Chili

Chili

Sometimes, you need to work with the ingredients at hand!  Like these days when a quick trip to the grocery store is just not in the cards... whenever.  Planning ahead and purchasing needed groceries for 8- 10 days is a new norm for us.  It is working, though.  Sometimes, an ingredient is not in the fridge, so it is just skipped or substituted.  That was the case with Friday night's dinner. 

Chili "did its thing" in my Slow Cooker.  It cooked itself!  The ingredients were in the cooking pot simmering.  Usually, I use Ground Turkey when making Chili, but we enjoyed it with Ground Beef.  There was no Green Pepper to be found in my fridge, so half of the Diced Tomatoes were placed in the Slow Cooker's pot, first.  Then, the browned Ground Beef was added in.

Chili is so delicious any time of year with Ground Turkey or Ground Beef.  After dinner the extra portions were placed in a freezer container ready to be defrosted/ enjoyed at a later date.  It is so easy to prepare in a Slow Cooker! 

My complete Directions for Chili are here!    

There were a couple of changes when preparing it, but two things did not change.  We had the rye bread. We also added a dollop of Sour Cream on top of our serving of Chili.  It was so good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"
Some were placed in the Tomato Sauce
Others were frozen

For the past year we've been eating less beef.  Really!  As a matter of fact it's not found very often on our grocery list.  In the warmer months, occasionally, we enjoy a yummy grilled cheeseburger.  But that's a treat on a HHH summer day.  I've been using lean Ground Turkey in many dishes where I would have used Ground Beef in the past.

A few days ago we enjoyed Turkey Meatball Grinders with low fat mozzarella cheese & sauteed Green Pepper strips.  Yes, a salad too.  Oh yum!  What a great tasting dinner! 

A one pound package of lean Ground Turkey yields about 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs.  There were extras to freeze & have for dinner on future nights.

• I use Egg Whites rather than Whole Eggs whenever I can while cooking. 
  (2 Egg Whites = 1 Whole Egg.)  
• For me quite often, Soy Milk is a replacement for Milk.  
• My Spice Rack contains the herbs.  :)            

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Oven Temperature:  375°F          Baking Time:  28- 30 Minutes 

Ingredients:

1 Pound (16 ounces) lean Ground Turkey
3/4 Cups unseasoned Bread Crumbs
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 Egg Whites
1/2 Cup Milk  (I use Soy Milk.)
1 Tablespoon dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Basil
1/4 teaspoon dried Chopped Onion
1/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix together- combining well.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F.
4. Cover a cookie pan with aluminum foil.
5. Spray foil with PAM.
6. Make 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs & place evenly on cookie pan.
7. Bake for 28- 30 Minutes in a 375°F oven. 
8. Remove from pan.

Each "Meatball" is moist, deliciously flavored & tastes so good in a toasted grinder roll that's filled with mozzarella cheese, sauteed peppers & tomato sauce.

The extra "Meatballs" freeze very well, too!  These are also so good served over spaghetti!

Do you prepare Baked "Turkey Meatballs"?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup
Portions ready for the freezer!

Oh, it is a bit chillier in the AM these days!  It happens every October, but I'm never prepared for the sudden need to wear a jacket when taking the daily walk.  My Marigold & Zinnia seeds are stored away to plant next spring, so it's probably time to take out more of the long sleeved jerseys.  Thinking of those long sleeves brings the thought of a hearty soup at dinner time!  A soup that contains a few colorful veggies like tomatoes, spinach & carrots with rice.

Two years ago my large Dutch Oven would contain a yummy Sausage Soup.  Alas, that was 2 years ago.  Now, I'm keeping cholesterol in mind even more than before.  I've learned that my yummy Sausage Soup tastes mighty good when I substitute browned/ drained Ground Turkey for the browned/ drained Sausage!  Add more spices into the pot when this soup is simmering and it's oh so good!!!  So good, that yesterday I was searching for it in our freezer.  Well, that quick JG Take Out Meal was not to be seen on any freezer shelf.  Looks like Ground Turkey needs to be added to my grocery list!

Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Turkey
4 cans (14.5 ounces each) College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can (14- 20 ounces) Dice or Whole Tomatoes, drained
1 box (8- 10 ounces) chopped frozen Spinach, thawed
1 Cup White Rice, uncooked
1 lb. Baby Carrots (rinsed)
1 pkg. (10- 14 ounces) defrosted Green Beans- optional
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
3/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Basil
1/4 Teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon dried Parsley

Method:

1. Brown Ground Turkey & drain.
2. Place in large pot or Dutch Oven.
3. Add remaining ingredients to pot.
4. Bring to a boil & reduce heat to simmer.
5. Simmer about 45- 60 minutes- until Rice has cooked.

Could this be any easier?  No!  Serve with a slice of Rye Bread.

After enjoying a bowl of this hearty soup at dinner, you'll notice there is a quantity left in the pot.  No problem here!  This soup freezes very well.  After the soup cools, I place 2 portions in freezer containers, date/ label.  Into the freezer they go.

There is nothing like searching for a quick dinner in my freezer on a cold day & finding this hearty soup.

***The Rice absorbs the liquid when the soup is cooling, so I add Chicken Broth when reheating to enjoy again.

***When reheating for 2 Servings-  I add almost 1 can (14- 20 ounces) of Chicken Broth into the sauce pot along with the soup.  It's yummy!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

Baked Taco Pie

Baked Taco Pie
 with Fat Free Sour Cream on Top

Scrolling through my Twitter feed a couple of weeks ago I spied an interesting recipe from Kraft Foods.  The foodie photo looked so good!  Scanning the ingredients I discovered we like each one!  It looked easy to prepare.  Even the name had the word easy in it!  Easy is good!  It didn't take long to decide this entree would be in our oven later in the week.  It was a Baked Taco Pie!

Tortillas & the filling mixture are layered before baking.  The best casserole baking dish I have to use here was my smaller square rose colored Pyrex baking dish.  That worked great!      

These days I'm substituting Ground Turkey for Ground Beef whenever possible in recipes.  Ohhh, cholesterol has a background with my family.  Genes play a role & choices also play a role! 

So, I've changed the original recipe a bit & we totally liked it!  Yes, servings remained after dinner & they seasoned very well for 2 days when we enjoyed this entree again for dinner.  Tortillas are layered here, so it is filling.  Try it, you'll like it!

Baked Taco Pie
          inspired by Kraft  Foods

Oven Temperature:  375°F        Time:  25- 30 Minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground Turkey
1 Tablespoon Chopped Onion (dehydrated)
1 teaspoon Chili Powder (more if desired)
Sprinkle of Dried Basil & Sprinkle of Dried Oregano
1 can (14.5 ounces) Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 pkg. (10 ounce) Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Corn, Carrots, Peas, Green Beans), thawed & defrosted
(5) 6 inch Tortillas
1 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheese
Low Fat Sour Cream

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Brown Ground Turkey in skillet, drain any fat.
3. Add Chopped Onions, Chili Powder, Dried Basil & Oregano to skillet, stir.
4. Add drained Diced Tomatoes & Corn Mixed Veggies, stir.
5. Cook for 5 Minutes.
6.  Spray casserole baking dish with PAM.
7. Place 1 Tortilla on bottom. 
8. Place 1/3 of filling mixture on top, spreading evenly.
9. Then, place 2 Tortillas on filling mixture.
10. Layer another 1/3 mixture on, topping with 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese.
11. Place 2 Tortillas on top, then filling & sprinkle on Shredded Cheese.
12. Bake 25- 30 Minutes in 375°F oven.
13. Cut & serve with Low Fat Sour Cream.

Tomorrow we will be enjoying a Chicken dish in my Slow Cooker!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

~Tasty Treats~

Tasty Treats

Are you baking a pie to enjoy tomorrow on Thanksgiving?  Do you have extra pie dough?  Use that extra dough!  Roll it out & bake a few Tasty Treats!  They are so yummy & filled with Craisins & Raisins!  Yum!

Tasty Treats

Time:  18- 20 Minutes            Oven:  350°F 

Ingredients:
Extra Pie Dough
Brown Sugar
Raisins
Craisins
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ground Cloves

Method:

1. Using a rolling pin roll out the extra pie dough.
2. Sprinkle on top 2- 3 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar.
3. Then sprinkle on Raisins & Craisins.
4. Find your Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Ground Cloves.  Sprinkle on top.
5. Then, starting from the opposite end, start rolling the pie dough towards you, by hand.
6. You will have a log.
7. Cut into about 1" slices.
8. Place on a cookie sheet & bake for 18- 20 minutes in a 350°F oven.
9. Cool on a rack.
10. Enjoy!   

