Potatoe & Cabbage with a side of Quinoa

Hello all and Welcome to my dinner table. I've been dying for some cabbage lately. The other day I did a quick run to the store for a few items and picked some up some cabbage. Today I was planning on going back to do my full shopping but lost my atm card and was a bit lazy today.

Anyways I decided to toss some things together .

So let's get started. Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I started with Coconut oil in my cast iron skillet Hubby hot me for Christmas, it's so gorgeous. Also excited to use my butcher block I got from Walmart, it's from the Pioneer Women's new line. Ughh I've been dying to get some of her stuff and the store barely had anything left. Cut up red potatoes and add to the skillet with some salt and pepper, or adoba like I like to use. Cook them for a few minutes and then add chopped onions and garlic and red pepper flakes. I took the skillet and put it in the oven at 400 degrees and let cook about 20 minutes.

After about 20 minutes or so I add cabbage, cabbage cooks way faster than potatoes so do this when they are about halfway done or more. Cook for about 10 minutes.

The last 10 minutes or so of cooking I added some green peppers. I like them to cook a bit but still have a crunch to them. Just a little soft. Also I added some cumin cause I felt like it needed something more. It did the trick and was perfect flavor for this dish.

Mmmm I just love cabbage and potatoes, I could eat this all the time. I'm really loving this new skillet too. The thing is so darn heavy though but that's ok I could use a workout anyways. I love that the handle has a silicon hot pad on it.

So here's my dish a few simple ingredients and yum.You could use butter or olive oil but I think coconut oil is what gives it such great taste.

I served it with some quinoa I cooked up with some onions, peppers and once again coconut oil and adobo and pepper. Also som avocado that wasn't going to make it another day. It was an easy and super delicious meal.

Have a great night.

Been MIA

Ughhh I deleted everything off my phone cause it said I used up all the photo space. I thought I had all those pictures in my computer. I like to take all the pix of my meals then post them when I get a chance. Grrr now I have to start all over again!!! But I really enjoy sharing my meals now I just need some more followers!! :)

Spicy Chicken Burrito's

Yum yum, I'm not a big meat eater and don't really ever eat chicken but this came out so good even I loved it!!!

You don't have to make this spicy at all but we enjoy a little spice sometimes so I added jalapeño's. Also you can use chicken breast cut up or any kind of chicken you have! I had 6 drumsticks so I boiled them earlier in the day and put them in the fridge. I removed the skins and shredded the meat.

What you'll need
Shredded Chicken
1 onion chopped
1 pepper chopped
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 small can of corn drained
1 package of Taco seasoning
About 1/8 of a cup of jalapeños or to your taste

In a pot add with a little olive oil cook onions and peppers. At about half done add the chicken and cook a few minutes then add crushed tomatoes. Then add corn and taco seasoning and jalapeños and cook about medium heat till sauce is hot and ready or simmer for a bit while you cook rice.

Rice
Minute rice or any rice of your choice
Black beans
Cilantro
2TBSP of butter
1/2 tsp of cumin
1/2 tsp of paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Handful of fresh cilantro

Cook rice to directions. When done add butter and then all other ingredients except cilantro. Cook on low till beans are warm. Remove from heat and add cilantro.

Now you're ready to roll up your tortillas. I warm mine in the microwave with a damp paper towel on top. Sprinkle some cheese and add chicken and roll up. Serve with rice!!!

Hope you like this recipe. It's easy to make and taste super yummy!!
-Lisa

Pasta with Olives & Caper Sauce

Happy Friday!! Hope everyone has been enjoying their week?!

Here's a yummy Italian dish that I just adore!! This is just a great comforting kinda dish. I try to make a few meals a week without meat so this is just perfect if you love vegetarian dishes or Italian food for that matter.

Let's get started!

6 TBSP of EVOO (some Rachel Ray term for ya!! Hehe)
6 Cloves of garlic sliced
1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes
1 28 oz can of stewed or crushed tomatoes I used stewed ones and cut them up! I also cut up some cherry tomatoes
2-3 large celery sliced thinly
1 cup of black pitted olives put removed and cut in half you can also add green ones but I didn't have any in the house
1/3 cup drained capers
1/4 cup of Basil chopped
1 lb of pasta
About a 1/2 cup of grated parmigiano-reggiano

Boil salted water for pasta.
In a large skillet heat up about a 1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add garlic and sizzle till golden about a minute or 2. Then add crushed red peppers, cook for another minute. Add Tomatoes and celery also a little salt and pepper if you'd like! Just remember the olives and capers are salty so be careful. Fill tomato can with pasta water and add to skillet. Bring sauce to a boil. Add olives and simmer.Let thicken about 10 minutes. Add capers and basil, simmer for a few minutes. Add pasta and stir till well. Drizzle with EVOO and stir. Remove from heat and add cheese and serve!!

