Easy Dinner Ideas

Do you cook the same thing every week?

Do you ever just not know what to cook? 

Do you get take-out even though you have food in the cabinets?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you fall in the category of people I like to call...

MOST PEOPLE!!

So in order to help you out, I thought I'd share two easy recipes I have made this week for our family!

Hummus Crusted Chicken
By Gimme Some Oven

source

4 chicken breast
2 squash
2 zucchini
1 onion
hummus (store bought or homemade)
salt and pepper
olive oil
paprika

Cut up squash, zucchini, and onion. Toss in olive oil, salt and pepper.
Spray a large baking dish and spread vegetables on the bottom.
Rinse and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
Place chicken on vegetables and spread generous amount of hummus on chicken.
Sprinkle with paprika.
Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is cooked to 165.

*this is how i prepared this dish. Click the title of the recipe for original version.

Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry
This is a my version of what I saw the Pioneer woman do on TV.

source

1lb of stir fry steak strips or thinly sliced flank steak
1 bag of frozen broccoli florets
1 clove garlic minced
olive oil
1 tbs AP flour
black pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce (split)
1-2 tbs White Cooking Sherry
1-2 tbs Balsamic Vinegar
Siracha sauce (optional)
Cooked Basmatti or Jasmine Rice

Put the strips of meat in a medium mixing bowl
Place the broccoli in a sauce pan with water covering the bottom of the pan. Cook just until broccoli is soft, no-longer frozen, and bright green. Drain the water and set aside.
Pour olive oil just covering the bottom of skillet. Add beef once the oil is hot.
Cook until pink is gone and slightly browned.
Mix 2-3 tbs of soy sauce,  1-2 tbs balsalmic vinegar, and 1-2 tbs white cooking sherry in small bowl.
Add as much or as little siracha as you'd like for a small kick.
Add back broccoli to meat then pour over the sauce.
Serve hot over rice.


I hope this makes dinner easier next week and you can enjoy these recipes.

Spicy Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

When you have to cook almost every dinner at home, you have to try out new recipes or else you will get tired of the same old ones quickly. We love to prepare meatless meals and only eat mean once or twice a week now. This is a wonderful main dish full of healthy fresh ingredients.

Ingredients:

4 Bell Peppers (any color is good)

1 cup un-cookied quinoa

1/2 can of black beans drained and rinsed

1/2 can of organic corn drained

1 small can of rotel with green chilies

1 1/2 cup of pepper jack cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp chipotle powder

1/2 tsp cumin 

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350. And cook your quinoa according to the package directions. (Some quinoa needs to be rinsed prior to cooking.) Once the quinoa is cooked. Mix all the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl, reserving 1/2 cup of cheese to top the stuffed peppers. Stuff the peppers with the quinoa mixture, packing in tight. Top with remaining cheese. Cook in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The longer you cook them, the softer the pepper will be.

Be sure and enjoy them along side a super cute baby in the sunshine for maximum enjoyment!

Green Smoothie For the Win

In my ever so valiant but often quite feeble attempt to clean up my diet and shed the last 10 lbs of baby weight, I made this Green Smoothie. I have made many and put just about any kind of fruit or vegi in it, so this is really just an example of what you can do with a Green Smoothie. I think this combination is pretty tasty though.

Ingredients:

Lots of spinach (1 1/2 - 2 cups)

1 Bananna

1 Apple cored

Ice

Liquid (ex: OJ, Almond milk, Coconut water)

My smoothie made 4 cups once it was blended, so I put half in the refrigerator and save it for tomorrow so I don't have to dirty the Ninja again. Just shake it up really well.

Enjoy!

Easy Mexican Chili

Since moving to pretty much the middle of nowhere, I have had to really get serious about meal planning. Walmart is about 30 minutes away and the local grocery store is pretty small and more expensive. This week 3/6 of our meals were soups: Classic Chili, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, and my Easy Mexican Chili. It's hard to spend hours in the kitchen, clean, read to Nora, and make it to the gym each night after she goes to bed. For that reason I am a fan of dinners I can put in the crock-pot during nap-time and SHAZAM dinner is ready! This isn't a "new" recipe, but I did make it up. The best part about this dinner is you can always have these ingredients and you can mix it up each time.

Ingredients List:

frozen corn

32 oz chicken broth

green chiles (drained)

diced tomatoes (drained)

black beans (drained)

canned chicken breast (drained)

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp Chipotle Powder

1/2 tsp Garlic Salt

1 small chopped onion 

1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro

Step 1: Put all the ingredients in your Crock-pot

Step 2: Open at dinner time, serve and enjoy!

