Pesto Meatballs and Couscous

We love pesto at our house and freeze it after making in all summer with basil from the garden. Enjoy this fun variation on meatballs.

3 T olive oil plus more for pan
1 ½ lb ground beef
½ c bread seasoned crumbs
¼ c pesto
1 egg
1 1/2 t salt
3/4 t pepper
10 oz. box couscous
1/4 c grated parmesan

1. Preheat to 350.

2. Using your hands, combine beef, bread crumbs, ½ of pesto, egg, salt, and pepper.

2. Shape mixture into 12 meatballs. Transfer to a baking dish that has been drizzled with 2 T olive oil in baking dish.

3. Bake for 15 min. Turn and bake another 1o min until cooked through.

4. Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to package directions.

5. In a small bowl, combine remaining olive oil and pesto. Spoon that mixture over the top of the meatballs.

6. Serve meatballs over couscous and top with Parmesan cheese.

Sweet Potato Vegetable Sandwich

1 sweet potato
4 slices wheat bread
4 slices red onion
1 avocado, sliced
4 slices tomato
T and 1 t honey mustard
1 T mayo
1/2 T poppyseed dressing
2 slices cheese
salt and pepper
lettuce or sprouts

1. Whisk honey mustard, mayo, and poppyseed for sauce. Spread on 2 slices of bread.

2. Microwave sweet potato for 4 minutes. Slice it when cooled.

3. Top bread with onions, avocado, sweet potato, tomato, cheese, greens, and salt and pepper.

**For the person who could never be content with a veggie sandwich, add a few slices of turkey. It's yummy that way too.

Tacos in a Bowl

A new kid favorite in our house.

1 lb. ground beef

4 T. chopped onion

1 1/2 c. salsa or 1 can rotel

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 1/2 c. water

2 pkg. ramen noodles

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

tortilla chips (optional)

In a skillet cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain. Stir in salsa, taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil. Add ramen noodles (discard seasoning packet or save for another use). Cook and stir for 3-5 mins or until noodles are tender.

Spoon into serving bowls, sprinkle with cheese and tortilla chips.

Variation: Add corn to mixture.

ENJOY!

Turkey Burgers

We just had these last night... turned out pretty good.

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 c. bread crumbs (I used Italian)

1/2 cauliflower (in the food processor)

1/4 c. skim milk

2 T. soy sauce (I used worshershire sauce)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Mix together, form into patties and grill.

Serve with sweet potato fries... YUM!

Chicken and Rice Soup

3-4 chicken breasts (or 3-4 cans of shredded chicken)

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery

1 1/2 t. salt

1 t. pepper

2 bay leaves

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 c. uncooked rice

1 carrot grated

1 T. butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1. Bring first 6 ingredients to a boil in 3-4 quarts of water. Cook until chicken is cooked through and tender (approx. 30 mins.)

2. Remove chicken and bay leaf

3. Add bouillon cubes and bring to a boil

4. Stir in rice, carrot and butter. Cook for 20 min or until rice is done. While rice cooks, shred chicken.

5. Add in cream of chicken soup and shredded chicken.

6. Salt to taste.

ENJOY!

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

These are so easy and fast and we love them! Yay for Bisquick box recipes. :)

2/3 c Bisquick mix

1/2 c grated parmesan cheese

1/2 t garlic salt

1/2 t paprika

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or chunks for nuggets

1 egg (+ a little milk)

3 T butter melted

Heat oven to 450. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

In 1-gallon ziploc bag add bisquick mix, cheese, salt & paprika. Whisk egg and a little milk in separate bowl. Dip chicken in egg and place in bag of bisquick mixture. Seal bag, shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet. Drizzle butter over chicken.

Bake for 12-14 mins, turning half way through.