Category: easy meals

Sunday Food Prep!

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned before, but I hate cooking. It’s not that I can’t cook, I just typically choose not to. Time is limited during the week, and I would rather do other things after school.

Well over the past year, I noticed that apparently at 32 years old the fast meals have caught up with me. My pants aren’t fitting anymore, and I would much rather buy my daughter cute outfits than spend unnecessary money on myself. So after some research, I’ve decided to give the Paleo diet a try.  I did it today. I cooked.

I spent all day preparing for the week. I made two types of egg muffins and meatloaf bites. Recipes follow:

 

Spinach and Sausage Egg Muffin

Ingredients

  • 7 large eggs
  • ½ lbs of pork sausage
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion
  • 3/4 cup Frozen chopped spinach
  • 2 chopped carrots
  • A finely chopped mushroom (optional)

 

Heat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 12-cup cupcake pan with cooking spray. Spray lots of cooking spray so they don’t stick. Cook sausage in a deep skillet over medium heat. When its about half way done, add green onions, spinach, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook until evenly browned. Drain and fill up the cupcake cups. Beat eggs and salt and pepper to taste. Fill cups up with beaten eggs until almost full. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then remove with a fork.

 

Broccoli Sausage Egg Muffins

Ingredients

  • 7 large eggs
  • ½ lbs of pork sausage
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion
  • 3/4 cup chopped broccoli
  • A finely chopped mushroom (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 12-cup cupcake pan with cooking spray. Spray lots of cooking spray so they don’t stick. Cook sausage in a deep skillet over medium heat. When its about half way done, add green onions, broccoli,  and mushrooms. Cook until evenly browned. Drain and fill up the cupcake cups. Beat eggs and salt and pepper to taste. Fill cups up with beaten eggs until almost full. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then remove with a fork.

 

Mini Meatloaf Cups

Ingredients

  • 1 pound hamburger meat
  • 6 ounces frozen, chopped spinach
  • 1-2 teaspoons oil
  • 4-6 green onions diced
  • 3 ounces mushrooms, finely diced
  • 1 carrot, grated or finely diced
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoons onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme

Heat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 12-cup cupcake pan with cooking spray. Thaw the spinach, squeeze out the excess water. Cook green onion and mushrooms on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Put the hamburger meat in a large bowl, add the spinach, carrots, mushroom/onion mixture, beaten eggs, coconut flour and all the spices. Use your hands to combine it. Fill the muffin cups to the top with the meatloaf mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

 

They are all actually really good! Next time I may throw in some garlic salt and parsley flakes. The icing on the cake would be if my kids would actually try them. Awe man! Now I’m thinking about cake…

Corn Dip Favorite

I really did not want to get back in the kitchen the day after Christmas, so I decided leftovers and corn dip would be perfect to snack on. It is so versatile and can be used with chips, veggies, crackers, or whatever you have lying in the pantry. My family request it for just about every gathering, which I love because it is so quick and easy. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 cans (11 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained well
  • 6 green onions chopped ( more or less to taste)
  • 2 cans (4 ounces) chopped mild green chilies
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped *optional or substitute one of the mild green chilies for hot.
  • Tortilla or corn chips

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate overnight. Garnish with a sprinkle of green onions on top.

Quick & Easy Cheese Ball

Do you need an easy dip to take to a Christmas party? I will be completely honest when I say I do not like to cook nor do I usually have time to make much of anything. That is why when I find something quick, easy, and good it becomes a regular in our household. This cheese ball recipe is one of my favorites for any occasion.

Ingredients:

  • 2-8 oz boxes of cream cheese
  • A cup of shredded cheddar or Colby cheese
  • 1 packet of ranch dressing seasoning mix (1 oz)
  • Crumbled bacon fresh or packaged.
  • Optional- fresh chopped Jalapeno peppers. (2-3 peppers)

 

In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch packet. Blend with hand mixer. My husband likes an extra kick, so I add in the Jalapenos here. Tear off a large sheet of plastic wrap and dump mixture into the center. Shape into a ball and refrigerate until almost solid. (about 30 minutes) Take out and roll ball in crumbled bacon. Serve with your choice of crackers or chips or store in the fridge until party time.

French Bread Pizza Night

After being in the kitchen all day preparing for our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, I finally sit down on the couch to relax when I hear, ¨Mommy, I’m hungry!¨

Taking a quick inventory of the pantry and staring down the pots and pans overflowing out of the sink, I decided it was a french bread pizza kind of night.

It’s a crowd-pleaser and so easy to make. All you need is a loaf of french bread, tomato sauce (I had spaghetti sauce in the pantry and it worked well), mozzarella cheese, and toppings of choice. We’re a pepperoni family. I like to toast the french bread first as if I’m making garlic toast. So the butter, garlic powder, and parsley flakes are optional.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Melt the butter, garlic powder, and parsley flakes together. Cut the loaf in half and place the halves up on a baking sheet. Coat the bread with the garlic mixture and bake for 5 minutes.

Pull the bread out of the oven and spread the tomato sauce on the toasted sides. Top with mozzarella and toppings of choice. Bake until cheese is melted and golden brown, usually around 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy a quick and easy meal that the kids will love. I even let my kiddos make their own. They seem to eat better and enjoy it more when they get the create their own masterpiece.

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 (12–14″) soft loaf French or Italian bread, split in half lengthwise
    • 1/2 cup store-bought tomato sauce
    • 1 cup grated mozzarella (about 4 ounces)
    • 3 ounces sliced pepperoni or other toppings of choice
    • 3 tablespoons of butter (optional)
    • 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes (optional)
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

 

PREPARATION

    • Preheat to 425°F. Melt butter and mix in the garlic and parsley flakes. Place bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet, coat the cut halves with garlic mixture. Bake 5 minutes.
    • Spread tomato sauce on cut sides of bread. Top with mozzarella, pepperoni, or any choice toppings.
    • Bake until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.