80(ish)--- Thai Chicken Calzones

This is an 80(ish). You can make this a strong 80 by preparing this recipe as a pizza, rather than a calzone (thus eliminating some dough/ carbohydrates). Just use the peanut sauce as your sauce and pile the ingredients on top.

I always have friends request this recipe. It's so easy and you get to use really fresh ingredients (some that we have previously prepared).

I'm sure you are aware that spinach is good for you. This SUPERFOOD is high in Vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, manganese, folate, iron, magnesium, calcium.......... this list goes on and on. So, if you want to live long and prosper-- Popeye-ify!

Thai Chicken Calzones
Serves 10

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust recipe, divided into 10 pieces, rolled thin
4- 4 or 5oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, marinated then grilled or baked and cut into 1/2" chunks
3 cups spinach leaves, shredded
3/4 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim)

Chicken Marinade
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp fresh cilantro, shredded

Peanut Sauce
1/4 cup reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
2 tsp sesame oil
8 oz lite coconut milk
1 1/2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp hot chili sauce (Thai chili sauce)
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp lime juice

**Marinate chicken breasts in marinade ingredients for 1-3 hours prior to cooking.


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine cooked chicken pieces, spinach, cilantro, shredded carrot, and shredded cheese. On each rolled-out dough circle, add ~1/2 cup chicken mixture. Lightly brush water to the edge of the circle. Fold dough over and pinch edges to seal. Lay calzones on a baking sheet (or 2) sprayed lightly with cooking spray. Bake for ~15-20 minutes on middle rack, or until crust is lightly brown.

Combine peanut sauce ingredients in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently.

To serve: ladle ~1/4 cup peanut sauce onto the top of each calzone. Enjoy!

Nutrition Info per 1 calzone with peanut sauce: 386 calories, 27 g protein, 13 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 24 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber

80--- Chicken Satay

This morning I thought "What a perfect fall day for one last summery grilled meal". Then it snowed. Nevertheless, I persevered.

Chicken satay is a great Thai dish. A satay is a dish consisting of marinated, skewered or grilled meats served with a dipping sauce. This sauce is often a peanut sauce. You can purchase some great peanut sauces. But, isn't it more fun to make one from scratch-- just so we know what exactly is going into it? It took me a few tries to get this recipe just right-- and now it is perfect!

I served this with some sauteed spinach and red pepper strips, with a side of my mother-in-laws creamy cucumber salad (coming soon). This sauce will also make a great salad dressing, and it will complement my Thai Chicken Calzones (coming soon) nicely as well.

Chicken Satay
Serves 4

2 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into thick strips (enough to get a skewer through)
Marinade
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce

Sauce
1/2 cup reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/3 cup lite coconut milk
1 1/2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp hot chili sauce (Thai chili sauce)
1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 Tbsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp lime juice

Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 20 minutes prior to grilling (so they do not catch on fire like mine did)
Chopped cilantro (for garnish)

Mix marinade ingredients in a shallow bowl and add chicken strips. Marinate in refrigerator for ~2 hours (no more than 3).

Mix sauce ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended (can be made a few days ahead of time). Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Place skewers through chicken strips length-wise. Place 1/2 of sauce mixture into a small bowl. Brush chicken strips with sauce (do not cross-contaminate). Place chicken on medium-hot grill and cook for ~7 minutes on each side (internal temp should reach 160 degrees).

Approximately 3 minutes prior to removing chicken from grill, brush non-contaminated remainder of sauce on chicken.

Serve warm.

Nutrition Info per 3 oz chicken (~2-3 skewers): 348 calories, 10.5 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 55 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates