Recipes tied

I meant to post this Monday when I posted that Tamale pie was the winner for the week. Really Tamale pie and Ken's favorite red potatoes TIED!!! So I my the decision and shared the Tamale pie. This week the potatoes are again an option for votes. My niece is here and really wanted those potatoes so I made them again for her! If you voted for them last week and want them to win---VOTE for roasted potatoes!
(I secretly want them to win)

Tamale Pie is the WINNER

Tamale Pie WINS the most votes! This is an awesome recipe that Ken requests often! I've also made it for a few friends as a "Congrats on your new baby" meal!  Its simple and easy to keep all the ingredients on hand. Try it out and let me know your opinions!

Tamale Pie

1 lb. ground turkey/beef

1/2 white onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 c. corn, canned or frozen

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can enchilada sauce or tomato sauce

1 tsp. cilantro and cumin

S & P

Corn bread batter, 1 small Jiffy box mix or according to corn meal directions

1. Brown ground turkey in skillet until no longer pink. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5 additional minutes.

2. Transfer meat mixture and ALL the remaining ingredients to crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours OR bake at 375 for 1 hour.

3. Mix together corn bread batter and pour on top of ground meat mixture (do not stir in- just let it sit on top) Place lid back on crock pot and cook for aprox. 1 hour OR bake according to corn bread recipe. Corn bread should be cook all the way through.

4. Serve w sour cream, hot sauce, additional cheese etc.

Nutritional Info: serving = 1/8 of pie

9 WW pts

Ca: 436

Fat: 13g

Fiber:10g

Protein:26g



Pictures of recipes this week

Do any of these pictures make you want to VOTE or change your vote :)

Ken's FAVORITE potatoes



Chicken Panini




Tamale Pie



Beef Stroganoff is the Winner this Week!

Beef Stroganoff, Julified WINS!
I got this recipe from my mom years ago.I, of course, "Julified" it though!

Tips while browning

1- 1 1/4 lb. sirloin tips
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 pkge fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. beef broth
2 tsp. dry onion
1/4 c. white wine vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp corn starch
1/2 c. fat free half & half
1/2 c. fat free sour cream
1 tbsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
cooked whole wheat pasta

 1. In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown tips in olive oil
2. Transfer to crock pot or baking dish
3. In same skillet, saute mushrooms and garlic. Pour over meat.
4. Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours OR cook on low heat in crock pot for 4-6 hours.
5. In skillet combine broth, vinegar, soy sauce, worchestershire sauce and dried onion. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 5 minutes, it will reduce greatly!
6. In a separate bowl combine mustard, corn starch, half and half, sour cream and spices.
7. Combine cream mixture w broth mixture. (Bc the cream products are fat free they are more likely to curdle. To prevent this let broth mixture cool slightly and temper cream mixture instead of adding all at once)
8. Drain and discard any juices that accumulated from meat while baking. Pour cream sauce over meat
9. Serve over cooked whole wheat pasta

Gyros WIN!

Yet again, You all surprised me! Gyros received the most votes this week! And I even told you they weren't healthy! Shame on YOU! ;)

Gyros
1 lb. ground lamb
1 lb. ground beef,extra lean
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp. each: salt, pepper, marjoram, cumin, parsley and rosemary leaves (1/2 tsp. if using ground rosemary)
1 clove garlic, finely minced

-Preheat oven to 325
1. Put chopped onion in food processor and blend until paste like. Place onion in a kitchen towel or paper towel and gather corners. Squeeze until all liquid drains.
2. Combine blended onion, lamb, beef and all seasonings. Mix until well until combined.
3. Press and form into an UN greased bread pan. (Be sure to really press to compact it)
4. Bake for about 1 hour or until temperature reaches 165.
5. Poor off excess fat (and there will be quite a bit) Allow to cool before slicing into very thin strips!
- Serve in a warm pita w Tzatziki tomatoes, onions, and/or pepperoncini

Nutritional Info: 3 thin slices (Entire recipe makes aprox. 20 slices)

Cal: 261
Fat: 19g
Carb: 1g
Fiber:0
Protein: 21g


Tzatziki Sauce:
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced ( I put mine through the food processor to shred it)
2 tsp. salt, divided
2 c. Greek yogurt
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 tbsp. mint, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
zest from lemon
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1. Toss cucumber in 1 tsp. salt and place in a colander to allow to drain any excess liquid. Aprox. 30 min.
2. Combine all ingredients, including the other tsp. of salt and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
(Sorry no nutritional info on this recipe. My program didn't have a few of the ingredients like Greek yogurt! I couldn't believe it!)

