Herb Lover’s Oven Fries for Valentine Steak Dinner + Chocolate

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Valentine’s Day is sneaking up . . . do you have big plans? I doubt my husband and I will battle the crowds (or be willing to pay the bill) for a fancy dinner out, so I’ll be preparing a memorable meal at home. Plus, there are the kids . . . .and, I’m sure those non-stop eating machines will want to be fed as well!

With so many boys and men in the house (oldest son in almost 18 years!), there’s not a lot of appreciation for decorating food in shades of pink for Valentine’s Day. But, I did find the way to their hearts with these darling (oh, I mean “manly”) Heart-Shaped Oven Fries. Oven fries are so easy and inexpensive to make and my guys gobble up this healthier dude food with “amoré” – give me “amoré,”Mom!

I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter and baked both the hearts and the remaining potato “circles” with the cutouts missing. I wish I would have taken a photo of those as they came out of the oven, but I was just so focused on the hearts! If you want to make these baked fries “regular,” simply slice into think wedges for the same result.

For Valentine’s Dinner, I’ll be serving this cute side dish with the Pan-Seared Tenderloin Steak with Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes I developed for BeefLovingTexans.com. This steak dinner is a surprisingly easy way to beef up the romance on Valentine’s Day and won’t bust your budget – meaning more funds for wine, chocolate and other treats for your sweet!

If steak isn’t in your budget, these baked fries would be adorable with a romantic burger!

I still haven’t decided what to serve for dessert yet – it will have to be something wonderfully chocolaty. After all, dark chocolate is a superfood that provides important nutrients that protect the heart! Cooking Light has a collection of 100 Lightened Chocolate Dessert Recipes that will make your heart skip a beat — swoon-worthy but not sinful!

Personally, I’ve been stalking the recipe for Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes . . . warm, gooey and individually portioned to prevent “accidentally” eating the whole cake. For Valentine’s Day dinner, I think I would add some lush raspberries on top!

Heart Fries #recipe + Steak + Chocolate = Easy #ValentinesDay Dinner @beeflovingtexans @cooking_light #CLblogger

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Herb Lover's Oven Potato Fries

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

55 mins

Pair these daring heart-shaped, oven-baked potatoes with your Valentine's Dinner -- simply spudtacular and spiffed up with herbs!

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 Lbs. Russet potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp salt divided
2 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp rubbed sage
1 tsp rosemary

Instructions

Heat oven to 450 degrees F and with rack in top.
Wash potatoes and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide planks. Use small cookie cutter to punch out the center of each potato circle.
Put cut potatoes in bowl and fill with hot tap water, let sit for 10 minutes. When potatoes are done soaking, drain, and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
Add potatoes back to dried bowl and toss with olive oil, 2 teaspoons of the salt, pepper, parsley, sage and rosemary.
Spread fries out evenly across baking sheet and bake on top rack until fries are starting to turn golden brown, about 25 minutes. Use a spatula to turn fries and continue to roast until crisp on outside, about 15 - 20 minutes longer.
Remove fries from oven, sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and serve while still warm.

Recipe Notes

Cut into 1/2-inch wedges, if preferred.

Beef, Egg and Potato Bake + Make Ahead Meals for Busy Days

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Welcome! If you are stopping by via Taste of Home Feb / March 2015 Issue or my cooking segment on the Home & Family lifestyle show (Hallmark Channel), the Beef Egg and Bake recipe is featured below. I invite you to take a look around my blog, I have lots of other family-friendly recipes and meal solutions that will make your life easier and healthier! In fact, I’ve rounded up a collection of “Double Batch Weekend Cooking” recipes that are ideal for stockpiling during weekend, freezing and thawing out for quick meal on those days when your to-do list just keeps growing.

This is the video link to the cooking segment if you have 7 minutes to spare 🙂

Back to the Beef, Egg and Potato Bake — this down-home, country-inspired breakfast casserole has been lightened for today’s hungry yet health-conscious go-getter. What tastes like sausage is actually super-lean ground beef that has been specially seasoned — but that’s not where the health swaps stop! Added dairy products are reduced in fat and nutrient-rich veggies are incorporated to round out your morning meal.

I originally made this breakfast casserole recipe as a way way to incorporate more protein into breakfast — and ended up demonstrating it all over the state of Texas at the American Heart Associations “Go Red for Women” events last year. I never had a scrap of samples left, so I think it was a hit! When making this at home, you can save precious time my preparing it the night before and baking in the morning. Leftovers may be frozen in single-serve portions and reheated in microwave for the busiest of busy mornings. If you need to eat it while walking out the door, just wrap it in a whole grain tortilla!

Beef, Egg & Potato Bake | #MakeAhead for Busy Days @tasteofhome @HomeAndFamilyTV @HallmarkChannel

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This post is sponsored by Foodie.com — however, all commentary and opinions are my own.

Beef, Egg and Potato Bake

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

50 mins

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

To keep my family going all morning, I start with lean ground beef and spices, then sneak some spinach into this protein-packed breakfast dish.

