go make this dinner tonight

this is one of my most favorite dinners and here's why: simple ingredients, fast prep time, and it's healthy!  this comes from my good friend katie and is a south beach diet recipe. and i think you should all make this sometime this weekend, and you will be happy. 

chicken pistachio salad:

Salad

• ½ cup pistachio nut , shelled and finely ground
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper , freshly ground (plus a pinch)
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup sweet white onion , diced
• 1 head romaine lettuce

Dressing

• 1 teaspoon sweet white onion , grated
• 1 large avocado , pitted and peeled
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon water

Directions:

1. To make the salad:
2. Preheat the oven to 375. Mix the nuts in a pie plate with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Press the chicken into the nuts. Heat 1 Tbs of the oil in a skillet and cook the breasts, 2 min per side. Place the breasts in a baking dish and bake for 15 min or til thermometer registers 160 and juices run clear.
3. Heat the remaining Tbs of oil in a nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the diced onion, 1/4 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cook til the onion is browned.
4. Line 4 serving plates with lettuce. Slice the chicken breasts and arrange 1 breast on top of the lettuce on each place. Serve with the dressing.
5. To make the dressing:.
6. Puree the onion, avocado, oil, lime juice, and water in a blender.
   
   
   last saturday, the girls and i headed to our favorite donut shop here in minne, and it was heaven, but after a weekend of basically gorging on sugar, i opted to go off sugar this week.  and i'm not lying-it has been great, and hard.  i have really felt that i need to cut back, and for me that's not eating it at all!  because let's face it, if sugar is in my house, i'll eat it.  and the worst part is i'll tell my ladies that they can have treats sparingly, and yet eat half of what the treat is over the course of a day!  so....my new plan is to cut out sugar during the week (i actually did this when pregnant with maya) and have some on the weekends if i want some.
   anywho....because this is more fun with people, if you want to join me, drop me a comment and we'll think of something cool to work towards. and i like knowing that other people are suffering like i am. :)  
   
   
   stay tuned next week, i have some new jewelry to add to my shop, some good food to try, and a little giveaway!  
   
   
   have a fabulous weekend!