Chicken Burrito Bowls

A new favorite in our house is this Chipotle knockoff:

Chicken Burrito Bowls

This meal is really light, but so filling! 

You can get the full recipe/steps here.

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 8 hours

Total time: 8 hours 10 mins

Total Cost: $10.66

Cost Per Serving: $1.33

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs. chicken breasts $2.90
• 1 (16 oz.) jar salsa $1.99
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained $1.19
• ½ lb. (8 oz.) frozen corn $0.57
• 1 Tbsp chili powder $0.15
• ½ Tbsp cumin $0.07
• ½ Tbsp minced garlic $0.10
• ½ tsp dried oregano $0.03
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper $0.02
• ¼ tsp salt $0.02
• to taste cracked pepper $0.02
• 2 cups dry rice $0.66
• 8 oz. shredded cheddar $2.49
• ½ bunch cilantro (optional) $0.45

Instructions

1. Add everything except the rice, cheese, and cilantro to the slow cooker along with ¼ cup of water (for good measure). Give everything a good stir and make sure the chicken is covered in the mixture.
2. Secure the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hrs.
3. Near the end of the cooking time, cook the two cups of rice according to the package directions (Bring the rice and 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot with a lid in place, as soon as it reaches a boil, reduced the heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving).
4. After 8 hours of cooking, carefully remove the lid of the slow cooker. Stir with a fork to shred the chicken (it should be super tender and will shred easily). Build the taco bowls by placing rice on the bottom, then the taco chicken mix, shredded cheese and fresh cilantro.

The last time I made it, I replaced the spices with Taco Seasoning.

It was still just as yummy!! 

Skinny Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I love bananas. And I really love bread. So, combine that with chocolate, and you have a divine little treat. With about 170 calories a slice, it makes a great snack or breakfast item!

Here is the recipe I use from SkinnyMom.

Skinny Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

 

 

Ingredients

• 3 very ripe bananas
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce OR you can use one 6 ounce container of low carb yogurt
• 1 tbsp reduced fat butter (I used "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter” Spread)
• 2 egg whites
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat white flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup Splenda Granulated Sugar (or you can use another sweetener or sugar)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup semi-sweet dark chocolate mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 330 degrees.
2. Spray two loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. I used regular sized loaf pans or you could use mini loaf pans.
3. In a small bowl, mash bananas using a fork and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream butter, applesauce or (yogurt if using in place of applesauce), vanilla, and brown sugar, and Splenda.
5. Add in egg whites and mashed bananas to wet ingredients and beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.
6. In a separate bowl, add whole wheat flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a wire whisk, gently mix dry ingredients together.
7. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix together until blended but not over mixed.
8. Fold in chocolate chips to mixture.
9. Transfer mixture evenly into the two loaf pans. Both pans should only be about ½ full with mixture. If using mini loaf pans, the mixture should make 4 mini loafs.
10. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a fork inserted in the middle of chocolate chip banana bread loaf comes out clean. If using mini loaf pans, bake for only 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Per Serving (1/6th of loaf, makes 2):
Calories: 168.8
Fat: 3.6g
Carbohydrates: 37.7g
Fiber: 2.5g
Protein: 3.8g
Sugars: 23g


Tip: I used 2 standard size loaf pans (8.5x4.5) and filled each one 1/2 way full. However, you can also use mini loaf pans, but you will need 4 of them.

2 Minute Microwave Fudge

Yes, you read that correctly. Here is my favorite, quick & easy fudge recipe. And, it is literally fool proof. It may not be the most nutritional food I will ever put on here, but it is so yummy!

Ingredients:

3 2/3 cups of Confectioners Sugar
1/2 cup of Hershey's Cocoa
1/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick, I use 1/2 stick to save some calories)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except vanilla into a large microwavable bowl. Cook for 2 minutes in microwave. Stir ingredients until smooth. Blend Vanilla into mixture. Spread into a pan lined with foil. I put mine in the refrigerator to cool. 

Tips:

If the sugar seems to be more "clumpy" than fine, sifting before microwaving may help smooth the sugar so it blends better.

You can also make this however thick or thin you like by how thin you spread into the pan. If you like thicker fudge, then do not spread it as thin.

Beef Stew

I am a lover of soup. And you can really only justify soup in the Fall and Winter. Here is an easy, inexpensive, great go-to stew that takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and is ready when you come home from work!

Ingredients:

1 pound of Stew Meat (usually one package)- this typically costs anywhere from $5-9, mine was 7.50.
1 can of tomato sauce $1
1 can of chicken or beef broth $1
2 Large Potatoes- I buy the 4 pack, that way you don't waste any $2
1 Beef Stew Seasoning Packet- $1
2 cans of Green Beans- $2
1 can of Pinto Beans $1
1 cup noodles (Patrick loves noodles in his!)


You can add any veggie or bean you would like, for example: Carrots, chunks of tomato, Onion- however much you choose to use, I only use about 3-5 slices for flavor

Total cost: about $15.50

Directions:

Peel Potatoes, wash, and dice. Drain excess water out of green beans and pinto beans. Place stew meat into crockpot, along with diced potatoes, green beans, pinto beans, tomato sauce, broth, and seasoning packet.

 

Cook on High for 6 hours, or Low for 8 hours. If you choose to add noodles, put those in about 20 minutes before serving.

Place leftovers in small containers for lunch during the week!

*Crock pot tip: Every time you open the lid, it takes 15-30 min to heat back up to its temperature, so just let it be!

Baked Ravioli

To kick off my recipe section of my blog, this week's feature is going to be Baked Ravioli. I am so excited to try this tonight! Hopefully it will become a new favorite. I have heard awesome things about it, so let's see! I love cooking meals that don't cost you an arm and a leg, too.

Ingredients:

1 bag (25oz) Frozen Ravioli,  generic brand will do for this as well $2.50
1 jar (26oz) Marinara,  Barilla is my favorite and you can get it for about $2.00
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan for Sprinkling  $1.75, for entire bag of cheese
- I like to add Provolone slices, it adds a richness to the dish!
Garlic Bread as a side dish, cook as directed I use the Kroger brand, it is my absolute favorite $1.98 for 8 slices- .25 a slice

Total cost of making this dish:  7.25


Directions:

Preheat oven 400°F.
Spray 9x13 baking dish w/cooking spray.
Spread 3/4 cup pasta sauce.
Arrange half of frozen ravioli in single layer over sauce, top with half remaining pasta sauce & 1 cup of mozzarella.
Repeat layers once starting with ravioli.
Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Cover with foil, bake 30 min, Remove foil, bake uncovered 15 min until bubbly in center.
Let stand 10 min.