Goulash

I am such a creative cook.(insert sarcasm)

Yesterday, it was 5:30 pm and we were still outside playing before I realized the time. I had to scramble to pull something together for dinner.

I searched my fridge and found some ground turkey, tomato sauce, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, corn, and cooked quinoa. With some whole wheat pasta noodles in the cupboard, I was set for a fast dinner. I cooked up the noodles, chopped the veggies, dumped everything together and (I think) ended up with goulash.

My kids devoured it.

I am not sure what the exact recipe for goulash is. I could probably google it. Here is a basic idea:

noodles
tomato sauce
meat
veggies
salt and pepper to taste

combine in any quantities and warm up. It was fast and easy and balanced. Carbs, protein, and vegetables. Easy Peasy.

The best chocolate chip cookies

I have tried a lot of cookie recipes in my time and these cookies are incredible. The best. Delicious. Sooo sooo good.
1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1-3.4 oz. box of instant pudding
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3- 4 cups soft white wheat flour, freshly ground
1/2 to 1 bag of chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Beat in pudding. Add dry ingredients and mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake for 9 min. @350 degrees. These are even better if you refrigerate overnight or freeze up to 6 months before baking

I have used chocolate pudding and vanilla pudding. Both turned out great! Dont make the cookies too big or they spread out on the pan too much and the edges get crisp. Make em small and eat more!!

original recipe from one of my heros, Kara

Feijao Preto

I got this recipe from a friend. It is soooooo easy and tasty! I cant believe how good it was! And cheap? Heavens, one of the cheapest meals I have made. Definitely get the most bang for your buck with this.

(this is not my picture, it came off a google search. I can not recall where it was from.)

Here is the "recipe" and an explanation of the dish from my friend:
This soupy bean dish was a staple lunch served to my husband when he was in Brazil. Everyone made Feijão Preto, and they used whatever they had to flavor it. The better off they were, the more meat they put in. The poorer families would have no meat. True to tradition we make this to use up left- overs and have never really written down a recipe before. We have learned that roast beef, pork, bacon, sausage, and hamburger taste good, ham and chicken do not. For flavor, use as much or little as you like of each, it really depends on whether you like onion or garlic more, or if you like more salt or pepper.

Basic recipe:
some black beans
a little meat
a few garlic cloves
an onion
salt and pepper to taste
serve over rice

rinse and soak beans overnight. In the morning add meat, garlic, and onions to beans. I cooked mine in the crock pot about 4 hours on high then turned them down for an additional 4 hours on low. Add salt and pepper before serving over rice.

**I put this all in the crock pot and let it cook for at least 24 hours. I prefer using a little pork roast. I think it lends the best flavor. Soak the beans, rinse them well and then toss everything in the crock pot. No need to precook your meat, it will cook along with the beans.