What's For Dinner

Turkey Meatloaf

2012-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

If you haven't gone turkey you should! It is lighter then beef and a little better for you! Everyone makes meat loaf their own way and I am no different as I change things up depending on what i have in my fridge that night.... well tonight this is how I made it

1lb ground turkey
3-4 carrots peeled and grated on the bigger side of the cheese grater
1 zucchini grated same as above
1/2 white onion finely chopped
1 red bell pepper finely chopped
1/4c Quinoa
2 egg whites
1tb Garlic powder or 2 cloves finely chopped fresh garlic
salt and pepper

add all this together and mix well cook at 400 for 45 minutes or more depending on how loafy your loaf is (:

I paired this with mashed sweet potatoes ( because they are way better then your idaho guys!) cut and boil them and leave the skins on for the extra vitamins!! I like to add a little milk butter and brown sugar when mashing them
oh and don't forget the steamed carrots one bag peeled and chopped

Taco Soup

2012-01-18T17:36:00.000-08:00

This is a really yummy and super easy recipe from weight watchers that I make a lot! no I am not on the weight loss program but I am pro healthy easy tasty meals!!!

1 lb ground turkey or chicken( shredded)
1can Corn
1can Ranch style Beans
1can pinto beans
1can white beans
1 can black beans
1 or 2 ( I use 2) cans tomato with green chili
1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch dressing powder
1-2 c water ( judge your consistency to your liking)

Just brown or shred your meat depending on what you choose to use. Make sure to rinse your corn and beans (not the ranch ones) in a strainer in the sink before adding it all together. Add water to your liking and bring to a boil then set heat to med-low and cover for 20 minutes. Make some corn bread because that's just the right thing to do....

Teryaki Chicken Chow Mien

2011-05-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Two Bell Peppers Sliced ( I used 1 yellow, 1 red)
1/2 Head of cabbage shredded and diced
1/2 White onion
1Clove Garlic
1-2 T Olive Oil
1/2 Carton of Mushrooms Sliced
1-2c Edimomes
1c Carrots Chopped Fine
1 pkg Chow Mien Noodles Prepared as box directs( I used Aunti Kims)
1/2- 3/4c Teryaki Sauce ( I used Kikomans)
1-2 Green onions sliced
1 lb Chicken Breast
Heat olive oil in Wok, Slice chicken and cook with garlic clove until white, right as it is light pink add a little bit of Teryaki sauce to flavor. Then add all of your sliced and diced veggies and cook for a few minutes adding the remainder of the Teryaki sauce until carmel looking. Cook noodles in between they don't take long, then toss all together in the Wok. You can really add whatever vegetables you would like, carrots, zuccini broccoli anything! The more the marrier! My kids loved it and so did we, served with Corn Bread.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-02-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

I make this recipe over the original any day!! They are creamy and yum! Thanks hilary!
1c Organic Peanut Butter
1c Sugar
1 Egg
mix and spoon onto the pan, flatten with fork cook at 375 for 8-10 minutes . Sometimes I add a little oatmeal and decrease the sugar

Zucchini Turkey Burgers

2011-02-27T16:29:00.000-08:00

Oh yes these are real! and they taste incredible, so incredible, here I am posting it on here for all to see and enjoy! When I was little my dad use to make jungle burgers for us with stuff from left overs in the fridge. This is along the lines but a little different.

1lb Ground Turkey
1egg
1 yellow or green zucchini shredded ( you can use a cheese grater)
4-5 Green onions minced
1/2c shredded medium cheddar cheese ( I use tillamook)
1-2tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and form patties, hey and throw those whole wheat buns on the grill with a few seconds to spare. Garnish with whatever you deem appropriate, Don't forget the greens!

Fire Cracker Shrimp

2010-08-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

I always use the cooked shrimp because I have a seafood smell phobia!
1 lb cooked large shrimp
2-3T Canola Oil
1/4c Lemon Juice
2T sriracha hot Sauce (chinese rooster)
2t red pepper flakes
sea salt and pepper
Mix all liquid ingredients with a whisk then poor over shrimp, marinate for at least 8 hrs stirring in between and throw on the grill with some veggies of your choice

Penne Pesto Chicken Salad

2010-08-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

1/4c Pesto Sauce ( I used a condensed version and mixed it with oil)
1-2c Spinach
2c Penne Noodles Cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water
2 chicken breast ( I grilled mine) Prepare how you like them
1/2c feta cheese(crumbles)
cook the noodles and chicken as desired and then blend other ingredients together. Serve with the yummy rolls recipe and it'll go down in the history books!

