Homemade Guacamole

I have an affinity for anything avocado, so naturally I am a huge Guacamole fan.  With that being said, I am not a big fan of onions, and I'm always striving to come up with the best onion free guacamole recipe.  Last night I concocted something amazing.  So amazing in fact, that it just had to be shared.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 Avocados (seeded and peeled)
Juice of 2 Limes (only use 1 if you don't love the hint of lime taste)
1/2 Red Bell Pepper (seeded and chopped)
8 Champagne Tomatoes (chopped, can substitute grape tomatoes)
1/2 Jalapeno (Seeded and Minced)
1 Clove Garlic (Minced)
1 tsp Himalayan Sea Salt
1-2 tsp Cumin Powder


Directions:
Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly.  Enjoy! 

Beef Minestrone Soup-One Pot Recipe

For my birthday my mother got me a bunch of mini cookbooks.  One of them was full of one-pot recipes, so of course I had to find one and completely jack with the ingredients.  Here is the result of that fun, it turned out quite delicious. :)

Ingredients:
1 lb Hamburger
Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Alpine Touch, Crushed Red Pepper)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Carrot (Peeled & Sliced)
1 Zucchini (Peeled & Sliced)
2 Celery Ribs (Chopped)
10-12 Grape Tomatoes (Diced) *substitute a can of diced tomatoes if needed
3 Large Tomatoes (Crushed) *substitute can of crushed tomatoes if needed
5 Mushrooms (Chopped)
1/2 Can of Black Olives (Sliced)
2 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
2 Cups Bowtie Pasta
Shredded Cheese to taste

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a pot and cook on medium.  Once browned add the oil, garlic, carrot, zucchini and celery.  Cook for about 4 minutes.  Add in remaining ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes until pasta is al dente.  Stir occasionally and serve when done.  Stir in the cheese and top with basil and enjoy!

Brown the hamburger in the bottom of the pot

Add the oil, garlic, carrots, zucchini and celery

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix together

Mix in the shredded cheese and enjoy!

Goulash From The Garden

I have been craving some delish hearty goulash for a very long time, and had a ton of veggies to use up before they went bad, so I decided to mix it all together into some delicious goulash.  I tried perusing the internet for goulash recipes to get an idea of where I wanted to go, but everything that I found was very boring and looked the same.  In the end I deiced to just close the computer and the cookbooks and just create my own from scratch, so here it is:

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
Seasoning (Garlic Powder, Spicy Montreal Steak, Alpine Touch)
10 oz Ditalini dry pasta (or elbow)
24oz basil, tomato sauce
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 carrot (peeled and chopped)
1 ear of corn (cook, and cut the corn off the cob)
6 grape tomatoes (sliced)
4 mushrooms (chopped)
1 zucchini (peeled and chopped)
1/2 eggplant (peeled and chopped)
1 red pepper (seeded and chopped)

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a heavy bottom skillet and cook on med-high, add the seasoning.
Boil the pasta until al dente.
Once hamburger is browned add the sauce and warm. 
Now add all remaining ingredients and cook on low until all ingredients are thoroughly cooked and warmed. 
Serve with the hamburger sauce over a plate of pasta and enjoy!

Brown the seasoned hamburger

Add the sauce to the hamburger while the pasta is cooking

Add all remaining ingredients

Serve the hamburger sauce over the pasta and enjoy!

Apple-Banana-Tomato Protein Smoothie

I know, I know, it sounds gross.  I was honestly nervous about how this one was going to turn out, but I just kept thinking about V8 and how they can make tomatoes work so I gave it a try anyway.  I must say that I am glad that I did because it turned out delicious.  It smelled like banana and the flavor was mostly banana and apple with an occasional fresh tasting bite of kale thrown in. 
*I apologize for missing my initial pretty pre-mixed photo, I accidentally deleted it on my camera :(


Ingredients:
1 Cup Frozen strawberries & Blueberries
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Banana (Sliced)
1 Leaf Kale (Ripped into pieces)
1 Medium Tomato (Seeded & Sliced)
1/2 Cucumber (Peeled & Sliced)
1 Apple (Cored & Sliced)
1 Peach (Pitted & Sliced)
1/4 Cup Blueberries
1 Cup Apple Juice (Not From Concentrate)


Directions:
Add the frozen ingredients into the blender first and then add the protein and the remaining ingredients, top with the apple juice (This helps ensure a better overall blend).  Blend on medium/high speed until well blended and serve.  This gives you 2 smoothies to enjoy so that you can take care of 2 days at once, refrigerate the remaining smoothie.  Enjoy!

Mix all of the ingredients

Serve & Enjoy!

If you interested in more smoothie recipes here are my previously posted recipes

Cantaloupe-Carrot-Berry Protein Smoothie

Cucumber-Watermelon-Mint Protein Smoothie

Heirloom Carrot-Watermelon Protein Smoothie

Watermelon-Triple-Berry Protein Smoothie with Kale

Pear-Apple-Berry Fruit Protein Smoothie

Superbowl Chili & Pizza Bicuits

I was lucky enough to have a lot of family in town for Super Bowl Sunday which gave me the opportunity to cook.  I made some slow Cooker Super Bowl Chili and some Pizza Biscuits!  Here are both of the recipes in case you would like to try making some on your own!  Enjoy, it turned out delicious!

