Friday, September 27, 2013

GLOWing Recipes

Have any of you seen this recent post about Whole Foods circulating the web? I thought it was hilarious, and my shopping trip there after Courtney's talk on Tuesday shared many similarities with Kelly MacLean's experience. I even wondered if my prior experience working in pharmaceutical sales could help me land a job in their vitamin aisle.

This time around, however, I felt a bit more confident about what I was doing in there. Armed with notes from Courtney's talk, it was easy to search for the best grains (millet) and sugar (Sucanat) my money could buy. And although the artificial dye-free gummy bears and Garden of Eatin' Sweet Potato Corn Chips were not on my list, since they're from Whole Foods, they're healthy for my family, right? Right??

Did any of you make your own visit to Whole Foods after Courtney's talk? If you haven't yet, check out the recipes below so that you can add a few more ingredients to your shopping list.

Enjoy!

Protein Power Green Eggs
1 tsp olive oil
2 eggs
¼ cup black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
Handful baby spinach
Avocado and salsa
Salt and Pepper
Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and cook until they begin to set,
1‐2 minutes. Add black‐eyed peas and spinach and cook until eggs are done and
spinach has softened, 1‐2 minutes more. Top with avocado, salsa, salt and pepper to
taste.

Simple Fried Egg on Toast
1 tsp olive oil
1 egg
1 handful baby spinach, sliced into thin ribbons
Avocado
One slice sprouted bread
Sea salt
Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add egg. Cook until egg begins to set.
Flip and sprinkle with spinach. Cook the egg to your desired level of doneness.
Meanwhile, toast the bread. Slide egg and spinach from the skillet onto the toast.
Add avocado and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Hard boiled eggs
6 eggs
Water‐ cool
Ice
Place eggs into a large saucepan. Add water to cover plus two inches. Place over
medium heat until gently but rapidly boiling. Boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat
and carefully pour out hot water. Add more cool water and lots of ice to quickly stop
cooking process. Drain and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Grain Bowls
Grain bowls are so versatile. Use whatever leftovers you have in your fridge or
whatever sounds tasty to create a big bowl of yummy goodness. It is good to have a
theme. Ex. Mexican: brown rice, spinach, black beans, avocado and salsa. Or
Mediterranean: quinoa, garbanzo beans, steamed kale, red bell pepper, kalamata
olives, balsamic vinegar and an tablespoon of olive oil. I also love millet with blackeyed
peas and pesto.

Here is a basic recipe to get your creative juices watering:
1/2 to 3/4 cup cooked grains
2 handfuls chopped greens (cooked or raw, depends on the green and your taste)
1/2 cup protein (beans, chicken, beef, fish, tempeh, etc.)
Other vegetables: avocado, peas, corn, mushrooms, bell pepper, etc.
Dressing: Olive oil and vinegar, salsa, scoop of hummus or simple homemade
vinaigrette.
Combine all ingredients and enjoy.

Mini Meatloaf
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 cups grated yellow squash (~2 large)
1 clove garlic, pressed through a garlic press or minced
1.5 lbs grass fed ground beef
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 egg
2 Tbsp ketchup
½ cup rolled oats
Glaze
½ cup ketchup
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
2 Tbsp honey
Preheat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add squash and cook for 10 minutes, until
very soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Place in a colander over the sink
and allow to cool and drain. When cool enough to handle, press down lightly to
drain remaining liquid. Meanwhile, using a large mixing bowl, combine beef, salt,
pepper, egg, ketchup and oats. Add drained squash and mix very well (I used my
hands). Turn oven on 350 degrees. Divide mixture into a muffin tin with muffin
liners. Bake for 15 minutes. While it is baking, whisk glaze ingredients until well
combined. Remove muffins, coat each with glaze and return to oven for 15 more
minutes. Store in the fridge up to 5 days.

Simple Sweet Potato with Black Beans
To bake the sweet potato, choose ones that are a little larger than your fist. Preheat
oven to 375 degrees. Rub the sweet potato with a little olive oil and salt and place on a
cookie sheet. Bake for 30‐45 minutes or until you can easily pierce the potato with a
fork.
2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15‐ounce can
3 Tbsp lime juice (usually 2 limes)
4 sweet potatoes, baked
Your favorite salsa
Avocado
Salt
Rinse and drain the black beans in a colander over the sink. In a medium bowl,
combine black beans and lime juice. Using a hot, cooked sweet potato, use a knife to
open it up lengthwise. Add one quarter of the black bean mixture to each potato.
Top each with salsa and 1/4 avocado, cubed. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Serves 4.

