Recipe: Crock Pot Oregano Rubbed Lemon Chicken

Crock pots are great for summer cooking, as you can set your dinner to cook and go off and enjoy the beautiful summer weather, without slaving over a hot stove, or heating up the kitchen by running the oven for several hours.

This tasty and simple recipe combines the classic flavors of lemon and chicken. You'll have a tasty dinner the whole family will love all ready when you get back from the pool!

Crock Pot Oregano Rubbed Lemon Chicken
(Serves 6.)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 lbs. chicken breast halves, boneless skinless
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup water
4 fresh lemons, squeezed
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

• Mix together the oregano, salt, and pepper in a little bowl and then rub this mixture into the chicken.
• Put butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, and when butter melts and skillet is hot, set chicken in and brown it on both sides, about 3 to 5 minutes each side. Remove the chicken and arrange evenly in the crock pot. 
• In the same skillet, add the water, lemon juice, garlic, and bouillon, and bring this mixture to a boil, stirring to get up the browned bits from skillet, then immediately pour over the chicken in the crock pot.
• Cover and set crock pot to LOW and allow to cook for 6 to 7 hours. 
• 15 minutes before the end of cooking time, sprinkle parsley on top of the chicken, cover the crock pot and continue cooking the remaining 15 minutes.
• Serve with a side of rice or potatoes if desired.

Low-Carb Recipe: Marinated Mixed-Up California Salad

Obviously most salads are low-carb, at least if you leave off the croutons and sugary dressings. Most store-bought dressings contain added sugar; making your own dressing is not only super easy, but also much more delicious - and way cheaper! This unique and tasty salad combines salty and sweet flavors that will give your taste buds a treat! You can eat it on its own, or serve over a bed of salad greens.

Marinated Mixed-Up California Salad
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

3 nectarines, chopped
4 oz fresh mushrooms, quartered
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup chopped green onions
3 oz. sliced black olives, drained
1 can or jar (8 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, liquid reserved
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 tsp dried thyme (or 1/2 Tbsp fresh thyme)

Directions:

• In a large bowl, put the nectarines, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, olives, and artichokes.
• In a separate bowl, pour the reserved liquid from artichokes, add the olive oil, lemon juice, and thyme, and whisk together until well blended.
• Pour this dressing immediately over the salad ingredients, toss together, then put in refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours to marinate well; stir a couple times during this time.

Recipe: Fettucine With Lemony Asparagus & Salmon Sauce

This is another great recipe to use with fresh, home-made pasta. Fettucine is one of the easiest pastas to make at home - with or without a pasta machine. This simple recipe combines fresh asparagus with lemon and salmon, for a light-tasting but hearty meal with lots of flavor.

Fettucine With Lemony Asparagus And Salmon Sauce
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

Fresh fettucine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 lb. pkg uncooked fettuccine
1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut with angle into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 lemon zested and juiced, in separate bowls
1 cup light cream
1 lemon cut into thin wedges
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 skinless wild-caught salmon fillet, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
1 oz. Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Directions:

• Bring a large pot of water to boiling and add 2 teaspoons salt, then add fettuccine, bring back to a boil, reduce heat and cook 3 minutes less than time directed on package, then add asparagus and cook 2 more minutes; Put colander in large bowl and drain spaghetti/asparagus through colander, reserving liquid; set aside.
• Into small bowl, put the lemon zest, add the cream, stirring to combine.
• Into another small bowl, squeeze the lemon juice.
• In the pot spaghetti was cooked in, add oil and salmon pieces, cooking over medium heat until salmon just turns opaque, about 4 or 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add to the pot with salmon the pasta/asparagus, cream/zest mixture, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
• Over medium heat, cook a couple more minutes, until pasta is tender, but still al dente.
• If mixture seems too dry, ladle in a bit of the reserved pasta water, stir until sauce coats the pasta well, but doesn't get watery. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and toss.
• Serve hot in pasta bowls with lemon wedges and more Parmesan cheese if desired.

Recipe: Purple Cabbage Avocado And Apple Salad

This makes a perfect healthy winter salad, with fresh, crunchy cabbage and apples, and creamy, healthy avocado accented with lemon juice and mustard for a tangy kick. To vary the color and flavor, try green cabbage instead of red, or mix the two for a lovely multi-colored dish.

Be sure to read the ingredients on the mustard you choose.  There are many variations so you need to check that the one you use fits your diet - avoid those with added sugar if possible. This is a very diet-friendly recipe for most diets.  However, if you are not eating fruit right now, you can eliminate the apple. If you do, try to substitute something else for crunch.  Nuts may be a good choice, again, depending on your diet.

Purple Cabbage Avocado And Apple Salad

Ingredients:

Purple cabbage. (Photo credit: Jamie Anderson)

8 cups very finely shredded purple cabbage
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into thin wedges
1 Granny Smith apple (or other tart green apple)
1 lemon, juiced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp coarse ground mustard
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions:

• Put cabbage, avocado, and apple in large bowl and drizzle with the juice from one lemon.
• In a separate small bowl, put the remaining ingredients and whisk together briskly until frothy.
• Spoon salad onto cold salad plates and drizzle mustard dressing over as desired.
• Serve immediately.  (The lemon juice will help keep the avocados and apples from browning.)

