MOAR PINTEREST RECIPES.

i haven't been cooking as many new recipes lately - actually, i have to look back to even see what i made. hmmm.

do you meal plan? i do.

i try to come up with a meal plan every friday for the upcoming week, so i can make a list and do my shopping on saturday. it's super helpful because then i'm not buying a bunch of crap at the store that doesn't really make up a meal.

so the last few meals plans have had: baja fish tacos (didn't happen), creamy quinoa primavera, turkey burgers, lazy crockpot sunday casserole (didn't happen), and bruschetta chicken bake (didn't happen).

so...what did we eat? well. i know we ate turkey burgers, regular burgers, quinoa (twice, two recipes), homemade pizza, SONIC, bbq pulled chicken, turkey parmesan meatballs, calzones and more.

so, i do have some new recipes to share, i guess. i just deviated a bit.

oh! and i tried to "new" things - one was a cookie pie made with BEANS and the other was to make my own almond butter! both were awesome and EASY!!!!!!!!!!!!

(that was so much rambling for a few recipes. sorry.)

Creamy Quinoa Primavera:

recipe and picture from here.

Ingredients1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 cups thinly sliced or bite sized pieces assorted uncooked vegetables
3 tablespoons grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

Directions
Rinse quinoa thoroughly; drain. Bring quinoa and broth to boil in a 2-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20-25  minutes or until broth is absorbed. While quinoa is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in butter for about one minute, stirring frequently, until golden. Stir in vegetables. Cook about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir cream cheese and basil into cooked quinoa.  Toss vegetables with quinoa mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

***KERI's NOTES: have you ever tried quinoa? it is awesome. it's like a rice/pasta and it is sooo good. and good for you! it's the ONLY grain that is considered a complete protein too! so you can get your protein while feeling like you're eating pasta! YUM.

Quinoa with Veggies

 recipe from here.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 3 cups water (I used two cups chicken broth instead)
• 1 pinch salt (omitted)
•  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (i only used two)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin ( increased this to 1 tsp)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 green onions, chopped

***Keri's Notes: this was great! i made the whole batch to put over lettuce for lunches this week. sooo good.

Garlic Turkey Parmesan Meatballs

recipe and picture from here.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
10 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1 – In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and form in to meatballs, approximately the size of a golf ball (maybe just a tad smaller).

Step 2 – Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Step 3 – Bake at 350 F. for approximately 30-45 minutes, or until the meatballs reach a minimum of 165 F. on a thermometer.

Step 4 – Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly and serve.

Eat and Enjoy!

***KERI's NOTES: these were dry as a bone. my fault. i only used one poud of turkey and didn't adjust the amount of parmesan cheese. whoops. the flavor was great though! i would make them again. i served these with egg noodles for dave and hallie with a side of carrot sticks and fresh fruit. i ate mine plain with fruit and they were good.

Deep Dish Cookie Pie

recipe and picture here.

Ingredients

• 2 cans white beans or garbanzos (drained and rinsed) (500g total, once drained)
• 1 cup quick oats 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 T canola oil
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar (You can sub evaporated cane juice or white sugar.
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Blend everything (except the chips) very well in a good food processor (not a blender). Mix in chips, and pour into an oiled pan. Cook at 350F for around 35-40 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

***KERI's NOTES: don't be a hater. you can't even taste the freaking beans. and it cuts out eggs, most oil and it is delicious!!! i used brown sugar splenda and it was delicious. a great alternative from the regular cookie pie/bars.

Almond Butter

i got a hankering last night to try to make my own almond butter. i eat peanut butter every morning in my green moster and i've heard great things about almond butter as a healthier substitute. but holy toledo - it's like $9 for a jar of that business. so, i hve heard you can make your own and i did. because i am awesome.

easy as pie: roast two cups of raw almonds in the oven at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. add to food processor with half-1 tsp of salt (i used kosher). process. for what seems like a million years but is really like...eight. you might have to scrape down the sides a few times, but yeah. that's it. process until it's the consistency of regular pb and then i put it in a jar!

i tried it in my greenie this morning and it was delish. i still prefer pb, but that's because i love pb. but i will be doing almond butter from now on!

*****

so now do you think i'm weird? i know a lot of these recipes aren't "normal" ones, but if you try them i bet you will like them!

APRIL GOALS: HEY HO, LET'S GO.

april! yes! goals! let's do it!

1. crockpot yogurt. sounds familiar.

2. read, "how to save for retirement without living like a pauper or winning the lottery." thrilling stuff, huh? i stole that from kelly and have already ordered it for my kindle!

3. finish decorating henry's room. poor kid. i kept it all gender neutral since we didn't find out the sex until he was born. it's sorta decorated, but needs a little oompf!

i have a few things in mind - a little something to go between his windows, two weird, creepy lion things that i got at the thrift store a million years ago and hang up a few pictures (a mirror perhaps?) on his wall. sounds exciting, right?

4. paint. the. vanity. i am putting that as a real goal, not just a bonus goal this month. maybe i will actually do it?

bonus goal!

make a headboard for the master bedroom!

a la...this one:

or this one:

or this one:

may the odds be ever in my favor!

MARCH GOALS: THAT'S A WRAP.

here's the link to my original post for my march goals: http://babymasonsblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/goals-marching-on-ha.html.

to recap, i was to:

1. make crockpot yogurt. and that....didn't happen. i mean, i could have but i honestly kept forgetting about it. and it's more of a weekend project and our weekends have been sort of cray-z.

    2. duplicate some outfits from pinterest. yeah, buddy, i rocked this one. i mean, check it.

my favorites are the ones without the solid cardigans or blazers. so...more patterns on top, got it. and love my leopard belt, laceless oxfords, skinnies and the half-tuck. big fan of the half-tuck.

    

  3. goal three was to finish my book (feast of crows, book three of game of thrones) - done!

now...onto APRIL!

MORE OF WHAT I WORE.

i've been pinning all sorts of imagines on pintest. cute, fun styles.

styles that *i* should be able to wear.

i mean, why not? i'm young...ish. it's more fun to dress cute than not. so i've been trying.

i've had some successes and some misses. and i think i'm starting to see a pattern with what i like to wear.

so.

here are a few images that i've pinned:

well that formatted weird, now didn't it?

so here are a few things i've been wearing. to work.



what's up with my leg? i mean...wha?



can you see the pictures where i'm keeping my feet together and there is a mysterious white string between them?

yeah, i'm weird.

i have an obsession with these particular pair of target black flats. only $12, which menas they fall apart in a few months...but for $12, i'll just buy a few pairs to have on back up. and this is a back up pair. with the elastic string still in the middle.

i am just that cool.

BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TODAY, I WILL BORE YOU WITH PINTEREST.

i love pinterest so much. oh wait - did you already know that?

well i do. i have gotten such great recipes and ideas from that site.

such as...

Banana Nut Oats

picture and recipe from here!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 banana, mashed
1 tbsp chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Add the oats and cinnamon to a bowl and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup of water to the bowl, or 3/4 cup if you like your oatmeal runnier, and microwave on high for 1 minute. 

2. Remove the cooked oats from the microwave, stir in the mashed banana and walnuts, and enjoy!

 

Keri's Notes:

 

holy cow this was good this morning. and kept me full until lunch time. i omitted the walnuts because i didn't have them. also, i did a 1/2 cup water and will do more next time. it was pretty thick. and i wonder if i could use quick oats for a smoother texture? i'm sure i could.

 

and these...

 

No-Bake Chocolate PB Cookies

picture and recipe here.

• 1/4 cup peanut butter (you can probably sub another nut butter)
• 1/4 cup plus 3T raisins
• salt to taste (I used a little over 1/4 tsp, but I like salty pb cookies!)
• 2 T roasted, unsalted peanuts (Or maybe another nut, if you’re allergic to peanuts? Also: If you can only find salted peanuts, reduce or omit added salt)
• 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1-2 T cocoa powder (to taste)
• optional: chocolate chips, either before or after blending (or both!)

throw everything into a food processor. i roll everything into balls.

