CHICKEN, CHICKPEA, and PESTO salad

A Family Favorite
Boil the chicken with a little salt and pepper.

In a mixing bowl mix together 2 shredded cooked chicken breast halves. 1/2 large English cucumber, thinly sliced, 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced, and 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained. Add 1/3 cub Basic Basil Pesto and a squeeze of lemon. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.

358 cal, 18.5 g fat (2.9g sat fat); 21g protein: 27.5g carb; 6.2g fiber.

Pesto

Coarse Salt and Pepper
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 cups packed fresh basil leaves
(2 1/4 ounces)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Roughly chop the garlic. Add to a food processor with pine nuts, basil, and 1 tablespoon oil. Pulse until ingredients are finely chopped. With machine running, add remaining oil in a slow, steady stream. Add Parmesan and pulse to combine. Season with Salt and pepper.

Per Tablespoon. 113cal; 11.8g fat (1.7 g sat fat); 1.3g protein; 1g carb; 0.5g fiber.

NOTE: I have done it adding pasta and omitting the cucumber and celery, yummy also.

Grilled Caponata

Oh This one is absolutely delicious. I make it over the weekend and have enough in the fridge to eat during the week. It's yummy hope you give it a try.


Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay


Serves:
4 servings

Ingredients

* 1 medium eggplant, cut in rounds
* 1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
* 4 plum tomatoes, cut in rounds
* Olive oil
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
* 2 tablespoons capers, drained
* 2 tablespoons golden raisins/gran-raisins
* 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted/pistachios
* 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
* 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
* 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
* 2 teaspoons honey
* 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Heat your grill to high. Brush the eggplant, onion slices and tomatoes with olive oil and season each type of vegetable with salt and pepper, to taste.

Grill the eggplant for 6 to 8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Grill the onions for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Grill the tomatoes for 2 minutes per side until charred and slightly soft. Remove to a cutting board and cut into quarters.

Remove the vegetables from the grill to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the vegetables to a medium bowl and add the olives, capers, raisins and pine nuts.

Mix together the garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar and honey in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of olive oil and whisk until emulsified.

Pour the dressing over the vegetables, add the parsley and stir gently to combine. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving.