I wanted to share one of our favorite dinner recipes. It's super quick and DELICIOUS!
One night I made this dish while a worker was setting up our home security system and I invited him to grab a plate. He said it was the best pasta he's ever had. And I think he was telling the truth, because his plate was clean!
I like to call this type of recipe a Dump Recipe. No measuring required. Just cook however much you want!
Ingredients:
Whole wheat pasta (I like to use angel hair or penne, but it doesn't matter)
1 can of Rotel tomatoes, drained (I use medium hot, but again it doesn't matter)
Turkey smoked sausage, sliced
Zucchini, slice thin
Marinara Sauce
Minced Garlic
Olive Oil
Shredded white cheese (doesn't matter what kind)
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions then drain.
Heat some olive oil in a large pan. Dump some garlic in the oil and sliced zucchini and let it brown for a few minutes. Then add the sliced turkey sausage. Allow the sausage to brown and get happy. Once the sausage gets to a brownness that you like, add the Rotel tomatoes. Use the juice from the tomatoes to deglaze the pan, then add the marinara sauce. Dump the cooked pasta in the pan and mix with the sauce. Once pasta and sauce are heated through, remove from heat. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the pasta and cover with lid. Allow to sit for a few minutes to give time for cheese to melt.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Spring!
I love spring! Mostly because it's one of the few times of year in Arkansas that you can enjoy the outdoors without any extreme temperatures, but also because of the fresh produce! After a winter of beans and potatoes, I'm looking forward to all of the colorful and delicious fruits and veggies that are coming our way!
Last night we had our first taste of some fresh strawberries. I decided to save myself some time and just cut up the whole container so we can grab a handful whenever we want! This morning I sacked up a handful and put in Free Range Bennett's lunch box.
I've also read about some freezer jam recipes that I'm planning on trying with seasonal berries. We were successful with the apple butter experiment, so I'm ready to move on to try new things. Also, homemade jams and apple butter make excellent gifts!
With the recent rains, we've got tons of fresh cilantro and basil growing in the backyard! (That's all the gardening I have time for.) I'm learning how to dry my own herbs so none of mine go to waste!
Last night we had our first taste of some fresh strawberries. I decided to save myself some time and just cut up the whole container so we can grab a handful whenever we want! This morning I sacked up a handful and put in Free Range Bennett's lunch box.
I've also read about some freezer jam recipes that I'm planning on trying with seasonal berries. We were successful with the apple butter experiment, so I'm ready to move on to try new things. Also, homemade jams and apple butter make excellent gifts!
With the recent rains, we've got tons of fresh cilantro and basil growing in the backyard! (That's all the gardening I have time for.) I'm learning how to dry my own herbs so none of mine go to waste!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Rotisserie Chicken Week
One thing that has worked well for us in the transition to cooking with whole foods is making a huge batch of one type of protein and using it in dishes throughout the week.
One of my favorite things to do on a busy week is purchase a rotisserie chicken from whole foods and find ways to make something new out of it every night. It never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful things you can do with a rotisserie chicken!
Yes, we eat ALL WEEK on just ONE chicken. My coworkers all mock me, having the same chicken 4 nights in a row. But we just don't eat a lot of meat. So it works for us. It's easy and cheap and good for you!
Here's how rotisserie chicken week usually goes down at my house:
Night 1: Plain ol' rotisserie chicken, veggies, some sort of fancy bread from the local bakery.
Night 2: Chop up some chicken, some onion, cilantro from the back yard, and put in enchiladas (using my homemade enchilada sauce)
Night 3: Chop up so more chicken and mix with some veggies, homemade cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, refrigerated pie crust (I like Immaculate Baking Company's pie crust) and you have chicken pot pie!
Night 4: Chicken, celery, a little mayo, seasoning and it's chicken salad! (Sometimes the chicken lasts until day 4, sometimes it doesn't.)
Most of these recipes even work double time as lunch the next day!
Some recipes we're thinking of trying this week with our rotisserie chicken:
Curried Chicken, Chicken Tacos, and Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
One of my favorite things to do on a busy week is purchase a rotisserie chicken from whole foods and find ways to make something new out of it every night. It never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful things you can do with a rotisserie chicken!
Yes, we eat ALL WEEK on just ONE chicken. My coworkers all mock me, having the same chicken 4 nights in a row. But we just don't eat a lot of meat. So it works for us. It's easy and cheap and good for you!
Here's how rotisserie chicken week usually goes down at my house:
Night 1: Plain ol' rotisserie chicken, veggies, some sort of fancy bread from the local bakery.
Night 2: Chop up some chicken, some onion, cilantro from the back yard, and put in enchiladas (using my homemade enchilada sauce)
Night 3: Chop up so more chicken and mix with some veggies, homemade cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, refrigerated pie crust (I like Immaculate Baking Company's pie crust) and you have chicken pot pie!
Night 4: Chicken, celery, a little mayo, seasoning and it's chicken salad! (Sometimes the chicken lasts until day 4, sometimes it doesn't.)
Most of these recipes even work double time as lunch the next day!
Some recipes we're thinking of trying this week with our rotisserie chicken:
Curried Chicken, Chicken Tacos, and Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Monday, February 13, 2012
Bread Machines Are From Heaven!