Keri's Notes:

they were good, but i still have some in the freezer, so that should tell you that i wasn't as nuts over them as these. and it looks like my bff morgan feels the same way.

and now some a deese...

Honey-Lime Fish Tacos

picture and recipe here.
Ingredients:
6 (4-6oz) fillets tilapia
zest and juice of 2 limes
1 Tbsp olive oil + more for cooking
3 Tbsp honey
3/4 tsp salt + more for dredging
3/4 tsp pepper + more for dredging
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2c flour (white or whole wheat pastry flour work best)
small fajita-size flour tortillas
shredded lettuce, cheese, or other favorite taco toppings

Directions:
Assemble marinade by combining lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a gallon-sized zip-top bag or shallow container with a lid. Add fish and marinate in the refrigerator anywhere from 30 minutes up to 24 hours*

When ready to cook, combine flour with a pinch of salt and pepper on a plate. Remove each fish fillet from the marinade and dredge lightly with the flour on both sides (just a light, light coating).

Heat 1-2 Tbsp olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook fillets 2 at a time for 3-4 minutes per side or until opaque and browned (this works best if you don’t disturb the fish much while letting it cook). Add additional oil to the pan if necessary.

While tilapia is cooking, make honey-lime sauce by pouring leftover marinade into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 5-6 minutes until slightly reduced.

To serve, break fish into large pieces and serve in tortillas with honey-lime sauce, lettuce and other favorite toppings.

Keri's Notes:

freaking awesome. period. dave ate the crap out of them. fish tacos rock.

and last but not least, the oldies but goodies...

i have made the super hero smoothie aka green monster about 80 times since the first post and my dad even admits they are fabulous. dave sorta likes them, but doesn't like peanut butter so i need to make one for him without. he will love it. he likes knowing he is eating healthy stuff.

 

i have also made this cashew chicken twice now. it is seriously my very favorite recipe. i love it so much. i eat mine over greens and it is delicous. i made it for my dad and he loved it too.

 

 the end.

---

MR. HENRY'S LATEST TRICK, DAVE'S HAIR AND TODAY'S OUTFIT.

makes me nervous, but it's okay because i get to look at his cute bum.

and dave finally shaved off his beard...but not before i took lots of pictures!

he was a beast.

and last but not least, today's outfit ala pinterest. don't mind the wet hair!

also, it's really awkward to take pictures of yourself and post them on the internet. so i probably won't do it anymore. just trust me that i'm doing really well on my march goals, mkay?

RECIPES AND LEAVING ON A JET PLANE.

none of my bags are packed, but henny and i are jet-setting for the east coast in a few days. i broke the news to hallie yesterday and and she bawled. hey - not my fault she grew up and now has to go to school!!

i wish i could take her. so bad. i never feel complete without that little girl.

anyway, we are off to visit dear-friend sarah. i haven't seen her in a million years so i figure we're due. so now i get to figure out how to deal with bottles/formula on an airplane - suck - and how much crap to pack overall. i've gotten some great advice, so i think i have a grip. i'm just worried about warming up the bottle on the airplane. that's it. nothing else. just the bottle being warm on the airplane.

such 1st world problems right there.

let's see...i've been smokin' my goals for february (see the original post here) and will do an official report tomorrow. i know you (mom, barb) can't wait.

here's a few recipes i pinned and actually made from pinterest!

Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

recipe and photo via here

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 softball-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
4 dinner rolls
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded

In large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and then brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef stock, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and remove most of the soft insides, leaving a bed to hold the meat mixture. Toast the rolls and set aside.

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in the cheese.

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and replace the top of the roll.

