Category Archives: Cooking

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Ninja Cooking System Review and Ginger Beef

Ninja cooking systemMy review of the Ninja cooking system:  a few weeks ago I was invited to a Ninja Cooking system party.  During the party we learned about all the cool functions of the Ninja.  The Ninja is a slow cooker with a stove top and bake function.   Which means you can brown your meat without going to a stove top. The ninja does it all in one place.  No moving of hot pots around the kitchen,  so it  is safe with little kids running around under foot.   The Ninja also has a backing function, you can bake brownies, cakes and more.

There is a also a steam basket which allows you to layer your meals. You can put you pasta, rice, and or couscous  with veggies on the bottom of the ninja then place your protein in the steam basket to cook to perfection leaving all the favor in the meat.   The protein cooks with steam allowing for the moisture to stay in the food.

So once  I received the Ninja and I had to try it out.  My husband could not wait to see it it worked, we used it the 1st night.  He wanted to try out the pasta method. He cooked ground Italian sausage in the ninja and  then added the other ingredients  the sauce, dry pasta, and 4 cups of water in the Ninjia and cook for 20 minutes.    The result awesome baked pasta,  I loved it because it was not watery, yet fully cooked the tomato sauce and sausage flavor was infused the pasta.  baked pasta

This Sunday I get to church and realize it is the pot luck luncheon.  So I skip the sermon ran home and made my potluck pasta  in less than 30 minutes.   I made the pasta, transfer it to my pot luck dish  put cheese on top threw it under the oven broiler then brought a pipping hot dish to church.  The Ninja saved me from embarrassment. I received a a ton of complements on my pot luck dish.

Next I made Ginger Beef  using the layering method cooking in stages.

  • 1 lb of stew meat sliced ( or an inexpensive cut)
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 1 tbls of oil (vegetable or sesame oil)
  • 3 carrots peeled and Jillane
  • 1/4 tbls powered ginger
  • 2 tbls of soy sauce
  • 2 cups of rice
  • 3 cups of water
  • 1  (14oz) can of beef broth
  • 1 head of broccoli cut
  1. Turn Ninjia to stove top high add oil Cook onions  till golden and caramelizedonions cooked
  2. add beef, ginger to ninja cook till beef is brown
  3. add soy and carrotbeef cooking with carrots
  4. turn to slow cooker function cook for 1-2 hours on slow cooker till the beef in infused and tender
  5. Add 3 cups of water, 1 can of beef broth and 2 cups of uncooked dry rice   cook for 2o minutes on Ninja  stove top functionuncooked rice on beef
  6. Add uncooked broccoli to top of rice, cover cook another 5-10 minutes till rice is cooked and broccoli is tender broccoli with rice

Mix broccoli in serve and enjoybeef with rice Finally thoughts: Why I really love the Ninja cooking system.

  • It is easy to use
  • Variety of functions backing, stove top, steam,  and slow cooker
  • I am excited to bring it camping when we go next year.
  • Options It gives me so many different things I can make
  • Healthy way to cook with less oil
  • Keeps moisture in the food
  • Clean up is so easy, because it is one pot so no extra stainer too clean (less pots)
  • Ninja cooking system  easy non stick surface.
  • Ninja in stores is approximately $159.99 and the $199.99 is the price for the online package, as it comes with some additional items.

This is the beginning of my Ninja adventure.. I cant wait to see what I can make with it going forward.. chicken and dumplings maybe??

Want to win a Ninja valued at $199 one check one of my Blogging Buddies (enter all 3) who running a Giveaway PhillyFun4kids  Monderdaydonnareed  and Look What Mom Found

Do you have a Ninja Cooking System I would love to read what you tried ? link your post


Disclosure : I received my Ninja for the purpose of this review. All the opinions in this post are of my own.

