Sloppy Joes - Jessica Seinfeld Style

I love her book, Deceptively Delicious....while my kids are both really great about eating fruits and vegetables I LOVE the idea of being able to put even more wholesome goodness into the food they eat (us too). And to put items in their food that perhaps I don't know how to prepare otherwise OR that they wouldn't normally enjoy (beets for example - not this recipe but a few others I plan to try) but that are so good for us.

I have decided to try and use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef in some (most) recipes. While it is still meat, I know there are other benefits and the fat content is quite a bit less....and because it's more expensive I'm also hoping it will help me eliminate meat a little more. LOL Sometimes I think we get a little carried away and it seems EVERY meal we make is meat based. And I like the idea of changing it up a little....trying something new.

I was planning on being out tonight so hadn't anticipated making dinner...so I had to do some quick thinking. Thankfully as a result of my grocery trip yesterday, I had a lot of ingredients to choose from. In the end it was the Sloppy Joes that won out!

Nonstick Cooking spray (I just used olive oil to avoid the *propane* in the cooking spray)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground turkey or beef (I used chicken)
1/2 cup sweet potato puree
1/2 cup butternut squash or red pepper puree (I used a mixture of red and yellow pepper puree)
raw, finely chopped carrots (optional - I put them in)
1/2 cup reduced fat, low sodium bef broth (I didn't have any so used french onion soup mix instead - great substitute)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp salt (didn't add)
1/8 tsp pepper
8 whole-grain hamburger or hot dog buns

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. When the skiller is hot, add the oil. Add the onion, celery, and garlic (I also chopped mushrooms and added them here). Cook until the onion starts to soften (about 3-4 minutes). Add the meat and cook until no longer pink (4-5 minutes). Add the vegetable purees, raw chopped carrot (if using), beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer until liquid is reduced by about half - 15 to 20 minutes.

Spoon onto buns and serve. I added a bit of grated marble cheese as well...

I think this recipe has potential. It wasn't flavourful enough for me....I need a lot more chili powder...but for kids (and adults alike I suppose) who like a blander taste, it would probably be perfect. I also think I added too much tomato paste (one whole small can....) which may have contributed. It was definitely a bit too tomatoe-y for me. But I will be making this again and doctoring it to our families liking. I really liked that the veggies weren't super obvious - I personally love veggies....but for a child's meal this can be very important.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 3.5 STARS

It's Taco Soup night for sure

I am not ready to say goodbye to summer yet...but I can't deny that I love these cozy cool days where you just hunker down and watch videos and get some housework done. Maybe I don't love the housework part, but I sure enjoy it more than on hot days when I'd rather be outside with the kids. The other thing I love about these kind of days - is cooking. I love making soups and other hearty meals that make me feel like we are in a cabin in the woods with nothing but our family. I think of days spent on the ski hill (I'm a self proclaimed lodge bunny who would rather be in the lodge cooking than going down the hill on one or two *sticks* lol), hunting (again, I'd be in the cabin), or just a day spent at the hill with a bunch of families taking the kids tobagganing (I'd definitely be joining in for this...it would be a crockpot day for sure!). And while we are doing none of the above 3 things, today is definitely one of those days. The only thing that would make it better is if Brent had the day off. Oh well...at least we get to spend the evening together.

I got this taco soup recipe from a cookbook my aunt gave me. Her Relief Society group put it together - it is one of my favorite cookbooks. Real people cooking Real recipes with Real food. Stuff I typically have on hand already and food our family will love. This recipe is awesome...I love the flavour, the consistency...and I LOVE anything topped with sour cream.

2 lbs hamburger
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 taco seasoning packages
3 tsp chili powder
1 (10oz) can beef broth
1 (15 oz) can tomato paste
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can green chilis
1 can mixed vegetables (I just used a can of corn)
Grated cheese

Brown hamburger with onion and garlic; add taco seasoning. chili powder, and green chilis. Put in a big pot and add the rest of the ingredients and a can or more of water to desired consistency. Let head on stove and serve with sour cream, grated cheese, and tortilla chips.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RECIPE: 5 STARS - this is a must try recipe!

back to it

I really need to get back to it....cooking...I've sort of dropped the ball a bit and gone the way of convenience and even *gasp* fast food (but doesn't it just taste soooo good!). When the weather gets warm (which it's not currently, but was) I sort of put other things ahead of cooking big meals and we end up eating whatever's around. But add to that a serious lack of groceries (I'm happy to reprort I've remedied that situation - and now have a lovely stock of fruits and vegetables) and we were in serious *trouble* (ie need for fast food. lol). I also was pretty sick for about 3 days and food just wasn't really appealling to me - why is it, that means everyone else has to starve?? *oops* (kidding...don't worry my kids were fed - thank heavens for an almost 5 year old that can help herself to pretty much anything. lol)

But I do still have a few things to blog about. First off, let's start with a new found quick meal that's really rather tasty! Thanks to my friend, Jenn we've enjoyed this meal more than once. It's quick and easy...and our kids love it too! I try not to buy hamburger helper meals because the salt content is pretty high and I'd rather make *from scratch* meals if I can help it. However, sometimes it's just nice to have something quick to throw together - even better if it tastes great too! So here you go....The first time I made them all up so all we had to do was grab one from the plate in the fridge and warm it up. Add some sour cream (really the perfect touch - but I LOVE sour cream. I've been known to make tacos JUST so I could have the sour cream) and salsa if you'd like (I prefer it without) and it's perfect. Add a salad and you've got a great and filling meal! The only thing I need is a non-stick pot - I must not stir it often enough because each time my pot gets a nice coating of stuck on rice *grr*

I know I didn't make it, but while I was feeling under the weather and really yucky (no, I'm not pregnant....and no I'm not trying...and no I'm not going to find out in a week that I really am like my cousin did after she expressed the exact same thing. LOL) the only thing I felt wouldn't really disrupt my stomach was a Subway veggie sub...seriously - divine...sometime I really do enjoy the meat ones (italian bmt for one) but more often than not it's the veggie one that just hits the spot. And, despite using Italian Herb and Cheese bread, I always feel healthier when I'm eating it. I always get the white cheese, lettuce, pickles, cucumbers, and onions (I detest tomatoes), a little mayonnaise, mustard, and pepper....and sub sauce (yep shot any chance of health there I know....added to the mayo - eeks!). Sooo delish....I never get them toasted - for some reason, to me only quizno's subs taste good toasted. wonder why that is??

