Take your chicken and STUFF IT…with pesto and cheese…

I feel like I eat a lot of chicken….its pretty versatile and super available (also its frequently on sale). But, if you’re like me, you can get BORED as all get out with it. So I decided to try something a little different to zazz it up.

I modified a recipe I found on Pinterest to suit my lazy level. And it worked pretty well. Also it was really easy.

Cheese and Pesto Stuffed Chicken served with a steaming side of garlic mashed cauliflower

So it’s really easy to make this…you need 3 things: chicken breasts, pesto, and cheese (this girl used mozzarella string cheese).

You start by slicing your chicken in the middle (I didn’t cut all the way through…I left one side connected). Open that guy up and spread on about 1-2 Tbs pesto and then layer on some cheese. Close it up and bake for about 45 mins on 350. NOM NOM.

The side dish is super easy as well…are you sensing a theme here?

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

-Small to Medium head of Cauliflower
-garlic
-butter
-1 Tbs cream cheese
-spices (I use Montreal Chicken Spice and salt and pepper)

Start by chopping your cauliflower into small pieces. Boil them until soft. While hot, add the rest of the ingredients and mash/blend (a food processor/immersion blender work great). Then BOOM you’re done.

It’s not very much work and it makes for a tasty meal!

mmmm…mmmm Appetizers

Well…not JUST appetizers…you could also call them sides. Or ‘small plates’ if you’re being fancy.

So last weekend was the Super Bowl. As my team was not in it, I really had very little interest in watching it. But, never one to pass up a gathering of pals, I went to my friend L’s place for some snacks and the game….aka food, wine, commercials, and BEYONCE (I mean the girl KILLED it right?!).

The other day I had tried out a new recipe for cheesy cauliflower bread sticks and they were super good, so I decided to make it for the Bowl.

Grate the cauliflower

 

The great thing about this recipe is that its SUPER easy AND its healthy! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 cup raw cauliflower, grated
• 1/4 cup egg substitute (or 1 egg)
• 1 cup shredded 2% reduced fat mozzarella
• garlic (to your own tastes)
• seasonings (salt, pepper….I use Montreal Chicken Spice)

Mix grated Cauliflower, egg, and most of the cheese together. Add the spices. Spray some cooking spray on your pan and spread the mixture over it….try for a thin layer (similar to pizza dough). Bake at 350 for about 30-40 mins. Take it out, top with remaining cheese and cook for 10 minutes until cheese is melted. Then est up!

I didn’t have enough cheese so I cut up some string cheese lol…it worked okay

 

Spread into a thin layer.

It’ll get firmer as it bakes in the oven

Top with the melted cheese. So cheesey and delicious!

We also had some other amazing snacks

medjool dates stuffed with goat cheese, and wrapped in bacon NOM

Caramelized onion and goat cheese crostini

These crostini are AMAZING. And incredibly addictive. check out the recipe here.

I can’t wait to make these apps again. They work really well for get togethers of all kinds.