Hi Phil,

You certainly have some unusual recipes, much different than what I find online or in local restaurants. Some sound very tasty, others appear a little too spicy for my midwestern taste buds. Thanks for sharing such a nice variety! There is something for everyone.

DonnaZ

Hi Sara & Donna,

It's always good to see you both here at the Forum and I'm so glad that you both seem to enjoy the recipes that I share from time to time. I love to cook, and of course, I love to eat as well, so it always makes me smile when I can share with my Friends.

Sara, you mentioned the three hamburgers at a meal, and I can remember when I had a "healthy " appetite like that. These days, I have to watch what I eat more closely, or pretty soon, it's all right out front, where everyone can watch it and really see what all I've been eating, if you know what I mean. A slow cooker can sometimes be the solution.. These healthy and delicious, low-cal meals, make healthy eating a snap, since leaner, less fatty cuts of meat still turn out tender in a slow cooker and you can get by with using less salt and oil because the flavors have time to meld together.

Here's one I hope that y'all might like, and Donna, it's also another way to eat those healthy Chickpeas besides in Hummus...

Vegetable and Chickpea Curry

Ingredients

3 cups cauliflower florets
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup loose-pack frozen cut green beans
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 14-ounce can vegetable broth
2-3 teaspoons curry powder
1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
Cooked brown rice (optional)

Directions

1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine cauliflower, chickpeas, green beans, carrots, and onion. Stir in broth and curry powder.
2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
3. Stir in coconut milk and shredded basil leaves. Spoon rice, if using, into bowls, and ladle curry over the top.

Have A Terrific Week,

Phil

Hello Everyone,

When traveling through the Gulf States over the years, I'd always loved the Cajun Roast Beef, you could often get in the delis, right alongside the regular. It tasted delicious, with a distinctively garlicky flavor, and I'd wanted to try roasting it in my own kitchen, but found very few recipes. Here's my version, not quite as spicy, but it still has the garlic and thyme that meld together to make a savory, regional flavor. My family seems to like it and I hope yours will as well.

Cajun Roast Beef

Ingredients

Directions

Have A Great Weekend As Well,

Phil

Hello Friends,

Here's one that's easy to prepare and you'll likely have all of the ingredients either handy at home, or with just a quick trip to the market. It's a real treat to come home from a hard day at work and have this savory soup ready to eat. Just a nice traditional beef soup with old-fashioned goodness, and it's great when paired with crusty rolls topped with melted mozzarella cheese.

Slow Cooker Veggie-Beef Soup with Okra

Directions

Have A Terrific Week My Friends,

Phil

Hello My Friends,

Since we've all had some of that delicious Soup, let's try another Healthy Variety, that's quite tasty as well...

Sausage Barley Soup

This is a nice soup recipe with a lot of texture and flavor. It is a welcome change for those weeks when there doesn't seem to be a lot of variety. Even the kids will love it. This can also be cooked in a pan on the stove until the barley and carrot are tender, but I prefer the slow cooker method. The flavors seem to blend better and it's so much easier to prepare.

Ingredients

Directions

Happy Weekend My Friends,

Phil