No Guilt Fajita Recipe

Fajitas are simple, fast, and healthy meals.  We LOVE vegetable fajitas at our house.  This seasoning is extremely easy and cheaper than buying pre-mixed seasoning from the store.  What's better?  You can tailor it to your taste, and you probably have most if not all of the ingredients in your cupboard!

Warning:  I never measure ingredients unless I am baking.  This recipe will not include amounts.  You adjust seasoning amounts to fit your taste buds.

Fajita Guts:

We used about a pounds of sweet peppers, and 1 large yellow onion for this batch.  I also had some leftover salad (spinach ,green pepper, & radish) in the fridge, so I threw that in.  

Just enough oil to barely coat the bottom of the pan.  Whatever oil you prefer, go with it.  I use olive oil in my fajitas.

Fajita Seasoning:

Chili Powder

Cayenne Pepper

Cumin

Garlic

Salt

Chop desired vegetables.  (If using meat, cook meat thoroughly first).  Pour a small amount of oil over the vegetables.  Mix together seasoning and sprinkle it over veggies.  Cook on Medium-High heat until vegetables are softened to your desired texture.

Serve with tortillas or over rice.  

Great sides: Cilantro Lime Rice, Black Beans, Refried Beans, Lettuce

Quinoa Burgers

2 c uncooked quinoa

4 c water

2 celery stalks

2 medium sized yellow onions

2 carrots

1/2 can refried beans

cilantro

garlic

Additional seasoning to taste

preferred cooking oil (opt)

Quinoa burgers are some of our favorites.  They are moderately quick and easy to make.  I do not use exact measurements when I cook.  I have provided estimations.  As you try it out, adapt the recipe to your taste and texture preferences.

1.  Combine 2 c uncooked quinoa grains and 4 c water in a large pot.  Bring to a boil, then cover and turn to low heat until quinoa is a sticky, rice-like consistency.  Quinoa will appear to have rings around it, like a tiny planet.  Remove from heat.

2.  While your qunioa cooks, chop celery, onions, and carrots into a skillet.  Saute with oil or water until tender.

3.  Puree vegetable mix in a blender.  Add to quinoa.  Mix in refried beans, cilantro, garlic, and other desired seasonings.  I used cilantro, seasoning salt, and hot sauce to flavor my quinoa patties.

4.  Mix all ingredients until they become a "meat like" texture.  If your mix is too sticky, you may add flour to reduce stickiness.

5.  Once combined, make burger patties or "meat" balls.  Fry with oil in a skillet or bake on a cookie sheet in the oven.  I prefer frying on the skillet, as it gives the patties a meatier texture.

6.  Serve with or without a bun and your favorite toppings.  Eat like a hamburger.

7.  Leave a comment below telling me your tips, favorite toppings, or other thoughts.

Mamavation, Sistahood, and Magic Dust

It's here!  December 31, 2012.  Tomorrow is the start of a new year.  We all know that this time of year we tend to get sentimental as we think over our past and hopeful as we look toward the future.  We like to make resolutions about what we plan to do to make our lives better in the coming year.  We start out great - and then... life happens.  Reality hits.  Change is not as easy as we were sure it would be this time. (again).

I sit in our newly rearranged "computer" room, looking at the mess on the floor, and thinking about the next year in my house.  There are a lot of things I want to happen, a lot of changes I want to make.  I know, however, that I don't have any magic fairy dust to instantly change my own behaviors.  I know it is a struggle to make real lasting changes in my own busy life.  I have 3 little boys, a full time job in the summer that I volunteer for the rest of the year - we are busy people.

For this reason I have decided that I want to join the "Sistahood" at Mamavation.  This is a group of bloggers that are ready to encourage and support each other as we reach toward the goals that we struggle for on our own.  I need help folks.  Change is hard.  The sistahood does not have magic fairy dust for me either - but they do offer regular help and encouragement.  I am looking forward to being part of this dynamic group in the near future!

Now: My resolutions for the year?
* Be more consistent in my daily schedule with the boys.  We have gotten our morning routine down pretty well, but there are a few things that we need to improve.
* Exercise at the gym at least 3 times a week.  We were doing very well until Thanksgiving - then after my miscarriage it was difficult to get back into the routine. 
* Organize, organize, organize.  I plan to share a bit about our steps toward organization in the home (and at work) in the coming months.
* Get back to good, healthy eating.  We have slipped and been eating some things that are not on our "good" list.  We will be returning to vegetarian - mostly vegan - eating on January 2.  Why the 2nd?  I have a family reunion tomorrow and want to be realistic.
* Enjoy some "me" time regularly, working on hobbies, getting in quiet time, refreshing myself so I can have better quality time with my family.

Do you have some goals in the new year?  I would love to hear about your goals and how you intend to reach them.  Please leave your comments in the space below!

One of my reasons for healthier living.

Warming it up: No cereal breakfast (er - kind of)

Okay, so this is hot cereal, but it's not boxed junk filled with sugar and other weird things that give you all kinds of ridiculous health problems that I just don't even want to think about my kids having...

Fruity Oatmeal

This is not hard folks - if you don't know how to make oatmeal, buy a canister and read the package.  Then chuck a bunch of your favorite fruits in it.  It was too hot for the boys, so I added some yogurt (seemed like a good change from milk).  I also had some leftover banana puree, so I put that into the mix.  Mama's oatmeal had peanut butter and banana, no other fruit or yogurt.

What a great way to start the day!

Do you like hot cereal?  If so, what do you put in it?

Muffin Cup Lunch!

Do you have a favorite simple pre-school friendly lunch?  Our "big" boys are 4 and almost 3.  They love fruits and veggies - and Asian Toasted Sesame dressing.  This lunch was a hit - especially when they got to use cheese spreaders to put peanut butter (and soynut butter) on their celery!

Easy vegetarian bean & cheese lasagna roll ups

The Crum family is currently on a vegetarian diet (when we're at home).  Soon we will be switching an (almost) vegan diet.  I hope to share some interesting recipes as we embark on this adventure into health as a family.

This week's recipe is Bean & Cheese Lasagna Roll-ups.  I have to admit, I was not sure about how these would turn out.  They were good, my boys even ate them and wanted more (Monkey is fairly picky).

Ingredients:

9 Lasagna Noodles

3 cups White Beans, drained & rinsed

1 small container Ricotta Cheese

1/4 cup Parmesean Cheese

1/4 cup Feta Cheese

3 cups Pasta Sauce

optional additions: mushrooms, diced onions, garlic, spinach, roasted red pepper

Preheat oven to 425 F.

Boil noodles until al dente.

In a separate bowl, combine beans, cheeses, and any additions you prefer.

Cover the bottom of a cake pan (I used 9x9) with a shallow layer (about 1 cup) of pasta sauce.

Drain noodles and rinse with cool water.

Lay 1 noodle out flat, cover with a thin layer (1/4 inch) of bean and cheese mixture.

Roll noodle into a thick spiral.

Place noodle, seam down, into the pan with sauce.

Roll all noodles in the same manner.

Top with the remaining pasta sauce.

Cover pan with foil.

Cook 25-30 minutes, until heated thoroughly.

Serve hot.

Recommended sides: Spinach salad, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Oranges, Pears, Apples