Beef and Bean Burritos with Chile Peppers

Do you have a favorite recipe that your whole family loves and asks for regularly?  For our family, this is one of those recipes.  I know your family will enjoy it as much as mine!   ~Shelly

Yields: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 medium white onion, chopped
1 small leek (tough green part of stalk removed and discarded), cleaned and thinly-sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 pounds Harter House Ground Chuck 

Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Cumin, Oregano, and Chili Powder, to taste
1 roasted Chili Pepper, chopped
1 can (7 ounces) of Enchilada Sauce (reserve remaining 1/2 can to drizzle over rolled burritos before baking)
Refried Bean Mixture (see recipe below)
Flour tortillas
Cilantro leaves for garnish

Preparation:

In a large sauté pan or frying pan over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion and leek; cook until fragrant. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add ground sirloin and sauté until brown. Add salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to taste. Add the Chile pepper and 1/2 can Enchilada Sauce; stir mixture well. Turn heat to medium low and gently simmer until the meat has absorbed all the sauce.

Prepare Refried Bean Mixture.

When ready to serve, heat the flour tortillas in the microwave for 1 minute. Spread each warm tortilla with some prepared Refried Bean Mixture and then some prepared Beef Mixture. Roll the prepared tortillas up enchilada style and place on microwave-safe serving dish. 

Drizzle remaining 1/2 can Enchilada Sauce over the top and sprinkle with the grated cheddar cheese. Microwave until cheese is melted and the burritos are hot. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, and more Enchilada Sauce, if desired.

Optional garnishes: sour cream, salsa, Guacamole, and/or pico de gallo

Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

  

Refried Bean Mixture: 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 roasted Chili Pepper, chopped
2 strips bacon, browned to crispy and broken into pieces
1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce or taco sauce

In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, add red onion and sauté until fragrant. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Add refried beans, Chile Pepper, bacon, and hot sauce. Mix well and gently heat on low for approximately 20 minutes.

Adapted from What's Cooking America

Photo by Karen Calanchini, Food Stylist and Photographer, of Redding, CA.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Chicken, and bacon, better yet, crispy bacon. They are two of my favorite foods both in one easy recipe.

I was looking for an easy dinner which brings us today’s recipe for Bacon Wrapped Chicken.

What really surprised me was the amount of ingredients in this recipe, there are very few! I feel the chive and onion cream cheese is a huge ingredient in the flavor department and does most of the work for you.

Try and pound the chicken breasts down with a mallet as thinly as possible because they will roll up a lot easier. If you want to do some outdoor grilling these can also be grilled as well. They go great with a side dish of pasta or flavored rice. Enjoy

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Ingredients:

12 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves

2 (8 oz) cartons chive and onion cream cheese

12 slices of bacon

salt (to taste)

2 tablespoons butter

I recommend the Fresh, Never Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts, in the fresh meat counter at Harter House Supermarket.

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Between 2 sheets of wax paper, with a mallet, flatten chicken breasts to ½” thickness.

Step 2: Spread 3 tablespoons of cream cheese over each chicken breast. Then Dot with butter and season with salt. Wrap with bacon and stick a toothpick through the rolled chicken breast to hold it together. Roll up and stick a toothpick through to hold it together.

Step 3: Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes (or until juices run clear).

Step 4: Turn on the broiler and broil six inches from the heat for 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.

WICKED GOOD, NO-FRY WINGS

Wings go great with friends, football and ice cold beer. You can't go wrong with any of these recipes.  ~~Shelly

UNCLE DOUGIE’S, WICKED GOOD, NO-FRY WINGS  

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 Bottle Wicked Good Wing Marinade
4 lbs Fresh Chicken wing drumettes
1 large baking dish*

Uncle Dougies Wicked Good Wing Sauce
Available at both Springfield
Harter House locations.

OPTIONAL:
Large kitchen storage bags
Disposable aluminum oven roasting pan

PREPARATION:

1. Wash and dry wings
2. Place wings in marinade so they are smothered ( Plastic Kitchen Bags work great!)
3. Place in Fridge for a half hour
4. Go to the oven or grill with these babies!

CONVENTIONAL OVEN:

Preheat: 

Conventional oven to 400˚ | Convection to 375˚

Pour wings and marinade into a lasagna-style baking dish(es).
* You can use a disposable aluminum foil, oven roasting pan 

and cut your clean-up time and trouble completely out of the equation!

Bake: 

1 hour, rolling the wings at least twice during the cooking cycle.
After all the marinade has baked into the wings and there is no moisture left in the pan, cook to desired crispness.
* but anytime after 60 minutes will be delicious

GRILL:

Just cook it like chicken! For extra heat, Brush with marinade often during cooking.
* For an extra-tasty touch, glaze with Sweet N Snappy BBQ sauce during the last couple of minutes of grilling.

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Frank's RedHot Original Buffalo Chicken Wings

Discover just how simple it is to make this Buffalo wings recipe right at home.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup FRANK'S RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
• 2 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix butter and RedHot Sauce in medium bowl; set aside.

Arrange wings on large foil-lined pan. Bake on lowest oven rack for 30 minutes or until crispy, turning once.

