Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Crockpot Meatloaf


Ingredients


  • 2 lb. lean ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup Quaker oats
  • 1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
  • 8 tbsp. catsup or barbecue sauce

Directions

Reserve 2 Tbs. catsup. Combine beef, eggs, oats, soup mix and remaining catsup. Shape into a round loaf for crockpot or oblong for oven. Put in crock pot, or bread pan. Top with remaining catsup. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours, or 4-6 hours on high.
I cannot wait to update this post with the review of this recipe!
I found this recipe here.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

No-Bake Oatmeal Balls (Energy Balls)

This recipe is modified from the original recipe at Smashed Peas and Carrots!


No-Bake Energy Bites  - (makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup Old Fashion Rolled Oatmeal
1/2 cup Sun Butter (sunflower seed butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or Carob Morsels
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Gluten Free Vegetable Spinach Soup



Prep and cook time combined: 35 minutes

Ingredients:
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
2 med onions, diced
1 pound carrots, sliced
1 whole celery, diced
4 cloves of garlic , diced ( additional)
1 med-large yellow squash
1 med- large green squash
1 pkg mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup olive oil for sauteing
1 bag fresh baby spinach, washed
8 cups of vegetable broth ( Paula uses 2 pkg. Imagine Brand organic vegetable broth)

Saute tomatoes, onions and first 3 cloves of garlic in a T of olive oil in a large skillet on a low flame until the three ingredients mingle nicely and onions are a little soft. Add all the chopped vegetables except for the spinach and slowly saute in olive oil until tender. Add the room temperature vegetable broth to the vegetables bring to a boil, turn down the heat to a simmer; add spinach and allow to wilt. Turn off heat cover and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes before serving. Taste and add additional salt, pepper or spices if desired ( it will depend on the broth that you used)

copied from: Gluten Free A-Z Blog

Monday, February 27, 2012

Tomato Spinach Soup

Got this recipe from Taste of Home website.  The recipe is very similar to the recipe I used last year.  I can;t seem to find where I posted it online so, here is another!

Prep: 15 min.     Cook: 45 min. 

Ingredients 

2 large yellow onions, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 quart water
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 cups loosely packed spinach leaves
Grated Parmesan or shredded cheddar cheese, optional


Directions

In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute onions in oil over medium heat for 10 minutes or until tender. Add the next eight ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in spinach; simmer for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Garnish individual servings with cheese if desired.

Yield: 8-10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

Nutritional Facts
1 serving (1 cup) equals 

Calories       58 
Fat                 3 g
Cholesterol    0
Sodium      575 mg  
Carbs            7 g
Fiber             2 g
Protein          2 g

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Roasted Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Nutritional Info
Calories: 143.4
Fat: 10.8g
Carbs: 1g
Protein: 9.4g

Ingredients
1 cup    - Cauliflower, frozen, cooked, riced,
1 lrg      - Egg, fresh
1 cup    - Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp  - Fennel
1 tsp     - Oregano
2 tsp     - Parsley
sm amt  - Virgin Olive Oil


Directions

  1. Preheat oven at 450
  2. Place cauliflower in oven and roast for 20-25 minutes allow to cool.
  3. Rice or finely chop the cauliflower. You can also grate it if that is easier. 
  4. Beat egg, add cauliflower, and shredded cheese and mix. 
  5. Press into a pizza pan brushed with olive oil. For individual pizzas, quarter the mix and press into olive oil brushed smaller pans to make individual servings.  
  6. In a separate bowl mix fennel, oregano and parsley.
  7. Sprinkle spice mix on the pizza crusts.
  8. Bake at 450 
    • 1 crust 12-15 min
    • 1 lrg crust doubled ingredients 15-20 min
    • 4 small 10-15 min
  9. Remove from oven, add desired toppings (not included in nutritional info above) 
    • Red sauce
    • mushrooms
    • green peppers
    • onions
    • cheese, etc.
  10. Bake again until brown and cheese is bubbly.
  11. slice pizza into 4 or 8 slices.
Serves: 4

Meal Planning? I need some help!

I've started thinking meal planning might be my best option to stay on track with my diet and to be sure my family is eating the best possible meals when we are together! I also thought it would help out with the availability of left overs for work lunches.  Now, to find out how I should accomplish this task.

I really want to find a computer program that tracks nutritional values as well as the meal plans.  Does anyone out there have an suggestions.  Google is a great option but, I haven't found what I am looking for yet! And, when I do, it's a monthly charge.  I don't have the money to pay for one so, I continue to look!

Does anyone else family meal plan?