Love this dish so much! Great for leftovers too!!! What's your favorite Italian dish??

Thanks so much for checking out our Blog!! Have a wonderful Weekend!!
{Lisa}

Follow my Instagram for some more food ideas LisaLuvsMac

South West Summer Salad on i heart nap times blog!!

OMG I just have to try this salad it looks sooooo Yummy & would fit right into TACO TUESDAY!! Which I will be posting every Tuesday for now on :) This salad just looks so fresh and delicious! I'm always looking for something new to try for Taco Tuesday it's our Families Favorite day in our house!! Just Tacos can get pretty boring!!! Here's her page you must go check the recipe put and the great pictures to to along with it. South West Summer Salad  also the girl who wrote the recipes is Brittany and you can check her blog out at http://32turns.com/

Thanks for the great recipe ladies!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their start to Summer!

Summer Salads

It's finally gotten hot here! We kept having a lot of rain and still chilly weather!! All a sudden it warmed and I mean warmed up to 95 degrees!! Good New England from freezing to supper hot! I'm not complaining one bit though. I love warm weather and I love the heat and sunshine!! Perfect time to cook on the grill and make cold salads!!

Ok first salad is my Favorite!! This one is for my BFF's 3 year olds birthday party tomorrow!! I have 2 salads that everyone requests I make for parties and this is one of them!! It's also I one of those salads that you can just add what you have in the house as long as you have some Kale!!

KALE SALAD
I'm sorry that most all and I mean all my recipes lack measurements, I like to just eye ball things!!

What you'll need
Kale - one single bunch that comes at the store will do. Rip into small pieces
1 small onion
1 container of cherry tomatoes
1 big cucumber diced
1 can of chick peas
1 can of black olives
About 2 to 2 1/2 cups of apple cider vinegar mixed with a handful of sugar! Mix well before putting into salad
A couple tbsp of lemon juice or slice up one lemon and add in and just take out before you serve I love it like that
About 1/4 cup of olive oil
Mix everything together and let sit over night!!
Also taste great with fresh green beans!!


Next salad
POTATO SALAD with GREEN BEANS
3lbs potatoes diced and boiled
1 small onion
Handful of fresh Cilantro
Handful of fresh dill
About 2 cups vinegar
About 1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder to taste
Shake of paprika
Canned green beans

Mixed everything together!! Let refrigerate for at least a few hours!!!

Cucumber Salad
This I came up with today and it was super yummy!! Also would taste good in a wrap!!
1 large cucumber diced small
1 red pepper diced
1/2 can of chick peas
1/2 can of black olives cut up
1/2 onion chopped
Handful of cilantro chopped
Adobo seasoning to taste or salt and pepper
About 1/4 cup of lemon juice maybe a pick more
About 1/4 cup olive oil or less
toss and refrigerate for a couple hours!!

Hope you enjoy some summer salad ideas!! I had some with a veggie burger for dinner!!

Oh and I found out today I got the job at the cafe at the high school! I was just a sub but now I'm gonna be a real lunch lady! Yeah I'm so excited !!!
Have a Fabulous weekend!! I have more food to share!! Also I think I'm gonna star sharing other things like the kiddies and stuff!!!

Homemade Pizza with Kale & Sausages

I make homemade pizza all the time!! It's so easy and fun!! I make on the weekend and most of the time use our leftovers from the week, if there's any?!

It's a fun dinner to make with this kids cause they love adding the toppings!!

So here's the dough recipe I use! I've tried many different ones and this is my favorite!

4 Cups of flour
1& 1/2 cups warm water
1/4 tsp of salt
1 envelope of yeast
2 pinches of sugar
Add flour and salt to mixer and stir. Make a well in the middle. Pour in water add the yeast and sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes to active the yeast. Then put the mixer on with the dough hook. Blend till it starts forming a ball around the cook. Take out of bowl and add a little olive oil to the bowl and I like to smear it all over bowl with my fingers. Ball up the dough and add it to bowl! Let rise for about and hour or so. It will rise really big poke it with your finger to deflate it. Kneed it on the table a little then add back to bowl for about 1/2 hour to hour. Then it's ready!!

Put a little olive oil on cookie sheet and roll out dough, you'll have to use your hands to help too!!

