Taco soup

This tried and true recipe was given to me years ago from my dear friend Trish. She brought it to a work potluck and it was such a hit! I'm pretty sure we all begged her for the recipe! Thankfully, it's easy to make and easy on the pocketbook! Everyone I've ever made it for has asked me for the recipe and everyone they make it for asks THEM for it! You can either make it about an hour before you want to eat it or put it in the slow cooker and smell it's deliciousioness all day.. I like option two. My kids literally BEG for more, they LOVE it!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey OR ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning
1pkg ranch dressing MIX
1 can of each:
Stewed tomatoes
Rotel tomatoes
Kidney beans
Pinto beans
Creamed corn
Golden hominy
Shredded cheddar cheese
FRITO chips

Directions
Brown meat with chopped onion in a large pot with some olive oil.
Add EVERYTHING together in the pot OR in a slow cooker. Do NOT drain the cans! This is very important!:)
If on the stove, bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 1 hour, make sure to stir frequently and scrape the bottom of the pot here and there
If in the slow cooker, just set to low for 6-8 hrs or high for 4-6 hrs
Add shredded cheese, and most important of all.. FRITOS!! Do NOT forget the FRITOS!!
I also like to add avocado and sour cream if I have them.. It is sooo delish!

Kettle corn

I love this stuff, it's the perfect combination of salty and sweet which just so happens to be my favorite flavor combo! The kids ask for it all the time and it makes a great little Christmas gift wrapped up in a pretty bag or in a popcorn tin.. It's SO easy but I always get asked "how did you make that!"
Hope you try it and love it!

ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt
directions
In a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. add the popcorn. When the oil sizzles, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover and shake the pan until the popping slows down, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss with the salt.

Bacon, veggie, parm Pasta bake

So we had the pleasure of spending the weekend at a lovely cabin with some old friends from my childhood. On the last night they made this yummy rotini pasta with chicken. It was good! So when I was looking for something for dinner tonight I thought of something similar. I REALLY need to go to the grocery store, we don't have any milk, chicken or pretty much anything else so this is what I came up with with what I had! I have to say sometimes when I don't follow a recipe and just go with my cooking gut ( no pun intended) I like my food better for some reason! So, I knew I'd never remember the ingredients unless I wrote it down somewhere so I figured might as well add it to the blog. I'm sure you can sub chicken for the bacon, I just didn't have any. I only use turkey bacon but if you used a good quality center cut pork bacon I'm sure it would be awesome! Also, some diced up ham would be really good!

1/2 lb turkey bacon
8 oz uncooked rotini pasta ( I used a little over half a small box )
2 C broccoli cut into pieces
I also threw in some frozen carrot matchsticks that I had from a stir fry mix) so whatever veggie you have, peas would be great too.
3 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
1 14 oz can chicken broth
1 c sour cream
1 c grated parm divided.
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Garlic powder

Set oven to 350
Start your water for the pasta
Fry the bacon crispy and then break up into pieces- set aside.
Sauté the veggies in some oil, sprinkle some salt, pepper and garlic powder on them. Maybe even a sprinkle of parm cheese if you want.
Once the veggies are getting soft throw the cooked bacon in with them. Sprinkle with more seasonings.
Take out of the pan and wipe down with a paper towel.
On low add the butter to the pan and once melted add the flour, whisk.
Add in the chicken broth SLOWLY while whisking to make a sauce.
Turn up heat a tad and let bubble up just for a second. Turn down to low and add sour cream.
Don't bring to a boil, just mix all around then add the parm cheese. Mix.
Take and drain your pasta
Add the veggie and bacon mix to the sauce.
Add the pasta to the pan with them and combine.
Transfer to a greased casserole dish and sprinkle the top with the rest of the parm cheese.
Put in heated oven for 20 min or until set.
Delish!

Parmesan and basil orzo with salmon and peas

I have this new obsession with orzo.. Have I told you that already? Anyway, found this orzo recipe on good ole pinterest and decided to add some salmon and a bit of peas to make a meal. Tell you what, it was SO delish! Ok...well the kids who LOVE salmon weren't to thrilled about it being mixed in with the pasta and stuff. So, I did give them their salmon on the side, but I promise they are just weird and it tastes so perfect all together! I have a hunch that this will be ahhh-mazzzzing tomorrow as cold salad! Mmmmmm..

