Tag Archives: recipe

It was one of those days last week. Tired. Not much in the fridge. An un-seasoned pork roast was in the meat drawer. I had bought at a great price a few days before not once considering how I would cook it. What I did know, is that it was the only defrosted protein available for dinner that night. Had to cook it.
The veggie drawer didn’t offer much of a selection to use as ingredients. However, the kitchen counter produce bowl was holding a few onions and a sweet potato. My mind starting clicking. At this point I had a 2lb pork roast, 1 large onion and 1 medium sweet potato and about half a box of beef broth that I had opened a few days before.
The ingredients were certainly reminding me of a pot roast I like to make – although sweet potato was different …

Pinch me or Kiss me because I married Irish! I’m a Murphy! A nice big slice of Irish Soda Bread is necessary St. Patrick’s Day or any other day you’re in the mood for delicious bread!
In our home we go all out with a dinner of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes with big slices of Irish Soda Bread to nibble on throughout the day.  I also made some fantastic green popcorn too!
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish Soda Bread is a yeast-free bread, that uses baking soda as the rising agent.  It is typically very dry and engulfed by raisins or currants. There are loads of variations throughout Ireland and many countries have their take on this bread
This year I opted for Ida Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, as she has never failed me.  Her recipe is very simple and delicious.  I made 2 changes, which I highlight below.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent – the 40 days of reflection leading to Easter Sunday by Christians worldwide. Roman Catholics additionally share their reverence by fasting Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstaining from eating meat on all Fridays during Lent.
Time to pull out the seafood and pasta dishes for the next 7 Fridays!  To help you along, I want to share a delicious meat-free pasta dish that is a childhood favorite of my husband.  It’s easy. It’s healthy. It’s yummy. It’s perfect during Lent!  I did share it once before as part of a weekly menu plan, so you might have read it from me before.

1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 box of pasta – penne is the favorite for this dish here!
3 tbsp of olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup of grated parmesan (tastes much better if this is …

The Super Bowl is approaching, and March Madness will be here before you know it.  Chips and dips will be covering our coffee tables as we feed the sports fanatics in our homes.  Using a large can of chopped chicken, such as the Hormel Chunk Chicken (a pantry staple in our home,) plus a few additional ingredients you can easy have a crowd pleaser, even if their favorite team is losing. Try adding it to a spinach artichoke dip or a Mexican Layer Dip. Delicious!

This spread is a sport fan favorite.  It was originally shared to me by my cousin, who had adapted it from another cousin.  Yes, it’s one of those that’s been around the block and keeps getting better! When I 1st had it at her home a few months ago, I was so excited to make it myself.  It was one of those dips that I want …

In our quest to live healthier lives in 2012, a good, new recipe is always needed.
This is a 20 minute meal that’s so healthy, easy & delicious you’ll want to make it once a week. Because I use thin sliced chicken breast and tent my dish, this meal takes just 20 minutes and is delicious every single time. I love a little extra lemon so sometimes I add a little more to the recipe but feel free to put your spin on this recipe to call it your own.
Ingredients: 
Chicken (4 or 5 thin sliced breasts)
Lemons (3)
Capers (1/4 cup)
Sea Salt (to taste)
Fresh Ground Pepper (to taste)
Heat your oven to 425 F. Arrange your thin sliced chicken breast in a medium baking dish. Cut two lemons into 1/4 inch slices and completely cover your chicken breast. Squeeze the juice of one lemon over your chicken and lemon slices. Don’t worry about the pulp, it …

Fresh local produce is something a Smart Mama LOVES!  I’m sure you all agree!  Whether you’re at a local farmer’s market, partake in a farm-share or have a great produce department at your grocery store, the freshness of good produce is something we all want for our families.

My near 5 year old has developed a recent fascination with red peppers.  I need to jump on this before the fascination turns to disgust like asparagus did last month.  (I’m sure I’m not the only mother dealing with a stubborn eater!)  This locally grown veggie is great at summertime.  It’s perfect for grilling, adding to kabobs and including in salads.

As we transition from summertime schedules to the school routine, I continue to look for recipes that are not only are healthy and easy to make, but they must be yummy too. During a recent trip to Publix Isabella had a blast …

Another great slow-cooker YUMMY recipe for back to school days!  I adapted this recipe from EatingWell.com.  It tastes great with a serving of brown rice and salad.  My daughter, the picky eater, LOVED it.  The chicken comes out moist, which is a challenge for many of us when making chicken.  Leftovers taste great, too.  I served a thigh and the sauce on top of salad greens and it was great.

As we get ready for the crazy back to school schedule, we need to stack our decks.  We need to have plans in place to increase our chance of success.  The slow cooker is a busy Smart Mama’s friend!  It can be the sous chef that we have always longed for.  Dedicating often less than 15 minutes, a Smart Mama can get dinner organized during nap time, while kids are in school or even before they wake up!

