Steak fajitas

This is a simple, quick, and healthy meal. Steak fajitas! Sorry I didnt take a whole lot of photos but you get the idea :) serves 4

For this you will need:
1 lb of beef ( I like sirloin or new york or really any steak that would be good to grill)
Assortment of bell peppers (stem and seeds removed) thinnly cut. I used:
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1/2 orange bell pepper
You can add in thin slices of onion, I didnt cause the hubby doesnt like them.
1/3 cup Sliced mushrooms

In a frying pan heat 1 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add beef. Sprinkle seasonings of salt, (I did some onion powder which I would omit if you are going to add actual onions :) lawrys seasoned salt (same one I used for the previous recipe- awesome chili), and any other spices you would like to add. Then once the meat has browned on all sides -took about 10 mins- then put in the veggies! Sprinkle again with seasonings. Stir and toss until bell peppers are tender -about 10 mins. Taste a pepper to make sure the seasoning is where you would like it.

Then serve with salsa, cheese and your choice of tortillas.

I personally make my own. I follow this super duper easy and delicious (no lard included) recipe found at:

http://thecafesucrefarine.com/2013/08/best-ever-homemade-flour-tortillas/

Enjoy! Sooo yummy!

Russian chicken with apricot jam

Get ready for a quick and delicious go to recipe!

Russian Chicken with Apricot Jam!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup sugar free or less sugar apricot jam
• 1/3 cup or 1/3 of an 8oz jar of russian dressing
• 1/2 package of onion soup mix (make sure you mix the package before pouring out half to insure you get the beef bullion as well as the little dehydrated veggies in the package)

Mix these three ingredients together in a small bowl

Place 1.5 lbs of chicken inside of a deep covered baker from pampered chef (a glass pan works about the same, i'd use an 8x8).

Pour the sauce on top of the chicken and cook for 30 mins at 400°.

Take out of oven and shred chicken inside the pan and let sit for 5-10 mins. This will allow the cooked chicken to absorb most of the sauce! Yummmmmy

Best served on cooked quinoa but can also be served with rice, pasta, or salad

Seriously, you have to know that it is amazing when the kid smiles this big! She loooves this dinner!

Parmesan Chicken & bonus baked spaghetti

Here is a big favorite dish! Very good and pairs well with a lot of sides. You can do noodles and a red sauce, tortellini, on a bed of rice, or lots of other things! This particular time I did baked spagetti. But here is the recipe for the chicken:

Parmesan Chicken

Breading:
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or 1 TB dried

Sauce:
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp salt
3 TB lemon juice

Cut up around 2 - 2 1/2 lbs of chicken into strips. Then dip the chicken in the breading then the sauce then the breading again. By dipping it twice into the breading it creates a more covered chicken strip.
Place on baking sheet at 350 for 30 mins or until chicken is done.
If using a deep covered baker like me cook at 400 for 30 mins.

You can melt mozzarella cheese on top for the last 5 mins of cook time.

For the baked spaghetti, cook the noodles and drain. Then combine with your choice of red sauce. Put all that inside the deep covered baker (after you take out the chicken but leave the juices). Cover with your choice of cheeses. I used mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Let cook at 350 for 10 mins. Serve with parmesan chicken on top! Enjoy!

Italian Salisbury Steak

This dish may not look like a picture perfect dish but believe me it is AMAZING!!!!! It tastes so good and it is about 30 mins from start to finish. I usually pair it with yam that I cook in the microwave in a special potato cooking pouch. Anyway here is the recipe! Enjoy!

Italian Salisbury Steak

ingredients: 1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 lb ground beef

1/3 cup italian style bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

dash of onion powder

1) In a bowl mix thoroughly 1/4 cup of the soup, beef, breadcrumbs, egg, and onion. Press into 6 oval patties. 

2) In a skillet over high heat, in 1 TB hot oil, cook patties till browned. Spoon off fat. 

3) Stir in remaining soup & 3 mushrooms sliced up (optional). Cover. simmer for 20 mins or until done. Turning patties over occasionally. Serve on top of noodles and sprinkle heavily with Parmesan cheese. 

Scheduling

It is noon and my daughter just went down for a nap and I find myself thinking about what I have to make for dinner. Then my mind starts to do the process of first what kind of meat I want. Then when I finally have an idea I then have to think about what recipe I have to do with that meat. On top of all that I have to think of stuff I have in the cupboards and fridge that I can use for the meat and the side dish. It usually is all too overwhelming that I decide to just go out to eat. Well I figured out something that works great for me - a schedule.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are CHICKEN! 

Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday are other meat days like fish, pork, or beef. 

Thursday is TACO NIGHT! or enchiladas if the tacos get boring :)

Then to keep things interesting I have to try a new recipe each week. 

I've been doing this for over a week and it has been such a load off. Now I only have to come up with what recipe to use and it has been so much easier. Give it a try!

Awesome Chili

Are you ready for a high protein yet awesomely delicious and filling meal? Chili is a meal that can be served when its sunny or snowy. I love how easy and delicious and healthy it is. My husband is big into working out so having a meal that he loves that will also be good for his goals makes it even better! Plus you can make it all in one pan, making clean up a breeze!

CHILI

1 lb of ground beef (at least 93% lean)
2 - 15oz cans of chili beans (low sodium)
1 - 15oz can of black beans (drained)
1 - 15 oz can of red kidney beans (drained)
6 oz of salsa

salt
onion powder
lawry's seasoned salt

















fritos
cheddar cheese (shredded for topping)

Cook the ground beef in a pot over medium-high heat till cooked. Drain off fat if needed. Combine the cans of beans and salsa all at once. Stir then season with salt, onion powder, and lawry's seasoned salt. I did about 1/4 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp of the seasoned salt (also did a sprinkling of regular salt but i figured the seasoned salt would do the job just fine). You should really do it to your own tastes but that is what I did and it turned out delicious!
In a single serving bowl lay down a pile of fritos, then the chili, and then top with cheese. Enjoy!!!

Instead of fritos you could also make some cornbread! Still delicious!!!

Zucchini slices!

Here is a simple and delicious way to cook zucchini. Summer is coming up and all those with gardens know that zucchini can take up your life ;) so here is a fast and healthy way to cook up a great side dish!

Preheat oven to 400°

Take your zucchini and wash them. (About 3 small zucchini per baking sheet.) Don't peel the veggie, lots of the nutrients come from the skin of the zucchini.
Then cut off the ends, about 1/2 an inch. Now slice it, about 1/4 of an inch thick. (Try to do consistent widths so the slices cook evenly)

Take out a baking sheet and spray lightly with canola oil. Lay the cut zucchini down in a single layer. Now spray the zucchini with a little oil. Sprinkle on a little salt. Put in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
Take the sheet out and flip the zucchini over (you dont have to do each one but most of them, remember we are trying to keep it simple ;)
Sprinke a little more salt and then some parmesan cheese (doesn't have to be freshly grated, I used the regular kraft kind) and put back in the oven for 8-10 more minutes depending on if you like it a little more crisp.
Enjoy!