Steak Soup

2 4-ounce beef cubed steaks
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups water
1 10-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
1 Tbsp instant beef bouillon granules
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried basil, crushed
1 7 1/2-ounce can tomatoes, cut up
1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

*Sprinkle meat with garlic salt and pepper. In a large saucepan cook meat in hot oil over medium-high heat about 3 minutes or until brown, turning once. Remove meat from saucepan, reserving drippings in pan. Cut meat into cubes; set aside.

*In the same saucepan cook onion and celery in the reserved drippings over medium heat until tender. Stir in meat cubes, the 4 cups water, the frozen mixed vegetables, beef bouillon granules, Worcestershire sauce, and basil.

*Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in undrained tomatoes.

*In a screw-top jar shake together the 1/2 cup water and the flour; stir into meat mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Makes 5 servings.(This soup is FANTASTIC.)

177 calories
5 g total fat
18 g carbs

Outrageous Mexican Chicken Salad

This one is from a new book I picked up this weekend:
Favorite Brand Name Made Simple: Chicken

6 cups shredded lettuce
1 bag (9 oz) tortilla chips, crushed
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
(I substituded 1 lb lean ground beef w/ a packet of taco seasoning)
1 can (15 1/2 oz) kidney beans, rinsed, drained
1 1/2 cups ranch salad dressing (I used 1 cup of the fat free stuff)
1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
Tomatoes & olives.

Immediately before serving, combine lettuce, chips, chicken,beans, dressing and cheese in a large bowl. Garnish with tomatoes & olives.

Serves 4-6

Taco sloppy joes

This one we just made up one night.

1 lb lean ground turkey
1 packet taco seasoning
1 16 oz jar of salsa
Shredded lettuce
Low fat shredded cheese
Low calorie/high fiber hamburger buns

Brown the ground turkey.
Add the taco seasoning.
Add salsa to you reach the sloppy joe consistency that you prefer.

Serve on buns with lettuce, cheese etc.
YUM!

Weeknight Lasagna Toss

This came from a Kraft Food Magazine.

1 lb lean ground beef
2 green peppers, chopped
1 jar (26 oz) spaghetti sauce
1 2/3 C water
¼ C Zesty Italian Dressing
12 oven-ready lasagna noodles
Broken into quarters
1 C shredded low-moisture part-skim
Mozzarella cheese

*Brown meat in a large saucepan and drain juices.
*Stir in peppers, garlic, spaghetti sauce, water and dressing; bring to boil.
*Add noodles; stir and cover.
*Cook on Medium-low heat 10-15 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
*Sprinkle with cheese; cover.
*Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serves 4 (2 Cups each)

Jessica's favorite spaghetti

This is a recipe from the Real Simple magazine.

12 oz spaghetti
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 lb lean ground beef or turkey
Kosher salt and pepper
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup grated parmesan

*Cook pasta according to directions.
*Heat oil over medium.
*Sautee onion, carrot and garlic, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8-10 minutes.
*Increase heat to medium-high. Add meat, a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink.
*Add tomatoes and simmer, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

(I generally toss in some seasoned salt, Italian seasoning and if I don't have fresh garlic on hand - I throw in dried garlic.)

The kids LOVE this!

Melanie's Taco soup

All I know is my sister made this for us once and we demanded she give us the recipe. Thank the Lord for Melanie's Taco Soup!!!

1 large box of beef broth
1 lb lean ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can corn (strained)
1 can black beans (strained)
1 can diced tomatoes

*Brown the meat.
*In a large pot all ingredients.
*Heat through and serve.
(Serve with tortilla chips and sour cream if desired.)

When doubling the recipe, double all ingredients except the taco seasoning.

Country Salisbury Steak

I think this one came from a Kraft Food magazine

1 1/2 lb extra lean ground beef (or turkey)
1 pkg (6oz) stuffing mix for chicken
1 1/2 cups water, divided
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 pkc (8oz) fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

*Preheat oven to 375. Mix meat, stuffing mix, 1 1/4 cup water and onions until well blended. Shape into 6 patties. Place on a 15X10 baking pan.
*Bake 25 minutes or until cooked through.
*Meanwhile, spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and cook on medium-high heat 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
*Add BBQ sauce and remaining water. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce thickens (1-2 minutes.)

Serves 6

Mexican Meatloaf

A Reynolds Wrap recipe

• Aluminum foil
• 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
• 2 cups chunky salsa, divided
• 1 cup crushed tortilla chips (I use baked chips)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 egg (I use 2 egg whites)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic salt

Preheat oven to 425. Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil; set aside.

Mix ground beed, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, onion, egg and spices together until well blended. Spoon mixture in center of foil-lined pan; shape into a 12x6 loaf.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until internal temp reaches 160. Top with remaining salsa and serve.

Mexican Sloppy Joes

Another one of my favorite WW recipes.

Cooking spray
1 lb 93% lean ground turkey breast
One 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes with jalepenos
One 8 oz jar black bean and corn salsa
Bag of baked tortilla chips
Fat free sour cream

*In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, brown the turkey breast over medium heat.
*Add the stewed tomatoes with jalepenos and the jar of black bean and corn salsa. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
*On each of 4 plates, place 1 ounce (about 12) baked tortilla chips, then top with ¼ of the meat mixture.
*Top each serving with 1 Tbsp sour cream.

Serves 4
5 points per serving

Sloppy Joes

A Weight Watcher's Recipe

1 lb lean ground sirloin
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup barbecue sauce (such as KC Masterpiece)
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 tsp prepared mustard
5 reduced calorie hamburger buns

Cook beef and onion in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned.
Add sauce, vinegar, mustard and water; reduce heat an dsimmer 7-8 minutes until slightly thick, stirring occasionally.

Serves 5
7 points per serving

Chili

From my Weight Watcher's leader

1 lb 90/10 ground beef
2 Cloves garlic – minced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans
1 Onion – chopped
¼ Cup chopped green chilis
1 Tbsp tomato paste

*Brown ground beef.
*Add onion and garlic. Cook until softened.
*Add remaining ingredients and simmer 15-20 minutes.

Serves 6 (1 Cup each)