Recipe time! Its been a while. My meals lately have been pretty simple, since I’m always on the go and get into a routine of what easy foods work for me. Since I finally have a small break from school (a whole week! woohooo) I’m taking advantage of being in the kitchen.
For those who’ve asked- the boy is feeling better , just waiting on some test results. Since he has a pretty insane work schedule, having meals ready to go makes life much easier. Instead of buying lunch everyday, where he was spending about $10 a day, he’s now prepping his own food and making better choices. I got him a rice cooker to cook quinoa, brown rice, and oats in large amounts, and slowly but surely he is learning from his smart girlfriend 
Anyway, onto this “recipe”
I assembled some random ingredients and made a pasta salad that’s high in protein and sure to keep him satisfied for the afternoon. When I cook, I don’t really measure.. usually spices are “to taste” and I eyeball everything, keeping the ratios within reason. So here’s my super easy pasta salad “recipe”
High Protein and Gluten free Cheesy Chicken Pasta Salad
Assemble the following:
1 bag organic brown rice pasta (or pasta of choice)
2 cans of chicken (trader joes) or leftover shredded chicken/turkey/etc
1 can organic diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 can organic black beans
1 bag organic baby spinach
~1/2 cup nutritional yeast
spices “to taste”: salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, smoky paprika, thyme, cumin
Drain + rinse black beans, and add to your chicken or protein of choice. Mix together and top with spices “to taste”. Feel free to use your favorite spices, or omit/swap the ones I used
Cook your pasta according to the package directions.
Drain, preserving some of the pasta water.
Add your tomatoes and bag of spinach to the pasta
Top with a lid, and cook on medium low heat until the spinach wilts.
While thats wilting, bake some chewy granola bars made with oats, maple syrup, raisins, and almond butter….
Once wilted (or add while wilting like I did, doesn’t matter), top with nutritional yeast. This is what makes it cheesy and adds tons of protein (8 gm in 3 tablespoons, and tons of B vitamins) along with great flavor
Add the chicken and black bean mix to the pot and stir well. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve warm or have as lunch for the week
Not the prettiest thing to take a picture of!
But super tasty. I stole a quick bite and was pleasantly surprised for just throwing a bunch of stuff together! I got the family approval, so its definitely a keeper.
You could also put it in a casserole and top with goat cheese, then broil until the top is golden brown. Yum!
I like to eat fresh protein instead of canned when I can, but for days when your on a time crunch and don’t have any on hand, I like to keep some canned protein for emergencies- chicken, turkey and tuna.
Hope your having a good week!
Recipe time! Its been a while. My meals lately have been pretty simple, since I’m always on the go and get into a routine of what easy foods work for me. Since I finally have a small break from school (a whole week! woohooo) I’m taking advantage of being in the kitchen.
For those who’ve asked- the boy is feeling better , just waiting on some test results. Since he has a pretty insane work schedule, having meals ready to go makes life much easier. Instead of buying lunch everyday, where he was spending about $10 a day, he’s now prepping his own food and making better choices. I got him a rice cooker to cook quinoa, brown rice, and oats in large amounts, and slowly but surely he is learning from his smart girlfriend
Anyway, onto this “recipe”
I assembled some random ingredients and made a pasta salad that’s high in protein and sure to keep him satisfied for the afternoon. When I cook, I don’t really measure.. usually spices are “to taste” and I eyeball everything, keeping the ratios within reason. So here’s my super easy pasta salad “recipe”
High Protein and Gluten free Cheesy Chicken Pasta Salad
Assemble the following:
1 bag organic brown rice pasta (or pasta of choice)
2 cans of chicken (trader joes) or leftover shredded chicken/turkey/etc
1 can organic diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 can organic black beans
1 bag organic baby spinach
~1/2 cup nutritional yeast
spices “to taste”: salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, smoky paprika, thyme, cumin
Drain + rinse black beans, and add to your chicken or protein of choice. Mix together and top with spices “to taste”. Feel free to use your favorite spices, or omit/swap the ones I used
Cook your pasta according to the package directions.
Drain, preserving some of the pasta water.
Add your tomatoes and bag of spinach to the pasta
Top with a lid, and cook on medium low heat until the spinach wilts.
While thats wilting, bake some chewy granola bars made with oats, maple syrup, raisins, and almond butter….
Once wilted (or add while wilting like I did, doesn’t matter), top with nutritional yeast. This is what makes it cheesy and adds tons of protein (8 gm in 3 tablespoons, and tons of B vitamins) along with great flavor
Add the chicken and black bean mix to the pot and stir well. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve warm or have as lunch for the week
Not the prettiest thing to take a picture of!
But super tasty. I stole a quick bite and was pleasantly surprised for just throwing a bunch of stuff together! I got the family approval, so its definitely a keeper.
You could also put it in a casserole and top with goat cheese, then broil until the top is golden brown. Yum!
I like to eat fresh protein instead of canned when I can, but for days when your on a time crunch and don’t have any on hand, I like to keep some canned protein for emergencies- chicken, turkey and tuna.
Hope your having a good week!