Ing:
2 tbs butter
1 C uncooked orzo
1 14.5 oz can chicken broth
1/2 C grated parm cheese
1/4 C chopped fresh basil
2 med sized salmon filets
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
1C frozen peas

Directions
1.melt butter in large skillet over med high heat, add orzo, sauté until lightly browned
2.stir in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender. About 15 min.
3 while that's cooking get out your salmon. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stick under the broiler for about 10-15 min. Until done.
4 when orzo is done, mix in parm cheese and basil. Add frozen peas. When the salmon is done break it up with a fork and add it in as well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5. Enjoy!!!

My five unseen answered prayers. (until now)

 For the last three years I have been obsessed with the idea of moving back to California. My husband and I both grew up in Northern Ca and moved  to AZ  almost 10 years ago! The idea of moving started a few years ago when I was watching an episode of a show on TLC called, "Little People BIG world" It's a show about a family where the parents are "little people" The funny thing is, they live in Oregon not California! It just put desire in my heart for things such as, trees, lakes, seasons and scenery that I have always considered more breathtaking than what I see here in Arizona. I started on this path of wanting to move, and then my best friend moved back to Ca after living in Az for a long time.. and then I REALLY wanted to move! During that time, I really wouldn't consider myself to be  living a "christian life" although I did always say "God MUST have a plan!" It was the only way I could rationalize her and her family moving away. There were two things I was ALWAYS asking God for, number One: that I would find friends here in Arizona. Number two: that I would find my faith again, which I had basicially walked away from a number of years ago. Here in my neighborhood I met a couple of girls who introduced me to the church I now attend, not only did they become GREAT friends ( Answered prayer number one) but after attending our church for a couple of years I can now say with ABSOLUTE certanity that God has and IS changing me because I have finally given my life to him and asked him to do WHATEVER he needs to do to make me more like him. And I am soo amazed everyday when I see him working in my life! PRAISE GOD!! (answered prayer number two)
 With all that being said...you'd think I would have acknowledged that God was  dutifully working on answering the first two prayers but NOOO.... I was already asking him for more! And this even before I was doing ANY work on my side! I was just asking away and then living my life according to MY standards.. the next couple of things I was  asking him for were, 1.) to have another baby, and 2.) help financially, so that I could quit the in-home daycare I was doing at the time. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a full time say at home mom  but at the time we couldn't afford for me to quit my job. Well... I found out I was pregnant in early November of 2009 (answered prayer number three)  Suddenly we were in the midst of a home loan mod and some other financial "issues" that all worked out in our favor! In the same few months my husband was offered some coaching jobs and also got a job delivering pizzas in his spare time. Now we had the freedom for me to quit doing my daycare and finally be a full fledged stay at home mom! (answered prayer number four) hmmm, looks like God was at work in our lives for sure right? BUT STILL I wasn't seeing these things as blessings from God!! I was just thinking it was ALL our own doing.. giving all the credit to pretty much anyone and everything BUT God! Wow, I feel so convicted about the fact that he was so faithful and so gracious all this time and I was totally blind to it all because I was so self absorbed and only thinking of what I wanted and not what God wanted.. which was ME. A verse that really puts this in perspective for me NOW is: " I will give you thanks, for you answered me, you have become my salvation" Psalm 118:21 After all this, I STILL wasnt getting it...THEN
 Last year on Easter Sunday I was in church service during praise time, I don't really know what it was that completely brought me to tears..I guess I was just thinking about everything God had done for me.  By that I don't  mean prayers answered because honestly, I don't think I had even acknowledged that at the time. I was just thinking about the fact that he went to the cross for ME for MY sins, even though this was something I "knew" my whole life, something that I had heard many times as a child in song and as an adult in church, I still never "got" it until this moment. I asked God to do WHATEVER he needed to do to change me, without any conditions, I literally begged him. I repented of my sin and just called on him to PLEASE come into my life and transform it! I.WAS.READY. Or so I thought....
A few weeks later...I woke up with EXCRUCIATING back pain..like scary pain because I had NO idea what was causing it. Long story short, cut to me in the hospital BEGGING God to take away the pain, accusing him of not recognizing the fact that I was doing "my part" ie: reading my bible, repenting of my sin, being kind to others..blah blah blah...( Some Christian right?) I was mad at him! horrible as that may sound, that was the truth. Somehow, even though I asked him to change me, told him no matter what he had to do TO CHANGE me, I still was trying to control the WAY he did it..As I was sitting there waiting for a DR to "HELLPPP MEEEE!!" as I was  yelling to everyone, I somehow found some peace in prayer..God lovingly showed me a image in my mind of him being  beaten and then nailed on a cross to die..I could NOT get that image out of my head no matter what. It hit me, WOW.. I was SO selfish..I am SO ungrateful. Look what he did for ME and ALL OF US.. it brought me to tears, no longer tears from the pain of what we found out was a kidney stone..but tears because of the absolute conviction my heart felt. Here I am yelling and hollering at everyone around me and complaining because I had to feel a little pain-- especially in light of what HE went through for me at the cross.  