1234 Spicy Beans

Pic courtesy google images

I got this recipe from the Nutrition Digest magazine that my mother-in-law gives me for Christmas every year. I saw this recipe and knew that I wanted to try it. It was so easy and so yummy. It's the perfect lunch. I threw it on a whole wheat tortilla with a little cheese and salsa. It would be good plain, with rice, with some avocado, or on a salad. Go beans!:)

1234 Spicy Beans
adapted from Nutrition Digest

1 Tbs olive oil
3 minced cloves of garlic
1 tsp chili powder
15 oz. can of no-salt-added black beans, drained
1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

Saute garlic in olive oil for 1 minute. Stir in chili powder and cook for 15 seconds. Add beans with just enough water to cover the beans. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Pic courtesy Mels Kitchen Cafe

These were SOOOOO good. Christian could not stop "mmmmmm"-ing the whole dinner. Like, I am craving these again right now. They were easy and kid-friendly, but still totally impressive.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos
from Mels Kitchen Cafe 

Note: Reduce the chipotle chiles to one teaspoon if you want to eliminate some of the spiciness. In a pinch, you could sub 1-2 teaspoons chili powder for the chipotle chiles but the flavor won’t be quite the same.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (you can find these in the Mexican Foods aisle at most grocery stores)
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• Salt and pepper
• 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chipotle and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the orange juice, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup chopped cilantro and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the chicken and simmer, covered, over medium-low heat for 12-13 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking. When the chicken is done cooking, transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
2. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook the mixture left in the skillet until the liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the yellow mustard. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the skillet. Add the remaining cilantro to the skillet and toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with tortillas topped with lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream and avocado.

Notes

To warm the tortillas, wrap them in foil and heat in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.

 

Red and White Pasta

My ward has been bringing me amazing meals for the past 2 months.  I am not talking Little Caesar's, I am talking full course homemade delicious meals.  This one was our favorite!  It is super rich and definitely not healthy but a crowd pleaser and quite easy.

Red and White Pasta

From: Laurie Pecotte

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cook the pasta & prepare Alfredo sauce

Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 (3 oz) package cream cheese

1 pint heavy cream

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Mix in the cream cheese. Stir in the cream and garlic powder. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat and simmer, stirring often, while you cook the pasta. If the sauce needs additional thickening (for example if you're serving it as a dipping sauce without pasta), you may sprinkle in flour, 1 tsp at a time. Cook and stir for desired consistency. Stir the Parmesan cheese into the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

ONCE YOU HAVE THE ALFREDO SAUCE DONE AND PASTA COOKED

Spread a think layer of spaghetti sauce (I just use Prego) in a 9x13 baking dish. Layer half the pasta, half the Alfredo sauce, half the spaghetti sauce, and 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering with the remaining pasta, Alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce, and cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake about 30 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly.

Oatmeal Quick Mix

This comes from the Boyle family favorites. My father-in-law insisted that I shared these! When you have a little extra time make this. Store it and when you want some good muffins, cookies, etc grab this! We had this mix in muffins this morning and they were delicious! Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour  (Garry grinds flour and does half and half)
3 1/2  tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups shortening or butter
3 cups rolled oats

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and granulated sugar. Stir in brown sugar. Mix well. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Stir in oats and mix well. Put in an airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 12 weeks. Makes about 9 cups of mix.

Oatmeal Muffins

1 egg

2/3 c milk 

3 c of OATMEAL MIX (above)
Add whatever mix ins you prefer (ex. nuts, blueberries, choc chips, etc)

Bake @ 400 for 15-20 min (makes 12)

Krunk Cookies

I tasted these cookies at a Christmas party and proceeded to stalk the person for weeks in order to get the recipe. THAT'S how good these cookies are. The nice lady (Sister Krunk) called them Grandma's Oatmeal cookies. "Oh no", I said. They are way better than that. So in her honor and in true Griffin language, I am calling these Krunk Cookies. Its so appropriate. They are a mix between a gingersnap, snickerdoodle and oatmeal raisin cookie. Don't be deterred by the raisins!!!! Be sure to follow these precise steps using precise ingredients to achieve the fluffy texture that lured me in!