How to get your husband to make dinner – Hillshire Farm Giveaway

cheesy rice and hillshire farms sausageHow to get your husband to make dinner with Hillshire Farms Sausage

I ask my husband to make dinner, because I was going out to my Moms group.  Now my husband grew up in a casserole family,  which is means when he does cook most of his meals are made in one pot / dish.   He was making dinner for himself and 2 kids.

So he looks in the freezer and finds the 2 packages Hillshire Farms Sausages.  Note: I am suppose to create a recipe with them, write a blog post and then do a giveaway.  At the time I was still working  on the post in my head.

Well he was so helpful, he took the Hillshire farms and made dinner.. (there goes my blog post..)  When I called to check he said he was using both packages..

I said  “honey.. there for a tasty tues blog post”..

He said “Too late.. they are defrosted and I am using them”

He said “I will take pictures for your post”…(he is not me with a camera.. But I love him because he tried.. he could have cleaned of the stove before the pictures)

sausage in a package

Husbands Cheese Rice and Sausage Dinner

Serves 8 people : He was making dinner for himself and 2 kids.

He wanted to add a can of tomatoes but worried the kids would not eaten it. (My advice ADD the Tomatoes or serve with a tomatoes) or add any vegetable broccoli would have been yummy.. What is it with men and veggies or lack their of?

I say to myself   ” Just be happy he is cooking, and don’t criticize”

His directions

  1. Make rice as directed- 2 cups of rice with 4 cups of  water-  cook thoroughly
  2. Mix rice,  (veggies if you choose) and soup in large glass pan
  3. cook 15 minutes
  4. Lay Hillshire Farm Sausage on top
  5. cook 10 minutes  sprinkle with cheese

cheese rice

I was very yummy! I has some when I returned home and we had left overs for the next few days.   The sausage was amazing,  I would love to use it in a Potato and Sausage soup.. (now I think of a recipe- me slapping head)

The Hillshire Farm sausage  has No artificial Color, Flavor or by products.

Hillshire Farm Giveaway

So want your man to cook?   Have some Hillshire Farm on hand so your hubby can make dinner.  Here is your chance to win 3 coupons for package of Hillshire farm Gourmet sausage. (that is 3 meats or 1 1/2 depending who is cooking. (est. value $18 ) Giveaway ends : Oct 9th Midnight est.

  1. Simple entry:   Leave a comment below telling me What you want to be doing so your husband can cook dinner?
  2. Tweet if you want let me know below:  How to get your husband to cook and win @HillshireFarms sausage form @Babypop https://superexhausted.com/?p=3345
  3. Like My FB Page Superexhausted– let me know below you did.

Disclosure:  I did receive coupons for this blog post 2 to keep and 3 to giveaway.

Pickled Squash and Pickled Onions

squashSo when I Pickle I tend to do multiple things.  I had a squash and zucchini that need to be cooked So I made Pickeled squash.  Zucchini and Yellow squash are so avaible this time of year so having a new way to serve them is fun. Pickling them in a sweet and salty juice makes for a  savory side dish to bring to a picnic or have at home.  The trick is not to over cook them. I also made Pickled onions, because if you made the juice use it  the onions are great to top and add to burger.

Pickled Squash

  • 3 squash (zucchini and yellow squash)
  • 1 shallot thin sliced
  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • ¾ cup of apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 tablespoon of salt
  • 2 tablespoon of honey
  • ¼ teaspoon of thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoon of garlic
  1. Slice the zucchini / squash one of 2 ways strips thing Juliane or slices -set to sidecut zucchini and yellow squash
  2. In a pot bring the garlic vinegars, water, salt, honey,honey being added to a pot
  3. Add onions after boil cook for 3 minutesoinion in pickling juice cooking
  4. Add squash (cook 2 minutes for squash strips, or 5 minutes for sliced squash)cooking squash
  5. Spoon out into a dish with slotted spoon and refrigerate for 1-2 hours (Reserve liquid for other picking ) see belowcooking zucchini
  6. Sever as a sidepickled zucchini in a bowl

Pickle Onions

  • Used reserved pickled broth
  • cut up 2-3 onions
  1. cook onions for 4 minutes
  2. Spoon out onions to stop cooking process Refrigerator
  3. Allow liquid to cool then add to chilled onionspickled onions

Bot the pickle onions would be great on a burger to replace pickles or on a salad.  try some today.

