Homemade Sloppy Joes

Hello again!

I'm on a roll this week aren't I?

I'm pretty proud of myself actually. Is that a bad thing? I hope not! I think my mood about this blog has changed a lot since the beginning of this year. I really want to help people out there who would like to start eating healthier but are maybe afraid or who don't think it's possible for them. I know a lot of healthy food blogs are intimidating. They used to make me feel so discouraged and ashamed! I'm a normal person who loves to eat food but I was able to change my attitude and relationship with it and it didn't take that long either. Not as long as I thought in the beginning. I just want everyone to realize how easy it is. I think the first thing you have to do is see what you are putting into your body. Remember that food is FUEL to our body. Our brain and other organs need certain nutrients and the way they get those nutrients is through what we put into our mouths. When you put it that way, it really makes a lot of sense to start eating a more balanced diet. Please let me know if you have any questions. There is so much information out there to help you if I'm not able to. I am still a work in progress but I would like to help others on their journey to eating better too.

I know this isn't a clean meal and I probably wouldn't make this on a regular basis just because we're eating a little better now. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be cleaned up a little! I took this picture before we made the commitment to eat clean so I thought I might as well post it since I went through all the work to get it to this point. 

I love most anything I eat but there's something so comforting about Sloppy Joes and that's what makes them one of my favorites! If there is anyone out there that still buys the canned Sloppy Joe sauce then they're missing out on the delicious goodness of homemade sauce. Pretty much anything that you can make at home is going to be better than something that comes out of a can. When you make it at home YOU control what goes in it and that way you can monitor the salt and sugar intake for your family. My husband is a huge fan of barbecue sauce so he loves this recipe that I came up with because it has more of a smokey flavor than the traditional tomato flavor. I have already fixed the recipe slightly so that it is healthier and you probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen. 

Homemade Sloppy Joes

1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, bottled or homemade (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
Whole wheat hamburger buns or bread
Sliced cheese (optional)
*Sliced avocado
*Spinach

1. Thaw ground beef or turkey if necessary.
2. Brown meat and drain the fat off.
3. Add the BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar pepper and salt to the cooked meat. Heat through to bubbling.
4. Serve immediately on a bun with cheese, if you'd like.
Enjoy!

*Not pictured but they would be tasty and healthy additions.

Easy Power Protein Oats

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to a new day of your life! What are you doing to improve your life today? Did you work out? Did you challenge yourself to something new or unexpected? Each day is a new day and we need to work on improving our lives all the time. We will only have this life once, so why not make the most of it? Try something new! Instead of sitting on the couch and watching TV, get up and go for a walk, go to the library, visit a friend or family member. We need to make the most of what we have right now. In my own life, I've found myself just waiting for my life to get better. It's not going to happen for us if we sit and wait. We have to DO something about. Take action. I've only just learned this principle of life in the last year or so. After you have a baby your mind set changes drastically. Not only are you worried about your personal life but you're now worried about your child's life too! In the past year we have made some pretty drastic decisions that have resulted in a lot of change in our life. But we took action! We are doing something to help make our life better. So I want to know what you all are doing or have done to improve your life today. Share! I'd love to hear!

Today I have an awesome breakfast recipe for you. This is the best protein oatmeal that we've tried to date. We pretty much eat this every day unless I decide to try something different. It's so quick to make too! I used to just make the quick oatmeal from the packets but this is so much better for you and it really doesn't take that much time to put together. I'm never going back to that Quaker stuff! You don't need to add any sugar because it's flavored by the protein powder. I love my oatmeal with fresh blueberries and sliced almonds. It's to die for! This Oatmeal really fills you up and keeps you from snacking before lunch time!

