Chicken with Asparagus and Three Cheeses

Chicken and Asparagus with Three Cheeses
(Makes 4 servings, recipe created by Kalyn)



Ingredients:
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each cut in two pieces
olive oil for browning chicken
salt, pepper, poultry seasoning for seasoning chicken
1 lb. fresh asparagus
1 cup chicken stock, simmer until reduced to 3/4 cup
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
3 oz. soft goat cheese (Chevre or Montrachet type)
3 T Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup low fat sharp cheddar

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375. Trim all visible fat and membrane from chicken breasts and cut each one in half crosswise.

Season chicken with spices, then saute in large frying pan in about 1 T olive oil. Cook until chicken pieces are well browned on both sides. (You will have to turn each piece a couple of times to get this result. Don't rush this step.)

Meanwhile, cut off woody ends of asparagus. (Snap one piece to see how much to cut off, it will break off right where the woody part starts.) Cut asparagus diagonally into 2 inch pieces. Bring pan of barely salted water to a gentle boil, put asparagus in and boil 3 minutes, drain, then put asparagus in cold water to stop cooking and drain again. Let it drain well.

Spray casserole dish with nonstick spray. Layer browned chicken, then asparagus. Use chicken stock to deglaze pan that you cooked the chicken in and scrape up all little browned bits. Let stock simmer about five minutes. Lower heat and whisk sour cream into sauce and continue to heat over very low heat. When mixture is hot (but not boiling) add goat cheese and Parmesan and whisk into sauce until melted. Do not boil or the mixture will separate.

Pour sauce over chicken and asparagus and sprinkle sharp cheddar over top. Bake 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is just starting to bubble. (Don't cook it too long or the sauce will separate.)
source:http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2007/02/recipe-update-chicken-with-asparagus.html

Grilled Zucchini Low-Carb Lasagna with Italian Sausage, Tomato, and Basil Sauce

Grilled Zucchini Slices made into Lasagna for a low-carb and gluten-free treat! I love this method of making lasagna with thick slices of barely-grilled zucchini replacing the noodles, and this is a favorite zucchini dish I look forward to every fall.



(Makes about 8 servings, recipe created by Kalyn.) 

Equipment:
It's important to use a dish that's fairly deep for this recipe.  The first time I made this I used a dish that was 9" x 11" and 3" deep.  This time I used my new lasagna pan that was 12.5" x 10" and 3" deep, which worked a lot better.  I would use the larger amounts of cottage cheese and egg for if you have a deep pan like this.)

Ingredients:
2-4 large zucchini, cut into lengthwise or round slices about 5/8 inch thick (enough zucchini slices to make two layers, be careful not to cut too thin)
olive oil, for brushing lasagna slices
Italian Herb Blend, for sprinkling zucchini before grilling (optional) 
4 cups Sausage and Basil Marinara Sauce, reduced to make 3 cups. (See below for an option if you don't have homemade sauce.)
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese (or use 1 1/2 cups for smaller dish size)
4 eggs (or use 3 eggs for smaller dish size)
2 cups grated low-fat Mozzarella cheese 
1 cup coarsely grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
(or use about 3 cups of any type of white cheese that melts well)

Sauce Ingredients if You Don't Have Homemade Sauce: 
1 T olive oil 
1 pkg. (19.5 oz.) hot or mild turkey Italian Sausage links
24 oz. jar tomato-basil sauce (choose the lowest sugar sauce you can find)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (optional, but use if available)

Instructions: 
If you don't have homemade sauce,  heat one tablespoon olive oil in frying pan with high sides.  Squeeze the turkey Italian sausage out of the links, and cook until it's nicely browned, breaking apart with a turner or potato masher as it cooks.  (Most turkey sausage will release some liquid; just cook until that evaporates.)  When the sausage is brown, add the jar of sauce and rinse out the jar with about 1/2 cup water.  Simmer until the sauce mixture is reduced to 3 cups, about 20 minutes, then stir in the chopped fresh basil if using.

Preheat oven to 400F.  Brush grill or stove-top grill pan with olive oil or spray with grill spray and preheat to high heat. (You can only hold your hand there for a few seconds at that heat.) While grill heats, cut zucchini into slices about 5/8 inch thick. Brush both sides of zucchini lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian Herb Blend if using.  Grill zucchini slices until they're lightly browned on both sides, but not fully cooked, about 3-4 minutes per side.  Remove the zucchini slices to a cutting board and press lightly with a paper towel to absorb some of the moisture.  (Put zucchini between two pieces of paper towel if it seems especially juicy.)

Beat eggs in small bowl, then stir in cottage cheese.  (If using homemade sauce, be sure it has reduced to 3 cups.)

Spray heavy ceramic or glass lasagna dish with non-stick spray or olive oil.  Then make a layer of lasagna slices, a layer with half the sauce, a layer with half the cottage cheese-egg mixture, and a layer with half the cheese. Top with second layer of grilled lasagna slices, sauce, cottage cheese-egg mixture, and remaining cheese.

Bake 30-40 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned on top and mixture is slightly bubbling. (I hate to cover it with foil because the cheese always sticks to the foil, but you can cover it for part of the time if you don't want the top quite so brown.) Let sit at least 10-15 minutes before cutting, then cut into pieces and serve hot.  (This will be a little juicier than regular lasagna, letting it sit for a few minutes will help with that.)

This keeps very well in the fridge for several days and it might even be better re-heated, because some of the juice absorbs into the zucchini when it's refrigerated!  I would not recommend freezing.
source:http://www.kalynskitchen.com/