Broccoli & Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes

Broccoli & Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes
Serves 2

2 medium sized baking potatoes
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cup light sour cream
1 Tbs chives, chopped
1 Tbs butter
2 Tbs fat free 1/2 & 1/2
Salt & Pepper
1 Tbs light cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cooking spray
Chopped green onions
1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Wash potatoes well & using a knife poke 8 holes in each.  Place them on foil lined cookie sheet & cover all sides with cooking spray. Sprinkle each with salt.  Roast for about 1 hr & 30 minutes, check on them after an hour - depending on your oven they make take the entire hour and 1/2.
In the meantime mix together the chives and sour cream and return to the fridge.  Bring a small pot of water to a boil.  When it is a roaring boil add the broccoli.  After 3-4 minutes the broccoli will turn a bright green.  Strain broccoli and add to a bowl.  Squeeze a touch of the lemon juice over the broccoli and toss well.  You may want to finely chop the broccoli at this point, I prefer the finer chop, but larger florets are fine too.

Allow potatoes rest from the oven for 10 minutes, then slice off the top third of the potato.  Chop the tops of the potatoes and add to the broccoli.  Scoop the contents and add to your bowl.  Place the potato shells in a shallow baking dish & lightly salt & pepper the inside.  To the potatoes & broccoli add the butter, cream cheese & salt & pepper, mix well and then add the 1/2 & 1/2 and chive sour cream and mix again. Fill the potato skins with the mixture topping off with the cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with the chopped green onions & enjoy.

Pair with a nice salad and you have a complete Meatless Monday Meal.

Trying Something New...

We are attempting to implement a more vegetarian lifestyle at our house.  We have been on board with Meatless Mondays for several years now & my husband really wanted to stretch the practice out longer.  The idea is smaller, meatless dinners Sunday through Friday night.  Saturday is a free day - you have to have one! I have a feeling proper planning will be the key.
Here is our menu for the week:
Sunday - Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Pizza with Fruit Salad for dessert
Monday - Broccoli & Goat Cheese Souffles with Red Lettuce Salad
Tuesday - Bean Burritos with Tex Mex Quinoa Salad
Wednesday - Orecchiette Pasta with Brocolli Rabe & Chickpeas
Thursday - Southwestern Cheese Paninis with Raw Veggies
Friday - Caramelized Onion and Spinach Lasagna

Wish us Luck! I will be sharing the yummy dishes. 

Of course we came to this decision after a ridiculously decadent weekend in New York.  Italian and French food galore, 2 shows (Sleep No More & Venus in Fur), long walks through the Metropolitan Museum and the city, and beautiful snow.


Union Square Farmers Market on Friday Afternoon



Babbo



The Freedom Tower from our Hotel

 

Ancient Roman Tile Floor

 

Oceanic Collection

 

Faberge Lilies



The Knights



The Egyptian Gallery is amazing



Lunch at Grottoa Azzura 



Cheesecake & Canollies at Ferrara



Ferrara's Treats



Brooklyn Bridge in chocolate with skyline of gingerbread buildings



Happy to come home to the pups- Walter is huge Westminster fan



Busy Days & A Spinach Potato Frittata

Spinach Potato Frittata

Spinach & Potato Frittata
Serves 4
4 small red potatoes, thinly sliced
2 cups of spinach, torn
1/2 red onion, chopped
5 eggs
1 Tbs olive oil
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salt & Pepper & Red Pepper Flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a hot skillet, saute potatoes and onions in olive oil until tender (about 15 minutes).  Meanwhile whisk together your eggs and spices with 2 teaspoons of water.
Cover the bottom of a baking dish with potatoes and onions, forming an even layer.  Top with torn spinach & pour seasoned eggs over slowly, ensuring even coverage.  Top with sprinkle of cheese and bake 25 minutes (make sure eggs are set).   Slice & serve with a salad.

Recipes like the one above are true gifts when I am in a time crunch, healthy & quick.  The last thing I want to do after a 10 hour work day is wash pots and pans all night.  One of my favorite "quick dinners" are soup kits, have you tried these? I do prefer creating things from scratch, but get real - on crazy week nights these are time savers. Not to mention they are healthier than anything from a drive through!

Our favorites - Chicken Tortilla & Tomato Basil

I would rather play with these two than do dishes anyway...

Walter & Louise

Silly Beauregard - That is one way to keep little brother from getting your toys!

*** Another time saving note - the leftover Frittata is a wonderful breakfast!

New Year & Meatless Mondays

Happy New Year!  I am sure that we are like most & have vowed that 2012 will be a healthy one. One of our favorite tricks is participating in Meatless Mondays. Nothing complicated, just starting the week off concentrating on fruits, vegetables & a healthy diet.

Broccoli Pizza

This was a simple one.  Whole wheat crust with a bit of homemade Sunday Sauce, cheese, red onion, broccoli, fresh basil & red pepper flakes.  I use Il Fornaio frozen pizza dough, which makes this an even easier dish, but make your own if you wish.  I love starting the week off right!
What was on your resolution list?
We also vowed to be more organized, all of us...

We will see how long this lasts