Friday, February 26, 2010 at 07:11 AM
Growing up, we called it a Crock Pot. I’m not sure how my mom, who worked as a nurse (and still does today), would have made it through our childhood without it. A slow-cooker is a Mom’s best friend. Whether you work outside the home or not, it can be a lifesaver. There’s nothing quite like walking in the door after a long day at work, or a long afternoon of shuttling kids between school, sports, and dance, and smelling the delicious aroma of dinner already done.
The thing about slow-cooker recipes is that they are often for high-fat, high-calorie comfort food. But they don’t have to be. You can assemble a nutritious meal in minutes and let the slow-cooker go to work for you.
I’m not sure where I originally found this recipe. It’s in my recipe box on a piece of paper with no reference to the source. So, I put all the ingredients into the Recipe Builder on the Weight Watchers website. Turns out, it’s 8 Weight Watchers points per serving (without the pasta). Believe me, it’s point-worthy! And it’s all about sanity preservation. The prep time is only 20 minutes and in our family, we get at least 2 nights out of this one. Two other selling points for this recipe:
- It is so easy. My husband, who can hold his own in the kitchen, but does so more for breakfast, made this batch that you see in the photograph.
- The kids will eat it. Beef can be difficult for little mouths with baby teeth, but the slow-cooker makes the meat extra tender.
My slow cooker has a removable pot that can go right into the fridge. So, I prep my ingredients at night. Then, in the morning, I move the pot from the refrigerator, place it on the slow-cooker base, and plug it in before I leave for work.
I am waiting for an invention that would move dishes from the refrigerator to the oven or stove-top at a specific time while I’m not at home. You know, like something you would see in the Jetson’s. If anyone hears of such an invention, please let me know!
Italian-Style Steak
6 Servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 9 – 10 hours on low, 4 1/2 – 5 hours on high
1 1/2 pounds boneless beef bottom round steak, trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes (NuVal score: 34)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (NuVal score: 99)
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (NuVal score: 96)
1 cup quartered fresh mushrooms (NuVal score: 99)
1/2 cup sliced green onions (NuVal score: 100)
1 14 1/2 ounch can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained (NuVal score for Del Monte: 37)
1 cup beef broth (NuVal score for College Inn: 2) I know, so low. My mom was shocked when I showed her that one!
1/2 cup dry red wine, white wine or beef broth
3 Tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca (NuVal score: 4)
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
Hot cooked whole wheat pasta (optional) Barilla Plus gets a NuVal score of 91and Dreamfield’s gets an 87.
Directions:
- Place meat in a 4-quart slow cooker. Add carrots, celery, mushrooms, green onions, undrained tomatoes, broth, wine, tapioca, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and bay leaf.
- Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9 – 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 1/2 – 5 hours. Discard bay leaf. If desired, serve with hot cooked pasta.
Question of the Day
What is your favorite meal to make in the Slow Cooker?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Slow Cooker Recipes
Tags: Italian Style Steak
Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 06:51 AM
Have you checked out the BBG Awards? Right there on the Green Bar, you can click on “The BBG Awards.” BBG is for Better Bag of Groceries. I know…..so original! Anyway, like the Academy Awards, I reserve these for products that I just love that also get an amazing NuVal score.
So, in the category of Best Pasta, the BBG Award goes to Dreamfield’s Rotini!
I first noticed this product when I was at the American Dietetic Association Conference (otherwise known as FNCE) back in October. However, I was so busy at the conference talking to dietitians eager to learn more about NuVal, that I never got to sample some. A couple of months later, I was out at a Price Chopper store when I noticed this Dreamfield’s Rotini on the shelf with a NuVal score of 87! I bought a box and brought it home, but I’ve been so into Barilla Plus (also a BBG Award Winner) that I never got around to opening it up. Until this week. Dreamfield’s, where have you been all my life?? This pasta is extraordinary. It really is dreamy. And photogenic. That picture of it covered with my homemade sauce looks pretty good, doesn’t it?
So what’s the deal with Dreamfield’s pasta? I checked out the Dreamfield’s website to find out. Here’s what they say:
“Dreamfields is a delicious pasta with about the same high fiber as whole wheat pasta (5 grams; 20% of the daily recommendation), fewer digestible carbs and a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta. Its delectable taste and nutritional benefits make it a healthful option for people with diabetes and a flavorful, nourishing pasta for the entire family.”
Who knew? I do not have anyone living with diabetes in my household, but I do have family members affected by this disease. It is great to know that I could serve this pasta for a big family dinner and everyone would be happy. If I cooked it, they would come.
I can’t wait to hear Dreamfield’s acceptance speech! And to see who they’re wearing!
Question of the Day
What product would you like to nominate for the BBG Awards? For fun, you can also add your favorite nominee for this year’s Academy Awards.
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: BBG Awards
Tags: Dreamfield's
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 06:40 AM
Meet Twin Moms, Karen and Kim, and their lovely daughters, Olivia and Julia.
Karen, works as a recruiter and is mom to two kids. According to her twin sister Kim, Karen is a health nut who loves to create new, nutritious recipes for her family.
