Chicken Larb

Ingredients
2 tablespoons red curry paste
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup chopped English cucumber
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
8 cabbage leaves
Thai chile paste (optional)

Preparation
Combine curry paste, chicken, and salt in a food processor; process until smooth. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat.
Add chicken to pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done, stirring to crumble. Remove pan from heat; stir in cucumber and next 3 ingredients (through juice).
Place 2 cabbage leaves on each of 4 plates; divide chicken mixture evenly among leaves. Serve with chile paste, if desired.

Nutrition
2 cabbage leaves with filling: 174 calories, 4.9g fat, 0.3g fiber
From Cooking Light

Hawaiian Chicken

Ingredients
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups hot cooked long-grain white rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation
Combine first 5 ingredients. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade; place remaining marinade in a zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal. Chill 4 hours.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade in bag. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes. Turn chicken over; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes. Combine rice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cilantro.

Nutrition

1 Chicken Breast and 1/2 Cup Rice: 247 calories, 1.8g fat, 0.5g fiber

From Cooking Light

Recipeasy's Holiday Gift Ideas

Joseph Joseph Rolling Pin
The adjustable rings on this roller ensure that the crust comes out a uniform 1/4-, 3/8-, or 1/16-inch thick.

Sagaform Salad Dressing Shaker
Toss the old pickle jar and shake salad dressing with this: It's elegant enough to bring to table.

Kuhn Rikon Slim Flexi Turner Colori
This flipper is flexible. Also, narrower than your usual spatula, for getting under foods in a small or crowded pan.

William Sonoma Monogrammed Carving Board
Personalized with one carved initial, our board makes a welcomed gift for your favorite barbecue chef. Handsome enough to double as a serving platter, it's crafted in Vermont of solid maple.

Kyocera's Ceramic Knives

A 5.5" Santoku and a 3" paring knife. Perfect for the home cook, these knives will be used daily, quickly becoming favorites in the kitchen. Ideal for fruits, vegetables and boneless meats.

Williams Sonoma Croissants
Master pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon prepares our croissants in the traditional French style, using butter and ultrathin layers of yeast dough and laboriously folding and cutting the pastry by hand.

Red Pepper Jelly
As unique as it is delicious, vibrantly hued jam is full of sweet bell pepper flavor. Serve over cream cheese with crackers for a tasty and simple hors d’oeuvre.

Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini-Prep Plus Food Processors

Compact and powerful unit chops and grinds with ease. Features a bright, easy-clean plastic exterior with simple touchpad controls for coarse chop or fine grind; stainless-steel blade for chopping.

Joseph Joseph Chop2Pot Folding Cutting Boards
Innovative and award-winning board becomes a chute for quick and easy transfer of fresh-chopped ingredients to waiting pots and pans on the stovetop. Dishwasher-safe plastic. 10¾" x 8" cutting surface.

Joseph Joseph Elevate Kitchen Tools

Designed to improve hygiene and minimize the mess made by placing mucky utensils onto kitchen surfaces. An innovative weighted handle with an integrated tool rest ensures that when an Elevate utensil is placed down, the head is always raised off the work surface.

Gobble, Gobble Cranberry Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:
2 slices light bread
2 tsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown), room temperature
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. jellied cranberry sauce
2 oz. cooked and sliced lean skinless turkey breast
1 slice fat-free American cheese

Directions:
Lay bread slices side by side on a plate, and evenly spread butter onto both slices. Flip slices over. Evenly spread cheese wedge onto one slice.

Evenly spread mustard onto the other slice of bread and top with cranberry sauce, turkey, and American cheese. Place the other bread slice on top, buttered side up. Set aside. Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Add sandwich and cook until lightly browned on the outside and hot on the inside, about 2 minutes per side.

Nutrition: 305 calories, 6g fat, 35g carbs, 5.25g fiber, 27.5g protein

From Hungry Girl

My 100th Post! How many calories are in your favorite Halloween candies?

