Recipe Trade-Up: Peanut Chicken

Author: Tina | Posted: 16-07-2010 4

Rachel Ray sometimes gets a bad rap, but I really enjoy her recipes. They’re fast and easy and don’t often require many ingredients. However, they’re not always the healthiest meals, so I often “trade -up” her recipes by using more nutritious ingredients.

Recently, I traded-up her recipe for Peanut Chicken. I think it came out really well! :)

peanutshrimpBefore

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2/3 cup Skippy Super Crunchy (NuVal score: 20)
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (NuVal score: 11)
  • 1 pound cubed Boneless Chicken Breast (NuVal score: 39) 
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped scallion whites
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallion greens
  • Cooked white rice (NuVal score: 20)

After

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2/3 cup Teddie Super Chunky (NuVal score: 38)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil (NuVal score: 24)
  • 1/2 pound for Shrimp (NuVal score: 75)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped scallion whites
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallion greens
  • Cooked brown rice (NuVal score: 82)

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup water and the peanut butter. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, patted dry, and cook until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. In the same skillet, cook the carrots and 1/2 cup chopped scallion whites over medium heat for 30 seconds. Stir in the peanut butter mixture. Return the chicken and its juices to the pan and cook, stirring, until heated through; season with salt and pepper. Top with 1/4 cup chopped scallion greens and serve with cooked brown rice.

Homemade Hummus

Author: Tina | Posted: 12-07-2010 7

Have you ever made your own hummus? I always thought it would be difficult to make my own, but it’s actually very easy! Plus, making your own hummus is a lot more nutritious than buying it at the grocery store– just check out the high scores of the ingredients in my recipe below!

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Hummus

Makes 3.5 cups

Ingredients:

  • 2 15-ounce cans of Goya Chick Peas (NuVal score: 88), one drained, one undrained
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (NuVal score: 99)
  • 1 garlic clove (NuVal score: 96), minced
  • 1 tsp cumin

Directions:

  • Place all ingredients in blender in order listed.
  • Blend until smooth.

After making the “plain” hummus, I portioned-out about half and added it to a storage container for later. To the remaining hummus, I added approximately 1/2 cup Cosmos Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil (NuVal score: 65) and then continued to blend.

Delicious sun-dried tomato hummus and plain hummus! :)

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If you don’t have time to make your own hummus or you just prefer the store-bought variety, here are some NuVal scores for refrigerated hummus:

  • Cedar’s Red Pepper Hummus: 61
  • Tribe Hummus Sweet Roasted Red Pepper: 52
  • Wild Garden Hummus Dip: 51
  • Cedar’s Roasted Garlic and Chive Hummus: 47
  • Cedar’s Horseradish Hummus: 43
  • Sabra Red Pepper Hummus: 26
  • Sabra Classic Hummus: 24

Trading Up Downtown Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s giveaway to win a NuVal t-shirt! Here are your winners: 6 and 31.

6. sweetersalt, on July 8th, 2010 at 8:16 am Said:

I usually go on Sunday afternoon, which is silly because it is probably the most crowded!

31. Brian, on July 9th, 2010 at 2:15 am Said:

I usually go Sunday morning, before it gets crowded, and when the kids don’t have plans or activities, and often my daughter likes to go and help.

Congrats, sweetersalt and Brian! Please email me at thaupert@nuval.com with your full name, mailing address, and t-shirt size.

Rotel Dip

Author: Tina | Posted: 05-07-2010 4

I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July! In honor of summer barbecues and get-togethers, here’s a recipe for one of my favorite “go-to” appetizers for parties: Rotel Dip. It’s so simple to make and people devour this stuff ! I usually serve mine with tortilla chips and/or toasted pita bread wedges.

Rotel Dip

rotel_cheese_dip

Ingredients:

1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies (NuVal score: 40)

8 oz. Philadelphia 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese (NuVal score: 22)

Your favorite tortilla or pita chips, crackers, or veggies

Directions:

1. Remove cream cheese from refrigerator and allow to soften at room temperature for approximately 1 hour.

2. In a large bowl, combine can of Rotel (juices and all) and cream cheese. Blend well until cream cheese clumps are smooth.

3. Return to refrigerator to chill.

4. Serve with tortilla chips, pita bread, bagel chips and/or raw veggies.

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