Beef & Zucchini Taco's ($5 Meals)

On a quest to save money around here I tried the $5 meals for two weeks to see if I could bring our grocery bill down.  I still have to work on it but I did it close to the $5 a meal.  I did find some yummy recipes that the boys and I enjoyed.  This one I could actually eat just modified (most night I fix them a meal and then me what I can eat - which on this diet is so limited).

I found this recipe on the $5 Meal Website for Beef & Zucchini Taco's.  I've included her break down of prices (mine was a little more)

Ingredients
1.5 lb ground beef, browned and drained ($1.95/2=$.98!!!)
2 cups zucchini, diced ($.25) 
1/2 yellow onion, chopped ($.15)
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
1 tsp onion powder ($.05)
1 tsp chili powder ($.05)
1 tsp ground cumin ($.05)
Use her homemade taco seasoning mix or substitute a packet of taco seasoning
Salt/Pepper, to taste

Old El Paso – 6 hard shells, 6 soft shells pack ($1.49)

1 large tomato, diced 
About 1 cup chopped iceberg lettuce ($.20)
About 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.30) 

Directions
1. Brown ground beef with diced zucchini and chopped onion. Drain and return to pan. Add spices and let saute for 3-4 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
2. Prepare taco fixins…chop lettuce, dice tomato and set out shredded cheese.
3. Cook corn cobs in boiling water for 4-5 minutes, or in a microwavable dish covered with plastic wrap for 2-2.5 minutes per ear.
4. Assemble tacos

(I used taco seasoning from the bulk isle at Winco.  I used coleslaw kit to add a little extra veggies - didn't use the sauce)

The boys had it in a shell

I had mine naked in a bowl :)

Have a wonderful day, give this one a try a great way to get some veggies in!

Low Carb Pepperoni Chips (Not Pretty but tasty)

Being on this diet for so long I need to find new ways to eat protein and low carb items.  I've been seeing these Pepperoni Chips on Pinterest and wanted to give them a try.  Now mine didn't turn out bright colored liked theirs did but they sure were tasty (I have a feeling it is because I used the Turkey Pepperoni).  It had a great crunch to it that helps when you need a little something salty and crunchy!

24 ounces pepperoni slices
salt

1. Line a Microwave-Safe Plate with several sheets of papertowel. Place the pepperoni slices in a single layer.
2. Microwave for 30 - 60 seconds (depending on the wattage of your microwave). The pepperoni slices should be nice and crispy and most of the grease absorbed on the papertowels.
3. If any in the center are not crispy looking and still feel soft, microwave more in 15 second increments.
4. Salt if desired. (I skipped this)

Have a great day!  Give them a try it was easy and so yummy!

Mysterious Pictures

I went to use my camera the other day to find someone had "borrowed" my camera.  Oh yes my oldest Cole decided that he was going to take some pictures or what you can call pictures.  Mostly self portraits of sorts ... lol!  There was one that I think it may have been a body part but I deleted it, let's just say boys will be boys ... hehe.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Thought you could use a laugh!

Championship Chocolate Chip Bars (Condensed Milk Recipe)

Our Tuesday friends came over for dinner and I wanted to add a yummy dessert for our meal.  They turned out perfect, I didn't take a bite but it sure smelled delish!  The Boys told me they really enjoyed them.  This was a pretty easy recipe and I love anything in a bar form since it's time saving and easy to serve.  I found this recipe for Championship Chocolate Chip Bars on the Hershey website.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 1  egg , slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup (1 stick)cold butter or margarine
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips , divided
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

Directions

1. 1 Heat oven to 350°F.
   
2. 2 Stir together flour and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in cold butter until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips; press mixture on bottom of ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.
   
3. 3 Combine sweetened condensed milk, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Stir in remaining 1-1/2 cups chips and nuts. Spread evenly over hot baked crust. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 24 to 36 bars.

I used a smaller square pan to make the cookies a little thicker :).  I skipped the nuts since we're not big nut fans here.

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend, We had the stomach bug going through our house.  Feeling a bit like had a little person in my stomach doing zumba and kickboxing!  Today is better but stomach still hurting!  

Crunchy Snack ... Baked Parmesan Kale Chips (WW 1pt)

On my hunt for recipes that help me with my daily veggie intake I have been seeing this kale recipe for a long time.  The true fact is I have bought kale 3 times before and then in the fridge it went and I never did anything with it.  YUP I think I was afraid of the kale, but who knew this recipe would be so easy.  Ok well maybe reading the recipe would tell me that but I couldn't get myself to do the recipe that was until last night.  

This was a easy recipe I mean like throwing something in a crock pot easy.  The chips were crunch (now some say like potato chips, I'm not sure I'd say that but pretty tasty!  I found this recipe for Baked Parmesan Kale Chips on one of my favorite weight watcher recipe sites Skinny Taste.

Now give some green chips a try I promise you may just be hooked like me!  So what do you think?

Crock Pot Beer Chicken (WW 3 Points)

I was looking for an easy chicken recipe I could throw into the crock pot and have ready for dinner.  Working from home everyone thinks you should have all this free time.  LOL they would be so wrong I'm usually at my keyboard none stop and don't have a free moment, so easy meals always help me out.  This chicken dish was very moist, it almost fell apart when I took from the crock pot to the plate.

I just happen to have one bottle of beer left from when my dad was here so I used it (I know it's the only way beer is used in my house if I cook with it).  This was a simple recipe that was extremely tasty.  I found this recipe on one of my favorite weight watcher sites Laaloosh for Crock Pot Beer Chicken.  I made this one since I'm still on a high protein, low carb and low sugar diet so I can eat the chicken and then add things for the boys like the au gratin potatoes they had.

Ingredients

• 2lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 bottle or can of your favorite beer
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in the crock pot, and cook on high for 4-5 hrs, or low for 6-8 hrs.
2. Feel free to change out the spices and herbs and use whatever you’d like.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 6 hour(s)

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is 1 chicken breast
Each serving = 3 Points +

PER SERVING: 143 calories; 3g fat; 1.5g carbohydrates; 23g protein; 0g fiber

Hope you have a wonderful day and maybe give this a try!