Krunk Cookies
3 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 cup raisins

In a small bowl lightly beat eggs and vanilla. Add raisins to egg mixture making sure raisins are immersed.

1 c shortening (crisco vegetable shortening here NOT butter flavor)
1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar

Cream these together. DO NOT OVERBEAT or it will not be a fluffy cookie.

2.5 c flour (using gold medal or pillsbury brand for best results!)
1 t salt
2 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
2 generous c quick oats

Mix dry ingredients together then add to creamed sugars a little at a time. Add egg/raisin mixture, incorporate well, then add oats. Dough will be very stiff. You might have to knead a little with your hands. Shape into 1.5 tablespoon sized balls and roll into white sugar. Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!!

Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken

Pic courtesy Picky Palate

Crock pot meals are a lot more common in our house these days as we are busy, busy with house stuff. We love pesto so I thought I'd give this one a try. The flavor was good, but it was a tad bit dry, so next time, I'd cook it for a little less time. Also, I made it with brown rice, not mashed potatoes and I used chicken breasts- not thighs. I changed the recipe up quite a bit from the recipe on Picky Palate since I didn't want to add a package of preservative-filled Ranch dressing mix. Found a substitute ranch packet recipe on allrecipes that I used. This is a great weeknight meal to throw in the rotation and mix things up a bit.

Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken
adapted from Picky Palate 

3 chicken breasts (frozen is fine)
3 oz jar of pesto
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/3 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
pinch of onion powder
pinch of dried thmye
1/2 cup chicken broth

Place chicken breasts in crockpot. Combine all remaining ingredients except broth. Spread pesto mixture over chicken breasts. Pour broth over and cook for 4 hours on low.

Homemade Refried Beans

These are a constant staple in our fridge nowadays.  We eat them with everything, whenever we can...  mostly because they are delicious, but also because they are so healthy.  I put them in a tortilla with my eggs in the morning, with quesadillas for lunch, or tacos for dinner.  Amazing.  This recipe comes from a friend whose parents we know and love, from our former Plano 8th Ward.  Her blog is FULL of great, easy, and cheap recipes.  Here's the link: Fast,Cheap, and Easy. (Picture below is a before picture).

courtesy

Homemade Refried Beans

Fast Cheap and Easy

1 32oz bag Pinto Beans
1 onion –  diced
1 1/2 T - Salt
1 T - Pepper
1/4 t - Cumin
9 C Water

Combine everything in the crockpot. Cook on high ALL day (8 hours). Blend everything until smooth using an emersion blender, Bosch, or Vitamix. If the beans look thick at the end of the day, add a touch of water. You’ll NEVER go back to canned refried beans. I freeze the leftovers in quart sized zip seal freezer bags. Just lay them flat and freeze them like file folders. Enjoy!

Crock Pot Enchilada Steak

I found this recipe on Pinterest and tried it last week.  It was so good and super easy to make.  I was picking at the steak meat all night long because it was flavored perfectly and really tender.  Plus, its done in the crockpot and you can do whatever you want with it afterwards- we used it for tacos, but the original recipe uses them for baked enchiladas.

courtesy

Crock Pot Enchilada Steak

Adapted from Chef in Training

2 lbs. stew meat (I used 1lb lean, 1 lb. with a little fat)

1 16-oz. can red enchilada sauce 

2 beef bullion cubes

Refried beans (see this recipe for homemade)

Tacos and desired fillings

Place stew meat in crock pot.  Top with crushed bullion cubes (if yours wont crush, put them in a small container with a little water for about 30 seconds and then crush) and enchilada sauce.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours, until meat is very tender and falls apart.  Drain off extra juice and use meat as desired.  Here's the link for the original recipe if you'd like to make enchiladas.

Julie Johnson's Rolls!!

