Watercolor Stream: 2012-01-01

Friday, January 6, 2012

memories

My Dad would have been 87 today.

He has been gone almost 17 years and I can't picture him as an elderly person.

As you can tell he had a great laugh, and I really miss that.

Happy Birfday Dad.

We're thinking of you.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Two More Recipes

More recipes from The Men's Health Big Book of Food and Nutrition.
Banana-Blueberry Smoothie

3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1/4 cup 1% milk

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 banana

2 tsp vanilla whey powder protein

6 ice cubes

1. combine ricotta, milk, blueberries, banana and protein powder in a blender.

2. Then add, ice and puree until smooth.

I have had this the past two mornings and just love it. It's nice and smooth and thick but not too sweet.

Canoodling Turkey Soup

4 oz. whole wheat noodles

1 T. canola oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 tsp. dried sage

1 lb ground turkey breast

32 oz. fat free chicken broth

4 cups water

1 T. balsamic vinegar

salt to taste

6 oz. baby spinach leaves.

pepper to taste

1. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile in a pot over medium heat, warm the oil.

3.Add the onion, carrot, and the celery along with the sage to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.

4. Add the turkey, cook breaking up the turkey with the back of the spoon, until the turkey is no longer pink.

5. Add the broth, water, vinegar and salt. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until hot. Do not boil.

6. Stir in the spinach and noodles.

7. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes.

Serves 6

I had first used low sodium chicken broth and had to add salt anyways. I do not like the dish to be bland and with the turkey breast it was. After the salt was added this had a really nice, and tasty broth.

I hope you try and like these! [

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

How many

Can you see.

They like to join us watching tv.

The excitement is just too much.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Meat Loaf tonight

The Mens Health cookbook offered a meatloaf recipe that was fantastic. I didn't take a picture because it looked like any other meatloaf. Here is the recipe though:

Mom's Meatloaf

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 T. lemon juice

1 tsp. mustard powder

2 pounds lean ground beef

2-3 slices of whole grain bread pulled into tiny pieces

3/4 tsp onion powder

1 egg

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. cover the inside bottom and sides of a 9 X 13 pan with foil

3. In a small bowl. mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice and mustard powder. Set aside.

4. In a large bowl mix together the ground beef, bread, onion, egg and 1/2 of the ketchup mixture.

Dump into the prepared pan and mound like a loaf. Bake for 1 hour.

5. Coat the top with the remaining ketchup mixture and bake for 10 additional minutes.

The texture was really smooth. I don't know if it had anything to do with the lemon juice, because I have never used it in meatloaf, but I would definitely use this recipe again.

Along with it we had the previous nights muffins, a baked potato and a salad with peas, carrots, celery and a little shredded cheese. A nice comfortable meal.

Oatmeal Muffins

It was back to work today after 11 heavenly days off. I came home to make supper, with 3 hungry men wondering what it was going to be. One thing this year I wanted to do was make more thoughtful, healthier meals, so here is what I came up with.

Chicken Thighs and Legs with the skin removed and with Shake and Bake on each.

Baked in a foil lined 9 X 15 pan.

Frozen Peas (my favorite)

multigrain pasta bowties with a little butter and garlic pepper seasoning

oatmeal muffins

I thought I would share this recipe.

It turned out really well and is just slightly sweet.

Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup quick oats

1 cup buttermilk (I always keep the dried buttermilk on hand)

1 egg

1/2 cup packed brown sugar