Taco (shepherd's pie) Meatloaf

Here is a recipe that is adaptable as to ingredients and prepares easily in an RV with minimal clean-up or sink/counter room necessary. Please note - the light in here wasn't great so they look twice as dark as they really are. Ooops. 

Taco (shepherd's pie) Meatloaf

Ingredients

* About 1.3 to 1.5 lbs of lean ground beef
* 1 pkg of taco seasoning (I used McCormick)
* 2 large eggs
* 1/2 lb grated sharp cheddar cheese
* 1 small bunch of green onions (finely chopped)
* 1 pepper (red or green) cored and finely chopped
* 2 Roma (or other small) tomatoes, chopped
* about 1 tbsp butter

Prep

1. Place butter, onion and pepper in microwave safe bowl and let heat in microwave for about 10 min. on high to saute
2. Remove bowl from microwave and add the rest of the ingredients, mixing thoroughly with your hands.
3. Grease 1 large or 2 med loaf pans (I used foil for easier clean-up afterward). Divide mixture in pans (or put in large pan) pressing down gently.

Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 30 min, pour out excess liquid carefully (not quite set yet) then raise heat to 375 for an extra 15 min or so. I have a convection/ countertop oven so always bake/cook things 15 degrees lower than directed. I large meatloaf would probably be 375 degrees for a hour or so.

Note: I was going to top with mashed potatoes sprinkled with cheese (hence the Shepherd's Pie title) for the last 10-15 min (after draining) to make a taco shepherd's pie but since I didn't get potatoes in my food order we will have rice on the side. Also sorry about that dang dark photo! Best I could do for now :)

Skillet Chicken and Potatoes a la Weight Watchers

Yes, folks, I have finally pulled out the old Weight Watchers cookbooks and have rediscovered a wealth of great, healthy, lower-cal recipes that are (gasp) actually helping me lose a bit of my poundage. So, of course, I have to share these with YOU!

Chicken and Potato Dish with slight modifications

Skillet Chicken and Potatoes

(from the Weight Watchers Meals in Minutes Cookbook)


Here's a dish that is actually a meal in a skillet. It's tasty, filling and has everything from vegetables to meat to potatoes in it! As such, by the old plan, it has 2 Protein Exchanges, 1 Bread Exchange, 2 1/2 Veggie Exchanges, 1 Fat Exchange and 25 Optional Calories The calorie count stands at 275 calories: 19 g protein; 10 g fat; 28g carbohydrate; 88 mg calcium; 578 m,g sodium; 55 mg cholesterol; 4 g dietary fiber.


Ingredients

• 6 oz thinly sliced, pared all-purpose potatoes
• 2 tsp olive or vegetable oil
• 5 oz ground chicken, or as I prepared it, the equivalent amount of finely diced boneless, skinless chicken
• 1 tbsp whipped butter
• 1/2 c each diced onion (I used green onions), diced green bell pepper and sliced carrots (I used baby carrots, finely sliced)
• I used a mixture of freeze-dried garlic and peppers from Winco - 2 tsp.
• 1 can diced Italian tomatoes (with liquid) - approx. 12 oz.
• 1 tbsp parsley, freshly chopped or dried
• 1/4 tsp each thyme, salt and pepper

Preparation

Not really green in color, just how the photo turned out!

1. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil.
2. Add potatoes and chicken and cook over high heat, stirring constantly until chicken is lightly browned (about 2 minutes). Transfer to bowl.
3. In same skillet, melt butter; add onion, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic. Saute over high heat until tender-crisp (2 - 3 minutes).
4. Return potato/chicken mixture to skillet; add tomatoes, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Cook until mixture comes to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend and potatoes are tender (approx. 10 minutes)

Note: You can also use substitute left-over turkey or pork for this dish.

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken & Potatoes

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken & Roasted Potatoes go together like...peanut butter and jelly!  I made this dish for Mike for Father's Day and he loved it. This is a dish that is easy to prepare, medium in calorie count and totally delicious. The chicken was tender because of the broth, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. Best yet, it all cooks at the same time and takes less than an hour from prep to finish! The aluminium foil makes chicken pan clean-up faster and using cooking spray saves your baking pans. This made enough for a couple of meals for each of us.

Easy, tasty and delicious

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken


Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Honey BBQ Sauce
2 tbsp honey
sea salt
1/2 c boiling water
1 chicken bouillion cube

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminium foil and spray with cooking spray. Wash chicken breasts and dry with paper towel and place in pan. Mix BBQ sauce with honey (makes it a bit thicker) and spread on the chicken. Lightly grate sea salt over the chicken pieces. Mix bouillion cube with boiling water until dissolved and pour into the pan (not over the chicken). Bake for approximately 3/4 hour until chicken is no longer pink inside.

Oven-Roasted Potatoes


Ingredients:

6 Russet Potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
Parsley (approx 1 tbsp)
sea salt
1 tsp of dried dill, sprinkling of onion salt and garlic salt

Spray the bottom of a 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Placed cubed potatoes evenly over the bottom. Spread with oil and sprinkle with parsley, a light grating of sea salt, dried dill, onion salt and garlic salt. Place in the oven with the chicken (as above) and cook until chicken is done and potatoes have lightly crisped and browned. Mix occasionally to evenly brown the potatoes.

Note: I love McCormick's sea salt grater. It lets you control the amount of sea salt you use, reducing the sodium. It's sold at most grocery stores in the spice section.

The Best Pizza Ever

"The Best Pizza Ever"

This was the name that my husband gave this pizza when I surprised him with it after we went shopping at Winco here in Henderson. It's not complex, uses easy store-bought ingredients, but for some reason, it turned out really good! I may just have to agree with him and dub it "The Best Pizza Ever." p.s. He is a real aficionado of pizzas, having been a delivery driver years ago and with this being his favorite food group :)

Ingredients

• Large 16" pizza crust (from 'scratch' or purchased)
• Jar of pizza sauce (we used the Winco tub of sauce - yum)
• Approximately 2 tsp of Italian Seasoning
• Grated Parmesan cheese, liberally sprinkled over the sauce (1/2 c?)
• Half a can of pineapple chunks (not tidbits)
• 6 slices of Canadian bacon
• Shredded cheese: about 1/2 pkg each of Mexican-Style, Mozzarella, and Cheddar  Cheese

Preparation:

1. Place your pizza crust on a large round pizza pan
2. Spread pizza sauce over the crust. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning
3. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese
4. Arrange bacon over the saucy goodness and then plunk pineapple chunks all over
5. Top with much shredded cheese
6. Bake for approximately 20 minutes at 400 degrees, until the cheese is all melted and gooey and the edges of the crust are golden brown. 
7. Let cool approximately 5 minutes to set. Cut with pizza cutter.
8. Manga!