Next....I made a meal one night that was just *okay*. Thankfully I have a husband who eats anything and everything and is happy doing just that. I took some chicken drumsticks (on sale again!!!) and cooked them sort of like I would a whole chicken. I sprinkled them with chicken oxo powder and seasoning salt....and pepper....and poured some water in the dish and covered with tin foil. Baked at 350 for close to an hour and told Brent to take the foil off for the last 10-15 minutes (I was out for the evening). It was *okay* - not great..not a make again...but it was sufficient. I really don't like wasting food, particularly chicken...so a few days when I realized the leftovers just weren't going to get eaten, I decided to try and salvage them. I baked them in bbq sauce (that I mixed with some brown sugar and water) for about 40 minutes...the result....AWESOME - Brent said. He got up and had seconds....HIP HIP HOORAY!! I love it when a salvage attempt goes so well. I absolutely love cooking for other people and when they truly enjoy and devour my efforts, it just makes me smile. I feel accomplished and valued - and THAT is something everybody loves! So an *okay* meal turned into an *awesome* meal - I may end up doing this first to chicken next time I want to coat it in bbq sauce. LOL

Ooo and a great lunch suggestion that I think is kind of fun for the kids...mini pitas. I absolutely love when I make the choice to buy them. The kids had chicken salad pits the other day for lunch and today had mayo and meat in them. Something fun - and kind of neat for the kids, particularly if you are having a larger pita for lunch. It's a great variation to a typical sandwich - and in my opinion is actually more enjoyable. I looooove pitas :)

Anyways - that's all for now. I do have some more recipes to post but as it's 1230am already I really should get to bed! Coming soon...pumpkin squares (I made them into cupcake/muffins this week), carmel popcorn (the best!!), pumpkin marble cheesecake, and some more dinner recipes I've been wanting to try!


And for anyone who has one - I'd love to get a bunch of chicken enchilada recipes in. My husband prefers the beef ones, but I'm determined to make some chicken ones he loves. LOL So send the recipes so I can look them over and try a few. (Auntie Glenda - if you're reading this....something tells me you have one...I keep remembering eating enchiladas when I was younger and for some reason I think it was at your house....would love the recipe to try!)

what's cooking?

So what do you cook for supper on a busy day when you are out of the house pretty much ALL day? let's think....I haven't always been great at planning ahead nor have I always made it a priority to have an actual *meal* for supper. But in the past month or so I have changed that...my grocery shopping has changed, my cooking has changed...and honestly meal time overall has changed. And I LOVE it. One of my goals for this year is to keep this up and to make each meal count....making it well balanced and full of variety. I didn't completely succeed with this tonight but I at least made dinner :) I feel like a better wife and mother when I make dinner...when I know what we are having and it's either ready or near ready when my husband comes home from work. And it's been an awesome way to help our daughter (and son to be honest) try more foods. There are things she doesn't like (sweet potatoes for example) and that's okay, but at least she tried it. Turns out, she LOVES the hot potato salad...(of course anything *salad* and she loves it. lol). So I took the kids to my in laws for the day today but had to be back by 530 in time to fix supper and be ready for a nutrition course I'm taking with 5 other friends! So, thinking ahead this morning (I love it when I do that), I took out some hamburger to let it thaw.

Nothing fancy for supper - I just planned spaghetti....but it's filling and delicious and everyone loves it. I ended up getting home at 545pm which left 30 minutes to make supper and get ready (I ate on the way...thankfully Tara drives!!). I'm grateful for an extremely helpful husband as well who filled in the gaps where I needed help.

First I got the spaghetti going so it would be ready in time. Then we cooked the hamburger (by we, I mean my husband. lol) and added the spaghettic sauce (prego with mushrooms...surprisingly it's been cheaper than the president's choice brand the last few times). I also sprinkle in some garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and italian seasoning. And my husband grew up always putting grated cheese on top so we do that now too :)

I personally prefer sauteed veggies and sauce (so meatless). I sautee onions, celery, carrots (soo good), zucchini, mushrooms, and red peppers. I pour the sauce and *cook* it with the veggies (once soft) and add garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and a little bit of italian seasoning. Then I pour it over my spaghetti and add the grated cheddar. It's sooo yummy...and filling.

Normally I would have made garlic toast and a salad, but there just wasn't time tonight (those extra 15 minutes would have really helped) and I know, that although my husband loves salad, it wasn't a huge deal not to have one.

So that's what's cooking...

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4 STARS

Hamburger Stroganoff

Although the Hamburger Helper variety may be faster, there's nothing quite like home cooking :) Besides, you avoid some of the icky preservatives by starting from scratch.

1 Tbsp margarine
1 1/2 Cups onions
1 Clove garlic
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 Can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 Cup water
1 Tbsp parsley, minced
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt (I wouldn't put this in...the soup is already loaded with salt)
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Cup sour cream (Added at the end)

Saute first 4 ingredients in large frying pan until meat is brown. Sprinkle in flour and stir well. Add and stir in the next 7 ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Then add and stir in the sour cream. Do not boil! Serve over egg noodles.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 3 STARS