Julie Johnson's Rolls

These are the best rolls!  She cooks them for our ward for all of our activities and everyone begs for the recipe.  The key to the recipe is the shaping so I made a video of how to do it!  Disclaimer: Please remember that I just had triplets about 4 weeks before the video and I hadn't gotten to the stage where I was putting make up on!  Another reason I love this recipe is that it is basically fool-proof!  Because you mix all of the ingredients but the flour in the blender you only have to knead the dough for about a minute or so!  It is so easy and so good!  Also, they make really good cinnamon rolls!  They just make good everything...but make sure you shape them correctly!

Blender Rolls
From my RS Pres, Julie Johnson

7 c. flour (bread flour works best but AP will work too)
2 1/2 c. water, hot
2 T quick-rise active dry yeast
1/3 c. sugar
2 t. salt
1 cube margarine
1 egg

Measure flour into a large bowl (If you lose count, start with all new flour so the air pockets don't destroy the flour measurements).  Put remaining ingredients into a blender jar and push stir until well blended.  Pour over flour and stir with a wooden spoon (I use my Kitchen Aid) until flour is mixed in and the sides are cleaned.  Cover with a warm wet towel and let rise for 1 hour.  Shape into rolls and place on greased baking pans.  Let rise until double, about 20 to 30 minutes.  Cover with towel again.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until done.  Note: Dough will be sticky so use shortening on your hands to keep from sticking.

Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese

Pic courtesy Annies Eats

I made this last week and it was delicious. And talk about an easy and kid-friendly weeknight meal! I actually think it would have been just as good, if not better without the chicken. I mean, who eats chicken mac and cheese anyway, right? Yum!

Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese
adapted from Annie's Eats 

12 oz. pasta shapes, such as rotini
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (optional)
1 tsp. cumin
½ tsp. paprika
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. butter
3 bell peppers (multiple colors), seeded and thinly sliced (I used one bell pepper b/c my husband is vegetable-averse and it was delicious)
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
½ cup sour cream
8-12 oz. monterey jack cheese or pepperjack if you like some spice

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.  Spray/butter a 2 quart baking dish.  Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Cook pasta according to the package directions just until al dente.  Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken, cumin, paprika, and cayenne to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is just cooked through and no longer pink.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Remove the chicken to a large bowl; set aside.
• In the same skillet, melt the butter.  Add the sliced peppers and onion to the pan and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.  Mix in the garlic and green chiles and sauté about 2 minutes more.  Remove from the heat and transfer the veggie mixture to the bowl with the chicken.  Add the sour cream and shredded cheeses to the bowl along with the pasta.  Mix everything together until well combined.  Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 15 minutes until slightly browned and bubbling.  Let cool briefly before serving.

Tuscan Chicken Stew

Pic courtesy South Your Mouth

I made this for dinner tonight. And you know if I'm posting it the same night I made it, it's good. I've posted a lot of soup recipes this winter, but this one has got to be the most unique. It's such a hearty meal. I loved it and so did Christian.

Tuscan Chicken Stew
adapted from South Your Mouth 

1 4-5 lb. chicken (I actually thought it could have used a little less chicken and I used a 4.5 lb-er)

2 cups water

4 cups chicken broth

2-3 teaspoons salt, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided

1 bay leaf

4 stalks celery, diced

3 carrots, diced

1 large onion, diced

6-7 medium red potatoes, sliced (I used golden potatoes)

1 15-oz. can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon dried thyme

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

2-4 roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise and sliced

In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, simmer chicken, water, chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper and bay leaf, covered, over medium-low heat for one hour.  Remove chicken and set aside to cool.  Pour broth through strainer and add broth back to Dutch oven.

Bring broth to a boil and add celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, beans, thyme, garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, tomatoes and remaining 1-2 teaspoons salt (this depends on how salty your prepared chicken broth is – salt to taste) and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered for 45 minutes (cooking this uncovered will help reduce it and enhance the flavor).

Meanwhile, remove skin and bones from chicken; shred or chop chicken, cover and set aside.  Once vegetables and broth have cooked for 45 minutes, add chicken and stir to combine.  Cover pot, remove from heat and let stew rest for 30 minutes.  Stir and serve with cornbread or crusty bread. 