God knows US so well!! I mean he created us! And he knew the ONLY way to get me to finally see that  I  should not only just "want" him in my life..  I NEED him in my life. I cannot live this life without him!!  People tend to call on God in two situations.  1.) When they are happy and things are going great in their lives  such as, "Yay! I got a new job! Praise GOD!!" OR  2.) when things are going not so great in their lives-like, "oh no!! Please God help me!!"   He wants  to get our attention and it might  not be the in way WE choose to have him do it!   I am SO grateful for that kidney stone that day because by going through something that really wasn't even THAT horrible, he showed me what kind of person I am when the going gets tough! I definitely didn't praise him for the pain that I was going through! It was so easy to be thankful when my like was going "my way".  He also showed me that  I had a LOT of sin in my life!!  things that I didn't even realize!  It was a sin to blame God for one thing! It was a sin to be so utterly selfish and just plain rude to people who were JUST trying to help me. I was forced to look at my life though HIS life..his perfection. No, I can NEVER be perfect like him, but when he so graciously shows me areas in my life that I can change with HIS  help  that is an absolute GIFT! No matter what I go through in life, good or bad, he is with me through it all! I want to praise him now in ALL situations, not just when things are going well but even when things aren't going so well and in all the in-between moments! It is ALL a gift.. "Consider it ALL joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds" James 1:2 He DOES have a plan and sometimes we have to go through the valleys to get to where he wants us. "Give thanks in ALL circumstatances, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you"- 1 thessalonians 5:18
    You might be thinking.."Sooo, what does any of this have to do with you wanting to move back to Ca?" well, i'll tell you! In my quiet time a few weeks ago I was really asking God for peace in the whole moving thing. It wasn't a specific prayer for staying OR moving, just peace in that he will be the one to control what happens and that I could let go and not be anxious about it anymore. The verse that struck me first was  "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said "I will never leave you or forsake you" - Hebrews 13: 5  Then I turned to "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God"- Phil 4:6
pretty amazing right??
  Over the next few weeks I was  hit with SO many things! Things that I had always known logically but suddenly they hit me in a different way. Seeing just how LUCKY and BLESSED we are here!....then REALIZING ALL the prayers God had answered!!  Why had I not realized this before? First, we finally have financial peace!  No, we aren't rich or anything like that but we are not struggling like we were before those "financial issues" God helped us reslove. If we move back to Ca..well lets just say we'd be ignoring all the progress God has seen us through and basically be getting a whole new set of issues because it is A LOT more expensive to live in Ca! Also, I'd have to go back to work and give up my dream of FINALLY being a SAHM! Remember how much I had wanted that? I was SOOO blinded by the very idea of moving that I  was willing to give up the dream I had finally been blessed to be living! Also, my husband is LOVING his job!!  he'd have to give that up which I now know he never really wanted to do but just said he did because he wanted to make me happy! God also blessed me with amazing women in my life here and  our children have known each other since they were babies! I have an awesome realtionship with some of my neighboors who are great friends and I know I can depend on! :) can you see God's work in all of this? I don't know why I never saw it this way before, but he has shown me now and I am beyond grateful! He put it all together with SUCH thought and such love and here I am willing to throw it ALL away! How ungrateful! Now..please don't think I am discounting the friends and family we have in Ca..that's NOT the case. Those people ( they know who they are) love me and will ALWAYS be in my life no matter where I live! God has that set in place too! He seriously thought of everything:) Amazingly enough, God also put it in my heart to love Arizona for it's beauty. WHAAAAA? those that know me are thinking, "YOU can't STAND it there!" By the grace of God I have been able to look around and see it's  beauty!! God created ALL things! Not just big trees and the ocean! He is everywhere I look now:) I am so thankful for my new  set of eyes he has given me. I wasn't able to see the forest for the well..lack of trees before. All I could see was what I DIDN'T have and focus on the LIE that the only way i'd be happy was to live somewhere else! DESPITE everything GOD has blessed us with right here in front of me! I cannot tell you have amazing it feels to just be at peace right where I am.  Scripture that suppots this for me- " For EVERYTHING God created is good, nothing is to be rejected if it is recieved through thanksgiving" - 1 Timothy 4:4 And there is his answered prayer number FIVE!
 God IS SO faithful ...even when I was and am SO UNfaithful. I fall short of God everyday you guys.. I really do. I am just SO beyond amazed at his grace and forgivness. He is just beginning his work in me and I know he won't stop until he is finished!
" Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ"- Phillippians 1:6
Thank you for reading this!:)

