Quick Meals

The idea of these recipes is to be quick, healthy and using few ingredients. Please feel free to visit this blog post and add your favorite EASY recipes!

Grillin' Stir Fry (or just on the stove or in a wok)
Chop up veggies of your choice in large pieces (we like green peppers and zucchini) or a bag of frozen veggies (large pieces like broccoli work best)
Cut up pre-cooked sausage (we like the ring style - and if you find a lean version, this is very low-fat!)
Toss in bowl and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray
Sprinkle on salt, pepper
Add a dash of red pepper flakes to add a little kick or garlic if desired
Put in a grill pan and heat over medium-high for 10 - 15 mins stirring occasionally.

-Serve with instant rice (we like the healthier brown rice) or instant potatoes OR cut up potatoes and add them right to your stir fry (but they need to be par-boiled first.

Traditional Creamy (Cold) Pasta Salad
Boil a box of noodles of your choice
While noodles are boiling mix together the follow in a large bowl:
A can of chicken or tuna (you can use fresh chicken but that requires extra time)
3/4 cup of mayo or miracle whip
1/4 cup of milk
1 tblsp of onion flakes
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 bag frozen peas or other small veggie of choice
Rinse noodles under cold water and stir in...

Simple Casserole
Spray a medium baking pan with cooking spray
Layer the pan as follows:
Spread canned of frozen green beans over the bottom of the pan
Then add pre-cooked chicken or hamburger/ground turkey
Sprinkle in dried onion flakes or chopped onion if desired
Spread one can of condensed cream of celery or mushroom over the meat (if you add milk, the casserole will be more runny)
Place frozen tater tots (or hashbrowns) over the top.
Bake on center or lower rack for 30 minutes at 375 or until the tater tots are golden brown.

Pepperoni Rotini Pasta Salad
Boil rotini noodles (we prefer tri-color)
While noodles are boiling prepare the following
In a large bowl, assemble broccoli (fresh or frozen), cherry tomatoes, black olives and pepperoni slices (omit/replace the undesired)
Rinse noodles under cold water and add to bowl
Pour 1/2 bottle of your favorite Italian dressing over the top and stir

Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin
Place pre-seasoned pork tenderloin in crock pot (garlic or lemon pepper or otherwise)
add one bag of baby carrots plus 4 chopped stalk of celery if desired
add 1-2 lbs of baby red potatoes (cut in half)
add 1 cup of water
cook 3-4 hours on high or 8 hours on low

Quick and Simple Chicken Chili (lowfat)
Put a large pot on the stove and turn burner to high
Add one large can of diced tomatoes
Add 1 tblsp of chili powder (use pre-seasoned chili tomatoes to simplify)
Add 1-2 tblsp of onion flakes (or 1/2 cup of diced onions)
Add 1 or 2 cans of beans of your choice depending on how many beans you like (we like dark red kidney and pinto beans)
Add 1-2 cans of chicken
Bring to boil then simmer 5-10 mins
*Optional - add 1 cup chopped celery and or chopped green peppers
**If you prefer beef or turkey, brown 1 lb of beef/turkey in the large pot and drain grease prior to adding tomatoes then omit can of chicken.

Pigs in a Blanket
Wrap hotdogs in pre-made croissant dough and bake according to croissant package (press shredded cheese into the inside of the dough prior to wrapping if desired)
Serve with fresh veggies and fruit for a well-rounded "finger-food" meal

Breakfast Tortillas (feel free to serve these for lunch or dinner!)
Place a few fresh spinach leaves on a tortilla shell
scramble eggs; place on tortilla shell, sprinkle with cheese and a spoon on salsa
Wrap and enjoy

Noodles/Rice Cheaters
Make 2 pouches/boxes of pre-seasoned rice or noodles according to package directions.
Just prior to the completed cooking time, add a can of chicken/precooked chicken or frozen shrimp or other pre-cooked "meat" of choice plus a can (drained) or frozen veggies of choice.

