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Cozy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken and Fresh Mozzarella

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Rotisserie chicken in a tomato sauce with focaccia and artichoke hearts topped with fresh mozzarella that is broiled to capture the perfect cheesy mix. Delicious meal for a night in that still tastes like you are eating on the fancy side!

cozy skillet chicken and fresh mozzarella

The New

I love, love this spin on the traditional Chicken Parmesan. My husband makes one crazy delicious Chicken Parm and nothing compares. But the other day I saw this spin on Chicken Parmesan in one of my Food Network magazines and I just had to try it. It was new, it was amazing, and neither of us could put our forks down.

cozy cast iron skillet chicken and fresh mozzarella

Let’s face the facts…with the recent snow here in the Midwest it has hardly felt like spring lately. This Cozy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken & Fresh Mozzarella is perfect. It’s cozy, comforting, and with hints of spring from the fresh artichokes just like the hints of spring around here lately! Oh, and the broiled mozzarella cheese on top! OMG!

cozy cast iron skillet chicken and fresh mozzarella

The Exciting

Today I received my new book purchase “Plate to Pixel” in the mail! I have been so excited to get it and I have already started reading it. I am trying to soak up every single word in hopes of continuing to improve my food styling and food photography. So far, the book is amazing. Helene Dujardin breaks down everything in a way that is easy to understand and I just can’t put the book down! There is more exciting to come so stay tuned!!

I am just realizing that my two boys have just 1 week of preschool left! The years pass by so quickly! I see lots of water balloon fights, splash pad time, and bike rides in our future! This will be the first summer I am able to be at home with our children and I am so excited to spend this time with them. They absolutely love being outside. Probably as much as I love cooking.

Hope you enjoy this plate of deliciousness!

cozy cast iron skillet chicken and fresh mozzarella

This post contains affiliate links and I will receive a commission as a result of any purchases made from those links. I only recommend products I have used and would recommend to you.

Cheers!

cozy cast iron skillet chicken and fresh mozzarella

Cozy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken and Fresh Mozzarella

3 Scoops of Sugar
Rotisserie chicken in a tomato sauce with focaccia and artichoke hearts topped with fresh mozzarella that is broiled to capture the perfect cheesy mix. Delicious meal for a night in that still tastes like you are eating on the fancy side!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb rotisserie chicken shredded with skin removed
  • 2-4 artichokes depending on your preference
  • 1 clove garlic chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 5-6 basil leaves chopped
  • 3- 1 inch wide slices foccacia bread
  • 4 ounces fresh mozzarella thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a large cast iron skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat.
  • Trim and remove artichoke hearts. I recommend watching a video on youtube on how to do this if you have never done this before. Here is a great tutorial on how to prepare them.
  • Add artichoke hearts and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender and starting to brown.
  • Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for another minute.
  • Preheat broiler at this time.
  • Add tomatoes, 1 cup water, salt and pepper. Crush tomatoes with wooden spoon. Bring contents to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes allowing sauce to thicken. Stir occasionally. Stir in the chicken and chopped basil.
  • While chicken mixture is simmering, slice foccacia bread into 1-inch wide slices. Toast under broiler for about 2 minutes, watch carefully not to burn the bread.
  • Cut bread into cube-sized pieces and add to skillet.
  • Top with fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
  • Broil contents for 2-4 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.
  • Sprinkle a couple basil leaves on top for garnish.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe adapted from Food Network's Skillet Chicken Parmesan and Artichokes

 

 

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Chicken and Quinoa Burrito Bowls

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chicken and quinoa burrito bowls

Chicken breasts seasoned with Mexican rub tossed in a burrito bowl with quinoa, cherry tomatoes, guacamole, and a blend of jalapeños, red onion, and cilantro. Complete the chicken quinoa burrito bowls with a few drizzles of easy homemade ranch dressing. So delish!

With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, here is a perfect meal to whip up to celebrate!  Packed with delicious whole ingredients and these bowls simply taste amazing. Anytime I whip up my homemade guac, the meal has to be something special! Luv my homemade guacamole!

chicken quinoa burrito bowls

 

A Few Favs In This Life

In this life of mine, I have always held a few things dear to me. The first, not being a thing at all, is God. I believe in God and trust in him every day to lead me towards him. The path may not always be straight and narrow but I continue to try and grow closer to him. He has truly lead me in directions far better than what I though I wanted for myself. However, in the end, it was always for the best.

