Southwestern Blackbean Soup $4.35

Kim and I make this Southwestern salad that I absolutely love! It is absolutely in my top 10 faves of the past year, and when I have an opportunity to make the salad ie if Im having a party, or going to a pot luck dinner, I always bring the salad because in this year of blogging we cant have any repeats for dinner, and its a rule we are trying to stick to, but I really enjoy this salad, so I find reasons to make it. So when I stumbled accross this recipe for Southwestern blackbean soup and noted many like ingredients, I was sold. We made black bean soup a few weeks back, but this version is very different, the corn added to the beans gives the soup a much chunkier stew like consistency and the taco mix kicks up the flavors a notch and gives it the southwestern flair. Cheese and/or sour cream optional, but not necessary, the soup is that good on its own.

2 cans Black Beans 15 ounces(drained) $1.38
1 can corn 15 ounces .69
1 can diced tomato 15 ounces .69
1 can chicken broth low sodium .89
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil .30
2 tsp dried onion .20
1 tablespoon taco mix.15
pepper .05

heat oil in soup pot on low
add onion, saute a few minutes
add broth, one can beans, taco mix, and saute 5 minutes
in food processor blend 1 can beans and tomato until it is a smooth, thick puree
add to soup, add pepper to taste
bring to boil, and simmer for 30 minutes

Divide into 8 bowls and serve.

Linguine with Pea Pesto $2.41

We bring you yet another non traditional pesto dish. This time the pesto is green in color, but once again there is no basil in sight. This recipe is inspired by Martha Stewart herself. While I was surfing the web looking for recipes with peas, I stumbled upon this gem, and it looked good, and easy and definitely cheap, so we gave it a shot. The results were great! leaving half the peas whole was a great idea!
Heres what you need:
1 lb frozen peas $ 1.09
8 oz pasta(any kind) .50
1/4 cup almonds.40
2 tablespoons olive oil .20
2 garlic cloves .20
pepper .02

Boil noodles according to instruction
in food processor or blender pour 1/2 lb peas
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup almonds
dash of salt and pepper
blend
when noodles are done boiling, drain and pour 1/4 cup pasta water in food processor with pea pesto
blend again
remove and in a large skillet mix in pasta, pesto, remaining olive oil and peas
saute all together for a few minutes

serve

Nacho Platter with Chicken and Black Bean and Corn Salsa $4.25

Well this was quite the hit tonight on Biggest Loser premier night!! How can one go wrong with tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese and a homemade blackbean and corn salsa. we added more protein by including chicken, so the meal was very healthy.


for the salsa:
1 can 15 oz Diced Tomatoes (not drained) .69
1 can 15 oz BlackBeans (rinsed) .59
1 can 8 oz Corn(rinsed) .39
1 tbsp Taco Seasoning .10

mix all in a bowl including taco season, toss thoroughly

For nacho Platter
40 Tortilla Chips .30
1 can Chicken Breast or 1 fresh chicken breast broiled or baked $1.08
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese $1.10

spread layer of tortilla chips on a serving platter that is oven proof(half the chips)
on top chips layer 1/2 can of chicken, half salsa, and half cheese evenly
top with another layer of chips and then relayer the rest of ingredients
bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is all melted.

Penne Pasta with Pistachio Pesto and Sweet Peas $9.27

Thanks to Rachael Ray and her 365 : No Repeats, we had a fun, unique and healthy dinner tonight that took less then 30 minutes to prepare and had everyone dining saying "yummo!'


ingredients:
1 lb pasta .99
3/4 cup shelled pistachios $1.99
3 tblsp olive oil .60
1 lb frozen peas
2 garlic cloves .20
1 tbsp dried parsley .10
1/3 c grated Parmeasan cheese .40
salt and pepper .10


boil water for pasta, salt water when the water boils(save 1/4 cup boiling pasta water)
in skillet add all pistachios and heat to bring out flavors(5 minutes)
when done remove from pan and let cool 5 minutes
in same skillet heat 1 tbsp olive oil
add 1 garlic clove minced
add tsp salt and pepper
saute for 5 minutes
remove from heat
in food processor or blender combine 1/2 cup pistachios, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/3 cup grated parm cheese, pepper, 1 garlic clove, 1 tbsp parsley, 1/4 cup boiled water from the noodles

