Unhealthiest Drinks In America

Check out this article from Men's Health listing off the 10 unhealthiest drinks in America. Luckily for all of us they give some great alternatives! You can now sip with confidence knowing you aren't ingesting an entire day's worth of calories in one cup!

How Much Sugar!?!?

Zip on over to Sugar Stacks to see some insightful comparisons. We Americans consume so much unknown sugar on a daily basis and this site breaks it down for us. This could be key for those diabetics out there!

Check out this Coke comparison:

Tarragon Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds baby red, white or Yukon gold potatoes, washed
• 2 bulbs fennel, trimmed and cut into thin wedges about 2 inches thick
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch thick slices on a bias
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 1/4 cup fresh tarragon, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped or grated
• 1 5-pound whole chicken
• 1 large onion, cut in half and peeled
• 1 lemon, cut in half
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Crusty baguette, for mopping

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400ºF.

Place the potatoes, fennel, carrots in a roasting pan in an even layer, drizzle with EVOO, season with salt and pepper.

In a bowl combine the soft butter, tarragon, garlic and a little salt and a generous amount of pepper. Clean bird and pat dry. With your fingers separate the chicken breast skin from the meat, working with about 3/4 of the total amount of the butter mixture, maneuver half of it under the skin of each side of the breast. Don't make your self nutty trying to spread it all the way down the breast, the butter will melt once in the oven and do that work for you, and that's the point.

Take the remaining 1/4 of the butter mixture and spread over skin of the legs, no need to try and get it under the skin there. Place the halved onion and halved lemon inside the cavity. Arrange the chicken on top of the potatoes, fennel and carrots in the roasting pan, douse the chicken with the white wine and place in the oven and roast for about an hour and 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.

Remove from the oven and cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Carve chicken. Arrange the chicken and vegetables on a platter. Soak sliced bread in drippings and surround the platter with soaked crusts of bread.

http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2354

Shrimp with Asian Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

Romaine lettuce leaves

1 1/4 pound(s) large shrimp, shelled and deveined with tail part of shell left on if you like

4 (10- to 12-inch ) skewers

1/3 cup(s) hoisin sauce
3 tablespoon(s) ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon(s) Chinese five-spice powder
2 tablespoon(s) rice vinegar
2 tablespoon(s) water

Directions
Lightly grease grill rack. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling over medium heat.

Arrange romaine on platter and set aside. Thread shrimp on skewers.

In small bowl, stir hoisin sauce, ketchup, ginger, five-spice powder, and 1 tablespoon vinegar to make Asian barbecue sauce. Remove 1/4 cup barbecue sauce to ramekin; stir in water and remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and reserve to use as dipping sauce.

Brush shrimp with some barbecue sauce from bowl. Place shrimp on hot grill rack and cook 2 minutes. Brush with some sauce; turn and brush with remaining sauce and grill 1 to 2 minutes longer or until shrimp turn opaque throughout. Serve shrimp on skewers over romaine with reserved dipping sauce.

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/shrimp-asian-barbecue-sauce

Corn and Pepper Jack Quesadillas

Ingredients:

3 large ears corn, husks and silks removed
4 (8- to 10-inch diameter) low-fat burrito-size flour tortillas
4 ounce(s) reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (1 cup)
1/2 cup(s) mild or medium-hot salsa
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 head(s) romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 tablespoon(s) cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon(s) coarsely ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt

Directions
Prepare charcoal fire or preheat gas grill for covered direct grilling over medium-high heat.

Place corn on hot grill rack. Cover grill and cook corn 10 to 15 minutes or until brown in spots, turning frequently. Transfer corn to plate; cool until easy to handle. When cool, with sharp knife, cut kernels from cobs.

Place tortillas on work surface. Evenly divide Monterey Jack, salsa, green onions, and corn on half of each tortilla. Fold tortilla over filling to make 4 quesadillas.

Place quesadillas on hot grill rack. Cook quesadillas 1 to 2 minutes or until they are browned on both sides, turning over once. Transfer quesadillas to cutting board; cut each into 3 pieces.

In large bowl, toss romaine with oil, vinegar, pepper, and salt. Serve quesadillas with romaine salad.

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/corn-pepper-jack-quesadillas-2661

Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

Olive oil nonstick cooking spray
1 large (12-ounce) onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices and separated into rings
5 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 pound(s) green beans, trimmed
1 tablespoon(s) margarine or butter
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 container(s) (10-ounce) sliced cremini or white mushrooms
1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 container(s) low-fat (1%) milk


Directions

1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line large cookie sheet with foil; spray with nonstick spray.

2.In bowl, toss onion with 2 tablespoons flour and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Spread onion in single layer on prepared foil; spray onion with nonstick spray. Bake 14 minutes; toss to rearrange, then spray again. Bake 15 minutes or until crisp.

3.Meanwhile, in 5-quart saucepot, heat 3 quarts water to boiling on high. Add beans and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain beans in colander; rinse under cold water. Drain.

4.In 4-quart saucepan, melt margarine on medium. Add shallot; cook 2 minutes, stirring. Add mushrooms; cook 7 to 8 minutes or until tender, stirring often. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 3 tablespoons flour; cook 1 minute. Add broth and milk; heat to boiling on high, stirring. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes. Add beans.

5.Transfer mixture to 2-quart baking dish; bake 15 minutes. Stir mixture; top with onion. Bake 5 minutes or until sauce is bubbly.

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/green-bean-casserole-thanksgiving-recipes

Melissa Blickem's Favorite Chicken and Spinach Casserole

Ingredients
 
2 cup(s) (cooked skinless) chicken breast, 2 cups cooked skinless chicken breast (10-oz. package cooked, diced
1 package(s) (10-oz.) frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 cup(s) (reduced-fat) sour cream
1/2 cup(s) (reduced-fat) mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon(s) (garlic) powder
1/2 teaspoon(s) black pepper
3/4 cup(s) (grated) Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup(s) (shredded, reduced fat) mozzarella cheese


Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2.Combine chicken and spinach in prepared dish. In bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients.

3.Add about 1/4 of cheese mixture to pan with chicken and spinach; mix well and spread evenly in pan. Top with remaining cheese mixture.

4.Bake in center of oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes, or until top is nicely browned.

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/melissa-blilckems-favorite-chicken-and-spinach-casserole