Keri's Notes:

these were...good. nothing spectacular, but good. i didn't do the cheese sauce and that might have taken it up a level. I just melted provolone over a bun. I actually didn't even eat that - just ate the mean mixture over lettuce. I liked it, it just wasn't that exciting for me!

***

Skinny Pumpkin Muffins/Cupcakes

i will make these again and again. you just can't beat how easy and low-fat they are. they are suuuuper moist. i made full-size muffins and drizzled some frosting i had leftover in the fridge (just melted it in the microwave and drizzled away). i also made some mini muffins and dipped the tops in melted butter and rolled in a cinnamon/sugar mix. they were perfect for brunch the next day.

recipe and photo from here

Ingredients:

• 18.25 oz cake mix - super moist (I used Aldi's brand yellow cake mix)
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin
• 1 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake wrappers.

Combine cake mix and pumpkin spice in a large bowl. Add pumpkin puree and water, mix about 2 minutes.

Keri's Notes:

make them.

***

Cashew Chicken - holy crap these were so good.

recipe and photo via here

Ingredients

For stir fry sauce:
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar  (i just used cider vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
•  
For Cashew Chicken:
• 2 chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb. total), diced
• 8 leaves of greenleaf or iceburg lettuce
• 3 tablespoons canola oil (or oil of choice)
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/4 cup cashews, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For stir fry sauce:
1. Mix all ingredients making sure to dissolve brown sugar. Set aside.
For Cashew Chicken:
2. Heat canola oil in pan over medium to medium high heat. Add diced chicken and brown (about 4-5 minutes). Remove chicken from oil. Add onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon soy sauce to pan; brown. When onions and garlic are brown and tender, add stir fry sauce, browned chicken, and cashews. Saute mixture for a few minutes and remove from heat.
3. Spoon chicken mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Add your favorite hot sauce, more cashews or basil.

Keri's Notes:

seriously, so good. a little bit of heat, but the flavors are delicious. i ate mine over lettuce instead of doing the lettuce wraps and it was delicious, even cold for lunch the next day.

***

Crispix Mix

• 7 cups Crispix, or whatever cereal
• 1 cup nuts (I used peanuts)
• 1 cup pretzels
• 3 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon onion salt
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Arrange the Crispix cereal, nuts and pretzels on the baking pan/tray. Mix together to evenly distribute the contents.

Pour the melted butter into a bowl. Stir in the garlic salt, onion salt, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce until thoroughly combined.

Pour the melted butter mixture of the cereal mix on the pan. Coat the cereal, nuts and pretzels evenly, using a pastry brush to help if needed.

Place in the oven and bake at 250ºF for approximately 45 minutes. Keep checking the mixture and stir it every 15 minutes to prevent sticking.

During the cooking, spread out paper towels on the kitchen bench to allow the mix to cool off.

Remove from the oven and spread out on the paper towels to cool.

Eat

Keri's Notes:

this was good - very basic. i had crispix in my pantry that needed to be used up or thrown out, so i made this recipe. it was fine - nice and salty. i didn't have any prezels so i just used peanuts and it was great.

RAWR. AND GULP.

i finally tried my first Green Monster, except in this here hiz-ouse we call it the Super Hero Smoothie.

because hallie thinks she has "powers" and to get her to drink this i called it a super hero smoothie and well, that is pretty smart of me. i know.

because it's green.

bright, magically green.

oh and delicious. it tastes like a banana-y, peanut butter-y milkshake. you don't taste even one bit of the spinach. not a single, tiny BIT of spinach, i swear.

i deviated from the original recipe, because i didn't have yogurt and it was still awesome.

Super Hero Smoothie

1 cup skim milk

1 TBSP peanut butter (i used skippy natural creamy)

2 cups spinach

1 small, sliced up frozen banana

BLEND and watch the magic.

you can add whatever fruit you want to. or yogurt. or skip the milk and just do water/ice. or leave our the pb. i think the banana is key. i've heard great things about pineapple too.

don't be a skeptic. do it. also - go to http://www.greenmonstermovement.com/ for a gazillion more recipes.

