Delicious Cajun Chicken

Hello, Everyone!

This dish is absolutely delightful! And the best part is it is simple and can be prepared in advance to save more time in your busy schedule. As you see when you look at the ingredient list it is short. If you want to cut corners even more you can use a premixed Cajun seasoning, especially if you don’t have all of the others in your pantry. That will cut your preparation time down tremendously. I also like this meal because you can literally purchase the items on the way home and follow the recipe and you’re done. So if you get a call from unexpected guests you can choose to buy right before or pull the meat from the freezer and defrost in the microwave and begin. So have fun with this recipe I hope you enjoy it as much as my family has, happy eating!

I would like to give special thanks to Danielle Hammond, RD. Extension Assistant, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Amanda Scott, RD, LD, MS. Program Specialist with Expanded Nutrition with the Nutrition and Food Science Department with Texas AgriLife Extension Service for their time, support and input to make this project successful.

Best Wishes,
Cassandra Coleman

Mexicali Turkey Skillet Casserole

During the summer, I look for recipes that are very quick but provide good flavor. I prefer not spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Mexicali Turkey Skillet Casserole meets this challenge. With only 5 ingredients, you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Ground turkey breast is lean and provides a high quality protein. A 4 ounce serving has 160 calories, 8 grams of fat and 26 grams of protein. By using no-salt-added tomatoes and corn and a reduced sodium taco seasoning mix, the sodium level is much lower. Just don't tell your family and they won't know the difference!

To make this recipe even quicker, cook the macaroni a day or two ahead of time. Toss with a little olive or canola oil before refrigerating. When you want to make this recipe, just brown the ground turkey breast and add the other ingredients. It's ready to serve before you know it.

Gingered Melon Salad provides a cool and refreshing contrast to the Tex-Mex flavor of the casserole. What could be easier than cubing your favorite melons and tossing with a couple of ingredients? If you have leftovers, refrigerate up to 3 days.

Our thanks to the Texas Turkey Federation for sponsoring this video.

Happy cooking!

Carrie

No Cook Minestrone Pasta Salad

I don't know about you, but I have really been feeling the summer heat lately. Now that we are in the hottest part of the summer in Texas, I cannot think of anything better than a recipe that requires no more heat - no cooking that is! This cookless pasta salad is a cool, refreshing salad that packs a serious nutritional punch. From the beans that provide protein and fiber to the raw vegetables that provide good amounts of vitamins A and C, it will leave your body feeling satisfied and energized.

If for no other reason, give this one a try because it literally takes no more than a few minutes to prepare and serve or it can even be prepared the night before and stored in the refrigerator in a covered container.

This recipe is one of my "go to" recipes and I hope it will become one of yours too!

Now that summer is here this is a good time to cool down with a great heart healthy salad. The Sea shell salad is easy and quick to make. It has a variety of vegetable which include carrots and celery. It provides calcium with the low fat plain yogurt. To complement this salad it include sour pickles, tuna and light mayonnaise. This is a great meal at a very low cost. Less time spent in the kitchen.

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Dee Lee