This recipe will make a thick crust for a regular size round cookie sheet or a regular to thin crust for a big rectangular cookie sheet!!
Add your sauce, cheese and toppings!! Yum :)
Enjoy!!
Xoxo LisaMarie
E

Hubby Lunches

Hello Welcome back to my Food blog!!
Today I got to work at the kids school again!! I love seeing them and all their friends!! Everyone always says hi and gets all excited when they see me!!!
My son is taking the CMT's this month. The crazy thing is he likes it!! Haha when I was younger I hated any kind of tests!!

So I wanted to share some of Hubby's lunches I made him. I like to make a few days at a time sometimes even the whole week depending on what I'm making him!! I made some egg salad sandwiches for a couple days!! One I put on ciabatta bras and the other on this really yummy whole grain bread!!! Over the weekend I made him chicken salad sandwiches so the leftover I put in a salad for him!!

I mainly pack him cold lunches because its easier but somedays he'll get leftovers from the dinner before! Like on Sunday I made homemade sauce and meatballs!!

I eat some type of salad everyday for lunch!! Unless I'm really cold and want something nice and warm, salad it is!! I just love salad so much :)

What do you pack for lunches??

Rustic Pasta

I love making this pasta!! I sometimes make it different than other times! Just depends on what's in the house!!

I sadly didn't write down exact measurements but I think it's ok!! It's just one of those dishes you kinda through together and it tastes amazing!!!

What you'll need
Olive oil
Pasta I used penne
2 - 3 carrots
Cauliflower I used about a 1/4 of a head or more
Spinach I used about a half of a container I'd say about 3 cups
Spaghetti sauce I used about a 1/2 of a jar
3 garlic cloves

Start by putting a little oil in pan just enough to cook up your cauliflower and carrots!! I cut the cauliflower small and used my potato peeler to peel wide pieces of the carrots. Cook till almost tender add garlic and if you want some salt and pepper and parsley or Italian seasoning! Cook for a minute then add sauce and about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of olive oil!! I love doing this it makes it less tomato sauces but yummy!
Cook pasta! Add to veggies and sauce.
Now add in spinach and stir in let cook for a couple minutes! Spinach cooks super fast!

That's it ready to serve!!!!

I love this its yummy and feeling and you won't miss out on not having meat.

Hope you guys like it!

Also instead of olive oil butter tastes good too but the olive oil is much better for you.

Today I got to work at my kids school it was so nice. I've been working at the middle school for the past few months.
I kinda forgot how it was to work with the little ones. The middle school kids are louder but they are so much more dependent.
Right now I'm just a sub but hopefully ill find a full position for next year. I like subbing for now.
Have a great day!!
Lisa

Pasta with Pesto and Zucchini

Hey guys Welcome!!

I love Pesto sauce and during the summer we cook a lot with zucchini cause I grow it in my garden! I of coarse had to go get done at the store cause its so cold and snowy here!! Sad face for real!! I want summer back!!!

Anyways this is one of my favorite dishes to Su around with. You can add chopped cashews or red pepper flakes or chert tomatoes! Whatever you have in the house!! This is what I did though!

Box of pasta
Small jar of pesto sauce
1 green zucchini
A couple baby carrots sliced thin, I feel like a should have used a few more
A few TBSP of Parmesan cheese
Pepper to taste
2 garlic gloves
1 TBSP of butter and olive oil

Cook pasta. Cook zucchini and carrots in a pan with some olive oil add pepper and garlic. Once cooked add in pesto sauce. Add cooked pasta a 1 TBSP of butter and Parmesan cheese and. Cook a minute or so till nice and hot. Then ready to serve!! Super easy and Super tasty :)

Stuffed Pepper

I haven't had stuffed peppers in so long! I was craving something with sauce but didn't want any pasta so yum I made them!!

Stuffed Peppers are one of those meals that seem kinda hard but it's do easy to make and always comes out so great!!

What you'll need
I used 5 green peppers
1 pound of ground turkey, I also like to use Boca meat a lot
1 jar of sauce
1 package of brown rice
3 cloves of garlic
1 onion
Italian Seasoning
Italian style shredded cheese
Salt & Pepper
A few sprinkles of Parmesan Cheese
Brown up meat and add in chopped onion and garlic! Add seasonings & parm cheese! Cook till down. Cook rice to directions & them mix that into your meat! Add a your sauce but leave some out to coat the bottom of baking pan and some to top off peppers.

