Baked Pasta with Spinach

This is an great recipe.  I love the ricotta in it; it adds creaminess to this healthy dish.

Low Fat Baked Pasta with Spinach

 

photo credit here

Recipe from http://www.skinnytaste.com

Ingredients: 
  
12 oz uncooked pasta such as ziti

28 oz crushed tomatoes

1 tsp olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz frozen spinach, thawed1 tsp oregano

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

salt and fresh pepper to taste

8 oz fat-free ricotta

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups (8 oz) shredded part skim mozzarella

olive oil cooking spray  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with oil spray.

In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to instructions until al dente. Drain and return to pot.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, add olive oil and sauté garlic. Add chopped spinach, salt pepper and chopped tomatoes. Season with basil, oregano, salt and pepper. 

Add sauce to the pasta and combine the ziti. Add half of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and ricotta. Mix well then transfer to the baking pan.

Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Top with the remaining mozzarella.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until mozzarella is melted and the edges are lightly browned. Let it cool 5 minutes, then cut it into 8 equal portions.

This can be made up to a day in advance and stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

Grilled Chicken

I found this recipe on one of my favorite sites, skinnytaste.com.  My sister, Erin recommended the site to me.  This has become one of our favorite dishes to have for dinner.  It is incredibly tasty and as an added bonus healthy!

Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella

 

 photo credit here

Recipe adapted from http://www.skinnytaste.com

Marinade from foodnetwork

Marinade:

1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

Dash hot sauce

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients: 

21 oz (3 large) chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise to make 6 cutlets

3 cloves garlic, crushed

10 oz frozen spinach, drained

3 oz shredded part skim mozzarella

1/2 cup roasted red pepper, sliced in strips (packed in water)

olive oil spray

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients for the marinade together in a bowl.  Put chicken in a ziplock bag then pour marinade over the chicken.  Close the bag and let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Cook chicken on the grill until no longer pink, careful not to overcook or you'll have dry chicken.

Meanwhile, heat a sauté pan on medium heat. Add oil and garlic, sauté a few seconds, add spinach, salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes until heated through.

When chicken is done, lay on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment for easy clean-up. Divide spinach evenly between the 6 pieces and place on top. Top each with half oz mozzarella, then slices of roasted pepper and bake until melted, about 6-8 minutes.