So, this Christmas break was filled with family, friends, and fun. Everyone is healthy, happy and doing well which is always a plus!! I have been so busy with the school year and the kids I haven't been able to post in quite sometime so I better make this one good :)
Just after Christmas, Rob and I joined a gym and, yes, we are still sticking to our guns and finding time to make it there. (I went 2 miles on the treadmill yesterday, yay me!!) Since we took the big step I have been trying to find alternatives to some of our favorite meals. Adding turkey to chili, definitely a yummy choice. Making chicken tacos instead of beef. While doing these slight changes I have found a few great recipes I wanted to share. Last week when I made chicken tacos, I ran out of tortilla shells (I prefer soft tacos to hard) so I decided I would make chicken taco lettuce wraps and they were delicious. I just stuffed a leaf of lettuce full of my favorite taco fixings and I had a lettuce wrap.
After the chicken taco lettuce wrap went so well I decided I needed to find an alternate to my pizza habit. If you know me I am a sucker for excellent pizza. Pizza is my go to food. I've even started to make my own wheat crust and my own marinara sauce for it. I haven't quite tried making my own cheese yet :) Well, I was looking through a Biggest Loser Book that I recently purchased and 2 recipes popped out at me so I had to try them and I served them at last week's "Miller Happy Hour". They were a huge hit! I tweaked them a bit and here are the recipes:
The first recipe is called "Pesto Pizzettas"
1 tube (24 oz) precooked, ready-to-heat polenta, cut into1/2" slices
(I could not find the precooked so I made my own)
1/4 cup marinara sauce (low fat if you please)
2 Tbsp Basil pesto (You can make your own or use bottled pesto)
I used 2 different types of pesto from Tastefully Simple and they worked out wonderfully
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (low or reduced fat if you like)
Fresh basil
Preheat oven to 400* F
Spray the polenta slices lightly with olive oil cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Bake the polenta for 8 minutes ON EACH SIDE. Top each baked polenta with marinara sauce, pesto and cheese. Broil or bake for about 3 minutes or just until the cheese is bubbly and yummy. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
***Variations: add a strip of roasted bell pepper, artichoke hearts thinly sliced, etc.
These are only 80 calories per serving!!!
The next recipe I decided to try kind of scared me a bit. I have never had portobello mushrooms and they are quite big. However, I do like mushrooms so I took the chance and I am SO glad that I did!! These were a HUGE hit!!!
Portobello "Pizzas"
4 whole portobello mushroom caps (5" in diameter), stems removed
1/2 c. marinara sauce
1/2 c. lean turkey sausage, cooked, drained and crumbled
Shredded Mozzarella (fat-free or low-fat if you like)
Parmesan cheese
fresh basil
Preheat oven to 350* F
Rinse and wipe mushrooms clean of any dirt. Place them on a baking sheet gill side up. Spoon sauce over each cap, then sprinkle on the sausage and cheeses. Place the mushrooms in the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh basil.
***One portobello mushroom has as much potassium as a banana.
97 calories per serving.
These are some great substitutes for ordinary pizza and they are healthy for you!!! Next I am going to make fish tacos and once I've had them, I will make sure to post the recipe :0)
Sorry, I forgot to take photos of my creations. I will try to remember to do that and post them soon. I hope everyone has a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!!! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Little life adventures: How Time Flies!!!
Little life adventures: How Time Flies!!!: "Wow! Has is really been just over 2 weeks since I have posted. I can't believe how fast time flies!!! It seems like summer just started a..."
How Time Flies!!!
Wow! Has is really been just over 2 weeks since I have posted. I can't believe how fast time flies!!! It seems like summer just started and now it's time to start thinking about school, lesson plans, football, hockey, homework...and the list goes on. The kids are growing up SO fast! Aidan will be 4 in September which means kindergarten next year, Ryan is headed for his new middle school in NYC this fall, Carson hits 7th grade and has started playing hockey, and Mitch....my goodness where did that time go??? Mitch is already for 9th grade, playing freshman football, and will be able to start driver's training next summer!!!! Holy cow.
With all of these growing boys it looks like I'm going to have to start stocking up on the fantastic foods I have been cooking this summer. My garden was a huge success this summer. So much so that we have decided next summer it will be bigger. So exciting! I have been getting so many delicious tomatoes, spicy peppers, and aromatic herbs I just don't want summer to end. So, in order to enjoy them all winter, I purchased a dehydrator. I have used this on my herbs, chili peppers, and tomatoes. I will have my own home-made "sun" dried tomatoes this winter which is a great money saver. Those of you who have ever purchased them know they can be pricey.
