Honey Veggie Mix

You know those nights when dinnertime is approaching and you have no idea what you're going to fix?!  Surely I'm not the only one...right?!?

Ok, well that happens to me often!  The days are busy and by the time we get home from one of the kids practices after school, they're ready to eat!  Yesterday was one of these days that I didn't plan for and I had nothing made.  We could have made sandwiches or something else super easy but I wanted to feed us some VEGGIES!!  I had some ground meat cooked in the fridge that was extra from a baked ziti dish I made for a friend the other night and I needed to use it!  So my wheels started turning...I'll just make bakes ziti!  The kids weren't having that!  They giggled as they yelled, "NOOOOO!!" in unison!   Apparently I make that a lot!  So a concoction it was!

I looked in the fridge and grabbed some things, looked in the pantry and did the same and got busy.

Can I just tell you that my thrown together meal was a hit with all 5 members of our family!  So delicious, so easy, and I made it with things I already had in the kitchen...WIN, WIN, WIN!!  The kids helped name it...Honey Veggie Mix.  Genius! ;)

Here is the recipe below.  I hope you enjoy!!

Disclaimer: I am not a chef (that just made me laugh out loud!) or remotely close to being an expert.  AT. ALL.  So if you don't see a measurement it means I just added a "normal" amount...so cilantro, honey, olive oil... I just added enough to saute the veggies!  If I had to guess on the honey I would say 4 Tbsp.?!  Anyway, it's not a science..add as you want!  =)

Ingredients

1. rice (brown rice or quinoa would be even better!)
2. olive oil
3. honey
4. 1 yellow bell pepper
5. 1 red bell pepper
6. 1 orange bell pepper
7. 3 cups spinach
8. cilantro
9. 1 pound lean ground meat
10. 1 can black beans
11. 1 can Amy's Chunky Tomato Bisque
12. salt
13. pepper
14. seasonings of your choice- I used Tony Chachere's
15. cheese

Directions:

1. Start cooking rice in a pot per directions on bag.
2. Pour your olive oil and honey into a large pan and begin heating.
3. Dice your peppers and put into a pan with spinach and cilantro.  Saute until veggies are soft and spinach is cooked down.
4. Pour in cooked ground meat, black beans, and Tomato Bisque.  Stir it all together and add your seasonings. 
5. Rice should be finished so they you scoop some rice into a bowl, dish your meat mixture on top of the rice and top with cheese!  ENJOY!!!!  

Pesto Zucchini Noodles

I'm allergic to gluten so I always have to buy rice noodles but the latest craze on zucchini or spaghetti squash noodles intrigued me so I decided to give it a try!  We bought my husband a spiral french fry maker for Christmas so I decided to test it out and see if it could co-exist as a noodle maker too! They look a little thick but honestly tasted delicious and I will for sure make it again and can't wait to use it for other things!!  

I started by peeling 3 zucchini (1 per person you're cooking for) and then cut them in half to fit in my spiralizer better!  

Then I put them one by one into the spiralizer and started twisting!  FYI- the end of the zucchini that wont fit through the spiralizer is delicious to eat raw with some hummus while you're cooking!  Just sayin'!  =)  You'll thank me later!  

After that I pressed them in a paper towel to get the water out of them and then threw them in the skillet with some salt.  I didn't use any oil because they have so much water in them you just let that cook out.  

I blotted them with a paper towel again before putting them in a bowl and mixing some garlic pesto that I had bought from HEB. Then I topped it with some sliced almonds and cherry tomatoes.  It was delicious!! Try it and let me know what you think!  Please share it with someone who you think would enjoy this meal!  It was very quick and easy!  ENJOY!!

  

Ingredients:

1. zucchini
2. pre made pesto
3. cherry tomatoes
4. sliced almonds

Could it be any easier?  =)