EASY PEASY PULLED PORK SANDWICHES!

Being summer, I hate to use the oven and heat the house up any more than I have to, so I use the slow cooker, just like Melissa does. This is BY FAR the easiest recipe you will ever see, so pay close attention.

Put a pork tenderloin in the slow cooker with about an inch of water at the bottom. Cook all day until it easily shreds with a fork. Shred tenderloin entirely. Mix with BBQ sauce of your choice, amount is up to you. Serve on buns or Arnold Select Sandwich Thins. DONE!

I usually cook 2 pork tenderloins at a time and freeze half of it for another day. The kids love it and I love it because it’s lean meat so it’s Weight Watchers friendly!

What could be easier? Give it a try and let me know how you like it!

Karen

Wednesday Whatever: Yummy Recipe for the Family

I’m going to take a detour from my healthy, dieting life I’m leading lately and give you a really great recipe that your kids will love. (But have you noticed that almost everything I write lately revolves around food? Hmmmm!)

The recipe is for BBQ Beef Pop ‘Ems. They are easy, easy to make and everyone in my family loves them, which is saying A LOT! Before I go on, I must give credit to my sister, Margee, for giving me this recipe. (Okay, I’m really giving her credit only because she yelled at me for not saying that she told me about the Arnold Select Sandwich Thins on my Favorite Diet Foods post. So, are ya happy now, Marg?)

So here it is: BBQ Beef Pop ‘Ems

• 1 pound ground beef (or turkey, or soy, or whatever fake stuff you use)
• 1 Cup BBQ Sauce (I actually use a little more than 1 cup)
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 10 pack can of buttermilk biscuits
• 2/3 Cup shredded cheese (any kind)
  

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown ground beef, drain and return to skillet. Add BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Mix well. Coat muffin pan with non-stick spray. Press each biscuit into a cup. Spoon the meat mixture into biscuits and push down firmly. Top with cheese and bake for 10-12 minutes, until cheese is melted and biscuits are done.

That’s all there is to it! It’s exactly the kind of recipe I like: not too many ingredients and no “meanwhile” instructions. (You know, where you have to do something while something else is happening. I can’t multi-task in the kitchen!)

Enjoy!

Karen

Please, please eat it!

When did I become the mom who makes one dinner for the adults and another dinner for the kids? Didn't I swear on a stack of cookbooks that I would NEVER do that? Didn't I tell myself that if they don't like what I make, that's just too bad? What part of my brain decided that if they went to bed hungry, I was a terribly mommy?

Somehow, I fell into that awful, awful pattern of making something different for my boys. Now, don't get me wrong, I only do it if I KNOW they won't eat what I am making for my husband and I. So that's not too bad, right? I said, RIGHT???

Well, I found a magical recipe! Not only do the boys like it, but even my husband does (and believe me, he's just as picky as the kids). AND I get spinach into them. Yes, you heard right, SPINACH!

Now, I will share my magic with you...

Chicken and Rice

1 lb. chicken filets – cut into bite-size pieces
1 T oil (I left this out and used Pam)
4 C fresh baby spinach leaves
1 ½ c uncooked Minute Rice
1 can drained tomato wedges (optional, but they do add flavor)
2 green onions, sliced (optional)
1 can chicken broth
1/3 C Parmesan cheese
(Use your favorite seasoning on chicken before cooking.)
Salt and Pepper to taste

In skillet, add oil and chicken pieces and cook thoroughly. Add chicken broth, rice, and green onion and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, add spinach and tomato wedges. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until most liquid is gone and rice is fluffy, stirring occasionally. DO NOT OVERCOOK OR IT WILL BE DRY! (Believe me, I know!) Sprinkle cheese on top and serve.

I know, I know, you're thinking, that looks boring. You're right! Boring, yet nutritional. That's what I strive towards. If it's too exciting, my kids and my husband just look at it with that "What in the world is that and do you really expect me to eat it?" look on their faces. In this recipe, the spinach shrivels up so small, I just tell them it's seasoning. And they believe me!

So enjoy my magical, boring, nutritional recipe. I'm trying to figure out how I can make it every night without them realizing it!