Bears Bake

January 5, 2010

This is named Bears Bake because I frequently make it for Sunday afternoon Bears games. It tastes a lot better than the offensive line played this year! Maybe we'll have a Jay Cutler sandwich. . . .

1 1/2 lbs ground meat (any kind, any combo)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1/4 c chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
1/4 c fresh cilantro
2 16 oz cans kidney beans
1 c chopped black olives
10 oz bag Fritos
1 lb grated cheddar

Brown meat, onion, and garlic. Drain. Add chili powder and cumin. Cook stirring for two minutes. Add tomato sauce, lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add 2 Tbsp cilantro. Spray 13 x 9 pan. Drain and rinse beans and olives. Spread half the meat in baking dish, half the beans, half the olives, half the chips, and half the cheese. Repeat. Bake 40-45 minutes until bubbling. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro.

Meatballs

Meatballs are just yummy fun. Round and tasty and easily placed on a stick. This is a great basic recipe without frying! There is very little seasoning so add your own based on what you want~oregano and basil for spaghetti meatballs, thyme and rosemary for swedish meatballs, ect. Or leave out the seasoning completely and let the sauce season them!

4 lbs ground meat with at least 1 lb beef~other can be chicken, pork, turkey, venison, more beef, lamb, ect
1-2 onions, chopped
2 c bread crumbs
1 c egg substitute
2 1/2 c milk
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and form into one inch balls. Bake 350 for 25 minutes. These freeze beautifully.

Flank Steak with Confetti Salsa

You can never have too many grill recipes unless it's a cold wet summer like it's been here this year. I figure it'll be 85 in late October.

1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 glove garlic, minced
1 avocado, chopped
1 c diced fresh mango
2 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 c cilantro
salt and pepper
2.5 lb flank steak

Combine red pepper, onion, garlic, avocado, mango and lime juice in a small bowl. Add cilantro.

Rub steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill to desired doneness. Remove from grill and tent with foil for 10 minutes before slicing thin across the grain. Serve with salsa, rice, and chips.

Beef Burgundy

I made this for our small group Christmas party a few years back and it was yummy! It's a great party meal since it bakes for so long and smells just divine.

1/4 c olive oil
2 1/2- 3 lbs lean sirloin, cut in chunks
3 Tbsp flour, plus some for dredging
salt and pepper
1/2 lb bacon, chopped
2 lg carrots, peeled and chopped
1 lg onion, peeled and chopped
1 bay leaf
5-6 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
one bottle French burgundy wine
2 c beef stock
5 Tbsp butter, divided
1 c frozen pearl onions
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 mushrooms
1 Tbsp orange zest
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1/4 c flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 375. In a oven proof stock pot with tight fitting lid, heat olive oil til very hot. Dredge beef in flour and add to pan. Season with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, brown meat evenly. Remove to a plate. Add chopped bacon to pan. Cook bacon til it starts to crisp. Add carrots, onions, and bay leaf. Cook veggies 5 minutes until they begin to soften. Add beef back to the pot. Pour in wine and beef stock. Cover pot and transfer to the oven for 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skilelt, melt 3 Tbsp butter. Add 3 Tbsp of flour and whisk to make a roux. Transfer to a small dish and reserve. Return pan to heat and add 1 Tbsp of butter. Add pearl onions and sugar. Cook until evenly caramelized, set aside. Cook mushrooms in butter til tender. Add citrus zest. Reserve.

Remove beef from oven. Place over medium heat on the stove top. Whisk in roux to thicken and add pearl onions and mushrooms. Stir in parsley. Serve over almond rice pilaf.

Sliders

If you are from the midwest you know exactly what sliders are. White Castle burgers. Yum. When I was very pregnant with Amelia I forced friends to eat some with me in hopes of going into labor. Christine called me the next morning to inform me that I was the only one NOT in labor. These are as good of a recreation as I have found. Be sure to blot the meat before you put the cheese on or you will have a greasy mess!

1 lb ground beef
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 egg
1/3 c bread crumbs
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp water
3/4 lb Velveeta
12 dinner rolls

Preheat oven to 400. Mix meat, soup mix, egg, bread crumbs, pepper, and water. Press into 13 x 9 pan and bake 10-15 minutes. Drain and blot. Slice Velveeta over the meat and melt. Serve on buns with chopped onion and pickle chips.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

It is fall! Or at least the calendar says it is. Mid October and it is 81 degrees out now! I love stews and soups in the fall. This is another great Joanna Lund recipe which comes about to about 4 points per serving. Great with a good crusty whole grain bread.

16 oz lean round steak
1 lb baby carrots
1 c chopped onion
1 1/2 c chopped celery
2 c diced raw potato
1 c frozen peas
1 can Healthy Request tomato soup
8 oz can cream corn
2 tsp grill seasoning

In crock pot combine meat, carrots, onion, celery, potatoes, and peas. In a small bowl mix soup, corn, and seasonings. Stir into the meat mixture. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Chili Joes

These are a different twist on sloppy joes or what the Dutch folk call BBQ. These are a great way to add veggies to your kids diet.

1 lb ground sirloin
15 oz can kidney beans
10 oz tomato soup
1 c celery
1/2 c green pepper
1/2 c onion
1/4 c ketchup
1 T brown sugar
1 T chili powder
salt and pepper
dash cayenne
dash garlic salt

Brown ground sirloin with celery, onion, and green pepper. Drain and rinse in HOT water to remove fat. Add remaining ingredients and combine. Reduce heat and simmer 30-40 minutes. Serve on buns with potato chips. Freezes well.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

I have tried lots of variations of this recipie and this the best one.

3-4 lb boneless roast
3 Tbsp basil
3 Tbsp oregano
1 can beef broth
1 envelope onion soup mix

Place roast in crock pot. Combine basil, oregano, and broth. Pour over roast. Top with soup mix. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. Shred with fork and return to crockpot. Serve on hard rolls with onions and peppers and provolone cheese. This freezes very well.

Pizza Pot Pie

I got this dish from a cookbook by author Joanna Lund. She makes great midwestern food for low WW points. This one is 4 points per serving.

1/2 lb ground sirloin
1 c chopped onion
1 c chopped green pepper
1 c mushrooms
15 oz. can pizza sauce
3/4 c FF sour cream
3/4 c low fat mozzarella
1 can reduced fat crescent rolls

Brown beef with onions, green pepper, and mushrooms. Drain. Stir in pizza sauce and heat through. Pour into sprayed 13x9 pan. Drop sour cream over the top. Top with mozzarella. Unroll crescent rolls on top. Lightly spray top with olive oil. Bake 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with~green beans and salad.

Shredded Beef Tacos in the Crock Pot

2 lbs flank steak
15 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 cup chopped onion
apprx. 2 tsp cumin
apprx. 2 Tbsp chili powder

Place all in the crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred beef and serve on tortilla with all the taco fixing.