The second favorite in my life is my family.  My husband of nearly six years (OMG! Seems just like yesterday we got married!) is my rock. He has always supported me 110% in whatever goals or dreams I set for myself. He has always been a huge source of inspiration for me. And our kids are the sweetest little joys in my life. Having 3 children in 3 years has not been a piece of cake but I wouldn’t change it for the world. They are each so different in their own way. I see our 5 year-old as the laid back one. He rolls with the punches…for the most part. Our soon-to-be 4 year-old is the attention seeker. He lets me know when he needs to be heard. His most memorable words, “Mommy, listen to me with your EYES!” YUP, that got my attention. Our 3 year-old plays the appropriate role of baby of the house. I hear close to a 100x a day, “Mommy, you my friend,” and 101x I hear, “Mommy, you not my friend.” I mean she is 3 years old!

chicken and quinoa burrito bowls

The third and final favorite in my life has been my career. An education that started out in dietetics followed by nursing has been the perfect path for me. After graduating from nursing school, I began my career in nursing that lasted for 9 years. I loved it. My favorite area was ICU. I loved the intensity, and the continual drive to want to learn more in order to be a better nurse.

However, once our family grew to a family of 3, I knew I was going to have to find another path. Because to me family comes before career. That path involved a surgery center, clinic nursing, and pre-admission testing. Fast forward five years and here I am, switching paths again and loving every minute of it.

I am loving food blogging. Food has always been a hot topic for me. I guess that’s why I went to college for four years studying all about it and its effect on the body. Food affects how we feel, how we think, how we move.

Food is what sustains us, and water of course. Just think about this for a minute…you stay up late studying, paying bills, etc. Person A gets up at 7am and gets ready in a flash and heads out for the day skipping breakfast and goes and goes until 1pm. Person B gets up at 630am taking time out for a light but smart breakfast knowing he will have a busy morning. Alright, which person do you think will be more attentive to his work? More alert? Feeling better, thinking better, and moving better? Without a doubt, it’s Person B. I know this because I have been Person A PLENTY of times. 😩

chicken and quinoa burrito bowls

 

 

A Lotta Favs in One Meal

Okay, down to the nitty gritty. This meal- well, I have been so pumped about it yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow too! Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowls- welcome to my life!! No fast food joint here in Kearney, NE serves chicken with quinoa. You guys these are amaaaazing!

Quinoa in a burrito bowl is now a necessity. How does it stack up to rice (brown)? Quinoa has twice as much fiber and a third more protein per serving. And the taste of quinoa with the chicken and guac is so awesome. For some reason, avocados have been a must for me lately. They are taking the place of mayo AND cheese in wraps and I’m not one to cut out cheese. The other part of this burrito bowl worth mentioning is the blend of jalapeños, red onion, and cilantro diced together and tossed on top! SO YUUUM! And to top it off, let’s just drizzle some homemade ranch dressing over the chicken, I mean the entire bowl because we are awesome and we just made the best chicken quinoa burrito bowl yet! 👊

chicken and quinoa burrito bowls

chicken quinoa burrito bowls

Chicken and Quinoa Burrito Bowls

3 Scoops of Sugar
Chicken breasts seasoned with Mexican rub tossed in a burrito bowl with quinoa, cherry tomatoes, guacamole, and a blend of jalapeños, red onion, and cilantro. Complete the chicken quinoa burrito bowls with a few drizzles of easy homemade ranch dressing. So delish!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon Mexican rub or 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 10-12 cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 1 jalapeno minced with ribs and seeds removed
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion chopped
  • Ranch dressing

Guacamole

  • 3 avocados
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 jalapeno minced with ribs and seeds removed
  • 1/4 cup red onion chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 roma tomato chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Place chicken breasts in baking dish and brush with olive oil. Rub both sides of chicken breasts with Mexican rub or use taco seasoning.
  • Bake chicken for 18-23 minutes. Target temperature for cooked chicken is 165℉.
  • Once cool, cut chicken into thin strips.
  • While chicken is in oven, start cooking 1 cup quinoa according to package instructions.
  • Chop red onion. This will take about a half of a medium red onion. Place 1/2 cup red onion in small bowl along with one jalapeno and cilantro. Refrigerate until later use.
  • Prepare guacamole. Peel and seed avocados and add to medium bowl. Mash avocados. Add lime juice, jalapeno, salt, red onion, and tomato. Stir together well.
  • Arrange burrito bowls. Add about a cup of quinoa to bowls. Place chicken strips over quinoa. Add 1/2 of cherry tomatoes to each bowl, guacamole, and chopped red onion, jalapeno, and cilantro mix (amounts to your liking). Drizzle bowls with your favorite ranch dressing. Homemade ranch dressing is here. Squeeze juice of 1/2 lime over each burrito bowl

Notes

Link for homemade ranch dressing is located in instructions. Consider making ranch ahead of time or use store-bought to save time.
The nutrition facts label does not include the guacamole but every 1/4 cup adds 142 calories. See remaining guacamole nutrition here and the ranch dressing is also not included in the nutrition label.

