What's for Dinner??? Recipes!

Helpful links:

www.suppersolutionsinc.com
www.relishrelish.com
www.eMeals.com
www.PlanToEat.com


From Sheryl Griebel:
Oatmeal Banana Breakfast Muffins
“I make these ahead of time for a healthy on-the-go breakfast.”

2.5 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup plain low fat greek yogurt
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar (or less!)
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 ripe bananas

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray tin with non-stick cooking spray or line 12 muffin tins with silicone or foil liners.
2. Place all of the ingredients, including bananas in a blender or food processor, and blend until oats are smooth. {I added the oats a cup at a time and blended in between}
3. Divide batter among cupcake liners, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.


Vegetable Casserole
Makes 8 servings
“This slow-cooker recipe is a family favorite! It's a quick and easy option for Meatless Mondays. I added a couple of modifications to the ingredients list to save you even more time!”

Two 19-oz can cannellini beans
One 19-oz can garbanzo or fava beans
1/4 cup purchased basil pesto (or more!)
One medium onion, chopped (or the equivalent amount of frozen onions)
Four cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed
16 ounce package refrigerated cooked plain polenta cut in 1/2-inch-thick slices (I find mine on the shelf in the natural foods section)
One large tomato, thinly sliced (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
One 8-oz package finely shredded Italian cheese blend (2 cups)
Two cups fresh spinach

1. Rinse and drain beans. In large bowl combine beans, 2 tablespoons of pesto, onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
2. In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker layer half of bean mixture, half of polenta, and half of cheese. Add remaining beans and polenta. Cover; cook on low heat setting 4 to 6 hours or on high heat setting 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Add tomato, remaining cheese, spinach, and radicchio. Combine remaining pesto and 1 tablespoon water. Drizzle pesto mixture on casserole. Let stand, uncovered, 5 minutes.

Calories (kcal) 360, Fat total (g) 12, Cholesterol (mg) 26, Saturated Fat (g) 6, Carbohydrates (g) 46, Monosaturated fat (g) 1, Fiber (g) 10, Sugar (g) 8, Protein (g) 21


From Debbie Odom:
Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup almond butter
1/3 cup honey (or 1/2 cup if you like it a bit sweeter)
1 egg
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (look for gluten-free and dairy-free if you are trying to avoid those)
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut (or if you prefer, replace with chopped nuts)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Oil baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
3. Stir together first 8 ingredients. Mix well. Make sure honey is fully incorporated.
4. Add chips and coconut.
5. Scoop with a cookie scoop onto cookie sheets. Bake 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned.
Yield: about 20 cookies with a level 2 Tbsp. cookie scoop


Maple Salmon
Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup maple syrup
2 T soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 t garlic salt
1/8 t ground black pepper
1 lb salmon

1. In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
2. Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.


From Courtney Greedy:
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Fries

4 medium sweet potatoes
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted)
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375. Cut sweet potatoes into steak fry size. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Stir well to coat evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly brown and soft.


Barley, Beef and Kale Stew

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
5 ½ cups veggie stock
28 oz. can diced tomatoes (BPA free, please!)
½ cup pearled barley
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp cinnamon
2 cups curly kale, chopped

In a medium skillet over medium heat, add beef, onion, carrots and celery. Cook until beef is browned, about 10 minutes. While the beef and veggies are cooking, place stock, tomatoes, barley, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper and cinnamon in a crock pot and turn on low. Add beef mixture and stir well. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours. Add kale and cook 15 minutes more.


From Stephanie Sullivan:
Pork Tenderloin

1 Pork Tenderloin
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
3-4 Tbs chopped garlic

Mix olive oil, soy and garlic in a large zip lock. Add pork and marinate in refrigerator 4-8 hours. Either grill or bake at 350 for 40-45 min. Save extra marinate - boil over med/high heat for 4-5 min (to cook raw meat). Serve over pork. I usually serve with green beans and rice pilaf.


