Rich Beef Stroganoff

Even when I have recipes that we love, I still like to find ways to make them better.  Take for instance this recipe for beef stroganoff.  I recently decided to play around with a richer flavor - such as that found in SkinnyTaste's "mushroom stroganoff," which incorporates tomato paste, Worcestershire, and wine.  The resulting hybrid stroganoff recipe is a little tangier and smoother - possibly a new favorite!

Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas

Here is a delicious enchilada recipe we love from SkinnyTaste.com. It is healthier than your typical enhiladas, and super spicy, too! We've made a few changes from the original.

Photo from SkinnyTaste.com

Chicken Divan

Here is a chicken+broccoli+cheese recipe we love (I mean, who doesn't love broccoli, chicken, and cheese?!), inspired by my mother-in-law's delicious recipe and relying heavily on the "lightened up" version from SkinnyTaste.com.

Ingredients:

• 2 large heads broccoli, chopped
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 
• salt and pepper (other seasonings if desired - we use Mortin's Nature's Seasons in place of S&P, and a pinch of paprika)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp minced onion
• 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 2 oz dry white wine
• 4 oz shredded swiss
• 4 oz shredded sharp cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and blanch for 3 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Drain well and set aside.
3. Slice chicken into strips about 1 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper (and other seasonings of choice). In a large skillet or grill pan, sauté chicken strips on medium-low heat on both sides until browned, and just about cooked through. 
4. In a saucepan, melt the butter and then add the oil, garlic, and onion; cook until soft. 
5. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until smooth. 
6. Stir in broth, milk, and wine; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in half of the swiss and cheddar cheeses. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Arrange the broccoli and chicken in the casserole dish and top with sauce.
   
8. Sprinkle on the remaining swiss and cheddar cheeses and the grated parmesan; top with breadcrumbs. Top with a little cooking spray.
   
9. Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly; serve hot.

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread

I'm notorious for buying bananas and letting them sit too long.  I've never been a fan of regular banana bread, so I usually ended up throwing the ripened bananas out.  Then I had an idea: Add chocolate! And so my chocolate chip banana nut bread was born.

Recipe modified from Chocolate Chip Banana Bread II on AllRecipes.com.

Photo from AllRecipes.com