Beef Fried Rice (Or Chicken or Pork)

Beef Fried Rice

 Brown or white rice cooked, follow directions and add chicken or beef bouillon to the water
1 package diced beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp-1/4 cup soy sauce, I don't usually measure it just do it by taste
peanut oil or oil of your choice
frozen mixed vegetables


Cook Rice.  Put oil in a skillet on medium.  When its warm add the beef, garlic and onion, cook until the beef is brown, then add vegetables, ginger, salt and pepper.  When the vegetables are done add rice and soy sauce.  Let them cook together for about 5 minutes.  

Fideo

When I was a little girl most of my summers were spent with my grandparents.  My Dad's parents divorced a long time ago and my grandpa (also known as Tata) remarried my Nana.  She is one of the most loving, caring people I know.  She came here from Puerto Rico so as I was growing up learning to speak, she was learning to speak English.  There were many things we used to do together but the one that we did the most was EAT and EAT and EAT!  No wonder I have such a love for food!!  One of my favorite dishes she ever made was Sopa (also known as Fideo).  She gave me the recipe years ago and I have kind of tweaked it to make it my own.  It is a side dish that everyone will love and its great for potlucks.

Fideo

2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
7 oz package of fideo noodles
8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups of chicken broth
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp. of pepper
1/2 tsp. of cumin
1/4 tsp. of oregano
1/4 cup of chopped onion, or 1 Tbsp dried onion
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced or 2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. of fresh or dried cilantro
1 tsp. of chili powder

In a skillet heat the vegetable oil on medium for about 2 minutes.  Add the fideo noodles and mix them around until they are golden brown, be careful that they don't burn. I usually add the onion and garlic right before they are done. The other spices can go in at the same time or after the liquid.  When they are golden add the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Bring to a slow boil then turn down to low and simmer until the liquid is gone.

Pineapple Sheet Cake

 Pineapple Sheet Cake

2 cups fresh pineapple or 1 20 oz. can of diced pineapple
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup of walnuts or nut of your choice


Mix all the ingredients until just mixed. put into a 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

My sister came over for the weekend and wanted to bake.  We made this and used a cherry frosting because that was all I had in the cupboard.  A cream cheese frosting would probably go best with this or even no frosting at all!   The cherry overpowered the pineapple which we were pretty sad about, but there is always next time. 

Dinner Plan 5/27-6/2

Pineapple Sheet Cake

Sunday May 27th

Homemade Pizza (with this crust)

Pineapple Sheet Cake

Monday May 28th
Beef Roast with potatoes and carrots

Tuesday May 29th
Sausage, Red Beans and Rice
Tossed Salad

Wednesday May 30th
BBQ Meatballs over Parmesan Noodles
Green Beans

Thursday May 31st
Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
Fried Potatoes
Mixed Vegetables

Friday June 1st
Beef Fried Rice

Saturday June 2nd
Spaghetti with Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage
Salad
Easy Italian Breadsticks

Chicken Fried Steak Strips

I took this original post from Heavenly Homemakers and made it my own.  Yes it is on a kids plate:)
We are big fans of chicken fried steak and after many attempts this was the winner!

2 large Cube Steaks cut into strips
2 cups Flour (you can use whole wheat or white, I used white)
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp seasoned salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
2  pepper
Oil (I used Vegetable)

 Heat about 2 inches of oil in a pan with high sides on medium. Mix the flour with the garlic powder, seasoned salt, paprika, salt and pepper and put in a pan for dipping.  In a second pan or plate put the milk in it.  I let the steak soak in the milk for awhile, then dip it into the flour. You can dip it back and forth a couple times or just one depending on how you like your breading. You will know when the oil is ready if you splash some water at it and it sizzles. Put the steak into the pan and cook about 7-10 minutes on each side until they are crispy.  You will not be disappointed and feel free to add different spices to your flour.  When it was done I made the gravy in the same pan and used all the delicious leftover pieces.


White Gravy

1 1/2 cups of Oil
3 Tbsp Flour
Milk
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in the skillet where you made the chicken fried steak, when it is warm whisk in the flour and keep whisking until it becomes thick and brown. Just remember this takes some patience, it will not thicken and brown right away. You can add a small amount of flour if needed. Slowly add milk until it is the consistency you want, some people like it thick and some like it thin. When it gets to the consistency you want add salt and pepper until it tastes just right.  Put it over your chicken fried steak strips and enjoy!

Strawberry-Pineapple-Banana Smoothie

My son and I love smoothies for breakfast, especially when we have fresh fruit. I also like to make up my own random smoothies and sometimes they come out bad and sometimes they come out delicious, like this one.

1 Cup Vanilla Soy Milk

1 fresh or frozen Banana

1 cup fresh or frozen Strawberries

1/2 Cup Pineapple (we buy it fresh and freeze it)

1-2 teaspoons Honey (depending on how sweet you like it)

1 teaspoon of ground flax seed

If you are using all fresh fruit then you may need to add some ice. Makes 2 servings.

We just throw it all in our Ninja and enjoy breakfast!

Sunflower Market Shopping Trip 5/23

If you have a Sunflower Market near you it is a great place for produce and other organic products.  I got all of this for 16 dollars.  Who says you can't eat healthy and stay on a budget? 

I'm not quite sure what to do with the tomatoes. Spaghetti sauce, salsa or canning? Hmm...well when I decide I will post about it!

Great Lunch Ideas

I have been following Heavenly Homemakers for awhile now and she has some great recipes.  Here are some lunch ideas.

Healthy Inexpensive Lunches

Dinner Plan 5/20-5/26

 These are the Pigs In a Blanket.  This makes me want to start saving for a new camera.

Dinner Plan 5/20-5/26
Our family only eats dinner together.  Breakfast and lunch are usually seperate because of work and school, so I only plan dinner.  I am also known to switch it up a little bit too but here is the plan for the week. It is not the healthiest meal but I'm cooking from the pantry and trying to use up what we have.

Sunday May 20th
Pigs In A Blanket
Salad
Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

Monday May 21st
Homemade Chik Fil A Chicken Nuggets
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Carrot Sticks

Tuesday May 22nd
Chicken Fried Steak Strips
Hashbrowns
Green Beans

Wednesday May 23rd
Chicken and Bean Burritos
Fideo

Thursday May 24th
Beef Stroganoff
Mixed Vegetables

Friday May 25th
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Salad

Saturday May 26th
BBQ Meatballs
over Rice

Brown Sugar Chicken

Tonight was one of those nights that I didn't want to come home and cook after a long day at work but then I decided we should probably eat something besides cereal or sandwiches tonight. We have been busy with baseball and although I try my best to have some meals prepared it doesn't always happen.  I decided to check my Pinterest and see if anything was appealing and a recipe for brown sugar chicken stuck out.  4 ingredients and chicken in 15-20 minutes was exactly what I needed!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Garlic!!  I think it should be in every meal, except dessert of course!  Not only is it delicious but it is healthy too (Don't tell my Fiance!).  He is not big on "healthy" food but we won't tell him that I always try to make our meals healthy but tasty....and again that is where the garlic comes in.

You heat some olive oil in a pan, add some garlic, cook it until it is a golden color then add brown sugar. Pour it over the chicken and bake at 500 degrees for 15-30 minutes.  Mine took about 20!  And VOILA!

Doesn't look like much but trust me when I say its Yummy!  Just make sure you use a pan that has high sides, guess who gets to clean the oven this weekend?  I added some salad with strawberries and some leftover honey lime vinaigrette from Mother's day and we have dinner!

Now I'm off to do the dishes, not so hard with a view like this: