Moroccan Beef Stew

We (by that I mean me) like the family (with exception to my picky self) to try new things. =-)

This time it was a Moroccan Beef Stew. The boys weren't so sure about it I think as they saw the apricots sitting on the stove re-hydrating. In the end though it was two thumbs up from all 3 of them (hubby and the two boys). They really enjoyed it, wasn't to sweet they said. 

Moroccan Beef Stew (Pressure cooker)

Ingredients:

1 - large sweet onion (sliced thin)

2 garlic cloves (crushed or sliced) - if you don't have any fresh you can use dry garlic

1-1/2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp saffron threads

1 cup dried apricots, soaked in hot water for at least 30 minutes, drained

Topping:

Sesame seeds (optional)

Directions:

Spread the onion and garlic in the pressure cooker bottom. Rinse the beef cubes and add them to the pot. Then add the olive oil, cinnamon, salt, pepper, turmeric, and saffron to the pot. Stir it all together. Place the lid on and lock it. Cook for 12 minutes on pressure. In the meantime, in a glass measuring cup, place 1 cup of dried apricots. Cover with water, and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Remove, and set aside to let the fruit re-hydrate.

Once the meat has come to pressure, quick release the pressure. Remove the lid carefully once it is done, add the apricots and cook for another 12 minutes. Make the rice or couscous at this time. 

Serve hot, over couscous or rice, top with sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Homemade Tortellini Soup

It is one of those things, to covet and enjoy on a cold day or hot day! Tortellini soup is one of my families favorites. I have a great recipe and it is easy to make too. TJ is Trader Joe's, we love them!

Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

1 box of Trader Joe's tomato soup (for those without a TJ, you need 16oz of a tomato soup, either you make it or use condensed - if condensed you must add water, just fill up the two cans)

1 jar of TJ's Julienne Sun dried tomatoes - optional

2 tbls Olive Oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 pint (2 cups) heavy whipping cream (you can use milk or half and half, it just won't be as rich tasting)

1 tbls Oregano

1 tbls Basil

1 tsp Onion powder

1 tsp Garlic Powder (or 2 garlic cloves)

2 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth

1 bag of TJ Tortellini Pasta

Topping:

Parmesan cheese

Directions:

If you are using garlic cloves, put them in the pot first with the olive oil, if not add all but the noodles into the pot with the exception of the Parmesan cheese that is for the top. Bring to a boil, add pasta (use directions on the pacakge). 

Serve up in a bowl with some Parmesan cheese topped on it. YUMMY Enjoy!!!!

From Scratch/Homemade "Hamburger Helper" Cheesy Mac & Cheese Burger

My husband and kids love this! To make it Veg'n you just need to add a meat alternative. Super quick and easy to make. I had all the spices, milk already on hand, meat in freezer. 

From Scratch/Homemade "Hamburger Helper" Cheesy Mac & Cheese Burger

Prep Time: 2 minutesCook Time: 15 minutesTotal Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Makes 4-6 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 2 1/2 cups milk

• 1 1/2 cups hot water

• 2 cups macaroni (I use Trader Joe's Elbow Noodles)

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 teaspoon paprika

• 1 tablespoon chili powder /caynenne pepper *Optional (I don't use it)

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, brown until cooked thoroughly. Drain any fat. Add the pasta, milk, water and spices and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to simmer. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is Al Dente. Add the cheese and stir to combine. Serve immediately.

Until Later...

Vanilla Coffee Creamer...

My husband loves the International Delights French Vanilla Coffee creamer, but boy is that stuff expensive! So I set out to make him some. I asked him do you like it milk consistency or thicker. He said thicker, eyeing me and says "Are you making me creamer?!" I told him I was because he was out and didn't want to go to the store. I mean come on how hard can this be? I make all our own bread, buns, instant oatmeal packs, etc.

Vanilla Coffee Creamer

1 qt mason jar
1 1/2 cups milk or half and half or whipping cream (use combinations of one or the other depending on the consistency you like!)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tbls vanilla *if you don't want vanilla you could use other flavorings*

Put all the ingredients into the mason jar and shake very well! Every time you use it shake it. Lasts two weeks in the fridge!

Watching your weight or calorie intake, use skim milk, and low fat sweetened condensed milk (green wrapper on the can).

Until later...

Chicken Salad Wraps

Kids are always complaining they don't want the same things over and over, well OK sometimes they do. I am not the adventurous type when it comes to eating. I was and am the PICKY eater. That being said, I have always encouraged my children to do the two bite rule or even just try something new. 

I came up with these Kid approved Chicken Salad Wraps (hubby approved too). I give a variety of options in the recipe. What I used this time was apples, cranberries  and celery. I put chips, pickles and carrots on the side. I also gave them a fruit snack. My kids are healthy eaters, and if they didn't SEE veggies (not just mixed in, oh and lots of them) they would have been griping! 

Chicken Salad Wraps

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded/cut up, cooked chicken

1/3 cup "something crunchy" (celery, apple, radishes, pickle slices or a combo)

1/4 cup mayonnaise/Veganaise (or plain yogurt)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Wraps (you can use tortillas, buns, rolls, or whatever you have on hand)

Optional - Onions - 1 scallion or 1/4 small red onion, chopped

Directions:

Mix shredded/cut up chicken, the "something crunchy," and mayonnaise/Veganaise (or yogurt) together until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Evenly fill the wraps (can use buns, rolls, or whatever you have on hand) with the salad mix.

PB Banana Smoothie

I was looking for something to snazz up the lunches for the kids on Fridays. We are really tired of the hum drum same things. I came across a recipe for a PB Banana smoothie, personally I hate PB but my kids and hubby love it! I thought OK we shall see. While I was on her site, I came across smoothie frozen pop molds that are reusable! I was super excited! They look like the ones from the Jolly Llama my favorite frozen pop (which I am making on my own...in another post that will be coming up we will go over it). Kids and hubby enjoyed it immensely! (It went too fast, no pic right now. LOL)

Without further ado...

Ingredients:

1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup peanut butter
1-2 bananas
1 cup frozen (or fresh**) berries (I used frozen strawberries)
**If using fresh berries use 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice

(Optional) For fun you can add 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream.

Instructions:

Use the smoothie option on your blender or blend up until mixed if you don't.

Serve cold!

Original Post: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/11/recipe-pbj-smoothie/

To use the frozen pop molds, or any pop mold just pour it in and freeze!



Frozen pop molds:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036B9KHO/?tag=100dayofreafo-20

Chicken Enchilada Chili

I was looking for something new to cook for the family. I don't eat meat and I am super picky, so I went to the best website for crock pot recipes "A Year of Slow Cooking". I stumbled upon Chicken Enchilada Chili, the mere sound of it to the family made their mouths drop and water! They said "YES! THAT!"

The only thing I did was change the cooking style...I used a pressure cooker on high for 9 mins (also used it to cook the chicken prior). Pictured below is recipe I made.

I topped it with cheese (was going to use sour cream but it was frozen, thanks to the back of the fridge), you could top with olives too. I just used what I had.

Man and kids approved!

Here is a link to the original post:
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2010/01/enchilada-chicken-chili.html