Eggplant and sausage with pasta in a pot.

It was my night to experiment. Okay I do that a lot. However, I've never and I mean NEVER had eggplant. So of course I decide to try it on my own and not at a restaurant.

Eggplant and Chicken Sausage with pasta - 4 servings
1 tbsp. Olive oil

2 links Italian Chicken sausage sliced
4 garlic cloves minced
1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 small zucchini chopped
1 small eggplant, peeled and chopped
8 ounces Brown Jasmine rice penne pasta (Optional bowtie or regular penne pasta)
2 1/2 cups water
4 cups baby spinach
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Spray cooking olive oil in large skillet heat over medium heat. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned. Remove from pan with slotted spoon.

Add garlic and pepper flakes and olive oil cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add zucchini and eggplant cook until browned Add pasta and water. Bring to boil and reduce heat to low to simmer. Check package for how long to cook pasta until el dente. Liquid should have evaporated.

Add sausage, spinach and Parmesan. Stir until spinach is wilted and cheese is melted. Season with salt, pepper, and basil.

Serve with a rose wine and rolls.

Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde

Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde, Serves 4
1 bunch Cilantro, organic
6 Garlic cloves
2 Jalapenos
2 tbsp Lime juice - 2 limes for garnish
2 tsp Oregano, dried
4 Poblano or Anaheim peppers roasted
2 lbs Tomatillos husked (remove paper skins and wash)
1 Yellow onion, large
1 32 oz can of Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
1 tsp Black pepper
1/4 tsp Salt or to taste
2 tsp Cumin, ground
20 oz Just bare boneless skinless chicken thighs Trimmed.

Cube chicken and brown (do not cook until done) pour juice and meat into crock pot. Cut Tomatillos into quarter or smaller wedges and cook until very tender in pan and then mash like potatoes. When nice and mushy add to crock pot.

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours or low for 7 hours. Serve over rice and/or tortillas with a side of black beans. Enjoy!
On the video I had tripled this recipe to accommodate a family crowd.

Healthy and low calorie Jambalya

It's that time of the year again when we all try to eat healthy. About seven years ago I lost 78 lbs and I kept it off for five years then life stressed me out and now I need to lose 30 lbs to get back to when I'd lost all my weight. Just a fair warning. I'll be sharing a lot of my low calorie dinners with you. And here is my first.

Jambalaya
2 Sausage sliced
2 Garlic Cloves chopped
1/2 cup Green bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup onions
1 tsp hot sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 cup chicken broth
3 tomatoes chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Olive oil
1/2 Jalapeno
1/2 cup celery chopped
1 cup okra
2 cups rice

Add oil to fry pan and brown sausage slices then add vegetables and spices cook until onions are translucent slowly add broth and then simmer until thickened, and cook rice then mix together. Serve with a salad and rolls. Pairs well with a Riesling.

1 1/2 cup serving 338 calories for Jambalaya.

Bison Meatloaf!

It's that time of year again when everyone, anyway, everyone I know starts counting calories. In 2008 I started watching portions and calories and by 2009 I'd lost 78 lbs I kept it off for about 5 years. I'm a stress eater and well here I am and I need to lose 30.2 lbs to get back to what I was. We're going on our grandson's graduation trip, a cruise. So that is my goal to lose it by then. From now on until then, unless I have guests in the kitchen, I will do my best to have the calorie and nutritional values.

Bison Meatloaf and Potatoes
20 oz. package of Ground Bison
1/4 cup Chopped onion
1 tsp. brown mustard
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1/2 Jalapeno chopped
1/4 tsp. Chili powder
1/4 cup Shredded White cheddar cheese

Pre heat 375 degrees. Makes 4 servings.
Mix everything in a bowl and make into a roll and place in oblong baking dish or small bread loaf pan. The bake for 45 minutes on Meatloaf: 293 calories per serving. Grams: 2 Carbs, 15 Fat, 27 Protein, 97 Cholesterol, 1 sugar. Potatoes: 1 cup of cooked cubed potatoes with 1/2 tbsp of Land o'lakes light butter w/canola oil, seasoned with salt and peppers. 135 calories Green salad 15 calories. Dressing - Bolthouse Yogurt dressing 2 tbsp. 35 calories. This dinner pairs well with a Sabastiani Cabernet Sauvignon.
Enjoy.