Kim, pictured below, works on NuVal’s Customer Management team and is also a mom to two kids.
Last weekend, Karen and Kim got together with their daughters to channel their inner food bloggers and write a post for Cooking with Kids. Together they made No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars. And they look yuhhh-mmmy! But before I get to the recipe, I took a few minutes to ask Kim some questions about being a twin and cooking with kids.
Melissa: Since you and Karen are twins, I can’t help but ask what it was like growing up. Did you learn to cook together?
Kim: It was so great having a twin growing up, we’re best friends. We did mostly everything together. Shared a room, had the same friends, went to the same college, the list goes on. I was more interested in baking as a kid and was always looking for a new cookie/desert recipe. Karen has developed into a great cook. I would say she cooks more than me now, since my husband has become quite the chef in my house.
Melissa: How are your cooking styles similar or different?
Kim: Our families do eat differently. Karen has been eating more of a vegetarian diet for the past year and is always looking for new ways to make foods taste good without the beef (although she will eat fish). My Irish/Scottish family is all about the meat and potatoes. We eat a typical dinner most nights – meat or chicken or pasta, lots of veggies and more potatoes than rice. My husband and son love potatoes, mashed, scalloped, you name it! We go through two 5 lb bags a week.
Melissa: You and Karen are both moms to one boy and one girl. I find that my daughter likes to cook more than my son. What is your experience?
Kim: My daughter loves to bake and makes great cookies and brownies. My son, Brendan ( who will be 15 in a couple of weeks) on the other hand, loves to cook. He took a student chef class at school and loved it (more of the cooking, not the instruction). He’s great at grilling. We cook on the grill all year long, even shoveling a path in the snow to get to it.
Melissa: What tips do you have for teaching kids to cook?
Kim: I think cooking can be intimidating to kids. The key is to just get them involved at a young age and let them know that it’s OK to make mistakes and messes! It’s a real confidence booster and it can make them proud when they get to eat the finished product. Most importantly, don’t be too controlling. That is not so fun!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
1/2 Ripe Banana (NuVal score of 91)
1.5 c Oats (We have not scored Stop & Shop brand. Quaker Old Fashioned Oats score a 57)
1/2 c Shredded Coconut (Sweetened Coconut scores a 14, Unsweetened scores a 23)
1/2 c Raisins (NuVal score of 91)
1/2 c Chocolate Chips (Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Chips, NuVal score of 8)
1/2 c Agave Nectar (NuVal score of 5)
3/4 c Peanut Butter (Teddie Smooth, Unsalted, NuVal score of 49)
The Following Ingredients are Optional
2 to 4 scoops of Protein Powder
2 Tbsp Flax Seeds
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1.5 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
The Following Ingredients can be substituted
Instead of raisins, you can substitute any dried fruit (date chunks, cranberries, craisins, dried cherries/mangoes/apricots/etc).
Instead of agave nectar, you can substitute maple syrup.
Instead of peanut butter, you can substitute any nut butter (almond, cashew, pecan, etc.)
Instead of chocolate chips, you can substitute butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips.
Step 1: Mash the banana
Step 2: Measure the ingredients.
Step 3: Mix all ingredients together.
Step 4: Spread into an 8×8 pan and freeze for 3 hours.
Step 5: Cut into squares or bars and wrap individually.
The best thing about this recipe is that it is customizable. Depending on what kind of dried fruit, nut butter and chips your kids like, you can make a combination that suits your family best. Kim and Karen tell me that their kids like these for breakfast, snacks and even late night treats.
Thanks to Karen, Kim, Olivia and Julia for sharing this delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try this out with my kids!
Cracker GiveAway
Congratulations to Commenter #33, Joseline. You’ve won yesterday’s Trade-Up Tuesday Giveaway!
Looking for Families!
Do you enjoy Cooking with Kids? Grab your recipe, your kids and a camera. I’m looking for families to feature for Cooking with Kids. One way we can all get our kids to eat healthy is to teach them how to cook healthy. Drop me an email at abetterbagofgroceries@gmail.com!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Cooking with Kids
Tags: No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 06:24 AM
It’s Trade-Up Tuesday and today I’m giving away some of the NuVal Rock Stars in the Cracker Category. I have to admit, I’m a little worried that y’all might not be too excited about crackers. I mean if Ernie (from Sesame Street) like cookies, his best friend Bert is the cracker guy. But you Bloggies prove me wrong all the time, so maybe this will be a big GiveAway after all.
Personally, I am a Cracker girl. I always crave something a little crunchy and a little salty, especially in those late-afternoon hours, when dinner is still a while away. Also, as a mom, I have the difficult challenge of packing shelf-stable snacks in my son’s backpack that he will eat at about 2 pm in his first grade classroom. Crackers are lightweight, portable, and they don’t get all brown & mushy (like sliced apples).
Crackers score between 1 and 91 on the NuVal scale. That is a wide range! But the median score for Crackers (1/2 score above it, 1/2 score below it) is only a 14. My kids like Cheez Its, which score a 13 on the NuVal scale. So, I set that as my low bar. When looking for a “better than average” cracker, I’ll often ask myself, “Is it better than a Cheez It?”
My kids will eat Wheat Thins and Triscuits, so those are great choices. Wheat Thins score a 24 on the NuVal scale. Surprisingly, 100% Whole Grain Wheat Thins only get a 1 point improvement – to a 25. Who knew? Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits score a 32.
For a real cracker Powerhouse, I turn to Ryvita Rye and Oat Bran crackers. They get a NuVal score of 87! I spread a little hummus on them and enjoy them with a salad for lunch. Interestingly, when I’m snacking on some Ryvita & hummus, my kids will ask for some too. And they will eat them! So much better than a Cheez It.
Today’s GiveAway
As I said, I’m worried that you all might be yawning over the idea of winning some crackers, so I’m also throwing in a NuVal t-shirt. They are awesome! Just leave me a comment below, telling me one Cracker score you find interesting or suprising. Cracker scores are right here.
I’ll select one lucky winner at random. The contest closes at 11:59 PM Eastern time tonight. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Crackers, Trade-Up Tuesday, wheat thins
Tags: Crackers
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 07:17 AM
As a busy mom, I find grocery shopping to be the most difficult chore of the week. That truly is the reason why I started this blog. Were you here for my very first post? I wrote about what it’s like to be standing in the juice box aisle trying to figure out which one is the most nutritious, not that I have time to read any labels anyway. I don’t know about you, but I do not like to go to the grocery store any more than once a week. I like to get it all done in one trip. But to do so takes careful planning. Every Thursday night or Friday morning, I take about 15 minutes to figure out my shopping list. Here’s how I do it:
- Look at the schedule for the upcoming weekend and week. Are we going to any parties over the weekend? Do I need to bring a dish? What do we have going on each weeknight? Cub Scouts? Will I have time to make a scratch meal or should I plan a Dream Dinner? I have a little weekly planner that I found at Michael’s Craft Store. I write out all the activities for the week before the week even begins so that I know what’s coming.
- Make my index card of Dinners. Yup, it’s an index card. For some reason pen & paper really work for me here. So, once I know what we have going on for activities, I plan out the weekly menu. Since I keep a supply of Dream Dinners in my freezer, I use my inventory sheet to see what I have left for meals and what nights I need to use them (the busiest nights). This handy-dandy sheet that I get from the folks at Dream Dinners tells me how long the preparation is for each meal. I also use my recipe boxes here so I can plan my homemade favorites as well. I think about when I will have time to prep each meal.
- Start my grocery list. Well, I really should say finish my grocery list. Because we have a list on the fridge at all times. And my husband and I are both pretty good about keeping it updated. As soon as we run out of something it goes on the list. There are exceptions of course. Like coffee filters. They never seem to make it onto the list. But I think that is because the sleepy person making the coffee (and using the last coffee filter) has not had his/her first cup of coffee yet! So, I use my recipes to figure out what ingredients I need.
- Take a pantry inventory. This is a crucial step. This is the money-saving step. Have you ever stood in the Dairy section of your local supermarket trying to mentally envision how many Greek yogurts you have in your fridge at home? It doesn’t work. You will always end up under-buying, over-buying or just plain forgetting if you don’t take inventory. So, I go through the refrigerator, cupboards, basement refrigerator, both freezers and basement extra food storage to figure out if I really need butter, orange juice, juice boxes, lunch box snacks, etc. I use my list while I do the inventory to either add to it or delete items that I think I need, but I really don’t.
Whew! With all that done, it’s time to head to the grocery store. I bring my list, my reusable bags, and a pen or a highlighter (so I can cross things off as I buy them). Oh, and I bring my Strategic Weapon – my 4 1/2 year old Super Scanner!
This is my new strategy. My daughter is way too big for the cart, but she loves to sit in there. So, I heave her in and she scans items with the hand scanner. This took a little training, but once she got the hang of it, it worked great! She scans and then reads off the numbers to me. So it’s practice with number recognition too! Yes, there have been some glitches – like the time she scanned the same item 4 times – but we have learned, and it saves us time. Not only that, I can focus more on what I’m buying because I know exactly where she is (stuck in the cart!) and she’s not going anywhere.
Now, I have not tried this with two kids. Something tells me that a fight would break out. So, for now, I schedule the grocery shopping when I am just with one child. But I am thinking about a two-kid strategy. You know how I feel about Child Labor. It’s the only way to keep a mom’s sanity.
My best trips to the grocery store happen when I follow all four of those steps – sitting down. In my kitchen. With a cup of coffee. Sometimes I try to cheat. Like that picture at the top of this post? Can you tell that I have all my planning tools on the front seat of the car? Yes, I was trying to do my menu-planning while in Pre-School Car Line. No, it is not the same as texting and driving. The car is stopped – for long, boring periods of time while I wait for my pre-schooler to be dismissed. But you can’t take inventory from your car. It really works best if you take some quiet time to plan, without interruption.
Question of the Day
What is your Supermarket Strategy?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: grocery shopping