Emeril's Wine Marinated Beef or Chicken Kababs

1.5 lbs beef or chicken cubed
4 tsp Emeril's essence
1/2 cup red wine
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs rosemary
1 Tbs thyme
8 oz button mushrooms, stems trimmed
1 onion (yellow or red) cut in half then quartered
1 red pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
12 cherry tomatoes

Place the meat in a large zip lock bag and toss with Essence. Add the red wine, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire, rosemary, and thyme and toss to coat. Seal the bag and marinate in the fridge overnight.
Thread the skewers with meat and veggies. Grill on preheated grill. Serve with couscous.


From Kacey Olsen:
Smoky Beef Tacos
Serves 8

2 to 3 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo
1/2 cup ketchup
8 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 3 pounds), excess fat trimmed
16 corn tortillas (6-inch), lightly toasted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, stir together chiles, ketchup, 1 cup water, garlic, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
2. Cut beef into 4 equal pieces. Add to pot, and turn to coat. Cover, and bring to a boil; transfer pot to oven. Bake, covered, until beef is fork-tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
3. Transfer beef to a bowl. With a large spoon, skim off and discard fat from cooking liquid. Shred beef with two forks; moisten with cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve beef with tortillas and desired toppings.
Tip: To soften the tortillas and give them a quick char, toast them directly over a low gas flame using tongs (or use a dry skillet on medium heat).


From Lucy Shirk:
Chili & Cheese Egg Casserole

10 eggs ~ Beat until fluffy

Blend the following:
1/2 cup flour (I have left out when feeding gluten free folks)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt (or to taste)
1 pt. cottage cheese (small curd)
1 lb. shredded Monteray Jack Cheese
1/2 cup melted butter
4-7oz green chilis

~ POUR into 9 x 13 buttered pan at 350 for 35-45 minutes (until slightly golden brown and not jiggly)

~ SERVE with salsa and sour cream if you like


From Angie Osborne:
Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

1 T brown sugar
2 t. butter
1 t. honey
1 T olive oil
1 T Dijon mustard
1 T soy sauce
1/2 to 3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 salmon fillet (recipe calls for 2 1/2 lbs., but I usually only make 1 3/4 - 2 lbs. for our family of 6. Although we never have leftovers!)

In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook and stir the brown sugar, butter and honey until melted. Remove from heat: whisk in the oil, mustard, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cool for 5 minutes.

Place salmon in a large foil-lined baking pan; spoon brown sugar mixture over salmon. Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.


Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

1 pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon, more or less, steak seasoning such as McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning
(Note: I don't actually measure; I just sprinkle it all over.)
Bacon slices

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle seasoning over pork. Wrap in bacon and secure with toothpicks. Place pork on lightly greased wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes. Then broil about 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp. (Pork is ready when meat thermometer registers 155 degrees. Do not overcook!)


Baked Apricots
"This one is great with the bacon-wrapped pork"

2 cans apricot halves, drained
1 1/2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar

Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Place apricots, cut side up, in bottom of pan.

Mix crushed Ritz crackers, butter, and brown sugar together. Sprinkle mixture on top of apricots.

Bake at 300 degrees 35-40 minutes.


From Kelly Nishi:
Slow-Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast
Serves 6-8

1/3 cup olive oil
One 2 1/2- to 3-pound bottom-round pot roast
Two large onions, quartered
Two celery stalks, thinly sliced (2 cups)
Two large carrots, thinly sliced (2 cups)
Three garlic cloves, minced
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
One cup dry red wine
One 1/2-ounce package dried mushrooms (such as portobello)
One tablespoon kosher salt
One teaspoon dried oregano
One 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes, chopped, liquid reserved
Extra wide egg noodles

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the roast on all sides. Transfer the roast to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
2. To the fat remaining in the skillet, add the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the vegetables; transfer to the cooker. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add the contents of the skillet to the cooker, along with the mushrooms, salt, oregano, and tomatoes (plus 1 cup of their liquid).
3. Cook 8 hours on low heat, or 4 hours on high heat.
4. Serve with extra wide egg noodles.


