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Healthier Chili-Mac

08 May

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I made this several weeks ago, I was really craving pasta, which I have been avoiding like the plague!  Don’t get me wrong I love me some carbs, but it is in the general eating better that I find myself watching our (Yes OUR, as in the entire family) intake! This one pot meal can be easily changed up to accommodate the different tastes in your particular family. Use Turkey or ground chicken instead of the beef.  Try a different pasta..  Really all recipes are just the starting board for anyone, and I know it to be true; everyone wants to make changes to recipes, to make it all their own. To create a meal that is more to their liking..

You will need

1 lb 93%fat free ground beef

1 white onion chopped

1 red onion chopped

1 or two jalapeño peppers seeded and diced

1 can of red beans drained and rinsed

1 ½ cups of stewed tomatoes chopped

1 cup of tomato sauce

2 tablespoons minced garlic

Greek non fat yogurt (or sour cream)

shredded reduced fat Mexican blend cheese

1 teaspoon olive oil

Oregano

Cumin

Chili powder

ground mustard

1 cup dry pasta (whole wheat preferably)

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Put your pasta to boil in salted water

Chop all of the vegetables and have your ingredients ready.

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Add the vegetables to a pan with oil along with the minced garlic

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Sweat the vegetables, they will be soft but slightly firm when done. Not caramelized.

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Add the beef and cook through

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Once the beef is cooked add the pasta, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes and spices (to taste)

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Enjoy the meal with a dollop of sour cream, or if watching the weight or eating healthier, use Greek non fat plain yogurt, I am telling you no one will notice!  Sprinkle with some cheese and serve!

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Bon apetit

LauraLovingLife

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Posted by on May 8, 2013 in Recipes

 

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Chocolate Smore Bites

22 Apr

 

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Yes yes yes I saw this on Pinterest.  On a weekend away, one of my girlfriends was trying to figure out a way to have the smores without getting the ooey gooey goodness all over.  I was browsing Pinterest and saw this.  SOOOO I decided how hard can it be to make these little tasty bites??  Not hard at all as it turns out.  Actually pretty easy, I would do this with a child and make a fun time out of it.

 

I used a bag of caramel covered marshmallows

2 Hershey bars melted in a double boiler

Several small stick picks.

Graham crackers crushed up

Stick a marshmellow on a stick

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Dip in the chocolate

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Dip in the crushed crackers and set aside.

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EASY and tasty like little puffs of smores goodness.  Try this for an outdoor gathering if you don’t have a fire pit, they can still give the illusion of those times around the fire.

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Enjoy

 

LauraLovinglIfe

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Posted by on April 22, 2013 in Dessert, Recipes

 

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Rustic Chicken Pot Pie

22 Apr

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This is a really easy recipe for Pot pie and it is lower in fat and calories.  A few changes to the recipe make it not only taste fantastic but look appealing as well.  I made extra so I could have this with a salad for lunch during the week.  I know that it is not the weather for Pot Pies, but it honestly has been cold and it made me feel good to make it.  As soon as this cold snap ends I think it will be time to grill more often.  Enjoy the recipe.

2 tsp salted butter

Butter flavored cooking spray

1 small uncooked onion(s), chopped

2 cup(s) fresh mushroom(s), sliced   (I chopped mine so the kids would not see them) lol1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp table salt, or more to taste

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 cup(s) frozen mixed vegetables

1 cup(s) canned chicken broth

3 cup(s) (chopped) cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast(s)

(2 large breast)3 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup fat free evaporated milk, divided

2 cans reduced fat crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a 10-inch round shallow baking dish with cooking spray. I doubled the recipe, but not the chicken. I wanted the taste of chicken, and the feel of having a filling “Chicken pot pie” But I wanted to have more veggies than anything else in mine. You can keep to the recipe; just wanted you to know why the pics did not match!
Coat a large pot with cooking spray. Add butter and melt over medium heat. Add onion and mushrooms and cook, until tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in paprika, basil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

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Add vegetables, broth and chicken. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Shred the chicken with two forks

Shred the chicken with two forks

In a small cup, combine flour and evaporated milk; stir into chicken mixture. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Cook until mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

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Spoon chicken mixture into prepared baking dish. Unroll crescent rolls and arrange dough around inside edge of baking dish to form a border (there will be a hole in the middle). Sprinkle with a bit of the Italian seasoning.

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Bake until rolls are golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 15 minutes. Cut into 6 pieces and serve.

