Stuffed Pepper Soup

Servings: 6 • Size: 1 1/3 cups soup, 1/2 cup rice • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 7 pts
Calories: 261.2 • Fat: 4.8 g • Carb: 37.5 g • Fiber: 4.7 g • Protein: 17.6 g • Sugar: 6 g
Sodium: 606.3 g (without salt)

Stuffed Pepper Soup adapted by SkinnyTaste
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 lb 95% lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup finely diced onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cans (14.5 oz each) cans petite diced tomatoes
1 3/4 cups tomato sauce
2 cups reduced sodium, fat-free chicken broth
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
salt and fresh pepper to taste

Directions:  In a large pot or dutch oven, brown ground meat on high heat and season with salt. Drain fat if any, reduce heat to medium-low, then add peppers, onions and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes on low heat.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, marjoram and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Serve about 1 1/3 cups of soup in each bowl and top with 1/2 cup cooked brown rice.

Here's what you will need:

Chop the garlic, peppers, and onion.

Brown the beef in a Dutch oven. 

Once browned, add the peppers, onions, and garlic.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and herbs.

Cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes. 

Prepare rice according to package directions.

Top soup with rice.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:
This soup was a big hit in my house tonight.  We love stuffed green peppers (recipe) so I thought that this would be a hit and I was right.  All 3 of the kids ate it! (score!!)

The mixture of the 2 different peppers gave it a little variety in both color and taste. 

I used the Uncle Ben's 90 second microwaveable brown rice (a favorite of mine) and 1 package ended up being enough for all of us.  You could also use either bulgur or even quinoa.

Hope you enjoy!
April

Easy Beef Casserole

Easy Beef Casserole adapted Mr. Food
1 pound ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 (16-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 (32-ounce) package frozen seasoned potato nuggets

Directions:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook ground beef and salt in a skillet over medium heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Spoon ground beef into a sprayed 2-1/2-quart shallow baking dish.Layer frozen vegetables, soup and cheese over ground beef. Top with frozen potatoes.
    
Bake casserole for 30 minutes or until potatoes are golden.

Modifications:
-I added a diced garlic clove.
-I added 1 chopped onion.

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

I "chopped" an onion with my Vidalia Chop Wizard.

Sidenote:  Have you seen these?  I got it for Christmas and it "chops" everything for you in perfect little pieces.  Love it!

Just place it on the grate (comes with 2 different sizes) and close the lid down.

Here's what you get.  You can buy them at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I switched out grates and then "diced" a garlic clove.

Brown the ground beef, onions, and garlic.

Once browned, put the meat in a baking dish. 

Add frozen vegetables.

Spread the undiluted cream of chicken soup.

Sprinkle with cheese.

Top with diced hashbrown potatoes (or any type of potato you prefer).

Put in oven for 30-40 minutes.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:
This was a good, comforting dish for a cold winter day.  I was a bit skeptical about using cream of chicken soup with ground beef but it added a bit of sweetness that I wasn't expecting. 

This type of recipe is great for slipping veggies onto your kids' plates while masking it with the gooeyness of cheese and potatoes.

Hope you enjoy!
April

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pieadapted from Taste of Home Everyday Light Meals
6 medium potatoes
1lb carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 1/2lblean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 jar (12oz) fat-free beef gravy
1 tsp salt, divided
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:  Peel and cube the potatoes; place in a large saucepan and cover with water.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cover and cook for 20 minutes or until tender.  Add 1inch of water to another saucepan; add carrots.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer until crisp-tender, about 7-9 minutes.  Drain.
 In a large nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the carrots, gravy, 1/2 tsp salt, sage, thyme, rosemary and pepper.  Transfer to a shallow 3qut baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray.
 Drain the potatoes; mash with milk, butter and remaining salt.  Spread over meat mixture.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. 

Nutrition Facts:
Cal 390
Fat 13g (6g sat fat)
Choles 53mg
Sodium 859mg
Carb 43g
Fiber 6g
Protein 30g

Diabetic Exchange:  3 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat

Modifications:
-I used ground chicken instead of ground beef.
-I added a can of Italian styled diced tomatoes.
-I used a packaged gravy instead of a jar.
-I did not sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Here's what you'll need:

Peel and cube the potatoes.

Slice up the carrots.

Dice up the onion.

Put the carrots in water to boil and soften.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Brown the ground chicken.

Cook the potatoes, drain and add the butter.

Add the onion to the ground chicken.

Once the chicken is cooked through, add the carrots.

I decided to use a can of Italian-style diced tomatoes.

Add the tomatoes and the herbs.

Make the gravy.  If using jarred gravy, skip this step.

Add the gravy to the pot and let simmer for 5-6 minutes.

Pour into a greased baking dish.

Spread the mashed potatoes over the top.

Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:
We love shepherd's pie around this house and this one is no different.  The addition of the brown gravy in with the mixture of onions and tomatoes really gave an extra depth.  Scott said it was one of his favorite meals that I have made in a long time and he had 3 helpings! 

This is a perfect comfort food dish!

Hope you enjoy!
April

Texas Ranch-Style Stew

Texas Ranch-Style Stew adapted from Everyday Light Meals
1 cup small shell pasta
1lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (5.5oz) reduced-sodium V8 juice
1 can (15oz) ranch-style beans or baked beans, undrained
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:  Cook the pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Drain the pasta.  Stir into the stew.  6 Servings

Nutrition Facts:
One Serving (1 1/3 cups) equals:
Cal 307
Fat 7g (3g sat fat)
Cholest 37mg
Sodium 886mg
Carb 37g
Fiber 7g
Protein 22g

Diabetic Exchange: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1 1/2 starch

Modifications:
-I did not use a green pepper.
-I used ground chicken instead of beef. (Nutrition Facts reflect ground beef)
-I did not use picante sauce.

Here's what you will need:

Brown the meat.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Add the onions, garlic, and rest of the ingredients.

Simmer for 8-10 minutes.

 Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add to the other ingredients.

Here's what you'll end up with:

Our Thoughts:
This is another easy recipe from the Taste of Home Everyday Light Meals cookbook that I received from my sister for Christmas.

This recipe was very easy, almost like a pantry meal, and was perfect for a cold winter's night.  I did feel like a little flavor was lacking, even with the addition of the V8, so I think that this recipe definitely needs the addition of the picante sauce.  I continued to add more chili powder and cumin to taste.

Hope you enjoy!

April