“Big Mac” Meatloaf

Posted in Family Night, MEALS by

big mac

Ingredients

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

Combine egg, milk, bread crumbs, onion, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and salt, in a large bowl. Crumble ground beef over mixture and stir well to combine. Shape into a round loaf; place in a 5-quart slow cooker.

Cover and cook on Low until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), 5 to 6 hours.

5 minutes before serving layer cheese slices over meatloaf let cheese melt slightly

Remove from crock pot and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting

Serve with bun, lettuce ad 1000 island dressing

 

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Turkey Tortellini Soup

Posted in MEALS, Soup and Sandwiches by

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Ingredients

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
4 cups chopped roasted turkey breast
1 265ml can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1 9 ounce package refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 cups carrots chopped into bite size pieces
6 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions
1.In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker combine broth, the water, chopped turkey, tomatoes, carrots and Italian seasoning.

2.Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours. If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in tortellini. Cover and cook for 30 minutes more or until tortellini is tender.

3. If desired, sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese.

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Lemon Velvet Blueberry Pancakes

Posted in Breakfast, MEALS by

20140424-144803.jpgPancake Batter
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 package instant lemon pudding mix
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of milk
1 cup sweetened applesauce
2 eggs
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon lemon extract

For the frosting:
1/4 cup package cream cheese, room temperature
1/8 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
1/4 cup whole blueberries, pulverized in a blender
3/4 tsp teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, lemon pudding, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in milk, apple sauce, eggs, oil and lemon. Mix until smooth.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

For the frosting:

In a large mixing bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and butter together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until soft, creamy, and combined thoroughly. Add pulverized blueberries and powdered sugar and beat until thick and combined. Add vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes. Add more powdered sugar until frosting is desired thickness

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Apple Pie

Posted in DESSERTS, Sweet and Easy by

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Ingredients:
1 frozen deep double pie shell – Yes do the easy thing
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
8  apples – sliced

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.

3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

So Easy Sloppy Joe

Posted in Family Night, MEALS by

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Ingredients

500 grams ground beef
small onion, diced
1  cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Mustard
splash of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 Buns

Directions

Start by browning the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat. Drain off the fat.

Add in the  onions. Stir, and then add  the ketchup . Stir it around to combine, and then add  mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine, and then cover and simmer over medium-low heat, about 10 minutes.

To serve, spread the rolls with the butter and brown them on a griddle or in a skillet. Spoon a good amount of the meat mixture onto the bottom roll, and then top with the other half. Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Serve with chips, salad or just enjoy it by itself.

 

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Healthy Caramel Apple Smoothie

Posted in Drinks and Smoothies, MIXOLOGY by

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1 Large/ 2 Medium apples, cored, chopped and frozen
3/4 C- 1 C Vanilla Almond Milk
1 Tbsp Raw Almond Butter
3 dates, pitted and chopped
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 Tbsp Coconut Sugar
1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseeds

Oven Baked Chicken Kabobs

Posted in Family Night, MEALS by

Oven Baked Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

12 wooden skewers
4 extra large boneless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1/4 cup Russian salad dressing
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 -3 small zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
16 ounces whole fresh mushrooms
2 -3 assorted bell peppers, cut into chunks
1 large red onion, cut into chunks
1 -2 lb mini baby red potato, sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
1 pint small tomato

Directions

  1. Soak 12 wooden skewers in water overnight so they won’t burn in the oven.
  2. Place uncooked cubed chicken in a 9×13 pan.
  3. Mix all marinate ingredients together (soy sauce, Russian dressing, sesame seeds, lemon juice, garlic powder, ground ginger) and brush over chicken (use all of the marinate sauce). Cover with wrap and place in refrigerator. Allow to marinate 4-6 hours, save the marinate sauce as you will be using it later to baste the kabobs.
  4. Cut up all veggies in to 1/2″ slices or chunks ( not the baby tomatoes or whole mushrooms).
  5. Alternate your assorted veggies on the skewers with the marinated meat. fill those skewers! the more on the skewer, the more satisfied you will be. we find two (2) skewers per person is more than enough.
  6. Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees.
  7. Place skewers on greased jelly roll pans (i use Pam spray) or any lipped baking pans to catch any drippings. approximately 5-6 kabobs should fit on each pan depending on the pan size and skewer length. baste each skewer with the marinate sauce — use it all up!
  8. Place the basted skewers in the pre-heated 450 degree oven on the center rack. bake for 10 minutes, turn over once. bake for 10-15 minutes longer (20-30 minutes maximum of baking time total depending on size of chicken chunks). check chicken on a few of the skewers to make sure it is thoroughly cooked; also, if using potatoes, check them for doneness.  If chicken is not completely cooked, bake an additional 5-10 minutes longer than noted above.
  9. Remove the kabobs from the oven and let sit a few minutes. serve with a side of wild rice and mixed greens salad. kabob photo