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I hope you enjoy this recipe, if you would like to reach me you can do so at LauralovinglIfe@hotmail.com

Bon Apetit

LauraLovinglife

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Posted by on April 22, 2013 in Dinner, Recipes

 

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LauraLovingLife considered a Liebster!

18 Apr

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I have been blogging my recipes for just over a year now and I continue to be amazed at all the people I have interacted with and learned from. I enjoy being a “small”  “New”  Blog, but secretly can’t wait to be considered a large blog.  Shhhh keep that between us ok!  I have to thank “Small things made significant”  for the nomination, it is greatly appreciated and I truthfully enjoy it when someone informs  me that they like my blog.  I mean we all have to cook at some point right?  Well most of us anyway!  So without further adieu I present the  main features of getting this particular award!

Here are the official rules for the Liebster award (quoted after Stmsignificant):

List 11 random facts about yourself.

Answer the questions designated by the blogger(s) who nominated you.

Place YOUR nominations for the Liebster Award!  Nominate five (or more)  other bloggers that have less than 200 followers.  Make sure to notify them via comment/email, etc.

Make up a set of questions for those nominated bloggers to answer.

Lastly, display the Liebster award badge on your blog!

Blogs I nominate:

Calizona Steph & Ange’s – http://cali-zona.com/  (they are off by one more person following them in order to get this nomination 199 at this time)

The Joy of Cheese– http://thejoyofcheese.wordpress.com/  honestly who does not like cheese??

Simply Sophisticated Cooking – http://simplysophisticatedcooking.wordpress.com/  Want to learn a bit about making everyday food look great.  YUMMY!!
A Healthy Life for Me – http://ahealthylifeforme.com/  great blog on everything from herbs to Blood Martinis ~ You got that right!

Dairy free Switzerland – http://dairyfreeswitzerland.wordpress.com/  Great blog by a mother who is raising her food-allergic child in Switzerland!
liebster
Things I would like to know about them:

What post have you seen recently that made you follow that particular blog?

Why did you start your blog? Has it evolved into more than you expected?

If you could stop time, at what point in your life would you have stopped it and why?

If you could have your dream job, what would it be? And why aren’t you doing it now?

What is your favorite time of the year?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

11 Random facts about me:

  • 1. I don’t like sweets too much.  I have a salty tooth I guess you could say! I would prefer pretzels and crackers over chocolate, or cheese platters over dessert.
  • 2.  I am obsessed with kitchen appliances. I keep buying neat gadgets and helpful items for the kitchen from EBAY, which I just love.
  • 3. I love to travel to new places within our community!  There is so much to see in Northern Virginia.  I don’t think you could ever see it all.
  • 4. I have finally hit that point in life where I am looking forward to retiring, (I am still young, but we have it all planned out) I embrace getting older and all the adventures my husband and I will have in this new chapter ahead of us.
  • 5. I try to grow an herb garden indoors every year, I kill said herb garden every year.  Finally decided to grow one outside where they belong.  I love using fresh herbs in my recipes and having them handy will be great!
  • 6. I can’t help but want to please others. It is entrenched into my psyche and there is nothing I can do about it.  I would do just about anything for anyone, from little inconsequential gifts to giving anything I can offer when another is ion need! It is just the way I am.
  • 7. I want to learn to cook more exotic foods that I have been afraid of using (mostly freaky little sea creatures)  Here in Northern Virginia the Cicadas 17 year cycle is this year and they say  those little creatures are a great fried treat!!  I wonder (Tapping fingers)
  • 8. I have been married to a Frenchman for many years and still struggle to speak his language.  I however can understand everything they talk about.  I just don’t seem to have the confidence to put what I know into words =/
  • 9. I love doing yard work, mowing the yard, trimming and plantings.  I really enjoy spending time outside on the weekend, be it in the yard or relaxing enjoying our little part of paradise.
  • 10. I am always surprised when I get a gift out of the blue, like last weekend, I planned a girl’s weekend away.  Those sneaky girls all got together in one of the little old town stores and each got me a nice gift to open at dinner.  I had no idea!  I am truly Blessed!
  • 11. My youngest daughter (14 this year) asked me what I would do if anything happened to one of my children, (I choked up and teared up right away) A piece of me would die if anything ever happened to any of my children! I barely was able to get that out and she was hugging me and telling me that I was the best mom in the world.  *Tearing up writing this*  I have the best children in the world, who respect and love me! I can’t imagine life without them.  All I do, I do for my children or because of my children!

