This is by far my husbands favorite and it's GREAT when it's cold out. It also freezes really well, so I make a huge pot and it feeds my family about 3 times.
If you want to make a vegetarian version of this recipe leave out the ground beef, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. It makes a really hearty vegetarian soup as well.
If you like more spice, add the whole can of Rotel tomatoes, both Mexican and Original. I use half to keep the heat down.
What you need:
1lb ground beef
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans of pintos
1 can black beans (kidney or another variety you enjoy works great too)
1 can hominey
1 can corn
1/2 can Rotel Original tomatoes
1/2 can Rotel Mexican Tomatoes
1 packet of Original Taco Seasoning
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
Optional: Grated Jack/Cheddar Cheese and Tortilla chips
In a large soup pot, brown ground beef at the bottom. (I do this in the same pot to cut back on dishes, which I hate more then cooking).
Drain beef, then put back into pot. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir, then simmer on low heat covered for about 40 minutes, stir occasionally. Serve with tortilla chips and top with some cheese.
Time: 50minutes, but for 40 of it you're really not doing anything :-)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Ham, Mac and Cheese, and Green beans
This is one of my laziest/easiest meals. Even my husband can make this ;-). It's one of the favorites at my house too. Even the toddlers love it. Then again what isn't to love?!
Things you need:
1 ham steak
Start the Mac and Cheese first. It will take the longest. Follow the directions on the box.
Once the water is boiling and you've added the noodles to cook, put your green beans on the stove to cook. I love to add a small amount of the fatty part of the ham to them. It makes them taste great. I also add a little steak seasoning (I use Tex Joy, it's to die for, but hard to find outside of TX, any other variety will work) if the beans are salt free. If they're not I add a very small amount of the steak seasoning, or season them to taste after cooking to avoid making them over salty. Heat on medium heat and stir occasionally.
Using a flat "griddle" style pan on the stove, or a electric griddle on the counter, place your ham steak on it on medium. Turn once, just to heat through evenly. If you're craving something sweet a little brown sugar sprinkled on top tastes excellent. Do not salt or pepper ham, it's salty enough without any extra.
At this point your noodles should be boiled. Drain, then mix in cheese ingredients as directed on your variety of Mac and Cheese.
Serve!
Time: 20-25 minutes.
Things you need:
1 ham steak
- I typically buy a Smithfield Center cut steak that are a little over 1lb.
- Steamfresh green beans, or fresh green beans can be used as well, I buy all the canned vegetables I that are can find salt free due to all the heart issues in my family. It pays to start early :-) Learn to do with out.
Start the Mac and Cheese first. It will take the longest. Follow the directions on the box.
Once the water is boiling and you've added the noodles to cook, put your green beans on the stove to cook. I love to add a small amount of the fatty part of the ham to them. It makes them taste great. I also add a little steak seasoning (I use Tex Joy, it's to die for, but hard to find outside of TX, any other variety will work) if the beans are salt free. If they're not I add a very small amount of the steak seasoning, or season them to taste after cooking to avoid making them over salty. Heat on medium heat and stir occasionally.
Using a flat "griddle" style pan on the stove, or a electric griddle on the counter, place your ham steak on it on medium. Turn once, just to heat through evenly. If you're craving something sweet a little brown sugar sprinkled on top tastes excellent. Do not salt or pepper ham, it's salty enough without any extra.
At this point your noodles should be boiled. Drain, then mix in cheese ingredients as directed on your variety of Mac and Cheese.
Serve!
Time: 20-25 minutes.
Reading my "Meals"
When you read through my "recipes" and meal preparations I write it out how I would do it in an effort to have everything done at the same time. I highly recommend you read through it before attempting to make it so you don't get caught off guard by my jumping around in the kitchen.
All the ingredients you should need are listed at the top of the page, and the time is at the bottom. Thanks for reading!
All the ingredients you should need are listed at the top of the page, and the time is at the bottom. Thanks for reading!
Blackened Catfish with roasted sweet potatoes and corn
This was dinner tonight and it was excellent! It takes about an hour to prepare simply due to washing and peeling potatoes, but some helpful hands, or planning that step ahead (naptime anyone?) this would be a much quicker recipe.