in large skillet combine cooked pasta, pistaccio pesto and toss for 2 minutes until all noodles coated.
top with remaining pistachio nuts

more parm optional

Monte Cristo Sandwich $2.23 for 4 Sanwiches

Its a rainy Saturday afternoon and 4 hungry kids asking "whats for lunch?" Hmmmm, what would be easy, and yet different? I pull out my Rachael Ray "Cooking Rocks" because there are always good ideas in her book, and usually lots of meals with basic ingredients, because I knew I didnt want to run to the store. One of the first pages I turned to was a Monte Cristo Sandwich. I can picture myself sitting in a resturaunt called Bennigans(are they still in existence?) and eating that very same sandwhich and a friend telling me how she read it was the most fattening, unhealthy sandwhich around. I was about 18, and very conscious about my no longer stick straight hips. I took a look at the ham, turkey and cheese sandwhich that had been drenched in egg and deep fried and ate it for the very last time. I still remember how delicious it was though-crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside with the melted cheese. Rachaels recipe calls for skilleting the sandwich in a fry pan, which I suspect is already so much healthier then most resturaunt versions, that drop the sandwhich in a deep fryer. I used cooking spray to fry them and I only used two egg yolks instead of 4, one slice of deli meat per sandwich, and the results were unanimous, they loved them!
Here's the scoop
serving 4 hungries
Now
8 slices wholewheat bread . 40
4 slices swiss cheese .60
4 slices ham .80
4 eggs(only use two yolks).40

1/4 cup milk .03

On a slice of bread layer a slice of
ham and slice of cheese and top it with slice of bread
mix egg and milk
in a bowl dip each side of bread lightly with egg batter
turn skillet on medium, and spray pan with cooking spray
cook two sanchiches at a time, cooking 3_4 minutes on each side or until sandwhiches are golden brown.
repeat process with other two sandwhiches
slice in half and serve

Rachaels recipe calls for half slice turkey and half slice ham as well, but I only had ham, but both would be great!

Black Bean Soup $2.26

Well, anyone that knows me, knows I really DISLIKE to see summer end. I have always been a "summer gal", not much appeals to me about the winter-I dont like being cold, I dont like driving in snow, I dont like kids cooped up in the house for 6 months, I dont like kids trecking snow and slush into the house, however, what I do like is nice cozy nights inside the house with my son watching a movie or favorite show, eating something warm and hearty. Soup is what comes to mind and that is really out of character because I am not a big soup person, but a cold night a nice bowl of soup and some crusty bread, that could make me deal with a friged winter nights a little better. So although this september night was 70 degrees, I made Black Bean Soup regardless and although we ate some, I froze the rest because I have been informed black bean soup freezes very well, and so one cold, snowy, winter night we are set for din din.

1 lb Black beans soaked .99 or 2 cans black beans
8 cups water
1 tablkespoon salt .02
1 cup onion chopped .40
1 cup celery .20
2 tbsp olive oil .60
4 cloves garlic .30
1/2 tsp cumin .05

boil beans in water until soft
heat oil in skillet and saute onion, carrot and celery, until onions are golden brown.
Add garlic and cumin and salt
add 1 cup water from beans
drain beans add to saute in a big soup pot
remove half the soup from the pot and blend
pour back into pot and simmer 15 minutes

Blackbean Brownies

Ok picture this-no school due to Roshashana, and six 11 and 12 year olds playing games on XBox3- at my house. They have completely wiped out my oreos, pretzels and sunchips, and they are still starving, but thats ok, because I have made them mystery brownies, I just havent told them that they are mystery brownies. Infact, they went over so phenomonally well, that I made another batch for my friends passover dinner tonight. OK, ready for the unveiling of the secret- I made them with black beans, infact the only ingredient in the brownie, besides the box mix, is a can of blackbeans with the bean juice as well. Sounds unappealing? I think so too, but shock of all shocks, the taste of beans cant be detected at all!! The brownies were so incredibly moist but not in that raw egg moist way, because obviously thier are no eggs, but in a yummy, gooey, chocolatey way. The brownie is awesome!! Not to mention incredibly healthy with the high in fiber and protein
here is the uncomplicated recipe