The slow cooker cooks dinner throughout the day, giving you time to do the other millions of things on your to-do list!  As we begin this school year, I hope to share meals that are both easy and yummy, perfectly inline with a Smart Mama’s needs and appetites!

My opportunity as a Hormel Extended Family Blogger is inspiring a little Iron Chef for Smarty Pants Mamas this week!  Let’s try using an ingredient that is often a pantry staple.  It’s used “as-is.”  It’s used in appetizers, entrees and more.  Think of ways you have or could use it.
So, this week I put before you…. Hormel® Chili with Beans!

Yummy! How can you use it?
Here’s my favorite way (compliments of my step-mother-in-law) of using it in a quick and easy appetizer!

It’s always a crowd pleaser and a staple anytime the guys are watching the game! Many variations can be found of this dip.  Maybe you have your own.
Mexi-Melt of Beans
Ingredients

1 can of Hormel® Chili with Beans (without beans if you prefer)
1 box of cream cheese
1 package of shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 325, or have microwave ready.  In an oven-safe/microwave-safe medium …

Lawhorn’s Signature Seasoning
This family owned and operated business (lawhorns.net) has put together a delicious seasoning blend perfect for chicken, steak, pork, seafood and pretty much anything else that would appreciate a great bold flavor!  Believe me, we tried it!
I began with 4 chicken legs placed in a 9×13 glass dish.  I sprinkled the seasoning liberally over each piece.

I even pulled the skin back to get the seasoning really “in there.”
I baked it in the oven at 425 for about 50 minutes. The aroma in the house as it baked made us drool!  The cooked chicken looked, smelled and tasted fantastic!  It had the right amount of kick to it!

You can find Lawnhorn’s Signature Seasoning at many grocery stores. It can also be purchased online.
Disclosure: A bottle of the product was provided for review purposes. All opinions …

I welcome Karen Boykin of  www.lacabezagrande.com as a guest writer this week!  You may remember her delicious sounding suggestion of making Chilaquiles when I asked readers to suggest ways to use leftover taco meat.  Her idea is a perfect use of pantry staples, that’s nutritious too!
Karen plans on devoting part of her blog to fresh food and cooking, as she’s in the process of a diet and lifestyle makeover.
Liven Up Those Leftovers!

Stretch your food budget too, with this Mexican-style recipe, suitable for breakfast, lunch or a hearty snack. They’re called chilaquiles and they’re made in a variety of ways with tortilla chips or corn tortillas – either as fried strips or layered whole, like lasagna. The toppings are up to the cook. The one thing they have in common is that they are an inexpensive use of leftovers, combined with staples that …

Using leftovers can be a challenge.  Serving them the same way can often be a bore. Earlier this week I made tacos for dinner, feeding my husband, father in law, 4 ½ year old & myself.  The 2 pounds of ground beef proved to be much more than we needed.
Does that ever happen to you?  Maybe it is an intentional extra vat of ground beef, chicken or shrimp that you make in hopes of using a portion for a future meal.  Other times it’s more of a woops, where you really overestimated the tummy sizes of your dinner guests!
Thank you to the fabulous readers of SmartyPantsMama.com, I have a great list of ways to use the taco meat (ground beef) leftovers!  What do you think of the list?  Which leftover creation would be 1st on your list?
1.  Katie suggested…

to add it to beans and make chili. …

In an effort to have enough taco meat to feed 3 adults and 1 hungry child I made 2 lbs of taco meat for last night’s dinner.  Lots of tacos were eaten…soft and hard, plus a yummy taco salad filled my plate!  After all tummies were full I realized that I overestimated the amount of taco meat (ground beef) that would be consumed.  With a little less than a pound of seasoned taco meat sitting in a storage container in the fridge, I’m left figuring out how to use it for tomorrow night’s dinner – and it CAN’T be TACOS!
Please use the comment form below to submit ideas for using leftover taco meat!  I will share the ideas in an upcoming post, being certain to give you each credit!
THANK YOU to all the great responses!  See here for a awesome list of ways to use leftover …

Well I’m a Smart Mama of 2 now!  This week we start our postpartum healthy eating routine!  Gone are the days of endless bowls of ice cream, chips and dip and spoonfuls of peanut butter!  Tom has been a great pregnant spouse…he put on weight as I did throughout the last 9 months!
Our 1st phase of returning to normal, healthy eating begins with dinners this week.  We’ve decided to try a different SkinnyTaste.com recipe each day, as we have learned through experience that her recipes are always delicious and healthy.  I began by looking through the circulars to see what the protein deals were for the week, (chicken, pork chops and shrimp) and I searched throughout Skinny Taste for recipes to use our proteins!
Monday:
Pork Chops with Dijon Herb Sauce
Pork chops are one of our favorites and there’s nothing like a good …

