A FRIDGE FULL OF FOOD...

Doctor's Kitchen Monday: "There's Chicken in my Spaghetti"

 

Chicken, a simple substitution that has much less fat in it than beef in spaghetti, still has all the taste of meat and and the healthy goodness of the tomato sauce.  A perfect dish for the crockpot, it's also easy to throw into a roaster to cook it low and slow while leaving it alone for the afternoon.

I first had this at the soon-to-be in-laws of my friend, Shawna, 20-something years ago.  I'd flown to Calgary to attend her wedding and we got snowed in, blizzarded in I should say, at her wonderful in-laws where we were served this for one of the dinners. 

Let's talk the weather in Canada for a second, shall we?  I'm from Missouri, although I have lived in Washington (state) and Utah but that still didn't prepare me for Canadian "spring".  The wedding was in April and I remember Shawna saying about clothes "wear whatever you would normally wear in spring".  Hmmmm...what she meant to say was "wear whatever you'd wear for Missouri winter". Although we get a few snows over the winter, our snow is usually gone within a few days. I wasn't prepared for snow that stayed on the ground until almost summer and the freezing temps that accompany that snow. At the time I freaked out in my light sweaters and khakis but now I look back and smile and am warmed by the memories of spending time with my dear friend and the hospitality of her new family.

This dish is my entry this week in Ruth's, of Once Upon a Feast, wonderful Presto Pasta Nights, hosted this week by Graziana of Erbe in Cucina .  Be sure to drop by her "place" on Friday to see all the wonderful pasta dishes rounded up this week.

Doctor's Kitchen Monday: Glenna's All Day Spaghetti 3-Meat Sauce (Low & Slow w/Lots of Veggies)

 

In keeping with the goals I've mentioned before of dieting and reining things back in my life, I've been thinking I'm going to start posting more of my daily menus, of course hoping it will inspire me more and more to keep fighting the good fight when it comes to food. As in REAL food, not processed crap.  Sure, there will be days when I eat out or drive through a "thru" or screw up (translation: soda!)  but all in all I'm feeling pretty rejuvinated. It's amazing to me how many of our choices in life, bad choices in life, are made because we feel bad.  Do you know what I mean? I'm finally, after months of respiratory infections and fighting my asthma, starting to feel like myself again.  The odd thing to me is how much feeling better has perked me back up in terms of not only my attitude but in my food choices and what I'm physically able to do.  I'm not "living" on sugar and caffeine anymore.  Isn't it the ultimate irony that when the body feels crummy we tend to take the easiest way out and feed it crap from a box or a window when that's the most important time we should be concentrating on healthy, vibrant, nutritious foods?  Crazy but human. It's just too easy these days to grab bad food when we feel bad and save cooking for when we feel better.  Sad, but true.

But hey, I'm back, and today I made my new favorite all day spaghetti sauce that's actually packed with, yes three meats, but also tons of fresh veggies and isn't overloaded with fat.  This sauce is not your average hamburger and tomato sauce sauce. It has three meats:  sirloin (chunks and ground), pork chops, and Italian sausage.  It's finished out with five vegetables and a host of seasonings. Normally, I'm not a huge meat eater, not because I don't like the taste but because I don't like the texture. This one is different.  From being simmered so long, the meat has the softer texture of a really good slow-cooked chili or vegetable beef soup.  With about a 40 minute prep, if you can handle two pots at once, it's a great recipe to throw into the crockpot to finish simmering while you work during the day, or sleep to us nightshifters.

This is my entry for this week's Presto Pasta Nights, created by the very cool Ruth of Once Upon a Feast, and hosted this week by Patsy of Family, Friends, and Food.  Check out both blogs on Friday to see the round-up of great pasta dishes across the blogs this week.

Mama Always Said "Eat Your Vegetables!"

 

This is now my favorite secret weapon for getting all my veggies in each day which is harder than it looks, as we all know.  Four is no problem but when you try to up it to six or eight servings it's more of a struggle unless you're really on your toes.  This is one of those quick, easy, flexible soups that is making its way into my home lunches and work lunches with ease.

On this particular day I used bagged frozen vegetables of green beans, carrots, peas, and corn, but I've also used a mix of broccoli and cauliflower, lima and green beans, and whatever I happen to have in the freezer.

I like this soup because it's super quick, only 3 ingredients really and they're right there in the pantry all the time, very filling, and it tastes good on top of sneaking in an extra 2 servings of vegetables. 