Box of brownie mix, doesnt matter which one, I got mine at Walgreens along with the other ingredient
1 can black beans 15.5 ounces

in blender or food processor, mix the brownie mix and the entire content of blackbeans until batter is smooth
pour into a 9X9 greased baking dish and bake according to box instruction.
when done baking let stand atleast an hour because the brownies will be soft due to all the moisture from the beans.
serve and watch the brownie disappearing act

Develed Eggs $1.50

We have talked about the incredible egg and all its nutrients, but we didnt discuss how versitile this little white gem is. Probably out of all our "convenient" store items, it is the most versitile. Eggs can be used so many different ways-scrammbled, fried, boiled,poached, over easy, in an omlette, fritata, quiche etc.... It is also used as an ingredient over and over again. Develed Eggs is another tasty and fun way to make eggss I "served" many of them while working at a Country Club in Highschool. They were a mainstay on the appetizer menu, and were one of the most popular items. I remember the chef putting the "filling" which consisted mainly of the yolks in a big pastry bag, and filling up each boiled egg white. He treated each egg like a work of art, and yellow yolk looked like gold velvet. So mine(hance, the picture) really didnt look like his, but I think they sure tasted good.

7 eggs .70
1/2 cup mayonaise .30
1 tsp prepared mustard.10
2 tsp pickled relish(optional).20
salt and pepper to taste .10
paprika for the tops of eggs.10

boil eggs, let cook and peal
slice eggs in half lengthwise
scoop out yolks and combine in bowl with mayo, mustard etc....
mix well until smooth
scoop into eggwhites
sprinkle on paprikaa

Cold Pasta Salad with Tuna, Green and Black Olives $5.25

Heres a quick, easy and good pasta salad. Lets face it, who has time these days to slave in the kitchen for hours making a meal? The desire and the need is there to eat healthy and provide healthy meals for ones family, so the goal is showing how any and everyone can accomplish this task.
The most time consuming part of this salad was boiling the noodles, which i did while I was preparing the rest of the salad. I used black and green olives to give the salad bit more color and flavor, but just one type of olive would have been ok. Also, I used canned tuna, but if canned salmon is perfered, by all means used that instead.
Ingredients:

1 lb pasta noodle(small elbow noodles or penne) .99
3/4 cup black olives $1.00
1/2 cup green olives .90
2 cans tuna $1.96
3/4 cup salad dressing(Italian0 .40

cook pasta noodles according to instruction
in mean time cut olives in halves or quarters(however prefered)
drain tuna and add into olive mixture in a small bowl
when pasta cooked, drain and put into large salad or pasta bowl
add tuna and olives, toss with Italian salad dressing
if you dont have salad dressing, olive oil and vinegar will do, just add some seasons-garlic salt, parsley, black pepper

Oatmeal Cherry Dark Chocolate Breakfast Bar$4.00

Here is a recipe for a cookie/bar. We took a recipe and cut out some of the butter and egg yokes and added liquid(apple juice or water) The liquid helped to mix the dough together since we eliminated a lot of the moisture with cutting fat calories from butter and egg yokes. yeah!! The opinion was unamimously thumbs up!!

Preheat oven 375
1/2 cup butter .69
1 tablespoon water, apple or cranberry juice.10
1 1/2 cups sugar.50
1 1/2 tsp vanilla 40
2 egg whites .20
1 3/4 flour .25
1 tsp baking soda.05
1/2 salt .02
1 1/2 cup rolled oats.30
8 ounces dark chocolate(any dark chocolate candy bar, cut into very small pieces)$1.49
dried fruit- choose between dried cherries, cranberries, blueberries

cream butter, liquid, sugar, vanilla, egg whites, combine with all the dried ingredients in a large mixing bowl, mix well
add chocolate chips and dried fruit

