Category: Uncategorized

P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Mel and TammyLeave a comment

Be nice to your butcher and your butcher will be nice to you! Seriously, make friends with your butcher! That’s my lesson for you today. Here’s just one of the many reasons why…This recipe requires 1 pound of ground chicken. But ground chicken was $4.99/lb. However, boneless, skinless chicken breasts were on sale for $1.77/lb. I bought 10 lbs. of chicken breast and kindly asked my butcher to “course grind” the breasts for me. Now I have 10 pounds of healthy, ground chicken breast meat! When I got home, I divided the meat up into 1 lb. portions and put it into quart-size freezer bags, then stuck them in my freezer. Now, whenever I need, I just pull the amount I want out of the freezer, defrost it, and make a meal out of it! I know, I know….you’re welcome!

Now, onto this recipe… If you’ve ever gone to P.F. Chang’s, I’m sure you’ve had their famous lettuce wraps! It’s good as an appetizer, but hearty and filling enough for a meal (which is what we did). This is a fun, interactive meal. I like to serve it family style! Here’s my take on the recipe. This is not my original recipe, but it’s a good one. I got the adapted recipe here.

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes friendly, low carb, kid-friendly

Read More »

Rachael Ray’s Sliced Steak Salad with Bloody Mary Vinaigrette

Mel and TammyLeave a comment

I love salad! Salads are fun to eat, versatile, and I don’t have to feel guilty about eating them! And thank you to Rachael Ray for coming up with this salad that we have eaten over and over in my house. I want to share it with you. Sliced Steak Salad with Bloody Mary Vinaigrette. All the flavors you love from a Bloody Mary, turned into a salad. Original recipe found here. Thank you Rachael Ray….Family Apron loves you!

 -Tammy

Health tips:  kidney friendly, diabetes friendly, low carb

Read More »

Smoked Jalapeno Popper, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

Smoked Jalapeno Popper, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf!!! OH YES I DID! I took a classic and kicked it up like a million notches. I usually cook all day on Sundays. But on this day, I didn’t want to go my usual route; I knew I wanted to use my smoker, but I wanted something different, something I have never done before. So I came up with this recipe. Meatloaf! I will wrap it in bacon. But what can I stuff it with? I know… I’ll stuff it with jalapeño poppers! (You should’ve heard the conversation I was having with myself; hilarious). If you do not have a smoker, then you can absolutely make this in the oven as an alternative.  And remember, this ain’t yo mamas meatloaf, but it’s darn good!

-Tammy

Health tips:  cheat meal

Read More »

One Crockpot=Two Meals: Tortilla Soup and Enchilada Suiza

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

I’m really excited about this blog post! I cannot wait for you all to try it and hear your feedback! I know it’s hard for some of us to make time to cook. So this is an easy way to kill two birds with one stone! Make a Crockpot full of chicken and use it for two dinners, maybe even three. One Crockpot of chicken will make my modified version of Rachael Ray’s Chicken Enchilada Suiza Casserole and my Chicken Tortilla Soup. And if you want to throw an extra chicken thigh or two into the slow-cooker, you’ll have enough for a third dinner…maybe tacos or panini’s.  Just add the chicken to the Crockpot before you leave for work. When you come home, your chicken will be done and you can make two or three healthy meals! You’re welcome!

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes-friendly, kidney-friendly, low-carb

Read More »

Easy Slow-Cooked Filipino Chicken Adobo

Mel and TammyLeave a comment

I am so excited to share our first Filipino dish on our blog! I’m a first generation Filipino-American and have been learning to cook traditional Filipino recipes from my parents and grandparents ever since I was little. Chicken adobo is the Philippines’ national dish and is so easy and flavorful. Adobo is stewed chicken in vinegar, soy sauce, pepper, onions and garlic. It had a very distinctive savory, yet tart, flavor…so satisfying! When you throw everything in the crockpot, it’s even less stressful and you can’t go wrong with super slow-cooked meat. We hope you enjoy this sometime soon!

 -Mel

Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, low carb and diabetes friendly Read More »

Sweet OR Savory Chicken Salad-Two Ways!

Mel and Tammy2 Comments

Our followers ask, and we answer! You would love a chicken salad recipe you say? Well here is my take on two of my favorites! Chicken salad two ways- sweet and savory! Try my chicken salad with apples, celery, and grapes OR my buffalo chicken salad! Both are a delicious, healthy lunch or snack! Make it for a party, make it for your lunch, or take it to go!

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes friendly, kidney friendly, low carb, kid friendly

Read More »

Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Mel and Tammy2 Comments

Why, oh why are carnitas sooooo delicious?!?! Is it the meat itself? Is it the tortillas you put them in? The fixin’s? Or a combination of it all? For whatever the reason(s), I love to make a slow cooker version of this yummy pork. It’s inexpensive to make and can feed a ton of people. In fact, if you have a nice little crowd over, you might want to think about making my carnitas for super bowl. Enjoy!

 -Tammy

Health tips:  kidney friendly, diabetes friendly

Read More »

Jambalaya

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

I stumbled onto this jambalaya recipe about 8 years ago. Ellie Krieger originally made it. I modified it a bit. It’s packed full of flavor. But you do not have to feel guilty about eating it. If you are not watching your sodium or fat, by all means use any sausage you’d like. If you do not want it spicy, use kielbasa or a smoked ham. If you want a kick, use andouille. Either way, I suggest you find one that is lower fat and lower sodium. Your body will thank you for it.

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes friendly, low carb*

Read More »

Breakfast Toast

Mel and TammyLeave a comment

Sometimes I want something sweet for breakfast and sometimes I want something savory. Either way, I try to have a healthy, filling breakfast to start my day. I like balance and my  breakfast toast with a hardboiled egg is the perfect savory breakfast to start my day.

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes friendly, kidney friendly*, low carb

Read More »

Zucchini Lasagna

Mel and Tammy2 Comments

Low carb zucchini lasagna? Yes, please! My mother-in-law makes the best traditional lasagna with meat sauce. It’s fabulous! However, she was recently diagnosed with diabetes and cannot have her lasagna as often. I wanted to make a healthier version so when she comes to visit, I can make this for her and she doesn’t have to feel guilty about eating it! I invited my neighbor and her boys over to share this meal with my family. She said “Tammy, you out-did yourself”. They all went back for seconds!

Lasagna is usually not a quick 30 minute meal, although you can always use your favorite jarred pasta sauce to make this recipe move faster. But I highly recommend you make mine. So when you have some time on a Sunday, I suggest you open a bottle of wine, make this lasagna and enjoy the end of your day with this meal.

 -Tammy

Health tips:  low carb, diabetes friendly, kid friendly

Read More »