Serving Suggestion: I made cornbread muffins (Jiffy Mix with one tbs of honey) to go along with the soup and it was amazing! Tortilla Chips would also be a great addition. Or a fresh chopped avocado for the top would be perfect! And Cheese makes everything better!

I hope you enjoy this recipe. The best part about it is, you know exactly what is in it! NO TACO SEASONING! If you have access to all organic ingredients then it can be 100% organic as well!

Recipe: Easy Tomato Pesto Sandwich

At our baby shower, there were these amazing little sandwich rounds from which I got the inspiration to create this sandwich! 

It is fresh, and perfect for summer. 

I know that as my garden grows I am going to need a good recipe, like this one, to use up all those tomatoes.

What you will need:

4 slices of whole wheat bread

several leaves of fresh basil

shredded or fresh mozzarella cheese

1 large sandwich tomato or 2 small roma tomatoes

1 tbs of pesto (jared or homemade)

2 tbs of light mayonnaise 

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix the pesto and mayonnaise together, spread semi generously on one side of the sandwich.

2. Top with chopped fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese.

3. Slice your tomato, arrange on on sandwich, salt and pepper.

Your done!!

It is so easy, but so delicious. 

You don't really even need instructions.

Change it up, add some other fresh ingredients or make a wrap!

OH and as always... ENJOY

Portobello Wraps and a Tomato Salad

With all this baby-construction going on over here, Food has been a big topic for me!
I'm always hungry and snacking, but I have tried to fill the cabinets with healthy options so I wont turn into a blimp.
Ok, so I know I will eventually, but well you know...

I thought I'd share one of my latest creations with you.

Portobello Wraps and a Tomato Salad

What you will need for the Wraps:

2 "Flat Out" Wraps

2 Portobello Mushrooms

A shreaded cheese of your choice 

(Mozerella, Italian Blend, etc)

Cilantro

Olive Oil

Cut and Saute the Mushrooms in some olive oil.

Lay you wrap out and sprinkle cheese and chopped cilantro.

Layer with the mushrooms.

Roll it is like a burrito.

What you will need for the Salad:

Grape tomatoes, cut in half

Cilantro

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Toss the tomatoes and cilantro with some olive oil and salt and pepper.

Easy as that!

I hope you enjoy this easy, healthy lunch or dinner!

Little Debbies should be ashamed of themselves...

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

this recipe will certainly win some brownie points or should we say "cream pie" points with anyone!

Ingredients for cookies:

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp honey {the darker the better, mollasses will also work}

1 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats

Parchment Paper

Ingredients for filling:

1 jar marshmallow fluff/cream {7oz}

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt disolved in 2 tsp very hot water

1/2- 1 tsp vanila {I always seam to shy on the side of more}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream Butter and Sugars together until fluffy and light. 

Beat in eggs one by one.

Add honey and vanilla and beat after.

the batter should be very light. 

the less granular the batter, the better consistency of cookie you will get in the end.

In separate bowl comine dry ingredients {flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon}

Add the dry ingredient mixture to the creamed butter mixture.

 Beat only until blended.

Mix in the oats by hand 

{not with your mixer, but with a spatula or wooden spoon}

Prepare small golf ball size or smaller balls of dough and place on Parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Keep in mind that:

 these will spread out significantly

you want to maintain uniformity in the size because you will be making "sandwiches" with them

you many need to babysit them while they bake, they start to turn dark quickly.

You will want to bake them for 10-12 minutes or just until they start turning golden brown around the edges.

Let them cool completely.

While they are cooling...

Beat the marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, and shortening for about 3-4 minutes.

It will not double in size but should increase a little and become fluffy and light.

Add in your vanilla and cooled salt disolved water.

Mix and you are ready to assemble your scrumptious delights!!

I think you can take it from there!

Be ready to get some death threats from Miss Debbie herself because these beat the packaged deal by miles and you know what is in them!

As Always ENJOY!

Tofu Tacos- What to Do with TOFU?!

So if you are like me you may have always wanted to try to like tofu and learn to cook it but never knew where to start.

Well I think I have learned how to cook tofu and not end up with flavorless mushy gushy mess.
Here is a good beginner recipe!

TOFU TACOS

Ingredients

1 pack Extra Firm Tofu

Whole grain Tortillas

Chili Powder

Cumin

Chipotle Powder {optional}

Salt 

Lettuce 

Colby Jack Cheese {Shredded}

Tomato {diced}

{Any other taco toppings you may like}

Step 1: Press your tofu to remove liquid.