Toss wings in sauce mixture until well coated. Serve with blue cheese and celery, if desired. 

OR

Substitute 3/4 cup FRANK'S® RedHot® Buffalo Wings Sauce for the RedHot Original Sauce and butter.

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Moore's Classic Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

1 cup Moore’s Original Marinade

1 cup Moore’s Original Buffalo Wing Sauce

1 pound fresh or frozen chicken wings; if frozen, thaw

 

Instructions

1. Pour Moore’s Original Marinade over meat.
    Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Grill or bake wings until cooked throughout.
     Internal temperature should be 165 degrees.

3. In a large bowl, pour Moore’s Original Buffalo Wing sauce over       wings and toss until thoroughly mixed.

  

Easy Turkey Tetrazzini

Another great recipe to use up those Turkey Leftovers.

Here is what you need:

8oz spaghetti

1/2 cup butter

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 8oz container of white mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 cups peas

1/2 cup parsley

1 1/2 cups of milk

1 1/2 cups  vegetable or chicken stock

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup Pecorino Romano

Salt & Pepper to taste

4 cups cooked turkey meat or 1 1/4 lb

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumb

1 TBSP Olive oil

 

 

Step 1: Cook pasta according to package directions, once cooked drain and set aside.

 

 

Step 2: Clean and slice mushrooms, then chop onion and parsley and set aside.

 

 

Step 3: Melt butter in pan, then saute mushrooms, onion, peas and parsley, add pepper and salt to taste. Then remove mushroom and pea mixture from pan and let cool in a bowl.

 

 

Step 4: Next make your roux by mixing 1/4 cup butter with 3 tablespoons flour. Cook roux until light tan.

 

 

Step 5: Then add milk and stir until smooth then add cheeses and stock until all the cheese is melted. Then add mushroom mixture and turkey meat to cheese sauce and stir until combined.

 

 

Step 6: In a small bowl; mix Olive oil, bread crumb and grated cheese together.

 

 

Step 7: Next butter your baking dish, then add cooked pasta, top with cheese sauce mixture, then top with bread crumb mixture.

 

 

Step 8: Bake for 15 minutes at 400. Then enjoy!

 

FROM Living Well Spending Less

 

Week 14 - Starting Over Again

I LOVED writing my blog last week. (The Desire To Find a Way)

I was feeling very motivated and thinking a lot about a real exercise routine. with a trainer, at the Y, or at a workout facility very close to my house.
I have been feeling I need structure, a routine, and someone to keep me accountable.  Although I thought about it all week, I never took the first step to making it happen.

I have been slipping back into my old habits.  Eating delicious savory meals and enjoying high calorie beverages.  Needless to say, I am making NO progress.

I have been feeling discouraged and disappointed in myself. 
Yes, I’m still feeling out of it, but not defeated.

I need to revisit what it is that I really want.  
I know I can do better.  I want to do better.  I NEED to do better.

I know we all have access to far more power, authority, and influence over our lives than we often believe.  The power of our mind is truly great.

I need to be focusing on how I'm feeling, what I'm thinking, and how I plan to respond.
I have to remember to have faith and continue to take one step at a time. 
Even the tiniest possible step is progress. 

Our beliefs direct our choices, behaviors, and actions.

I believe I can overcome my addictions and bad habits.

When I first started changing my diet I was focused and determined.  And honestly I thought at the time, that it was easy. I eliminated the foods that I knew were unhealthy for my body. 

I wasn't hungry because I was feeding my body healthy foods.

And my scale was going down regularly.  How exciting is that!  

When I evaluate my progress up to this point, I appreciate the progress I have made so far.

I revisited WEEK 7.

Week one I lost 4 lbs. - It felt good to see the scale go down.
Week two,  Just 1 more pound down. I noticed I was leaving the table not feeling stuffed.  I was still taking too many liberties with my choices and I wanted faster results.  So I focused on paying closer attention.
Week three, down 2 more pounds.  I'm choosing far fewer adult beverages.  I am making better food choices.  This week I noticed that my nice shorts are much more comfortable.  I remember thinking, I must have lost a full inch in my waist.
Week four -  My scale is down 9 pounds in four weeks,  I'm starting to really feel it in my clothes now.  My routines are getting a little easier.  I'm not fighting hunger and food cravings like I was before.
Week five -  A Labor day party.  It's easy to get derailed.  I reminded myself that I've got this.  Keep going, don't give up.

Week six -  I got into a pair of jeans I hadn't worn in years.  And a favorite top is not puckering at the buttons.  I am getting into my old favorite clothes again.   Now I am really starting to get excited.
Week seven - I am now down 13.5 pounds.   I tell myself that if I don't eat or drink this thing I'm craving, that the scale WILL go down tomorrow.  It is my motivation.  I think my face looks thinner too.  I did see a picture of myself this week that I didn't like, which only reminded me that I am not where I want to be. 

Today I am still 16 pounds down.  That is worth celebrating.

I will make a plan this week to start working with a trainer.  I want to be stronger and have more endurance.

I believe in Visualization too.  I visualize myself healthy and strong.

