Friday, July 30, 2010

Pineapple Beef

Got this recipe from an old favorite cookbook, "New Dieter's Cookbook."
It's quick and easy and good for you.

Ingredients

12 ounces beef top round steak cut 1/2" inch thick and trimmed of fat (we just use stew meat.)
1 eight ounce can of pineapple slices in juice (I used chunks)
2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger root or 1/8 tsp ground ginger (we did ground)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Nonstick spray for pan
4 green onions cut into 1/2 inch pieces (we omitted)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 six oz package frozen peapods (we used fresh)
1 medium tomato cut into wedges
2 cups hot cooked rice (we used brown rice)

Directions
1) Partially freeze meat for easier slicing. Thinly slice meat across the grain into bite sized strips.

2) Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Cut pineapple slices into quarters and set aside.

3) In a bowl stir together reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger and crushed red pepper.

4) Add the meat; stir until coated. Cover and marinate meat at room temperature for 15 minutes.

5) Drain and reserve marinade.

6) Spray an unheated large nonstick skillet or wok with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat.

7) Add meat and green onions.

8) Stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until meat is done. Push from center of skillet.

9) For sauce, stir conrstarch into reserved marinade. Add sauce to center of skillet.

10) Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

11) Add pineapple, peapods and tomato. Cook and stir two minutes more.

Serve over hot cooked rice. Makes four servings (we had enough for five plus leftovers.)

According to the cookbook:  304 calories, 5 g. total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 54 mg cholesterol, 311 mg sodium, 40 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 25 g protein.  Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 2 vegetable.

Hot Blueberry Compote

This is one of my favorite recipes from Mom.
It's great with whipped cream on top and goes well with both pancakes and waffles.
I also like that you don't need to have fresh blueberries for it, frozen work just as well.

Ingredients

2 cups cold water
2 cups blueberries
2 1/2 Tbl. cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbl. lemon juice

In large frying pan, combine cold water, cornstarch, blueberries, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Bring to boil over medium heat. Stir constantly until boiling. (You'll see the color change to a deep, dark blue.) Simmer for a few minutes over low heat.


Basic Pancakes

This is the recipe we use for pancakes every weekend.
It's from Mom of course! It's especially good with Mom's Blueberry Compote on top, but blueberry, chocolate chip, banana, strawberry or craisin pancakes are also all favorites here.


Ingredients

2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk (2 Tbl. White vinegar plus enough milk to make two cups)
1/4 cup vegetable (we use canola) oil
2 cups flour (sometimes we do half wheat and half white flour or the wheat/white/wheat germ mix)
2 Tbl sugar or honey
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and make on a griddle.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

"Krispie" Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've had this cookbook since before I was married. I always find the best recipes in it!
It's called "Favorite Brand Name Cookie Collection."
Here's one I tried tonight. They're just called Chocolate Chip Cookies in the book, I added the Krispies to the title. I felt it only appropriate.




INGREDIENTS


1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt


1/2 cup butter or margarine softened

1 cup sugar


1 egg

1 tsp vanilla


2 cups Rice Krispies (I used PRICERITE Brand)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS


Stir together flour, baking soda, salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat margarine and sugar until well combined.

Add egg and vanilla. Beat well.

Add flour mixture. Mix thoroughly.

Stir in Rice Krispies cereal and chocolate chips.

Drop by level tablespoonfuls (I use the Pampered Chef small scoop) onto greased cookie sheets. (I did not grease. But my cookie sheets are pretty well seasoned and there's butter in the recipe too.)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove immediately from cookie sheets and cool on wire wracks.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies (I got 46 out of it and hardly ate ANY batter this time.)