Perfect Pot Roast

As a person who has food allergies/sensitivities I try to keep the food in our house as whole/real as possible.  So when I went in search of a pot roast recipe online I was so discouraged to see that most of them had onion soup mix or canned cream of mushroom soup.  That is when I decided to check out PDub' and see if she had anything for me.  As if I even had to ask.

If you want a no nonsense, melt in your mouth, pot roast that screams "serve me with a side of mashed taters' PLEASE" then look no further.  Check out Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast and invite the fam over for dinner just so they can praise you to the skies.

Enjoy!

Fail Proof Pork Tenderloin

Oh how I love to cook...  and eat.  :)  I just love me some good ol' fashioned cooking with real ingredients.  When I stumbled upon an awesome sale on pork tenderloin at the store I had to snatch up several and then search for some variations on how to serve them.

Check out these amazing recipes for a memorable meal:

Teriyaki pork tenderloin - I prepped this meal and just threw it in a Ziplock bag in the freezer so I can toss it in the crock pot some night for an easy meal.

Pulled pork  - great for a weekend BBQ with corn on the cob and a gathering of laughter lovin' friends.  Don't forget to serve em' up with a side of napkins, or a shirt you don't care about.  :)  To keep the recipe more real/whole if that is your conviction then whip up your own BBQ sauce and find a natural rootbeer that does not have HFCS like Blue Sky.

Roasted pork tenderloin with apples - Incredibly easy and oh so delicious.  This dish is not only beautiful it melts in your mouth.  Perfect for Sunday dinner.  Instead of Dijon mustard I used the leftover honey mustard sauce I made with our homemade chicken nuggets and brushed it on the pork loin.  YUM!


What is a tried and true recipe that gets your family running to the table?

Homemade Chicken Nuggets (bread free) and Hand Cut Fries

  by  my_amii 

I stumbled across this gem of a blog called 100 Days of Real Food.  She has a terrific recipe for Homemade Chicken Nuggets however they have bread crumbs in the recipe ( I am sensitive to yeast) so I substituted 3/4 cup raw wheat germ and 1/4 cup flour for the bread crumbs and they turned out awesome.  Drop by Lisa's blog and be encouraged at how easy it is to feed your family wholesome, real food.

Whip up some of Ellen Krieger's oven fries  to make the kiddos really smile.  :)

Happy Cookin'!

Tuna Patties with Mango, Peach, Lime, Coconut Salsa

These tasty patties are so delish... a great blend of sweet and savory.

Tuna Patties - (dairy free/egg free/yeast free due to my allergies)

3 cans tuna fish, drained
4 Tbsp canola oil mixed with 2 Tbsp water (or you can use 3 eggs)
1 1/4 cup wheat germ (any binder will work.  Cornmeal, wheat bran or bread crumbs if you can have the yeast)
1 small onion, minced
1 red pepper diced
3/4 cup Vegenaise (or you can use mayonnaise)
spices of choice ( I used dill weed, salt, pepper, and garlic)
dash of rice vinegar

Mix all of the above together in a bowl and form into patties.  Heat on warm griddle, lightly oiled, over medium heat, about 3 to 5 minutes per side or till brown on each side.

Fruit Salsa
1 ripe mango peeled and diced
1 ripe peach, diced
a handful  of shredded coconut
1 tsp of lime juice
2 pinches of dried syrian mint
stir together and serve over tuna patties or any other fish, or heck, just shovel it in your mouth and enjoy!

I served this tasty main course with a side of sweet potatoes and a garden salad.  Oh so yummy on a hot summer day.

* What is your favorite type of fish?
I love salmon - baked, fried, grilled, it's all good.  Salmon has a great texture, pretty pink color, and a nice almost smokey taste to it, plus it is a great source of omega 3 fatty acid.  I like to top our salmon with dill and lemon or a fruit salsa like the one above.

Turkey Lettuce Cups

The kiddos and I whipped up this delicious recipe this week and just HAD to share it with our favorite peeps.  Goes well with steamed veggies and a fruit salad.

   by  mealmakeovermoms 

1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp Thai fish sauce (in the ethnic food aisle of the grocery store)
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 red onion diced
3 small shallots, thinly sliced
1 and 1/2 lb ground lean turkey
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
ginger to taste
mint to taste (I used a pinch of dried)
1 head butter lettuce, separated
shredded carrot

For dressing, whisk together lime and lemon juices, fish sauce and honey.  Set aside.

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and shallots.  Cook until vegetables begin to soften (about five minutes).  Add turkey.  Cook, stirring frequently, until meat and vegetables are cooked through (about five minutes).

Add dressing to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes.  Season with salt, pepper, ginger and mint.

Divide turkey mixture among four lettuce leaves, sprinkle with shredded carrot and serve.  Mmmm.

Grampa's Famous Pizza

I love to cook up sweet memories with my crew.  Letting your children help out with meal time prep may seem like a hassle because the kitchen gets messy and it takes longer to prepare dinner but the memories being made and the lessons that are learned are priceless.

One of the things we love to cook up together is homemade pizza.  Little hands help roll and knead the dough, dimpled fingers sprinkle cheese onto the crust while sneaking a few bites.  Older children chop veggies/ meat to add for our toppings  and Mom watches little dust clouds of flour flit through the air.  Laughter is the music as we bake up memories together.  Yes the counters, and the children, get messy, but it is so worth it!  Enjoy whipping up Grandpa's famous pizza crust with your family this week.  You will find the recipe below.

Grampa's Pizza Crust

1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 Tbsp oil

2 and 1/2 cups flour (I use whole wheat)
Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Beat vigorously for 20 strokes. ( I use my kitchen-aid).  Let rest for 5 minutes.  Roll out into lightly greased pizza pans.  Then top with your choice of sauce and toppings.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!

*  I double the crust recipe and make two large pies.  I also add spices (garlic, basil, and a pinch of sugar) to my recipe and brush the crust with butter before adding sauce.


For chicken pesto pizza I added homemade pesto for the sauce, a combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, asiago, and feta for the cheeses, and topped with cooked chicken breast.  Added broccoli as well as chicken to the second pizza.  So yummy!  Serve it up with a big ol' side salad and you have a healthy meal.  Happy bakin' and memory makin'.