drop soup spoon dolups onto a baking pan(9 per tray) bake fro 7-9 minutes

Shrimp Stir Fry $8.65

This was actually a lunch I whipped up, and it required not much knowledge or skill in the stir fry department. When cooking sometimes, improvising is a must. I had a taste for stir fry, and thumbing through some recipes, I decided I had enough ingredients to make it happen, just not all the ingredients. In this stirfry the first Item I was missing was a wok, but ok, I just used a fry pan. It worked. Some recipes I found called for fish sauce, so that was ommited. I actually made my sauce with chicken broth and soy sauce. A bunch of recipes called for sugar to be added to that combo, but I just didnt add it. Who needs the extra carbs? I used instant rice, and the whole meal took less then 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
2 cups rice .85
2 tablespoons soy sauce .10
1 cup chicken broth .50
1 tablespoon olive oil .15
1 cup canned peas $1.10
1/4 cup canned mushrooms .49
20 shrimp $1.40
2 tsp garlic powder .05
1 egg(beaten) .10
waterchestnuts(optional)
Total
prepare instant rice according to directions
heat skillet and add olive oil peas and mushrooms, saute for 5 minutes on medium, add egg and saute until egg is fully cooked
lower heat and add soy sauce, chicken broth, garlic powder and saute 5 more minutes
add shrimp for a few minutes
serve over rice, add water chestnuts if desired or sold at our local convenient store

4 ingredient 3 Layer Salsa and Cheese Dip $5.00

Heres a timeless appetizer- how can anyone go wrong when serving this at a party. Layers of cream cheese, salsa and cheese baked, and served with chips? I especially think this goes over very well at a sport related party like a Sunday football game. there aer lots of ways to health this up. I added corn to the salsa, but blackbeans could be added or shredded chicken. Baked chips or crackers could be served instead of the alternative. This appetizer never goes uneaten!

OK, heres the not so complicated recipe:
Ingredients:

1 block of cream cheese $1.29

1 jar salsa $1.59

1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded $1.59

1 cup corn(canned or frozen) .60
9x9 or some pan with similar dimensions

combine half the jar of salsa and corn
spread cream cheese in a thin layer on bottom of the pan
pour salsa mixture over creamcheese
top with shredded cheese
bake at 300 for 20 minutes until cheese is completely melted (I like my top layer of cheese kinda crispy)

Spaghetti Taco alla I Carly .95

Strange I know, and invented by the preteen/teen/and sometime parent show-I Carly. I had extra pasta and sauce, and needed something quick and easy and thought why not try something made famous by Miranda Cosgrove and clan on I Carly. I had a little left over pasta and this meal didnt require tons of pasta, just enough to fit into 4 Tacos. I definitely wasnt expecting a lot, especially because this meal packs a lot of carbs and didnt require much in terms of ingredients or prep. However, upon taking first bite, the combo of the crunch from the tortilla and the softness of the pasta and the sauce, was very enjoyable. It was like combining two worlds, Mexico and Italy!! Some recipes call for cheese, or atleast have cheese as optional, either shredded or parm cheese, but that didnt appeal to me. So our Spaghetti Tacos were very plain.
ingredients
4 taco shells .40
1/4 lb pasta .25
1/2 cup prepared tomato sauce .30

I think left over pasta works best, but cooking up some pasta works as well.
Boil noodles according to instruction
drain and top with sauce
fill taco shell
our recipe was so simple that I had my friends daughter do the filling

Fruit Tart $ 6.53

This came purely out of an accident. we were trying to make a pizza crust using a Jiffy Corn Muffin mix and didnt realize that the mix was on the sweet side, so we quickly switched gears and decided to make a dessert. My first thought was Nutella and spread it on like frosting and then top it with nuts or dried fruit, yum. Then I remembered how much I love mini fruit tarts and did a bit of internet research and concluded the "custard" part is cream cheese mixed with sugar. Next we needed dried fruit, We spent about 5 dollars on fruit, but only used $2.00 in the recipe(the rest of the fruit we will eat) We did decide to go for the mandarin oranges, canned peaches, fruit coctail, dried cranberries, and dried apricots. Next time I make this tart, I am going to include pinapple. This dessert is loaded with vitamins A, C, D and antioxidents as well. Cranberries are considered one of the super foods.
Ingredients:
Jiffy corn muffin mix $1.99
1 egg .15
1/2 cup canned peaches .60
1/2 cup canned mandarin oranges .60
1/2 cup fruit coctail .60
1/4 cup dried cranberries .40
10 oz cream cheese $1,79
2 tsp granulated sugar ,20
2 tablespoons strawberry jam .20

