Have you tried this? January 4, 2012

Check out yesterday’s post as the reviews on last nights meal are in……….

I have been trying to adapt a diet of less processed food, less dairy, and cut down big time on red meat.  I have broken out my bread machine again to really control what goes into my bread and have recently found this wonderful spread.  It is from Target, a little pricey but worth every penny!   I have eaten it for lunch smeared on the homemade bread.  It is perfect and the only ingredients are Almonds, Peanuts, Cashews and Sea Salt.

Mom just came by with some leftover turkey from one that she made earlier in the week.  That has given me the chance to try a leftover turkey quesadilla recipe that I came across while I was resting the knee.  And, anytime I can support my local cranberry grower, I am in!  I got the recipe from Green Lite Bites.  You can find the info there! (  I know I said less dairy, but I LOVE  Gouda!!)

No one is on to the little experiment yet, will let you know how they like this.

Dinner Experiment! January 3, 2012

Over the break we took the family to our ski condo in Vermont to get our snow fix and do some much needed burning of the Christmas calories on the slopes.  Although New England has been given less than a wonderful snow fall from Mother Nature, the conditions at Sugarbush quickly improved with a surprise 12 inches of new powder.  Very excited for the conditions,we skied and skied.  My second day, my knees had other plans when the left one decided to dislocate.  Getting down the mountain was tricky and the rest of the day was spent in the bar drowning my sorrows and chatting to nice folks around me.

So,needless to say the rest of my time was spent on the couch back at the condo.  Icing and ibuprofen helped but after the third Law and Order rerun, I was ready to go crazy!  That was then I grabbed my iPhone and downloaded the Pinterest app.  Well that was all I needed, I was hooked.  Exploring new blogs and sites, I was drawn to the food and drink section and loved finding all the new recipes that everyone had pinned.

So that my time on the couch goes without  guilt or wasted time,  have decided to try at least 5 new recipes every week on my family and friends and let you all know how we like them.  I have not told them yet, so we will see how long it takes for them to realize things are different!

I hope to choose healthy, low processed food that everone will enjoy!

Tonight we have Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas cooking up as we speak.  I got the recipe from skinnytaste.com

you can find all the details here

THE REVIEWS ARE IN:  Three and a half of the 5 diners found the dish wonderful.  Our 5 year old ate most but thought it was a little spicy for him.  Our son’s guest who joined us,   just pushed the soup around and claimed he was “full”.  My husband,my 10 year old and myself declare this recipe a “keeper”  I hope you enjoy if you do try it.  If you want it less spicy, try leaving out the chili in Adobo.

My First Contest for YOU!!!!! March 22, 2010

As you might have read earlier, I entered a contest with the canned good alliance and was so pleased to have learned that I was one of the top 10 winners!  Wahoo- I never win anything so of course I am psyched!  The best thing is that with winning, I can offer a contest WITH PRIZE to you- my viewers!  Love that!

So, here is what you need to do-  View the following video with the link on the side or here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNZr0JajfBA .

“After, share a fact that you learned from viewing the video, and post a recipe of your own.  Everyone has a “go to” recipe and it probably has  canned foods as one of the ingredients.

The winning recipe will receive a $25 gift certificate.

So please watch the video and post your recipe Contest ends 3/28

Happy Viewing and check out my winning recipe here http://thecapecodwoman.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/canned-food-to-the-rescue/

Canned food to the rescue! February 23, 2010

I love this recipe and make it quite often for the family and for pot luck suppers. I was prompted to post it today from a challenge from Twittermoms and Canned Food Alliance. After watching the canned food alliance video (see link on the side or click on previous link), I was inspired, as all the ingredients that they highlight in their video, are included in this yummy and super quick chili recipe.

Beans are super healthy and have so many health benefits, it is a wonder why we don’t eat then everyday!  And canned veggies like tomatoes found in the salsa are picked at their peak and canned immediately to retain their nutritional value and taste.  With the garden yeilding it’s crop many months from now, it is silly not to incorporate more canned veggies and beans into your everyday dishes!  Get creative, it is bound to be delicious!

