Spanish Rice

My husband doesn't really like rice, but he likes Spanish rice. When I made this and brought out the camera to take a picture he said that it doesn't look good, but it tastes good. Brown rice, tomato sauce, ham, and green beans.

Ham 'n' Veggie Frittata with Romesco Sauce

I loved this challenge. I did use Canadian Bacon because unfortunately I don't have any ham in my freezer, but I wish I did. I love ham. Plus I also used whole canned tomatoes that I pureed - I think that counts.

Sauce Ingredients - loved it and it can be used for lots of different things. It would be really good over some grilled chicken.

Potatoes, Asparagus, Onions, Green Beans and Ham!

Raining Today...Good day for Soup!!

Ham and Green Bean Soup!
Diced ham, green beans, pasta, carrots, onion, white beans, garlic, celery, tomatoes and some seasonings- It was really yummy and good thing too because it made a lot and I will be eating it for the next couple of days!

Healthy Drink of the Week- (which has nothing to do with the listed ingredients) SHREK JUICE!
Throw this in that life changing Vitamix!

• Kale
• Spinach
• Pineapple
• Cucumber
• Green Grapes
• Ice
  
  

Coming Soon...

Ham, green bean and onion omelet with tomato, jalapeno and cilantro salsa.

Introducing Tina Turner

Yes, her name is actually Tina Turner. I will get this out of the way so she doesn't have to explain later. Needless to say, Jarom finally won her over despite his last name.

Tina is one of those people who are sweet, super cute, and easy to like. But the more I find out about her the more I realize how truly inspiring her life really is.

Tina has a few extra challenges in her life. Her oldest two children are mentally handicapped and blind. Then, two weeks ago her third boy was diagnosed with the same eye condition that will cause him to lose his sight. Needless to say, where is a banana creme pie when you want to throw it at your trial's figurative face!!!

Anyway, I think Tina is amazing and when she told me she loved to cook I knew she had to be inducted into the Diva's Who Dish hall of fame. Super awesome girls should be friends, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.

Love ya, Tina! Can't wait to see your yummy meals!

Cake

Brit's been bugging me to put a picture of something yummy I've made, so here it is. I haven't decorated a cake in a year and sadly I don't think I could come close to replicating this if I had to but I did make it once upon a time.

New Assignment

Brittney told me to choose 3 ingredients....so I chose 3 things that I have a lot of hanging around my freezer.

Pureed Tomatoes
Ham
Green Beans

i promise mine is on it's way...

Everything tastes better in a tortilla!!

Drink of choice this season- Vanilla steamer with dash of nutmeg

Cheese, blackbean, sweet potato, arugula, chicken quesadilla!

Chicken- grilled

Blackbeans- mixed with onion (don't tell Tyler), garlic, cumin and oregano

Sweet Potato- steamed and pureed

Arugula- tossed in hot pan with olive oil and salt just until wilted

Then layer it up on a tortilla- monterey jack cheese, thin layer of sweet potato, black beans, arugula, strips of grilled chicken, final layer of cheese! Walah!! it is finished!

Serve with a side of fresh mango salsa and veggie flaxseed tortilla chips. YUM!!

I found it to be quite tasty! Tyler, who was unaware of the food challenge asked, "Why the sweet potatoes??" I was a bit skeptical at first as well, but we have one rule in our house when it comes to eating- don't knock it till you try it! I think it added a yummy sweet taste with the salty.

If only the food were as good lookin as this kid...

Main Dish: Whole Grain Pasta cooked in chicken broth with garlic, grape tomatoes, arugula, Parmigiano-reggiano, and baked seasoned chicken breast tenders.

Side Dish: Coconut, Vanilla bean, Sweet Potato Souffle

Dessert: Black Bean Brownies....yes seriously...there are two whole cans of black beans in the 9x13 pan of brownies, and the kids had no idea. They were delicious!(and I am very picky about my brownies) I have been sneaking them all day and not feeling too guilty either....

Juliana is disgruntled in the background because there isn't a big plate of brownies in front of her.

The lighting is so bad in the picture, sorry. It was late and dark. No natural light to be found.

Am I too Late...

Southern Potato Soup

with Arugula Salad

So I did a potato soup with sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, and I think it turned out pretty good.

I sauteed bacon and onions in a little bit of olive oil, added flour to make a paste. Added 6 cups of milk, and no Brit, no cream or whole milk, although I really wanted to dump the half gallon of cream I had into the soup, I controlled myself.

Added potatoes, let it boil. Then I proceeded to dump any spice I had that I thought was Southwestern-ish.

Added some chicken that I intended on smothering with spices and grilling it, but no propane, so it was boiled chicken.

Added some cheese and green onions to make the lovely presentation, and called it a dish!

Then added some arugula (that I have officially decided I don't like) to a salad, with black beans, green peppers, and yep, more cheese!

A yummy lime dressing that I added vanilla to and the complete meal with all secret ingredients.

Soup-would totally do again.

Salad-not the greatest.

Slacker!

I came up with great ideas but none of them made it to the plate. I'll do it this next week, I promise. Can't wait to hear the secret ingredients. -Karin

70 Miles for Arugula

• White sweet potatoes, baked with a little salt, pepper and oil
• Skillet browned chicken breast tenders
• Arugula salad, with sugared pistachios and shallot/mint/lemon/marmelade dressing
• Naked orange julius (Somehow the vanilla didn't make it home with me! ARH)
• Please don't judge my country grandma plate. Mine are all still packed in storage.
• Kyle liked it but I give it a five out of ten

Hi, I'm Gina, and I'm probably going to have the entries of "what not to do." Not sure how well I'll contribute, but I'll do it nonetheless. I'm not great at cooking, but I try, and I want to be better. My husband says I'm horrible at following directions, so good luck following mine.

Soft Tacos:
* Sauteed chicken (check), mushrooms, red peppers, garlic
* Black Bean Salsa: Black beans (check), corn, tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, pepper
* Cheddar Cheese (In Vermont, its white b/c I guess we're against dyes)
* Sour Cream (my family doesn't love light, but I've won them over with the smart balance reduced fat)
* Arugula (check)

Sweet Potato Fries:
*Olive oil, vanilla (random, I know...but, check), cinnamon, sugar, pinch of salt
I baked these on a cookie sheet thinking they'd be like when I cut up potatoes for fries, but they never really got crispy...however they tasted good.

And our first assignment is . . .

Create a dish using the secret ingredients. Post your pix and recipe by Sunday night and the winner will choose next week's selection.

Secret Ingredients by Courtney Dunlap (AKA Delicious)

Chicken breast

Sweet potatoes

Black Beans

Arugula

Vanilla

Good luck, ladies!

P.S. You don't have to put them all in the same dish, just use them sometime during your meal.