Beef Bacon Quinoa

There were actually two winners to this week's poll, so I will be posting the crouton recipe on a Saturday. Hopefully it will be next Saturday, if not it will be the week after that. This week is just a little too crazy for me to get the photos ready and posted. I am sure you all understand.

This was my first time actually cooking with Quinoa. I had previously read that you can make this in a rice cooker, so that is what I decided to do (after all a rice cooker is basically fool proof!) I cooked 1.5 cups Quinoa (in 3 cups water and used 1/2 cup sauteed red bell pepper) for four adults. After the quinoa was finished and I tasted it, I decided what to add to it (I knew I was going to use beef, but not everything else.) Normally I decide before preparing the part of them meal, but as I had never used quinoa before, I had to know what the taste was like so I could determine what flavors would meld.

Beef Bacon Quinoa

In a large skillet, cook 1/4-1/2 lb beef (I used tenderloin steaks, but roast would work well) strips over medium high heat until cooked through.

 Remove from pan and set aside. In skillet, cook 3 strips of bacon, cut into small strips. Add 1 small can sliced mushrooms and heat through.

 

Add beef back to the pan.

Combine with cooked Quinoa (about 3-4 cups) and toss to combine. Salt to taste.

 Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Resolutions Week 9, How are your goals coming?

Last week I decided to recommit to my goals, it only took me until Monday to get the motivation necessary (maybe it is because I caught up on sleep by Monday...) 

-  Reducing my sugar intake again... I'm not completely on track but I have been doing a lot better than the past two weeks.

- I made a new version of French Onion soup last night

- This week I did an exercise video Monday and this morning as well as going on a walk on Monday and Tuesday. Having a puppy really helps the desire to go on a walk.

- I am starting to read a book, I'm not sure if it will be finished by the end of the month as it is a lengthy one

How are your goals coming?

Menu - March 15-21

Ever have weeks that you just do not feel like cooking? This week was one of those. I did not realize it until I started to post about our menu. I actually only cooked two nights this week. I think one reason for this is that I have not been planning a menu lately, so I have had to think about what to cook each night. As we all know that is a recipe for disaster and not having the ingredients that are needed. I use to plan out 2 weeks worth of menus and make sure I had all the ingredients for them, but I got away from that this year so far. Plus I always had a quick fall back meal that I could make in case I did not feel like making any of the dinners or did not have enough time. I'm going to do the organization today and tomorrow, we'll see if it makes a difference in the menu I post next week.

Here's this past week's menu:

Monday: Deli bought pizza

Tuesday: Green salad with eggs and homemade croutons

Wednesday: Baked Potatoes and Chicken Fried Steak (Made by my Mom)

Thursday: Bacon Beef Quinoa

Friday: Ate out (I was on a day long trip with a good friend)

Saturday: Leftover Night

Sunday: Frozen Pizza and spinach salad

Be sure to vote for which recipe you want to see on Thursday. I'd also love to hear what you had last week for dinners (you can post your whole menu or just your favorite dish you made.)

Creamy Meatballs (aka Meatball Rigatoni)

Exactly one month ago I confessed that I had misplaced my notes on how I made the Meatball Rigatoni... Last week I made it again and actually did not misplace my notes. I also was able to take lots of photos as I was making it. I honestly really enjoyed this dish both times I made it. As I was reviewing the photos, my mouth started watering and I really wanted to go make this recipe again... but because I am such a dedicated person, I finished sorting through the photos and am writing a post about it, all while salivating.

After making this dish I do not have any more meatballs in the freezer anymore after our incident of 4 lbs of hamburger accidentally becoming thawed. That means I'll have the urge to make them again within about a month. I'm way too predictable. I love meatballs way to much.

Creamy Meatballs

Bring a large pot of water with 1 Tbsp salt to a boil.

Meanwhile chop 1 shallot or small onion and saute in 2 tbsp butter until tender.

When water is boiling, add pasta and cook according to package directions. I used penne making it this time as we had a shortage of rigatoni. I really like rigatoni with this dish better.

Once the shallots are tender, add 1 tbsp more butter, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/4 tsp Marojam, and 1/8 tsp white (or black) pepper. Normally in a white sauce white pepper is used so there are not black specks, but since there herbs used in this sauce it would not be as noticeable.