I say to myself, “My body is getting stronger every day!”
It’s amazing how our body quickly responds to this thought. 

We are Human, which means we falter, we doubt, and we feel pain sometimes.

But, TODAY, I am ready to start anew!

Week 13 - The Desire to Find a Way

Have you ever told yourself, I'll get started next week when I have time. A hundred “next weeks” later and you’re a couple of years down the same road, still getting the same tired results, wondering why you can’t break through, why things can’t be different.

Thoughts like;

"I really want ________, but I can’t because ________________."
"I would _____________, but then ___________ might happen."
"I really need to ______________, but I am too busy with ________ right now to make the change that would free me up and take me to the next level."
"What if _____________ happens – then what?"
"I don't have time to _________."

These patterns become like dead end roads we drive down regularly

The good news is – We can change it, starting right NOW. 

Step out of the role of "I can't do this", and into the role of "I am in charge".

We have to find the strength inside of us.  That PURPOSE.  That DRIVE that lives inside of us.

I was told, if I want one principle to gain success, it is:

THE DESIRE to FIND A WAY to make it happen… 

Because if you really have the DESIRE to FIND A WAY, you won’t be looking for ONE magical THING.

  
You’ll just be READY and WILLING to do whatever it takes to reach your goal.

When you really have the desire, you’ll be willing to LEARN whatever you need to learn to get there.

 

You’ll be willing to WORK however many hours you need to work to get there.

 You’ll be willing to KEEP GOING, when you hit rock bottom, when you suffer setbacks, when it seems impossible.

It’s that self-motivation that can only come when you have a powerful reason. A reason that drives everything you do.
 Find that PASSION inside you.

If our DESIRE to find a way is UNBREAKABLE 
, then it is only a MATTER OF TIME before we reach our definition of success. 

And yes, WE DEFINE success, no one else.
 What success is to another may not be what success is for you or me.

  

The real questions of success are:
 

AM I LIVING UP TO MY FULL POTENTIAL?
 

AM I LIVING THE LIFE I WANT TO LIVE?
 

DID I SETTLE or DID I FIND A WAY?

Repeat to yourself every day:
LIFE won’t always go my way, 
BUT I WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY
There is NO DOUBT IN MY MIND.
I WILL ACHIEVE MY GOAL!

I WILL PERSEVERE! 

Everything we want in life is waiting for us, AND SO MUCH MORE! It just requires a decision. It requires COURAGE to make that decision. It requires DEDICATION to commit to that decision. It requires sacrifice along the way. It requires STRENGTH most don’t have to see through all the challenges along the way.

It's time to take charge.

Start now and reap the benefits in 2020.

Week Twelve - Unstoppable

This was a good week!
I lost the 3 pound increase I had last week plus another half pound.  I am at 16.5 lbs down in 12 weeks (or 3 months.)

Isn't it funny how a good week vs. a bad week can sometimes depend completely on our food intake.
Which is another good reason to choose nutritious options.  It helps our attitude, mood, and overall self confidence.

I have said before that I will adopt the philosophy:
"I will not eat anything that isn't healthy, and beneficial to my overall health!"
I will eat to fuel my body.

To stay motivated I have thought a lot about WHY I want to lose weight.
I know health is at the top, but appearance is my best motivator.  I want to look good in my clothes.  I want to wear cute and fashionable outfits.  I want to look professional in my clothes.  And I don't want to be uncomfortable.
I want to be able to cross my legs while sitting.  (I can now)
I want to be able to bend over and paint my toenails.
And being able to wear my jeans!  I am fitting in my largest size jeans.  (I have more sizes to get into just waiting in my closet.)

Each time I see the scale go down (usually just a 1/2 pound) I have a feeling of accomplishment.

I have dieted my whole life and the bottom line (for me) is reducing my calorie intake.  Reducing Portion sizes.  Reducing the frequency of snacking. Remove completely the fried foods, desserts, sugars and all processed foods.

To stay really present I must write down what I am eating.  This isn't for the rest of my life.  It is for today!  It helps me measure my progress, I can identify my triggers and it does hold me more accountable.  I believe my weight gain last week was related to salt intake.  I was hungry and I ate a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers.  Bad choice, Shelly!

When I eat meals that includes a protein, a fat, and a low-card vegetable, I feel full much longer.
Also eating foods with more fiber is important.  This week I want to research recipes that incorporate high fiber foods.

I can always do better. 
I need more exercise.  (just walking)
I need more vegetables (fiber)
I need less alcohol.  (this week I had an amazing Orange Blossom Vesper Martini. I'll have to tell about that in a different blog.)

Lastly, look at the bright side.
I told my girlfriend this week to "Get over it".  Stop worrying.  It doesn't really matter.
Be grateful and count your blessings.  I also try to pass on my blessings. It feels really good to be able to give joy to someone else.
I want to laugh.  A good belly laugh burns calories too.  But it just makes us feel good.  And smile. Consciously remind yourself to smile.  Just that alone will put us in a better mood.  Be happy and spread joy.

Now let's reward ourselves with a new outfit, instead of a big fat meal.