Lemon Butter Chicken

I recently started a new low carb diet. I saw a recipe that fit my diet on Tip Hero.  It was a one pan meal, so that was nice, too.

   

Lemon Butter Chicken

4 large chicken breasts
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
dash salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 teaspoon dried thyme

   

Preheat the oven to 400°.

   

Cut the chicken breasts in half, lengthwise.  Place them on a plate and season both sides with the paprika and salt and pepper to taste.

   

Melt the butter in an oven proof pan.  I used cast iron.  Sear both sides of the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove to a plate.  Add the minced garlic and stir for about 20 seconds.  Stir in the broth, heavy cream and cheese.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and add the chopped spinach.  Cook until the chicken is wilted and the cream has thickened slightly.

   

Stir in the lemon juice, zest and thyme.  Place the chicken back in the pan and put it in the oven.  I turned the pieces a few times in the sauce to get the lemon flavor on both sides of the chicken.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

   

I served the chicken with a small salad.  I stayed within my Atkins guidelines and had a really nice meal.  Lee liked it and he isn't on a diet, so I considered that a win.

Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein

I found some stir fry noodles at Fresh Market in Roanoke.  That sounded like the start of a great Chinese dinner.  If you can't find them, you can use lo mein noodles or even spaghetti noodles.  Just cook them according to the package directions.

  

Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein

1 package stir fry noodles
8 ounces steak
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3 cups broccoli florets
1 large carrot or 10 baby carrots
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon pepper

  

Prepare all the vegetables.  Thinly slice the carrots, cut the broccoli into florets, mince the garlic and ginger.

  

Thinly slice the steak.

  

Place the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and pepper in a small bowl and whisk together.  Set aside.

  

I have a wok that I like to use.  If you don't have one, use a large fry pan.  Heat the oil in the pan you are using.  Cook the steak until it is no longer pink.

  

Remove the meat to a clean plate.  Add the broccoli, carrots, ginger and garlic to the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes.  If you choose to use powdered ginger, place it in the sauce.

  

Return the meat to the pan.

  

Place the stir fry noodles, or the other noodles you have already cooked and drained, into the fry pan.

  

Stir to combine and to warm the noodles and steak, about 2-3 minutes.

  

Pour the sauce you set aside over the noodles and stir fry a bit more to coat everything in the sauce. Serve immediately.

  

Other than a bit of slicing and assembling of the sauce, there is very little work to get it on the table.  This is a very fast meal.  It took about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Better than fast, it was a delicious meal.