Balsamic Vegetable Salad

2010-01-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

I had a friend over the other night that was telling me about this yummy salad she had for dinner and I wanted to give it a try to recreate!

1lb Boneless skinless chicken breast

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

1/2 Onion cut thick in wedges

Cut peppers in half and grill all these above

2-3c spinach

1 head broccoli

mix spinach and broccoli in salad bowl

feel free to add even more veggies on hand I grilled some tomatoes but they didn't turn out so good.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

1/4c Balsamic Vinegar

2t Dark Brown Sugar

1T Chopped Garlic

1/2t Sea Salt

1/2t ground pepper

3/4c Extra Virgin Olive Oil

So Yummy!! Enjoy

Super Yummy Turkey Meatballs/ Baked Ziti

2009-12-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had the yummiest dinner in a while so I couldn't wait to post it. Get ready to knock your socks off!!!

You will need:

1lb Ground Turkey

1/4 c Parmesan Grated Cheese

1 egg

1/2 tsp basil

1/2c Bread Crumbs( I used Stove Top)

1/4c Fresh Parsley or 1T Dried Parsley

1/2 tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 box Rigatoni Noodles

1 jar Marinara with Olive oil

1/2-1c Shredded Cheese( did you know if you buy a block of cheese instead of already shredded you are saving yourself from cellulose! They put it in there to preserve shredded cheese. All that should be in cheese MILK and salt!

I added Marinated Artichoke Hearts and 2 diced Tomatoes, mushrooms would have been good too! Get creative and add those veggies like tomorrow!

Cook the noodles as directed on the box. While those are cooking combine all meatball ingredients and preheat oven to 375. Make small meatballs(I used a cookie dropper) cook in a skillet on stove medium heat until light brown. Watch your noodles so they don't boil over. Drain noodles and poor into small baking dish. Add Veggies and marinara sauce and mix well. Top with cheese and cook for 15 minutes until melted. I didn't combine the meatballs but you can. Enjoy this is so yummy and easy to make!

Crusted Chicken & Lemon Sauce Pasta

2009-12-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

2-3 Chicken Breasts Cut in half length wise and pounded out

1 egg

1/2 c Italian Bread Crumbs

1/2 pkg Angel Hair Pasta

1/2c Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Lemon Juice

salt to taste

1/4c Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 small pkg mushrooms washed and sliced

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

1/2 medium onion

1 clove garlic

1T EV olive oil

Cut and pound the chicken thin, then cook at 375 for 25 minutes or until white. Do this first as the rest does not take long. Get your water for your noodles boiling follow pkg directions. Cut and slice all veggies. Place oil in skillet on medium heat. add garlic first and then other veggies cook until tender or lightly browned. Lower heat and cover. When noodles are finished I made the sauce in the noodle pot. You have to just taste and eyeball it to your liking. Add the cheese last. Mix all together and Enjoy!

Recommited

2009-09-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I changed the picture above only to show all of you what I got in my basket from bountiful this weekend. Now, the avacado frenzy was because I purchased the gaucamole packet for an additional $7.50. It is fun to see if we can use all the veggies by the time the next basket comes (2 weeks) It is totally worth your money, you get all of that for $16.50.
What am I recommiting to? making my own bread! I love home made bread it tastes so much better than store bought bread and it way better for you! I will have to post the recipe that I use a friend of mine gave me.

Warm Spinach Salad (like the one at Buca)

2009-09-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

1 package or 3-4c Spinach
1/2 medium slivered purple onion
2-3t fetta or crumbled goat cheese
1c Cherry Tomatoes ( or sliced Tomatoes)
Light Creamy Balsamic Vinigrett Dressing( you can use the non creamy kind too)
2 shredded chicken breasts

I just add all the ingredients and then put the dressing in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm it and then serve.
pair it up with home made rolls listed below and enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pizza

2009-09-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

1 Neopolitan pizza dough recipe

1/2c Butter
1 1/2c Skim Milk
1/2c Grated parmesian cheese
1/2c Canned Parmessian Cheese
2-3T Pesto
2T White Flour
Shredded Chicken
Sliced Mushrooms
Slivered Purple Onion

Melt butter in sauce pan, then add milk and cheeses, use a whisk to blend together. This alfredo(with out the pesto) saves you the fat of the original recipe that calls for heavy whipping cream. It tastes the exact same too. I used the creamy pesto alfredo sauce as the cheese and just added it, then the chicken, mushrooms and onion and cooked at 400 for 20-25 minutes. It was super yummy!