Korean beef and broccoli

Made this tonight and it was a really big hit with my boys! I make Korean hamburgers quite a bit and the recipe is pretty similar except you make little patties and fry them up.. This was so good this way and I added in some broccoli because the original recipe felt like it needed "something" My 2 year old is still sitting at the table with me as I type eating his third helping! I am going to put this in our weekly rotation because it took like 10 minutes to make and they really loved it! Mason my six year old kept saying "mommy you're the best cooker ever!" and also that I should get a gold medal for cooking! Gotta love that!!


Ing:
1lb LEAN ground beef or turkey ( must be lean or it will be greasy )
1/4- 1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce (I use low-sodium)
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 c small broccoli florets
1/2 - 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (to desired spiciness)
salt and pepper
1 bunch green onions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. Drain most of the fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. Add broccoli..Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors and until broccoli is tender. Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.

Chicken orzo skillet

I had to post this because it was a HUGE hit at my house! Even my 2 year old gobbled it up.. :) I found it on pinterest and only made a few adjustments. It is really healthy and super filling so feel free to have a few servings.. I did!

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-in. strips
1 can of navy beans or white northern beans, drained
garlic powder
1 small onion chopped
1 Tb olive oil
1/2 tsp of minced garlic
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups of fresh spinach chopped
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1tsp Italian dressing mix
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

In a large skillet, saute chicken in olive oil for 5-6 minutes until it is no longer pink. Add beans, garlic and sprinkle with garlic powder all over. Cook 1 minute longer.

Throw the diced tomatoes in blender and get rid of all the chunks, if you don't have picky eaters then you don't need to do this step.

Stir in tomatoes, onions, chopped spinach, broth, orzo, Italian seasoning, and pepper flakes if desired. Sprinkle with salt. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed. Garnish with cheese if desired.

Chicken lime floutas

I made these tonight and they were so über delicious.. Originally I was planning on using a recipe I found on pinterest but didn't have a few things so I came up with this on my own and They were a big hit! They are great served with guacamole and salsa and sour cream for dipping!

Ing:
1 pkg soft taco flour tortillas
Picante sauce
2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
2 chicken breasts
3 limes cut in half
Taco seasoning
Ranch dressing mix
Garlic powder
1 chicken bullion cube
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375
1 in a med size saucepan boil water with the bullion cube, half pkg ranch dressing mix, half pkg taco seasoning, garlic powder, and then add chicken breasts.
2. Once the chicken is done take it out and shred it, pour our half of the water mixture and put the chicken back in and sprinkle with salt and squeeze the limes all over and just leave them in there. Let simmer for 30-40 min
2 once the chicken has been simmering for a while start your tortillas. One at a time spray a large pan with cooking spray and put a tortilla in and flip it after a minute or so getting both sides golden and a little crispy.
3 once your tortillas are all done start putting in your stuffing. One at a time add about 2 tbs of shredded chicken, 2 tbs of cheese and a little picante sauce. Roll up and with the seam side down place on a greased cookie sheet.
4 after they are all stuffed and rolled spray some cooking spray on top and place in the oven for 15-20 min or until they are golden brown on top and crispy.

Tortellini salad with marinated artichokes and other yummy stuff.