Make corn muffin mix in a pie tin or a baking pan (9X6)
let cool
when completely cooled mix softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and cream
with a spatula or spoon frost cake
decorate the cake with the fruit anywhich way you would like
heat jam in microwave or over stove, ad 2 tablespoons water
when warmed brush or drizzle over fruit tart

Cream of Mushroom Soup $4.51

Mushrooms provide a treasure chest full of important nutrients and vitamins. Vitamin B and D, Potassium, and lots of antioxidents. I grew up eating cambells cream of mushroom soup, and upon looking at the label now, there is a ton of ingredients that really dont appeal to me including flour and msg, so I kinda thought I like the idea of homemade mushroom soup because I can control any potentially unappealing ingredients, and just make a light healthy soup.
I chose to use 2% milk and not cream and olive oil in place of butter. When I can, I like to use olive oil in place of any shortenin, the omega 3's are just so good for the body!!
1 lb button mushrooms $1.98
1 can chicken broth .99
1/2 cup milk(skim, or 2%) .20
1 tablespoon olive oil .10
1 small onion diced .30
1 tablespoon dried parsley or fresh parsley .10
2 garlic cloves minced .20
1 tsp salt .02
1 tsp pepper .02
1/4 cup sourcream .60
heat oil in skillet, add onion, saute on medium until glassy

lower heat and add minced garlic saute 10 minutes

add 1/2 tablespoon parsley, mushrooms, and saute for 15 minutes until mushrooms are golden brown
In a soup pot add chicken broth, milk, entire mushrooms mixture, salt and pepper, simmer for 30 minutes
remove from heat and pour entire contents into food processor.
blend for 1 minute until mixture is smooth
add 1/4 cup sourcream and blend for 20 seconds
pour soup back in soup pot once again and simmer another 10 minutes
serve with dollup sourcream on top
sprinkle parsley

Crepe Lasagna

I cant pinpoint when, but I would guess about 15 years ago one of the amazing chefs in my family realized that if lasagna was make with crepes, it would be so much lighter(not to mention easier to make) we usually made the noodles the traditional way with eggs and flour. Crepes are made with eggs and flour as well, but it is a liquid batter vs a heavy dough. Lasagna dough is heavy and dry because it needs to go through a machine that flattens it into strips, crepes are light and airy, made with a combo of egg, flour and milk. I had never made lasagna with crepes, but I had enjoyed it many, many times because my grandma, mom, sister inlaw, aunts have all converted to making the pasta dish that way. So the other day when I was following my fellow cooking bloggers recipe for sweedish pancakes, I decided while I had the frying pans going, I would make up some crepes for Lasagna. I omited the sugar, but followed the recipe just the same, and a base for my Lasagna was born.
here is the crepe recipe again, minus the sugar
3 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt


mix all in blender
heat pans a little spray of oil, pour in batter and let cook, occasionally moving sides with spatula,
when crepe is easy to move in pan, flip(although I cant flip them in the air....yet) I just use my fingers and flip, and cook on otherside for another minute

depending on pan and how thick you make your crepes, you should have between 8-12 cr epes
I made 10

for sauce:
bottled marinara will do
I make a simple sauce using ingredients from my local convenient store

1 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomato
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried onion
salt and pepper to taste
in sauce pan combine all ingredients, and simmer for 30-45 minutes

filling:
10 ounces cottage cheese
2 egg whites
tablespoon dried parsley
salt and pepper
combine in blender or food processor

to make lasagna
take a 9 x 9 pan or similar
spoon out a layer of sauce on bottom of pan
layer bottom with three crepes
top with sauce and cottage cheese mixture
layer again with three more crepes, sauce and cottage cheese
again, making sure to use up all the cottage cheese
on top layer just layer with sauce, shredded mozarella, and a sprinkle or parm cheese
bake at 300 for 40 minutes
remove and let stand atleast 15 minutes

Bean Enchilladas

Found this recipe in an old cookbook of mine about low-fat eating. It was a revolutionary cookbook 20 year ago... I think this recipe sounds interesting, though WE'LL be tweaking it as we roll!