I finally got to try out my bread machine this weekend! I went into it with the expectation that I'd probably have to try it a couple of times before I got it right, but I was so pleasantly surprised! I made a loaf of honey whole wheat bread and it came out moist and fluffy and delicious! The crust was a little crisp, but that's OK by me. As far as I'm concerned - I'm done buying bread in the store. This was WAY too easy! Free Range Bennett loved it too! He's started putting words together (he's 20 months old) and he said "more bread." That kid and I have WAY too much in common!
Here's the recipe I used for Honey Whole Wheat Bread in the bread machine:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup warm water
follow the directions for your bread machine - sometimes the order in which you add the ingredients matters.
Pictures to follow.
Here's the recipe I used for Honey Whole Wheat Bread in the bread machine:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup warm water
follow the directions for your bread machine - sometimes the order in which you add the ingredients matters.
Pictures to follow.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Score!
We made a trip to Free Range Nana's House this weekend and I scored some loot!
I got a bread machine! I can't wait to start making my own bread! I am truly giddy with excitement!!! As I mentioned before, we've been struggling with trying to find a good bread that's minimally processed around here. Problem solved!!
I also got an electric griddle, which will be great on our pancake making marathons, and little sandwich cutters to make Free Range Bennett's sandwiches into fun shapes.
Oh, and I almost forgot - 2 pounds of Arkansas pecans, shelled and ready to go into some delicious muffins or homemade granola!
Double Score!!!!
I got a bread machine! I can't wait to start making my own bread! I am truly giddy with excitement!!! As I mentioned before, we've been struggling with trying to find a good bread that's minimally processed around here. Problem solved!!
I also got an electric griddle, which will be great on our pancake making marathons, and little sandwich cutters to make Free Range Bennett's sandwiches into fun shapes.
Oh, and I almost forgot - 2 pounds of Arkansas pecans, shelled and ready to go into some delicious muffins or homemade granola!
Double Score!!!!
Grocery List
I thought I'd share what our grocery list looks like now that we've switched to whole foods:
Plastic Cutlery (Free Range Bennett has a party @ school)
Organic Unsalted Butter
Plastic Storage Bags
Organic Whole Milk 1/2 gallon
Frozen Spinach
Feta Cheese
Whole Organic Chicken
Organic Chocoloate Chips
Cream Cheese
Artisan Lettuces
Celery
Carrots
Paprika
Onion Powder
2 Dozen Organic Eggs
Whole Wheat Flour
Bay Leaves
Pears
Frozen Corn
Green Beans (I buy these in the can because I love them!)
5lb bag of red potatoes
1 pint grape tomatoes
2 bunches bananas
1 zucchini
Whole Wheat French Bread
1 pint blueberries
Facewash (not a food item, but included in our total)
1/2 pound deli turkey
Grand total $103
I used no coupons, and most of what I bought wasn't even on sale this week. I do try to shop sales, but it just didn't work out that way this week. And we still did pretty well!
One thing I'm experimenting with is buying one protien source each week and making multiple meals out of it. Hopefully this will cut down on cooking time each day.
What I'm making this week:
Dinners:
Roasted Chicken with veggie pancakes (I'm using leftover chicken bones to make stock)
Chicken Enchiladas
Veggie Quiche and Salad
Eat out 1 night
Chili (from the freezer, leftover from a few weeks ago)
Lunches:
Leftover Enchiladas
Turkey Wraps
Chicken Salad and Triscuit crackers (if there's any leftover chicken)
Breakfasts: (all of these made previously and stored in freezer)
Zucchini Muffins
Mini breakfast casseroles
Homemade granola and greek yogurt
Snacks:
Fruit
Homemade No-Bake Energy Balls
Plastic Cutlery (Free Range Bennett has a party @ school)
Organic Unsalted Butter
Plastic Storage Bags
Organic Whole Milk 1/2 gallon
Frozen Spinach
Feta Cheese
Whole Organic Chicken
Organic Chocoloate Chips
Cream Cheese
Artisan Lettuces
Celery
Carrots
Paprika
Onion Powder
2 Dozen Organic Eggs
Whole Wheat Flour
Bay Leaves
Pears
Frozen Corn
Green Beans (I buy these in the can because I love them!)
5lb bag of red potatoes
1 pint grape tomatoes
2 bunches bananas
1 zucchini
Whole Wheat French Bread
1 pint blueberries
Facewash (not a food item, but included in our total)
1/2 pound deli turkey
Grand total $103
I used no coupons, and most of what I bought wasn't even on sale this week. I do try to shop sales, but it just didn't work out that way this week. And we still did pretty well!
One thing I'm experimenting with is buying one protien source each week and making multiple meals out of it. Hopefully this will cut down on cooking time each day.
What I'm making this week:
Dinners:
Roasted Chicken with veggie pancakes (I'm using leftover chicken bones to make stock)
Chicken Enchiladas
Veggie Quiche and Salad
Eat out 1 night
Chili (from the freezer, leftover from a few weeks ago)
Lunches:
Leftover Enchiladas
Turkey Wraps
Chicken Salad and Triscuit crackers (if there's any leftover chicken)
Breakfasts: (all of these made previously and stored in freezer)
Zucchini Muffins
Mini breakfast casseroles
Homemade granola and greek yogurt
Snacks:
Fruit
Homemade No-Bake Energy Balls
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