Black-eyed peas with Millet and Pesto
A food processor makes quick work of shredding the cabbage.
1 tsp olive oil
2 cups shredded cabbage
½ cup black‐eyed‐peas
¼ cup cooked millet
1 Tbsp pesto or to taste
Place all ingredients in a preheated skillet over medium heat.

Vanilla Macaroons
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
3 Tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
Mix and ingredients together and form into small balls. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Chocolate Macaroons
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
4 Tbsp maple syrup
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
Mix and ingredients together and form into small balls. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

BBQ!

Come on out for our MOPS family bbq at Jacqui Reddick's house this weekend! Yes, husbands are strongly encouraged to attend. :-)

WHEN: Saturday, September 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: 36 S. Gay Drive (NOT street), Longmont, CO. Please note in the map that you can park in the alley next to the house.

PLEASE BRING: Side dish, dessert or drink to share (yes, alcoholic beverages are ok); blanket or chairs; yard games.

PLEASE RSVP: If you did not sign up on the sheet that was passed around at our MOPS meeting, please email Jacqui at jacqui.reddick@gmail.com. This will help us figure out how much meat to grill.

See you on Saturday!




Sunday, September 22, 2013

Go-to Meals

OK, I just discovered one of the best reasons for handling Publicity for MOPS this year: compiling this list of Steering's favorite recipes is making me hungry! Since I have to grocery shop tomorrow, I think I'll add the ingredients from a few of these recipes to my list. Yum... dinner is served!

Enjoy these recipes, and please share your own favorite go-to meals with everyone at your table on Tuesday.



Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
3 lbs Boneless Chicken Breast
1 Whole Onion – Sliced in chunks
1 20 oz can of crushed or nibblit Pineapple
1 Bottle of BBQ Sauce of your Choice
Hamburger or Kaiser Rolls

  1. Layer Chicken, then onion, pineapple, and then BBQ Sauce.
  2. Cook on Low for 8-10 hours
     NOTE: If you want it less sweet then drain the pineapple juice



 Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

1 stick of butter
1 lg onion – chopped (only use ½ or chop very small and sauté longer)
1 qt milk (4 cups)
1 lg pack of frozen, shredded hash brown potatoes (Ore Ida Brand)
1 can cream of celery soup
1 ½ c grated sharp cheddar cheese
Bacon bits

1.      Sauté onion and butter till tender
2.      Add potatoes and cook at low heat
3.      Add milk and cream of celery
4.      Add cheese and cook until bubbly and melted
5.      Season with salt and pepper
6.      Sprinkle with bacon bits if desired



Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken
Egg
Milk
Salt/Pepper
½ cup Parmesan Cheese (Romano)
1 ½ cup Italian style Breadcrumbs
Spaghetti sauce

Directions:
1.      Pound chicken to quarter inch thick
2.      Cut chicken to cutlet sizes
3.      Mix egg, milk, salt and pepper in a flat container
4.      Soak meat
5.      Mix Parmesan Cheese and Breadcrumbs
6.      Coat meat in dry mixture
7.      Heat fry pan with olive oil (medium-high to high)
8.      Pan sear chicken (add oil as needed) about 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown
9.      Put in Coringware or other glass baking dish.
10. Put spaghetti sauce on top with mozzarella cheese on top
11. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes
12. Serve with Pasta or Salad



Kid-friendly Crock Pot Chili

1 lb hamburger browned and drained with 1 onion cooked with hamburger – drain grease
1 can diced tomato – do not drain
1 can bushes baked beans
1 can chili with no beans
Small can salsa
3 T of BBQ sauce
¼ c brown sugar

1.      Put all ingredients in Crock Pot for 6-8 hours on Low. 
2.      Serve with fritos, cheese, and/or sour cream.
3.      Add additional spices to your liking.




Carmelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza

1 whole Pizza Crust
 Olive Oil, For Drizzling
1 whole Large Red Onion, Halved And Thinly Sliced
¼ cup Brown Sugar
 Kosher Salt to Taste
 Parmesan Cheese, Grated
10 ounces Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Thinly Sliced
8 slices Prosciutto (more to taste)

  1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and brown sugar and toss/stir for several minutes, or until onions are brown and cooked. Set aside.
  3. Roll out pizza dough to a rectangular shape. Drizzle on olive oil, sprinkle on a little salt, followed by a little Parmesan.
  4. Lay slices of mozzarella evenly over the top of the crust. Arrange caramelized onions over the top of the mozzarella. Randomly lay slices of prosciutto over the onions.
  5. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the lower half of the oven, or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cut into squares. Serve immediately.



