Sun-dried Tomato and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

So...I've been trying to post this since Monday but this is the first time I've had one nano-second to sit down and think.

My pretty pretty friend Krystal asked for some recipes that we've tried since I started weight watchers  and this was the first one I thought of....Not only do I like it (and we all know that I don't like much) but it's also John's favorite!

Sun-Dried Tomato and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

4 Points Plus value (chicken and sauce only)

4 servings

Things you need:

2 Tbsps. sun-dried tomatoes (without oil)

1 tsp. thyme, fresh, chopped (or if you forget to buy it at the store...just throw it a couple of shakes of the dried stuff)

1 lb. uncooked, boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

(Who actually measures 1/8 tsp. of anything? I just shake some in...even though I know that no matter how much salt or pepper is in anything John will add more...way more)

2 Tbsps. all-purpose flour

1 cup fat-free chicken broth

1 Tbsp. canned tomato paste

1 oz. feta cheese

and a hungry husband! (not pictured)

Things you do:

Preheat oven to 350. 

Stir together the sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and thyme in a small bowl.  (I don't have very good spatial skills and so sometimes it takes me two or three tries to find a bowl or dish that will actually hold all my ingredients...or...I use a massive bowl to stir together 3 tbsps. of something...which creates more dishes for me to wash after cooking...which I don't like...so just FYI you can use a very small bowl for this step)

Warning: It is important not to gag during this step; it makes the meal much more appetizing later on if you can ignore the grossness of raw chicken. 

 Cut through the thickest part of the chicken breasts until you've made it flat...like this...

(This is the first time I've tried this method and it seems to work better than just creating a pocket and stuffing the chicken in it...it holds together better, cooks more evenly...and the finished product looks prettier)

 Cover the top of the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and gently use the flat end of a meat tenderizer to flatten the chicken out.

Spoon 1/4 of the feta and tomato mixture into each of the flattened chicken breasts (resist the urge to put more in the first and second ones or else the third and fourth ones will be jealous...as will the husband...) After spooning the yum onto the chicken gently roll the chicken up like this...

If you are finding that the chicken isn't staying rolled up like it should you can use a toothpick to secure it. Dust the tops of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and flour. Place all chicken breasts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake until the chicken is almost cooked through (you'll finish cooking it later in a pan)

Meanwhile...stir together 1 Tbsp. flour and 2 Tbsp. chicken broth until smooth. Whisk remaining chicken broth and tomato paste into the flour mixture and pour into a big skillet. (Really you should use a big one! You will put all the chicken breasts in here soon)

When chicken is cooked almost through add it to the skillet with the flour and tomato paste mixture. Finish cooking chicken until cooked through, basting (or bathing) chicken with sauce occasionally (or obsessively)

I served this with rice because John loves rice; but next time I'm thinking pasta because I love pasta. You would have to figure up the points value for whatever side(s) you choose if you are doing WW. We also had a salad which was yum--to keep with the theme I added a little bit of feta and sun-dried tomatoes!

It was delicious but I still think chicken tastes better when I'm not the one preparing and cooking it! (You know I have weird sensory/texture issues!)

Hope you like it Krystal Spolowitz Moore! If you and Shane Moore and little Jacob Bean Moore will move back to the USofA I will share more recipes! 

In other news...we threw my cousin and his lovely wife a baby shower today and it's official I have baby fever!

He is not here: For He is risen, as He said.

 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

Matthew 28: 1-6 

How blessed we are to serve a risen Savior! He came to earth as a baby, died on a cross for our sins, and arose three days later all because he loved us.

Happy Easter!

Spring break is officially over for me...back to work tomorrow!

20 lbs lighter!

Finally...I have reached the 20 lb mark in my weight loss journey!

Things that have changed along with my weight:

My grocery shopping list- I now make sure that I don't go to the grocery store hungry, I make sure I have a menu for the 2 weeks I am shopping for, and I also have a list. 

If I go to the grocery store hungry not only am I more likely to buy too much of something, junk food, or  something I might not want later but I am also way more likely to grab a Coke Zero and a snack at the check out. 

I also try to plan out a 2 week menu before I leave the house. I do "Shopping Sunday" every other Sunday afternoon. In this one trip I try to buy everything we will need for 2 weeks worth of meals. If we run out of a necessity like milk or bread, then one of us can pick it up on the way home from work; if we run out of something else we just have to suck it up and wait until the next shopping Sunday. This has not only helped us eat healthier but has also helped our bank account! We were the world's worst about running to the store every other night to grab something for dinner...and of course while we were there we would be buying other things we didn't need...and wasting gas by driving to the store so often! 

I am an avid grocery list checker offer! I have a routine at the grocery store...I start at the pet supplies every trip and end at the produce section. Even though my shopping routine is down to a science I still have my list and pen in hand. This helps me make sure that I am not buying anything we don't need and not forgetting to buy anything that we do need.

My thought process when I am preparing meals- I don't constantly snack while cooking. If I feel hungry before I start cooking I'll have an apple or another low point snack. This way I don't feel the urge or necessity to snack or keep tasting the food I am preparing. 

I also have a pretty consistent menu for my lunch. I pack my lunch everyday, this keeps me from eating snacks at work or buying lunch from the cafeteria. I am pretty picky, predictable, and boring with my foods...so everyday I have some sort of sandwich or wrap, a string cheese, an apple or other piece of fruit, and a Greek yogurt. By planning my lunches I keeps me on track and I wont be shocked at the end of the day when I track all my points. 

We do still eat out at least once a week...and although I try to make wise decisions at restaurants I am sometimes shocked when I later look up the nutritional information. But instead of stressing about the one meal I just choose to use it as a learning experience and use less points in other meals or snacks that day.

My feelings about exercising- Ok, so maybe my feelings haven't changed too much. I still don't like to exercise or work out but I know I need to do it to reach my weight loss goals, to get healthier, and to live a healthier life. On average I go to the gym about 2 days a week and exercise for a little over an hour, including warm ups and cool downs. I am still working in some of the weight routines John has shown me. I am not as confident when it comes to these...I know this is something I just need to get in there and do in order to become confident and comfortable.

Although my ultimate weight loss goal is weigh more than 20 lbs...I am excited that I am making progress and I am celebrating my small victories! Thank you to everyone who has been kind and encouraging on this journey...especially my husband! I love you!

P. S. I got new gym shoes!

Happy Spring Weekend!

Happy First Weekend of Spring!

It's been a beautiful week (despite the rain) and I'm so exited that Spring has sprung!

5 days until spring break! 45 (school) days until summer break!

 So happy about this but not so happy about starting the search for a summer job. I don't mind working I just really really don't want to work nights and weekends! Do any of you know of anywhere cool that I might be able to work this summer?

I don't have much to write about today...I think I'm still half asleep.