The Best Meatloaf Yet

2009-09-06T20:53:00.001-07:00

Ok I know I already posted the beef cakes, but this was by far the best meat loaf I have ever made by fluke.

1lb Ground Turkey
2-3 Carrots Grated by the Cheese Grater whole washed
1 zuccini grated with the cheese grater
1/2 med purple onion grated
1 egg
Mc Cormick Hamburger seasoning

Mix in a bowl. I just used the muffin tin again I feel like it turns out better like that! I cooked it in the oven on 400 for 30 minutes or until browned on top. It was so juicy that we didn't even use ketchup or bbq sauce.

I also made the oven fries again, I believe that recipe is below.

Oven Burgers

2009-08-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

These would be good on the BBQ too. We have just been way to lazy to go and get propane.

1lb Ground Turkey( if you are using beef make sure it is super lean like in the 95% range or Bison is good too)
1 Clove Garlic Chopped or pressed
1/4c onion chopped
1 egg
2-3 Sticks of Celery or any other crunchy veggie
1 apple peeled and chopped
3-4 Mushrooms washed and chopped ( be sure to cut the stems off)
A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
A few Dashes of Mrs Dash
100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns
Sliced Tomato
Sliced Onion

Oven Fries
Cut up Potatoes, carrots or sweet potatoes and brush with olive oil, add salt and pepper and cook at 400 for 15-20 minutes( got the idea from Eat this Not that book)

Add all together in a mixing bowl and form into patties, I cooked them in the oven in a casserole dish at 375 for 30 minutes or until brown. You can add any veggies you want to it, have fun and add things you wouldn't normally.

The Rolls

2009-08-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

These rolls are so easy to make and they are to die for in the fresh rolls department! I also got this fabulous recipe from Janette (my sister the cooking queen), I through in a few added things to make it my own. It makes about 32, so I cut it in half and we have enough for a couple meals.

2c Milk( remember we are switching to 1% or Skim)
1c Sugar
1c Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2t Salt
2 Eggs
1T and 1/2tsp Yeast
8c Flour (go 1/2 whole wheat 1/2 white)
1tsp Cinnimon
1/2 c Warm Water

1. Add the yeast and 1tsp sugar to the 1/2c warm water and stir until dissolved, set aside for a few minutes until it doubles in size
2. Warm milk in the microwave for 1 minute, Add milk, sugar, oil and Salt
3.Add 2c Flour, Beat in eggs and then add yeast mixture
4. Slowly mix in flour 2c at a time, using a spoon as needed to take from the sides.
5.Once all the flour is added, Cover the bowl and let it rise for 3 hrs( or out in the az summer sun for 1 hr)
6. Once the dough has risen considerably divide into 3 balls, roll out like a pizza and use a pizza cutter to cut it into triangles, the roll into cresant roll shape
7. It says to let them rise in the cookie sheets for one more hour but I never do! I just cook them at 325 for 15-20 minutes. They won't turn brown unless they are burnt so depending on how your oven cooks you decide. I always choose an in between number because I want them cooked but soft. Enjoy

Home Made Pizza

2009-08-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love home made Pizza? Ya that's right we all do, I got this recipe for pizza dough from my sister and we use it all the time, it is simple and yummy. I usually double this recipe and it will make a pizza that fits in a sided cookie sheet, we love pizza.

Neapolitan Pizza Dough
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/4c lukewarm water
1t plus 1 1/2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive oil
1/2c Cold Water
1 2/3c Flour( I use half whole wheat half white)
3/4 tsp Sea Salt

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir yeast into the warm water. Let stand fro 5 minutes until it is creamy. Stir in the olive oil and cold water.
2. Add Flour; mix and then knead until well blended.
3. Put in a gallon size ziploc bag( spray it with pam) then set on counter for 45 minutes to 1 hr or put outside in the warm weather for 20 minutes.
When you are ready to cook it and it has risen significantly. Roll out dough or place in greased pan and press to the edges with your fingers until even and flat. Add toppings of your choice. Bake in the oven at 400 for 15-20 minutes
There are so many ways you can personalize your pizza the sky is the limit!! We usually do the marinera instead of pizza sauce(high fructose corn syrup) and then use 100% Mozzarella cheese, Grated parmesian cheese and pepperoni. Sometimes, like this week for instance, I will do a chicken alfredo pizza.

