Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins

Inspired by a recipe at skinnytaste.com, fine-tuned and scaled down for bandsters


2 medium-sized baking potatoes, scrubbed
onion salt & black pepper, to taste (optional)
1 tbl olive oil
¼ cup chopped onions
¼ cup chopped celery (or substitute carrot if celery gives you problems)
3 tbl Frank’s red hot sauce (or your favorite), or more/less to taste
1 oz reduced fat cream cheese
1 oz shredded reduced fat cheese of your choice (cheddar, Monterey jack, etc.)
4 oz cooked chicken breasts or thighs, shredded
Blue cheese dressing (store-bought, or use the recipe below)
Chopped celery & scallions to garnish (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a shallow baking dish with cooking spray.

Pierce the potatoes with a fork, place on a paper towel and microwave for 10 minutes or until tender. Remove from microwave and set aside. When cool enough to handle, cut each potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh, leaving a “wall” about 3/8” thick (save the potato flesh for another use – use it to thicken soup or make mashed potatoes). Place the skins in the prepared baking dish cut side up, spray with cooking spray, and sprinkle with onion salt & pepper to taste. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add the hot sauce, cream cheese, and shredded cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Add the chicken and stir to coat it with the cheese mixture. Spoon the chicken mixture into the prepared potato skins. Bake 10 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with blue cheese dressing and chopped celery & scallions.

4 servings (one filled potato skin = 1 serving)


BLUE CHEESE DRESSING – stir together in a small bowl:
¼ c. reduced fat sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
¼ c. olive oil mayo
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ c. reduced fat blue cheese
1 scallion, minced

Baked Oatmeal

BAKED OATMEAL

This was inspired by a recipe found on sohowsittaste.com.

1/2 c. oats

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

2 tbl chopped walnuts, divided

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbl Splenda brown sugar blend

1/2 c. milk (I use almond milk)

2 tbl egg substitute

1 tbl butter, melted & cooled slightly

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced

1 cup fruit (berries or any chopped fruit you like), divided

Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray (I used a loaf pan). Place the banana slices and 1/2 c. of the berries/fruit in the dish.

Combine the oats, protein powder, 1 tbl walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon and Splenda in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish.

Combine the milk, egg substitute, butter & vanilla, then pour evenly over the stuff in the baking dish. Top with the rest of the fruit and 1 tbl walnuts. Bake 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and the oats are "set".

I like having this dish baked ahead of time so I can cut off and heat a portion for myself each day.

Enjoy!

Cheese Protein Bread

CHEESE PROTEIN BREAD

If bread is a challenge for you, try this toasted.

1 c. flour

3/4 c. oat flour (or oats whizzed in a food processor)

1/4 c. Unjury chicken soup protein powder

1 tsp. Splenda or other sweetener

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tbl. chopped fresh herbs of your choice (or 1 tsp. dried)

1/4 tsp. onion salt

1/4 c. butter, softened

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese (or your choice of cheese)

1/4 c. egg substitute (or 1 egg)

1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt (or reduced fat sour cream)

1/2 c. skim milk

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9x9" baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine the dry ingredients (including the herbs) & cut in the butter. Combine the cheese, egg, yogurt & milk, and add that mixture to the dry mixture. Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.