Stir to combine.

Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups cream

to the shallots and seasonings.

Whisk together.

until combined.

Once cream is warmed, add 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

Is it bad to be in love with cheese? Parmesan is one of my favorites.

 Whisk in cheese.

Keep whisking until all cheese is melted.

Add meatballs 4-6 per person - be sure they are not still frozen. Meatball Recipe can be found here.

Just to let you know I am really salivating right now. If I had meatballs left in my freezer they'd be getting heated up right now!

 Gently mix meatballs into the sauce. If you mix to vigorously the meatballs will fall apart - which would not affect the taste at all. Keep warm on low heat, stirring occasionally until meatballs are warmed through. My stomach is growling now.

 Remember the cooking pasta? I really just had to add these pictures because I love pictures of boiling water. I really love the differences between each photo.

Also I need to tell you that you should not add oil to the pasta water. Oil inhibits the sauce from clinging to the pasta.

Drain the cooked pasta. I normally use whole wheat pasta, so the color is a little different. I really like the taste and bite that the whole grain pasta gives.

Do not rinse. Rinsing also inhibits the sauce from clinging to the pasta.

Place pasta on a plate and top with Meatballs and sauce.

Top with cheese. This is too much, it may be sooner than a month before I make meatballs again!

Enjoy!
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Foodless Friday: College Days

Not a long post today due to the great opportunity I have to go to my old college stomping grounds with one of my former roommates. She is one of my favorite roommates and we had good times together (she is also my cousin!) The main difference is that we are both married and have children now. We'll have our two sons who were born 2 months apart... Should be fun. We're leaving 2 hours before my son normally wakes up, so we'll see how it goes. In fact by the time you're reading this I'll be on my way (it's a 2.5 hour drive.)
Have a great Friday!

Garlic Herb Angelhair Pasta

As I was baking Feta Chicken for dinner last week I decided that I wanted to make a pasta dish that would go well with it. The Chicken only had 10 minutes until it was finished baking, and then another 3 until the feta was melted on the top of it. So I knew I had limited time... Wouldn't it be nice if I would have thought of making a pasta dish when I put the chicken in the oven?!? Well that's not how it works for me sometimes. I am not always on top of it as I would like to be. (By it, I mean any aspect of my life not just cooking dinner.)
So I decided to make a dish that the sauce could be made at the same time as the noodles were cooking and Garlic Herb pasta came to my mind. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of this dish as I was in a rush to get it done. It is not a hard recipe to make though.

Garlic Herb Angelhair Pasta

1/2 lb Angelhair Pasta
1 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup lime juice

1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp basil, dry
1 tsp oregano, dry
1/2 cup shredded Asiago Cheese (can use Parmesan)
1 tomato chopped

Bring a pot of water with salt and lime juice added to a boil. Cook Angelhair pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat and add garlic.  'Simmer' the garlic in the olive oil until it starts to turn light brown. Add Basil and Oregano, stir thoroughly. Remove from heat before garlic turns a medium brown as you do not want the garlic to burn. Cool while pasta finishes cooking. Be sure not to rinse the pasta.
Toss the Olive Oil garlic herb mixture over cooked and drained Angelhair pasta. Toss in Cheese and tomato.

Enjoy!

Resolutions Week 8... How are your goals coming?

Monday I realized I need to recommit to my goals... Let's just say that I pretty much stunk at my resolutions last week. I did make a new recipe, I made the Garlic herb angel hair pasta and I made croutons for the first time in my life yesterday. I think I exercised once, I still haven't gotten to reading a book and let's just say my sugar intake went through the roof. That was encouraged by making a birthday cake and such...

This week I'm recommitting to my goals. For a reminder here they are: 

- I am going to reduce my sugar intake.  I am having one serving of snack-type treats per week, a limit of 2 desserts per week. I am going to have black out days where I cheat, such as Valentine's, my immediate family's birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.

- Make at least one recipe I have never made each week.

- Exercise 3 days per week.

- Read a good book (fiction or non-fiction) once per month.

- Spend 2 hours doing something each week just for me, blogging not included. I really need to get back into my hobbies and start doing things I have wanted to do.

If you would like to check in each week, leave a comment below with the goals you are working toward.