Quick Veggie Pasta Soup lunch for ONE:

Recipe by Glenna Anderson Muse

In a medium sauce pan, bring to boil:

1 15 oz can no fat, low sodium chicken or vegetarian broth plus 1/2 cup water

Add in 1 cup frozen vegetables of choice

Season to taste with salt & pepper, and Cavender's if you have it.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Add in 1/4 cup alphabet or other tiny pasta

Simmer for an additional 5-8 minutes.

Top with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese if desired.

Serving:  1

Calories per serving:  225    Carbs:   29      Fat:  1    Protein: 9  Fiber:  5.5

Weight watchers points:  4

 

Congratulations to Ruth on reaching her 100th Presto Pasta Nights!  This week's historical round up will be posted tomorrow on Ruth's blog Once Upon a Feast at www.onceuponafeast.blogspot.com.  Go say "Hi!" to Ruth and see all the great pasta dishes from week.

Bread Baking Babes: Country-style Whole-Wheat Pita

Because of a huge snafu on my part, I wasn't able to bake Ilva's wonderful-looking pita breads in time for this challenge.  However, don't miss out on my fellow Bread Baking Babes and their Pita bread efforts:

Bake My Day - Karen

Breadchick - Mary

Cookie Baker Lynn - Lynn

Grain Doe - Gorel

I Like To Cook - Sara

Living on bread and water - Monique

Lucullian Delights - Ilva

My Kitchen In Half Cups - Tanna

Notitie Van Lien - Lien

Thyme For Cooking - Katie

Weekend Herb Blogging: Gimme A (vitamin) "C" for Stuffed Red Peppers

Weekend Herb Blogging, created by the wonderful Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, is being hosted this week by the equally wonderful Katie of Thyme for Cooking.  I love this event for reminding us that healthy food doesn't have to taste boring. There's a whole world of flavor out there that's non-fat, non-carb, and non-guilt.

Sweet bell peppes in any color are a powerhouse of vitamin C, providing 240% of the recommended daily  value (based on 2,000 cal diet) in just a 1/2 cup (raw) serving.  That same serving also provides 45% of the daily vitamin A and a significant amount of folic acid, vitamin K (necessary for blood clotting) and vitam B6.  With only 20 calories, 0 fat, 5 complex carbs, 1 protein, and 1 gram of Fiber, peppers are a bargain on anybody's diet.  Plus, they taste GREAT!

Tastes Like Home Blogging Event

Megan from Megan's Cookin has a blogging event called "Tastes Like Home" where she matched up bloggers from across the country to send gift boxes to each other of locally produced food treats.  My partner is Sara from Cupcake Muffin in Berkely, California and my food box is AWESOME!  Look at all these wonderful treats: Uncle Chen's Vietnamese hot sauce, Just Mango dried mango bits, Scharffen Berger Cacao Nibs, cmb Sweets apricot jam, Frog Hollow Farms apricot and plum conserve, California almonds, and Frog Hollow Farms cherry chocolate chip cookies (all of which are gone now thanks to Gene :-) )

Thanks, Sara! I intend to have a lot of fun with these!

  From my state, Missouri, I sent Sara MO black walnuts from Hammons (Stockton), Cavender's Seasoning (Harrison,AR), Silver Dollar City (Branson) BBQ sauce made by Ott's (Carthage), and Hallam's sorghum (Ozark).

Doctors Kitchen Monday: Donating to the The Coalition for Women with Heart Disease in our Friend Sherry's Name

Lia Huber of Swirling Notions has hooked up with Clos Du Bois to initiate a wonderful tribute to our wonderful friend Sher Cermak of What Did you Eat? who passed away on July 20th recently of a massive heart attack.  Clos Du Bois has agreed to match funds that we raise up to $10,000 which means we have the chance to raise up to $20,000 in Sher's name!

To donate, please click here:  Women Heart through Swirling Notions(not on the graphic to the left).  My link will take you to Lia's posting where she explains step by step and has the links so that all donations we make are credited to Sherry and so that we can have an idea of the total donated.

WomenHeart is the only patient-led national non-profit organization that educates and advocates for the 8 million American women living with heart disease. With 16,000 members and 50 local support groups, WomenHeart gives women heart patients and physicians a platform to spread the common message of early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment so all women can lead healthier lives.