Power Protein Oats

Ingredients:
4 cups water
2 cups old fashioned oats
4 Tbsp. natural nut butter- almond, peanut, cashew or other
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 scoops protein powder (I used Vanilla Elite Gourmet...it's the best!)
4 Tbsp. ground flax seed

Tools:
Medium sauce pan
Spoon
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons

Directions:
1. Bring the four cups of water to a boil in a medium sauce pan.
2. Add remaining ingredients except flax seen, and reduce heat. Cook gently for 3 to 5 minutes, until mixture becomes thick and uniform.
3. Spoon into four bowl and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed. Serve immediately. OR Let cool and put the rest into a plastic container and refrigerate. 
*You can also add fresh or dried fruit, plain Greek yogurt, sliced almonds or walnuts. 

Yum! Now you're ready to take on the day!

Resolutions and a Recipe

If you haven't noticed, I've taken quite a bit of a break since before Christmas. My husband started school and is working full time so our lives have changed quite a bit within the last few weeks. I have been cooking a lot and playing with my new camera! I got a Nikon D3000 and Photoshop Elements which will hopefully help me produce better pictures to help your mouths water! I also made a few New Years resolutions which I really haven't done before. One was to make a habit of working out. The next, to start eating healthier for me and for my daughter, Paisley. That's what I want to talk to you about. I've discovered the lifestyle of Eating Clean...

It all started before the holidays.

 I was on Pinterest just minding my own business and I saw a pin for the website heandsheeatclean.com  which I've seen in the past and I had actually been on their website before. For some reason, this time was different. When I re-read the story of their (he and she) transformation and the transition to eating only clean foods I thought "is that something I could do?" 

I know most of you are probably parents and some maybe not yet, but when your child starts eating the same food as you do it really makes you (me at least) rethink what you put into your mouth. Did I really want her eating the same things I was eating? Food like brownies, cookies, Hamburger Helper, french fries, etc.? So I told my husband about eating clean and of course he looked at me like I was some crazy person because he thought it was a crazy diet. Well it's absolutely not a crazy diet. It's a way of life. The next time I talked to him about it he actually said it sounded like a good idea! I could hardly believe what I had just heard! My husband, who's favorite dinner is baked potatoes and pot roast actually wanted to go along with me in my journey to eat clean. I was so relieved since I knew I wouldn't be able to accomplish this lifestyle without him. So we decided that after the holidays (of course) we would start eating cleaner, less processed foods.  You know what? We've stuck to it since then. It's been our New Years resolution to change what we eat for the sake for each of us and our daughters heath and well being. Obviously we have cheated some and had a few processed snacks here and there. We are still human and we get that. All in all we have way better than I could have ever imagined. We are still transitioning but we're getting better each day. It is not an easy task but the benefits are innumerable!
If you want more information about Eating Clean visit cleaneatingmag.com,  heandsheeatclean.com, or eatcleandiet.com. They are all really good resources to find out for yourself  if eating clean is something you'd like to do to. I'll be adding some tips along the way to help each of you eat a little healthier.

Now, most of my recipes from now on may be part of my eating clean plan but trust me, flavor is not sacrificed with any of the recipes I've tried so far. So don't be afraid! I'm still the Bad Kitty in the Kitchen just in a different way. :) If you have any questions PLEASE ask! I'd love to help!

Let's get on to something delicious shall we?
I found this recipe on Pinterest and it's from sohowsittaste.com. The first time I made it I made it exactly how her recipe said to prepare it. She used melted butter and maple syrup to sweeten it which isn't exactly a clean eating choice. So the second time I made it (this last Monday) I tweeked it a little to fit our clean eating needs and guess what? It tasted EXACTLY the same! It turned out wonderfully. I also doubled the recipe so we could have it for breakfast all week. For the two of us it lasted five days which is pretty darn awesome! I love dishes that last a long time, that means not as much cooking for me. If you don't want such a big dish just half the recipe and only use a 8 x 8 or 2 qt. baking dish. I hope you guys enjoy this as much as we do!

