Beef Barley Soup

This is my favorite soup and I don't know if I've already put it on here, but I want to make it over Thanksgiving.

1 lb stew meat
2 T oil
4 cans beef broth
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 T parsley
1/2 c pearl barley
1 1/2 c chopped carrots
1/4 c chopped onions
1/2 c chopped celery
1 can diced tomatoes
1 c frozen peas

 Brown meat in oil.  Place meat, broth, tomatoes, seasoning and barley in pot.  Cover and cook for 1 hour.  Add veggies.  Simmer 45 minutes and add peas.  Cook until peas are done.

Homemade Fajitas

This meal was amazing.  It totally hit the spot.  I told Brett this will be a weekly meal because it was that good.  The tortillas were the best part.  And the salsa.

Homemade Tortillas

2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oil (I used coconut oil...and I think I used a little less than 1/2 c.)
1 tsp salt
1 c. warm water (microwaved 1 min)

Mix flour, oil and salt.  Add warm water as it's mixing.  Separate into 12 pieces.  Roll it out really thin into a circle that will fit your frying pan.  Put it on a already warm/hot frying pan.  The first time I let it sit til it was firm.  Mistake.  Keep flipping it over and over just until it's firmed up a bit.  Too long and it will get hard once its cooled.

1 lb chicken
1 green pepper
1 onion

Cut up the veggies and chicken into strips and stir fry them.  Add cumin. (1/2 tsp?)

Salsa:

3 ripe tomatoes
1 jalapeno pepper (I didn't add any seeds)
handful of cilantro
1/2 red onion
dash of salt

Mix it all up.  I could eat this by the spoonfuls.  Actually, I sure as heck did.

Serve with avocado, cheese, sour cream.

Yum yum yum.

Scones and Icing

My friend made these and they were so good. Not healthy, but delicious.

2 T. yeast
1 qt. buttermilk-warmed
3 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
2 eggs-beaten
3 t. baking powder
2 t. oil
1/2 t. baking soda
8-9 c. flour
Soften yeast in 1/4 c. water and a little sugar. In large bowl, combine everything except half of flour. Beat until smooth. Add rest of flour until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Allow to rise. Punch down and put in fridge until ready to eat. Roll out on counter, cut in small rectangles and fry in hot oil.
**My own note: I let the yeast soften for an hour or so, until it's spilling over the side. I also let the dough rise a long time. They turn out the best this way. If you wanted to have them for dinner I'd start them at about 2PM that day.

Honey Butter
1 c. butter1 1/4 c. honey
Mix with electric mixer until smooth.

Maple Icing
1 package powdered sugar or 4 cups1/4 c. hot water (sometimes a little more depending on smoothness)3 T. butter2 t. maple flavoring or Mapeline Extract

Healthy Snacks

These are my two new favorite snacks.  Seriously, the best.

Red Pepper Feta Dip


1 red pepper
1/2 onion
Tbsp garlic
1/4 c feta cheese + a little more for sprinkling
Oil
Sliced cucumber

1. Dice up red pepper and onion into tiny pieces.  Add garlic and cook with oil until soft/onion is clear.
2.  Add in feta cheese and let it melt.
3. Remove from heat, sprinkle some more feta cheese so it becomes soft but not melted.

Dip sliced cucumber and enjoy!  You could use pita bread, or chips or whatever you want, but cucumbers make it delicious and 100% healthy.

Microwave Popcorn

Did you know you can cook popcorn using a brown paper bag?  How did I not know this until last week??

First try I put 1/2 c kernels in a brown paper bag and set it for 2 min.  They popped so much that the bag ripped open from being so full before the time was even up.

Second try, 1/4 c kernels for 2 min.  Burnt.

Third try, somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 c kernels for 2 min.  Perfection.

Sprinkle some garlic salt, or some EVOO and salt, whatever you want.  It's healthy and easy and delicious.

Harvest Soup

1 Tbs. oil
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, seeded and cut into 1 inch cubes (about 3.5 cups)
2 medium apples, cored and cut into .5 inch pieces
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
Whole rain croutons

1) In a big pot, heat oil on medium. Add carrots, celery, and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender and starting to brown. Add squash, apples, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until squash is tender.
2) Puree soup, in two batches if needed, in a blender or food processor. Add pepper and croutons. Makes about 6 cups.

White Chicken Chili

1 lb chicken breast, chopped
1 med onion chopped
2-3 red or  1 sweet potato cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 c carrots chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 T oil
___
2 cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chicken broth
2 cans diced green chiles
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
__
1 c sour cream
1/2 c whipping cream

Saute first section.  Add section (starting with beans).  Bring to light boil and cook till potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes.  Before serving add sour cream and whipping cream.

Delicious.

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

These are yummy!

4 T honey ( My friend said she puts a little more)
3 T lime juice
1 T oil
2 tsp chili powder (it does have a kick to it)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 can mild green enchilada sauce
1-2 lbs cooked chicken, shredded
cheese (she didn't say what kind, but hers was white)
tortillas

Mix honey, lime juice, oil, chili powder and garlic powder.  Then add shredded chicken.  Fill tortillas with chicken mixture, add cheese and roll up.  Put a tiny layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan before placing tortillas.  After all tortillas are filled and in the pan, cover the enchiladas with the enchilada sauce.  Bake covered about 30 minutes at 350.  Uncover and sprinkle cheese over top, return to oven uncovered to melt the cheese.


Does anyone have a favortie green enchilada sauce??