Recipe: Edamame Quinoa Salad With Lemon Dressing

If you want to try edamame, but aren't a fan of Asian food, this recipe offers a change from the traditional Japanese or Chinese flavors, and is a great way to incorporate more healthy veggies into your diet! Edamame is great combined with healthy, high-protein quinoa and other fresh vegetables, and this tasty salad is great anytime of year, although it lends itself especially well to summer cookouts or potlucks. If you're looking for a new way to incorporate edamame into your diet, or introduce your kids to a new vegetable, this is a great one to try.

Edamame Quinoa Salad With Lemon Dressing
(Serves About 6 as a Side Dish.)

Quinoa is not a grass, but its seeds have been eaten for 6000 years. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed thoroughly
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 cup drained and chopped roasted red peppers
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 small zucchini cut in half, then sliced lengthwise
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed (or fresh, lightly boiled)
Lemon zest from one large lemon
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Toast uncooked quinoa in skillet over medium heat for about five minutes, stirring or shaking constantly.
2. Transfer toasted quinoa to a large pot, then add broth and bring to a boil. 
3. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and empty into a serving bowl.
4. Add to the quinoa the tomato, sliced zucchini, peppers, and thawed edamame and toss to mix well.
5. In a separate bowl, Whisk olive oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice together, then pour over quinoa mixture and toss well. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Recipe - Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Salad

Here is a tasty way to use smoked salmon. The salty tang of the salmon is divine against the coolness of cucumber and dill, and the lemon, horseradish and mustard help cut the richness for a perfect balance. This one is a delight on the palate, and fancy enough to impress at a dinner party as well.

Creamy Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

1 lb. smoked salmon, flaked
1 cucumber, washed, scored, sliced lengthwise, then quartered
2 tsp prepared horseradish
2 tsp brown coarse mustard, like Old World
1/2 cup sour cream
1 fresh lemon, juiced
1 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Romaine lettuce
Lemon wedges - for garnish

Directions:

• Combine the salmon and cucumber in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the horseradish, mustard, sour cream, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper.
• Pour the creamy dressing over the salmon and cucumber, gently tossing as you add to make sure salad is coated evenly.
• Test for salt, adding more if needed.
• Tear up Romaine lettuce and divide between 4 to 6 cold salad plates.
• Top each plate with a scoop of the salmon-cucumber salad.
• Garnish with lemon wedges. 
• Serve immediately.

More Tasty Salmon Recipes: 
   

Recipe - Grilled Pineapple Banana Kabobs with Lemon Glaze

If you're looking to dress up a holiday picnic, or just add something a little special to a family dinner around the grill, here's a new one to try. Desserts from the grill can include more than just S'Mores. This one combines the sweetness of bananas and summery pineapple with the tangy zest of lemon for a tropical grilled treat!

Grilled Pineapple Banana Kabobs with Sweet Lemon Glaze

bananas (Photo credit: Fernando Stankuns)

Ingredients:

8 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 4 hours
4 ripe bananas, unpeeled, ends cut off, cut into 2-inch chunks, with 1 lengthwise slice in each peel
1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 2-inch chunks
1/2 cup turbinado (raw) sugar
1/2 lemon zested and juiced

Directions:

1. Put the fruit on the skewers, alternating between the banana and pineapple chunks, and set aside.
2. Put the sugar in a small heavy-bottomed sauce pan and place over medium-high heat; cook stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar turns into liquid, about 3 to 4 minutes. Continue stirring and add the lemon zest and juice. Set aside.
3. Set your grill to medium-high heat.
4. Brush the skewered banana and pineapple with the glaze and put skewers on grill.
5. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, roll and cook 2 to 3 minutes, repeating until fruit is lightly browned on all sides.
6. Remove from grill and when cooled enough to handle, remove banana peels, then brush again with remaining glaze and serve.

More Great Grilling Recipes: 
   

Recipe: Almond Crusted Chicken Cutlets With Fennel Tomato Salad

Here is a slightly more advanced recipe, full of great healthy fresh flavors and nutrients. Fill up on this one and you'll give your body a special treat! Whole, fresh ingredients provide your body with the fuel it needs to have lots of energy to get some great exercise to support your weight-loss efforts. And it's so tasty, it can satisfy even the most gourmet palate.

Almond Crusted Chicken Cutlets With Fennel Tomato Salad
(Serves 4.)

Fennel (Photo credit: Satrina0)

Ingredients:

2 fennel bulbs, cleaned and sliced thin
1 Tbsp fronds from the fennel
4 stalks celery, chopped
12 grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 lemons, zested and juiced
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese
1 lb chicken cutlets
2 cups almond meal
2 eggs, beaten
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a glass bowl, put the fennel, fronds, celery, grape tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss together.  Add the Parmesan cheese and toss together once more gently. Set aside.
2. Divide the almond meal evenly between two shallow dishes, and salt and pepper both to taste. Put beaten eggs in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dredge the chicken cutlets in the following order: almond, egg, almond.  Put each on a platter.
4. Pour about 1/4 inch of olive or other healthy cooking oil into a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat.  When oil sizzles, take coated cutlets and gently lay a few in, cooking until nice and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, removing to a cooling rack covered with paper towels. Continue cooking cutlets, making sure not to over-crowd the skillet.
5. Serve by putting a cutlet on a plate and spoon generous amounts of fennel salad next to and over the cutlet.

The almond meal replaces the use of flour or cornmeal to make the crust, which may be more suitable for your diet.