Happy Sunday!

Sunday is a day of relaxation in my house. We hustle all week with school, sports, and other activities. We hardly have time to come up for air, so Sunday, we all recharge our batteries. Been doing it for years. We start the day by picking a game - and then we play it and others for hours. Then, we sit back and relax with a movie and pizza. Lots of junk food too - it's our splurge day. After we all hit the sack early, we're completely rejuvenated come Monday! If I've inspired you to have a "chill-axing" Sunday, here are some great flatbread recipes that you can whip up in a flash and enjoy with your Sunday movie!

Flatbread Frenzy

Move over pizza, there’s a new flatbread in town. Found on grocery store shelves and restaurant menus nationwide, flatbreads aren’t just for wrapping – instead of filling and rolling up the soft, thin bread, you can top it with virtually anything and bake to perfection. Think focaccia. Plus, these days, you can find a variety of flatbreads to choose from, from whole wheat to multigrain with flax, to those spiked with herbs. And with just about 100 calories, 2 grams of fat and 3-9 grams of fiber per serving (depending on the variety), flatbreads give healthy home cooks a blank canvas to build upon. Since restaurants seem to put entire meals on one skinny flatbread, I decided to explore some culinary creations of my own. This recipe is a spin on the classic chicken picatta dish, a light and refreshing blend of chicken, salty capers, tangy lemon, and vibrant parsley. Instead of simply adding chopped parsley, I created a pesto-like puree that’s spiked with garlic, pine nuts and parmesan cheese. It’s downright delightful. Try this version and then check out the huge list of flatbread ideas I’ve provided below!

Chicken Picatta Flatbread

1 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tablespoons lightly toasted pine nuts

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup water, plus more as needed

4 flatbreads (such as Flatout)

2 cups diced cooked chicken

4 tablespoons drained capers

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 lemon, juice and zest

Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a blender or food processor, combine the parsley, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil. Pulse until blended. Add the water and process until thick and smooth, adding more water if necessary to create a thick puree.

Arrange the flatbreads on a flat surface. Spread the parsley mixture over each flatbread, to within 1/4-inch of the edges. Top the parsley mixture with the chicken, capers and oregano. Squeeze over the juice of the lemon and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of the finely grated lemon zest (1/4 teaspoon per flatbread). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Bake 10 minutes, until the flatbreads are heated through.

Serves 4

Nutrition Info Per Serving
Calories: 296
Total Fat: 11 grams
Saturated Fat: 2 grams
Total Carbohydrate: 23 grams
Sugars: 0 grams
Protein: 34 grams
Sodium: 676 milligrams
Cholesterol: 62 milligrams
Fiber: 9 grams

Additional Ideas (unless otherwise noted, add the toppings before baking):

Veggie: Sliced bell peppers, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, baby spinach

Ham & Provolone

Steamed Asparagus & Shaved Parmesan

Truffle Oil and/or Fresh Truffle Shavings & Shredded Gruyere

Francese-Style: Artichoke hearts, diced hard boiled eggs (add the egg after baking)

Calabrese-Style: Roasted red peppers, sliced olives, wild mushrooms

Marinara: Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil

Marsala: Wild mushrooms, Swiss cheese, drizzle of Marsala wine

Caesar Salad: Chicken, baby arugula, light Caesar dressing

Buffalo Chicken: Chicken, hot sauce or barbecue sauce (or a combination), blue cheese crumbles

Shrimp Arrabiatta: Cooked shrimp, diced tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil

Nicoise Salad: Light tuna in water, blanched red potatoes, sliced Greek olives, fresh parsley

Philly Cheesesteak: Lean roast beef, provolone or cheddar cheese, caramelized onions

Open-Faced Burrito: Black beans, diced tomatoes, pepper jack or cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro