Tortilla Maker

I really missed my homemade tortillas when we ran out.  The store bought ones just aren't the same! I decided that I wanted to keep making my own but since it takes so long I needed a tortilla maker.  I found a 6 inch cast iron one for $20 (less with a coupon)  at Bed Bath and Beyond.  I love it!!! It saves so much time since it skips completely the rolling out step.  The only thing I wish I had done differently is buy a bigger size.  This one is the perfect size for corn tortillas or to flatten scones  (like we did tonight).  I like my flour tortillas better bigger so I am going to look around for a bigger one too.  This is the one I got :http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=13081280&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&rkg_attid=414099568&zmam=77312802&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=13081280

Taco Seasoning Mix

I kooked at my taco seasoning packets and saw msg and hydrogenated oil as some of the ingredients.  No thanks--I can make my own easily!
This mix is from my Make-a-Mix Cookery Cookbook

2 teaspoons instant minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin


Lasts up to 6 months if store in a cool dry place.  Makes one packet (two tablespoons)

To add for a normal taco filling:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. water
1 pkg. taco seasoning (or above recipe)

I tried this with the slow cooker taco meat from Katie.  It turned out great!

Baked Zucchini Chips

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-zucchini-chips/

These are a must! They turn out so crispy and yummy! I added garlic and basil and you can add more seasonings to the bread crumbs if you want (more flavor)

Quinoa Black Bean Burgers

If you liked the spinach burgers you will like these:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quinoa-black-bean-burgers/detail.aspx

I added cilantro in the burger and loved it!

Peanut butter granola bars

Here is a different mix on granola bars (no chocolate) Tasty! I also used almonds from Costco and doubled this recipe so they were more thick. One batch wasn't too many, and they are SO easy to make, so I made two batches.

http://themarathonmom.com/peanut-butter-granola-bars.htm

Easy Spicy Shrimp Pasta

I am trying to eat more fish because it has so much protein and is a good and different meal.  Shrimp has 31 grams of protein in a serving, I think that says it all and this recipe is low fat! It really is yummy!
So, I found Easy Spicy Shrimp Pasta. When we went to Costco and got expensive Shrimp when bethany was here I am glad that I did. It made a lot and it was so good (wasn't fishy).
It is a little spicy so maybe not kid friendly? Just don't put as much red pepper. Also, don't put regular pepper and garlic together (Matt said these two combined make it spicy), or just don't put as much. I think kids would like it after that.
Enjoy!

http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-spicy-shrimp-pasta-low-fat-144728

Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

This recipe was a winner!  We both liked it and it was filled with vegetables.  There is a lot of chopping in the beginning but after that it isn't hard. The only thing you may want to be wary of is that it is kind of spicy. It was too spicy to feed to Lucy.   I used Costco's organic salsa and my homemade wheat tortillas.  If I wanted to make it less spicy next time I would probably lessen the cumin and use homemade pico de gallo  that wasn't very spicy instead of the salsa.  My pan was pretty full when ready to bake so I think next time I will use a 9x13.

Bethany
http://www.perrysplate.com/2011/03/stacked-roasted-vegetable-enchiladas.html

This recipe came right in handy as I needed to use some zucchini and yellow squash that I had from bountiful baskets. Plus, I had a lemon. So that was good. I was the only one that used it, however.The kids loved this. Weird, I know. No picture. sorry to disappoint.

Summer Squash Soup with Basil

Recipe Courtesy of Curtis Aikens

Prep Time:

10 min

Cook Time:

40 min--

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds zucchini, crookneck or pattypan squash, roughly chopped(I used 6 or 7 yellow sqush/zucchini and chopped into chunks) next time I might add some bulk with potato chunks
• 1 large onion, chopped(I used 2)
• 6 cups Summer Vegetable Stock
• 1/2 cup julienned basil  (i used less than 1/4 cup dried)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste(I used about 1 tsp salt)
• Juice of 1 lemon(reserved for an option)
• Sour cream or plain yogurt as an accompaniment

Directions

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or stockpot, add zucchini and onion. Saute for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and zucchini is crisp tender. Then add stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat and partially cover and cook for 25 minutes. Add basil during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Mix the butter and flour together into a paste. Remove 1 cup of simmering stock and whisk in butter mixture until smooth. Add back into soup, stir until thickened. Remove soup from heat to a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. (I also added 1/2 cup cream (as recommended by a commenter) and added some parm cheese at the end. I only pureed 1/2 of the soup in the blender.)Add lemon juice and serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pizza with Carraba's Herb Dipping Sauce

Friday night is pizza night so each week I am trying to figure a new way to do toppings so we don't get tired of the same thing. This pizza was inspired by Costco's basil pizza. It turned out really yummy. Mark even said it was one of his favorite meals I have ever made!
I used the same dough recipe as posted by Katie before called the Best Pizza Ever-Half Whole Wheat except that we were out of wheat flour so I had to use all white (maybe that's why Mark liked it so much ;)). The topping is fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and the good kind of mozzarella cheese that is a little wetter than the normal stuff. (We also put pizza sauce and a little shredded mozzarella below that). We love the bread dipping sauce at Carraba's so I decided to try the following recipe to dip the pizza in. I loved it so much I ended up just pouring it all over the pizza. This is definitely a recipe we will make again.

Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Spices
Source: www.recipelink.com

http://www.macaroniandcheesecake.com/2011/04/carrabbas-bread-dipping-spices.html

Makes 1/4 cup

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil (or 1 tbsp. fresh-if using fresh reduce parsley to 1 tbsp.)
1/8 tsp. dried rosemary (or 1/2 tsp. fresh)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (or 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes)
1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/8 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Place all ingredients except olive oil & lemon in a blender or food processor and chop until all ingredients are similar in size. Stir in the olive oil & lemon juice.
For Serving:
In a small dish, place 1 1/2 tsp. spice mixture. Pour 3-4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil over top of the spice mixture. Serve with french bread for dipping.

Cilantro Lime Hummus

This was so good! It is now my favorite kind of hummus. I had it as a snack with pretzels and then again as a lunch by spreading it on one of my homemade wheat tortillas and adding a
tomato. It made a great hummus sandwich!

Cilantro Lime White Bean Hummus

makes about 1 cup

1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 clove of garlic, minced (more or less, depending on your tastes)

1/4 cup cilantro

1 teaspoon lime zest

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/3 cup olive oil (+ more to reach desired consistency)

salt and pepper to taste

Combine beans, cilantro, lime zest, juice and garlic in the food processor and blend until mixed. With the processor on, stream in olive oil until desired consistency is reached. I blended mine for a good 3-4 minutes to make it super creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips!

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/cilantro-lime-white-bean-hummus/