Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken with Zucchini Spaghetti. Plus BONUS leftovers!

Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken

What is Lizzy Style?  Well it's a way to eat that my body understands.  Most people don't really understand the impact of food and what we put into our bodies these days.  Most people think fried chicken fingers, pizza and coke are healthy.  I just want to share my ideas and recipes so you can understand there is a healthier alternative to mainstream ways.  Lizzy style is my way, a way I found to feel better about what I put into my body, it is a different way to cook than I was brought up eating. ( My mom is a fantastic cook by the way)  Unfortunately, my parents didn't know the dangers associated with all the pre-packaged and processed foods that they put in the pantry for me and my sister.   It was the thing to do 20 years ago.  I ate my share of processed foods not having a clue what I was doing to myself.  I have become my own health advocate and have made conscious choices and appreciate real food.   It's eating fresh organic foods that our bodies understand.  It's eating fresh foods thats our bodies know how to process and our bodies know how to utilize.  I have always colored outside of the lines and have continued to do so when it comes to cooking.  My strange  health issues forced me to look outside the box.   I realized food was a big contributor to my health problems and now look at food in a different light.  Food is meant to heal, protect, and nourish our bodies.   This  Tuscan chicken dish is fresh, all natural, and easy to make.  I like to keep my ingredients as fresh and simple as possible.  Our bodies like fresh food, not things that come from packages.   I do know these recipes are different than the traditional way of cooking, i.e, with tons of oil, soup mixes, and processed packaged rice and sides.  Think about what you put in your grocery cart at the store.  Is it real food or in a package?

After all, what is MSG anyway?  It is a chemical that our bodies don't know what to do with.  It is a food enhancer found in popular processed foods that causes the appetite regulation center in the brain, the hypothalamus, to stop regulating your fullness meter!  Your satisfaction and gratification sensory is diminished when you consume MSG!   Other hidden names for MSG are: Gelatin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), and Malted Barley.   So read your packages people.  This is not something I ever cook with.  I avoid it at all cost for me and my family!  I'm just saying!  I know lots of people that  wonder why they work out so hard and can't lose a pound.  From my personal experience,  it's not how hard one works out but it's the quality of food one puts into their bodies.  I strongly believe in the 80/20 rule.  It's 80% diet and 20% exercise.  So check out this healthy recipe and serve it up...Lizzy Style!

Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken  (Serves 4+)

• 4 organic chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup red wine ( you can add more , I usually wind up adding a splash or two extra)
• 1//4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 5-6 cloves crushed garlic
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves chopped
• 5-7 Roma tomatoes sliced
• Bragg Organic Sprinkle Seasoning , several shakes in the pot {optional} ( I like this because it's low in sodium and has 24 herbs & spices) 
• small organic tomato paste
• small can organic tomato sauce

Place all ingredients in slow cooker.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Let cook on low for 4-6 hours. Once it's cooked and the tomatoes are all soft and tender, I scoop out all the chicken, set aside and put all the sauce and tomatoes in the blender and pulse it up.  Once blended, I add a small 8oz can of organic tomato paste and a small can of organic tomato sauce to thicken the sauce a bit.  Add half the paste and see if you need the whole can.  You may not need it depending on the thickness and taste.  Once the sauce is blended and seasoned to taste, pour it over your noodles and top with the chicken.

All the ingredients added to the crock pot.
FRESH INGREDIENTS!

The cooked sauce added to the blender.

Zucchini & Squash Spaghetti

Zucchini Spaghetti ( Serves 4-6)

• 2-3 large zucchini peeled 
• 2-3 large Yellow squash peeled

I use 1-2  Zucchini and Yellow Squash peeled and sliced into match sticks.  I have a mandolin slicer that works great to slice the squash into these tiny strands that resemble spaghetti noodles.  You can steam the noodles to soften them, which I do for the family, but I like mine raw…Lizzy style!  I try to eat as much raw food as I can so I keep about a cup aside just for me.  You should try this out, it's so much better for you than processed traditional pasta.  
*** If you like regular spaghetti and don't think your family will go for the zucchini spaghetti, then just use regular old pasta.  I'm just tying to give you healthier versions.  As you will see, my littlest one wasn't fooled by the noodles, he had a break down and wanted his chicken without noodles.  He is hard to fool. The rest of the family was more than happy to eat the healthier version.

Little Steven always has a smile!

Clayton wasn't gonna have it! No zucchini for him.  Do you see why I hide spinach in his smoothies!

Steven is a picky eater too but he cleaned his plate.

Ava and her hat! She enjoyed the noodles and chicken.

See that big fat artichoke heart?  I love artichokes!  I keep them on hand and eat them with lots of dishes.  

Artichokes are the perfect marriage to this dish. 

 Artichokes are high in fiber,

 potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. 

(YES you can get your calcium from things other than milk!)

They are high in antioxidants such as quercertin, rutin, anthocyanins, cynarin, luteolin, and silymarin.  Antioxidants guard your body against cancer.

These little gems are so good for you! ry them out.  Cook them in the sauce if you want, they are amazing.

** If you like parmesan cheese, this would be a great dish to sprinkle it on.  

Bonus:  The leftover sauce makes an awesome meat sauce!

I always have lots of extra sauce from the previous dish.  I save it and use it later in the week for spaghetti with meat sauce.  I use ground sirloin and  season it with garlic, salt and pepper and add the left over sauce and let it simmer.  It melds together like you have slow cooked it all day.  The sauce is so much better a few days later!  My kids love this meal.

I use Gluten Free Pasta if I'm eating  it.  This is the best one I have tried made from Quinoa, which is a super grain.

 Meat sauce

 with parmesan

Just a side note.  I keep various things in my freezer to add to sauces, mainly to sneak in some veggies that Clayton won't see.  In this Tuscan dish, I added 2-3 cubes of frozen red pepper puree that I had frozen in ice cube trays and put in the freezer.  It will not make or break your sauce but it does add another layer of yummy flavor to the sauce not to mention vitamins and carotenoids. 

I put the red bell pepper puree in the ice cube trays and then pop them out and put them in freezer bags.  I take out cubes and add them to chili, tomato sauces, and soups.

I have cut up onions, green onions, garlic, celery, and other various things I use on a daily basis cut and ready to go in the freezer.  I buy it all at once, clean it, chop it,  and store it so it's ready when I am.

Happy cooking…Lizzy Style!