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean or leaner)
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
14 large eggs
1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup hredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
11/3 cups grape tomatoes halved lengthwise

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef with onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, sage and pepper flakes over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking up beef into 3/4-inch crumbles; drain. Stir in spinach. Remove from heat.
Spread potatoes in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with beef mixture.
In a large bowl, whisk eggs, ricotta cheese, milk, pepper and remaining salt; pour over top. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with tomatoes.
Bake, uncovered, 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Wasabi Almond Shrimp Salad Bites + Football #GameChangingSnacks

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. For more Game Changing Snacks, visit Blue Diamond Almonds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

An interception, a fumble, an unexpected player injury, crazy weather . . . . a (gasp) deflated ball. These are all “game changers” in football. In the blink of an eye, the tables can turn – that’s part of the excitement of being a sports spectator. If you’re having people over to your house this weekend to watch the Big Game, add to the excitement by kicking up your gridiron grub with #GameChangingSnacks !

The same-old football finger foods can get boring – enough with the potato chips, hot dogs and pizza. Whip up some easy (and healthier) snacks) that your friends and family will devour with the lip-smacking satisfaction of a hungry linebacker. You can’t go wrong with a can of almonds on your starting snack lineup, especially one of Blue Diamond’s yummy flavors like Wasabi & Soy or Smokehouse.

You can even become the MVP of football party food by adding plain or flavored almonds to a unique and healthy recipe – one that will have your guests eating like the true champions that they are. I put together this quick and healthy appetizer recipe for Wasabi & Soy Sauce Shrimp Salad Bites – between the veggies and almonds, it’s got a lot of crunch factor not to mention a blast of wasabi “whoohoo” – talk about #GameChangingSnacks ! Low-cal and low-carb, you won’t bust your training diet scarfing down the whole plate.

This past weekend, I had my own “game day” of sorts running the 3M Half Marathon in Austin, Texas. The weather was perfect, the point-to-point course is fast and I was pretty well rested. Alas, there was no PR, I was a good 4 minutes of my best time on this fast course. But, I also didn’t also do too shabby (1:28:12) considering I haven’t be training anywhere near my max and I’m another year older. Perhaps it was those #GameChangingSnacks at the start – a banana and handful of Blue Diamond Almonds!

Also, if you’re looking for other healthy snack ideas for your football party, check my instructions on how to build a Healthy Snack Stadium filled with fruits, veggies, healthy dips and a whole-grain sandwich station. Pop open a few cans of Blue Diamond Almonds in the end zones and you’ll score you a gazillion high-fives!

Wasabi Shrimp Salad Bites w/ Almonds @BlueDiamond #GameChanginSnacks #ad

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What snacks are you making for the Big Game?

Wasabi & Soy Sauce Shrimp Salad Bites with Almonds

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

Packed with big flavor from wasabi, these cucumber slices are topped with shrimp salad and a crunchy almond. Healthy finger food for your party!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Asian

Servings: 12 2 appetizers per person

Ingredients

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 teaspoon wasabi powder
1 cup frozen pre-cooked small salad shrimp, thawed and drained
2 radishes, chopped finely
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped finely
1/4 cup water chestnuts, chopped finely
2 green onions, bulbs and stems slices finely
1 large cucumber, cut crosswise into ¼” thick slices (24 slices)
24 Wasabi & Soy Sauce” Blue Diamond Almonds (from 6-oz. can)

Instructions

In medium-sized bowl, whisk together soy sauce, yogurt and wasabi powder until combined.
Add thawed shrimp, radishes, bell pepper, water chestnuts an d green onions to bowl, toss gently until coated with Greek yogurt mixture.
Spoon 1 tablespoon of shrimp mixture in center of cucumber round; top with almond. Repeat to finish remaining appetizers.

Recipe Notes

Healthy Snack Stadium + Football Finger Foods for the Win

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

The BIG GAME will be here in a little over a week and my guys have been uncharacteristically fussing about the football-watching party preparations. I have some football players, past and present in my house! What television should we watch – in the game room or downstairs closer to the kitchen? Should we play games like ‘squares’ or have a bean bag toss? And, most importantly, what will everyone eat?!

It’s not JUST going to be (root) beer, Buffalo wings and burgers. It’s impossible to be a healthy food and fitness blogger and not bring a little sumptin’ sensible to the shindig. But I’m not talking about a sad little tray of carrot and celery sticks, instead imagine a nutritious array of nibbles that is as exciting and epic as the BIG GAME itself – a HEALTHY SNACK STADIUM!

I created this masterpiece of munch-worthy goodness for Litehouse Foods – they challenged me to put a healthy spin on the increasingly popular and pin-worthy food displays made for football-watching gatherings. The stands are packed with fruit and veggies and the field is covered in healthy salsas and dips made from Greek yogurt. Guests even get an all-access pass to refuel at a sandwich-making station and dig into sidelines loaded up with whole-grain chips and football-decorated eggs!

Go over and visit Living Litehouse for additional photos and details on how to make this Healthy Snack Stadium (including how to assemble the framework and making pretzel rod goal posts) that will have your guests eating like champions.

