Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Quick Pigs in a Blanket Casserole

My mother-in-law made this for Alison and Doug's wedding weekend. It was a big hit, and gives all the flavor in a traditional "pigs in a blanket" but is much easier. I made a big batch for dinner last night, and since it was just Ian and I, we have lots of leftovers.

Ingredients
3 cups chopped cabbage
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons uncooked rice
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sugar

Brown ground beef and onion with salt and pepper. Add tomato soup, rice, Worcestershire Sauce, sugar and water. Simmer 10 minutes. Pour over cabbage in a 2-quart casserole. Don't stir. Cover; bake covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Super Salsa

My Super Salsa kit from Good Apples was still packaged in the fridge. It was the perfect snack to make for the game. The kit had all the ingredients to make fresh salsa as well as an easy to follow recipe.

Ingredients:
1 Lime, juiced
4 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
1 seeded and minced Jalapeno Pepper
1 Red Onion, fine chopped
1 Bunch Cilantro (1 oz), fine chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste


Prepare all ingredients and combine in bowl. Enjoy with chips!

The fresh jalapeno pepper and garlic made this a very flavorful and spicy dip. I made a lighter version for the game by draining the water from non-fat yogurt, adding a few tablespoons of this salsa and some italian seasonings. Both dips were a big hit with Ian.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Fresh Produce = Wedge Salad

Our company just launched the Good Apples Program: a virtual farmers market that delivers grocery to our company on a weekly basis. My first order was only $30 for a ton of produce.

  • Baby Bella Mushrooms $1.99
  • Sweet Corn (8) $3.49
  • Boston Lettuce $1.27
  • Green Beans $1.69
  • Local Toamtoes $2.39
  • Hot Banana Peppers $2.99
  • Iceberg Lettuce $1.69
  • Red Beets $2.59
  • Blue Cheese $5.00
  • Shallots $1.69
  • Super Salsa Kit $5.99

  • 4 big bags contained all these ingredients and everything looked incredibly fresh. I knew when I order the blue cheese I would be making a wedge salad. It is something that I rarely make but always love. Ian hates the blue cheese, but I just give him an extra spoonful of bacon.

    Ingredients
    1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into quarters
    Low-Fat Ranch dressing
    1 tomato, minced
    1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
    1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled

    Directions
    On each salad plate, place 1 wedge of lettuce turned on its side. Pour ranch dressing on wedge. Sprinkle with tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, and crumbled bacon.

    I used two quarters of the lettuce for each portion, since this was all we had for dinner. It was wonderful and I'm already excited for next week to see what additional local produce I can get through Good Apples for my cooking inspirations!