What a delicious treat!
 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Beefy Asparagus

Beefy Asparagus

There was a definite chill in the air yesterday.  Opening the fridge door before dinner suddenly I saw a container of cooked rice & asparagus.  Now, these could very easily be labelled leftovers from tasty dinners earlier in the week.  To me, they were the beginning of preparing last night's dinner. 

Asparagus is a treat at this time of year & we always enjoy it when it is available.  Rice is plain delicious!  Add in Plum Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, browned ground beef & suddenly I was heading to my Spice Rack.  While preparing this colorful dish, it smelled so good!  The grains of Rice became nestled between pieces of Asparagus & Tomatoes.  Before I knew it dinner was ready.  Beefy Asparagus tasted so good!

Beefy Asparagus

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. Ground Beef or Ground Turkey - browned
about 1 and 3/4 cups cooked Rice
6- 7 cooked Asparagus stalks, cut into pieces
(1) can (15- 20 ounces) Plum Tomatoes, drained- cut into quarters.
(1) can (15 ounces) Tomato Sauce
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Basil
1/8 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Brown Ground Beef or Ground Turkey.  Drain.
2. In Dutch Oven or large pot combine all ingredients.
3. Heat about 25- 30 minutes, stirring often.
4. Enjoy!

Serve with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top!

What looked like leftovers in my fridge suddenly became a delicious dinner- served along with a fruit salad!  Try it, you'll like it- if you like Asparagus!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

Christmas Hermits

Hermits

Cloves!  Ginger!  Cinnamon and Molasses!  What a great combination in a dessert recipe.  The wonderful aroma in my kitchen was followed by tasting these ingredients... plus Raisins in a Hermit!  Oh Yum!  This is a great tasting cookie!

If you are searching for an easy to bake cookie recipe to share during the upcoming holidays, this is the recipe for you!  Hermits are a long time family fave.

This cookie is baked in a large cookie pan.  The stiff dough is separated into thirds.  Make a roll (log) with each third of the dough before placing in the cookie pan.  Flatten the roll - making sure the flattened rolls do not connect in the pan.  Then top each roll with the beaten reserved Egg Yolk.  This gives the Hermits the glossy topping after baking.

Before placing in oven.

 After baking, cool 15 minutes before cutting into slices on the diagonal.  The ends are usually very crispy, so I do not save them.

Ready for the taste test!

This is a delicious cookie to share with family & friends at Christmas!  However, no need to wait until this time of year.  Bake a batch to enjoy and to share any time.  They are soooo gooood!  

Hermits       printable Recipe Card
     Oven: 375°F     23- 25 Minutes

Ingredients:
¾ cup solid Crisco Shortening
1 and ½ Cups Sugar
¼ Cup Molasses
2 Tablespoons Water
2 Eggs – (Reserve about 1 teaspoon for coating)
1 Cup Raisins
3 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ginger
½ teaspoon Ground Cloves 

Method:

1. Using mixer, beat Shortening, Sugar, Molasses & Water. Beat until creamy.
2. Reserve about 1 teaspoon of Egg with a little Yolk. Add Eggs & beat.
3. Now add Baking Soda, Spices & Flour. Flour is added ¼ cup at a time and mixed into batter,  Otherwise you will be peering through a white mist. :)
4. Fold in Raisins using big spoon or spatula.
5. Spray PAM on a large cookie pan.
6. Divide dough into three pieces. Make three rows of dough on
   cookie pan, leaving about 1½ ” border on each end. Dough is very sticky.
7. Coat top with reserved Egg – use back of teaspoon to spread.
8. Bake in preheated 375°F oven for 23- 25 minutes (25 minutes in my gas oven).
9. Cool 15 minutes & cut into diagonals. I throw away end pieces- too hard after cooled.
10. Remove from cookie pan and store in a container after cooled.

This cookie containing Ground Cloves, Ginger & Cinnamon is delicious!  The Christmas baking has started!

Enjoy!
Yummy!