Orange Roughy fish with Salsa

1/2 to 2 pounds orange roughy
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to tast
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1 cup fresh or prepared salsa

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a lightly oiled or sprayed glass baking dish, place fish dark side down.  Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.  Pace onion slices on top of fish.  Spoon salsa evenly over onion slices.  Bake until fish flakes when tested with a fork, about 20 to 25 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Baked Tarragon Chicken Breasts

6 boned and skinned chicken breast halves (can cut into smaller pieces)
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp. chicken stock
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon, or 1 tsp. dry tarragon, crumbled
1/2 Tbsp. salt
pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chicken in a lightly oiled or sprayed baking dish.  In a small saucepan melt butter.  Whisk in remaining ingredients.  Pour over chicken.  Bake, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 35 minutes.  Spoon sauce over chicken and serve immediately.

Chicken Breast and Mushrooms with Rosemary and Mustard Sauce

3 Tbsp. butter
6 boned and skinned chicken breast halves (can cut into smaller pieces)
salt and pepper to taste
6 green onions, sliced
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. snipped rosemary, or 3/4 tsp. dried rosemary, crumbled
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

In a skillet melt 2 Tbsp. butter over medium heat.  Season chicken with salt and pepper.  Cook chicken in skillet until well browned and no longer pink in center, about 20 minutes, turning several times  Remove to plate.

Add remaining 1 Tbsp. butter to skillet and saute onion and mushrooms until soft, about 5 minutes.  Remove and add to chicken.  Add broth, salt, and rosemarey to pan; increase heat to medium-high and boil unti liquid is reduced by about one-half, about 5 minutes.  Whisk in mustard and parsley.

Return chicken and mushrooms to pan and simmer over low heat to reheat, 5 to 10 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Orange- Hazelnut Chicken

1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or almonds
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme, crumbled
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 Tbsp. chopped parsley
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
4 to 6 boned and skinned chicken breast halves (can cut into smaller pieces)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On  a piece of waxed paper mix crumbs, nuts seasonings, and parsley.  In a small pan over medium heat melt butter and add orange juice.

Dip chicken, one piece at a time, in butter and juice mixture and then roll in crumb-nut mixture.  Place in a lightly oiled or sprayed baking dish.  Pour any leftover butter and juice mixture over breasts.

Bake, uncovered, until chicken is golden and crisp and meat is white in center when tested with a knife, about 35 minutes. 

* to toast hazelnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread nuts on a baking sheet and bake until lightly colored and skins are blistered, 12 to 15 minutes.  Wrap hot nuts in clean towel to steam 1 minute.  Then rub the nuts in the towel to remove most of the skins.

* to toast almonds
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spread nuts in a small pan and bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.

90 days

My husband and I are doing a 90 day weight loss challenge.  Basically it's the summer long from June 1st until Sept. 1st.  I'm totally gonna kick his butt.  He did join a gym but I have killer drive and motivation when it comes to eating right.  80% diet and 20% exercise right?  

I have been searching and searching for dinner recipes that are delicious and healthy.  I'm not one of those cooks that can whip something up. I need a recipe. I love using spices in these chicken and fish recipes instead of creams and cheeses that enhance the flavor but don't add calories.  You will love these recipes.  So delicious!

Wednesday Weigh In

I lost 5 pounds this past week.  YaHoo!  My goal this week is to stay on program with my food and start back up with walking for 45 minutes a day.  I rewarded myself with a pedicure...bright purple.  Instead of using food as a reward I'll be thinking up other nonfood rewards.  I think every 5 pounds lost deserves something!  It's hard to be in control of food.  I need all the help I can get!. 

Getting back on the horse

This is hard to admit but it is my reality.  Even after losing 100 pounds and feeling so good I have begun to gain some weight back.  30 pounds!!  I thought I could handle food without the tools I've used to lose the weight in the first place.  Big mistake!  I will always have to work at it.  No more senseless eating for me.  Back to the basics for me.  One thing is putting it out there (on this blog) and being held accountable. Here's to moving forward and taking back control....
Are you on a quest like mine?  I would love to hear about it in the comments below.