Chipotle Chicken and Corn Chowder

I made this last week and have been too busy to post it. You must make this before soup season comes to an end. It is delicious and so different from anything I've ever made. I loved the potato with the southwestern flavors. It really came together so well and made for delicious leftovers too!

Chipotle Chicken and Corn Chowder
adapted from Brown Eyed Baker 

Ingredients:

1 can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 poblano pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 cups chicken stock
6 small red potatoes, peeled and diced small
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
2 cups diced, cooked chicken
1 (30-ounce) can sweet corn, drained (I halved this and used frozen corn)
1 (15-ounce) can cream-style corn (I only put in about 3/4 of the can)
Juice from 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
Chopped cilantro, to garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Remove one chile from the can of chiles and mince it. Remove 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce and set it aside to be used later. You can save the remaining chiles and sauce for another use.
2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat. Add the poblano pepper, red bell pepper, the chile from the can, cumin, thyme and oregano, and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the peppers become soft. Add the garlic, stir and cook for an additional 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
3. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for 1 minute, or until there is no longer any visible raw flour. Slowly stir in the milk and chicken broth, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan as you stir.
4. Add the potatoes, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.
5. Add the shredded cheeses a handful at a time, stirring after each addition until the cheese is completely melted.
6. Finally, stir in the chicken, both cans of corn, lime juice and the reserved 1 teaspoon of adobo sauce. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the soup is completely heated through. Serve immediately.
Note: If you have leftovers that have been refrigerated and reheated, you may need to thin out the soup with some extra chicken stock, as it may thicken up in the refrigerator.

 

apple dijon kale salad

another great recipe from Budget Bytes. i usually steer clear from anything dijon but it is really subtle in the dressing and you could even decrease the amount you put in. it went great with the teriyaki salmon i made but is also a great easy lunch salad. i added some feta cheese i had because who doesn't like feta cheese?

apple dijon kale salad

$5.53 recipe / $1.38 serving

otal Recipe cost: $5.53 
Servings Per Recipe: 4 large salads (or 6 side salads) 
Cost per serving: $1.38 (for four) 
Prep time: 30 min. Cook time: 0 min. Total: 30 min. 

INGREDIENTS		COST
1/3 cup	olive oil	$0.96
1/4 cup	apple cider vinegar	$0.24
1 clove	garlic	$0.08
1.5 Tbsp	dijon mustard	$0.16
1/4 tsp	salt	$0.02
10-15 cranks	fresh cracked pepper	$0.03
1 bunch	kale	$0.99
1 medium	granny smith apple	$0.87
1/4 cup	raisins	$0.36
1/2 cup	walnut halves	$1.82
TOTAL		$5.53

STEP 1: Tear the kale leaves from the stems. Cut the leaves into thin slices and then rinse well under cool water (in a colander). Allow the kale to drain as you prepare the rest of the salad.

STEP 2: In a blender combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, clove of garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until the garlic is minced and the dressing is smooth.

STEP 3: Wash the apple and chop it into chunks. Roughly chop the walnut halves. Make sure the kale is as dry as possible and then combine it in a large bowl with the apples, walnuts, and raisins. Pour the dressing on top, starting with half, and toss to coat. Add more dressing as desired (I used the whole batch). 

Teriyaki Salmon w/ Siracha Mayo

OK OK I know the Jewkes are known for their distaste for all things seafood. In fact I noticed that the "seafood" label on the sidebar only has 1 post while "desserts" has 98. do you think that says anything about us jewkes girls?? but I made this salmon the other night and it was REALLY good- and that is coming from someone who has a general distaste for seafood but gets a craving every once in a while. It is really simple and doesn't have a "fishy" taste at all. It is from the website budget bytes which I have mentioned before- love it.

side note: whoever thought in their right mind that i would seriously post beaus special dinner is smoking dope. but when grandma becky was here to visit she mentioned that she thought it was serious and that i must be bored. well just to clear the air it was beau who begged to post something in my name and when i finally relented i found a post about macaroni and he begged me not to take it down. so just to clear the air i think we are all capable of making a box of mac n cheese, if you found it insulting to your intelligence i apologize :) the annoyances of your little brother live on!

teriyaki salmon w/
sriracha mayo

$13.94 recipe / $3.30 serving

Total Recipe cost: $13.94
Servings Per Recipe: 4 
Cost per serving: $3.30
Prep time: 10 min. Marinate time: 30 min. Cook time: 10 min. Total: 50 min.

