Simple Living

OK it has been weird food week. You know the game of trying to eat cheap but stay healthy game! I am posting the recipes because, well, if I can't ever find that recipe again, OH OH, just add the song MacArthur park in here. Dear me, I am dating myself aren't I!!


We Tried the meatless tacos with the following:


Taco Style Lentils & Rice

■3/4 cup dry lentils

■3/4 cup brown rice

■4 cups tap water

■4 beef bouillon cubes

■2 teaspoons chili powder

■1/2 teaspoon cumin

■1 teaspoon onion powder

■1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

In a 2-quart saucepan bring the water to a boil. As the water is heating, add the lentils, rice, bouillon, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bring the whole thing to a nice fat boil. Reduce the heat to low. Place a lid on the lentils and allow the mixture to simmer for about 45 to 50 minutes. The water should be mostly absorbed. You may serve this as it, topped with a little cheddar cheese if desired. Or you can use it to fill burritos or tacos instead. Both ways are very tasty. This is one of Tommy’s favorite foods in the whole wide world.



If you have never tried lentils and are looking for a way to make them acceptable to the kids, this one is a good bet. Our favorite way to eat it is as a taco filling. If you are having a busy day and don’t have time to cook this on the stove, it can cook in the crock pot on low for about 6 to 8 hours instead. I’ve never cooked it on high, so I’m not sure how quickly it would cook that way. I suspect about 3 hours would be enough.




These money saving pita chips!


Homemade Pita Chips


Recipe courtesy The Neelys



.Prep Time:5 min Inactive Prep Time:-- Cook Time:12 min Level:

Easy Serves:

3 to 5 servings.Ingredients

3 pitas, cut into 8 wedges

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, smashed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat heat oven to 375 degrees F.





Cut pitas into 8 wedges. Pour olive oil into a bowl and add garlic, salt and pepper. Brush pita chips olive oil and garlic mixture. Arrange pita chips on baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.



.And lastly a quick and easy way to have mini meat loaf is here:    
Don’t you just love these cute Mini Meatloaves? I love cooking things in muffin tins. It makes everything so tiny and cute to eat. Remember these Pop Up Pancakes? Yum! Well, these Mini Meatloaves in a Muffin Tin are perfect for dinner served with little mini carrots and baby asparagus!








This idea came from the magazine Kraft Food & Family. I subscribe to their quarterly magazine and it’s FREE! **UPDATE: this magazine is no longer free.** It has great easy recipes with lots and lots of pictures (every recipe book needs pictures!) They do advertise using almost all Kraft products, but I just use whatever I’ve got at home already.



Mini Meatloaf Recipe:



Favorite Meatloaf recipe

BBQ sauce

salt & pepper

cheese – cheddar, or something stronger would be yum

Spray your muffin tin with cooking spray. Place in a handful of prepared meatloaf into each muffin tin. Press your thumb into each meatloaf ball, making a space for toppings. Squirt a dollop of BBQ sauce into the space and salt and pepper. Bake in a pre-heated 375* oven for 30 minutes or until cooked through (160F). Add your favorite cheese and bake for another 5 or so minutes.

Now serve these on a mini plate on a tiny table in your smallest room with your cutest kids and enjoy!
Written by Marie LeBaron



We also ate quick cook barley instead of rice. Hmmm. It was all good, will help in managing weight and giving up that all important fiber!


Any other cheap yet healthy ideas? Please comment and let me know I need all the help I can get in the kitchen!!