Uncle Ben's Beginner's Cooking Contest: Kaia's Sweet & Sour Porcupine Meatballs in a Broccoli Forest

Uncle Ben's Beginner's Cooking Contest

 

In this contest us parents with children in grades kindergarten through 8th had the opportunity to submit home videos of our family preparing a rice-based dish and sharing our experience cooking together. Not only is this experience a great bonding moment but our children also learn a life-long skill of getting in the kitchen to cook and keep healthy.

 

PRETTY PLEASE, vote for Kaia's Sweet & Sour Porcupine Meatballs in a Broccoli Forest recipe video from October 15–October 29, 2014. You can vote once a day, so feel free to come back often. She has the chance to win $15, 000 personally and $30,000 for her school to enhance their cafeteria!

 

Simply go to this link, https://www.bensbeginnerscontest.com/brand/gallery, and search for Kaia's name or porcupine meatballs. Her recipe will appear where you can vote and even share with others to vote...remember once per day...many thanks!!!

 

Kaia's Sweet & Sour Porcupine Meatballs in a Broccoli Forest

 

 

Serves: 4 (3 meatballs each)

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

 

Sauce:

1 T. olive oil

1/4 c. onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (14 oz.) can tomato sauce

1 tomato, diced

1 T. brown sugar

1 T. apple cider vinegar

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

 

Meatballs:

2 T. olive oil

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 uncooked Uncle Ben's white rice

1/4 c. onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 t. salt

1/8 t. pepper

1/2 c. water

 

1 head broccoli, cut into florets

 

For the sauce heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 3 to 5 minutes before stirring in remaining ingredients. Crank heat up until sauce is simmering, reduce to a low simmer and cook until slightly reduced and thickened about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

 

In the meantime combine ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Using hands mix gently and form into rounds about the size of a golf ball. Heat oil in a separate large non-stick skillet over medium and cook meatballs until golden about 3 minutes per side.

 

Transfer meatballs to sauce, coating the meatballs, cover and continue to simmer on low until tender and flavors have melded about another 10 minutes.

 

While both sauce and meatballs are about to be ready simply steam the broccoli just until tender about 5 to 7 minutes.

 

 

Broccoli Forest

(Not my photo)

Wing and Wilted Salad Wednesday: Raspberry-Jalapeno Glazed Wings and Wilted Arugula-Spinach-Tomato Salad with Balsamic-Bacon Vinaigrette & Sunny Side Egg

Wing and Wilted Salad Wednesday

 

Raspberry-Jalapeno Glazed Wings and Wilted Arugula-Spinach-Tomato Salad with Balsamic-Bacon Vinaigrette & Sunny Side Egg

Keepin' it fun in the kitchen and theming out dinner night...and tonight I came up with WING and WILTED SALAD WEDNESDAY!!!

Serves: 4 (6 wings each)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes

24 wings
2 T. vegetable oil

1/2 c. red raspberry jam
1/4 c. jalapeno jelly
2 T. balsamic vinegar
1/2 c. water, or more as needed

2 c. arugula
2 c. spinach
2 tomatoes, diced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1/4 c. basil leaves, minced

4 slices bacon
2 T. Dijon mustard
3 T. balsamic vinegar
1 T. brown sugar
1 clove garlic, grated
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place wings in a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat evenly then lay skin side up on a rack placed over a baking sheet. Bake until golden crisp turning a couple times while cooking. Should take about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.

In the meantime for the glaze combine raspberry jam, jalapeno jelly, balsamic and water. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat and simmer on low until slightly thickened about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and also set aside. Use a basting brush to evenly glaze wings until completely coated.

In a medium bowl combine arugula, spinach, tomato, celery and basil. Set aside.

For the dressing heat a large non-stick skillet over medium and add bacon. Cook until crisp about 5 to 7 minutes, reserving fat. Remove and drain on paper towel. When cool chop into small bits. Using the same skillet add eggs and cook just until the white is set. (You can cover the skillet with a lid, turn off the heat and allow to sit a minute or two) Combine remaining ingredients, excluding eggs but including the bacon bits and fat, in a small bowl and whisk until slightly emulsified. Serve each portion of salad with one sunny side egg and evenly drizzle with vinaigrette.

Cinnamon-Spiced Carne Asada Taco Tuesday

Cinnamon-Spiced Carne Asada Taco Tuesday

 

 

With little kiddos in the house we try and make our meals fun. And one way we do that is having "theme" night such as...TACO TUESDAY!!!

 

Serves: 4 (2 tacos per serving)

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

 

1/4 c. vegetable oil, divided (or more as needed)

6 slices carne asada

1 t. garlic salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/4 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. paprika

8 corn tortillas

1 large avocado, halved and pitted

1 T. Greek yogurt, honey-flavored

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 c. cabbage, chopped

1/4 c. cilantro, minced

 

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high and begin cooking tortillas a few minutes on each side until slightly golden, forming them into a taco shell. Drain on paper towel and set aside.

In the meantime heat remaining oil in a cast iron grill also over medium-high and cook carne asada until medium temperature about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove and allow to cool slightly before slicing and/or chopping.

In a small bowl combine avocado and yogurt and using a fork mash into guacamole.

Assemble tacos by evenly smearing each taco shell with guacamole, next the carne asada, then cheese and finally cabbage and cilantro.

 

* One of our favorite simple side dishes when it's TACO TUESDAY is cheesy refried beans