Broccoli Beef Lo Mein

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds round steak, sliced in thin strips
2 cups onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons ginger, minced
1/4 cup plus 6 tablespoons soy sauce
16 ounces linguine pasta
2 teaspoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 cups broccoli, chopped
6 tablespoons beef broth
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons oyster sauce

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl mix together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 cup chopped onions, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon minced ginger. Add the beef and allow to marinate as you prepare the remainder of the meal.
2. Add the pasta to a large pot of lightly salted boiling water. Cook according to package directions. Drain the noodles, then return them to the pot. Toss them with the sesame oil.
3. In a large skillet heat vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add the broccoli and remaining onion and cook, stirring often for 3 minutes. Add the remaining ginger and garlic and continue stirring while the mixture cooks for another minute. Add the beef and cook it, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until no longer pink. Add the broccoli and beef to the pasta.
4. In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and oyster sauce. Stir in the sauce with the pasta and continue cooking, stirring often, for 1 to 2 minutes or until everything is heated through.

Mushroom & chicken pockets

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 pound white mushrooms coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic finely chopped or grated on a zester

2 green onions thinly sliced

grated peel of half lemon

8 oz cream cheese

1 package frozen puff pastry

3/4 cup monterey jack cheese

Make sure to thaw puff pastry dough. Pre-heat oven to 450. In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook until mushrooms begin to brown. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons to skillet and cook chicken over medium high heat until cooked through. Dice chicken and add to the bowl. Combine chicken, mushrooms, green onions, cheese, cream cheese and lemon zest. Mix well.

Roll out pastry dough on a flat surface lightly floured. Cut in half. Place 1/4 mixture on one side of the dough. Fold over and seal all sides. Poke two holes in the top to vent. Repeat with remaining 3 pieces of dough. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 18-24 minutes until crust is golden brown. Remove and eat.

Spaghetti Squash

INGREDIENTS
1 spaghetti squash
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on a baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance.
3. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
4. In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.
5. Use a fork shred the squash to form noodles. Place squash in a medium bowl and toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, and basil.

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

I get these emails all the time from Eat Better America. This last one had a dish that looked so good I e-mailed it right to my mom. Tonight I decided to make it, oddly so did my mom. Here is the recipe as it was intended to be made. I'll tell you my variations at the bottom. Brandon really liked this which says a lot for a four year old, he called it "cheese chicken." The husband had seconds too. The recipe is called "Healthified" Chicken Tortilla Casserole.

1 can (10 3/4 oz) 98% fat free 45% less sodium condensed cream of chicken soup 1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chile's 1 container (8 oz) fat-free sour cream ½ cup fat-free (skim) milk 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder ½ teaspoon ground cumin 2 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken breast 8 yellow corn tortillas (6 or 7 inch), torn into bite-size pieces 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup) 1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup) 1 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend (6 oz) 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix soup, chilies, sour cream, milk, chili powder and cumin until blended. Stir in chicken, tortillas and bell pepper. Stir in tomato and 1 cup of the cheese. Spoon and spread mixture in baking dish. 2. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes.

This recipe is really as easy as it sounds. I didn't have any shredded chicken just laying around and I didn't plan ahead and have it ready so I will share with you my full proof method of cooking chicken fast. In a baking dish add 1 cup chicken broth and 2 cups of water. Place boneless skinless chicken in and bake it at 550 for about 15 minutes. It should be pretty close to done. This is basically poaching and keeps skinless boneless chicken very moist. I kept mine just under done so it wouldn't dry out during the final bake.

Next. I did not use anything light. I live in a family of underfat men, shit Codi just finally made it to 10% on the weight chart and we celebrated that. I might have also used a tad bit of extra cheese.

I omitted the bell peppers because none of my boys like them.

I combined half regular corn tortillas and half hard ones (they are called tostada shells in the store.) My husband really likes crunchy stuff so I put a few of those closer to the top of the casserole to keep them crisp. I used these tostada shells (the yellow corn ones on the top.)

I think beans would be a nice addition to this. Possibly pinto or red, I don't think black beans would be the right flavor. I also think if I wasn't making it for a kid I would mix in a tiny bit of cayenne pepper or a couple splashes of Tapatio.

Finally, yes I know it looks a little weird when you are first mixing it but it taste so good in the end. SO GOOD!

For a printable version of their recipe click here.

Big kid french toast

Four year old french toast

The other morning Brandon wanted french toast but I had no eggs. I hemmed and hawed for a while until I spotted the graham crackers. And low, the best french toast ever was born.

(Yield one serving)
1 whole graham cracker mashed
1/4 cup milk
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp butter
.25 tsp vanilla extract
1 slice Wonder Bread
(yes, if I am making this ghetto of a breakfast only Wonder Bread will work)

First you put the graham cracker in a bag and pulverize it. Pour that on a plate and put .5 tsp of cinnamon and .5 tbsp sugar in it. Stir it up. On a second plate ad milk, .5 tsp cinnamon, vanilla and remaining sugar. Mix it up. Pour your syrup in a microwave safe bowl, add cinnamon and butter and nuke for about 15 seconds. Stir it up until butter is good an mixed in. Pre-heat non stick pan to about medium low. Quickly dunk bread in your cinnamon milk mixture and then roll both sides in your graham cracker concoction. Spray your pan with nonsick spray and away we go. I flipped mine about four times so it didn't burn and got super crispy. When you are done, cut it up and pour your sinful buttery syrup right over the top. Then watch the look on your four year olds face when his taste buds explode.

Now. I'm sure your asking why I put butter in the syrup. The answer is, IT TASTE GOOD. When I was small and I would eat Eggos (remember I said I'm ghetto) I always loved to find the buttery part of my waffle and swirl it in the syrup making a buttery syrup to dunk the rest in. Try it, and then comment below to tell me I'm right Mmmkay!

Next. Graham crackers on french toast PURE GENIUS. It was so crispy and cinnamony that I almost stole Brandons breakfast and ran away.

My favorite part of this, your kid can totally help you. Then can mash, and mix, and dunk and roll. Basically they only need you for the hot pan part.

So, why are you still here, go make your kids the best breakfast ever so you can be a hero mom for a day!

Right now is a great time to mix up the graham crackers and dunk your finger in to "taste" a few times.

Oh baby, look at the way the sugar caramelized whoo boy I wanted to lick that shit up!

I may or may not have added a hint of whip cream to make it even more sinful.