I have continued to try new recipes with the family and sometimes just for myself. I have made soups that I put in freezer containers to use this winter for lunches. I am in the process of making a list of dinner foods that I am going to preassemble and freeze to cut down on the time it takes for me to make dinner. Also, I am continuing to find new exciting ways to be creative with our food but still make it enjoyable enough that I don't get too many complaints. An example of this was last night's salad at dinner. I wanted to make a more exciting Caesar salad, but I know certain boys are not fond of certain things so I broke it down into individual containers so everyone could make their own and it was a big hit. This is what I put in it:
1 head of lettuce
1 rotisserie chicken (from the local super market deli)
croutons
almonds
Parmesan cheese
Caesar dressing
I would have preferred to mix all of the ingredients in one bowl and serve it up, but with one not liking nuts, one not liking creamy dressing, and so on, it was easier to have it separated. I suggested if you don't have picky eaters throw it in a bowl and call is a success!!
Another great recipe I made this summer (and I made for my lunches) was chicken tortilla soup. Oh my, how delicious. This recipe make a big batch of soup so you may want to scale down the portions. Also, because I decided to freeze it I did not add the chicken. I will make the chicken later or use leftovers when I use it for my lunch. (Oh!! I will let you know how it turns out after being frozen...hopefully just as delicious)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. chicken base
1 medium diced yellow onion
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. garlic
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 c. Masa Harina
4 quarts of water (1 quart is 4 cups)
2 c. crushed tomatoes
1/2 - 3/4 lb. velvetta cubed
3 lbs cubed cooked chicken breast
shredded cheese
tortilla strips
pico de gallo
sour cream
In a lg. pot combine oil, onion,chicken base, and spices. Saute until onions are soft and clear.
In a bowl combine the Masa Harina with 1 quart of water. Stir until lumps dissolve
Add Masa Harina "rue" to onions and bring to a boil. Once boiling cook 2-3 minutes stirring constantly
Add tomatoes and 3 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally
Add cheese. Cook until cheese melts
Put chicken in the bottom of a bowl. Add soup. Garnish with shredded cheese, tortilla strips, pico de gallo, and sour cream.
When I made this soup before I served it, I used a slotted spoon to get the "chunks" (as Rob calls them) out. That would be the onion and some of the tomato. But that was to suit his texture needs :) You don't have to do anything with it if you don't want to. Personal preference.
Again, sorry, no photo this time. I will have to get better about that :) I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
With all of these growing boys it looks like I'm going to have to start stocking up on the fantastic foods I have been cooking this summer. My garden was a huge success this summer. So much so that we have decided next summer it will be bigger. So exciting! I have been getting so many delicious tomatoes, spicy peppers, and aromatic herbs I just don't want summer to end. So, in order to enjoy them all winter, I purchased a dehydrator. I have used this on my herbs, chili peppers, and tomatoes. I will have my own home-made "sun" dried tomatoes this winter which is a great money saver. Those of you who have ever purchased them know they can be pricey.
I have continued to try new recipes with the family and sometimes just for myself. I have made soups that I put in freezer containers to use this winter for lunches. I am in the process of making a list of dinner foods that I am going to preassemble and freeze to cut down on the time it takes for me to make dinner. Also, I am continuing to find new exciting ways to be creative with our food but still make it enjoyable enough that I don't get too many complaints. An example of this was last night's salad at dinner. I wanted to make a more exciting Caesar salad, but I know certain boys are not fond of certain things so I broke it down into individual containers so everyone could make their own and it was a big hit. This is what I put in it:
1 head of lettuce
1 rotisserie chicken (from the local super market deli)
croutons
almonds
Parmesan cheese
Caesar dressing
I would have preferred to mix all of the ingredients in one bowl and serve it up, but with one not liking nuts, one not liking creamy dressing, and so on, it was easier to have it separated. I suggested if you don't have picky eaters throw it in a bowl and call is a success!!
Another great recipe I made this summer (and I made for my lunches) was chicken tortilla soup. Oh my, how delicious. This recipe make a big batch of soup so you may want to scale down the portions. Also, because I decided to freeze it I did not add the chicken. I will make the chicken later or use leftovers when I use it for my lunch. (Oh!! I will let you know how it turns out after being frozen...hopefully just as delicious)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. chicken base
1 medium diced yellow onion
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. garlic
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 c. Masa Harina
4 quarts of water (1 quart is 4 cups)
2 c. crushed tomatoes
1/2 - 3/4 lb. velvetta cubed
3 lbs cubed cooked chicken breast
shredded cheese
tortilla strips
pico de gallo
sour cream
In a lg. pot combine oil, onion,chicken base, and spices. Saute until onions are soft and clear.