Thanks, Lia! That's a wonderful idea!

Doctor's Kitchen Monday: Orange Shrimp & Scallops over Rice Pilaf

Eating clean in the neighborhood!  Pardon my rip off of Applebee's slogan about "the neighborhood" but while we were in the mood to eat out, I knew neither Gene nor I really needed the extra fat and calories that seem to come as an automatic side to any restaurant meal.

What to do?

Eat out, only do it at home.

After perusing several recipes online I came up with this seafood dish loaded with veggies, fresh taste, and a little extra oomph for our not so ordinary dinner at home.

Featuring fresh thyme, Orange Broiled Seafood is a natural dish for Weekend Herb Blogging, created by the wonderful Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, hosted this weekend by Joanna of Joanna's Food.  The round-up of all the wonderful herbaliciousness is usually posted by late Sunday evening or Monday morning.  Please go see Joanna and Kalyn for more great recipes.

Blogging By Mail: From Ireland and To Estonia

Stephanie, the Happy Sorceress of Dispensing Happiness put together this wonderfully small world event called Blogging by Mail where she took on the huge challenge of playing musical mailbox with a huge list of people all over the world, all sharing their favorite "small things" with each other.  (Thanks, Stephanie!)

My Mail Blogging genie turned out to be Deborah of The Humble Housewife who lives and caters in       Ireland.  But get this:  her husband is originally from my town--Springfield, Missouri.  How freaking cool is that? 

By her choices, Deborah shows that we have lots in common! Baileys? Yum!  A good paring knife and a small pastry brush--YES!  Tea?  Boy, howdy.  Marmalade?  My FAVORITE!!!!  Candles? Love 'em.  Chocolate? Hiding it from Gene.  Shamrock cookie cutters?  Deborah must have ESP because I almost bought some this year and then decided to not be frivolous.  Grumpily frugal.  Now I can enjoy them next year and not feel one bit guilty--thanks Deborah! How did you know?

There is nothing like getting a present in the mail. It turns us all back into children with a pure joy of opening a surprise.  As an adult, it's also the entryway into a special bonding among foodies.  Isn't it nice to know there are "others" out there like us that share this passion?

Thank you so much Deborah for both your goodies and your kindness!  I'm now an avid reader of yours and a cheerleader in your corner on your catering business--best of luck.

Who did I send my box of goodies to, you might be wondering...

Evelin at Bounteous Bites is an adorable young woman who is 17-years-old and already an accomplished cook. I was so grateful to Stephanie for sending me her name. Her blog is so fun and impressive. I don't mean to hound on her age but I was blown away when I realized just how much experience she has under her belt.  In a way I related to her. I, too, was in the kitchen at a young age so by the time I went to college I was sort of the "Mom" in the kitchen to my roommates.  I noticed also, that like me, Evelin loves to bake and all of her desserts are beautifully done.  I thought she might enjoy a few of my favorite little things to cake decorate with so I put together a care package of Wilton pastry bags, couplers, tips, food colors, and then some fun candy jelly flowers and lollies.  I can't wait to see what lovelies she makes with these new kitchen toys. 

Happy (Early) St. Pat's: Corned Beef, Colcannon, & Green Bread

Happy St. Pat's Day  a little early! I'm working most of the weekend including Monday but I wanted to share this meal with you.  Yum! St. Pat's food is one of my favorite go to for celebratory meals. Don't know why I don't prepare it more often.  Actually, the Reuben is my all time favorite sandwich and corned beef hash and eggs is my favorite breakfast. Can't go wrong with corned beef and cabbage in any form!

By the way, the green bread is a joke. It's simply my standard white bread everyday recipe that I added green food paste coloring to for some St. Pat's silliness.

As for the holiday itself, St. Patrick is credited with both driving the snakes and the pagans out of Ireland. As Ireland's patron saint, Patrick is attributed with using the abundant shamrock as a teaching tool to explain the three-in-one nature of the Trinity.

This is my entry for this weeks'  Weekend Herb Blogging, originally created by the lovely Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen.  This week, WHB is hosted by Kel of the fabulously photographed Green Olive Tree.  Check out all the other entries after Sunday evening.

Cardamom is a spice, not technically an herb, but Kalyn's focus is on all herbs, spices, or plants.  Cardamom, my favorite spice, is used quite a bit in northern European and Middle Eastern cuisines.