While the Patriots and Seahawks rumble on the Super Bowl gridiron, I’ll be serving up even more healthy appetizers alongside my Snackadium. Here are a few ideas for healthy snacks that will make you an MVP on game day, any day and every day!

Cilantro Lime Guacamole – Simple, smooth and just so darn good that I have been known to eat the whole bowl at one sitting! A perfect dip for chips or healthier options like carrot, jicama, or zucchini sticks and to use as a spread on your sandwich. If you have leftover guacamole (yeah, right!) or just want to make extra in advance, check out my blog post on How to Freeze Guacamole.

Nutty Slow Cooker Snack Mix – Snack mix is a perennial party favorite, my recipe uses a slow cooker (really!) to make the process stress-free and super tasty. I like to add lots of nuts to my snack mix for healthy fats and extra protein. A sure bet!

Football Deviled Eggs – Are these the cutest eggs ever? And, the good news is you will not go to hell for incorporating them into a healthy diet – eggs are a great source of protein and essential vitamins. I’ve used Greek yogurt instead of the traditional mayo for a slimming swap-a-roo!

Healthy Gridiron Grub #recipes + Super Snack Stadium for the win! @litehousefoods #football

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Football Deviled Eggs

Prep Time

20 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Put your healthy stack stadium over the top with these fun and tasty football deviled eggs -- a fun finger food for the Big Game! Touchdown!

Course: Appetizer

Servings: 12 people (2 each)

Ingredients

12 large eggs boiled
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp Sriracha sauce or more to taste
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
bunch chives

Instructions

Peel eggs lengthwise and scoop out yolks; set whites aside.
In small bowl, mix together yolks, yogurt, mustard, sriracha sauce, salt and pepper.
Spoon mixture into empty cavity of eggs.
Snip and cut chives with knife into approximate ½ pieces; each egg half will need four pieces (96 pieces). Place 3 chive slices crosswise along egg filling and cross with one piece lengthwise.

Tuna Avocado Toast with Tangy Lemon Crema #BeeHealthy

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

It’s a New Year and I’ve made a pledge to continue yet another year of striving to be the best me I can be. I’ll stay on this path (although there are always a few detours) by making nutritious food choices, exercising in some way every day, stepping outside my comfort zone with personal challenges and just being at peace with myself. While I don’t have a lot of resolutions (sounds so shaming), I do have one oath of an epicurean nature to make – never make a rash judgment that prevents a delicious healthy food trend from meeting my mouth.

What delicious healthy food trend, you ask? I’m talking about avocado toast, the creamy and crunchy hookup that has been buzzing all over the Internet. I’ve seen avocado toast in some form or fashion on every social media channel imaginable in the last few months, but I dismissed the toast and topping as not protein-rich enough for my diet (although I don’t mind eating an entire avocado in one sitting – wink, wink).

But then, I had a moment of clarity yesterday while trying to come up with a quick healthy meal from the pantry – what about tuna fish?! I always keep a few cans of tuna from Bumble Bee Seafoods to elevate salads, sandwiches and simple ingredients into yummy and healthy meals. For example, my recipe for Fiesta Tuna Quinoa Salad is still a make-ahead favorite for a whirlwind week as is my Speedy Salad Nicoise.

Tuna is a simple (and frugal) way to add a host of nutrients to your diet, including lean protein, healthy fat, and important vitamins and minerals. I’m a fan of the single-serve, 2.5 ounce pouches of Bumble Bee® Premium Albacore Tuna and Light Tuna because the packages don’t require a can opener, messy draining, or any cooking!

Make Waves, Get Raves – Tuna Avocado Toast w/ Tangy Lemon Crema #recipe #BeeHealthy #CG #Ad

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tuna, Avocado & Radish Toast with Tangy Lemon Crema

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

2 mins

Total Time

12 mins

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

4 slices rustic artisan bread your favorite variety
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 2.5 oz pouch tuna, drained I used Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna
1 radish sliced thinly and then quartered
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp red chile pepper sauce more or less to taste
Pea Shoots for garnish

Instructions

Lightly brush tops of bread with olive oil and set under broiler until lightly brown on top. Remove from oven and set aside.
Cut avocado in half, remove seed and score flesh inside of skin. With a spoon, scoop out one half of the scored avocado and add to bowl with lemon juice, garlic and sea salt. Mash together very well. Add in the other half of scored avocado and mix lightly to combine – this will keep a chunkier texture.
Spread equal portion of avocado mixture on the top of each toast. Top each toast with just a little over ½ ounce of tuna fish and sprinkling of radish slices.
In another small bowl, wish together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest and hot pepper sauce until incorporated.
Drizzle lemon crema over tops of toast and garnish with pea shoots.

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Category Archives: Recipes

Herb Lover’s Oven Fries for Valentine Steak Dinner + Chocolate

Beef, Egg and Potato Bake + Make Ahead Meals for Busy Days

Wasabi Almond Shrimp Salad Bites + Football #GameChangingSnacks

Healthy Snack Stadium + Football Finger Foods for the Win

Tuna Avocado Toast with Tangy Lemon Crema #BeeHealthy