Steak Roll-Ups

Have you ever been told not to play with your food?

Have you said that to your children?

Well this tasty dish allows just that and they are best eaten with your hands! Cooking is always more fun with you can get creative with your food. I wanted to show off my skills to my husband so I decided to use my fancy mandolin to slice my vegetables. I apparently got too cocky and sliced my finger. ouch. It wouldn't stop bleeding, so he had to finish cooking as I gave him instructions (so its not TOO hard). I admit, it's not the best way to get your husband to cook for you, but hey I'll take it!

I'm not a huge fan of balsamic vinegar, but the glaze was pretty tasty so I'd recommend giving it a try. I might serve it just with steak sauce next time. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Kaitlyn, she introduced me to Sweet Baby Rays sauce. I could drink the bottle. It makes everything better.

Steak Roll-Ups

2 SERVINGS (makes about 5 rolls) 

PREP: 30 minutes           COOK:10 minutes            READY IN: 40 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 1 lb skirt steak or thinly sliced sirloin
• Steak Seasoning of your choice (I just used seasoning salt)
• 1 carrot
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 zucchini
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning 

Balsalmic Glaze (optional)

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup beef broth

DIRECTIONS

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1. Trim your meat and pound it with a meat tenderizer. Cut meat into 2-3 inch strips (going along the length of the meat). Sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and steak seasoning of your choice. Set aside in fridge for 30minutes. 
2. Cut vegetables into thin strips, I just used my simple slicer mandolin to do this, but a knife works too. Make the length of your vegetables a little wider than your steak strips. 
3. Peal and finely chop your garlic. 
4. Saute vegetables and garlic in a pan with a little olive oil for about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with italian seasoning and set aside.
5. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, start making your glaze. Melt the butter. Add in shallots, vinegar, sugar and beef broth. Cook until shallots are transparent and then set aside. 
6. Now the fun part. Take your steak and place in a good amount of the vegetables. Roll the steak and secure with a toothpick. Repeat step for remaining steak strips. 
7. On medium heat add a little oil, just enough to coat the pan. Add in your rolls. Cook each side until brown, or your desired doneness for steak. 
8. Serve with balsamic sauce spooned over the top. Don't forget to remove the toothpick before digging in!

NUTRITION FACTS

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    1 roll w/o glaze    130 calories   6g fat   3g carbs    14g protein    2g sugar   

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from http://picturetherecipe.com

Recipe Refresh: Pita Joes (...or Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes)

Okay, I realize that Sloppy Joes are not the first thing that comes to mind for the week of Thanksgiving, but here's how I see it: The crazy holiday season is descending. Soon you will be running ragged between shopping, holiday parties, and winter travel. You and your children will be eating excesses of sugar, butter, and all sorts of holiday "goodness." On the nights you are home, you will be racking your brain for a quick and easy dinner that a) counteracts all of the junk you and your children will be eating and b) your children will gobble (no Thanksgiving pun intended!) right up. On those nights, you will thank me that you are prepared with this recipe up your sleeve.

I found this recipe in a cookbook from the American Heart Association. It takes all the goodness of sloppy joes and makes it healthier and tidier. It has less sugar, less sodium (by half!), and less fat (also by half!) along with having more fiber (double!), more protein, and (in my opinion) more flavor! My son (who is not a fan of meat) ate this up, no questions asked. And my husband and I were fighting over who got to have the leftovers. Seriously, what's not to love?

Pita Joes
4 SERVINGS 
PREP: 10 minutes           COOK: 20 minutes            READY IN: 30 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
• 2/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (I substituted steak sauce)
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
• 4 whole-wheat pita pockets

DIRECTIONS

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1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, carrot, zucchini, and garlic over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink (about 10-12 minutes). 
2. Add in the remaining ingredients (minus the pita), reduce heat to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes. 
3. Warm the pita (you can do this by wrapping them in a paper towel and placing them in the microwave for about 30 seconds), and cut each pita in half. Spoon 1/2 cup of the meat mixture into each pita half and serve warm.

NUTRITION FACTS

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    2 pockets with 1/2 cup filling each   409 calories   8.0 g fat   54 g carbs    34 g protein    12 g sugar   

Original Recipe (from Taste of Home)	Pass the Fresh Refresh Recipe
1 lb. ground beef 1 cup ketchup 2 Tbs. brown sugar 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons prepared mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 hamburger buns	1 lb. extra lean ground beef 2/3 cup onion 1 carrot 2 zucchini 1 can tomatoes 1 can tomato sauce 1 Tbs. brown sugar 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/8 teaspoon salt 4 whole wheat pita pockets
1 sandwich has: 439 calories 16 g fat 1360 mg sodium 46 g carbohydrate 2 g fiber 27 g protein	1 whole pita pocket (2 halves): 409 calories 8 g fat 635 mg sodium 54 g carbohydrate 8 g fiber 34 g protein

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from American Heart Association Healthy Family Meals.