Beef, Squash & Maple Stew

Ingredients:

3 cups diced stewing beef
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup large diced butternut squash
1/2 cup large diced carrot
1/2 cup large diced white turnip
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup apple cider (I just used apple juice)
3 cups beef stock
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp finely chopped thyme
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp grape seed oil (I used canola oil)

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat and brown the stewing beef in the pot. Add butter. Once melted, add flour, cocoa powder and mix to kind of coat the meat.

Place the beef, onions, butternut squash, carrots, turnip and thyme in the slow cooker. Add the maple syrup, apple cider and beef stock.

Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Makes 6 servings and is even better the next day.

Adapted from this non-slowcooker recipe here - Beef, Squash & Maple Stew

Split Pea Soup (Slowcooker)

Ingredients

1 (450 grams) pkg. dried green or yellow split peas
1 hambone or 2 ham (pork) hocks
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. seasoned salt or kosher salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
1 1/2 quarts hot water

Directions
Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given in the ingredient list. Pour in hot water. Do not stir.

Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Shred ham (if desired). If necessary (it usually isn't), mash peas to thicken more.

Serves 8.

Adapted from an About.com recipe ... that I can no longer find!

Chili

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef (or turkey)
1 (29 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 - 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup chili powder

Directions

1. Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and crumble.
2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours. Or combine all ingredients in a large pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1-1/2 hours.
   

Serve with sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips (yum) and corn bread on the side.

Pesto Lamb Lasagna

Modified from the Pesto Lasagna recipe in the Best of Bridge's - The Best of the West.

Tomato Sauce
1 onion, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
28 oz. can (796 ml) crushed tomatoes
500g (1 lb) ground lamb (found in a tube in the freezer section)

Pesto - Classico Basil Pesto (small jar)

Bechamel Sauce
3 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups milk

fresh lasagna sheets (uses 3)
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Brown lamb (drain). Add tomatos and onions. Simmer until thickened. Set aside.

To make the bechamel sauce: Melt butter, add flour and seasonings and stir for a few minutes. Add milk, stirring constantly. Cook slowly until thickened.

To make lasagna: Ladle 1/3 of bechamel sauce into bottom of 9"x13" pan. Then layer pasta, tomato sauce, cheese and pesto. Repeat layers and top with sliced mozzarella and grated parmesan.

Bake at 350 F. for 40 minutes. Serves 12.

Turkey Chimichangas

This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe that I've been using for years. Mark loves them as does Jacob!

Ingredients
2 spray(s) cooking spray (or 1 tsp vegetable oil)
1/2 pound(s) lean ground turkey
16 oz fat-free canned refried beans
1 3/4 cup(s) salsa
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup(s) shredded cheddar
8 large burrito-size wheat flour tortilla(s)
1 cup(s) salsa
1/2 cup(s) fat-free sour cream

Instructions
* Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Coat a 13- X 9- X 2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

* Add turkey to skillet and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from pan and then add beans, 1 3/4 cups of salsa and chili powder. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

* Assemble chimichangas by spooning about 1/2 cup of turkey mixture onto each tortilla; adding grated cheese; fold in sides and roll up.

* Place chimichangas, seam-side down, in prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, until tortillas are crisp and browned, about 20 minutes. Serve each topped with 2 tablespoons of salsa and 1 tablespoon of sour cream.

From WeightWatchers.ca

Lentil Soup with Lemon

Yum ... yum ... yum!!

I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com while searching for an easy lentil soup recipe! It's easy and really, really good! Instead of carrots, I used 1 smallish sized yam and diced it. I also scooped Jacob's serving out before I added the lemon juice.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
• 
  
• 1 (32 ounce) carton chicken broth
• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 
  
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
• 1 pinch chili powder

Directions

1. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until the onion has turned golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon of chili powder. Cook and stir 2 minutes more until the spices are fragrant.
2. Stir in the chicken broth, lentils, and carrot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 minutes.
3. Pour half of the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Do not puree all of the soup, leave it a little chunky.
4. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, then season to taste with salt. Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of chili powder to serve.

From AllRecipes.com

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos

I found this recipe originally on a site called RedKitchen.net. I don't think it's updated anymore.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans black beans
3 medium yams
2 tablespoons soy sauce
8 large tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Microwave sweet potatoes so they are cooked all the way through (or you can roast them … depends on your time). Remove from skins and mash, season with salt & pepper to taste. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large pan and saute onions and garlic until soft. Gradually stir in black beans (including all of their liquid). Add soy sauce and seasonings to taste. Simmer until liquid is reduced and beans aren't runny.

Layer sweet potato, beans, and shredded cheddar in tortillas and roll up as burritos.

Bake for 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Burritos can be individually wrapped and frozen.

Souvlaki Salad

I originally found this recipe in a magazine, Canadian House & Home, I think. But I can't find it on-line to link it!

Ingredients

2 lb chicken (or lamb), cut into bite-sized pieces

Marinade (if I don’t have a lot of time I just use the Kraft Feta & Oregano Salad Dressing)
½ cup chopped sweet onion
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
3 bay leaves, crushed
1 Tbsp dried oregano (or ¼ cup fresh)
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp dried rosemary (1 Tbsp fresh)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Olive oil for drizzling
6 pita breads
5 or 6 tomatoes (cute into bite-sized pieces)
1 cucumber (sliced & halved)
feta cheese, crumbled

Tzatziki Dressing (you can make this from scratch … or just buy it like I do!)

Directions
1. Marinade lamb / chicken. Recipe calls for overnight … I rarely have time to do it overnight!

2. Grill lamb / chicken

3. Brush pita breads with olive oil. Lightly grill, and then chop up roughly (I use kitchen shears).

4. Drizzle olive oil on plate, place chopped up pita on plate.

5. Top with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, grilled lamb/chicken, feta and tzatziki.

Serve immediately!

For a kid friendly version I make a little rice and serve the chicken, whatever vegetable he is willing to eat and the feta!

Red Lentil and Yam Curry with Warm Pita Bread

Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
Coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 ½ cups red lentils
Pita bread

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In a saucepan or kettle, bring 3 ½ cups of water to a boil.
2. In a large saucepan over high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, and 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add the sweet potato, ginger, garlic, curry powder and bay leaf and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in the boiling water and stir in the lentils. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the lentils break down and the sweet potatoes are tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Season with salt.
4. While the potatoes and lentils are cooking, wrap a stack of pita breads in a slightly damp cotton towel, and place in oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Serves 4

(from Treehugger.com)