Cut tips off of Peppers and take out the insides of them. Put the meat mixture in and top with sauce. I didn't sprinkle the cheese on till the last 10 minutes. They cooked at 350 F for about 1 hour, it depends on how soft you like your peppers to be! I like mine soft.

I served it with Naan bread! It's like a flat bread with garlic. I put a few TBSP of Pesto sauce on it and topped it the with the shredded cheese. Bake it for about 10 to 15 minutes till crispy. It's so good!! During the summer this bread is amazing on the grill! You can add sautéed zucchini or whatever you like!!

Thanks so much for checking out my blog!! Have a wonderful day!!!
LisaMarie

13 Bean Soup with Turkey

More Turkey leftovers!!! Haha it's safe to say I'm officially sick of Turkey and had to freeze the rest of the meat.

I has the Bob's Red Mills 13 Bean Soup in the cabinet for awhile & figured it was time to make it.
You soak the beans over night. Use a big bowl or pot cause the expand a lot! I used a container from BJ's that was from our Christmas cookies.

Next day I put beans in crockpot with about 5 cups of water. I just filled it up. Added a can tomato paste,stewed tomatoes, adobo seasoning, garlic, Italian seasoning plus more parsley, 3 beef bouillon cubes, pepper and of coarse Turkey meat!!!
I let it cook all day!!

I was super delicious and Hubby kept going back for more. Also it was very filling. This soup mix would be great made into a chili also.

The girls had chicken nuggets and tator tots because they are so picky!!
Hope you liked this recipe. I'm having a lot of fun sharing my recipes with you!!!

Turkey Salad Sandwiches

I decided to try to make Turkey Salad with left over Turkey!! I'm not a big Turkey fan but this is really good!! I do wish I has some dill or maybe celery!! Even though it still was tasty!!

What I used
Leftover Turkey
Hellmans Mayo
Adobe Seasoning ( I like using this cause its got pepper & a pinch of garlic in it)
Onion

I put the turkey and onion in my Ninja to chop up small! Mix rest if ingredients together and done!!

Also you could add shredded carrots, parsley, black olives, peppers!!

I packed it in Hubby's lunch with a Chef Salad and some homemade Garlic Beer Bread!!

Have a Fabulous week!!!!
LisaMarie

Turkey Flauta's

My mom gave me 19 lb Turkey. I'm not a huge turkey lover myself but have been coming up with meals with all the leftover Turkey!

What I used.
Turkey
Green pepper
Onion
Adobe seasoning
Cumin
Chili powder
Oil
Butter
Brown rice
Black beans
Corn Tortillas
Shredded Cheese, I used Nacho flavored
I put the turkey, peppers and onions in the food processor to chop it up fine. Put in a pan with a little oil. Sprinkle as much ad you want of all the seasonings or use taco seasoning. Add in about 3 tbsp butter . Cook till peppers and onions are soft. Cook rice to package and heat beans up in sauce pan.
Heat a little oil. Roll a small spoonful of turkey mix & cheese put in hot oil and fry up till golden brown.
I put the black beans over the rice. Serve with sour cream, hot sauce and ranch dressing.
LisaMarie

Muffin Monday

I decided to do some serious baking today for the week!!! I just got done making 48 muffins!!! I made cranberry orange, blueberry, corn, raspberry, & lemon poppy. I packed a bunch up in baggies for my daughters snack at school & for hubby's work!! The girls helped me make them so it was really fun! I love backing with the little muffins LOL. I took pictures of the girls but just don't have time to load them now!! Took this with my laptop. Now I'm in the middle of making bread. Hope everyones enjoying their Monday!!

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

This is my version of the Olive Gardens Salad Dressing!! It really does compare to it!!

1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/3 Cup Water
1/8 Cup Corn Syrup
1/3 Cup Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil or vegetable oil
2 1/2 TBSP grated parm cheese ( I use the veggie kind )
1 tsp Adobo Seasoning
1 tsp Lemon juic
1/2 tsp minced Garlic
1/4 tsp dried parsley flakes
pinch of dried oregano
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
pinch of fresh cracked pepper

Fried Green Tomatoes

OMG one of the best things on earth is fried green tomatoes!! For some reason I had a crap load of tomatoes that were not turning red!!!!!! No problem there!! Even the kids went nuts over these!!! I kept eating them as I was cooking that I go too full for dinner LOL

Veggie Barley Soup with Potatoes

This was a super yummy soup!!!!!!!!! Also super easy!!! Basically you just use Veggie Stock and barley and add whatever veggies you want to it!! Great with some homemade biscuits!!