Cowboy Stew

This is one of those recipes that happened when it was time for dinner and I had that "Oh crap. What am I going to make??" moment. You know, where you start frantically going through the cupboards and favorite recipes looking for any kind of inspiration.

On this particular night I had a little bit of this, a little bit of that... and it was all adding up to a whole lot of nothing!

I ended up looking at two different recipes and then just kind of using what I had in the cupboards and making up a new recipe. Through the years I've made tweaks here and there. I just love it! It's the perfect spicy comfort food.

Honestly, my kids don't like it. They are not into the tomatoes! I was thinking that the next time I make it I will puree the tomatoes. Maybe then they won't sit there for an hour trying to pick every single last tomato out of their bowls. Ridiculous little children I have.

Cowboy Stew

1 to 1 1/2 Lbs browned and drained ground beef
2 10 oz cans tomatoes with chilies, undrained
8 oz can tomato sauce (optional, I've made it with and without before. It's good both ways!)
2 16 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 15 oz cans pinto beans, drained
15 oz can corn, drained
1 package taco seasoning
1 package dry ranch dressing mix
3 Cups water 
Sour cream
Shredded cheese

In a large saucepan combine everything and mix well. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and shredded cheese. Makes about 8 servings, just depending on how big your servings are!

Goes great with some honey buttered cornbread!

Spicy Honey Glazed Salmon

I am the only one in my family who likes salmon. I don't know why my crazy husband and boys don't! Weirdos!! It's one of my favorite things. Oh well - more for me I guess! HaHa! At least it's an easy dish to cook for one. If you are cooking for more than one though this recipe should double or triple easy. I absolutely love this recipe, it is SO good and SO easy to throw together! And it even looks kinda fancy, so you could whip it up for company.

Spicy Honey Glazed Salmon

2 Tablespoons hot water
2 to 3 Teaspoons honey
1/2 Teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 Teaspoon red pepper flakes (Or more if you like it really spicy!) 
1 Teaspoon butter

In a small dish mix the hot water and honey until the honey is melted. Add in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Next pour the mixture into a small hot frying pan. Let the sauce bubble for just a couple minutes. Add the salmon. Cook for about 3 minutes. Add the 1 teaspoon of butter. (Don't forget it! It really does make a difference.) After about a minute flip the salmon and cook for about another 3 -5 minutes. Depending on how thick your salmon is it should be about done by now. As the salmon cooks the sauce will reduce and turn into a beautiful glaze that just tastes amazing.

Skinny Black Bean Burritos

 

Trying to eat healthy can be so difficult sometimes. I get so bored with typical "diet" food. Sometimes I just need some real FOOD! I want savory and crunchy and yes... cheesy!

 

So I set off to the kitchen to find something to satisfy my craving. Of course it was going to end up being Mexican food! I love Mexican food, I could eat it all day every day.

 

To save myself some calories I grabbed my favorite low cal almost fat free tortillas, fat free sour cream and I just happened to have some fat free shredded cheese. I know not everyone is into fat free items, so just use whatever your favorite brands are!

 

 

Skinny Black Bean Burritos

 

1 can black beans

1 can of spicy diced tomatoes (like Ro-Tel)

onion powder, or dried minced onions, or fresh diced onions

garlic powder or minced garlic

tortillas

shredded cheese

sour cream

butter flavored cooking spray

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain and rinse the black beans. Then mix the beans, tomatoes and seasonings in a small saucepan. Heat until nice and warm. Lay on a cookie sheet and fill with desired amount of bean and tomato mixture. My tortillas are kinda on the small side so I used about 1/2 cup.



 

 

Roll up and lightly spray with the butter flavored cooking spray. Bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes and then flip, bake for about another 10 minutes. This should get it nice and crispy. If it's not crispy just keep baking and flipping until it's as crispy as you want it! 

 

 

Top with your favorite shredded cheese and sour cream and voila! An easy lunch or dinner that fills you up without having to be full of fat!

 

I made these for myself for lunch and saved the leftover bean mixture to use for the next day. I got about 5 burritos out of this recipe. It was an awesomely cheap week of lunches for me! (Don't try to make the burritos ahead of time though, it gets kinda soggy and will ruin the yummy crunchiness.)



Easy Macaroni and Cheese

Whenever I need a side dish I always lean towards good ol’ mac n cheese. Who can resist such a warm cheesy comfort dish??
I have several favorite recipes. But I like this one cause it’s easy to throw together and doesn’t take too long to bake. (And the easy route always wins at this house.) Plus ALL my kids like this dish! I’m not going to lie, my boys are picky. Super picky. So any dish that makes them all happy and is easy to make is just awesome for me. Mom win!
Remember – all ingredients are approximate. If you want more cheese, add more. If you hate parmesan, skip it! That’s the best thing about mac n cheese, you can make it how YOU like it!

Macaroni and Cheese
8 ounces of elbow noodles
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup milk
8 oz or more cheddar cheese
1 Cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 to 1/2 cup wheat germ
3 to 4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until almost done. About 7 to 10 minutes. Drain.
While the macaroni is cooking mix tomatoes, milk and parmesan in small saucepan and heat until hot.



Mix tomato mixture and cooked macaroni in a large bowl or in the same pot you boiled the noodles in. (That’s what I do! Why wash extra dishes?)
Pour into a baking dish. I like to use my 9x9 inch 3 quart square baking dish. Gives me lots of room for the cheese!!



Cover top with the cheese. Sprinkle with enough bread crumbs to lightly coat the top. Just kinda eye ball it. Then do the same with the wheat germ, this is the secret ingredient here! It really helps make the top crunchy.
Dot with butter.



Bake for 30 minutes.



See, who could resist this gooey cheesy goodness?!