Answers to Stmsignificant  questions:
1. If you could eat only one dish for the rest of your life – what would it be?

A.    French onion soup in a bread bowl.  You have the vegetable factor, and the cheese, bread and spice.  What more could you want?

2. What’s your favorite work of art?

A.  My daughter McKenzie made a great piece in the 3rd grade I loved it so much I had it framed and a small plaque put on it with the year and her name.  It proudly has hung in our family room for almost 6 years.

3. What’s the electronic device you can’t live without?

A.  My kitchen aid blender, pasta maker, sausage maker.. A close runner up is the bullet,  hand blender, crock pot.. UGH I can’t choose just one!!
4. What’s your favorite cartoon?

A. I truly don’t have one I guess when I was a teen I like inspector gadget??

5. What’s your favorite music video?

A. Um I have not watched music videos since MTV first came out, I remember Thriller by Michael Jackson the best!! My BFF had the “TAPE” and we tried to learn all the moves!

6. Are you fashion obsessed or fashion indifferent?

A. I like to look nice, but honestly I am indifferent.  I have many other things to concern myself with rather than the changing times and what is in and what is out. LOL

And That is the end Folks!

I think this award is a great way to get small blogs noticed and should be circulated!  thanks again for the nomination!

LauraLovingLife

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Posted by on April 18, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

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Veggie Burgers topped with a Vegetable Salad

17 Apr

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As with any blog (and I must apologize for not being on here and logging my backup of recipes) I ask people what they want out of it, what they would like to see.  I have had an overwhelming amount of people ask for more healthy and more on the light side.  Most recently I have had requests for vegetarian or asking if the recipes can be swapped with something to make them vegetarian.  I decided because the weather is summer like and we won’t be craving those hearty weighty meals any longer this would be the time to start doing a lot more of the healthy meals to include vegetarian dishes as well. Along this line of thinking I made my meal tonight.

My husband has been in Korea, god knows what he is eating; so I have been cooking for just Mackenzie and me and using the left over’s to eat at work the next day.  This recipe was very good and l am looking forward to having it tomorrow, especially after the flavors of the salad marinade overnight. Mmmm

For this meal you will need;

2 cans of chick peas rinsed and drained

1 cup brown rice cooked

2 teaspoons Wheat bread crumbs

2 oz egg beaters three cheese flavoring

Lemon zest

Juice of one lemon

1 bunch of green onions chopped

½ a green pepper chopped

½ red peppers chopped

1/8 cup shredded carrots

½ medium onion chopped

1 small container grape tomatoes chopped

(I feel like I am on chopped, look at all the chopping we have to do)

With the spices I don’t measure I do them to taste.  I like a lot of flavor some don’t experiment or use about a tablespoon each. Veggie burgers can seem plain so you have to dress them up with the spices. (I would have used mushrooms as filler, but my daughter won’t eat them. If you can use mushrooms they are great to use in a veggie burger)

Oregano

Basil

Salt

Pepper

Garlic powder

Chili powder

Garnishment optional

Crumbled gorgonzola cheese

After you rinse and drain the chick peas mash them in a food processor.

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Put into a bowl and mix with rice, seasoning (again to your liking), egg, rice, green onion and carrot. Put in the refrigerator to set. The colder the mixture is the firmer it gets, this will make cooking it that much easier.

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While it is in the fridge we can make the salad.

In a bowl mix the green peppers, red peppers, tomato, and onion, lemon zest and lemon juice.   I added basil and salt and pepper to this and set aside.

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Form your patties; you can make 6 small or 4 hearty ones. Cook on a medium high heat in a greased grill pan.  Cook for about 6 minutes per side.  I used the side of the pan to keep mine formed until they started holding their own shape. Worked out like a charm. I should have followed my own advice and just kept them in the fridge a bit longer.

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While your patties are cooking, use a small pan and add water to boil, once boiling add the kale and salt and pepper. Cook until softer and bright green.  Remove water and put kale back on stove to cook off the water a bit so they don’t run all over the bottom of the plate.

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Place kale on the plate, top with a burger and then some salad.  Add a bit of your favorite crumbled cheese as garnishment and you have a great meal!

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Enjoy the recipe and as always if you would like to contact me you can do so at Lauralovinglife@hotmail.com

Bon appétit

LauraLovingLife

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Posted by on April 17, 2013 in Dinner, Lunch, Recipes

 

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