Recipes

Quick Dinner Ideas for Mothers on the Go

With so much work to do on a daily basis there’s not always enough time to prepare a full course meal that is both delicious and nutritious. This is still not a valid excuse to hit up the drive through window every night, besides it's just not healthy for you or your children. Each meal should include foods from every food group. Keep in mind that the Food Guide Pyramid developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes 5 basic food groups. These food groups are 1) Grains 2) Veggies 3)Fruit 4) Dairy and 5 )Meat. The meal ideas on this page will follow these guidelines.

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FEATURED RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sirloin Beef Roast with green beans, spinach salad and baked potatoes



This week our featured recipe was inspired by my good friend and sister in the Lord, Tehara Wade.  Tehara showed me how to take a fully cooked and seasoned store bought roast and turn it into an elaborately prepared meal in under 30 minutes.  I would have never tried this way of cooking had it not been for a wonderful dinner invitation to her home so many years ago.  I was pleasantly surprised by the flavorfulness of the meal, the little time in the kitchen it took to make it and the nutritional benefits. 

INGREDIENTS
1package of store bought seasoned sirloin roast (fully cooked)
1 Large bag of frozen green beans
Loaded "baked" potato
Fresh Spinach Salad

Heat up Roast on Stove top for approximately 10 minutes.  Boil 1/4 cup of water with olive oil, salt, pepper then add the green beans.  Continue to cook on a low boil for 10 minutes.  Microwave potatoes for 5-minutes each after washing, rubbing with olive oil and poking with holes then wrapping in a paper towel.  Roast should now be done.  Slice and serve with green beans, spinach salad and potatoes.

Prep Time:  2 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
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Total Time = 22 minutes

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FEATURED RECIPE LAST WEEK

Nacho Bell Grande

Nacho Bell Grande

Here's a recipe that's great for Family Night.  You can make this with healthier ingredients like lean ground turkey meat (I cook with a lot of ground turkey as you will see) instead of ground beef.  Organic chips and veggies for toppings are excellent. You can also substitute the sour cream for plain yogurt.

Ingredients

1lb of ground Turkey meat

Taco Seasonings

Organic Tortilla Chips

Chopped green onions

Chopped tomatoes

Nacho cheese sauce

Light Sour Cream or even plain yogurt (optional)

Avocado slices

Ground up turkey meat and season with taco seasonings. Melt cheese in microwaveable dish (less messier than on the stove-top).  Pour over chips, add hot meat and top with your favorite toppings and Enjoy!

Prep Time:  5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
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Total Time = 15 minutes

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MONDAY

Baked Tillapia with basil white rice, a vegetable medley along with a Hawaiian sweet roll.  This meal is relatively light and healthy leaving you satisfied but not stuffed.  From the oven to the kitchen table in no time at all.

INGREDIENTS
6-8 Tillapia fillets

tsp Salt & Pepper

tsp Season Salt

2 tsp Oregano

tsp Olive Oil

Squeeze of Lemon

2 cups of cooked white rice seasoned with basil and salt & pepper

Vegetable medley of your choice

Warm Hawaiian dinner rolls

Bake Tillapia in a 350 oven for 10 minutes.  Do not over cook. Prepare rice as instructed on package.  Serve with warm and toasty bread rolls and enjoy a delightful meal.

To complete this meal add an 8-ounce glass of milk and you will have a balanced meal.  If you are lactose intolerant try Almond milk or another dairy or lactose free drink.  The goal is to get in all the basic food groups.

Prep time :10 minutes

Cook time:20 minutes

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Total Time = 30 minutes

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TUESDAY

Turkey burgers with oven baked french fries are a healthier alternative compared to traditional beef hamburgers and fries but without compromising the good taste.

    

INGREDIENTS

Ground turkey patties

Salt, pepper and season salt

Lettuce

Tomato

Onions

Cheese (optional)

A Package of frozen crispy crinkle cut fries

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees then bake your french fries while preparing the burgers.  Season patties and cook for approx ten minutes or until your desired temperature. Top with your favorite toppings and serve with hot golden french fries.  This is a kid favorite and quick to make.

Prep time :10 minutes

Cook time:15 minutes

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Total Time = 25 minutes

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WEDNESDAY

Turkey Spaghetti with green salad and toasted Ciabatta bread.

