Braised Round Rump Roast!

I found this one online in the WV Gazette news and being the proud Mountaineer Alum that I am, I just had to try it! WV did not disappoint - it was SO SO SO SO GOOD! LET'S GOOO MOUNTAINEERS!



1 boneless 2 pound round rump roast
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large onion, diced
3/4 beef broth
1 tbs cornstarch mixed with 1/4 beef broth

CUT small slits in roast using the tip of a sharp knife. Insert garlic slices.
MARINATE roast in soy sauce in a large plastic bag for 2 to 4 hours.
PREHEAT oven to 325 degrees.
HEAT oil over medium heat in a heavy Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid (I used my Le Creuset cast iron French Oven)
REMOVE roast from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Sprinkle roast with black pepper.
BROWN meat slowly on all sides, taking care to get a nice brown crust. Remove roast to a dinner plate or platter.
ADD onions to drippings remaining in pot and stir well to coat. Cook until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
POUR broth over onions and scrape the bottom of the pot with a plastic or wooden spoon as the broth simmers. After the broth has simmered for about 30 seconds, return the roast to the pot, including any juices that may have accumulated on the plate.
COVER pot and put it in the oven for 2 – 2 1/2 hours or until meat is very tender. Keep an eye on the liquid level in the pot as the roast cooks. If it's drying up, add some water. If the lid doesn't fit all that well on your Dutch oven, cover the top of the pot with parchment paper before putting on the lid.
REMOVE meat and onions from pot and keep warm. Skim fat from liquid remaining in the pot and add corn starch mixture.
SERVE slices of roast drizzled with the gravy.
ENJOY!

Lime Chicken, Rice & Bean Burritos

2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 cup fresh salsa (not the kind in a jar)
4 whole wheat tortillas
2 chicken breast
2 tbs lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
sea salt and ground pepper
1 can fat free refried beans
low fat shredded cheddar & monetary jack cheese
homemade guacamole
light sour cream

Cook chicken breasts in a 350 degree preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, remove and let cool. Once the brown rice is almost cooked add the corn and salsa to it, mix and let cook for a few minutes. Once the chicken is cooled, remove the skin and discard then remove meat from the bone and shred up. Add lime juice, cumin, garlic, sea salt & pepper to the chicken and mix. Arrange the burritos by spreading a layer of refried beans, then the rice mix, the chicken and then top with some cheese. Fold down the center, then fold in the sides and roll over. Wrap each separately in foil and cook in the oven on 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with sour creme and guacamole!







I like really simple guacamole - I just mash up 1 avocado, add some lemon juice, some red onion, salt and ground red pepper flakes and pop in the fridge for about a 1/2 hour so the flavors can mix!

Great Little Eater!

AJ really is such a excellent eater - she is willing to try anything! She is so good at eating vegetables and she loves fruit. We try to feed her mostly whole wheat breads and pastas and she drinks mostly water or her yogurt drinks (we really try our best to steer clear of any juice because of all the sugar). Here is a pic of her from tonight chowing down on some whole wheat penne with meatballs and peas!

Meatball Parm Sub & A Salad!

Meatballs-
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves crushed/diced garlic
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
3 tbs grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tbs dried onion
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
sea salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together with your hands. Shape into balls and lay on a baking tray. Bake in the oven on 400 degrees for about 20 minutes (turn halfway through). You could fry them up in some olive oil but I thought baking them would be healthier and they were still just as tasty! While they are cooking, heat up some gravy in a large saucepan and once they are done add them to the gravy and let them cook on low heat for about an hour. When you are ready, slice open some whole wheat sub rolls and add the meatballs with some gravy and top with slices of light mozzarella cheese - bake in the oven on a baking pan till the cheese is melted and serve!!!!

New Sandbox!

For an Easter present, my mother got AJ her very first sandbox!!! Now that the weather is getting nicer, AJ has really been loving it outside - once you take her out, it's hard to get her back in! I just knew she would love a sandbox and boy was I right! She had SO MUCH FUN playing in it and as I say, anything at all that helps exhume some of her endless energy is a amazing gift for me too!!!

So Simple Chicken Salad

2 chicken breasts
Mayo (we use the Hellman's made with Canola Oil)
Celery
Sea salt & ground pepper

Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Remove skin and discard. Remove all the good white meat and cut up finely in a bowl. Add some mayo, some finely chopped celery, a little ground pepper and mix. So simple, yet so delicious! Not to mention a ton cheaper then buying the ready made from behind the deli counter!!!

Uncle Don's 75th!

We all went to celebrate the "Chief's" 75th birthday last Wednesday at my moms house - a great time was had by all - everyone really enjoyed the pizza, pasta, salad & cake! It was great to see all the kids running around and playing and nice for the adults to sit around and each others company, eat some yummy food & watch the kids!

Happy 75th Uncle Don!!!