Cheddar, Apple and Walnut Salad

Serves 4
Prep Time: Cooking Time:

olive oil cooking spray
4 slices uncooked turkey bacon
2 slices mixed-grain bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped, toasted
9 oz spinach, baby leaves
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced
4 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese, cut into thin wedges
1 large apple, cut into thin wedges
6 Tbsp fat-free Raspberry vinaigrette

1. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook as package directs until crisp, about 4 minutes; remove bacon to a paper towel. Let bacon drain briefly then crumble into bite-size pieces; transfer to a large bowl.

2. Add bread cubes to same skillet. Cook over medium heat, tossing often, until slightly golden and crisp, about 3 minutes; remove to a plate and set aside. (This method did not work for me. I ended up toasted these in the toaster over with much better results.)

3. Transfer walnuts to bowl with bacon. Add spinach, endive, cheese, apple and dressing to bowl; toss to mix and coat. Put about 4 cups of salad mixture on each of 4 plates. Sprinkle each serving with about 3 tablespoons of homemade croutons.

Results: These tastes go perfect together! This was a delicious and filling salad. The jury is still out for me on turkey bacon. I'm not a big fan, but it was actually perfect in this dish, since it was more of a background flavor.

Crispy Chicken with Lemon-Basil Dip and Lemony Fennel & Radicchio

Serves 4
Prep: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 20 minutes

Crispy Chicken with Lemon-Basil Dip
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons, plus 1/2 cup plain, fat-free yogurt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 pound chicken breasts, cut into strips
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 garlic clove, minced

1. Place oven tack in top third of oven. Preheat oven to 400*. Line a large baking sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray.

2. Stir together mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of the yogurt, the mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Place panko in a shallow dish. Dip chicken pieces, one at a time, into panko, pressing gently to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, to make dip, stir together remaining 1/2 cup yogurt, the basil, lemon zest, garlic and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl; set aside.

4. Remove baking sheet from oven; turn chicken over. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Return to oven; bake until chicken is browned and cooked through, 10 minutes longer.

While chicken is cooking for it's last 10 minutes, prepare the Fennel & Radicchio salad.

Lemony Fennel and Radicchio
2 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup water
1 cup finely shredded radicchio (about 1/4 head of radicchio)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons lemon juice

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add fennel, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add water, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel begins to soften, about 3 minutes.

2. Uncover skillet, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly, until most of liquid is evaporated and fennel is tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in radicchio, parsley, and lemon zest and juice.

Serve chicken with dip and fennel-radicchio salad.

Results: OH.MY.YUM! Not only do I want to make this for dinner tomorrow night, but Henry wants me to make it for the next 100 nights and Steven, YES, I said STEVEN, wants me to make it for the next three nights. This was delicious and easy to make. The salad was fantastic too (the boys would not eat that though.) I think fennel might be my new favorite vegetable, especially for adding some crunch to a salad. A new favorite meal in our house!