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

adapted from sohowsittaste.com

Ingredients:
2 cups old fashion oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sucanat* or brown sugar
2 cups skim milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 bananas, peeled and sliced
2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen, divided
Cooking spray

Tools:
1 Medium bowl
1 9 x 13 baking dish
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Spray a 3-quart baking dish (9 x 13) with cooking spray.
3.In a medium bowl, mix the oats, half of the walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine. 
4. Spread the sliced bananas in a single layer over the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half of the blueberries. Sprinkle the dry oat mixture over the fruit in an even layer. 
5. Then, using the same medium bowl, combine the sucanat or brown sugar, milk, eggs, oil and vanilla. Mix until sucanat is mostly dissolved. Pour the liquid ingredients evenly over the oats. Make sure that the dry oat mixture is completely wet or you'll end up with dry oats (I know from experience). 
6. Sprinkle the remaining nuts and berries over the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is browned and the oats have set. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. 

*In this recipe I used Sucanat which probably some of you have never heard of. Unlike processed white sugar, Sucanat retains its molasses content. Nothing is added and nothing is taken out so it's a much healthier choice. It also helps keep your blood sugar balanced. Brown sugar is okay to use too or another healthy sweetener you have.

Gingerbread Scones

So we only have less than a week until Christmas! 

Yeah, crazy right? I'm sure you all are thinking the same thing as I am. Where did this year go? It just flew by so fast. 

Last year I was six months pregnant and we still lived in our home with no intention of moving for at least the next 5 years. Well a lot has changed within that year. It's just amazing where life takes us in such a short time. 

This week I decided to try a recipe that I've never EVER made before. Well, I've never EVER made scones before! At least not this kind of scone. It was an adventure as I followed each step exactly (since I had no idea what I was doing!) I was pleasantly surprised when they turned out so fabulously! 

I also had no idea what to expect when I tasted the first one. Were scones hard or soft? What is the texture like? Well, these scones are slightly crispy on the outside but when you bite in they're so soft! I was really surprised! They are so good I think I'm going to try out some other scone recipes. Maybe after the holidays.

I can't even explain how good these are. They taste exactly like gingerbread cookies. Ginger snaps are one of my favorite cookies too so I naturally love these scones! 

One other thing that surprised me was how simple and easy it is to make such an elegant dessert! To me they look like they'd be difficult but it really wasn't hard at all!

I can't wait for you to try these! They'd be perfect for you neighbors or just for your family. 

Let me know what you think! 

Gingerbread Scones

The Taste of Home Baking Book

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup cold butter

1/3 cup molasses

1/4 cup milk

1 egg, separated

Sugar

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly. In a small bowl, combine the molasses, milk and egg yolk until smooth; stir into the crumb mixture just until moistened.

2. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead gently 6-8 times. Pat into an 8-in. circle; cut into 12 wedges. separate wedges and place 1 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Beat egg white until frothy; brush over scones. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. 

This is about how thick it should come out.

This is how round 8 inches is. 

All 12 fit onto a regular cookie sheet.

When you start to cut them out, you need to cut it into four then cut each of those into threes. Then you'll end up with 12 equal pieces. I just started cutting and some were bigger than others but they still baked about the same. I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't make the same mistake as I did!

Streusel Nut Topped Banana Bread

Hello everyone!

I am so excited to share my most favorite banana bread recipe! We are usually pretty good at eating all of our bananas before they get too ripe but this week we were eating too many Cuties! That's okay though, that just means Banana Bread! 

Every recipe I've tried from my Taste of Homes cook book has been super yummy. It's full of traditional recipes that are just plain good! This recipe for Banana Bread is no exception. I've been making it for a long time, and every time it turns out just as good (or better) as the last.  

So let's have a talk about the streusel topping. The streusel topping is optional but I highly recommend it! It gives your traditional (already delicious) banana bread an awesome crunch! It takes banana bread to the next level. It only takes a couple extra minutes to throw together and it's absolutely worth it. 

I hope you enjoy it! Once you make some, it won't last long. I can promise you that!

