Easy Easy Curry, and another idea (Mix Bean Soup)

Hi, my idea for this week is, once again, not really a recipe (although all the recipes you guys have posted look pretty good-I'll try them soon-I was sick last week). Here's what you need:

• 2 potatoes
• 2 carrots
• one broccoli crown
• one onion
• garlic
  
• one package of S&B Golden Curry (found in the Asian foods section of the grocery store)

You probably already have everything but the curry. Chop all the veggies into bite size pieces. Sautee the onions and garlic in some olive oil in a skillet for five minutes and then add the rest of the veggies with some water and boil them until tender. Then follow the instructions on the box about adding the sauce (just break up the sections of concentrate and add some water). It works with any vegetables you want, and meat. Serve it over brown rice. So, SO easy, and very yummy.

FOR NEXT WEEK:
Just in case I don't get around to this blog next week (impending busyness) my idea is mixed bean soup. Just buy a package of mixed bean soup in the dry beans section (probably next to the rice) of the grocery store. It's a little package full of mixed beans, you can't miss it (see image right). Then soak them overnight (the longer you soak the less gas is left in them when you cook them). Then follow the directions on the back of the bag. You will need an onion and a can of chopped tomatoes, and some garlic and lots of seasoning salt, (and ham, opt.) but that's it. Then you just cook it for about an hour and a half (you don't have to watch it or anything) and it's ready to go. I usually use only half of the bag at a time, which is plenty for dinner and lunch the next day for 2. Don't forget the seasoning salt though. Again, WAY EASY!

Veggie Tacos

This is one of my favorite recipes because it is so good and so easy to make. I make this without meat and cheese because it is easier and cheaper for me, but you can easily just add some ground beef and top it with cheese.

Ingredients:
* 1lb. ground beef
*cheddar or other cheese
1-2 medium potatoes
1 green or red pepper
1 medium onion
1 can beans (kidney, black, white, or chickpeas)
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
1 pkt. taco seasoning
salt
pepper
crushed red pepper flakes

If you are using meat cook it the way you like it and then follow the rest of the directions adding the other ingredients into your cooked meat. In a skillet on medium heat, grate potatoes and onion. Let them cook with some water while you dice the pepper into tiny pieces. Add them to skillet. When these are cooked through turn down heat to low and add corn, tomatoes, beans, and seasoning. If you want it to be spicy add more pepper flakes. Let is simmer on low heat until it is warmed through. If you want you can top it with the cheese.

I like to put this in a tortilla with lettuce but you can put it on top of lots of lettuce for a taco salad with some tortilla chips crushed on the top. Wither way it is really good and easy to make.

Spring Rolls

These are easy because you use phyllo pastry as wrappers so you can bake them instead of frying. Sorry to add another Asian recipe, but these are pretty good.

Chinese cabbage
bean sprouts
grated carrots
ground pork
mushrooms
scallions

Saute all of the above in some sesame oil, garlic, red chili, ginger and then add 2 Tbsp. soy sauce and a pinch of sugar. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

Wrap in phyllo dough and bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Lasagna Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, sliced
2 large green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups water
2 cans diced tomatoes in olive oil, garlic and spices, undrained
1 can tomato paste
2 cups uncooked mafalda (mini lasagna noodle)
1 Tbs packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp italian seasoning, crumbled
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups Italian style croutons
1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Cook beef, onion, bell peppers and garlic in heavy sauce pan over medium heat 8-10 min, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown and onion is tender; drain. Stir in water, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir in pasta, brown sugar, Italian seasoning and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 min, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Set oven control to broil. Pour hot soup into 6 oven proof soup bowls or casseroles. Top each with 1/4 cup croutons. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil soup with tops 3-4 inches from heat 1 to 2 min. or until cheese is melted.
**You can substitute wheat berries for the ground beef!!

Pork & Green Bean Stir Fry

I saw this on the food network and it looked really good so I tried it out last night for dinner and Nate and I both really liked it.

Grocery List:
green beans (this is a main ingredient so get as many as you think you need to fill up on)
pork
1 cup rice
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
1 T. cornstarch
2 T. oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup green onions

Mix garlic, soy sauce, honey, corn starch, 1T.oil, water, and sliced green onions in a big zip lock bag. Add pork and marinate at least 2hrs. Cook enough rice for the number of people you're serving (1 cup uncooked rice was perfect for us). Cook pork 2-3 minutes on each side in a really hot wok (until both sides are seared) remove from wok and cut into thin slices (it should look a little pink in the middle). Add remaining 1T. oil to wok and cook green beans for a few minutes, add pork slices and remaining marinade. Cook until sauce thickens and pork looks done. Serve on top of rice.

