Fresh Produce

'tis the season. . .

dried fruit

fresh jam

homemade fruit leather rolls

fresh peas

Blueberries. . .

Tonight I will be dreaming about blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes and blueberry cobblers.  

We purchased the most delicious blueberries from our nearby Amish friends. 

I apologize that I have been so slow to post new menus.  The summer sun has distracted me.

. . .and soccer camps, vacations and picnics at the park.

Homemade Tortillas

This was my first attempt at homemade tortillas.  Everyone in my family agreed that they were so much better than store bought tortillas.  I was amazed how easy they were to make! 

Whole Wheat Tortillas

(Taken from "Wild Flour" by Denise Fidler, the Country Baker)

3-4 cups soft whole wheat pastry flour (I used freshly ground white wheat flour)

1 tsp. sea salt

1/3 cup oil

1 cup warm water

In your Bosch bowl with batter whips (or other mixer), mix dry ingredients.  Add all wet ingredients in a slow and steady stream.  Mix and knead adding more water or flour as needed to produce a smooth dough for 1-2 minutes.  Form into 12-18 balls.  Cover and rest 30 minutes.  Press in electric or manual tortilla maker and cook.  The secret to a great tortilla is a soft and moist dough.  

*I used a rolling pin to roll them out and cooked them on my electric griddle.  

*Warm tortillas with butter, cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top are delicious.

*Tortillas freeze great.  Just seal in heavy-duty freezer bag with layers on waxed paper between them.  

No Bake Cherry Cheesecake

So easy. So good. Perfect for a summer get together. 

No Bake Cherry Cheesecake

(recipe from Sheri Feller, mom)

Filling:

1 8 oz. cool whip

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

Crust:  

one graham cracker crust

Topping:

one can cherry pie filling

With electric mixer beat filling until smooth.  Place in crust.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Spread cherry pie filling on top before serving.  

Healthy Happy Lunch

I was a little skeptical when my friend, Jessica Orrock, mention that her family really likes Lemony Lima Beans with Parmesan.  I made them last night for dinner and Hyrum requested that I make them again for lunch.  Yes, it was good.

Healthy Fruit Smoothy

orange juice + frozen fruit= yummy

Homemade Toast

Lemony Lima Beans with Parmesan

course salt and ground pepper

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen baby lima beans, thawed

3 T. olive oil

1 T. lemon zest

2 T. fresh lemon juice

1/3 c. shaved or shredded parmesan cheese

1.  Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.  Add lima beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes.  Drain, rinse with cold water (to stop further cooking), then drain again, and pat dry with paper towels.

2.  Transfer lima beans to a bowl.  Sir in oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.  Divide among four serving plates, and sprinkle with Parmesan.

6 grams of protein and 0 grams of fat, you can't beat that!

5 or 6

I've made a change.  I decided to change from 6 meals in a weekly menu to 5.  

Why?

Because it's summer.  More outdoor parties.  More leftovers. More easy meals.

1. crock-pot, 2. meatless, 3. chicken, 4. beef, 5. easy or light

Week #5

Menu and *Serving Suggestions
1.  Crock-pot- Asian Honey Chicken *Serve on Brown Rice
2.  Meatless-  Baked Macaroni and Three Cheese *Salad
3.  Chicken-  Turkey Piccata *Pasta,  *Squash or Sweet Potatoes
4.  Beef- Shepherd's Skillet *Broccoli
5.  Easy-  Breakfast Burritos *Fresh Fruit

1.  Crock-pot- Asian Honey Chicken
(Saving Dinner Cookbook-- I adapted it for the crock-pot)


1/8 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, pressed
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5 green onions, minced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 small carrots, chopped small or shredded

In crock-pot mix oil, honey, soy sauce, and garlic.  Add chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Just before serving heat vegetable oil in a wok or a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Saute green onions, red and green pepper and carrots until tender.  Add chicken and sauce, saute lightly and then serve over brown rice. (I don't add all of the sauce from the crock-pot because I don't want it to be to runny.)

2.  Meatless- Baked Macaroni and Three Cheese
(Saving Dinner Cookbook) This is a favorite!

3/4 pound ziti pasta, cooked
1 jar spaghetti sauce, your choice
1 cup low-fat sour cream
6 ounces provolone cheese, thinly sliced
6 ounces low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large mixing bowl, toss together the pasta, spaghetti sauce, and sour cream.  Mix together the provolone, the mozarella, and the Romano cheeses and set aside.  Now layer half the mixture into the baking dish and sprinkle half the cheese mixture on the pasta.  Layer remaining pasta on top and then the rest of the cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Don't let the cheese brown.

3.  Chicken- Turkey Piccata
(Saving Dinner--Yes, sometimes I use chicken)

2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoons olive oil
6 turkey breast cutlets
2 tablespoons flour
2 lemons, juiced
1 tablespoon capers (optional)

In a skillet, melt half the butter and all of the oil together.  Dredge turkey in flour and saute' turkey till done.  Remove and keep warm.  In the skillet, whisk in the lemon juice and scrape up the browned bits off the bottom of the pan.  Add remaining butter, whisking to incorporate.  Add capers and return turkey to skillet; turn to coat.  Serve spooning sauce over the top.

We then placed the turkey on top of our pasta and marinara sauce.

4.  Beef-  Shepherd's Skillet
(Saving Dinner Cookbook)

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 cup oats (optional)
3 squirts ketchup
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 1/2 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
3/4 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat the broiler.

In a skillet (oven proof), heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion, garlic, and beef and cook till beef is browned and crumbled.  Drain beef and blot with paper towels (with this step the fat grams will be lower).  Add oats and stir well to incorporate.

Add ketchup, spices, beef broth, and cornstarch; stir well and allow to simmer on low and to thicken slightly.  Heat mashed potatoes and set aside.  Add sour cream to beef mixture and mix again.  Remove skillet from heat and spoon potatoes as evenly as possible over the entire skillet.  Top with shredded cheese and place skillet under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly. (Make sure the skillet is oven safe!)

5.  Easy Breakfast Burritos
(Susan Christensen)

American cheese
bacon, cooked
scrambled eggs
tortillas
salsa

Melt 1 slice of American cheese on a large tortilla.  Put 1-2 pieces of cooked bacon on top of melted cheese, top with scrambled egg.  Serve with Salsa.  Roll up and enjoy!