For a printable version of these recipe Pickled Squash or the

Prefect Healthy Breakfast Eggs

egg breakfastPrefect Breakfast.   My favorite meal is breakfast.  Even better is a healthy breakfast.  I love eggs but the doctor says I should not be eating many. So I do a yummy variation less cholesterol because it has whites and less yokes . I love to fill my eggs up with a ton of veggies.  The key is a lot of veggies and adding flavor.  Mushroom are my favorite I love the wood earthy flavor. I buy the pre-sliced so I can get my morning healthy meal on the table quickly.   For me healthy eating has to be easy and quick.

  • 3 eggs (1 yoke 3 whites)
  • 1 cup of mushrooms sliced (you can also add carrots, peppers, spinach, onions)
  • cooking spray
  • salsa
  • Hot sauce (Like Petes red Hot )
  • 1 multi grain English muffin
  • 2 tbls of Trader Joe’s pepper spread
  • 2 kiwi
  1. Saute mushrooms with a spray of cooking spray (if you have a great pan use water)mushroom cooking
  2. cook eggs (1 yoke 3 whites) in pan add salt pepper and any hot sauce (for flavor)
  3. leave eggs to cook on low/med  (running or cover so steam can firm allow them to up)
  4. add mushroom back in panmushrooms cooking with eggs
  5. add salsa
  6. remove and plate
  7. add fruit , English muffin spread with Trader Joes Pepper spread and enjoytrader joes pepper spread

I like to leave the yoke runny-ish so when the yoke runs out it gives me the image of cheese.  I know it’s not but I like to play games with my food when I am being sensible.

What do you make for Breakfast?

 

My Food at Blogher12 Tasty Tuesday

buffetSo all while at Blogher there is a alot of food .. samples to try. The thing is,  you go all day eating and  nibbling on this or that. Never really filling up.  So here is my food at Blogher:

Expo floor- I was not there much but thanks to Hillshire farmsI make myself a lovely morning snack.  I got to create my own recipe  and they cooked it up for me. #HFRecipes

rice and sausage

Trumpeting Media- Green Drink, I was not sure what it was from the 4 season .. but not my cup of green .. I did drink it.  Pepperidge  farm cookies they have come in handy after the late night

Social Luxe- they had these amazing goat cheese things .. and the young man who passed them out was easy enough ont he eyes.  I have to say I have enjoyed the UnReal Candy–  there tag is un junked candy,  since I have been home we have really enjoyedt and being a diabetic the lower glucemic index helps.picture of candy

Iconix Party I have to say an amazing buffet spread pictured at top of post by the Sheraton.. seriously the poke tuna was amazing it was hard to tear myself away.  I made many new friends at near the tasting spoons.tuna poke

Sweet Suite you had me at strawberries.. They are the best food ever invented.

Lands end party had the cutest mini BLT   with blt stamped on them then they had a chef show us how to make amazing kids lunches.

I have to say we got in a good service rut and visited the same restaurant 3 times while there.  Teds Montana Grill – the Avalon burger was amazing Blue cheese,bacon,onions, beef.  with a side of green beans and fries under $20 in NYC and the best service I have ever hand in New York. Yea I ate the burger without take a picture I was very hungry from nibbling.  The service was exceptional and lovely and helps to keep  going.key lime pie

So Blogher is not know for large meals but what I saw was creative.  I avoid the 4500 women eating lunch and we went else where.   What did you eat?

 

10 Camping foods

camping fire

So when I camp I have certain staples I go to.  Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Pancakes, Sausage, Pulled Pork and Mac N cheese.   Really.  I like to enjoy my self and relax while camping so i like meals that make them selves.  To start great camping is in the prep.