Taco Soup

1lb ground beef (cooked and drained)
1 onion (chopped)
1 can whole tomatoes
1 can whole kernel corn (w/juice)
1 can pinto beans (w/juice)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 c. water
1 pkg. taco seasoning

Boil. Season w/ salt and pepper. Simmer 1hr. Serve w/ chips or tortillas.


From Heather Milburn:
Gluten-Free Crusted Chicken Nuggets
“This is my recipe combined with another favorite recipe to make my kids' ultimate favorite chicken nuggets. It calls for a LOT of chicken because I make a ton at one time and freeze them for quick and easy lunches or dinners. Feel free to cut the recipe in half if needed.”

1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups gluten free flour
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1/2 cup butter melted
4 pounds chicken breasts cut into 1" cubes
1 container gluten free cornflake crumbs or crushed cornflakes
2 teaspoons peanut oil

1. Heat oven to 400. In large plastic bag, combine flour, salt, pepper & powdered sugar; toss to mix.
2. Place cornflake crumbs in a different large plastic bag.
3. Dip chicken pieces into flour mixture.
4. Dip floured chicken in melted butter.
5. Coat with cornflake crumbs.
6. Place on cookie sheet.
7. Drizzle pieces with peanut oil.
8. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until chicken is no longer pink.

MOPS Meeting Reminder - 2/26/2013

Hi Girls!  This week's meeting should be really fun.  We'll be talking about meal planning and we'll have a panel of MOPS mom that range from the super planned out, type A moms to moms that run to the pantry at 5:00 with no plan in mind at all.  Should be fun to see both extremes and get some tips!

FOOD: Debbie's Table

Hope to see you guys Tuesday!

February Play Date Cancelled

Unfortunately, I'm going to have cancel tomorrow's play date.  I have been sick all weekend and am still sick.  Sorry about the late notice.  Please spread the word.  Thanks!

February Playdate - 2/19/2013

Hi Moms!  Hope you can join us for a playdate at Allie's house this Tuesday from 9:30-11:30.  If the weather is nice, we'll walk to the park by her house.  Her address is 2261 Dogwood Dr, Erie.  Hope to see you all there, bring kiddos of all ages!

Craft Love

From Kelly Nishi:

Hey moms! Looking for some valentine's Day crafts to do with your little ones this week? Here are some easy ideas that even the littlest ones will enjoy!

Mini Mailboxes



Supplies:
- Mini mailboxes
- Decorative paper
- Mod Podge
- Alphabet stamps
- White cardstock
- Glue
- Felt hearts
- Paint
- Wooden candlesticks

Trace the fronts of your mini-mailboxes onto sheets of decorative paper, then cut out and use ModPodge to attach to mailbox fronts. While ModPodge is drying, paint wooden candlesticks in desired colors and set aside to dry. Once mailboxes are dry, cut heart shapes out of red felt and use hot glue gun to attach to fronts of mailboxes, on top of decorative paper. Use alphabet stamps to stamp names on white cardstock, cut cardstock in small banner shapes, and glue each name on top of felt hearts. Add additional trim to front of each mailbox, if desired, then use a glue gun to attach mailboxes to candlesticks. Even the youngest kid will love opening and closing the mailboxes to fill them with family valentines!

Heart Garland



Supplies:
Watercolor paper
Food coloing
Water
Paintbrush
Heart punch
Twine
Tape

Brush water onto your watercolor paper, the more the better. Then, before the water dries, add your food color drops. A few drops go a long way. Let dry. Once dry, use the heart punch to make your cutouts. Measure the amount of twine you’ll need so your garland will be centered. Tape your hearts to your twine. Hang up and enjoy!


Too complicated? Try making heart stamps with your toddler out of a toilet paper roll!



Or, try this cute valentine with just some paint and a marker!



Whatever you do this valentine's day, I hope you give your family a squeeze and tell them you love them! Happy Valentine's Day!!

