Ginger-Scallion Chicken

This was a very easy and quick dinner for a weeknight. I had never tried frozen brown rice before, and it was really good, and so simple! It tasted just as good and freshly cooked brown rice. It's now added to the list of healthy convenience foods that I like!

Ginger-Scallion Chicken

Makes ~4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound organic chicken breast tenders

kosher salt

5 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

2 tsp rice vinegar

2 tsp sambal or chili-garlic sauce

4 scallions, thinly sliced, keeping greens and whites separate

2 tsp grated fresh ginger

8 oz snow peas

4 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced

3 cups frozen brown rice

1/2 cup organic fresh cilantro, chopped

2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

you'll also need four 16-inch long sheets of parchment paper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Fold each sheet of parchment paper in half and open like a book. On two separate baking sheets, place two pieces of parchment paper (two pieces per baking sheet).

2. Trim and discard tendon pieces of chicken tenders. Lightly season chicken tenders with kosher salt.

3. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sambal or chili-garlic sauce, scallion whites, ginger, and 1 Tbsp water.

4. In a separate bowl, combine snow peas and sliced mushrooms with 2 Tbsp of soy sauce mixture.

5. On one side of the fold in each piece of parchment paper, mound 3/4 cup brown rice and drizzle with 1 Tbsp water. Top with vegetables and 2-3 chicken tenders per packet. Spoon ~2 tsp of soy sauce mixture over the top of each.

6. Fold over top half of each piece of parchment paper and make small overlapping folds along entire open edge to make a closed pouch. Place in oven and bake for about 18 minutes, until parchment puffs up and chicken is cooked through. Transfer packets to plates and let sit for 2 minutes. Open carefully as hot steam will come out.

7. Top with scallion greens, cilantro and sesame seeds, to taste.

What are the nutritional benefits of this meal? Chicken is an excellent source of protein and is rich in B vitamins. Brown rice is unrefined, so contains it's original abundance of iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, antioxidants and fiber. Snow peas are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of fiber, iron and manganese.

Spinach-Ricotta Tacos

We try to have at least 1-2 vegetarian dinners a week, and this one is going into our rotation! It made plenty for leftovers for dinner the next day, and would also make a nice lunch. We added a little Cholula hot sauce on top for some added flavor. 

Spinach-Ricotta Tacos

makes ~8 tacos

Ingredients

16oz ricotta cheese (room temperature)

2 Tbsp organic cilantro, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

kosher salt

1 Tbsp canola oil

1 yellow onion, sliced thin

16 oz fresh organic spinach leaves

1/2 tsp ground cumin

8 whole grain corn tortillas

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, cilantro and 1 clove of chopped garlic. Season with kosher salt, so taste.

2. Heat canola oil in large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook without stirring until slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir and continue to cook onion for another 2 minutes. Add spinach and cumin and stir until spinach begins to wilt. Add remaining 2 cloves of chopped garlic and stir, cooking for another 3 minutes. Season with kosher salt, to taste.

3. Warm tortillas according to package directions.

4. Fill tortillas with spinach mixture and top with ricotta mixture. Serve with hot sauce and/or salsa of your choice!

(Recipe adapted from foodnetwork.com)

What are the nutritional benefits of this meal? Spinach is packed with fiber,  vitamins K, A, C, B2, B6 and folate, and the minerals iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Onions are rich in quercetin (a type of antioxidant) and vitamin C. Ricotta cheese is a great source of calcium and protein. Whole grain corn tortillas are a good source of fiber.