In a bowl combine the Masa Harina with 1 quart of water. Stir until lumps dissolve
Add Masa Harina "rue" to onions and bring to a boil. Once boiling cook 2-3 minutes stirring constantly
Add tomatoes and 3 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally
Add cheese. Cook until cheese melts
Put chicken in the bottom of a bowl. Add soup. Garnish with shredded cheese, tortilla strips, pico de gallo, and sour cream.
When I made this soup before I served it, I used a slotted spoon to get the "chunks" (as Rob calls them) out. That would be the onion and some of the tomato. But that was to suit his texture needs :) You don't have to do anything with it if you don't want to. Personal preference.
Again, sorry, no photo this time. I will have to get better about that :) I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Little life adventures: A weekend of Summer fun leads to another great rec...
Little life adventures: A weekend of Summer fun leads to another great rec...: "The Miller clan just finished up another busy but phenomenal weekend. We went to Chippewa Lake for a little camping at the cabins, a mean g..."
A weekend of Summer fun leads to another great recipe
The Miller clan just finished up another busy but phenomenal weekend. We went to Chippewa Lake for a little camping at the cabins, a mean game of volleyball (which my team won!), a little r&r, and to enjoy a very dear friend's wedding (which, Jon & Tiffany, it was beautiful and thank you for having us share your day with you).
During this weekend a different group of family members cooks dinner for the group. The whole week before Rob and I were just throwing ideas around not really sure what we (meaning I) felt like cooking or eating. Then we watched a Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. Rob saw a recipe that he loved when he lived in Arizona and asked if I thought I could make it....could I make up, duh, did he know who he was talking to??? Of course I could make it and I did and it was excellent. So, I thought I would share the recipe because we all know there is nothing better than good food, good family & friends, good fun, and fond memories. :)
This recipe is called Machaca. A Mexican burrito. It has a bit of a longer cooking process but it is absolutely delicious.
for the marinade:
1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp water
4 tbsp lime juice
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 Serrano chili, stemmed, seeded and minced
1 red chili pepper, stemmed and minced
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 c. olive oil
2 - 3 lbs. of beef brisket
For the cooking process:
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 lg. onion diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Serrano chilis, stemmed,seeded, and minced
2 red chili peppers, stemmed and minced
1 c. beef broth
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
To serve:
Tortillas
Lime wedges
Various taco toppings of your choice (we chose tomato, lettuce, sour cream, onions, etc)
Marinade: Combine sauces, water, lime juice, garlic, chilis, salt and pepper to taste in a medium sized bowl. Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly. Add beef to the marinade and coat well. Transfer beef and marinade to a freezer bag. Seal and let marinade in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
After the 8 or so hours, bring to room temperature (at least 30 minutes).
In a large heavy pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Sear meat on all sides (about 4 minutes per side), then transfer meat to a platter to rest. Add onions, garlic, and chilis to the hot pan. Saute for about 5 minutes or until onions are opaque. Add beef broth, tomatoes, oregano,cumin, salt and pepper (to taste). Mix well and return meat to the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer slowly for about 2 hours.
Transfer meat to a utility board and let rest for 15 minutes. Cook the onion mixture until most of the liquid evaporates to use as a side. On the board, use 2 forks to pull the meat apart. Serve with tortillas, lime wedges, and your favorite toppings.
I didn't happen to get a photo of this one but I hope you enjoy it! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
During this weekend a different group of family members cooks dinner for the group. The whole week before Rob and I were just throwing ideas around not really sure what we (meaning I) felt like cooking or eating. Then we watched a Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. Rob saw a recipe that he loved when he lived in Arizona and asked if I thought I could make it....could I make up, duh, did he know who he was talking to??? Of course I could make it and I did and it was excellent. So, I thought I would share the recipe because we all know there is nothing better than good food, good family & friends, good fun, and fond memories. :)
This recipe is called Machaca. A Mexican burrito. It has a bit of a longer cooking process but it is absolutely delicious.
for the marinade:
1 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp water
4 tbsp lime juice
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 Serrano chili, stemmed, seeded and minced
1 red chili pepper, stemmed and minced
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 c. olive oil
2 - 3 lbs. of beef brisket
For the cooking process:
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 lg. onion diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Serrano chilis, stemmed,seeded, and minced
2 red chili peppers, stemmed and minced
1 c. beef broth
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
To serve:
Tortillas
Lime wedges
Various taco toppings of your choice (we chose tomato, lettuce, sour cream, onions, etc)
Marinade: Combine sauces, water, lime juice, garlic, chilis, salt and pepper to taste in a medium sized bowl. Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly. Add beef to the marinade and coat well. Transfer beef and marinade to a freezer bag. Seal and let marinade in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
After the 8 or so hours, bring to room temperature (at least 30 minutes).