This is  always a quick last-minute meal always that commands rave reviews!

Not my original  recipe and with only three ingredients, it is hard to change.  This is the recipe for zippy chili (from Trader Joes)

1 pound ground meat (turkey, chicken, beef- I have even used a meatloaf mix if I have one in the freezer)

2 jars or cans of your favorite salsa

2 cans of TraderJoes Marinated Bean Salad (red beans, chick peas, brown)

Brown the meat, pour off the fat, and then open the cans of salsa and bean salad and add it to the meat.  Heat through.

(If you don’t have a tjs near you, you could make the bean salad from the countless recipes on the net….just an added step)

Typically, I don’t even need to serve this chili with any cheese or tortilla chips it is so go on it’s own….but you could if you wanted to.

Will post a photo the next time I make this…….enjoy and let me know if you do!

The Best Banana Bread! February 18, 2010

Bananas ready for bread

I swear my family lets the last three or so bananas to really ripen so they can get their fix of this wonderful banana bread.  It is truly my go to recipe for banana bread.  Originally found in Cooking Light, I have made my few adjustments.  It typically takes an hour or more to bake and the smells of it baking are worth every second!  Enjoy!

1 cup of sugar ( little less if more bananas are used)

1/4 cup of light butter softened

1 and 2/3 cups ripe bananas mashed (about 3 but I have used more)

1/4 cup fat-free milk

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream

2 large egg whites

2 cups ap flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat 350 degrees

Combine sugar and butter in a bowl and mix with a beater until blended.  Add banana, milk, sour cream, and egg whites and beat well.

Add dry ingredients and beat well.

Pour into a loaf pan and cook for 1 hour 10 minutes or until the center comes out clean when poked with a knife.

The added bonus is all the wonderful compost fodder as spring is approaching and the garden will be beckoning soon!

Compost fodder

Panera you will be the death of me. January 13, 2010

So, every once in a while I get a variety of Panera bread from a friend.

Bagels, cheese bread, chocolate stuffed croissants and the like.  I have a really hard time telling the person who offers it to me “NO”.  So I accept and usually put it in the freezer for another day.  Hoping I will forget that I even have it there!

Well, folks today was that day.  I took out two bagels (two of my favorites- Asiago cheese and plain) and a loaf of bread to have with tonight’s dinner.  Well, I justified the Asiago cheese bagel I had  for lunch, as I had just done one hour of torture at the gym.  I deserved it….right?

Well, it has been so cold and dreary here and I know I heard the plain bagel calling me- “you have yummy homemade strawberry jam in the fridge….how  good would we taste together?”  I swear I heard it calling.  So, no less than 2 hours after consuming the Asiago bagel, the plain one covered in homemade jam was gone too.

Now, this whole thing started when I took the loaf of bread out to go with tonight’s dinner and I am sure that it doesn’t surprise you that I ate 2 slices of that too.

I already feel all the bread products settling to my thighs.  I think I can see a bagel on both buttocks.

The good thing is that  all the bread is  gone and I won’t have to worry about this until my friend propositions me again.  God give me strength!  I am off to the gym in the AM.

My Thighs are KILLING Me! January 5, 2010

Happy 2010 and after much indulgence and laziness that was December, I headed back to gym.  As the kiddos headed back to school (complaining all the way and trying to negotiate at least ONE more day off), I headed to the punishment hour.

Boy, did she make us pay for the absence!  She exclaimed after the 1,000th lunge that her resolution was to have no mercy on us this year and work us hard!  Yikes!  What have I got myself into??

So with my abs on fire and my thighs threatening  to refuse to get up, let alone climb any stairs, I have decided to start this blog from my home on Cape Cod and share with you all that is Cape Cod and hearty New England!  Heck it’s cold outside and I’m  not going anywhere, my thighs are killing me,  I can’t get up….so why not!!  Welcome to The Cape Cod Woman!