MOPS Meeting Reminder - 2/12/2013

Hi Friends!  Just a friendly reminder for our meeting tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.  Tomorrow should be pretty relaxed, we have a game, an awesome craft from our own Martha Stewart (aka Kacey), and some discussion time.  Hope you can all make it!  

FOOD: Courtney's Table - Salad Bar

Husband Love

From Kelly Nishi:

Hey ladies! Since this is the month of LOOOVE, I thought it might be fun to throw out some fun ideas for ways to show your hubby a little extra adoration. Here are some of my ideas, but please post yours in the comments!

1. Ask your husband about his ultimate fantasy.
2. Remember all that lingerie you bought for your wedding? Pull some out and snap a couple pictures in the mirror with your phone. Text them to your hubby while he's watching TV.
3. Bake him some brownies after the kids go to bed. See how long it takes him to notice you're not wearing anything under your apron.
4. Write reasons you love him on some sticky notes and scatter them around the hosue for him to find, or stick one a day on his mirror.
5. Give him a day off of chores, do things that are usually his responsibility (like taking out the trash).
6. Ask him what he's worried about and then pray about that thing on his behalf every day. Keep following up with him about it.
7. Rent a movie you know he's been wanting to see (try the library to save money), order a pizza and try not to complain or get on your phone, even if the action scenes have you bored out of your mind.
8. Tell him you think he looks HOT.
9. Give him a backrub. Then let him give you one. Clothing optional.
10. Drop the kids off in the childcare center and go the the rec center to play basketball or raquetball together.
11. Take him geocaching
12. Kiss him. I mean a good, long, push-him-up-against-the-wall kiss.
13. Take him out to a sports bar for a beer and some darts or video games (let him win at least once).
14. Flirt with him. You know what I mean, harness your inner 13-year old and poke him, stick your tongue out at him, hit his arm, wink at him. Be a tease!
15. Get all dressed up for dinner and eat by candlelight after the kids go to bed. Talk about anything but "business." Ask him about his goals, hopes, dreams. Here are some ideas if you get stuck.
16. Write him an email telling him what you remember about when you first met him.
17. Text him something sexy you'd like to do that night. Follow up!
18. Sit down together and come up with a "bucket list" of things you would both like to do. Take a step toward one of them, even if it's just looking something up on the internet.
19. Give him a gift card to Starbucks and a couple hours of freedom to go use it.
20. Each time you talk to, walk by, or sit next to your hubby, intentionally touch him.
21. Write him a thank you card for all he does for your family.
22. Go to bed before him at bedtime. When he comes in, be waiting for him in your cutest bra and underwear set (or bikini).
23. Put on your first dance song from your wedding and dance with him in the kitchen. It's ok if the kids are around.
24. Wake him up for some makeout time before work.
25. Play a video game with him, even if that's not your thing.
26. Let him overhear you telling the kids something you love about him.
27. Play stip poker with him.
28. Tell him again that you think he looks HOT.

Keep in mind, this is not another "to do". You don't need to do one of these daily or anything. But, I hope this list gives you an idea or two of something special to do for your husband this month.

Ok, now no one tell my husband about all these great ideas or he might get his hopes up :) Happy Valentines's day!

Green Smoothie Recipies

Hey Girls!
As a follow up from Courtney's talk the other week, there have been some requests to share green smoothie recipes!  One recipe is posted below (thanks Joanna!) and please share yours if you have one!  


Green Smoothie
- 1 cup almond milk, or milk of choice- 1 ripe banana, preferably peeled and frozen- 2 handfuls spinach- 1 T chia seeds or ground flax- 1 T nut butter- 1-3 ice cubes

Some other yummy ideas:

- Kale, Spinach, Celery, Cucumber, Lemon, Apple and for an extra zing, add Ginger 

- Kale, Spinach, Apple and Pineapple 

- Beets, Carrots, Celery, Fennel, Cucumber, Orange, Pineapple, Green Apple and Kiwi