Guilt-Free Classics!
Tootsie Caramel Apple Pop - 60 calories, 0.5g fat
Charms Blow Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat
Dum Dum Pop - 25 calories, 0g fat
Lik-m-aid Fun Dip 0.5-oz. Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy (3 Pieces), Original - 70 calories, 0g fat
Jolly Rancher Lollipop - 60 calories, 0g fat
Laffy Taffy Miniature - 30 calories, 0.4g fat
Peeps Ghosts & Pumpkins (2 Pumpkins or 1 Ghost) - 28 - 37 calories, 0g fat
Pixy Stix (7 Straws) - 60 calories, 0g fat
Smarties Candy Roll - 25 calories, 0g fat
Tootsie Pop Miniature (3 Pops) - 50 calories, 0g fat
Tootsie Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat
Tootsie Roll Snack Bar (3-Inches Long) - 50 calories, 1.25g fat
Twizzlers Strawberry Twist (Individual) - 40 - 47 calories, 0 - 0.3g fat

Chocolate- Size Matters!
Before you chew, know the difference between Snack Size, Fun Size, and Miniatures...Miniatures/Minis are the square-shaped morsels -- those babies are each about a quarter of an ounce in weight. A Snack Size or Fun Size chocolate treat weighs in at a little more than half an ounce and is usually about 2 inches long. Not all size-categorized treats are created equal. If you want to be extra-careful, go by the higher set of stats listed below.

3 Musketeers Mini Bar - 24 calories, 0.7g fat
3 Musketeers Fun Size Bar - 63 - 70 calories, 2 - 2.25g fat
Almond Joy Snack Size Bar - 80 - 85 calories, 4.5g fat
Butterfinger Miniature - 45 calories, 2g fat
Butterfinger Fun Size Bar - 85 calories, 3.5g fat
Butterfinger Pumpkin - 160 calories, 8g fat- yikes!
Hershey's Kiss, Any Flavor - 21 - 23 calories, 1 - 1.3g fat
Hershey's Miniature Bar, Any Flavor - 42 calories, 2.5g fat
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bar - 67 calories, 4g fat
Kit Kat Mini - 42 calories, 2.2g fat
Kit Kat Snack Size Bar - 70 calories, 3.7g fat
Milky Way Mini - 38 calories, 1.5g fat
Milky Way Fun Size Snack Bar - 75 - 80 calories, 3g fat
Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cup - 44 calories, 2.6g fat
Reese's Snack Size Peanut Butter Cup - 80 - 110 calories, 4.5 - 6.5g fat
Snickers Miniature - 42 - 45 calories, 2g fat
Snickers Fun Size Bar - 80 calories, 4g fat
Twix Mini Caramel Cookie Bar - 50 calories, 2.6g fat
Twix Fun Size Caramel Cookie Bar - 80 calories, 4g fat
York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Pattie Pumpkin - 50 calories, 1g fat

Goodie Bag (or Box)!
Brach's Candy Corn Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat
Butterfinger Snackerz Fun Size Pouch - 75 calories, 3.5g fat
Junior Mints Snack Size Box - 80 calories, 1.5g fat
M&M's Fun Size Bag - 73 calories, 3.3g fat
Peanut M&M's Fun Size Bag - 67 - 90 calories, 3.3 - 5g fat
Nerds Mini Box - 50 calories, 0g fat
Reese's Pieces Pouch - 67 calories, 3g fat
Skittles Fun Size Pack, Original - 53 - 80 calories, 0.5g - 1g fat
Sour Patch Kids Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat
Starburst Fruit Chews Fun Size Package (2 Chews) - 40 calories, 0.8g fat
Swedish Fish Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat

Grilled Go Fish! Soft Tacos

Ingredients:
Tacos--
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/8 tsp. salt
Two 4-oz. raw tilapia fillets (or other flaky white fish)
Four 6-inch corn tortillas
1 cup shredded cabbage or dry coleslaw mix
1/4 cup chopped tomato

Avocado Cream--
2 tbsp. mashed avocado
2 tbsp. fat-free sour cream
1/2 tsp. lime juice
Dash garlic powder, or more to taste
Dash chili powder, or more to taste
Dash salt, or more to taste

Directions:
Combine lime juice and spices for the tacos in a large bowl, and mix well. Add fillets and evenly cover both sides of each with seasoned lime juice. Let marinate in the fridge for at least 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for avocado cream in a small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Spray a grill or grill pan with nonstick spray and bring to medium heat. Grill fish for 5 minutes, and then very carefully flip. Grill for 3 more minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside.