RECIPES, RECIPES, RECIPES. YUM.

i hope you said that title like: duck, duck, duck, GOOSE. no?

i've made a few new recipes, thank you pinterest. i love to cook, it's just hard to fit it all in. i get home at five with hen, start supper, change my clothes (sometimes), hen gets fed at five-thirty, we eat sometime between five-thirty and six and then hen starts his bath/bottle/bed routine at six-thirty and in bed by seven. yowzers.

so my week-day meals have to be quick or have to be prepped the night/morning before.

i am pretty proud of us though. we haven't eaten out in a million years. except on valentine's day. kfc. blech.

****

so, last night (tuesday night), i made Bubble Up Enchiladas. these were so easy and dave and hallie loved them.

hallie cut up the biscuits for me while i browned the turkey and made up the sauce. it was seriously the easiest thing ever and ready in 30 minutes or less.

also -  it's a weight watchers recipe!

picture and recipe here!

Bubble Up Enchiladas

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 can reduced fat refrigerator biscuits
• 1 ¼ cups shredded low fat Mexican Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 F

Brown Turkey and drain juices if needed

Pour and mix enchilada and tomato sauce over browned turkey.

Cut refrigerated biscuits into fourths and stir into meat mixture.

Dump into a greased 9X13 casserole pan and bake for 25 minutes.

Take out of oven and sprinkle cheese on top.  Bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Let stand for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

****

let's see...i also made up some bbq beef quesadillas from this recipe. i ate the bbq over lettuce for my salad for a few days too. VERY YUMMY.

Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

from the Cooking For Your Family board at www.babycenter.com

Ingredients

·         3-4lb chuck roast

·         prepared yellow mustard - enough to spread all over the meat

·         1/4 cup paprika

·         1/4 cup white or brown sugar (I just grab whatever is closest)

·         3 tablespoons garlic powder

·         3 tablespoons salt

·         2 tablespoons onion powder

·         2 tablespoons ground black pepper

·         1 tablespoon dried parsley

·         1 tablespoon chipotle powder (optional)

·         1/2 cup ketchup

·         1/4 - 1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce, depending on how saucy you like it

Instructions

1.      Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

2.      In a small bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients.

3.      Get out your roast and slather it in prepared yellow mustard. You just want enough to cover the outside of the meat in a thin layer, probably a 1/4 cup-ish. Rub the dry ingredients into the mustard coated roast and place in a roasting pan or, if you have one, a deep oven proof skillet.

4.      Bake covered for 3 to 4 hours depending on the size of your roast. The beef should be very tender and just fall apart. Remove from the oven and place on the stove. Shred the beef, add the ketchup and barbecue sauce and cook for just a few minutes to allow the sauce to soak into the beef and thicken a tiny bit.

5.      This can also be done in a crockpot. Start out the same with the mustard and dry rub, add to the crockpot and let it cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or until tender and falling apart. Remove to a skillet and finish it off the same as you would for the oven method.

6.      Serve on sandwich rolls.

****

oh! and last night i made up some health-ified Oatmeal Raisin Cookies for dave.

Beth's Spice Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

via allrecipes.com here

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in airtight container. Make sure you get some, because they don't last long!

Keri's Changes (big ones):

i subbed land-o-lakes baking margarine for the butter and the lard (gross). i subbed brown-sugar splenda for the brown sugar, regular splenda for the white sugar and then cut the recipe in half because, well, what if they were gross?

and they were good! they weren't the BEST ever, because how on earth COULD they be without real butter, real sugar, etc.

the redeeming things about these cookies is that they are "spicy," so they have nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and something else. so that compensates for the lack of flavor elsewhere.

 the texture was good.

hallie rolled them into balls and we stuck them into the fridge so they wouldn't spread as much. and they stayed as perfect balls until i "smooshed" them in the last three minutes. and then they were perfect. crispy-ish on the ouside and soft on the inside.

i will make these again and again.

that's it!