Monthly Archives: October 2016

Comfort food, Main Dishes, Slow cooker

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

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It’s no secret that I love my slow cooker. We’ve been through a lot together, at least 4 houses, half a decade, and many many delicious home cooked meals. And hopefully many more to come! One of my favorite meals for totally hands-off cooking that tastes magical is slow cooker pulled pork. A roast, an onion, some beer or broth and a little bit of time, and you have a delicious pot of meat that falls apart and tastes like you spent hours perfecting it.

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

As if barbeque pulled pork couldn’t get any better, here is another way to use that meaty, juicy goodness.  I love a classic BBQ pulled pork sandwich on a thick bun with heaps of shredded cheese, but you can only have so many in one week.  So after you’ve made a big tasty roast, save some for later, for this in particular!  Makes one huge quesadilla, enough for 2.

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

Ingredients:

  • 2 flour tortillas
  • 1/2 cup pulled pork
  • 4 tbsp cooked rice
  • 2 slices tomato (or 2 tbsp salsa)
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 4 tbsp pinto or black beans
  • Cooking spray
  • Shredded mixed cheese
  • Optional: sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

Step 1: Grease a large frying pan and heat it to medium high.  Lay out one tortilla, and layer on the pork, rice, beans, tomato, avocado, and some cheese. Cover with the other tortilla.

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

Step 2: Depending on the size of your pan, either transfer the whole tortilla, or cut into halves or quarters. Cook in the pan about 3-4 minutes, until brown and crispy. Carefully flip, and cook on the other side.

BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas

Step 3: Transfer to a plate, serve with sour cream or greek yogurt, more cheese and salsa.

 

 

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:63]

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Casseroles, Comfort food, Finances, Healthy, Less than 5, Main Dishes, Side dishes, Slow cooker, Sneaky Healthy

Slow Cooker Pork and Broccoli Rice Casserole

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Sometimes, you just can’t. Can’t even. Can’t even think about running to the store, slaving over a hot stove, balancing a meal or a checkbook.

But your tummy is growling, your spouse is complaining, your kids are whining, your friends are coming over for dinner.

Enter the slow cooker.

It is a savior for anyone rushed for time (and who isn’t??) or tight on cash (can I get an AMEN!) or doesn’t love to cook (can’t say I feel it all the time, but there are days…) or lives alone, or feeds a family of ten, or… you get my point. I flipping love the things.

You can get a tiny 2 or 3 quart slow cooker for single or double cooking. You can get a giant 8 or 10 quart workhorse for crowds and big appetites, you can get multiple crocks in one base for buffet style hands off cooking. I kinda want one of those now… The point is, if you don’t have one you should get one!

This recipe is super simple, a classic favorite I pull out time and again.  I used pulled pork here because that is what I built into this week’s meal plan, but you could just as easily use shredded chicken, steak, tofu, etc.

Slow Cooker Pork and Broccoli Rice Casserole

It involves items I nearly always have around the house, including frozen veggies and brown rice.  Feel free to use white rice, or wild rice, or even crazy things like quinoa or couscous instead. You can also substitute any other frozen veggie you are partial to if broccoli just doesn’t do it for ya.  And if you’re feeling extra crazy and decadent, use milk instead of water, and toss on some shredded cheese at the end, just before serving.

Slow Cooker Pork and Broccoli Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup shredded cooked pork
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1 1/2 cups milk / water / broth
  • 2 cups frozen broccoli (or veggie of choice)

Optional: shredded cheese

Slow Cooker Pork and Broccoli Rice Casserole

Step 1: Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours or more, or high for at least 2 hours (to thaw the veggies).  Alternatively, you could put this in a baking pan and bake at 350 for 2 hours (1 if you use fresh and not frozen veg).

 

 

What are your favorite slow cooker meals??

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Casseroles, Comfort food, Healthy, Less than 5, Uncategorized

Italian Pork Chops

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Everyone who is a fan of recipes that are cheap, and quick, and take less than 5 ingredients, raise your hand!

Ok now put your hand back on your mouse or keyboard, so you can keep scrolling and read your newest favorite weeknight recipe.

Italian Pork and Veggies

This recipe kind of just happened one day; I had a bottle of Italian dressing in my refrigerator, as I often do. I had also picked up a “family pack” of boneless pork chops and separated them into 2-per-bag zip locks. (HUGE money saving tip if you’re cooking for one or two! Buy in bulk to save $/per pound, then parcel it out into meal-sized bags and freeze.)

Since I also always keep cans of diced tomatoes in the pantry, and bags of frozen veggies in the freezer, this meal came together in a snap! With supreme flexibility (Green beans and zucchini, no? How about broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or onions? Boneless, bone in, doesn’t matter. Or use chicken! Or shrimp. Or tofu, why not), healthy options galore, and a very low price point (I’d estimate $2 per meal for 4 meals), this is a go-to recipe in my repertoire.

