a hello...and a super yummy and simple healthy recipe :)

So, it's not my Nana's pot roast recipe yet.....but I did just whip this up for lunch and decided it was blog worthy because of it's simplicity, AND after hearing Elizabeth's...."Mmmmmm, this is so good, Mom."

After a week of a completely blessed and thankful vacation to the sand and sea, and a hectic week while Tim was away prior to that; our "diet" of choice has been one not to brag about.....

Honestly, the last 8 weeks or so, we've slacked on the healthy eating and I'm feeling it through my whole body...mind and soul included.


So, I told the family that we were back at it, so better get ready. It's hard to eat clean when you're so busy.....BUT, it's not the cooking on the hard part...it's the preparation for the week, so that you don't "do easy" and "cheat"..... Those Buy One Get One frozen pizzas look mighty easy and cheap, but is it good for you....I'll let you decide.

So I had some ground chicken that I was going to use for dinner tonight and just ran up to the little grocery down the road for some fresh green beans and decided to use a little of both for a quick and healthy lunch for Lizzy and myself...


Again, since I wasn't planning on blogging it, you only get the finished product and none of the cooking. It truly is simple and you can whip it up in 15mins.

Ingredients-and I don't measure if I'm not planning to record it, so you might have to adjust a tad..

1lb of FRESH green beans (snap the ends off)
1/3lb ground chicken
1 chopped green onion
1 generous tsp of curry powder
salt to taste (about 1 tsp)
olive oil (drizzle)
coconut milk
toasted almonds


I heated the oil in the pan while snapping my green beans and added them as I snapped. Then I immediately added my chicken , salt and curry powders. On med-high heat, I stirred and tossed until chicken was done (white in the middle- easy to tell with ground chicken. about 5-7mins)

I then added my onion and drizzled with coconut milk until I had the chicken mixture coated. I didn't want a "soupy" mix, just kind of "dressed", cut heat down to low, stir it to completely coat the beans and chicken,  put a lid on it and walk away for a few minutes.

Serve it up with some toasted almonds (lightly salted)-


And enjoy your "clean" and healthy meal :) Serves 2 (FYI- I think this would be delicious served cold, so the left overs are going in a mason jar to school tomorrow for the big girl's lunch)

I've changed my menu tonight and decided this was just too easy not to repeat! I 've got a meeting at supper time, so this would be super easy to prepare for the fam before heading out. I'll be tripling the recipe tonight but might only do 2 tsp of curry powder. If you love curry, then add to taste :)


I'd love to hear your feed back.... Do my recipes help you busy peeps out there? What would you like to see more of? Comment below, or on FB if you have a suggestion or say "keep 'em coming!"...



I brought the "real" camera out on our beach trip, along with the phone one.... Enjoy some of the pics below.

Our girlies are growing up and sweet, little Hope will be ONE YEAR OLD next month! Our girls make me smile. Happy Monday!

Mini-version of the best BLT....E.V.E.R.

this is from the archives, but I was craving this yesterday and decided to give it a little twist by turning it mini....aka: bite size (well, maybe double bites unless you have a big mouth...)....

Follow the recipe below- but buy you a crusty baguette (sliced on a pretty diagonal) and drizzle with olive oil for toasting, change out your lettuce with arugula, cut your avocado smaller, and crumble your bacon on top.  And you will come out with these pretties......

Enjoy this Summertime BLT!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

you're welcome.

If you don't try this, then you might be crazy. If you do, then you will thank me for the rest of your life........







The best BLT...... E.V.E.R.


first step...... my SIL's inspiration...

your mayo. scoop about two spoonfuls of mayo in a small bowl. add your basil (chopped...I used about 8-10 very small leaves).....

 give it a whip, add plastic wrap to cover and pop in the fridge until serving....

my kiddos eat these cherry tomatoes like candy. We buy multiple packs per week. Take 3 large handfuls and if they are this large, slice in half......

Add them to a small skillet, sprinkle with salt and crank the heat to med high for about 4-5 mins..

Let me introduce you to my friend.....

 

 

I bought her on accident, and I will admit, it was the best accident I ever made; besides the one when I got preggo with my second child when my first child was only 8 weeks old......

