Boing Boing Boing It?s SPRING!

Can I just tell you all: Spring is by far the absolute best anti-depressant out there! Ever since Spring sprung, my mood has generally been MUCH better, I?ve been generally happier? and this is with next to no chemical anti-depressant in my system! While yes, the kids at school have MAJOR Spring fever and are generally insane on a regular basis, and sure, I get exhausted by the end of the day? but I swear, I?m a different woman than I was this Winter!

SInce my energy has been generally at a higher level, rather than ordering in something, or picking up something after a Jazzercise class (706 calories today, thankyouverymuch!) I?ve had a lot more of a desire to really cook after class. Sure, going to Chipotle sounded amazing today, but I really wanted to come home and cook what I?d been planning.

What was this planned meal? Well, as I mentioned yesterday, I?d asked about fast food meals people wanted to see ?healthified.? The first one that came to mind for both Adam and I were the KFC Famous Bowls. Sure, a bowl full of mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn, cheese and gravy sounded great until I read the nutrition facts: 700 calories and 32 grams of fat! I decided I could make it better and better for me!

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts, diced

2 small potatoes, diced

3/4 c. dry bread crumbs

2 Tbsp. dijon mustard

1/2. c. shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1/2 c. cooked corn kernals

1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. olive oil

Smart Balance buttery spread, to taste for corn

chopped tomato, if desired

Directions

Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a large pan, and add the diced potatoes. Cook thoroughly, adding water to the pan if needed. Season as you like, I used garlic powder. Coat the chicken pieces with dijon mustard, then coat with bread crumbs. Heat the remaining teaspoon of olive oil in a different pan and add the chicken. Cook thoroughly. Layer in a bowl: potatoes, chicken, corn, cheese, and tomatoes (if desired). Enjoy!

My recipe?s stats: 567 calories, 14 g. fat, 7 g. fiber.

This was SO good, and tasted quite decadent. I?ll be making this again for sure!

Tonight?s guest for dinner is none other than The Peanut Butter Boy! If you haven?t checked out his blog yet, you must. He has some of the best recipes using peanut butter, as well as being the host of the Peanut Butter Exhibitions! So, Peanut Butter Boy, pull up a chair, have a seat at my table, and tell us about your meal!

Good evening folks and welcome to Mara’s dinner party. T

onight I, Peanut Butter Boy, will be you host for a culinary adventure through foodie heaven: yes, I speak of Trader Joe’s. This recipe contains 4 ingredients, all of which can be purchased (and is recommended to do so) at Trader Joe’s. Before we get to the food I must warn you, there is no peanut butter in this dish - I hope I didn’t disappoint too much. Now that that’s out of the way, please enjoy my Honey Mustard Salmon & Brie Burger:

Ingredients:

1 salmon burger

3 slices (~ 1oz) light brie

2 slices whole grain artisan bread

2t prepared honey mustard

Directions:

1. Preheat a pan to medium-high. Spray the pan with cooking spray and place down the salmon patty. Cover with a lid and cook for about 3 minutes.

2. Flip the burger, replace the lid and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the lid, place the brie on top of the burger and replace the lid for 30 seconds or until brie begins to melt.

3. Toast the bread in a toaster. Squirt honey mustard onto each slice of bread and spread it around. Place burger between both slices and consume.

Thanks for hosting the dinner party Mara, you’re welcome to stop by my place for dinner anytime =).

Salmon? Brie? Artisan bread? I?ll forgive you for leaving out the Peanut Butter!! Thanks so much PBB!!

Do you want to be a guest for dinner? Just send an email detailing your dinner, preferably with a photo and recipe, to mara@imadedinner.net and I?ll have you as my guest!

On another note, though you?ve probably already heard about this? our lovely Jenn got engaged yesterday!! Congratulations and confetti are in order!!! CONGRATULATIONS MS. BENDER!!!! OH, and Meghann is giving away a Blue Mountain Organics pack! I want it! Don’t enter

Tomorrow is an interesting day. I have my normal school day, followed by Open House from 6:30-8:00 p.m. So I?ll be at work, pretty much from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. It?s really too bad that I have this event tomorrow, because more importantly, tomorrow is MY MOM?S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Have a wonderful night all! It?s my favorite TV night, so I?m off to VEG OUT!

Technorati Tags: chicken, family, Guests for Dinner