I’m exhausted.  Yes, as a mommy of a newborn (just 9 days old) and a 4 1/2 year old my energy and time on hand is very limited!  Dinner these next few weeks must be simple and not complicated.  I’m also trying not to break the bank by ordering out every night – you know that is what I really want!
Monday was the 1st day of really being a stay at home mom of 2.  My husband was off at work.  I had the girls, with one at least in school for half the day.  I picked up the house, I napped and enjoyed my girls!  Again, with limited time I needed to cook up the London Broil that we bought over the weekend at Target.  I needed an easy recipe, one with limited ingredients and steps.  I searched and came across some great ones but …

This Smart Mama household is now plus one more!  We’re now officially Smarty Pants Mama & Dada plus 2!  Last week we welcomed the latest addition to our family, Baby Cecilia!
Cabin fever set in right away, as I found myself going from a few days in the hospital for the birth to the next days cooped up indoors keeping the baby in a clean environment.  My husband took over most of the shopping as I wrote out list after list of things he needed to get each time he went out.  I was so jealous.  I wanted to go up and down the aisles myself!  Thankfully Nana & Lolo came to my rescue by babysitting on Saturday for just the amount of time we needed to escape.  We had very limited time – an hour max my mom requested so we knew we had to shop smart.  …

It’s been some time!  Here’s our yummy menu for the week!  Please understand that I’m nearly 35 weeks pregnant so my cravings are in full force!
Monday:
Pollo Tete
I’ve shared this recipe a few years ago.  It was given to me by 2 cousins at my bridal shower.  They each wrote up the recipe not knowing their sister was writing up the same one to share with me.  It’s that easy and good!  I’m serving it with rice and sautéed zucchini.
Recipe:  http://smartypantsmama.com/2008/04/free-for-me-friday-yummy-chicken/
Tuesday
Skillet Chicken Nachos
I subscribe to the Betty Crocker Dinner Made Easy newsletter.  This past weekend a recipe for Chicken Nachos popped up.  I haven’t stopped thinking about them since!  (pregnancy mind!)
Recipe:  http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/skillet-chicken-nachos/9bf0c3be-09dd-4b1b-8cf4-a9cfa979b232?WT.dcsvid=MzI1ODgzNTg5MAS2&rvrin=34BA3A72-8369-4CFC-A090-F58ECF284E25&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_DME_04_10_2011
Wednesday
Braised Pork Chops with Mushroom & Onions
Here’s another recipe I received at my shower.  Another one that’s super easy and yummy!

2 tsp. olive oil
2 large onions, halved & sliced thin
1 …

I love trying new recipes.  Most of you have learned that about me.  I especially like recipes that are not only yummy, but fairly easy to follow.
On a recent trip to Publix, my local supermarket, I used my SmartPhone, to find a recipe for pork that I found on sale.  (You also know I love to buy things on sale!)  Now, I do use my phone a lot when I shop.  I have several recipe apps that are great resources when I’m trying to figure out what on earth to make for dinner that week.  The app I used on this visit was a little more unique than the standard recipe databases.  This recipe collection, Hormel EZCook made my “what can I do with this pork” dilemma end in seconds.

This web-based application, accessed at http://m.hormelEZcook.com showed me a list of Hormel …

Week of February 14, 2011
It’s Valentine’s Week!  Yes, we are already in the middle of the 2nd month of the year!  Wow, time is flying by!  Below is the menu I’ll be cooking and serving this week.  Yesterday during breakfast we discussed as a family what we were each in the mood for this week.  The menu is a compilation of everyone’s requests!  Let me know which recipes you try!  I really hope some of you try out the homemade pizza for Friday.  It actually has you make the dough and all!  We did it about a month ago and it came out delicious!
Monday: Happy Valentine’s Day! My big valentine picked Country Style Ribs and my little valentine picked corn!  I’ll serve the ribs with some basic roasted potatoes and corn on the cob!
Ribs recipe:  http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/bbq-country-style-ribs/Detail.aspx
Tuesday
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Of course a SkinnyTaste.com recipe has to …

Below is this week’s dinner menu at this Smart Mama home.  This week is a little crazy in the here, we’re moving!  Not far, just 4 miles away…but honestly the distance isn’t the challenge; it’s the packing, moving and unpacking. Add to the situation that I’m 5 months pregnant making it a wee bit more of a pain!  So here’s the menu, taking in mind that we are cleaning out our cupboards, fridge and freezer with this week’s recipe!
Week of January 31, 2011
Monday:
Pork tenderloin, Cuban black beans and rice
Pork recipe: I’m making life easy with this one.  I’m going to season the pork with salt, pepper, lime and onion and bake it at 425° for 25-30 minutes.
UPDATE:
Just finished eating our dinner tonight and the pork came out delicious! I ended up adding a diced onion, juice of half a lemon, a little olive oil …

