Make It Monday...Even Though It's Tuesday: Chicken Marinades

Well.  Sometimes I get clear off track and preoccupied.  Not off track, per se, but on a track that takes longer and requires more concentration than expected.  Like my laundry room make-over.  Watch for that post Thursday.

I got three delicious chicken marinade recipes from my friend Ashlee.  Chicken is so healthy but can quickly become lack-luster and boring.  Marinades are a great way to stave off the chicken doldrums.  Don't panic when these marinades call for 1 cup of jam.  Remember, marinades impart flavor to your meats, and you aren't required to eat all the sauce.  Marinate your meat, shake off the excess, and grill or bake.  Or crock-pot all the ingredients and serve the chicken, with some of the clinging sauce for a smidgen of added calories with a ton of taste-bud-pleasing flavor.

Here we go:

Russian Chicken

4-6 chicken breasts

1 - 8 oz bottle Russian dressing

1 cup apricot jam (I used peach because I had it on hand)

1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 pkg onion soup mix

Combine all ingredients and pour over chicken in 9x13" pan.  Bake covered at 350 for 1 hour.  OR cook in crockpot on high for 3-4 hours. Serve over white rice, brown rice, or a bed of salad greens.  

Summer's Marinade

1/2 cup oil, veg, canola, or olive

1 cup 7-Up, or other lemon-lime soda

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

1 heaping Tbsp horseradish

Mix all ingredients together. Marinate for several hours or overnight.  Cook however you wish.  This also makes a delicious salad dressing if you set some aside and don't contaminate it with raw chicken.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

1 - 24 oz jar medium or mild salsa

juice from one lime

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

2 jalapenos, finely chopped, seeds out for less heat

Add 4-6 chicken breast halves (defrosted) to the slow cooker & coat with the salsa mixture.

Cover & cook on low for 6 hours.

Serve the chicken with mixture spooned over it, over white rice, brown rice, or salad greens.

This sauce is low fat and the heat makes it a metabolism booster!

I sure am enjoying this sunny weather!  I'm enjoying some cottage cheese with mixed berries, chia seeds, and nutritional yeast.  What is nutritional yeast? It is a deactivated yeast (no bacteria is allowed to grow) that is rich in B vitamins, particularly B-1 & B-2.  If it is fortified it provides B-12.   Two tablespoons contains 5g carbs, 4g fiber, 9g protein, and is a complete protein, which means it provides all nine amino acids that our bodies can't produce.  It is commonly used as a cheese substitute for vegans, which I am not.  It smells like yeast, and tastes nutty or creamy. 

So now you know...

Enjoy some delicious chicken tonight and boost that protein!