Slow Cooker Super Bowl Chili

Ingredients:

2 lb Ground Hamburger
Seasoning (Garlic Powder, Mediterranean Spiced Sea Salt, Crushed Red Pepper, Basil, Thyme)
1 12oz can Tomato Paste
2 14.5 oz cans Diced Basil Oregano Tomatoes
1 15 oz can Black Beans
1 15 oz can Great Northern Beans

1 Zucchini (peeled & chopped)
5 Radishes (diced)
3 Celery Stalks (chopped)
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley (Chopped)
1 Cup Chicken Stock
Shredded Cheese to top

Directions:
Put the ground hamburger into the slow cooker and turn the heat up to high.  Generously season the meat. Add the tomato paste and then fill the can of paste with water and add to the slow cooker.  Add both cans of diced tomatoes and both kinds of beans. Stir to mix.  Add the vegetables and stir to mix thoroughly.  Top with the chicken stock and make sure that everything is stirred to mix.  Cook on high for about 3 hours.  Be sure to stir periodically.  Turn the slow cooker down to low and continue to cook for another hour or two.  If you have more time you can keep on low or warm for several hours until you are ready to eat.  Serve and top with shredded cheese and a dash of basil.  Enjoy! 

Add the hamburger to the slow cooker and season the meat

The beans and tomatoes I used

Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and beans to the slow cooker

Add the veggies & parsley

Add the chicken stock and stir

Serve with cheese sprinkled over top and a dash of basil

 Pizza Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 Cannister of Refrigerated Biscuits
3-4 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Pizza Sauce
Basil

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Lay the biscuits out on an ungreased cookie sheet just like you would for making biscuits normally.  Cut the cheese sticks into 3 or 4 pieces and press them down into the middle of the biscuits.  Spoon pizza sauce over top of the cheese.  Just enough to cover, but not so much that it is dripping onto the pan.  Add a dash of basil to the top.  Bake in the oven for about 8-11 minutes until the biscuits have risen and the cheese is melted.  Allow 5 minutes to cool, serve and enjoy!  You may serve with extra sauce if you want to dip them.

All the ingredients you will need

Place the biscuits on the cookie sheet

Press the cheese into the middle of the biscuits

Spoon pizza sauce on top of the cheese

Cook and enjoy :)

Steak Gouda Salad

Just a delicious concoction made from ingredients I had in my fridge and steak I needed to cook.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 lb stewing steak

Seasoning (Brown Sugar Bourbon, Sweet & Smokey Rub, Garlic Powder, Alpine Touch)

3-4 Large Leaves of Lettuce

1 Apple (Cored and Sliced)

1/2 Cucumber (Peeled & Chopped)

1/2 Tomato (Chopped)

Dressing (I used Avocado Ranch)

Shredded Gouda Cheese

Directions:

Add the oil to the skillet and turn to med-high.  Add the steak and seasoning and cook for about 8-10 minutes, cooked about to medium or more if you prefer.  

Shred the lettuce and add to the plate.  Place the apple, cucumber and tomato slices on top of the lettuce.  Drizzle the dressing and add the steak over it.  Top by sprinkling Gouda cheese on top.  Serve immediately and enjoy! 

Add the steak and seasoning tot he pan

Sous Chef Liam helping to evenly cook the steak ;)

Prepare your ingredients

Add the lettuce to the plate

Add the tomato, cucumber and apples

Drizzle with dressing and top with steak

Sprinkle the Gouda on top

Serve & Enjoy!

Italian Spaghetti Recipe

Here is the recipe for the spaghetti I made this evening.  Spaghetti is one of those things that I make a little different every time.  Enjoy.

Ingedients:

1/2 Lb Ground Sausage

1/2 Lb Ground Hamburger

1/2 lb Rotini Pasta

1 Jar of Tomato Sauce (I used 4 cheese)

Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Crushed Rosemary, Garlic Salt, Crushed Red Pepper)

Monterey Jack Cheese (shredded, as desired)

Directions:

Add the Sausage & Hamburger to a skillet and season.  Cook on med-high  Add the noodles to a pan and add water to boil.  Brown the meat and add the tomato based sauce.    Lower the heat to med-low and mix together to warm sauce.  Strain the noodles and set aside.  Serve by adding the sauce on top of the pasta and sprinkle the cheese on top to taste.  Enjoy!

 

Garlic Butter for Toast

Ingredients:
6 Tbsp Butter
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp Garlic Salt

Directions:
Melt Butter and mix int he cream and garlic salt.  Can use immediately.  Store remainder in fridge.

 

Boil the pasta and brown the meat

Add the sauce to the meat

Serve the sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with the cheese