  • crock pot
  • crock pot liner
  • grill tools (long handed)
  • tin foil
  • hot sauce
  • sugar and sugar substitute (coffee)
  • creamer
  • butter
  • eggs
  • Mustard, ketchup, mayo
  • Tuna fish ( lunch) and does not need to be refrigerated
  • cereals
  • pop tarts (junk food every once in a while plus helps keeps the kids feed while packing up.
  • bowls, plated, napkins, utensils
  • scissors

10 great food Camping Foods

  1. Hamburgers buy them frozen- eat as defrost
  2. Chicken Bag of frozen chicken bottle of Good Seasons Salad Dressing- pour entire bottle over chicken set in cooler let marinate for a day or so chicken will defrost-  cook on fire or grill.
  3. Potatoes (whole)  Rub with salt wrap in tin foil (2-3 times) and put in coals of fire takes 1-2 hours to cook.
  4. Corn on the cob.. Bring a large bucket line with a garbage bag and put in unshucked corn fill with water till corn is covered with water.  Corn floats so twist bag closed and weight down with a rock-  soak for several hours till corn and husks are soaked.  cook on open fire (with a grate) husk and all – husks will get burned but corn is steaming and getting yummy on inside peal and eat.  Roasted corn
  5. Lobster- stab in head with knife and split tails cook on open flame
  6. Bacon- bacon does not have to be cooked on slice at a time throw the whole pound in the pan /griddle and just move the slices around until entire lb is cooked
  7. Pancakes Buy the water only instant kind
  8. Bottled water-  some time the tab is not portable
  9. Pulled pork season pork before you go, you can brown it or not brown in cook it in a crock pot all day and it is ready when your happy campers come back to the site.
  10. Mac and Cheese-  This is a recipe below that I highly recommend bringing put the ingredients in a crock pot and let it cook all afternoon  kids will not have to wait for a fire to be built.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

  • 1-2 lb  elbow macaroni noodles- cook at home and put in zip lock
  • 4 cups of cheese or more
  • 2-3 tbls of Louisiana style hot sauce
  • salt pepper
  • onion grated
  • 1 stick of butter cut up
  • 2 cans of evaporated milk
  • 1 cup of milk(more if needed)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 crock pot liner (Reynolds makes them) Make clean up easy

Line crock pot with lined , add noodles, add all other ingredients, stir, cover cook for 4-5hours on low. (can be ready before check.  for quick leave off egg)

There are many other  camping ideas to cooks with .. you can actually make a cake in a crock pot while camping I have done it and that is a different post.

 

Cold Brussels Sprout Salad

brussel spout cold saladI love Brussels Sprouts add it to my other favorite thing roasted garlic and they are yummy.  Here is a my simple summer salad for garlic lovers.  It is also cream and healthy (no mayo).  If you have not tried cold Brussels sprouts give my Brussels Sprout Salad a try. FYI I roast a lot of garlic and keep in fridge- roasting mellows out the garlic and is great hot out of the oven on crackers

Cold Brussels Sprout Salad

  • 1-2 lb of Brussels sprouts
  • 4 bulbs of roasted garlic
  • ¼ cup of olive oil
  • Red pepper diced
  • Salt/pepper

Ahead of time:  How to roast garlic(cut tops off garlic, pour olive oils and sprinkle with salt wrap in tin foil cook for 1 hour) till caramelized  (I roast a lot of garlic and keep in fridge- roasting mellows out the garlic and is great hot out of the oven on crackersbrussel spouts

  1. Steam Brussels sprouts till fork tenderroasted garlic in a food processor
  2. In mini food processor put all garlic removed from skinsgarlic paste in a food processor
  3. Add oil till roasted garlic is a smooth paste
  4. Mix in with Brussels spouts and garnish with pepper
  5. Chill and serve

Printable Recipe of Brussel Sprouts Salad

Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup #TastyTues

So you have your basic homemade  Chicken Noodle Soup, but how about mixing it up for the summer,  make a light summer version.  Lemon Thyme chicken noodle.  not your average chicken noodle a cut above the rest,  also the lemon adds a little extra vitamin C.  Plus make it that left over chicken from the grocery store.  I love the pre-made rotisserie  chicken I always buy 2 when every I go to a big box bulk food store.

Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup

  • 3 celery stalks diced
  • 3 -4 carrots diced
  •  2 onions diced
  • 5 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 bag of extra wide egg noodles
  • 2 quarts of chicken broth
  • 2 lemons (juiced)
  • 1/4 of thyme
  • 1 chicken cooked picked off the bone and diced (rotisserie kid you get precooked at grocery store) or chicken parts cut up to bite size peices
  • salt
  • pepper to taste
  • condensed chicken stock (optional)
  1. In a large pot add onions, celery , and carrots cook till translucent, salt and pepper to taste
  2. add chicken broth, bring to boil
  3. add lemon juice and thyme, extra chicken condensed stock
  4. add chicken to boil water if uncooked allow to cook till chicken is full cooked
  5. bring to boil
  6. add egg noodles for desired time required on package

Here is a printable version of the Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup

2 Awesome Healthy Dips

black bean and limeWith Memorial day coming here are 2 Crowd pleasing healthy dips; Black Bean and Hummus.   Why buy these dips when they are so easy to make and low calorie.  Serve with vegies or thin rice chips, they are healthy and a special dip treat.  Since I have been watching what I eat I have been coming up with new creative ways to enjoy food.  These dips are sure to win over a crowd and keep you weight in check.

Note: I have been keeping 2 things in my fridge to be sure to add them when need to any meal.  Roasted Poblano Peppers and roasted garlic.

BLACK BEAN DIP

  • Black beans 1 can
  • Poblano 1 roasted
  • 2-3 tsb of hot sauce
  • juice of one lime
  • 1 shallot chopped med size pieces
  1. Open , drain and rinse beans in a strainer..drain water off
  2. place in a food processor (I use a small one)
  3. cut roasted poblano pepper**  smaller pieces to fit in processor
  4. add chopped shallot , hot sauce, lime
  5. blend, chill and serve

** How to Roast a  Poblano  peppers (on the grill) then putting in a bowl , cover with saran wrap and and sweating the skin off. Take skin off and store- Poblanos are mild yet mild heat they add flavor, try them on a sandwich

Roasted Garlic Hummus

  • 1 can of chick pea
  • 3 tbs of olive oil
  • 1-2 cloves of roasted garlic
  • salt pepper
  1. Open , drain and rinse beans in a strainer..drain water off
  2. place in a food processor (I use a small one)  start to blend the chick peas and add oil as needed to make smooth
  3. cut roasted garlic peeled and add to taste it is milder than fresh
  4. blend, chill and serve

How to roast Garlic: Cut the tops off an entire clove pour olive oil  rapping in tin foil and place in oven for about an hour- roasted garlic is much milder and smoother. Do several at a time keep in fridge to add to anything.

Easy and healthy enjoy!

Healthy Flat bread pizza

healthy pizzaQuick and low in calories  flat bread pizza great for my diet when I am craving the Cheesy pizza.  I found Flat-out bread at Target it was on sale this week.  Normally 3.69 for 6 breads, it was on sale for $1.99.  So I decided to give it a try.  I was not disappointed very tasty and moist. The best part only 100 calories per slice- 6 grams of fiber.

Veggie & meat flat bread pizza

  • 1 flat out bread
  • 1 small onion
  • sliced fresh or canned of unsalted diced tomatoes
  • roasted garlic cloves (cut top off clove and roast in the oven for 1 hour a head of time, can store in bulb wrapped in tin foil)
  • 6 zucchini slices
  • 1 thin slice of ham
  • 1 teaspoon of real bacon bits.
  • 3 tbl of cheese

Place on a baking sheet, layer and cook for 10-15 minutes

serve with a nice salad yummy.

flat bread