Recipe Tuesday:Quinoa, Turkey, Asparagus Bowl

Sometimes I get a wild hair up my a#* and make random meals.  I'm actually really good at just throwing things together without thinking about it.  Yesterday I was starving and needed some healthy food, so i threw this together and it was yummy and it made enough for 6 meals!

Quinoa, Turkey, Asparagus Bowl

1/2 cup quinoa-uncooked

1 cup water

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

1 lb ground turkey

a bundle of asparagus-you could use any vegetable

1 clove garlic

Mrs. Dash

Pepper

Put the quinoa, water and tomato sauce in a pan. Bring it to a boil then simmer until all the liquid is gone.  While that is cooking brown the turkey with the garlic.  Add the asparagus, spices and quinoa mixture together at the end.  This took 20 minutes and was so good and easy!

 

Pesto Spaghetti Squash

I found this on pinterest, didn't even look at the recipe because I know how to make pesto right?  Well I forgot an ingredient oops but it was an easy fix!  Pesto is so tasty and can be added to almost anything, veggies, meat, and pasta.  I have been trying to eat more vegetables and this is a great way to give it some flavor.

First I roasted the spaghetti squash.  You cut it in half, take out the seeds and put it in a 375 degree oven for 60-90 minutes.  Stick a fork in it and if it is soft it is ready.  Then just take a fork and scrape out the middle.  It looks a little like spaghetti (that's why it is called spaghetti squash duh).

Pesto

1 Cup Kale
1 Cup Spinach
1/2 Cup Pine Nuts(You can also use walnuts, or pecans)
1 clove garlic (add more if you like spice)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 Cup Parmesan (I forgot this one...oops)
3-5 TB Olive oil

I used my handy ninja to do this.  Just put all ingredients in the ninja/food processor except the olive oil, add a TB at a time until it is the consistency you want.

Look how bright that is, it just invites you to eat it:)

You can substitute the kale and spinach with basil if you want.  You can also freeze this in ice cube trays, or small plastic bags for later use.

30 Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup
6 Servings

1 Can Chicken Broth
1 Can Water
1 Can Diced Tomatoes (I used Muir Glen Fire Roasted-Yum)
1 Can Black Beans or 1 Cup Frozen
1 Cup Frozen Corn
1 Cup Shredded Chicken
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp Pepper
Crushed Tortilla Chips-optional
Cheese-optional

Combine Chicken broth, water, spices and tomatoes on high heat.  When it comes to a boil add Beans, Corn and Chicken. Let them cook for about 5 minutes.  Add cheese and tortilla chips to the top and eat away!

Ham and Kale Quiche

When I think of quiche I think...gross.  Ok so I used to.  A friend of mine mentioned that she made a bunch of pie crusts to put in the freezer and that she was making quiche out of them.  I gave her that "gross" look and she told me they don't have to be that way!  So I thought I would give it a try.  It was a good idea because man were we missing out!  Marcus even had seconds, that's when you know it is a keeper!  I made the Pioneer Woman's pie crust.  Took it out of the freezer last night.  I know she says not to thaw it too much but for me it was much easier to roll out.

I admit I didn't roll it out to it's full potential but for good reason.  I don't like burnt crust!  I know you can put foil around the edges and all that but this morning I was feeling a little bit lazy.  So it was lower than the top of my pie pan.  It didn't make a difference in the taste or affect the dish in any way.

Anyway Preheat the oven to 400 and put the crust in it for five minutes, otherwise it won't cook all the way.

Take 1 cup of Ham (I used lunch meat, again lazy lol), 1 cup of Kale, 1 Tbsp of Garlic Powder (1 Diced Garlic Clove if you are feeling motivated), and 1Tbsp of Onion (1/8 onion chopped) and put it in a skillet on medium heat for just 2 to 3 minutes.  It just brings the flavors out.  While that is cooking beat 3 eggs with 3/4 cup of milk in another bowl.  Add some salt and pepper, it really depends on your tastes.  Pull the oven rack with the crust out and add the ham and kale mixture then the eggs.  I added some cheese on top because Hey everything tastes better with cheese!  The reason I didn't take the crust out completely is because I didn't want to splash the egg all over.  It keeps the stove top clean!  Bake at 400 for 12 minutes or until it isn't jiggly anymore (That's my technical term haha).

Ingredients:
1 Pie Crust
1 Cup Ham
1 Cup Kale
1 Tbsp Garlic powder (1 clove Garlic diced)
1 Tbsp Onion Powder (1/8 Onion diced)
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
salt
pepper
1/2 cup cheese, any kind

Yum Yum!  This makes a great dinner too!  Anyone have any great quiche recipes they want to share??