 

 

 add about 1/4 cup of my friend to your tomatoes, and let it hang out on a simmer for about 3-4 mins..

okay people, BLT's on white bread only. I'm sorry, only sour dough can substitute in my book. This is my Nana's braided bread recipe. Maybe one day when I feel really adventurous I might blog the process of making it. I finally mastered it, and smells of sweet memories fill my home when making it. Slice it up and lightly butter for the toasting....

Your kitchen will then be the popular hang out spot, because it will lure every living creature within smelling distance because of these....

bacon, oh bacon, how I love you. we've got different opinions in our house. Crispy crunchy, fatty, a little of both. Make it the way you like it...(I vote a little crispy)

toast these guys under your broiler.....

and you are ready to plate!

 

spread one side with the basil mayo.....

Add a big scoopful of tomatoes....

 we add avocado slices, because......well, do I even need to say why ;)

top with a couple slices of bacon....

and your lettuce...

No picture of me adding the top slice of bread. As you can see it is stacked pretty high. The next part is the best, but not the prettiest. Add your top slice, smash and devour this yummy goodness.

Seriously, your sanity will be questioned if you don't try this.


Enjoy!

because it's a favorite :)

 I'm digging this post out from May 2012, because I just made this dip a few minutes ago, and I can't tell you how many times I get asked for the recipe on this. So here you go!

Enjoy!



This is what you will need....

once again, I smile thinking about how she arranged the cans, and tilted the bowl. I think, the merchandising, "shop baby" is coming out :)


Open your Black Beans, drain and rinse.

Add your two cans of white shoe peg corn (drained), black beans, and 2 Tablespoons (heaping) of Sugar to a bowl.

Add 5 Green Onions (chopped), 1/2 cup of Balsamic Vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of Olive Oil.

Mix together.....

Then add 8oz of Goat cheese in large clumps. (you can add feta, but I recommend goat) very gently fold in, so you don't completely smoosh all the cheese....

Refrigerate before serving. Serve with Frito's, and even the people that don't like goat cheese, tell me they love this!

and remember this dip??? Yep, it's totally awesome this way as well!

Happy Weekend Y'all!!

more food....

I've mentioned briefly before, that I was on an "eat clean challenge", that started Feb 1st. I went off the challenge about 8 weeks in and decided it had already kind of taken over my eating habits anyway....


I started reading food labels more and realizing just how much "junk" gets added to our food....Like even a jar of Banana Peppers at the grocery store has yellow FOOD COLORING to make them....well, YELLOW...ugh.

I've had some peeps ask me what I eat so here's a VERY quick and easy, everybody will love, recipe!

You will need- 2lbs of stir fry meat  (or you can slice your own)

Let it hang out for a few in about-

1/2tsp salt
2 green onions chopped
1 jalapeno pepper (we like it hot, so I normally keep half the seeds
about 2 tbls of fresh Ginger chopped
2 Tbls of Dijon Mustard
1/3 cup of Organic Soy sauce

Start your boiling water for your Organic Whole Wheat Couscous (found at Publix..about $10 for a tub of it)...and boil as directed. I use 4 cups water and 2 cups Couscous and about 1 tsp salt. (I let the water get to a raging boil, whisk in Couscous, put a lid on it and turn off heat. Don't open lid or stir again until serving.) Takes about 5mins to cook

While the meat is "seasoning", get your peppers (I use about 4 sweet minis) chopped and in a hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil and let them hang out for a couple minutes before the snow peas join them...

add your snow peas (a little less then a pound was used for this) and sautee' for about 3mins...

crank up the heat to the highest setting and add your meat mixture and ALL the liquid...It should sizzle when it hits the pan...

Toss for about 3-5 mins. Don't over cook. I like mine Medium Rare so meat isn't tough....

I've been trying to add extra protein where I can, so I add a can of (rinsed and drained) black beans at the very end and let them cook just a minute on high heat...

 Serve it up on top of your Couscous and Enjoy!

Serves 5-6

Happy Thursday, Peeps! Hope to see you around here again soon!