What you need:
I stole this recipe from here: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cinnamon-sweet-potato-slices/Detail.aspx
Preheat over to 350F
Wash and peel sweet potatoes, slice into 1/2-1/3in circles.
Place on foil lined baking pan that has been spayed with Pam or some other none stick cooking spray. Using your melted butter brush butter over all pieces, the sprinkle 1/2 the sugar and half the cinnamon on sweet potato slices (you may add more or less to taste). Bake for 15 minutes.
While they are baking, mix your fish seasoning.
This recipe is based on this recipe using what I had in the house, and cutting back on the salt:
http://www.food.com/recipe/blackened-catfish-26059
Put a heavy aluminum skillet on the stove and coat with a non stick coating (I use Pam), and heat on medium high heat for about 5-10 minutes, or while you prepare fish.
You might also want to put your corn on the stove to heat on low, just to warm it while you prepare everything else, stir on occasion.
Pour about 1/2 your butter into a bowl, coat fish in butter, then sprinkle fish seasoning over both sides of the fish evenly. Place fish in heated skillet.
At this point your potatoes will hopefully need to be turned. Pull them out, flip them and brush remaining butter over them, then sprinkle other side with remaining sugar and cinnamon, put them back in for 12-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
After placing potatoes back in the oven your fish will need to be turned. Flip fish over and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until fish flakes. You can drizzle some melted butter on the fish if you like, but I found it buttery enough without the drizzle. Turn off fish and remove from pan when done, if you have a few minutes until the potatoes are done, plate them then cover with some foil to retain the heat.
When potatoes are done plate and serve!
Time: 40minutes.
What you need:
- Fish seasoning:
- 2tbsp Paprika
- 1tbsp salt
- 1tsp lemon pepper
- 1tsp Garlic salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 3 catfish filets
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted melted butter
- 3-4 medium sweet potatoes (I grow my own, so it's more like 5 small potatoes)
- 2tbsp sugar
- 1tbsp cinnamon
- 1 can of corn
I stole this recipe from here: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cinnamon-sweet-potato-slices/Detail.aspx
Preheat over to 350F
Wash and peel sweet potatoes, slice into 1/2-1/3in circles.
Place on foil lined baking pan that has been spayed with Pam or some other none stick cooking spray. Using your melted butter brush butter over all pieces, the sprinkle 1/2 the sugar and half the cinnamon on sweet potato slices (you may add more or less to taste). Bake for 15 minutes.
While they are baking, mix your fish seasoning.
This recipe is based on this recipe using what I had in the house, and cutting back on the salt:
http://www.food.com/recipe/blackened-catfish-26059
Put a heavy aluminum skillet on the stove and coat with a non stick coating (I use Pam), and heat on medium high heat for about 5-10 minutes, or while you prepare fish.
You might also want to put your corn on the stove to heat on low, just to warm it while you prepare everything else, stir on occasion.
Pour about 1/2 your butter into a bowl, coat fish in butter, then sprinkle fish seasoning over both sides of the fish evenly. Place fish in heated skillet.
At this point your potatoes will hopefully need to be turned. Pull them out, flip them and brush remaining butter over them, then sprinkle other side with remaining sugar and cinnamon, put them back in for 12-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
After placing potatoes back in the oven your fish will need to be turned. Flip fish over and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until fish flakes. You can drizzle some melted butter on the fish if you like, but I found it buttery enough without the drizzle. Turn off fish and remove from pan when done, if you have a few minutes until the potatoes are done, plate them then cover with some foil to retain the heat.
When potatoes are done plate and serve!
Time: 40minutes.
Easy Parmesan Chicken
Ok, this recipe is mostly stolen from the back of the shake and bake box. I give them their props for this one.
Spaghetti sauce and noodles are a staple in my house. Usually I can use 1 jar of sauce for 2 meals. I attempted to make my own sauce a while back and freeze it, but I was not successful. Really the truth is I only need about a cup or cup and 1/2 of it when I cook, so the jars work fine. To keep track of the day I opened the jar (because lets face it I'm a mom, I have other things to think about) I write the date it was 1st opened on the top with a sharpie before putting it back in the fridge. This helps me eliminate waste.
