navy beans with polenta

What to do with those thanksgiving leftovers! I made navy beans with the ham.

• ham hock with meat on
• navy beans 

1. brown the ham hock then stick it in with the navy beans while slow cooking. The meat will fall off the bone. 
2. a couple hours later when cooked, cut the ham off the bone and discard the bone
3. serve topped with a dollop of plain yogurt and a piece of polenta

cauliflower mash-potato

If your kids like mash-potatoes, these are a great way to sneak in the veggies.

• cauliflower
• potato
• butter, salt pepper
• milk or half-half

1. boil potatoes and cauliflower
2. pour out boiling water
3. when potatoes and cauliflower are dry, mash
4. add a little butter, milk, salt and pepper
5. stir lightly to mix ingredients

eggplant parmesan pizza

Most kids love pizza so sneak the veggies in.

• eggplant thinly sliced rounds to about 1/4" thick
• english muffin
• pizza sauce (I just use my marinara sauce and add a little tomato paste to make it thicker)
• ricotta
• shredded mozzarella or pizza cheese

-tip- cut the dark purple skin off the eggplant rounds. Kids don't want to see that!

1. cook the eggplant in a little olive oil

2. toast the muffins so they are nice and crunchy

3. layer muffin with sauce, ricotta, eggplant, then sprinkle cheese

4. place in oven to melt cheese

~kid~ lunch box notecards

Send a cute little foldable notecard to your child. Personalize with your own message on the inside. Just cut and fold these 7 different cute monster lunch box notecards. I think they're cute for boys or girls.  Each one has a cute little guy on the outside and is blank on the inside. Here's your FREE downloadable PDF. Enjoy!   notecards

featured on this linky party!

easy marinara

This marinara is easy and quick to make, AND delicious.

• 1 can crushed tomatoes


• a little tomato paste


• olive oil


• onion and garlic puree in processor


• sausage (optional)


• red wine (optional)


• fresh basil, oregano, bay leaf chopped

1. heat a generous amount of olive oil

2. when olive oil is nice and hot add sausage, onion and garlic. Sauté

3. pour in a little red wine

4. When sausage has a nice brown to it, pour in the crushed tomatoes and add a little tomato paste

5. stir constantly and  add chopped herbs

let sit for a little while for flavors to mix together.

-tip- you can make this with just olive oil, tomatoes and basil. The key is to use a generous portion of olive oil and make sure it is really hot when you pour in the tomatoes

Uncle Bob's Salsa

My dad use to make this super addictive salsa. It's not too spicy so it's really easy to eat half a bag of chips with it. His chili kili tastes the best with this salsa recipe.

• 2 cans peeled tomatoes put in food processor or use crushed tomatoes


• 4-5 chopped garlic cloves


• 2 chopped onions


• 3-4 yellow wax chilies chopped


• olive oil


• garlic salt, chopped parsley and cilantro, lemon zest

1. sauté chopped garlic, onion and chillies

2. add about 1-3/4 cans of crushed tomatoes

3. add spices to liking

-tip- the lemon zest is mostly used so that the salsa will not turn brown

4. simmer for about an hour

 

uncle bob's chili kili

My dad use to make this for a fun dinner when I was  a kid and it was my favorite. I always thought he made it up until I saw it on the menu at a little taquerilla. These hot, crunchy, spicy and cheesy chips are a perfect football day food.

• salsa (for best results use my dad's salsa recipe)
• corn tortillas cut into chip size triangles
• parmesan cheese

1. put salsa in mixing bowl and set aside.

2. fry corn tortillas in oil then quickly stir the hot tortillas into the salsa and pour plenty of parmesan cheese while mixing it all together. Serve hot. muy delicioso!