Mother's Intuition

There is nothing like the LOVE from my baby!!! Last night she woke crying. I laid there thinking "She'll go back to sleep. I can't go in there, she'll want to nurse!!! (On top of trying to get her sleeping through the night I'm also weaning her) If I go in there I'll ruin all these nights that I've been working on. She was doing so good. What do I do? What do I do??" Yes, I really do lay thinking all that....

But her crying continued and got louder. It makes me so sad to hear her cry like that. I couldn't handle it. I decided if I had to nurse her, Oh well. We'd start over tomorrow w the weaning process!
So I went to her rescue. She was so relieved that I FINALLY came. I scooped her up and she melted onto me. She had moany cry which I know means she is in pain. She also kept touching her mouth and then would cry louder! I think she is getting a tooth on top of a pesky cold!  She just needed to be consoled. She just stared up at me.Would you believe she DID NOT want to nurse? I was shocked!  As I rocked her, I started to feel a lil guilty for not getting her sooner. I know I know, she won't remember any of it. I have always put so much pressure on myself to do things "RIGHT" and not to start "BAD" habits w her. Some days the "cry it out" method works for us (Recently, I've let her cry several nights and it works. She falls asleep wi 10 minutes usually) But nights like last night prove to me that a Mother's intuition is correct! I somehow knew she needed me as opposed to just wanting me!
Disclaimer: I know w #s 2,3,4,5,6 etc. things might be different. But right now- She is my 1 and only. I have ALL the time in the world for her ;)

PARDON MY DUST

When you visit my page you'll notice some changes. Just trying to spice up my blog and make it more appealing. So, I apologize if it looks confusing or it items aren't matching up perfectly!

Thai Chicken WINS this week!

Before sauce was added




While sauce was simmering

 

Finished!

I made this recipe up when I had leftover coconut milk from a cake I had made. (Check that recipe out here) This time I served it over whole wheat linguine but rice is yummy too! This recipe is great for substituting ingredients. Don't feel like you have to have everything to make this. Examples: No sesame seed oil? Use just olive oil or peanut oil! No red bell pepper? Use just green! No scallions? Use white or yellow! Get creative!

Thai Chicken
2 chicken breasts, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 c. scallions, chopped (I am an HUGE fan of scallions. You may want to only add 3/4 c.- 1/2 c.)


Marinade=
4 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp sesame seed oil
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, smashed
S & P
dash of cayenne pepper
-Combine ALL ingredients & chicken in a medium bowl. Let sit for 30-60 minutes


Sauce=
3/4 c. coconut milk
2 Tbsp sesame seed oil
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp peanut butter (I used natural chunky. Love the peanut bits through out the meal)
1/2 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
-Combine all ingredients in medium bowl


-Stir fry scallions and peppers in a wok w aprox. 1 Tbsp olive oil aprox. 3 minutes. (They should still be crisp bc they will continue to cook w chicken and once sauce is added)
-Remove chicken from marinade and discard liquid. Stir fry chicken in wok aprox 5 minutes
- Add sauce and over high heat bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Sauce will thicken and reduce greatly. Aprox. 10 minutes.
- Serve over linguine or rice

My baby is a Mommy!

My Great Aunt gave MaeMae this baby doll at Christmas. She LOVES this baby. It makes a couple sounds and says "Mama". Mae giggles every time. She holds this baby and kisses it. She puts it over her shoulder and pats her back. Its so sweet! Yesterday, MaeMae was playing on the floor and started yelling and whining. I looked to see what was wrong and she could see this baby in her pac-n-play but couldn't get her. So she was hollering for her baby. She was thrilled when I reunited her w her baby!

 Thanks Aunt Pat for this baby :)

This is our Weekend

Friday: Today I really really wanted to go on a walk w Sweet Pea & Bailey. It's suppose to be 63 degrees but also rain rain rain, all day long :( Yesterday, we went walking for 1 hour it was so fun. Grandview Dr. is beautiful! So instead, we will probably stay inside all day. I'll clean, catch up on laundry and make dinner (tuna cakes and roasted brussel sprouts). Don't forget to VOTE for the recipe you want me to share....
Saturday: Ken has studying to do at the library bc midterms are next week for him. Baby and I are going to make a test cake for her 1st birthday....Ahhh, NO! Wait, I'm sooo not ready for her to be 1 :(
And the high temp is only suppose to be 36!! What? 63 on Friday and then 36 on Saturday? So I'm making a big batch of chicken and dumplings! Ken will be happy to come home from a day of studying to his favorite, soup! Ken is such a big fan of soup, he'd be happy if I made soup EVERY single day. Saturday evening will probably consist of Netflixs and popcorn :)
Sunday: We'll go to Church, of course! I am going to test another recipe for Miss Mae's 1st birthday! Hoping it turns out great because I'm excited to make it for others at her party. It seems every Sunday we are lazy. Don't do much....just the way we like it!

Not really an eventful weekend but perfect for us :) Have a blessed weekend!