Salad & Shepherd's Pie (minus the lamb)

This simple salad and extremely easy rendition of Shepherd's Pie can be a quick fix for busy evenings!

Salad Ingredients:
Romaine Lettuce
Cherry Tomatoes
Red Onion
Carrots

Preparation:
Chop and combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve! :)


Shepherd's Pie Ingredients:
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups frozen baby vegetable mix (such as Birds Eye)
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
2 cups country-style refrigerated mashed potatoes
Cooking spray
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Preparation:
Preheat broiler. Cook beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add vegetable mix, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Cook 5 minutes or until mixture is slightly thick and thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. While beef mixture cooks, place potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; vent. Microwave at HIGH 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Spoon mixture evenly into each of 4 (8-ounce) broiler-safe ramekins coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with potatoes; sprinkle with pepper. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Broil 2-3 minutes or until potatoes are golden. Yield 4 servings (serving size: 1 pie.)

Calories: 305; Fat 10.7g (sat 5.6g), Protein 20.6g, Sodium 490mg


This recipe was taken from my favorite cookbook at the moment: Cooking Light: fresh food superfast.

Just a side note: this recipe was the first time I've ever used the broiler setting on my oven! Please be sure that the dishes you use in the oven are safe to broil! :)

A new take on "Grilled" Cheese

This FUN & easy grilled cheese isn't any special or low cal recipe, but I wanted to share it because I think anyone would enjoy it, especially someone with kids!

Ingredients:
Cheese (American or cheddar or other)
Wheat bread
Butter flavored cooking spray
Optional ingredients: Picante sauce, ham, turkey, pineapple

Preparation:
This sandwich is made like any normal grilled cheese, but instead of cooking it in a pan on the stove top you'll heat up your waffle iron.

Preheat the waffle iron. Place cheese (and any of your optional ingredients) on the bread. Coat waffle iron with cooking spray and place sandwich on waffle iron. If cooking multiple sandwiches, you can cook them in batches. Cook 4-6 minutes or until cheese melts and bread is toasted. Serve with picante sauce or enjoy as is!