December 2015 Meal Swap Menu
Your Choice
Leah – Chicken Chow Mein
1-2 lbs chicken breast (cubed or shredded)
1 can bean sprouts
1 can water chestnuts
1 C celery chopped
1 onion chopped
1 garlic cloved crushed
1 C low sodium chicken broth
⅓ C soy sauce
1-2 Tbsp vegetable oil
pepper to taste
¼ C cornstarch w/ ⅓ C cold water
Crispy chow mein noodles
-You provide rice
Prep Day Directions: Cook chicken on stovetop or boil until cooked through Chop, combine and mix all the ingredients together (add the water and cornstarch at the very end) Mix the cold water and cornstarch together until it is smooth and all cornstarch has dissolved. Put in crock pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Prepare rice.
Serve Day Directions: Thaw the night before. Put ingredients from bag #1 in crock pot to cook on low for 6-8 hours. Prepare rice. Top with chow mein noodles. Enjoy!
Liz – Egg Muffins
12 – 15 eggs
Note: use 12 eggs for individual silicone cups and 15 for larger silicone muffin pans. You can use less egg yolks and more egg white if you prefer.
1 tsp. (or more) Spike Seasoning (optional, if you don’t have Spike, use any type of seasoning blend that’s good with eggs.)
fresh-ground black pepper (optional)
1-2 cups grated low fat cheese (I like sharp cheddar or a blend of cheddar/Jack cheese, use less cheese if using meat)
Optional, but highly recommended, 3 green onions diced small.
Optional: chopped veggies such as blanched broccoli, red pepper, sauteed zucchini, sauteed mushrooms, etc. (Using veggies will reduce the fat content)
Optional: diced Canadian bacon, lean ham, or crumbled cooked turkey sausage
Prep Day: Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a Silicone Muffin Pan or Silicone Muffin Cups with non-stick spray or olive oil.
In the bottom of the muffin cups layer diced meat, if using, sauteed vegetables, if using, cheese and green onions. You want the muffin cups to be about 2/3 full, with just enough room to pour a little egg around the other ingredients.
Break eggs into large measuring bowl with pour spout, add Spike, and pepper (if using) and beat well. Pour egg into each muffin cup until it is 3/4 full. I like to stir slightly with a fork. Bake 25-35 minutes until eggs have risen and are slightly browned and set.
Once cooled wrap and freeze.
Serve Day: Thaw. Microwave on high about 45 seconds to one minute to reheat.
Note: Frozen muffins will release some water when they thaw.
North American
Ashley – beef stroganoff
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
pinch of salt & pepper
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 Cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 block of Velveeta cheese cubed
4 ounces cream cheese
10 ounces bowtie pasta
Prep Day: Cook bowtie pasta. Brown ground beef and season with salt, pepper & garlic powder. Drain grease and add to crockpot. Stir in can of cream of mushroom soup, cup of milk and 2 tbs of butter. Mix until smooth. Then add 1/2 block of cubed velveeta to crock pot. Simmer on low for 6-8 hours. You can add more milk if too thick. Before serving, mix in cream cheese and cooked bowtie pasta.
Serve Day: Thaw and place into crock pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add cooked bowtie pasta and ENJOY!
Nicole – Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
1 package (16 ounces) dried split peas (2 1/4 cups), sorted and rinsed
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
3 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices (1 1/2 cups)
2medium stalks celery, finely chopped (1 cup)
1medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2Cup ham
7 cups water
Prep Day: Mix all ingredients package up. Package up ham. Freeze.
Serve Day: Mix all ingredients and water except ham in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Add ham.
Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until peas are tender.
Remove ham from cooker; place on cutting board. Pull meat from bones, using 2 forks; discard bones and skin. Stir ham into soup. Stir well before serving.
Southwestern
Anna – Chicken Enchiladas
3 Large Chicken Breasts
1 Medium Onion, diced
2 Cups Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
6 Medium Flour Tortillas
2 Cans Red Enchilada Sauce
Optional: 1 Can Black Beans, Jalapeños, White Rice, Salsa, Sour Cream, Lettuce
Prep Day: Place 3 raw chicken breasts into a pot of water (or thinned chicken stock). Boil on high for 20 minutes, or until chicken is shreddable. Then using a cutting board, shred the chicken.
Mix cheese, onion, chicken and 1 can red enchilada sauce in a bowl. (Optional ingredients can be added at this point.)
With a large scooper, fill each tortilla with mixture. Roll it up and place it in large 9×13 baking dish with seams down. Repeat until all chicken mixture is used.
Pour the second can of enchilada sauce over the top. Top with cheese. Freeze.
Serve Day: Preheat oven to 350F. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until melted and bubbly. Serve with sour cream, salsa, lettuce beans or rice.
Asian
Katie and Brittney – Sesame Chicken Strips
½ C. honey
¼ C. orange juice
2 T. soy sauce
1 envelope oriental sesame dressing mix
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ¼ lb) cut lengthwise into ¾ inch wide strips
Prep Day: Mix honey, juice, soy sauce, and dressing mix in large bowl until well blended. Place chicken strips in freezer bag. Pour marinade over chicken.
Serve Day: Thaw chicken and thread skewers through each chicken strip. Broil 4 inches from heat or grill over medium coals 8-10 minutes or until cooked through, turning frequently.
Italian
Kellie – Stromboli
1 loaf frozen pizza dough, thawed (Usually found in packs of 3)
1/8 lb. (2 oz) deli salami, thinly sliced
1/8 lb. (2 oz) deli ham, thinly sliced
1/8 lb. (2 oz) pepperoni, thinly sliced
2.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoon dried Italian spices (~1 tsp each: basil, oregano, parsley, thyme)
1 tsp pepper
1 jar pizza sauce
1 egg yolk, beaten – you provide
Prep Day: Thaw dough on the counter for a few hours. When thawed, stray plastic wrap with olive oil cooking spray (like Pam) and wrap up. Then put in fridge overnight. In the morning, take out of fridge and put on counter unwrapped on the oiled plastic wrap and let rise until doubled. Once doubled, punch down and lightly stray with olive oil. Roll onto a 15 X 12 rectangle jelly roll pan strayed with olive oil. Arrange the salami, ham, and pepperoni over the rectangle. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasonings and pepper. Roll up rectangle jelly roll style beginning with the long side. Seal seam and ends. Place seam side down. Wrap in the same plastic wrap as before. Wrap again in tin foil and freeze.
Serve Day: Thaw. Remove foil and plastic wrap. Brush top with egg yolk. Bake at 375F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving with pizza sauce for dipping.
Northerly Nosh 