Lettuce Wraps, Peanut Sauce

Lettuce Wraps

2 T. oil (divided)
1 1/2 T. minced garlic (divided)
1 1/4 lb. ground turkey or chicken
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 C. hoisin sauce
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
1 T. chili garlic sauce
1/2 C. chopped dry-roasted peanuts
1 head iceberg or butter lettuce

Heat 1 T. oil in medium saute pan. Add 1 T. minced garlic, cook for 30 seconds, add ground meat and brown 6 min. Drain & set aside. Heat remaining T. oil and T. garlic. Add chopped green pepper, saute for 1 minute. Add hoisin sauce, sesame oil, chili sauce. Add peanuts and stir. Spoon mixture into whole lettuce leaves. Wrap into packets & eat.

Peanut Sauce

1/3 C. Hoisin Sauce
1 T. oil
1 tsp. Chili sauce w/garlic
2 T. tomato paste
1/2 C. water
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 T. peanut butter

Mix all ingredients with whisk in pot until boiling. Cool, Dip spring rolls or lettuce wraps.

The Quickest I Idea I've Got

Hello Ladies,
I hope this idea works out. Thanks Marilee for setting up the blog. It might be good if an email goes out every time someone posts, just as a reminder to check it-I'll work on that. Kedra asked for quick so this is something I do about once a week (or more now) that is fast. First, on Saturday, cook a big batch of wheatberries or barley or something, and freeze it in serving size containers (ziplocks or tupperware or whatever) and then buy a Riceroni, Pastaroni, or my newest favorite (and the quickest) Lipton Sides (rice or noodles, they're usually by the Riceroni in the supermarket, there's a picture of the package on the link). Then add the wheat, and maybe some frozen or fresh veggies to it (I like the Costco frozen mixed veggies, or just frozen peas, or fresh mushrooms maybe if you get the stroganoff flavor), and serve. The Lipton Sides take 7 minutes to cook. It is a very fast meal, if not very gourmet. Then you can eat it with salad or fruit or bread or whatever, it's just a vehicle for wheat, which makes it more filling. Lipton Sides have been a staple at our house since Thomas was born. Anyway, you can give it a try if you want. Last night I had falafel and couscous for guests, which was also really quick (I'll post the recipe for the morocan couscous sometime)- I think you all got an idea of how to make falafel (can be found in the kosher Jewish section or the bulk foods section at most grocery stores), so that was my idea for the week, but it would still take about 30+ minutes to do both (I think you could do falafel in less than 30 min by itself though). So Lipton is my quick idea for this week. Have fun!

A Twist on Tuna

Hi Everyone!
I think this is a wonderful idea! What a great way to share recipes and get ideas for dinner. My recipes are a bit different because I don't have a lot of time or money to spend on food, so if you need a quick but healthy dinner I can help :)
This is a recipe I made one night when all I had was tuna and a few other ingredients, but I think it is really good and you can add whatever you want to it. Also you might want to use more than I do if you are cooking for more than two people.

2 cups rice or pasta or any grain (cooked)
1 can tuna
1 cup frozen or canned corn
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 onion (chopped)
1/2 red (any color is fine) pepper
salt
pepper
garlic

Directions: Put rice in rice cooker or start it on the stove. Chop onion and saute in sauce pan. Add minced garlic. Cook until onions are tender. add pepper, corn, peas and tuna. While these defrost and warm up add salt and pepper to taste. Just cook until everything is warm. Serve over rice or noodles or with grains mixed in.

Hello from Mom

You guys----this is perfect timing! I have been in a real rut! I am excited to learn from all of you creative cooks. Thank you for creating this, Nate!

Lentil Crostini

This is totally easy and delicious. It is actually really filling because of the lentils, but if you think you need meat, you could add ground beef, turkey or sausage. I have even eaten it a couple days old and it is still good. I also don't have exact measurements for anything. I just kind of add everything until it looks and tastes good.

Shopping List

french bread
tomatoes
lentils
balsamic vinegar
mozzerella or parmesan cheese


Recipe

Cook the lentils. Cut french bread into slices. Dice tomatoes and add lentils, balsamic vinegar, and spices (basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper) as desired. Top the bread slices with mixture and grate some parmesan or mozzerella cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees until warm and cheese is melted.

Blog Created :)

Hello Mom, Kedra, Adria, Alicia, all others, etc... The blog has been created. We can use this blog to enter weekly recipe ideas. I've given write access to this blog to all of you with gmail addresses, so when you are logged in, and visiting the blog, you can click the "create post" or "new post" link in the upper right hand corner of the page. :)