INGREDIENTS		COST
1 lb.	salmon filet	$11.49
1/4 cup	soy sauce	$0.24
2 Tbsp.	water	$0.00
1/2 Tbsp.	toasted sesame oil	$0.28
1 inch	fresh ginger	$0.13
1/2 tsp	minced garlic	$0.04
2 Tbsp.	brown sugar	$0.06
2 Tbsp.	rice wine	$0.27
1 tsp	corn starch	$0.02
1/4 cup	mayonnaise	$0.42
2 Tbsp.	sriracha hot sauce	$0.24
TOTAL		$13.94

TEP 1: Make the teriyaki marinade by whisking together the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, brown sugar, rice wine, and corn starch (use a vegetable peeler to remove the ginger skin and then grate with a fine toothed cheese grater).

STEP 2: Cut the salmon filet into four equal sized portions and place in a large zip top bag. Pour the marinade over top, remove as much air as possible and close up the bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, mixing the bag occasionally to redistribute the marinade.

STEP 3: Heat a large, well oiled skillet over medium/high heat. It's a good idea to use a non-stick surface here too just to be safe (teflon or well seasoned cast iron). The teriyaki sauce gets thick and sticky when cooked. Once the skillet is hot, add the fish, face down. Cook on all four sides for 2-3 minutes each side or until the fish has reached your desired doneness.

STEP 4: In a small bowl, mix together the sriracha hot sauce and mayonnaise. Serve the fish with a dollop of sriracha mayo on top!

Meatball Glaze

adapted from: atasteofhome.com/recipes/suprise-meatball-skewers

We had meatballs the other night and looked up a glaze. This was delicious and super easy. We grilled the meatballs on skewers on the grill and just brushed this glaze on top. Served over rice. Pretty Tasty!

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons apple juice
• Dash cayenne pepper  

Directions

• In a saucepan, combine the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes or until onion is tender and sauce is slightly thickened. Remove from the heat.

Green Enchilada Sauce

Seth made this tonight, gourmet,  I know! It was delicious. It makes a ton so we froze the left overs for future use. 

Green Enchilada Sauce (Kate’s Knockoff Cafe Rio Recipe)
Recipe by Our Best Bites

2-3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, minced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 green peppers, chopped
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and membranes removed if desired (and I desire. Always.)
1 1/2 lb. tomatillos, husked and quartered or halved
1/2 bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
4 c. chicken broth
2-3 Tbsp. sugar (optional and to taste; the sauce Cafe Rio uses seems to be slightly sweet, so if I’m using this sauce for enchilada-style burritos, I generally add a little sugar, but for everything else, I leave it out.)

In a large saucepan or stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions and garlic until tender and fragrant.

While onions are sauteeing, combine tomatillos, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro in your blender. Process until smooth; you may have to do it in batches and/or add some chicken broth to make things blendable.

Pour the tomatillo mixture over the onions and garlic and add chicken broth, salt, pepper, and cumin. Simmer 15 minutes-1 hour, depending on the consistency you want. I usually turn the heat to high and boil it uncovered until I reach the consistency I want; it makes things go a lotfaster. The sauce can also be simmered in a slow cooker all day.

Serve over tacos, as an enchilada sauce, inside burritos, or as a dip for chips.

Mom's Beef Stew

Yummmm....just what you need on a cold winter's day!

Mom's Beef Stew

adapted from favfamilyrecipes.com

2 lbs. steak, cubed (or buy stew meat)

Tabasco sauce

Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

3-4 cups beef broth

2 large potatoes, cleaned and cut into large cubes

3-4 carrots, peeled and cut

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 small can tomato sauce (or to taste)

cornstarch (optional)

Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible).  Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.  Add onions and saute until onions become clear.  Transfer to a *large pot and add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for **about an hour (or until potatoes are cooked through).  If you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.  About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas, and tomato sauce and simmer until ready to serve.  If you like your stew nice and thick, add about 1 Tbsp. of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.  Add beef broth to thin out and cornstarch to thicken.  Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.  