 

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chicken and quinoa burrito bowls

The Skinny on Fiber: 5 Common Questions Answered And More

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Facts on Fiber

skinny on fiber

Feed your brain on facts about fiber. Chances are you are well aware of the recommendation to increase fiber in your diet. You may even track your fiber intake on a daily basis. However, I am going to address some important concepts about fiber and why it is important to include an adequate amount in your diet. Fiber, a carbohydrate, goes undigested through your system and plays an important role in your health.

1. What is fiber?

Fiber is a nonstarch polysaccharide (carbohydrate) that cannot be broken down during digestion because we lack the enzymes necessary to break them down. Therefore, it is not a source of energy. Yet it is a substance that is very important for us to include in our diets

skinny on fiber

2. How much fiber should a person consume in a day?

An adult female should consume at least 25 grams fiber/day and an adult male should consume at least 38 grams fiber/day. For children and older adults the recommended daily intake is 14 grams per 1000 Calories. However, health benefits have been shown with intakes greater than 14 grams of fiber per day. So if you currently only get <5 grams/day work your way up slowly and with realistic goals for yourself. Small steps ultimately lead to big leaps.

3. What are some of the highest fiber containing foods? (You will be surprised!!)

Split peas- 16 grams per cup, cooked

Black Beans- 15 grams per cup, cooked

Dried figs- 14.5 grams per cup

Avocados- 10.5 grams per cup, sliced

Lentils- 10 grams per cup, cooked

Raspberries – 8 grams per cup

Chia Seeds- 5.5 grams per tablespoon

skinny on fiberskinny on fiber

4. How does fiber benefit a person?

Consistent adequate fiber intakes reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Fiber helps to protect against cardiovascular disease. There is an inverse relationship between fiber and total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, whereas fiber intake is positively associated with HDL (good) cholesterol. These factors play a role in protecting against heart disease. Higher fiber intakes also contribute to lower blood pressure levels, which contributes to a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. A review of studies published in 2013 found that for every 7 gram increase of fiber/day there was a 9% decrease in cardiovascular risk.

As the number of people with type 2 diabetes has skyrocketed, it is beneficial to know the role fiber can play in reducing one’s risk for the disease. Increased fiber intakes are associated with decreased inflammation, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes. Foods higher in fiber with a low glycemic load promote good health and reduce the risk of diabetes later on. Glycemic load refers to the amount of carbohydrate in a food and how it affects your blood sugar levels.

Eating a high fiber diet contributes to digestive health and reduces painful and embarrassing gut symptoms including heartburn, rumbling, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

Another benefit of a high fiber diet involves the prevention of overeating and weight gain. Foods high in fiber help with satiety and the feeling of fullness. Ultimately, eating foods high in fiber helps you to put your fork down and feel satisfied.

Some considerations to keep in mind when increasing fiber intake include: 1) Increase fiber intake SLOWLY or you will notice some unexpected and uncomfortable symptoms of bloating. Don’t go out and buy a protein bar with 12 grams of fiber in it and call it good. You will not feel good after eating it if you are not used to a high fiber intake. 2) Increase water intake as you increase fiber intake.

 5. What are some recipes with good sources of fiber?

Whole Wheat Capellini with Mushrooms

30 Minute Roasted Ranch Chickpeas

Orange Raspberry Spinach Salad

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Clean Eating Breakfast Bowl

In conclusion, fiber is an important component to include in our diets even though it is not considered a nutrient. It is also good to remember to eat a wide variety of foods that are high in fiber. Fiber in whole grain cereals is different from fiber in fruits and thus it is important to remember to eat a balanced diet to maintain optimum health.

 

skinny on fiber

 

Fiber… GO GETCHA SOME!!

Reference

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Health Implications of Dietary Fiber. Published November 2015.