Healthy Cooking Made Easy

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View at Picasa Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!”Canon Canon EOS-1Ds Mark I

It only looks like a pizza box…

Valentine’s Day is 2 weeks away. It’s time to mail your cards and make plans to shower those you love with special thoughts and deeds. Mama Says, inspire your Valentine to cook for themselves.

Great Gift Idea: healthy recipes delivered to their door….rather than flowers, candy or pizza!

The Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection contains recipes for main courses, sides, and salads. The durable, laminated cards can withstand even the newest chef’s mishaps and require few ingredients (most are pantry staples). Each recipe card features a photo of the completed dish and easy-to-follow instructions. Order today for delivery by Valentine’s Day.

Wishing you a fabulous 2010 – gather your friends and family around the table to share a home cooked meal. - Mama Says

Just like Grandma Makes (Only Easier) – Rumpled Cabbage

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I’ve debated posting this recipe. It’s almost sacrilege to mess with stuffed cabbage – but I did it AND it was yummy. My mother-in-law usually comes to my kitchen to make this time-honored dish for holidays and family functions. Recently, in the midst, of a hectic week, we were in need of comfort food. Real comfort food – the kind where the smells and the taste combine to envelop your family in healthy goodness. So, I pulled out my trusty crock pot; tossed the ingredients in and went about my business for the day. The smells and tastes…just like the real thing – only simpler, not quite as pretty, but sooo very tasty.   Viola – rather than neatly stuffed cabbage rolls….introducing deconstructed cabbage rolls, unstuffed, rumpled and absolutely delicious. Quick, scrumptious, healthy and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole (Deconstructed, Rumpled Cabbage Rolls)

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon pimenton (smoky paprika from Spain)
• 1 (7 1/2 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup water or chicken stock
• 1/2 cup long grain rice
• 1 (15 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, with liquid
• 4 cups shredded cabbage (short on time use 12 ounce bag prepared cabbage for coleslaw)

Preparations

1. In a large non-skillet, brown the turkey. Remove turkey to a bowl. Drain most of the fat from the pan and discard.  In the skillet saute the onion for 5 minutes until soft; stir in garlic, salt,  pepper and pimenton (about 2 minutes).
2. Stir the onion mixture into turkey to combine, along with the tomato sauce. Add the rice and water. Mix well.
3. In crock pot layer 1/2 meat mixture, 1/2 cabbage. Pour the diced tomatoes and their liquid over the mixture and cover.
4. Cook on high for 4-6 hours, or low for 8-10 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings prior to serving.

Heresy right! Stuffed cabbage without the blanching, cooling, rolling or lining a pot. Call this recipe heaven for busy cooks who want to savor stuffed cabbage without the fuss. The question is dare I serve this to my mother-in-law….

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Mama Says Reminder: With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we wanted to encourage you to give healthy gifts to those you love. Our “No More Frozen Pizza” recipe collection is ideal for anyone on your Valentine’s list who is striving to eat healthier, cook at home more often and avoid processed foods.

Buon appetito!

Aunties Unite – Save Our Kids From Bad Food Choices

One of the great pleasures of being an Auntie is an outing with your niece or nephew.  On a recent Sunday, I had breakfast with my niece (12), nephew (10) and niece (4).  We made it to the pancake emporium before the crowd.  It’s always a treat to watch them select their meal from the menu and order.  The older kids can order from the regular menu while the petite petunia orders from the kiddies’ menu.  And therein lies the rub.

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For some reason, her order was the last to arrive.  And when it appeared it was something out of the Barnum & Bailey Circus rather than a nutritious start to the day. The chocolate chip pancakes were artfully arranged on the plate and for her dining pleasure they embellished it with a whipped cream smiley face.  The waitress was very cheery when she delivered the creation but sent us warning glances when the sugar high began to reach a crescendo. What kid wouldn’t fill-up on the whipped cream!

Nutritious and delicious.  Those are words to live by. Perhaps for our next outing we will cook together and play charades.

Hint for Aunties, Grandmas, Godmothers and Terrific Friends

Valentines gift for new cooks: Mama Says “No More Frozen Pizza!”

Don’t forget to order the Mama Says, No More Frozen Pizza! recipe collection for the new cook in your life.  Save the kids you love (and their friends) from a life of frozen pizza. Help them make nutritious and delicious meals for themselves.

Place your order by January 30, 2009 for Valentine’s Day delivery.

Click here to read the RAVE reviews.

Just say “no” to whipped cream and say “yes” to practical and hip gifts, learning activities and the periodic hike through the park with those you love.