*you can also throw everything in a crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours

**The potatoes cooked much faster than I expected, so I would suggest adding them later so they only cook for about 45 minutes.  Otherwise they will get mushy.

Classic Bran Muffins

photo courtesy of allrecipes

So, living in the "country" definitely has it's benefits, but also it's drawbacks.  Last night we ran out of propane, and no propane = no heat or hot water.  This morning our house was 53 degrees.  Brrr!  Outside it is 19 degrees and it is supposed to snow today.  I was craving something warm for breakfast, so I was happy to find this bran muffin recipe.  I made it vegan by substituting rice milk for the buttermilk, and it turned out delicious!

Classic Bran Muffins
adapted from Allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups wheat bran (I used bran flakes)
1 cup buttermilk (substitute rice milk or any other milk)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line muffin cups or spray with cooking spray.  Mix together wheat bran and milk.  Let stand for 10 minutes.

Beat together oil, egg, sugar, and vanilla and add to milk/bran mixture.  Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Stir flour mixture into bran mixture, just until blended.  Fold in raisins and spoon into muffin cups.

Bake 15-20 minutes.  Enjoy!

Cheesy Green Chile and Potato Chowder

 Photo credit Eat, Live, Run

Oh my goodness. This soup was so good. Christian even loved it (and that's saying something for a non-vegetable eater). Now, I just wish it would stay cold long enough in Texas for me to make it again soon!!

Cheesy Green Chile and Potato Chowder
adapted from Eat, Live, Run

Ingredients:
1-2 poblano peppers (I used less b/c my hubby doesn't like peppers)
1 large yellow onion, small diced
1 green bell pepper, small diced
3 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 stalks celery, small diced
3 slices bacon
2 tsp minced garlic
1 quart chicken broth
2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup Mexican blend cheese {plus additional for serving}
thinly sliced green onions (optional- I didn't use)
Directions:
First, fire roast the peppers.
To do this, place poblano peppers right over the flame on your burner if you have a gas stove. Flip occasionally until every inch of the pepper is charred. If you don’t have a gas stove, place peppers underneath the broiler on a lined sheet tray {also flipping occasionally} until charred. Once charred all around, immediately remove peppers from heat and zip up in a plastic zip-loc bag. Let sit for 20 minutes then remove charred skin with the back of a knife and roughly chop up peppers.
While your peppers are cooling, fry the bacon in a large dutch oven or heavy  bottomed pot. Fry until crispy then remove bacon from the pot and drain on pepper towels. Keep grease in the pot!
Add your onion, bell pepper, garlic and celery to the hot grease. Saute for about six minutes over medium heat until veggies are just tender. Add cubed potatoes to the pot, as well as the poblano peppers, and toss well so everything is combined.
Pour in chicken broth and add the salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 35 minutes until potatoes are very tender {be sure to “test” with a fork or knife…nothing worse than biting into an uncooked potato!}. Add milk and sprinkle in flour. Whisk together so that no flour clumps remain and bring back to a simmer. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
Turn off heat completely and add cheese to the pot. Stir well so cheese melts. Serve immediately with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions and additional cheese.
Time:
1.25 hours

Italian Crock Pot Chicken

Mom made this at Emily's house while I was visiting in Albuquerque to see the triplets! It was delicious! I came home and wanted to make it but its nowhere to be found on the blog. It's in our cookbook so I thought I would post it. Jennefer submitted the recipe but doesn't know how to post on the blog so I'll do it for her!


Italian Chicken
8 oz cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can mushrooms (optional)
4 chicken breast
Italian dressing packet

Cook chicken and dressing packet with 1/4c. of water for 3 hours on high in crock pot (chicken can still be frozen). Mix cream of chicken soup, mushrooms, and cream cheese and blend into crock pot. Cook for one more hour. Serve over rice or noodles.