Slice and dice a mixture of potatoes and vegetables, add a dab of butter and fold into a tightly-sealed aluminum foil packet. Place packets in with roasts during the last hour of cooking. Experiment with adding different herbs, salt and pepper for seasoning.
Beef…. its whats for dinner… click here
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Thanks to the National Beef Council that is an easy question to answer. Log on to this web site and you’ll find a free downloadable cookbook and many recipes and resources. My favorite feature? The downloadable wallet card that lists 19 cuts of beef and their nutritional information.
View the card by clicking here.
3/4 pound ground round
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
4 hamburger buns, toasted (I like to use whole wheat)Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add bell pepper, celery, onion, and garlic; cook 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in water and next 7 ingredients (through mushrooms); bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken, stirring occasionally. Split buns and toast. Spoon 2/3 cup meat mixture onto bottom half of each bun; cover with top half of bun.
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, quartered
4 stalks celery, cut in 1/2
1/2 large onion, quartered
2 cups water
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, to be divided
1 tablespoon garlic pepper
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
Place vegetables in bottom of slow cooker. Add water, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, and the garlic pepper. Place chicken on top of vegetables and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of Italian seasoning and the red wine vinegar. Cook on high for 1 hour and low for 4 to 6 hours. Or cook on low setting only, for 6 to 8 hours.
Looking for solutions to easily add more fruit and veggies to your day? Try these tips:
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 teaspoons fresh minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
4 Roma tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Chop tomatoes into bite-size chunks and stir to coat in oil mixture. Drain pasta and toss with tomato mixture. Add cheese and toss until just melted. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
While many of us enjoy and desire a family dinner hour; the average American family only has dinner together once per week. Finding the hour for dinner is one thing, finding the time to plan and prepare is another. Theme Nights are a simple solution to reduce planning, simplify shopping and spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table.
As a family, choose a theme for each night of the week. Be creative! Here are some Rush Hour Theme Night favorites.
Finger Foods
This could be appetizer trays of fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, mini-sandwiches, hot dogs on sticks-anything that can be tackled by hand… literally!
Breakfast for Dinner
If your family is at all like mine, a leisurely breakfast of omelets, pancakes, and sausage is more often seen in the movies than at your busy breakfast table. Try these as a dinner dish when family has time to enjoy them.
Pasta Presto
You pick the type and the night for Pasta Presto. Perhaps it’s spaghetti, fettuccini, macaroni, lasagna-just pick a sauce and pasta and check a weeknight off your list.
Meat and Potatoes
The good ol’ American standby makes for a great meal. While these once took intense oven preparation, today’s technology offers other options.
Some Assembly Required
Whether its pizza, tacos or baked potatoes; this night features a main course that each family member can customize to their liking.
Kid’s Cook
(Or spouse cooks, or mailman cooks)-You get the picture-someone other than Mom gets to man the kitchen (and the dishes) for this night.
Soup & Sandwich
There is a reason almost every restaurant offers a soup and sandwich special-it’s a hearty, healthy and wholesome combo!
Make It and Bake It
When in a rush there is nothing like the beloved casserole. Choose your favorite, throw it together, and toss it in the oven for a 30-minute-bake. Don’t forget to double your recipe and reserve one for freezing.
This simple recipe is a “reader’s favorite” and goes over well with kids too. Be prepared-they will likely request seconds!1(16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup Mexican-style cheese, shredded
1 container part-skim ricotta cheese
4 ounces pepperoni sliced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions. Spray a 9 x 13 -inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk eggs lightly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drain pasta and add to mixture, tossing to coat. Transfer mixture to baking dish. Bake at 375º for 25 minutes or until edges are golden. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Plastic 2-liter soda bottles make great banks for the kids to make and use! Cut a coin slot about an inch below the neck of a plastic soda bottle. Decorate the bank with construction paper and make it into an animal, cartoon character, plant or a piece of modern art!
Tomatoes contain something called lycopene–which (when cooked) becomes a cancer fighting substance. Tomatoes also contain lutein–something that fights macular degeneration in our vision. It is also believed that tomatoes in our diet can play an important part in the control of cholesterol-related heart problems. And, last but not least, one medium fresh tomato equals about 47% of our daily requirement of Vitamin C and 22% of our need for Vitamin A.