I had this idea in my head of what kind of salad would be awesome with the grilled steaks we are having. My friend Denise makes THE BEST pasta salad I've ever had, this was a bit of a omage to her!.. . So I made a trip to Trader Joes and bought all the stuff and came home put it all together and hoped for the best! Well I'm happy to report it was a huge delicious success! Of coarse I didn't really measure anything but I'll try and estimate! I always taste and add and taste and adjust.. It's perfect for summer night BBQ's!

Ingredients :
2 pkgs cheese Tortellini ( the refrigerated kind)
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 jar of marinated artichokes ( I got mine at trader joes)
2 med beefsteak tomatoes
1/2 jar Tuscan Italian dressing from trader joes
1/2 C chopped fresh basil - or more that's just how much I had

Directions
Cook tortellini according to package directions
While its cooking cut up tomatoes and basil
After tortellini is done throw some ice cubes in with them to cool off then remove
Add all the rest of ingredients
Mix and chill for at least 30 min.

Pepper steak ( skinny taste)

This was sooooo delicious. I am in love with the sauce.. Another amazing dish from skinnytaste..I wish my kids liked it more though, they still can't stomach onions and bell peppers. Oh well more for me and my husband! It was a synch to make too;) easy weeknight dinner for sure..I served it over rice and had fresh orange slices on the side. At least the kids all ate those!



Ingredients:

12 oz top round beef, trimmed to 1/8" fat, prime grade
4 tsp plus 3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine
3 tsp cornstarch
5 tsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced into thin strips
1 bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/2 tsp black pepper
crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:
Slice meat into thin slices with the grain. Cut each strip across the grain about 1" long so you have small thin slices. Place in a bowl and add 4 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of rice wine, 1 tsp cornstarch and black pepper.

In a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat the wok on high heat. Swirl in 1 tbsp oil and add the beef spreading evenly in the wok. Cook undisturbed for 20 seconds letting the beef brown. Using a spatula, stir meat, cooking another 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add remaining 2 tsp of oil to wok, add peppers and onions and cook about 2 minutes. Return beef to the wok, add the sauce and red pepper flakes and stir fry about 30 seconds until slightly thickened.

Grilled chicken kabobs with homemade taziki

I loved this tonight.. I just came up with it kinda spur of the moment following a friends recipe I memorized so measurements might be kinda random! I LOVE taziki.. There are a few Greek places we eat at a lot and the taziki is always our favorite.. It's pretty easy to make too! My favorite is to eat the chicken and taziki together... SO good. Hope you try it out!

Taziki

1 large cucumber- peeled and sliced
1 and a half Cups plain Greek yogurt
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
Kosher salt
2-3 tbs Lemon juice
1 tbs Dried dill

First sprinkle some salt on the cucumbers and set them in a colander for like 20 min and then squeeze out any excess water

In a bowl add garlic, yogurt, lemon juice and dill and a sprinkle of salt- add cucumbers
Chill for at least an hour
I sprinkle a little more dill on before serving

Grilled chicken

2 large chicken breasts cut into pieces
Sprinkle of Italian dressing mix
Sprinkle Ranch dressing mix
2 tbs Balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
A little olive oil
Lemon juice
Salt and pepper

In a small bowl combine all together and let chicken marinate for at least an hour
Put onto skewers and grill them up!

Asian cucumber salad

I was reminded of this recipe the other day and of coarse.. Had to make it. My fabulous mother in law makes this and it is my favorite.. It goes well with just about everything.. Or by itself. One trick is to let the cucumbers sit with salt for at least 45 min in a colander this will get a lot of the water out. I did not do that with this salad because well.. I'm impatient! It's still really good but just a tad watery. I have seen a few variations of this salad, I took what I liked and changed a little. I personally like to add a splash of soy sauce and most that I have seen do not do that.
I also tend to eyeball everything, taste then add more.. But I think these measurements are right on. Of coarse use your own judgement and you can't go wrong! It also tastes better cold ( i think) and the longer it sits so make ahead!


Ingredients:
1 English cucumber
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons sugar
Splash of soy sauce
1 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:

1. Rinse, and thinly slice 1 English cucumber (12 oz.). In a bowl, mix cucumber with 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand until cucumber is wilted, about 45 minutes. Rinse and drain; squeeze excess liquid from cucumber and return to rinsed bowl.

2. Add 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1-2 tablespoon Asian sesame oil, 2 tablespoons sugar, and splash of soy sauce. Serve cold.

