Mini Meat Loaves Recipe

I got this recipe from Woman's Day online. I tend to modify most recipes I find - my modifications are below the recipes.

Mini Meat Loaves


3 Slices whole-grain bread
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 lb lean ground beef
Whites from 2 large eggs
1/4 tsp each garlic powder and salt
1 pkg (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
6 tbsp ketchup


Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 425*F. You'll need a rimmed backing sheet lined with nonstick foil.

2. Tear bread into food processor. Pulse to make course crumbs. Add remaining ingredients and 2 tbsp of the ketchup (we use organic ketchup - tastes much better). Pulse just until blended. Form into 6 loaves on lined pan (I buy the little foil loaf pans at the store because it's much easier - fill about half to 3/4 full).

3. Evenly spread tops with remaining 4 tbsp ketchup. Bake 20 minutes until cooked through and instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 160*F. In my oven it was roughly 30 minutes in the oven.


**I also add: minced garlic, black pepper, and sea salt.
**You could also add shredded carrots or any other veggie that you can shred and add in.

15 Must-Haves....

I got this list from our Organic magazine we used to read. You don't have to buy organic if you don't want to but a lot of these are great items to always have on hand.

15 Must-haves for your Freezer

Sockeye Salmon
Black Cod Fish Filets
Organic Chicken
Ground Bison Meat
Ground Turkey Meat
Frozen Organic Mixed Berries
Frozen Dark Cherries
Frozen Organic Veggies (spinich, broccoli, and cauliflower)
Edamame
Whole-Grain Tortillas
Whole-Grain Bread
Whole-Grain Waffles
Flaxseeds
Organic Ice Cream
Shredded Part-Skim Cheese (cheddar, jack, or mozzarella)

Quick Tip: There's no reason to shy away from the frozen aisle when your favorite farmers' market isn't bursting with options. Fruits and veggies grown for freezing are picked (and packaged right away) at the optimal time of year - and are much better for you than off-season produce, which is often picked before it's ripe and lacks full nutrient potential.


15 Must-haves for your Fridge

Pomegranate or Tart Cherry Juice
Organic Yogurt with live active cultures
Mixed Baby Greens, Arugula, or mache
Nut Butters (peanut, almond, cashew)
Precut Veggies
Basil, Rosemary, Dill, Thyme
Lemons and Limes
Hummus
Pesto
Avocado
Salsa
Onions
Omega-3 Eggs
Sprouted Bread or Tortillas
Maple Syrup


15 Must-haves for your Pantry

Canned Beans (garbanzo, black, pinto, red)
Organic Tomato Sauce and Canned diced Tomatoes
Organic Short Grain instant Brown Rice
Organic Chicken or Veggie Soup Stock
Old-Fashioned or Steel-Cut Oats
70 Percent Cocoa Powder
Quinoa
Amaranth
Hempseeds and Pumpkinseeds
A variety of unsalted nuts
Green and White Tea
Dried Fruits
Dried Mushrooms
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Honey


*We keep our Pumkinseeds and nuts in jars on the counter. In sight means they'll get eatten. Being in the pantry is out of sight outta mind.
*You can also buy your beans in bulk, cook them up and freeze them.

So Healthy Smoothie

So Healthy Smoothie

1 Cup Fat-Free Milk
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Small Banana, sliced and frozen
2/3 Cup Frozen Blueberries
1/2 Cup Chopped Peeled Mango, frozen
1/4 Cup Frozen Unsweetened Peach Slices

In a blender, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses; serve immediately.


I usually buy extra bananas and slice and freeze each banana in a baggie. That way I have enough for a week.

I will add a picture next time I make this smoothie.