In a large heavy pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Sear meat on all sides (about 4 minutes per side), then transfer meat to a platter to rest. Add onions, garlic, and chilis to the hot pan. Saute for about 5 minutes or until onions are opaque. Add beef broth, tomatoes, oregano,cumin, salt and pepper (to taste). Mix well and return meat to the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer slowly for about 2 hours.
Transfer meat to a utility board and let rest for 15 minutes. Cook the onion mixture until most of the liquid evaporates to use as a side. On the board, use 2 forks to pull the meat apart. Serve with tortillas, lime wedges, and your favorite toppings.
I didn't happen to get a photo of this one but I hope you enjoy it! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Recipes to share
I have been sharing a lot of pictures of the yummy meals I've been making and you have requested recipes so I thought this is the best place to put them.
The first one I want to share is the Tomato Basil Chicken and Pasta. It is a light and delicious meal that is absolutely easy to make!!!
8 oz. of wheat fettuccine
2 tsp. olive oil
2 shallots finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
15-20 grape tomatoes, cut into fourths
2 c. cubed cooked chicken breast
3 tbsp. (or more if you like) freshly chopped basil
salt (to taste)
red pepper flakes (to taste)
Cook and drain fettuccine (al dente), approximately 11 minutes.
While fettuccine is cooking, heat oil. Place the onion and the garlic in the oil and cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining ingredients until hot. Serve over fettuccine with garlic bread.
Now, I also made this WITHOUT the pasta as a lighter dish and it is just as delicious.
I hope you enjoy it! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
New Daily Challenges
What a beautiful summer morning! The sun is shining, there is slight breeze coming from the lake, life is great!!! We finally got the pontoon in the water last night and went out for a quick ride. That was an adventure all its own.
I woke up this morning to my Daily Challenge. It is a website/blog that encourages you to better your life in every aspect, from health to happiness to work. They send you a small (about 5 minute) daily challenge at 7 a.m. every morning. So far I have found them quite fun. This morning's challenge was to take 5 minutes today and get away from all technology to enjoy the scenery. Well that motived me to go one step further. I decided today I was going to make myself work-out in the morning. I have been trying to stay motivated to work out but I lose track of time in the evening. So, because of my daily challenge, I went on the elliptical this morning, then made a healthy breakfast and sat on the deck with Mitch and Aidan. No computer, no phone, no TV....it is amazing what peace and happiness it brought to me all the way around. I challenge all of you to try this. It is a great experience. If you want to check out the website, go to
https://challenge.meyouhealth.com/
I also wanted to share the breakfast omelet recipe I concocted...it was delicious.
1 egg, slightly beaten
5 grape tomatoes, halved
feta cheese
granulated garlic
salt to taste
I put the egg in a small hot pan to let it start cooking, add the remaining ingredients and cook to your liking. It is quite light and yummy!!
I hope you enjoy it! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
I woke up this morning to my Daily Challenge. It is a website/blog that encourages you to better your life in every aspect, from health to happiness to work. They send you a small (about 5 minute) daily challenge at 7 a.m. every morning. So far I have found them quite fun. This morning's challenge was to take 5 minutes today and get away from all technology to enjoy the scenery. Well that motived me to go one step further. I decided today I was going to make myself work-out in the morning. I have been trying to stay motivated to work out but I lose track of time in the evening. So, because of my daily challenge, I went on the elliptical this morning, then made a healthy breakfast and sat on the deck with Mitch and Aidan. No computer, no phone, no TV....it is amazing what peace and happiness it brought to me all the way around. I challenge all of you to try this. It is a great experience. If you want to check out the website, go to
https://challenge.meyouhealth.com/
I also wanted to share the breakfast omelet recipe I concocted...it was delicious.
1 egg, slightly beaten
5 grape tomatoes, halved
feta cheese
granulated garlic
salt to taste
I put the egg in a small hot pan to let it start cooking, add the remaining ingredients and cook to your liking. It is quite light and yummy!!
I hope you enjoy it! I hope you have a wonderful day, love with all your heart, live your life to the fullest, be positive (with yourself and others), and make sure to smile at someone you do not know....they may need it!
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