TWO Healthy, Fast and Fabulous Dinners for Under $2 per Serving! Lemon Chicken Dinner and Teriyaki Steak Dinner

True confession of a blogger:  I am trying to lose weight.  In fact, I have been working at it for awhile now and I am down about 10 pounds.  I have decided to lose 5 pounds between now and Christmas, and I am going to take the risk of telling you all this, and letting you know if I succeed!  So, of course, I will be continuing to make delicious and healthy meals that fit my budget, and I will share them all with you.  So, a virtual toast: to our health!

As always,  I strive to cook a variety of fabulous foods on a tight budget, and these two dinners deliver- they are both less than $2 per serving by my calculations.  Hopefully you can enjoy them even more knowing they are budget-friendly!

Meal #1- Lemon Chicken Dinner

This was our dinner last night, and it was superbly tasty.  The chicken had a great bright lemon flavor perfectly accented by the herbs and garlic, and the colorful vegetable sides were delicious and filling.  It was also quick to prepare and low-mess, which was a plus because I had to fly off to choir rehearsal- which I did, with a happy full tummy!

• Lemon chicken breasts
• baked sweet potato fries
• string beans sautéed with olive oil, garlic, and soy sauce

Lemon Chicken Breasts

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or the number needed to feed your family)
• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 or 2 lemons)
• 1 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest
• 1 tsp. freshly minced garlic
• 1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400°.  Combine all ingredients except chicken in an 8×8 glass baking dish, or similar dish to fit your chicken.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add chicken, rolling it to coat with the sauce.
2. Bake for about 30 minutes, depending on the thickness or your chicken breasts, until no longer pink but still juicy, or until a digital instant-read thermometer reads between 165° and 170°.  Remove from the oven and cover the dish with foil while you put the food on the table.  Enjoy!

Meanwhile… make baked sweet potato fries: Cut enough sweet potato for your family(I used one very large one) into 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch strips.  Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or seasonings of your choice, on a sheet pan or baking sheet.  Bake at 400° (in the same oven as the chicken, of course) for about 35 minutes, tossing once or twice during baking, until golden brown but not burned.  Cooking time can vary greatly if you cut your potatoes unevenly, or thicker than 1/4 inch, so either cut nice and skinny or leave extra time!

Serve those with string beans sautéed with olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper, and you have a fast, fabulous, and balanced dinner.  Oh, and did I mention it’s less than $2 per serving?

Meal #2- Teriyaki Steak Dinner

Sometimes, I make a fabulous teriyaki marinade with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil… it’s delicious.  And sometimes, I am very busy and very tired and use a great marinade from the store, and I have a great dinner without much work!  Of course, it is good to marinate the steak for several hours, but I have done it for only 15 minutes many times, and it still had great flavor.

• Teriyaki London broil
• Fresh broccoli stir-fried with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt
• Orzo(or other small-shape pasta) with lemon, butter, and thyme

Teriyaki London Broil

• 1 London broil(top round steak)
• 1 cup teriyaki marinade, such as Soy Vay

1. Early in the day, if possible, or at least 15 minutes before cooking, put the steak in a large zip-top plastic bag with the marinade.  If you are going to marinate it for more than 30 minutes, refrigerate it, but take it out 30 minutes before cooking to let it come closer to room temperature.
2. Preheat the broiler.  Put the steak on a sheet pan, lined with foil for easy cleanup if desired, and broil for about 14 minutes total, turning once halfway through, for medium rare, until a thermometer reads 135°.  You can cook it more or less for your desired degree of doneness, and broilers vary widely, so you will have to get to know yours.
3. Cover tightly with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes, then slice very thinly across the grain.

Meanwhile, cook 8 ounces orzo according to package directions, drain, and toss with 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, and salt and pepper.  Serve with broccoli stir-fried with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt.  Enjoy a delicious meal, congratulating yourself for not spending too much time or money for a healthy and amazing dinner!

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