I will say that I choose sauces with ingredients I can read on the back, that would be something I could make myself.
Ok lets get started:
This will serve 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 toddlers/smaller children (which is what I have in my house).
You will need:
Fill a medium sauce pan a little over 1/2 full with water, and put on the stove at medium high heat to boil. I usually salt and add a little olive oil as well.
Start preheating oven to 400F.
Using 1 of the packets and one of the bags of shake and bake, add coating to the inside of bag.
Rinse chicken, then place 1 breast at a time inside bag, shake until well coated, the place on a foil lined baking sheet.
Bake at 400F for 20-23 minutes or until chicken is done..
At this point your water should be boiling. Add noodles to water and cook until al dente. (follow directions on box, or for me I cook them until the chicken is done).
After the chicken is done, pull it out of the oven top each chicken with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Put back in the over for another 3-5 minutes until all the cheese is melted.
Turn off the noodles, and drain. Add a little olive oil and mix to prevent sticking.
At the same time put your steamfresh veggies in the microwave and cook following the directions on the bag (you may also substitute any other vegetable as a side, prepared with any method you prefer).
When cheese is melted and vegetable are done plate and enjoy!
Time: This recipe takes me approximately 35 minutes from start to finish, and is an easy family favorite.
Spaghetti sauce and noodles are a staple in my house. Usually I can use 1 jar of sauce for 2 meals. I attempted to make my own sauce a while back and freeze it, but I was not successful. Really the truth is I only need about a cup or cup and 1/2 of it when I cook, so the jars work fine. To keep track of the day I opened the jar (because lets face it I'm a mom, I have other things to think about) I write the date it was 1st opened on the top with a sharpie before putting it back in the fridge. This helps me eliminate waste.
I will say that I choose sauces with ingredients I can read on the back, that would be something I could make myself.
Ok lets get started:
This will serve 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 toddlers/smaller children (which is what I have in my house).
You will need:
- 1 pkg fresh chicken breasts
- Parmesan shake and bake (found on the baking isle)
- Spaghetti noodles (I use about 1/3rd of the box which is about 5.5oz)
- 1/2 26oz jar of spaghetti sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Vegetable as a side (I use a broccoli, cauliflower, carrot mix of the birdseye steamfresh bags most often with this, nothing sauced though)
Fill a medium sauce pan a little over 1/2 full with water, and put on the stove at medium high heat to boil. I usually salt and add a little olive oil as well.
Start preheating oven to 400F.
Using 1 of the packets and one of the bags of shake and bake, add coating to the inside of bag.
Rinse chicken, then place 1 breast at a time inside bag, shake until well coated, the place on a foil lined baking sheet.
Bake at 400F for 20-23 minutes or until chicken is done..
At this point your water should be boiling. Add noodles to water and cook until al dente. (follow directions on box, or for me I cook them until the chicken is done).
After the chicken is done, pull it out of the oven top each chicken with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Put back in the over for another 3-5 minutes until all the cheese is melted.
Turn off the noodles, and drain. Add a little olive oil and mix to prevent sticking.
At the same time put your steamfresh veggies in the microwave and cook following the directions on the bag (you may also substitute any other vegetable as a side, prepared with any method you prefer).
When cheese is melted and vegetable are done plate and enjoy!
Time: This recipe takes me approximately 35 minutes from start to finish, and is an easy family favorite.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Breakfast for Dinner
That's what we had tonight! Honestly, I love it but hate it. I bank on dinner to try to get some sort of vegetable not in sauce form in my family. I know that's terrible, but it's true. I find it rather difficult to incorporate a veg with breakfast for dinner so usually I settle for more fruit (lord knows we get enough of that during the day) but I guess it's better then just protein and carbs.
Tonight we had:
Biscuits:
I'm a lazy biscuit maker. I usually buy them frozen, then pull them out as I need them or canned and just follow directions from there. You could also make them from another mix. They will take the longest out of this meal more then likely and should be started first.