Baked Spaghetti

1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti, cooked
2 T butter OR margarine
1 C grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 (24 ounce) carton ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
1 pound ground beef
1 (25.75 ounce) jar Prego® Chunky Garden Combination Italian Sauce
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil.
  2. Combine hot cooked spaghetti with butter; stir until butter melts and coats spaghetti. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; stir to coat. Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in foil-lined pan. Spread ricotta cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Brown ground beef, drain; add pasta sauce and heat until bubbly. Spoon over cheeses. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.
  3. Cover with non-stick foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil cover and continue baking 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.



Pretzel Chicken

½ pound hard pretzels, coarsely crushed (4 cups)
½ cup canola oil
½ cup whole-grain mustard
2 T. Dijon mustard
¼ cup water
3 T. red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 large skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a food processor, pulse the pretzels until coarsely ground; you should have coarse chunks and fine crumbs. Transfer to a large, shallow bowl.
  2. Wipe out the food processor. Add the oil, whole-grain and Dijon mustards, water and vinegar and process until smooth. Season the dressing with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour half of the dressing into a large shallow bowl, add the chicken breasts and turn to coat. Dredge the chicken in the pretzel crumbs and transfer to a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in the upper third of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Slice the chicken and serve warm or at room temperature with the remaining mustard dressing.



Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

1 cup uncooked orzo
2 T. chopped fresh parsley (or just use dry)
7 t. butter, divided
1 to 1.5 pounds cooked frozen shrimp, thawed with tails removed
2 t. minced garlic
2 T. lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

1.      Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain. Place orzo in a medium bowl. Stir in parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and keep warm.
2.       Melt butter in pan. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in shrimp, juice, and pepper; cook 1 minute or until shrimp are warmed through. Combine with orzo.




Slow Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast

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

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.




Tuesday, 9/24: Fast Family Meals

I just reread my post about our first MOPS meeting on 9/10. I opened the post with a few comments about the predicted cooler weather. Of course, we now all know what really became of that break from the record heat at the beginning of the month! I hope that you are all safe and sound after a challenging couple of weeks. 



MEETING TOPIC: Fast Family Meals

WHEN: Tuesday, 9/24 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

Food will be provided by Jen Bishop's table.

We will start with a welcome message and prayer before we eat and play "High/Low" at our tables. After announcements, our very own Courtney Greedy of Glow Family Wellness will teach us tips and tricks for keeping healthy and staying sane while feeding your family quick and yummy meals. We will also play a game, which Heather will lead, and we will have time for discussion afterward.

The Steering team wanted to provide you with a teaser for what's to come on Tuesday, so I have compiled a list of our favorite "Fast Family Meals" in another post.

Is your kitchen stocked with ingredients for your own go-to recipes? We would love to hear about them on Tuesday!

Sheryl




Sunday, September 15, 2013

MOPS at WOW!: Yes, we're still ON!



This has been a challenging week, whether you were busy cleaning up from the flood or trying to entertain your kiddos indoors during school closures (or both!). So, let's get out of the house on Tuesday to reconnect and let the kids burn off some energy!

WHERE: WOW! Children's Museum, 110 North Harrison Avenue, Lafayette, CO 80026

WHEN: Tuesday, September 17th from 10 a.m. to noon.

COST: $5.50 per kid (parents are always free).

NOTE: Please meet outside at 9:45 so that we can enter together. We need to pay at the same time in order to secure the discounted rate.

ALSO: We have reserved a private room, so feel free to bring your lunch.

We hope to see you there!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Welcome Back!


It might still feel like Summer out there this weekend, but weather.com assures us that Fall is right around the corner! With a predicted high of 64F in Boulder on Tuesday, it will be time to dust off our scarves, sweaters and boots for our first MOPS meeting of the year!

MEETING TOPIC: "A Beautiful Mess"

WHEN: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Boulder Church (3245 Kalmia, Boulder, CO 80301)

Food will be provided by the Steering Team.

We will start with a welcome message and prayer before we eat and play "High/Low" at our tables. After announcements, we will play an ice breaker game and talk about our most embarrassing mom moment(s). 

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you at MOPS on Tuesday! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Sheryl
sher1217@hotmail.com