3. Shortly before serving, sprinkle salad with about 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds.

Chicken Ranch Tacos

Let me say this.. I want to eat these every day for the rest of my life.. Another Pinterest find and boy am I glad I found them! So easy and just satisfying in a major way.. You know you want to try em... go ahead... I promise you'll love them!


Ingredients
3 chicken breasts
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
1 packet Taco seasoning
1 can chicken broth
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Taco shells
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Avocado
Pre made ranch dressing ( I made it from a packet)


Put your chicken in the crock pot
Combine your packets along with the chicken broth and pour over the chicken
Set to low and wait about 4-6 hours
Or put in high for like 3-5 hrs

Shred the chicken and put back in the crock pot along with all the left over juice.
Add about 1/2 C ( or however much you like) of the made Ranch Dressing and mix around and then sprinkle cheese all over.
I just put it on warm and put the lid back on and then got all my toppings ready and heated up the taco shells..

I put the chicken in the taco shell then added lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese and then here's the kicker.. You pour ranch dressing on top! Its OH SO GOOD!!

Tangy chipotle pulled pork with Asian slaw

I made this a while ago and have been meaning to post the recipe ever since.. I am a big fan of slow cooker pulled pork, it's easy and really really yummy. This time when I made it I used a bottle of Kraft ( I'm classy like that) chipotle BBQ sauce and it was super tangy and just good. The night before I had made this Asian slaw that is a take on something similar that my mom in law makes that I LOVE. I looked at the two sitting next to each other on my plate and quickly realized they must be joined together as one. It was soooo to-die
Think I'll make it again like ASAP.

Pulled Pork
1 1-2 lb pork loin
1 large bottle Chipotle BBQ sauce ( reserve a little)
Good bakery buns .. I also like potato buns.
Just put the pork and BBQ sauce together in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hrs.. Or until shreddable.
I shred the meat with 2 forks and pile up on a plate.. Then I take out like half of the sauce left in the slow cooker. I put the meat back in and add the reserved BBQ sauce.

Asian slaw
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil (toasted)
1 tbsp soy sauce
4 cups napa cabbage (finely shredded)
2 cups red cabbage (finely shredded)
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup green onions (thinly sliced)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped
1.Whisk together rice vinegar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add napa cabbage and next 4 ingredients; toss to mix.
2.Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to soften cabbage.

Swedish meatballs ( skinny taste) and crispy oven roasted Kale

I'm back to counting points so this caught my eye immediately! I saw the meatball recipe and wanted to jump through the screen and eat it right then. If you don't count WW points then seriously i promise it doesn't taste like diet food! It's awesome..
The kale. It's amazzzzing...
Just try it. I never knew what to do with the stuff but wanted to eat it because its so good for you, well I'll be making this again many many times!:)

Swedish Meatballs
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 5 meatballs • Old Points: 4 pt • Points+: 5

1 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 celery stalk, minced
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 lb 93% lean beef
1 egg ( I didn't add the egg and they were fine without!)
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp allspice
2 cups reduced sodium beef stock
2 oz light cream cheese

In a large deep saute pan, heat oil on medium heat, add onions and garlic; sauté until onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add celery and parsley and cook until soft, about 3-4 more minutes. Let cool a few minutes.



In a large bowl combine beef, egg, onion mixture, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and allspice. Mix well and form meatballs with your hands 1/8 cup each (fill 1/4 cup then divide the meat in half).

Add beef stock to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly drop meatballs into the broth. Cover and cook about 20 minutes. Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and set aside in a serving dish. Strain the stock, add to blender with cream cheese and pulse until smooth. Return to pan and simmer a few minutes to thicken, then pour over meatballs. Garnish with parsley and serve over noodles or with toothpicks if you want to set these out as an appetizer.

KALE
I bunch ( is that what you'd call it?) Kale
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Lemon juice

Preheat oven to 375°F
2
Rinse kale and pat dry thoroughly. Remove and discard thick ribs and roughly chop leaves. Pat leaves dry again.
3
Toss with olive oil and salt and pepper and lemon juice in a large bowl. (I actually put it all in a ziplock and shake it around really good).
4
Spread on a large rimmed baking sheet. Kale does not need to be in a single layer, as it will shrink in volume as it cooks.
5
Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so, until leaves are tender, crisp on edges and slightly browned.