Heat tortillas on the grill or grill pan until warm and just slightly toasted, about 1 minute per side. Plate and spread evenly with avocado cream. Break fish into pieces and evenly divide among tortillas. Top with cabbage, tomatoes and, if you like, some fruity salsa. Fold and enjoy!

Serving Size: 2 Tacos
Nutrition: 273 calories, 5.75g fat, 30g carb, 27g protein, 5g fiber

From Hungry Girl

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Ingredients
BREAD:
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
6.75 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts
Cooking spray

GLAZE:
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon 1% low-fat milk
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare bread, combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended.
Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool.
To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread.

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/16 of loaf)

198 calories, 7.4g fat, 29.7g carb, 1.9g fiber
From Cooking Light

Ed Cotton's Fried Banana Fritter With Red Chili Paste

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
½ teaspoon baking powder
1.5 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon honey
1 egg
1 cup beer
Chili paste or sauce
Sugar/cinnamon blend (2 parts sugar to 1 part cinnamon; just enough to dust fritters)
Powdered sugar
4 cups vegetable oil
Bananas

Directions:
In mixing bowl, hand mix the first 5 dry ingredients. Once blended, add honey, egg, and beer; mix until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Do not over-mix batter; set aside.

In a 2 quart sauce pan, add vegetable oil and begin to heat over high heat. While oil is heating, peel bananas and cut into 1.5 - 2 inch rounds. Brush each round with a thin-layer of chili paste. (Plan on serving 2-3 fritters per person.)

Once oil is heated to 350 degrees, dip chili-covered banana rounds, one at a time, into batter and drop gently into oil; repeat. After 1 - 2 minutes or until golden brown, remove each banana fritter from oil using a slotted spoon. Drain on a paper towel-covered plate to remove excess oil.

While fritters are still warm, roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, dust with powdered sugar, and serve immediately. The lightly crisp outside married to the tender, heat-kissed inside is a taste sensation truly worthy of top chef.

From Top Chef, Season 7

Curried Chicken

Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons mustard
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, mustard, curry powder, and soy sauce. Dip chicken in mixture and place in lightly sprayed 9x13 glass baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Turn and continue to bake until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes longer.
By Maryana Vollstedt

Snacks to Fuel Workouts

No matter how you like to exercise, you need food to fuel your workouts. Your body needs nutrients both before and after to perform at its best. Since you may not always have time for a meal, have these power snacks ready to go.

Before Exercise: Energize
The key to a successful workout is giving your body fuel—exercising on an empty stomach leads to a less beneficial workout (there’s no gas in the tank). Since you don’t want to feel weighed down by a heavy meal—a light snack is all you need.

How many calories you need to eat will vary from person to person but 100-150 is a good place to start (a serious athlete or very active man will need more). Aim to have the snack 1 to 2 hours before a workout and choose foods that are high in energy-producing carbohydrates. If your snack is too high in protein or fat, you won’t digest it in time and you risk cramping and burping through your workout.

Top picks: fresh fruit, non fat yogurt, dry cereal, pretzels, low fat granola bars

After Exercise: Recover
Post exercise your body craves more healthy carbs along with protein to replenish energy stores and repair tired muscles. Eating a healthy snack right after is the best way to prepare for your next workout. Ideally, choose foods with a 4:1 ratio of carbs to protein (examples below) and get that snack within 30 to 60 minutes post workout when muscle cells are most sensitive.

Top picks: smoothies, trail mix, chocolate milk, cottage cheese and fruit, cereal with milk, 1/2 a turkey sandwich, apple with peanut butter

From Healthy Eats Blog, by Dana Angelo White