Italian Pork Over Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 pork chops
  • 1 cup vegetables of choice
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup italian dressing

Italian Dressing Pork Chops

Step 1: Put the pork chops and the Italian dressing in a frying pan, and cook on medium heat for 7-9 minutes, until browned on one side.  Flip and cook 5-7 minutes until brown on the other side. You will have to decide when to add the vegetables based on whether you use fresh crispy ones (broccoli, carrots) vs softer or frozen ones (peas, fresh green beans, zucchini).

Easy Weeknight Pork and Veggies

Step 2: Add the canned tomatoes with juice and any other vegetables at this point. Simmer for 4-6 minutes, until heated through. Serve like this for a low-carb meal, or serve over rice or with baked potatoes on the side.

 

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:62]

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Breakfast, Finances, Healthy, Less than 5, Vegetarian

Chocolate peanut butter banana oatmeal

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Are you looking for a super quick breakfast recipe?  A breakfast that takes less than 5 minutes to make, is packed full of protein, and costs less than $1?  Can I get a HEALTH YEAH!

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast staples, for so many reasons.  Oats are full of fiber to keep you full all day, so you don’t get the early afternoon munchies.  Oats also contain several micronutrients such as manganese, selenium, phosphorus, fiber, magnesium, and zinc.

And, not to mention, oats are dirt cheap!  You can get a huge tub for like $5.  Talk about affordable meals.  Oh, and if you get the quick-cook kind, you just need a minute or two in the microwave and bam, you’re ready for the day.

All you have to do is keep these ingredients around the house, and you can whip up a super healthy breakfast for under a dollar in under 5 minutes.  No more excuses for having just coffee in the morning, you can fill your belly all morning long with healthy whole foods with the push of a microwave button. You can even blend all the ingredients for a thick breakfast smoothie instead.

Cocoa PB Banana Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 large banana
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup milk and/or water

Chocolate peanut butter banana oatmeal

Step 1: Cut or mash the banana in a bowl.  Add the oats and cocoa powder (more if you really want it chocolatey!), and then add the water and/or milk.  Add slightly more or less depending on the consistency you want.

Peanut butter banana oatmeal

Step 2: Microwave for 1 – 2 minutes, give it a good stir.  Add more liquid if needed, or another sprinkle of cocoa on top.  Breathe in the delicious cocoa smells, and dig in!

This is almost Elvis worthy.  All it’s missing is some bacon to be a breakfast fit for the King.  But that seems like a little bit too far… but if you want to try it out, rock it.  And let me know how it goes!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:61]

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Finances, Healthy, Main Dishes, Pasta, Uncategorized, Vegetarian

Quick & Easy “Cheater” Pad Thai + Peanut Sauce

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Sometimes you just want something different, but also cheap, and sorta healthy. Oh, and really easy to make. Sounds like so many recipes you know right? If you’re laughing like I was while writing that, you’re in the right place. Finding recipes that hit the “sweet spot” of the trifecta: price, time, health, is a tall order.

Luckily, this recipe is one of them!

Pad Thai is probably the most famous dish outside of Thailand, and for good reason. Thailand is snack in the middle of the indochina peninsula, with a tropical climate and a lot of ocean front property. (Which comes with a lot of hurricanes and water damage, so don’t jump on that time share just yet…) This warm climate and water access combines to create a very healthy ethnic cuisine based around coconut, fish, rice, chilies, tons of spices, and tropical fruits like lemons and limes.

Authentic Pad Thai involves homemade rice noodles, hours of stewing and many ingredients common on the mainland but sometimes difficult to find and/or pricey elsewhere. This recipe is for the “cheater” who loves the flavors of Thai but doesn’t want to shell out for take-out, or spend hours in the kitchen.

You can expand this recipe to include other protein sources like tofu, chicken, or shrimp. You can also add any fresh herbs like mint or cilantro or basil, or change up the vegetables to ones that you like. You can add chilies or Thai chili paste or Sriracha to get to your preferred level of spice.

This recipe is the simplest you can make it, multiply the ingredients by the number of people you want to feed. You can easily cook for one, or for twenty. Take this bare bones recipe, try it once or twice until you’re comfortable, then make it your own! And tell me all about it in the comments.

Pad Thai with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients (per person):

  • 1/4 package rice or soba noodles (or linguini)
  • 1/4 small cabbage, shredded
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1 egg, scrambled or not
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (or other nut butter)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce and/or fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp lime juice or vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil / coconut oil
  • Optional: green onion, cilantro, sriracha, chopped cilantro, chilie slices, crushed peanuts, bean sprouts

Pad Thai with Peanut Sauce and Egg

Step 1: Cook the noodles according to the package, rinse and drain and set aside.

Pad Thai with Peanut Sauce

Step 2: Shred the carrot and cabbage, and add to a frying pan with a tbsp olive oil and/or stock. Cover and cook on low for 10-15 minutes, until cabbage is wilted and opaque.

Pad Thai with Peanut Sauce

Step 3: In a bowl, mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice. Cook the egg as you like, whether you want it scrambled or with the yolk still dippy.

Step 4: Put some noodles on a plate, add a scoop of cooked veggies, and drizzle with the sauce. If you like, add optional toppings, and your egg. Enjoy!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:60]

How do you make this recipe yours?

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