Sneak in Veggies and Omega 3

Here is a great pesto recipe that I use in my house and my 4 and 8 year old love.

1 cup fresh basil (or fresh/frozen see post)
1 cup fresh spinach
1/4 cup walnuts (I used a bit more even)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil drizzled in as you blend

*Blend in food processor and mix in your cooked pasta!! YUM

Homemade Granola bars

Ok, so my husband and son wanted granola bars for our grab and go breakfast this week.   I didn't want to buy granola bars at the store for two reasons, money and healthfulness (is that a word?).  So I remembered a recipe from Melissa @ Another Lunch for chocolate chip granola bites and I decided to make them.

 

I had to improvise because I didn't have any Crisped Rice cereal.  So here is the recipe I used.   I substituted frosted mini shredded wheats and lowered the sugar.

2 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup crushed up frosted mini shredded wheats

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup chocolate chips

*In a large bowl combine the first 4 ingredients.  Mix well.  In another bowl/container (I used my 2cup glass measuring cup) combine the vanilla, oil, and honey and pour over the dry mixture.  Mix really well.  Then add chocolate chips to mixture.

If you have these great mini silicone baking cups then press the mixture into them and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 min.  OR in a 8X8 glass baking dish lined with parchment paper press in and bake for 17-22 min. If you want to make them into bars you have to give them a long time to cool down.  Check out Melissa's post for all the tips on baking and on cutting bars.  She explains it well.

Breakfast on the Go idea

I know it doesn't look awesome, I am working on this recipe.  I got the idea from Deb @ Lincoln recipe swap when she commented on my breakfast post - *Always accepting ideas please*. 

I had made some clover rolls for St' Patrick's day and I am not a bread maker so call it fate that Deb commented on my post the day before I was going to make some bread dough. 

I used some of my dough to make these breakfast pockets which I froze, thawed the night before I wanted them, and popped them in the microwave in the morning. I rolled out two circles and put some scrambled eggs, cheese, and ham (Homel's :) in the middle and topped with another circle then crimped with a fork.  I guessed when I baked them and based the time on the roll recipe. 

The concept is great.  I need to work on my dough though because it is a little dense and bland.  I like these sandwiches though, and I dip mine in salsa to add a bit more taste. (and some veggies too).  Like I said, it is a work in progress.

Make my own chilli powder...? Yikes

This week in my CSA share I got three stems full of cayenne peppers that were partially dried.  What the heck was I to do with dried peppers?  Well after a bit of research I decided to make my own chili powder.  I have been moving away from the traditional spices because there are all sorts of chemicals and preservatives in them.  I have bought a few organic spices that we use often (cumin, garlic, cinnamon and parsley).

1.  Cut off the tops of the peppers and take out the seeds (unless you want it really hot)

2.  I finished drying them in the oven.  They were partially dry already

3.  Shook out any remaining seeds :)

4.  Put them in the food processor and grinded to powder

 

5.  In a dry jar I added  (The jar on the left is the mixture, on the right is just the cayenne)

• 1Tablespoon cayenne powder
• 2 Tablespoons cumin
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon cloves

Amazing Quiche

Another idea this week adapted from Rachel Ray's magazine AND it fit into my budget friendly meal plan this week.

I have to admit I was skeptical of the strategy but it worked and worked well.

1.  Warm up some olive oil and add garlic (careful not to burn)
2.  Put in a cup of bread crumbs and toast in pan
3.  Remove from pan and put in a greased 9'' pie plate
.....................
3.  Steam some frozen broccoli
4.  In a bowl beat 4 eggs and about a cup of milk
5.  Add 1cup parmesean cheese, some parsley, salt and pepper to egg/milk mixture
6.  Add some chopped ham (again I used Hormel natural sandwich meat with no nitrates)
......................
Put it together
1.  Lay the broccoli on top of your toasted bread crumbs in pie plate
2.  Pour egg mixture on top shaking the pie plate a little to settle the mix
3.  Bake for 20-25 min (rotate 1/2 way through) in 425 degree oven

The crust turns out AMAZING.

Monday's Meal a Success

This is Monday's dinner in my week of budget meals
The recipe was adapted from Rachel Ray's magazine this month. 

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil
Add pieces of ham (I used Hormel all natural ham sandwich meat bc no nitrates)
Add mushrooms
Add spinach (I used frozen that I steamed first)
Add cooked penne pasta
Add pesto (I used a Wegman's jarred pesto that I had bought a few weeks ago)
Just before serving I added chopped walnuts and parmesan cheese
As Rachel would say... Yummo!

Top 5 Breakfasts on the run

This is according to my 7 year old son.  We have to eat in the car because we leave the house so early.

• Kris Kringles (Finding Joy in my Kitchen) I add 3 chocolate chips to each :) Make ahead of time and freeze. Pop in the microwave for a few seconds & eat by hand. No syrup needed since it has the bit of chocolate

• Breakfast burritos  - Scramble some eggs. Mix in some salsa with the eggs.  (I know this next step will sound crazy) Press the eggs into an ice cube tray and freeze (trust me).  Once frozen, pop out the cubes and put them in a zip lock bag back in freezer.  In the morning grab two cubes and microwave a few minutes. Then put them in a tortilla with a little cheese. YUM

• Cinnamon Raisin Toast with a Simply Gogurt - I know not exciting but my son loves cinnamon raisin toast.  I haven't found a brand that I am in love with.  Last time I got Thomas's and I was pretty happy with the ingredients.  I'm not thrilled with the Gogurt but there aren't any dyes and I recognize most of the ingredients.

•  Oatmeal - I sometimes use the pouches but I mix in some plain quick cooking oats and I have always done that so the boys don't know any better.  When I have time (which isn't often) I make it on the stove.

• Tim Horton's - I know, I know, so not local and so industrial, but I love them and in a pinch they aren't that bad for you.  Egg and Cheese on a plain bagel.  Everyone has a weakness right?

PLEASE tell me your ideas in a comment.  I really need more!!  I am always looking for what others do in the am with the rush to get out the door and eat breakfast.

Cookbook review - Chocolate Bouchons

One of my colleagues gave me this cookbook to try. I am a French teacher so it makes sense that I love the movie Ratatouille :) I also love to cook and many of these recipes I will be able to try with my students in French club too. I thought I would do a bit of a review while I test the recipes.

#1 - Chocolate Bouchons (of course I started with a chocolate one)
I had to modify the recipe because it called for 3 STICKS OF BUTTER! Yikes!

3/4 c. Flour
1 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
3/4 C sugar plus 2 Tbsp
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup butter (1 and 1/2 sticks) melted and just slightly warm
3/4 cup applesauce
some chocolate chips about 1/2 bag
Confectioners' sugar to decorate

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Sift together first three ingredients and set aside
3. Mix in eggs and sugar on med. speed until pale in color
4. Add vanilla
5. Melt butter and mix the applesauce with the butter
6. On low speed add a little of the dry ingredients and alternate with the butter mixture
7. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 min cool a few minutes on rack
8. Invert the muffin cups and sprinkle with powdered sugar to serve.
9. I also drizzled a little chocolate syrup too :)