This is the most important step in preparing tofu because it removes all that flavorless water and makes your tofu ready to accept flavors.

I put it between a clean towel and set a plate on it, or just something heavy.

Step 2: Cut and Season the tofu.

First Cut your tofu how ever you would like. It can be cut into strips or cubes.

I used a combination of mexican flavors to season my tofu, but you can decide what you would like to season it with. The more flavor the better!

Step 3: Heat a nonstick pan with NO OIL!

This is key! You dont need oil to cook the tofu. 

If you use oil your tofu will just taste like the oil.

Any time you cook tofu cook it in a dry pan then add any liquid flavoring you would like.

Pan sear your tofu until browned.

Step 4: Pepare your tofu tacos with all the fixin's!!

Enjoy!

Tofu can be scary, but I challenge you to try it! 

It is loaded with protein and super cheap!

Email or comment if you have any questions.

I am not a tofu expert but I'd love to help you try it!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

I love you all so much that I am sharing my chocolate chip cookie recipe!  This is big! 

I have been making these cookies since I was in high school for friends, family, teachers, bosses, you name it! These can get you out of trouble, into trouble, a date, a spouse actually ;) , and well they are just pretty darn good!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

{Self-rising four can be used but baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt must be omitted, still use just about 1/4 tsp of salt with the self rising flour}

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 bag of semi sweet or milk chocolate morsels

Step 1: Mix first four ingredients with a stand or hand mixer on high until fluffy and whipped consistency forms. The sugar should almost be disolved and the mixture should almost have doubled in size and be very light in color. {THIS IS KEY TO THE RECIPE!!}

Step 2: Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. 

Step 3: Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix. Then add in the four mixture slowly to the butter mixture and mix till combined, no longer.

Step 4: Finally just add in your chocolate chips and scoop out cookies onto a cookie sheet. 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min {give or take, based on the cookie size}.

ENJOY SOME YUMMY GOODNESS!

Let me know what you and your friends and future boyfriends and husbands think!

{Black Bean Burgers}

It's a recipe post guys! I want to apologize because I feel this week I have not been on my blogging A-game, so if you would be a "doll" and forgive me that would be awesome. I have had in my mind that I would do a "home" {apartment} tour, but every time I try to take pictures I feel like it is a disaster! Epic Blogger Fail!! I promise it will happen!


But I do have a really good recipe for you today. I have tried about 3-4 recipes for Black Bean Burgers and these are the #1 best!!

Black Bean Burgers

1/2 onion

2 cloves garlic

handfull of cilantro

1 tbs red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 cans black beans

1 egg

1 toasted hamburger bun

Step 1: Put toasted bun in food processor and make bread crumbs. Put crumbs into large mixing bowls.

Step 2: Combine onion, garlic, cilantro, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt in food processor.

Finely chop and add to bread crumbs in large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Combine egg and beans in food processor. Put in mixing bowl.

*there can be a few whole bean but you want it to be pretty smooth.

Step 4: Mix all ingredients well, divide into four patties. 

Step 5: Fry in pan over med-high heat.

Serve with chipotle mayo

3tbs mayo

1tbs mustard 

{spicy brown is good}

1/2 tsp of chili powder

a couple dashes of tabasco sauce

Serve with Sweet Potato Fries 

*Trader Joe's Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Shown

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe! 

I love it because it tastes so fresh with the cilantro in it! 

ENJOY!!

Easy Lunch Time Recipe

I told you I was on a roll this past week with some good and new recipes!

This one is perfect for a saturday lunch or a bridesmaid luncheon {I know there are lots of those going on these days!!}

ENJOY!

Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich Spread

1 block low fat cream cheese, softened

1 cucumber, seeded and diced

1 cup of roasted red peppers diced

Garlic Salt and Pepper

Spinach

Wheat bread

Mix the first four ingredients together

Spread over bread

Top with spinach 

Viola! Your sandwich is complete!

{This is a very light sandwich. Perfect for summer time!}


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I have a poll on the on my left side bar that I really would love for you to take!
I want to always make my blog better so you tell me what you like!
:)

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

It has been a while since I have done a recipe post but todays recipe is out of this world!

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

2-4 Portobello Mushroom Caps 

{just depends on how many people you are feeding}

Hamburger Buns

Mozzarella Cheese

Light Mayonaise

Roasted Red Peppers

Arugula and Spinach Mix

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil

Step 1: Mix 2 tbs of Mayo and 1/3 cup of Mozzarella cheese to make the spread for the burger.

