0.7 g Sugar: 0.0 g

Ingredients:
  • 8 thin chicken cutlets, 3 oz each
  • 4 (2.8 oz) slices thin lean prosciutto, sliced in half
  • 4 slices Sargento reduced fat provolone or mozzarella, sliced in half
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Romano cheese (or parmesan)
  • 1 lemon, juice of
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • fresh pepper
  • 1/4 red onion, sliced
  • olive oil non-stick spray
Directions:

Wash and dry cutlets well with paper towels. Combine breadcrumbs and grated cheese in one bowl and olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper in another bowl.


Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Dip the chicken in the lemon-oil mixture, then in the breadcrumbs to coat well. Place each cutlet on a work surface such as a cutting board and lay 1/2 slice prosciutto, 1/2 slice cheese and a few chunks red onion on one side of the chicken cutlet.  


Roll and place seam side down in a baking dish (no toothpicks needed). Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, top with remaining crumbs and spray lightly with oil.


Bake 25 - 30 minutes. Serve immediately! Serving size is listed as one, but if you are having this as a low carb meal with a salad, I suggest you have two.