Below is the dinner menu at this Smart Mama home this week.  I typically do this each Sunday night, but last night I was a bit distracted with the football games.  I have found pre planning each week’s dinner menu saves me time throughout the week.  I hit the grocery on Mondays to purchase the items that I need to complete the dishes.  I also let my husband and daughter pick two of the night dishes.  This week my husband asked for hamburgers & macaroni & cheese (not together) for my daughter.
Here’s the menu with links to the recipe I’ll use.
Week of January 24, 2011
Monday: Hamburgers with caramelized onions, corn and Mashed Maple Squash (I’m using delicata squash)
Squash recipe:  http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mashed_maple_squash.html
Tuesday
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
This is a friend’s recipe that is super simple.  I actually made it last week and had so much leftover that I …

I know you want to stay warm with the cold weather that is approaching across the nation!  Here is a delicious YUMMY recipe that is sure to warm up tummies in your home!
Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 cups chopped red pepper
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can black eyed peas, rinsed
1 can kidney beans, rinsed
1 cup quick cooking barley
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cayenne
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans stewed tomatoes

Directions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add onion, garlic & red pepper.  Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables start to soften.  Add remaining ingredients.  Cook for 20 minutes and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you would love to share with Smart Mama readers?  Please email SmartyPantsMama@gmail.com to learn how to be a guest poster!

Seafood during pregnancy, it’s considered a must by many OBs. What does your doctor say?
What a week it has been!  We found ways in this Smarty Pants Mama household to include seafood in 2 dinners, plus a few lunches!  My daughter even tried, and enjoyed scallops for the first time!  We are told by experts in nutrition and health that seafood consumption in an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  I want to continue to encourage each of you to include 12 ounce of seafood in your diet each week.  Most importantly, I want you to instill these healthy, nutritious eating habits in your children.  Fish sticks and shrimp cocktail shouldn’t be the only seafood served.
Please be sure to review  the “A Seafood Lover’s Guide to Eating during Pregnancy” that has been put together by The Perinatal Nutrition Working Group, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies and the National Fisheries Institute. It …

As we each continue to Delve into 12 this week, attempting to consume 12 ounces of seafood, I wanted to share a favorite taco recipe. This recipe, as well as many others, are part of the awesome Delve into 12 gift basket that will offered as a giveaway next week! Be sure to share a comment to let me know that you are taking on the challenge!
Tasty Tilapia Tacos
Ingredients

2 lbs fresh tilapia fillets
8-12 whole wheat soft tortillas
1/4 cup of olive oil

Sauce

1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded
1/2 cup plan low fat yogurt
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1 avocado, pit removed & sliced
1 tsp fresh lime juice

Toppings

Shredded cabbage
Salsa
Fresh lime wedges

Directions

Combine cilantro and jalapenos in a food processor.  Mix until coarsely chopped.
Add yogurt, sour cream, avocado and lime juice.  Blend until smooth.  Keep this sauce refrigerated until need.
Brush tilapia fillets with olive oil and grill over medium …

Fish Tacos, Ceviche, Tuna Salad, Baked Halibut, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Pasta with Shrimp…all are delicious.  Do you make them?  Are they ever part of your family’s weekly menu?  Do you know that many of these meals take as much time and often less time that the traditional spaghetti and meatballs or chicken nuggets? Yet, each of these seafood dishes provides us with a bountiful amount of vitamins and minerals without overdoing it on the calories.  As Smart Mamas we need to make sure to incorporate seafood dishes into the daily menu of our children and ourselves.  12 ounces a week is the recommendation by many leading nutritional authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, The Perinatal Nutrition Working Group and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.  They each recommend that pregnant women, women who are planning to become pregnant, nursing mothers, and very young children to eat 12 …

Are you wondering what is Hood Simply Smart Milk?  I was.  Here’s what I found out:
Hood found an innovative, natural technique called ultra filtration to remove some of the water that makes lowfat milk look and taste watery.  The result is simply delicious milk rich in nutrition and taste.  Simply Smart: All the taste, without all the fat.
Not bad. Right? Many of us love milk and most of us use it in cooking. But the skim milk we typically drink does not provide the proper consistency that we need in recipes.  Secondly, the skim milk, well it tastes like skim milk; milk that has been watered down to be of the desired calorie and fat content.  Hood has felt our yearning for the richer tasting milk that we all drank once upon a time; with its Simply Smart milk products.  Simply Smart Fat Free, 1% and Fat …