Step 2: Put about 1 tbs of olive oil in a non stick pan and salt and pepper the portobello caps.

Saute on both side for about 4 minutes.

Step 3: Pull out two large pieces of red pepper from jar and cut into strips. 

Step 4: Layer cheese spread, mushroom, arugula and spinach, and peppers on bun and serve with home made fries!!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know what you think!

It was better than a regular burger in my opinion!!

~/~

by the way!

We now have internet, so I am going to get back to some normalcy.

Thanks for all your support and sweet messages always!

Vegetable Pizza

Another Recipe coming straight at you from little Mrs. Chef herself.
Ok, so I am not a Chef, but I do love to cook!
And I am on a roll these days...

Its a rainy Saturday here and what better way to spend a day like that than in the kitchen.
Here is a recipe I made up a few nights back and I have something in the oven right now that I plan on writing up for you all!
{Am I turning into a recipe blog? hehe}

Today we are talking Pizza and it doesn't get much better than this!!

Here is what you will need to make this oh so healthy goodness!
Don't let the ingredient list scare you, it is easy and you will have the spices in your cabinet and if not just leave one out! It will be A-O.K.

A pre made Pizza Dough

{if you are going 100% organic, preservative free you can get good ones at 

Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, but Pillsbury also makes a great one in the tube}

*For the pizza sauce*

15 cherry tomatoes

{use cherry because they have less of that slimy stuff}

1/2 tsp Oregano

1/2 tsp of Morajam 

1/2 tsp of Basil

1 clove of minced Garlic

Salt

A 1/2 tsp of Sugar

1 tbs butter softened

1 tbs of parmesan cheese 

*Toppings*

Mushrooms

Bell Peppers

Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Cheese 

Salt and Pepper

{whatever you like!}

Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients for the pizza sauce in a food processor and blend until well pureed and set aside.

Step 2: Spread your pizza dough out on a cookie sheet

{I always grease it}

Step 3: Saute your toppings of mushrooms, peppers, and anything else you add on there.

Step 4: Spread you sauce on the dough

Step 5: Put the sautéed toppings on the pizza and top with the ever so yum mozzarella cheese and parmesan!  

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. 

I always finish with a few minute on low broil to get some bubbly cheese!

Enjoy!!!

Pasta Bean Salad

Another Recipe?

I feel like my life has been rather boring lately and for that I apologize, but I have had some serious creative juices flowing in the food and recipe category. So why not share right?

This Recipe is called "PBS" because while eating our dinner last night, I asked Ryan what this meal should be called and he said that it should be called PBS, which would stand for pasta bean salad, because it is a mixture of, well all of those ingredients.

So here it is...

PBS - Pasta Bean Salad

1/2 Bag of Penne Pasta

1 can of white kidney beans {drained}

1 cup fresh spinach {medium chop}

15 cherry tomatoes {cut in half}

Skim milk or Olive oil for "sauce"

Feta Cheese

Parmesean Cheese

Garlic Salt {to taste}

Step 1: Boil and Drain the Pasta

Step 2: Heat the drained beans with small amount of water to keep from sticking

Step 3: Toss the Pasta with either 1/3 cup milk or 2 tbs olive oil over low heat

Step 4: Add in heated beans, fresh spinach, tomatoes, and garlic salt.

Serve and top with either or both cheeses!

Enjoy!

Super Easy

*I am sorry I didn't end up getting a good plated picture before it was devoured. 

Good sign I guess! 

Kale Chips Recipe *Warning may cause addiction

Kale Chips

Hey blogging friends! I have one EASY, and DELICIOUS snack you will not want to put down.

I am sure you have been hearing all about kale chips and maybe you have made them, but today was my first try at them, and lets be honest, Ryan and I at a whole pan of them straight out of the oven they were that good!

So how do you make them? 

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Ingredients:

1 large bunch of Kale

{I bought a large bag at the Raleigh Farmers Market}

1-2 TBS of Olive Oil

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

Step 1: Clean The Kale 

Dry with Salad Spinner or Paper Towels

Step 2: Cut Leaf away from Center Stem 

and Cut Leaves into Chip size pieces

Step 3: Spread the Kale "chips" over baking sheet 

and drizzle with Olive Oil and sprinkle with seasonings

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes!

Take them out and try them! 

YUM!

*hint: go easy on the salt because the leaves with shrink significantly, so you need less than what you think when you are salting them pre-cooking.

I hope you get to try this healthy snack soon and you enjoy this Sunday!