Chicken Noodle Soup
Place large pot on the stove on high and add 2 boxes of chicken stock (or make broth using bouillon)
Once boiling, add uncooked chunks of chicken
Pour in a bag of egg noodles and 1/2 bag of frozen carrots
Add 1/2 tsp basil and/or a bay leaf if desired
Add pepper to taste
Add 1 stalk chopped green onion if available/desired

TIP OF THE DAY:
Frying hamburger can be time consuming. Save time and money by buying in bulk (5-10 lbs). Fry it up then freeze it in individual freezer bags (1 lb per bag). You can quickly add it to chili, hamburger helper or casserole!

MORE RECIPES  |  10 HEALTHY RECIPES  |  HEALTHY SHOPPING

Morning Routine

It's easier to have a good day when you get off on the right foot...

Ever wonder how to make your morning go more smoothly?
Routine. That's it. Plan a routine and follow it.
If your routine includes breakfast and that leaves you scrambling each day, post a list of "breakfast options" inside the "cereal cabinet" so that you can just glance and go with what pleases you each morning without thought. Or better yet, decide the night before. Same goes for any other morning conundrums; what to wear, etc. In fact, some folks plan all their clothes and meals on Sunday night taking the pressure off the rest of the week.
If you tend to leave home without things, designate a spot for them (the car you plan to drive) and gather them the night before.
We can never eliminate the unexpected water leak or other imposition but you can certainly make the average day start smoothly.

Easier said than done you say? It's all about forming a habit. It takes a little work but you will be rewarded with happiness!

Then you can be the one to say "Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

How Fit Are You?

Mayo Clinic can help you assess your aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility and body composition in 4 steps: Brisk Walk, Push Ups, Sit-and-Reach and Waist Circumference.  Do this before you start a fitness program and as you go to monitor your progress!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally

Not taking any credit for this but wanted to share!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally
By Paula Parker on July 20, 2009

Dry, itchy skin. It's uncomfortable and makes skin look older, who wants that? Using lotions and body oils works for some people, but many people can't use these products due to allergens and a sensitivity to certain skin irritants. For these people, using natural methods and products can moisturize their skin. There are foods you can eat--and supplements you can take--that help your skin retain moisture, too.
Step 1

Take warm--not hot--showers, using a body wash that does not have sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry skin and cause irritation. While your skin is still damp from the shower, apply a moisturizer that has vegetable oils--like olive, coconut or almond--and not mineral oil, which comes from petroleum.
Step 2

Use a steam bath. If you don't have a steam facial, put a pan of water on the stove--you can add lavender essential oil, which is an antiseptic--and bring the water to a boil. Take the pan off the stove. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the pan until the steam subsides.
Step 3

Peel and mash papaya. Mix in 2 tbsp. of honey. Spread the fruit and honey mixture over your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it off and wash your face with a mild hypoallergenic soap. Exederm makes cleansers and moisturizers that are free from allergens and irritants.
Step 4

Add foods and supplements to your diet that promote healthy skin. Magnesium hydrates skin; foods rich in magnesium are meat, seafood, dairy, bananas and tofu. If you take a supplement, use no more than 400 to 800 mg each day. Vitamin A is used to fight wrinkles and can be found in fish oils, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, peaches, apricots, papaya and mango. Vitamin C builds the collagen in your skin; take 50 to 60 mg each day. Vitamin E prevents free radicals and is found in grains, legumes and nuts.
Step 5

Drink 8 ounces of fluids each day. Stay out of the sun, use sunscreen and wear a hat to protect skin from the drying effects of the sun.

Paula Parker - Since 1995, Paula K. Parker has written more than 2000 articles for publications including PB&J, Disney's Family Fun, ParentLife, Living With Teenagers, and Thomas Nelson's NYTimes Best-selling Resolve. After 17 years of homeschooling her five children, Paula discovered that motherhood doesn't stop with an empty nest.

Potato Salad for Baked Potato Lovers

Easy Potato Salad
Collect all the toppings you would desire on a baked potato. (Sour cream, bacon bits, onions, etc)
Cube and boil enough salad potatoes for the number of people you plan to feed - 1-2 mid-sized potatoes per person. (Leave skins on for true baked potato style)
Cool potatoes in fridge for 20 mins.
Pull out potatoes and top with desired toppings.
Serve.

Doesn't get easier than that folks!