Sausage:
The smoked sausage really you just have to heat up. I cut it into about 1/2" circles, then put it in a skillet with a little Pam to prevent sticking. I heat it over medium heat until the sausages start to brown a little on either side, turning regularly with a spatula.
Scrambled Eggs:
Scrambled eggs are a favorite around here. You could also make any kind of egg you want really, but scrambling them means I don't have to cook 4 fried eggs to everyone's individual liking. They also go great with the sausage on bread to make them almost sandwich like if you choose to go that route.
For 2 Eggs:
2 slices of American cheese shredded/torn or 1/4th cup of any other variety of shredded cheese
2 tablespoons of milk
salt and pepper to taste (I don't add a ton, just enough to add some flavor) this also can be done afte rthe eggs are finished.
Combine ingredients in a bowl, whisk with a fork while heating the pan to just above medium heat. Grease pan (butter works great and tastes great, but Pam works just as well), and put the egg mixture in the pan. Let it start to solidify, then stir by scraping the bottom of the pan with the flat edge of the spatula. Stir until all eggs are solidified (done) then plate from the pan. Enjoy!
Pears or any other kind of fruit:
Excellent sliced fresh, or take the easy way out and keep a few cans/jars in your fridge for times like this, we also eat them for lunch and snacks so it's great to have some cold fruit handy.
Time:
All in all it took about 20 minutes for me to make this meal, the longest part was the biscuits. It's great in a pinch because it's mostly made from staples around the house.
In a pinch?
Don't have biscuits or a mix? Do some toast with jam, or plain bread with the meal and make sandwiches out of the eggs and sausages.
Tonight we had:
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoked Sausage
- Biscuits
- Pears
Biscuits:
I'm a lazy biscuit maker. I usually buy them frozen, then pull them out as I need them or canned and just follow directions from there. You could also make them from another mix. They will take the longest out of this meal more then likely and should be started first.
Sausage:
The smoked sausage really you just have to heat up. I cut it into about 1/2" circles, then put it in a skillet with a little Pam to prevent sticking. I heat it over medium heat until the sausages start to brown a little on either side, turning regularly with a spatula.
Scrambled Eggs:
Scrambled eggs are a favorite around here. You could also make any kind of egg you want really, but scrambling them means I don't have to cook 4 fried eggs to everyone's individual liking. They also go great with the sausage on bread to make them almost sandwich like if you choose to go that route.
For 2 Eggs:
2 slices of American cheese shredded/torn or 1/4th cup of any other variety of shredded cheese
2 tablespoons of milk
salt and pepper to taste (I don't add a ton, just enough to add some flavor) this also can be done afte rthe eggs are finished.
Combine ingredients in a bowl, whisk with a fork while heating the pan to just above medium heat. Grease pan (butter works great and tastes great, but Pam works just as well), and put the egg mixture in the pan. Let it start to solidify, then stir by scraping the bottom of the pan with the flat edge of the spatula. Stir until all eggs are solidified (done) then plate from the pan. Enjoy!
Pears or any other kind of fruit:
Excellent sliced fresh, or take the easy way out and keep a few cans/jars in your fridge for times like this, we also eat them for lunch and snacks so it's great to have some cold fruit handy.
Time:
All in all it took about 20 minutes for me to make this meal, the longest part was the biscuits. It's great in a pinch because it's mostly made from staples around the house.
In a pinch?
Don't have biscuits or a mix? Do some toast with jam, or plain bread with the meal and make sandwiches out of the eggs and sausages.
I am not a cook!
*said in best Nixon voice I could muster.
Ok, lets face it. I have some cooking skills, I'm not hopeless, but really I don't enjoy cooking. It's hot, usually there's someone crying or screaming at my feet. I'm fending off little hands and prying eyes and a husband who's "helping". It's not relaxing, it's not fun, frankly I would like to spend as little time as possible doing it.