Bean Enchiladas
1 14 oz can black beans
1 14 oz can pinto beans
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

1 cup cheese - montery jack or mexican blend would be great

8 flour tortillas

place beans in mixing bowl and mash coarsely with a potato masher (you could use a food processor, Barbara!), Add the spices
Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 45 seconds to make them easy to bend. Divide the bean mixture onto the tortillas and then the cheese. Roll closed, place seam side down into a sprayed 9 by 13 baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 ddegrees for 20 minutes.

I'm planning to top these with salsa as they come out of the oven. You could also cover with an enchilada sauce prior to baking if desired. Probably not green enchilada sauce, however.

Swedish Pancakes

This recipe comes from one of my BFFs who makes these regularly for her family. Since getting the recipe from her about 6 years ago, I've become a frequent maker as well! They are time consuming, and you don't necessarily get to sit down for that real homey meal feel - BUT, if your family takes pride in making their own meal, and eating it better because of it - then this is a GREAT breakfast for dinner type of meal!

Swedish Pancakes
3 eggs (I usually use 1 egg and 3 egg whites)
1 3/4 cup milk
1 cup flour (sometimes I do 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 white flour)
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tbsp oil

in a blender, mix eggs and milk. Add flour and salt, sugan arn oil, then blend until smooth. Pour about 2 tbsp in preheated pan 7 inch frying pan and cook over medium heat.

Basically, you're making crepes - I use two small 7 or so inch frying pans and cook multiple pancakes at a time

I fill, wait for the pancake to be totally set, then use a silicone scraper to gently loosen the pancake, then flip the pancake in the air (yet another reason my kids LOVE these! flying food!).
We fill our pancakes with the following:
Blueberries and/or Strawberries
Lingonberry Jam and/or Triple berry Jam
Coconut
Whip Cream
Vanilla Yogurt
I've made other fillings, and the kids have enjoyed, but this is our "basic, go to fillings" list. I have the kids fill theirs, then we cut them - much as they might like to pick them up and eat them "taco style", that isn't happening, so it's cut up breakfast for them!

You can see that I have both rolled them (crepe style) and folded them (Swedish Restaurant style). Suite yourself - it kinda depends on what you're serving with them - the Swedish Restaurant style is easier, and goes best with just syrup and a small pile of lingonberry jam (we get our Lingonberry Jam at IKEA).

Brownies with hidden ingredient(Baked Beans)

I did it!! Ive been thinking about making this brownie for years, and I finally did it! OK, truth be told, I didnt make them from scratch, I used a box mix, but none the less, the brownies came out good. I pureed the beans to use in place of the oil, and then used the 2 eggs. So the brownies were loaded with protein, and fiber. I used baked beans and I did rinse off the sweet, gooey brown sugar sauce, because I did not think that flavor would be a good combo with the chocolate. The results were ok. Michael did say, they didnt taste like my regular brownies, but he did eat manage to eat two of them.
Here is the simple recipe:
1 box brownie mix
1 can(10 0z) baked beans
2 eggs

puree the beans in food processor or blender, add brownie mix and eggs
mix until smooth, pour batter into a greased bake pan
bake at 350 for 20 minutes
let cool and cut into squares

Walgreens Granola

After reading all the benefits of oat a few weeks ago, I am trying to include oats in my diet very often. A great easy and healthy snack is oats and the easiest way to eat oats is in granola. I usually make my granola with brown sugar, but decided to try honey instead, and the granola came out great! Sweet nutty flavor, but not too sugary sweet
The proces is a bit laborsome, but the results are worth it!

Ingredients:
6 cups rolled oats $1.20
1/3 cup oil
3/4 honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon .02
salt .02
1/2 cup walnuts $1.20
1/2 cup cranberries .50
1/2 cup raisins .50

heat oil in honey in a pan or microwave
mix into oats, cinnamon, making sure oats are thoroughly coated
bake at 350 for 45 minutes, tossing in pan every 15 minutes
add walnuts, bake another 15 minutes, remove from oven, pour into another baking pan, and let sit atleast an hour
add fruit and store in a airtight container