Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I ain't no Betty Crocker

Remember how I posted about Jamie Oliver on Monday?
If you dont, go to hulu, type in Jamie Oliver's food revolution and watch.
It's amazing!
I asked you guys if you wanted some healthy recipes.
You said yes.
Your wish is my command.

Let me preface this a little. I'm kinda new to the whole cooking thing. I've always had interest, been able to make some good items, but not much experience. Recipes with greater than 10 ingredients make my knees wobble. I'm making baby steps. Now I have a husband, and evidently husbands can't survive off of apples, veggies with hummus, and turkey sandwiches like I was before. I work nights and my husband works days. Since I don't get home until late, I'm (#1) starving and (#2) don't want to stay up until all hours of the night making dinner when I finally make it home. SO, I either make something quick and simple, or prepare the majority before work and have my husband heat it when he's home. It's a pretty good system. Last night I prepared everything before, left it in the fridge, and had the husband turn it on after he got home from work. It was hot and delicious by the time I got home!

Ground Chicken Tacos
1 lb ground chicken (I got mine buy one get one free!)
1 can tomatoe sauce
1 4 oz can of fire roasted diced jalepenos (my husband likes his food like he like his women...hot and spicy!!)
1 4oz can diced green chilis
montreal steak seasoning
taco seasoning
olive oil.

In non stick pan, pour in just enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom. Turn the burner onto medium heat, and allow pan to heat. Place ground chicken onto pan. Sprinkle with montreal seasoning and taco seasoning. cook just like you would hamburger. Use spatula to flip meat pieces and break into smaller portions. When fully cooked, place in crock pot with tomatoe sauce, green chilis, and half the jalepeno can. It was about medium spicy-ness. Add more if you want more spice, less if you want less spice. Heat on low for about 2-3 hours. If you're on a time crunch, I bet you could simmer the ingredients in the pan instead for about 30 minutes. It is seriously SO good! The meat is juicy and full of flavor. We both LOVED it.

To add more nutrition:
substitute wheat tortillas (I did)
swap out hummus for sour cream (we LOVE the ones from costco- jalepeno cilantro, avacado, chipotle!)
use lower sodium options when possible- when you're working with canned items, it's going to be a little higher in sodium. You can buy reduced sodium options and I bought the reduced sodium seasonings.
load on the veggies- lettuce, tomatoe, bell peppers, onions, cucmber, avacado, salsa
serve with fresh fruit salad.

money saver: This time of year, grocery stores want 11 toes for an avacado. That's especially tricky since I only have 10. Because they're so dang expensive, I buy the fresh, pre-made guac. The brand I use is [i think] Wholly Guacamole. Not only is the name catchy, there are only about four ingredients! It's so much cheaper than making your own right now!

Low fat, Low calories (granted you don't load it with sour cream and cheese) and a high nutrition meal!
ho-rah!

You could probably do the same recipe with ground beef, but chicken is lower in fat and cholesterol, and therefore better for your heart and your hips!

So there you have it. My very simple and very tasty recipe. Let me know if you guys try it! I want to know how it turns out! Oh, and sorry I don't have any pictures. My camera was in my car last night and I was too busy [lazy] to get it. :)

We liked it so much we're having it for dinner again tonight!

p.s. thank you guys so much for your comments! I love hearing your responses. If you read the comments from yesterday, you saw the amazing quote my sweet friend Katie left in them. This is more eloquently what I was trying to say :)


"Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of age. Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury. All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect."
Elder Packer

14 comments:

Courtney B said...

Oooh I'll definitely be trying this!! Sounds so yummy but its SO simple! But what the heck is ground chicken? (Yes, I AM embarrassed to admit I don't know what that is!)

Alexis Kaye said...

haha! Too funny! It's the same as ground beef that you use for hanburgers, only it's chicken! you can find it in the meat department! :)

Gentri said...

Way to go!! :D sounds delicious!

Amanda said...

YAY for cooking! I am always daunted by those recipes with a million steps and ingredients. Well not a million, but you know what I mean. Can't wait to see what else you come up with :)

megan danielle said...

that quote is amazing!!! i love the general authorities so much...they are so wise. thanks so much for re-sharing it!

Shay said...

I am so in awe over that quote- everyone needs it on a poster on their wall.

Thanks for the recipe- my hubby loves tacos!

Chelsea said...

Oh my goodness. I hate ground chicken--and you're making my mouth water. I'll probably try this!

Love that quote. It really is so true!

Unknown said...

I love that quote. The general authorities can say it better than most of us :).

And I'm loving this recipe idea! Especially the healthy tips.

I so look forward to everytime you post something new!

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

What a mega yummy recipe! When my husband and I work like crazy- I do a turkey breast or crockpot pulled pork and then create meals around it for the week. :)

Megan said...

YUMMMM!! These sound SO good! You know I'm always up for ANY kind of cooking help!

ashley.warner said...

WHAT A CUTE wifey you are!
those tacos sound delish!

i love that you're such a healthy eater! love love love it!

Emily said...

Cute, cute blog! Love it. :) And I love Jamie Oliver.
x

Katie said...

Hahaha "my husband likes his food like he like his women...hot and spicy"...AWESOME. You are adorable! :)

Kristen Thornburg said...

Yum yum yum!!! I thought I was following you...? But when I went here I didn't show up :( So NOW I am!! yay!! ha ha... good post, friend!