1 ½ lb Ground turkey meat

2 jars of spaghetti sauce

Salt & Pepper

Season Salt

Oregano

Pack of spaghetti noodles

Romaine Lettuce

Tomatoes
Sliced Pears

Vinaigrette Dressing

Fill up pot with water and bring to a boil. In another pan cook turkey meat on stove top in skillet by grounding up until pink is no longer visible. Add spaghetti sauce, seasonings and salt and pepper then bring to a boil. Let simmer on warm until noodles are ready

Prepare spaghetti noodles as shown on package. Pour hot spaghetti sauce over noodles and serve right away. Serve with toasted Ciabatta bread fresh garden salad with light vinaigrette dressing and pepper.

Prep time :5 minutes

Cook time:25 minutes

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Total Time = 30 minutes

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THURSDAY
Chicken Enchilada Casserole

1 Rotisserie Chicken

2 cups of Cheddar Monterey/Jack Cheese

1 can green chiles

1lb Ground chicken or turkey

Salt & Pepper

Season Salt

Taco Seasoning

1 pack of Flour Tortillas

Chopped green onions

Sliced Olives

1 Large Can of Tomato Sauce

Sour Cream (optional)

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Cook ground chicken and season with salt, pepper and seasonings. Stir in tomato sauce and bring to a boil. In a separate bowl cut up Rotisserie chicken into small chunks, add the Jack cheese and green chiles together. Line the bottom of the casserole dish with 2 flour tortillas. Layers should go as follows... tortilla, chicken, tortilla, chili meat sauce, tortilla, chicken, tortilla, chili meat sauce. On the top layer sprinkle with cheese, green onions and olives. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream if desired.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

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Total Time = 35 minutes

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FRIDAY
Taco Night!!

Ground Chicken, Turkey or meat of your choice
Taco Seasoning
Tortilla Shells
Lettuce
Tomato
Green Onion
Cheese
Sour Cream (optional)

Super easy to make and delicious.  Serve with chips and salsa and you have another delicious meal in 20 minutes or less.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
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Total Time = 20 minutes

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SATURDAY
Spaghettini with shrimp, chicken and broccoli

A package of spaghetti noodles
4 chopped chicken breasts (cubed)
1 lb of shrimp
1 bag of steamed broccoli
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes
1 regular tomato
3 garlic cloves
Fresh basil
Salt & Pepper

Cook spaghetti noodles and set aside.  While noodles are cooking, chop up garlic cloves, tomato and chicken breast.  Cook chicken in skillet until done if not already cooked.   Steam or cook broccolli and set aside.  Heat olive oil in another larger skillet then add in garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add in fresh basil.  Add cleaned shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes (don't overcook).Stir in cooked spaghetti pasta, broccolli, tomatoes, chicken and seasonings. Pour lemon juice over top and mix together.  Sprinkle parmesean cheese over the top. Serve with garlic bread.


Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
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Total Time = 35 minutes

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HEALTHY SNACKS


In today's world it's becoming more and more difficult to be both efficient and sufficient at selecting nutritious meals especially when raising young children.  Being healthy and raising children to be healthy is a challenge but isn't impossible.  With so many sugary snacks and convenience foods prominently displayed in grocery store aisles it takes more than will power to stay on track. It takes a little extra time and effort but your family is worth it! You need to have a plan and then work your plan to be successful.


10 Healthier choices for children at snack-time
The best grab and go snacks are always fresh fruit. Experiment with new fruits that are in season from time to time to break up the monotony. You also want to incorporate some protein as well.


1. Bananas - easy to grab and go
2. Fresh fruit cups - (For example cut up watermelon.  I like to cut them up myself and then store individual cups in the fridge for the kids to grab and go.  The kids love it!)
3. Tangerines - mandarins, clementines or cuties
4. Grapes - Wash and make individual bags
5. Pears
6. Fresh Fruit Smoothies - without added sugar.  For sweetness I use honey.
7. Trail Mix - A good source of protein and fiber
8. Baby carrots
9. Celery with peanut butter
10. Popcorn - a low calorie snack


These are much better choices that will (in time) train their bodies to crave more nutritious foods instead of the other unhealthier alternatives available.  It also has been said to boost brainpower in children keeping them more focused at school and out of trouble.