Healthified favorites
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Health-ified Family Favorites
Recently I’ve been playing around with some of my family’s favorite recipes. That sounds dangerous right? If the recipes are their favorites, why mess with them – right? Well yes, logic would reason that way but I’m trying to health-ify (did I make that up?) some of their favorites.
The first one I started with was Chicken Casserole.
The Before Ingredients:
- Shredded Chicken – generally 1lb (more or less depending on preferences)
- Sour Cream – 1 8oz / small container
- Cream of Chicken Soup – 1 can
- Ritz Crackers – 1 sleeve
- Butter – 1 stick
The After Ingredients:
- Shredded Chicken – Free Range
- Organic Greek Yogurt – Great substitution for Sour Cream
- Home Made Cream of Chicken – I used this recipe from $5 Dinners
- Ritz Crackers – Is there a substitution for Ritz Crackers?! Those things are so delicious I’m just not sure if that’s possible!
- Butter – Used 1/2 the Butter & Replace with Real Butter
Here’s what you do:
1. Cook & Shred Chicken.
2. Mix Greek Yogurt & Homemade Cream of Chicken.
3. Pour Yogurt/Cream mixture over shredded chicken (in baking pan)
4. Crush & pour Ritz Crackers over mixture.
5. Melt butter & pour over crackers.
6. Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes.
And the Result - It was a hit!! This is one of Evan & my husband’s all time favorites! Evan still asked for seconds with the “health-ified” version and my husband said he wouldn’t have noticed the difference if I hadn’t told him. And even since he knew the difference, he still loved it!
So one health-ified recipe down, several more to go!
What are some of your tricks to make your family favorites healthier?
- Post linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, and Mouthwatering Mondays.
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about 2 months ago
YUM! I love that recipe, too. I don’t know that there is a replacement for Ritz. So good.
I know Hungry-Girl uses Fiber One Cereal a lot for recipes like this. I’ve never tried it, though.
Good Job! Still sounds delicious.
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about 2 months ago
You made homemade cream of chicken soup? THAT is impressive. VERY impressive.
Kathy´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday: 06 07 10
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mandi Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 9:21 am
LOL! Even I am impressed … so not a cook over here:) But that recipe is super easy!
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about 2 months ago
Sounds delicious! We also throw cheese & broccoli in ours. I’m gonna make this this week with the greek yogurt instead of sour cream…good idea!
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mandi Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Yum! I do make a chicken dish w/broc & cheese too, but I haven’t done that in a long time {thanks for the reminder}. I think the greek yogurt would substitute good in that one too!
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about 2 months ago
Sounds DELICIOUS!!!! I need to try it.
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about 2 months ago
That sounds really good…whether is the healthy version or not!
I’d love for you to join in the party over at my new blog, It’s A Blog Party!
http://itsablogparty.com
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Weekly Menu Plan ~ Deli-Style Pasta Salad
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about 2 months ago
Thank you for sharing! I was just thinking a few days ago that I needed to find a way to still make casseroles, but make them healthier!!! I bet this would be good with some brown rice!
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about 2 months ago
I am always looking for healthier ways to do things and this looks like a great variation on a favorite.
Brenda´s last blog ..Ceviche/TMTT
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about 2 months ago
Looks wonderful!! I use homemade cream soups — nothing better
My substitute for Ritz crackers — homemade bread crumbs sauteed in a little butter or olive oil. Yum!
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mandi Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Thanks for the tip!!
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about 2 months ago
I actually have found a pretty good substitute for Ritz Crackers. I just use a brand from the health food section at my store–I believe I have used the Late July brand, but I know there are others, too.
Thanks for sharing.
Brandi´s last blog ..Frosty Fairy Mints
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mandi Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Ok, I’m going to look for those … worth a try, right? Thanks for the tip!
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about 2 months ago
you are so right there are no substitute for ritz crackers
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mandi Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 6:17 am
Ha! Glad you agree:)
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about 2 months ago
This is perfect! I’m in the process of trying to create healthier versions of the foods we love and using more organic ingredients. Thanks for the recipe!!
Amanda @ Mommy’s Idea Book´s last blog ..Shabby Apple Dress Review
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mandi Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it:)
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about 2 months ago
I’ve been looking for a homemade cream of … soup so thanks for the link! I make chicken casseroles a lot too. Need to try it healthier too!
Tasha´s last blog ..Recipe: Tacoritos
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mandi Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Oh good. I hope you enjoy it! I normally have to add more flour to mine & b/c of that it makes alot – I can usually get two recipes (one can size) out of each or I’ll half it.
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about 2 months ago
Sounds great. As for the Ritz crackers they do make a reduced fat Ritz.
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about 2 months ago
Do you have the amounts for this recipe?
It sounds like one that my family would like!
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mandi @ itscome2this (mandi@itscome2this.com) Reply:
June 15th, 2010 at 4:43 am
LOL! I always forget amounts when everything’s one! So it’s 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers, 1 Stick of Butter (which I ended up halfing), 1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 8oz container of sour cream, and then generally 1 lb of chicken – more or less of any of the above depending on your taste preferences.
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