Taco Bake

Some days, I make something, and even though I'm plenty full, the flavor is SO amazing I want seconds..and thirds...and then maybe lick the spoon while cleaning it all up. I know I'm not the only one ;-) 

This...is one of those meals...for me, anyway! 

My cravings are psycho from one day to the next, and today it was taco casserole. Problem? I'm not gonna do my usual packages crescent roll recipe.

Off to cyber land to find a perf recipe!

(How DID people live before online recipe search anyway?)

And, because things are super easy to find online, this was in the oven (recipe below with all my modifications) within a half hour of initial craving onset. Dinner at 4? Sure, why not! 

Taco Casserole 

Crust:

4oz cream cheese

3 eggs

1/3 cup cream

1 tsp taco seasoning

Butter

Shredded cheese

Blend cream cheese and eggs together well. Add cream and taco seasoning and mix again. Grease a 9x13 with butter and sprinkle an even layer of shredded cheese on bottom of pan. Top with cream cheese mixture. Bake on 350 for a half hr. 

Meanwhile:

Brown 1lb ground beef with 1 chopped onion

Stir in:

1 cup pizza sauce

4tsp taco seasoning

Drizzle of milk or cream

Evenly spread on baked crust mixture. Top with some shredded cheese and return to oven for 15/20 min or until bubbly.

Serve with: 

Green onion

Tomato

Sour cream

Avocado

Shredded lettuce

Etc

Lunch tomorrow? I think yes! :-) 

My fav between meals shake

Seems like many days I'm hungry before its even time to eat. Pregnancy thing maybe? But I don't want food, not really! I want something quick to hold me off until lunch because usually I have something yummy in mind that I actually want to EAT. But, what to do about that hunger while I'm vacuuming, or swapping laundry? Enter: this quick shake.

It's pretty basic, nothing fancy or amazingly to die for creamy, but its good, filling, and tides me over perfectly :-) 

My Fav Quick Shake

1/2 cup rice milk

1 cup water

1/3 cup blueberries

2 scoops protein powder

Dash of almond and vanilla extract

1/2 juiced lemon

1/4tsp glucomannan (thickens shake and gives you a good, solid full feeling) 

Sweetener of choice

Ice cubes

Blend and enjoy! 

Coconut Crepes w/ cottage berry whip and berry sauce

This morning was a crepe morning. 

My kids have never had them, I was craving them, and Craig loves them.

Yep, it was a crepe morning. 

The slight tang of lemon, with the tart of berries and the creaminess of cottage whip was unbeatable! 

I claim zero credit for the berry syrup and the cottage whip. I found them on other blogs and will link their original recipe with my own tweaks.

Something so satisfying about a good, wholesome breakfast...knowing my kids ate well and will be full for hours? Makes

my heart smile :-) 

Of course, crepes are a time consuming breakfast to make unless you're amazingly fab and have tons of pans, but I don't :-) 

Pancakes for regular life, crepes on special occasions..like when we all sleep until 8 or something. Cause for celebration indeed!! 

Coconut Lemon Crepes (makes 8 small, double for bigger servings)

6 eggs

1 1/2 tsp coconut oil

1 Tbsp cream

4 Tbsp coconut flour

1 tsp truvia or desired sweetener

4 drops lemon essence oil

Two pinches lemon zest 

1-2 Tbsp almond, rice, or dairy milk for thinning 

Blend all ingredients until frothy on top. 

Preheat nonstick pan on medium heat and lightly spritz with oil. Drop 3 or so Tbsp on pan and swirl to fill. Cook about one minute and gently flip. Cook other side 30 seconds-1min until done. Fill with whip, roll, and top with berry syrup. ( links below) 

These aren't all that fabulous cold, but sure are amazing warm!! 

Berry Syrup http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/sugar-free-berry-syrup-recipe/

My addition was 1 cup of cranberries, a few pinches of lemon zest, and half a lemon juiced instead of the oil.

Berry whip

http://www.growinghomeblog.com/2013/05/cottage-berry-whip.html?m=1

My addition was once again, half a lemon juiced and a few pinches of zest. What can I say, I'm on a mass lemon kick. Blame it on baby Ian! He makes me crave things ;-) 

Child approved, even on pancakes!!!!

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken

I was super excited to see a friend share a dish the other day that she just came up with on the fly. 

I absolutely had to make and share it, with a few of my own tweaks added.

Seriously, family approved goodness right here folks! 

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken

2-3 chicken breasts, cubed small

Broth

Two heads broccoli chopped up

6-7 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (I had lite)

Tbsp minced garlic (or less if you're not a big garlic fan)

1 tsp onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Quinoa prepared in broth 

In a large pan simmer cubed chicken in a bit of broth. Drain. Roast chopped broccoli in an oven preheated to 425 until toasty golden tipped. Add to chicken with cheese, garlic, and onion powder. Stir well and salt and pepper to taste. Serve over quinoa. This made enough to feed my li'l family of five with leftovers...amazing! 

Pan Fried Quinoa

I've been pinteresting it up like crazy lately finding quick and easy meals.

Tonight's was totally awesome.

We loved it! Of course, I never seem to be able to follow a recipe exactly, so I will link where the inspiration came from, and post my own version :-)

Such a great way to get a complete protein and veg without it being a super heavy meal!

Pan Fried Quinoa

4 cups already cooked quinoa (always better to use day old..)
1 sweet onion
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic
1 cup frozen peas
4 stems green onion, chopped
2 eggs
1/2 cup chicken stock
2-3 Tbsp rice vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Soy sauce or liquid amino to taste

In large saucepan, combine chicken stock, rice vinegar, onion, and carrot. Sauté uncovered until tender. Add peas, garlic, and green onion. Sauté a minute longer. Add quinoa and heat thru. Push quinoa mix off to the side of the pan and break in eggs. Scramble and incorporate into quinoa mix.
Salt, pepper, and soy sauce or amino to taste.
That's it! This made quite a big portion which is fabulous, because tomorrow I'm eating leftovers cold in lettuce wraps :-)

Inspiration