Streusel Nut Topped Banana Bread
From the Taste of Home cook book

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used half white, half whole wheat)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (4-5 medium)
1 cup sugar (I used half white and half Splenda)
1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup walnuts (optional)
1 recipe Streusel-Nut topping (also optional but highly recommended)s

Streusel Nut Topping
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5 inch or two 7x3-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in walnuts (optional). Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). 
3. For Streusel Nut topping: In a small bowl combine brown sugar and flour. Using a pastry blender or fingers, cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chopped walnuts. Sprinkle topping over batter in pan(s)
4. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7x3-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. 
Get ready for this bread to be devoured!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted a recipe. Trust me, I have many excuses and I could go on and on trying to convince myself that they were justifiable. I'm sure you don't have time to hear all about it! I'm doing a post today so let's not dwell on the past mkay? :) Alright, down to business!

 

My most favorite part about the holidays is the parties! We don't get to go to very many because we don't have very many friends, so we just throw our own Christmas bash every year on Christmas Eve. We get my husband's family and my family together and enjoy good company and of course good food! Holiday food is just amazing. That's why we all gain ten pounds, right?! Or maybe it just feels like ten pounds. Well I found the perfect dip for you to serve at your own Christmas party. Really, this dip could be served at any time of the year. The Super Bowl, New Year's Eve, Birthday's, on Sunday's, Thursday's... Okay, I think you get my point. :)

 

It is so yummy too! It's just the right amount of spicy but the good thing is that you get to control how hot it is by how many jalapenos you choose to put in and whether or not you add the seeds in too. My husband doesn't like a lot of spicy food so I just added three and that was just right for him! You just HAVE to try it! It's warm and cheesy and just plain delicious. Just what you need right now right? I wish I had some right now. :) Try it and let me know what you think!

 

 

Jalapeno Popper Dip

recipe adapted from simply-gormet.com

 

8 slices of bacon, diced and cooked until crispy

2 (8 oz.) packages of fat-free or light cream cheese, soft

1 cup mayonnaise

3 medium jalapenos (this is how many I use)

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/4 cup diced green onion

 

Topping:

 

1 cup crushed crackers (I used Club Crackers)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 stick of butter, melted

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine all the ingredients into a medium bowl. Stir well.

3. Transfer to an 8 in. X 8 in. or equivilant oven proof dish.

4. Combine the ingredients for the topping and sprinkle on top of the dip.

5. Bake dip for 20 - 30 minutes or until bubbly.

6. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping crackers. (We used Wheat Thins.)

Enjoy!

 



This is what it looks like without the topping on.

Poppy Seed Chicken

I think every wife/mother/woman out there (including me) is aways looking for a new recipe for chicken. I am continually getting bored with the same old chicken dishes. Well this is a recipe that you may not have tried before.

Okay okay... So I will admit. I'm kind of a casserole addict!

They're just so easy and there are too many yummy ones! So it's not my fault.

This recipe can be prepared in 20 minutes or less! Who could ask for more than that? And again, it's a casserole so it's a snap to put together and you probably already have everything you need!

After I had my baby girl, one of my sweet neighbors brought us dinner. My husband and I fell in love with it! We never got the chance to get the recipe from her before we moved. But as I was browsing my Taste of Homes Casserole book I saw this recipe. It just so happened to be the same yummy dinner our neighbor brought us! I just had to make it!

I just love the crisp poppy seeds and crunchy crackers. It really makes this dinner absolutely delicious! I hope everyone enjoys this one.

 

 

Poppy Seed Chicken
Adapted from Taste of Home Casserole Book
Serves 6

3 cup cubed cooked chicken breast
2 cans (10-3/4 oz. each) reduced-fat reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup (8oz.) reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
2 cups crushed reduced-fat Club Crackers
1/4 cup reduced-fat butter, melted
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Hot cooked rice or noodles (optional)

1. In large bowl, combine the chicken, soup, sour cream and poppy seeds In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and butter; set aside 1 cup for topping. Stir remaining crumbs into chicken mixture.
2. Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with reserved crumbs; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.
3. Serve alone or on top of hot cooked rice or noodles.