Salmon and Sugar Peas

Tonight's dinner: salmon glazed with Wildtree's Outrageous Orange Sauce, Sugar Peas with slivered almonds, Wildtree's Butter Flavored Grapeseed Oil and Wildtree's Dill Dip Blend and hot cup of African Rooibos Tea to drink. Yum. What are you having for dinner?

Turkey Wraps

Does this look like leftover Thanksgiving turkey? It is! And oh so yummy!

Sometimes I cook a turkey or chicken and do this just to have handy portions, but this is actual leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I pull the meat apart and portion into serving sizes for our family then pop it in the freezer. Makes for all kinds of handy healthy meals.

This meal is turkey sauteed with fresh onions, mushrooms, and garlic. I added Wildtree's Chipotle Lime Rub. Add whatever seasoning you have on hand that sounds good for a little extra flavor.

Then I wrapped them in a whole wheat tortilla with some shredded cheddar, some lettuce and some Greek yogurt. Delish.

Juicy Hamburgers

This is a great way to stretch your ground beef and the hamburgers are delicious.

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped (I used 1/8 - 1/4 cup Wildtree Absolutely Onion Blend)
1/2 cup quick oats (I only had old fashioned oats - they worked fine)
1/3 cup tomato juice OR milk
dash of hot pepper sauce
dash of salt and pepper (I use Wildtree Rancher Steak Rub)

Mix all together. Let set for about 15-20 minutes. Shape into 4 large patties and grill, broil or fry until desired doneness. Serve with your favorite toppings. 

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

This is an all-time family favorite.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1&1/2 Cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Cups old fashioned oats
1 Cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Add combined flour, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix well again. Stir in oats, raisins and walnuts if using. Drop by large teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Do not overbake.

Quick and Easy Ham, Mac n Cheese

Busy moms will love this!

There are several options...

Take a ham steak and cut into small cubes or use pieces of leftover ham.

Cook either whole wheat macaroni or several potatoes, diced.

When macaroni or potatoes are cooked, drain and add ham pieces.

I like to use about 1/2 cup Wildtree Kids Cheese and milk or you can make a quick sauce with 2 Tablespoons butter, melt in separate pan. Add 2 Tablespoons flour. Stir well. Add a cup or more of milk and stir until thickened. Add a cup of grated cheese.

Stir this sauce over the macaroni or potatoes and ham and add a side vegetable and voila, dinner is served. Kids love this.

Beef Stroganoff

I vary this recipe to our liking. (This recipe comes from a Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.) This is one of those comfort foods that I can only make on occasion, because I have a hard time not eating the entire dish. I love eating fresh-sliced garden tomatoes with this dish. Almost doesn't seem complete without them on the side. This dish is SO YUMMY and so easy to make.

Beef Stroganoff
4 servings

1 pound lean ground beef (or 12 ounces boneless beef sirloin steak) I use ground beef
8 ounces sour cream or Greek Yogurt
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
Dash of black pepper (I use Wildtree's Rancher Steak Rub)
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules (I use Wildtree's beef bouillon soup base)
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons butter (I use Wildtree's Natural Butter Flavored Grapeseed Oil)

You can also add a packet of Ranch dressing mix for extra flavor. I add a dash of Wildtree's dill dip blend, a dash of Wildtree's Absolutely onion blend, and a dash of Wildtree's California Style Garlic and Pepper Blend in place of ranch seasoning.
 
2 cups hot cooked noodles/macaroni/or rice to serve over

(I start cooking my noodles or rice before I start making the stroganoff so they are ready about the same time.)

Method: Brown ground beef (or sliced sirloin), mushrooms, onions and garlic in skillet with butter or grapeseed oil. Cook for 5 minutes or until meat is cooked through. Drain off fat if desired.

In small bowl, combine sour cream OR Greek Yogurt, flour, 1/2 cup water, beef bouillon granules and black pepper or Steak Rub. 

Add sour cream mixture to skillet with meat mixture and combine thoroughly. Cook until bubbly. 
Serve over hot cooked noodles/macaroni/or rice.  

Ground Beef Stroganoff served over hot cooked whole wheat macaroni

 

 
        

Lavendar Heart Cookies

I got this recipe from "The Great Big Cookie Book," by Hilaire Walden. I made them for my friend and former co-worker, Florence, when she came to my house for tea. They were beyond delicious! I will definitely be making them again... and again and again!

 Lavender Heart Cookies
Makes 16-18

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (I ended up having to add another Tablespoon or so to get the dough to stick together.)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1&1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons fresh lavender florets or 1 Tablespoon dried culinary lavender, roughly chopped
2 Tablespoons superfine sugar for sprinkling (I used regular granulated sugar)

Method: Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in the flour and lavender and bring the mixture together in a soft ball. Cover and chill for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and stamp out heart cookies using a 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place on heavy baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, until golden.

After removing from oven, sprinkle with sugar then leave the cookies standing for 5 minutes to set. Using a metal spatula, transfer carefully to wire rack. Cool completely. Can be stored in airtight container for up to one week.