Hearty Taco Chili

This is a really good dish. I make it all the time. I add a little extra stuff to make the recipe bigger so there are more leftovers. It's very filling. (I do two cans of the beans)

Hearty Taco Chili

2 Pounds Ground Turkey Meat (Recipe calls for Beef but we try to not eat a lot of red meat)

1 Can Kidney Beans - Rinsed and Drained

1 Can Pinto Beans - Rinsed and Drained

1 Can Black Beans - Rinsed and Drained

1 Can Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, undrained

1 Can Tomato Sauce

1 Small Onion (I don't put onion in mine)

1 Envelope Ranch Salad Dressing Mix (I use Uncle Dan's)

1 Envelope Taco Seasoning (I use the organic packet at Safeway)

1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

2 Cans Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 Can Chopped Green Chilies

(Corn chips, sour cream and shredded chedder cheese, optional)

1. In a large skillet, cook turkey meat over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, salad dressing mix, taco seasoning and pepper.

2. In a blender, combine diced tomatoes and green chilies; cover and process until smooth. Add to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

3. Serve with corn chips, sour cream and cheese if desired.

Now, I change up this recipe a little bit.

A. I always add two cans of each bean.

B. I don't cook for 6 hours on low - I cook it on high for about an hour or two.

C. I make white rice to mix into the chili once it's done. I cook the rice in my rice cooker. (Sticky Rice)

6 Things You Probably Didn't Know You Could Freeze

I found this article last year in my Better Home and Gardens Magazine. Thought I'd pass it on.

6 Things You Probably Didn't Know You Could Freeze

1. Eggs - Lightly beaten eggs, beaten yolks, or whites can be frozen, but not an egg in its shell. Store in lidded ice cube trays. (One egg fills two cubes.)

2. Cooked Rice - Spread cooled rice on a lined baking sheet. Rub with a small amount of vegetable oil so grains separate. Freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag.

3. Ginger Root - Wrap peeled ginger in plastic, then put in freezer bag. Ginger grates well while still frozen.

4. Cheese - Cut hard (Parmesan, pecorino) and semi-hard cheeses (Chedder, Swiss) into 1x4 inch blocks, wrap in plastic, then put in a freezer bag. Grate hard cheeses while frozen; thaw others in the fridge.

5. Butter or Margarine - Store in a freezer bag, in its original packaging, for up to six months. Thaw in fridge. Don't freeze whipped butter.

6. Nuts - Store in airtight container or freezer bag for up to six weeks. Use right from the freezer for recipes - no need to thaw.


My mom has always put butter in the freezer so of course I do it! And I've always seen her freeze walnuts.

Hope this helps some of you out with saving money so you can buy stuff while it's on sale and freeze it.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Here's a great healthy snack that is REALLY easy to make and very yummy.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (creamy and chunky)
1 Cup Honey
1 Cup Old-Fashioned Oatmeal
1 Cup Sliced Almonds
Cinnamon to Taste

Directions:
1. In medium-size pot, heat honey and peanut butter on stove over medium heat until texture is runny.
2. Mix in nuts, oatmeal, and protein powder.
3. Stir until all ingredients are well coated.
4. Let mixture cool in fridge.
5. Roll into bite-size balls.


Kids will really like this snack also. Devin loves these. However, he and Chad like to keep them in the freezer.

(I will take a picture of these and add it to this post next time I make them.)

Preserving Food at Home

I have some time tonight so I'm finally going to post some great articles and recipes.

I came across this in my Family Circle Magazine. It's a great book to use for those of us who are looking to save money and eat better. Here's a list of great books to guide you through canning your garden:

"Preserving Food at Home" by Judy Chadwick

"Well-Preserved" by Eugenia Bone

"The Complete Book of Pickling" by Jennifer MacKenzie


I haven't bought any of these yet but I do plan on buying the first one. I have already put my garden in. I am SO excited that I finally got to put a garden in. I planted tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, squash, celery, red peppers, hot peppers, corn, pumpkins, chocolate mint, spearmint, and strawberries. I also have cilantro growing back from last year. I didn't realize that herbs came back every year but my cilantro might be an exception.

Here's the garden before I planted in it. Chad tilled up an area for me and put down some good soil. It's right off the back deck, behind the pool and next to our pond. Great location.Here's the garden after I planted everything. I have since done more work out there. I planted a few more plants. I have also put a fence up to keep our dogs out. I will have to take a picture of it once the weather gets a little better.

For those of you who don't have room for a garden and want local fresh product that isn't from the grocery store check out www.localharvest.com. You can find produce in your area from farmers.