Some Go-To Recipe Ideas

So I tried to think about how to address the fourth general resolution I listed previously: cleaning.  And I have to admit this is not my or J's forte.  I usually go on cleaning binges now and then, but I'm hardly one to be offering advice.  So instead I've decided to expand upon yesterday's post and provide some meal ideas and recipes to kick-start your health eating resolutions.  

1. Tacos.  I know this doesn't sound nutritious at first, but hear me out.  We use ground chicken breast or low fat ground beef with low sodium taco seasoning.  The meat is low fat and the seasoning is pretty much just standard spices so no major offenders there.  Then we use corn tortillas, which have no processed ingredients.  We top our tacos with a small amount of monterey jack cheese, fresh salsa, avocados, and fresh chopped cilantro.  This is by far one of our favorite meals.
2. Stir Fry.  Cook up the veges first.  We usually  use only 3 or 4 to keep is easy.  Onions always and then two or so of the following: carrots, celery, snap peas, mushrooms, turnips, green or red peppers, bok choy, green beans, or spinach.  Use only enough oil to coat the inside of the wok or frying pan and heat the pan on medium high.  Add the hardest veges to the wok first (beans, turnips, or carrots) and then work your way down to the softest vegetables last (spinach and mushrooms) so that everything cooks evenly.  Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and a shot of soy sauce.  Cook the meat next.  We use sliced chicken breast, pork chops, steak, and occasionally shrimp for the meat products and season them with just salt and pepper before adding to the pan.  Once again lightly coat the inside of the pan  with oil and cook the meat through (since it's sliced this won't take too long).  Then season with the onion powder, etc.  Serve with a packet of Uncle Ben's 90 second brown rice.
3. Slow cooker meals.  These are awesomely convenient - mix up the ingredients in the pot the night before and place in the refrigerator over night.  Before you leave for work/class in the morning put the pot in the slow cooker and set on low for 8-10 hours.  When you get home, voila! Dinner is ready!  Our favorites are: Chili - use cooked ground beef or ground chicken breast with a chopped onion, chopped green pepper, 3 cans of beans of your choice (we use usually use some sort of white bean like great northern or canellini and then red kidney beans), one can of diced tomato, 2 Tbs of chili powder, and then some salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Beef Stew - cubed beef, diced potatoes, diced onion, chopped carrot, halved mushrooms (we like the baby bella variety), a can of Campbell's beef consume, a can of diced tomatoes, half a can of V-8 tomato juice, a dash of wine, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and some Mrs Dash Italian seasoning.  Or you could forgo the potatoes and add some cooked barley after the rest of the stew has cooked.  Shredded Beef - season a chuck roast with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker.  Fill the slow cooker with enough water until it is just below the top surface of the meat.  Cook all day.  In the evening remove the meat from the water and pull away any remaining fat.  Then shred the meat and mix with your favorite barbecue sauce.  Serve with brown rice and a salad or some microwaved frozen veges.  Easy!

 Those are just some of our easy at home recipes.  Here are a few that we've tried and loved from other sources.  One of our go to TV chefs is Alton Brown of Food Network's Good Eats.  Here are a few of our favorite recipes:  macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, broiled spiced salmon, overnight slow cooker oatmeal, edamame dip, protein bars.  
 We also like Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa fame: roasted pears with blue cheese, peach and raspberry crisp, pesto which is great with bowtie pasta, defrosted frozen peas, and diced fresh tomato, and Greek salad.  Here are a couple of others from random sources: corn on the cob with an olive oil parmesan topping, baby bran muffins, plum, oat and rosemary crisp,  leek, butternut squash and potato soup.

Enjoy!