Sneak Peak at My Week!

What out-of-the-ordinary things have I been consuming lately?  Let's see...

Earlier this week I had no idea what I wanted for breakfast.  I peeked into the freezer and found THIS little gem. 

 

During the summer when I am smoothie-ing it up, I tend to freeze the extra into ice pops for a sweet, healthy snack.  I guess I forgot this one!  I think it is beet-banana, but I'm not sure.  It was DELICIOUS. That, I am sure of.  

On Wednesday of the Meal Plan I notated that it was a grab-n-go kinda day.  I made this Tuesday night so I had it ready to go. 
 

I chopped up a cucumber and a tomato, added parsley,
 

Some bread I made earlier that was a LITTLE too crusty,
 

and some lemon-olive oil dressing.  

It kept me from over-indulging in food at the Nets game.  Oh, did I not mention that John and I had FLOOR SEATS to a NJ Nets game?  And that is came with access to a special VIP area with free food and drink?  I didn't mention that?!  Oops.

On Thursday John wanted me to make the rest of the meatballs.  When I make them, I make twice as many meatballs and freeze 1/2 raw.  When I am ready to make more, I just have to make the gravy and throw them in.  This time, I tried it in the slow cooker!
 

 I know the picture isn't really appetizing, but they tasted just as good as they do when I make it on the stove, but it is MUCH less messy.  SCORE!

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Quick Fix

Hi! 

There are tasty things to come, but until then, here's a quick fix for ya!

 

John made delicious burgers and I had mine with cheddar cheese, baby mixed greens, oil, and vinegar.  DELICIOUS!!

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Macaroni Monday!

I was able to check yet ANOTHER meal off my list.  We were all out of frozen gravy and meatballs, so it was time to make another batch!  This recipe is based off the one my grandma taught me.  I made very few changes.

Mix 1 package of ground beef, pork, and veal with 2 eggs.  

 

 Add breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, parmesean cheese, and salt.  There are not really any measurements, since my grandma doesn't matter.  It was mostly breadcrumbs.

 

Combine until it is mixed well and the right consistency.
 

Shape it into cute meatballs.
 

Admire your work (or the work of your fiance, John.  Those were his arms, not mine.)
 

After this is complete, or while someone else is making them, start the gravy.

Brown some garlic cloves and onion slices in a bit of oil.  If you have gravy meat (chunks of beef, pork and veal) with this, brown them, too. 
 

Drain any excess oil and add tomato sauce, water, and tomato paste.  The ratio is about 2 parts sauce:2 parts water:1 part paste.  I usually use 2 15 oz cans of sauce, then fill those cans with water, and then 2 little cans of tomato paste.  I think they are around 6-8 oz each. 
 

 Then you have to add seasonings.  The amount will depend on whether or not you use sauce/paste with seasonings.  I don't.  Grandma does.  Either way, add garlic powder, parsley, oregano, and salt.  Add in the meatballs, and boil.
 

After it boils, simmer it for at least 2 hours.  Then, ENJOY!

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New Toy #2 and Meatloaf/Potatoes

Have you been dying to hear about my other new toy?  I know, I know, you must have been on the edge of your seat waiting for this post!

I GOT A CAMERA!!!!!

My parent's gave us one for Christmas.  They knew we had been wanting one for wedding/honeymoon/future use and were saving up for it.  So..... THEY GAVE US ONE!

Of course, until then, I need to practice by photographing food.  Of course.

Right......

My mom's meatloaf was always a favorite of mine.  As an adult, I find that it's just the recipe on the back of the Lipton Soup Secrets Onion Soup Mix.  Since the box came with 2 packets of "spices," I made the potato recipe on the back, too!

POTATOES:

Clean 4 potatoes.

(How great is this picture!  Now, if you are a photographer, you will probably not be impressed.  HOWEVER, if you have seen ANY of the past pictures I have taken with older cameras, you will notice how much better all the photos in this post are.  Be impressed.  Please.  For me.)

Cut 4 potoates.  Try your hand at different photography settings on new camera.

Make sure you cut them into even sized chunks so they cook at the same time.

Mix the potatoes with a little oil (I used grapeseed oil) and the packet of onion mix.

Spread it out on the baking sheet and bake it at 425 for about 30-40 minutes.  Make sure to stir it occasionally.

ENJOY!

MEATLOAF:

 

I like to use a mix of ground beef, pork, and veal.  Toss it into a bowl and follow the directions on the back of the box of soup mix.

Shape it into a loaf.

Or a brain.  Doesn't it look like a brain?!

 

Bake it for an hour at 350.

Slice and enjoy with potatoes! Or whatever. 

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Meat and Beets (Hummus Style)

John's mom gave us a bag of really good quality meat that I had to cook today. Although I was home all morning, I decided to make it BBQ style in the slow cooker (because who doesn't love fall-off-the-bone-meat? other than vegetarians, of course, but you know...). Rather than eat my way through my morning again, I made a delicious side instead... Beet Hummus!


Let's start with the meat.

Added BBQ sauce, ground flax seeds, garlic, vinegar, and water.

Added onions.

Cooked all day and served!
With a side of oven-baked fries (John made!)


Onto the Beet Hummus. We love hummus, as seen here. We also love beets (here and here). I saw this posted on This Is Why You're Thin! and knew I had to try it. John was afraid it would dye our blender pink, but when I had success with the beet smoothie, I knew I was good to go.

I roasted a beet and some garlic in the oven (400 degrees for 45 minutes).
Then I was supposed to peel the skin off the beet. Here is where I always get stuck. It is supposed to be sooooooooo easy to peel the skin off a cooked beet. I don my gloves and go to town, but I am usually rewarded with only a few pieces! NOT EASY! But... all in all I don't worry about it. The beet is clean (enough!) and the skin has nutritional value. I just eat it.

But I digress.

Next step? Add beet to blender with the juice of a lemon, 1/4 cup tahini, a can of chick peas, some water, and salt.
Blend and enjoy!

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