I'm also not one of those moms that can just whip up a nutritious meal total out of raw vegetables only found at your local farmers market. I'm not vegetarian, I'm not low carb, I'm just trying to feed my family, relatively inexpensively, and relatively "nutritiously". I grew up in a house hold where that meant you had lavish meals. Typical "southern" food. Lots of starches, lots of beans, bacon in most the vegetables, and OMG the salt! Haha! In an effort to be "healthier" I've tried to incorporate more vegetables into my very picky families diet. I guess I've succeeded to a certain extent. When I met my husband he pretty much only at green beans and potatoes. My three year old will try almost any vegetable you put in front of her, so I consider that a success, my 1 yr old doesn't like most vegetables, but I keep putting them in front of him in hopes to bring him around.
One issue we have is that almost everyone in my family is a food purest to a certain extent. We don't like I food mixed together. I really don't like them cooked together for the most part. I really don't like foods like peppers that "seep" their flavor into things. So for people with more refined pallets this blog is probably not for you. It's bland, and boring (except for maybe some bacon and tex joy in the green beans...) but it's designed to get the job done.
So I'm not a great cook, I'm have "ok" culinary skills (I'll admit to googling cooking terms even) and I make boring food, which leaves you asking... why are you writing about it then?! Well... I can improvise, I can make things quick (30 minutes max usually), and I can whip up a meal out of staple things and left overs pretty well if I do say so myself. I'm not going to win any awards, but my family won't go hungry and really isn't that the point of dinner? (Ok maybe it's just the point of dinner to a SAHM like myself). Most meals I make take about 30 minutes, on a bad day it might take me an hour from prep to finish. This blog is going to feature those. I'm not claiming they'll be the most nutritious things every night, or that it's gourmet, but it'll get your family fed and you won't spend all evening in the kitchen.
I also want to invite anyone who has a quick meal that's a family favorite to share with me to post it here. I'm hoping this turns into a great resource for people like me, who aren't a fan of cooking, but can still make something decent for dinner :-)
Ok, lets face it. I have some cooking skills, I'm not hopeless, but really I don't enjoy cooking. It's hot, usually there's someone crying or screaming at my feet. I'm fending off little hands and prying eyes and a husband who's "helping". It's not relaxing, it's not fun, frankly I would like to spend as little time as possible doing it.
I'm also not one of those moms that can just whip up a nutritious meal total out of raw vegetables only found at your local farmers market. I'm not vegetarian, I'm not low carb, I'm just trying to feed my family, relatively inexpensively, and relatively "nutritiously". I grew up in a house hold where that meant you had lavish meals. Typical "southern" food. Lots of starches, lots of beans, bacon in most the vegetables, and OMG the salt! Haha! In an effort to be "healthier" I've tried to incorporate more vegetables into my very picky families diet. I guess I've succeeded to a certain extent. When I met my husband he pretty much only at green beans and potatoes. My three year old will try almost any vegetable you put in front of her, so I consider that a success, my 1 yr old doesn't like most vegetables, but I keep putting them in front of him in hopes to bring him around.
One issue we have is that almost everyone in my family is a food purest to a certain extent. We don't like I food mixed together. I really don't like them cooked together for the most part. I really don't like foods like peppers that "seep" their flavor into things. So for people with more refined pallets this blog is probably not for you. It's bland, and boring (except for maybe some bacon and tex joy in the green beans...) but it's designed to get the job done.
So I'm not a great cook, I'm have "ok" culinary skills (I'll admit to googling cooking terms even) and I make boring food, which leaves you asking... why are you writing about it then?! Well... I can improvise, I can make things quick (30 minutes max usually), and I can whip up a meal out of staple things and left overs pretty well if I do say so myself. I'm not going to win any awards, but my family won't go hungry and really isn't that the point of dinner? (Ok maybe it's just the point of dinner to a SAHM like myself). Most meals I make take about 30 minutes, on a bad day it might take me an hour from prep to finish. This blog is going to feature those. I'm not claiming they'll be the most nutritious things every night, or that it's gourmet, but it'll get your family fed and you won't spend all evening in the kitchen.
I also want to invite anyone who has a quick meal that's a family favorite to share with me to post it here. I'm hoping this turns into a great resource for people like me, who aren't a fan of cooking, but can still make something decent for dinner :-)
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