Fast and Easy Ghoulash

Ghoulash has always been a favorite meal in our family.  Lately as much as I love cooking, I've been trying to make some of our favorite meals easier.  I made the ghoulash into a one pan meal also!  Here is how:

1/2 pound ground beef
6 oz elbow macaroni
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 bag frozen vegetables
2 cans water
2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
salt
pepper

Cook ground beef with the onion and garlic until browned.  Drain the grease then add tomatoes.  I use the tomato can and fill it twice with water, add that, then the italian seasoning and salt and pepper.  Bring it to a boil, then add macaroni.  When it is almost done add the vegetables. 

This took me abut 20 minutes.  It serves 3-4 people, and tastes even better the day after!

25 Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Today we had our first snow of the year...Boo!  But all I wanted to do was come home, get in my sweats and eat some homemade chicken noodle soup.  For years I have been making my mom's version and it is amazing, just takes a little while longer than I was feeling like spending in the kitchen tonight.  So here is a 25 minute version of her Chicken Noodle Soup!

You will need
6 cups of water
1 can of chicken broth (I prefer the no MSG, low sodium kind)
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 small bag of frozen vegetables
1 cup of shredded chicken- I usually have some in the freezer
1Tbsp of Italian seasoning
1Tbsp of salt-unless you use full sodium chicken broth then only use 1/2 Tbsp
1 Tbsp Pepper
4-6 oz noodles- I used egg noodles

Bring the water, chicken broth and tomato sauce to a boil, this usually takes about ten minutes. Add the noodles.  If my chicken is frozen I add it at the same time and it usually thaws pretty fast.  When the noodles are about done, add the spices and the vegetables.  Bring to another boil and that is it!  Seriously fast and easy and only one pot:)

I would say this will make about 6 bowls, I tend to eat 2 or 3 though lol Pair it with some bread and butter, or even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Lazy Enchilada Casserole

Some nights the last thing anyone wants to do is come home and cook.  The other night I wanted enchiladas but didn't want to do the work.  So I came up with an enchilada casserole that literally was 5 minutes of work!  So here is how to do it!

 

You need cheese (whatever you prefer, I used cheddar jack), black beans, tortillas (corn or flour), and enchilada sauce.  I usually cook a big pot of beans and then freeze them in quart bags, usually a cup.  You can use a can of them also.  Whatever is easiest! 

Preheat your oven to 350 and spray and 8X8 pan with pam.

Put 1/4 of the enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan.

Then put the tortillas down, I usually cut them to cover the whole pan.

Put half of the black beans.  If they are canned you can drain them or leave them in the sauce.

Then add cheese.  We are cheese freaks so we probably used a cup and a half in this whole dish!
Then you repeat as many times as you like until there are tortillas on top then sauce, then cheese.
It should look like this:

Then you bake it covered with foil for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 10.

Yum!!

We usually just add a dollop of sour cream but you can add lettuce or tomato.  This dish literally takes 35 minutes from start to finish!  So nice for a quick dinner.  Hope you enjoy!!

Fast and Easy Enchilada Sauce

Have you ever wanted to make enchiladas and realized you didn't have any sauce?  I do all the time! So i started making up my own sauce and it's pretty good I must say!

What you need:

1 can 8 oz tomato sauce
1 Tbsp Vinegar
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper-more if you want it spicy

Mix them all together and that's it!

It will serve four and you can use on my Lazy Enchilada Casserole!

Tomato Beef Stroganoff

Last night I really wanted pasta and brown gravy, don't ask me why.  So I thought I would make Beef Stroganoff, and then I was disappointed when I learned I didn't have any cream of mushroom.  So I started looking at what I have and I had tomato soup, Hey why not?? So here is this delicious dish that tastes even better the next day:)

Stew Beef
Linguine
Brown Gravy
Can of tomato soup
Vegetables
Garlic
Onion

Cook linguine. I automatically add olive oil, garlic and onion to most of my dishes.  That's just my thing and it always starts a dish off with flavor.  So that's what I did and then I added the beef and browned it.  When it was brown I added a cup of water.  I could have added beef broth but the gravy already added enough salt and I didnt want too much sodium in there.  I then added my packet of brown gravy, you could make your own but that's what I had on hand.  I mixed it all up and let it come to a boil.  Then I added the soup amd vegetables.  When the vegetables were nice and hot I mixed in the noodles and let them cook together for about 5 minutes to let the flavors mingle.  Very simple and keep in mind you can substitute any part of this dish and make it your own!