Anslea's Tortellini Salad

2009-08-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

This was introduced to me by little miss Anslea, who tries to stay away from healthy food!

1 Pkg Baby Spinach or 2-3c
1-1 1/2 c Skim Motzarella Cheese
1/4c Real Bacon Pieces
1-1 1/2c Cherry Tomatoes
Tortellini ( I buy the spinach cheese)

Ranch Dressing
Little fact: Did you know that ranch dressing has MSG in it? What is Msg? It is that mono sodium glutimate that makes you feel hungry a little bit after you eat. It is not super harmful, but what are you going to do when you are hungry? EAT AGAIN. Here is recipe for home made ranch that has natural ingredients. Don't we all feel good when we know exactly what it is we are eating?

Homemade Ranch Dressing
1 cup of real mayonnaise
1 cup of Milk ( i use 1%)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dill
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

I made this tonight and it was so good! It was thinner than your normal ranch but it was tasty! I mixed all the ingredients together and then whisked it to get it smooth.
We are also having home made rolls, these are super yummy and easy to make. I will post that recipe later.

Meat Ball Sandwiches

2009-08-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Here is what we are having tonight!

Costco Meatballs (figure about 3 or 4 per sandwich/person)
1/2 Jar Barilla Spicy Marinara made with olive oil
100% Whole Wheat Sub Rolls Toasted

See we are human! I love costco meat balls! Preheat broiler for toasted rolls. I usually just add the meat balls and a little bit of water into a medium size sauce pan and cover on medium heat. Check on it until they are soft, drain the oil and water. Then add the marinara cook for a few more minutes. Put rolls on a cookie sheet and in the oven for about 4-5 minutes(watch them) Add the meat balls to the rolls, we add sliced cheese to ours

We are also having steamed broccoli with these! Gotta love the Ziploc Veggie Steam Bags! my kids like to add the nacho cheese popcorn salt to their veggies sometimes since" vegetables make Brexton's throat itch!" LOL

Sloppy Joes

2009-08-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

1 lb ground turkey ( are you starting to notice a trend? NO BEEF)
1 can Tomato Sauce ( READ THE LABEL does it have more than just tomatoes and herbs in it? if so put it back)
1-2 tsp Garlic Powder
1-2 Chili Powder
1/4c Chopped Onion
1 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
Opt( diced peppers, jalepenos)
Brown ground turkey in a skillet on medium heat. Add onions cook a minute or so until softened(not mushed) add tomato sauce and other ingredients. Turn heat down and cover for 5 minutes.
Serve on 100% Whole Wheat Buns( READ THE LABEL: Do they contain high fructose corn syrup? if so put them back!)

Califlower Faux Mashed Potatoes
1 head of steamed califlower
salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. If you want, you can add milk and a little bit of butter, but I thought it tasted ok with out. Don't get carried away with it! This is a healthy food. You will be surprised by the taste it is yummy!

Just by making the sloppy joes on my own with out the canned manwich sauce it saves a whole lot of sodium, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup! That crap is in everything.

Beef Cakes ( meat loaf)

2009-08-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

I love meat loaf, I know there are not a whole lot of people out there that do , but my entire family does!

1lb Ground Turkey thawed (if you use beef make sure it is very lean!)
1 clove Garlic
1 egg
1/2 box Stove top stuffing mix
1/4c Chopped Onion
1/2c Oatmeal
a pinch of garlic salt
a pinch of pepper

Preheat oven to 375 .Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl, Grease muffin tins. Place mixture in muffin tins cook for 35-40 minutes or until light brown on top.

Fried Potatoes

3-4 Medium sized Potatoes
Olive or Conola Oil Spray
Mrs. Dash

Wash and slice potatoes, Spray an even coat of olive oil on pan( not a massive spray!) Place in skillet over medium heat. Cover and stir every few minutes, add mrs dash toward the end. Serve.