Shepherd’s Pie

I love taking  recipes, with tons of ingredients, that take awhile to make and paring it down to a few easy steps with  5 ingredient’s. Shepherd’s pie is now, so easy to make, that  you can enjoy it any time in under 8 minutes, all in one pan!   This is even better the next day and will slice up so beautiful for  you.  The Zhoug Sauce from Trader Joe’s gives this the perfect kick.  Not too spicy, just right.  I hope you enjoy this, and all of our quick and easy meals.

Ingredients makes 9 slices Cost
1 1 lb package of 4% lean ground beef $5.49
2 1 container diced yellow onions $1.79
3  2T Zhoug Sauce $0.30*
4 4 T  red pepper eggplant spread $1.35*
5  1 bag  frozen mashed potatoes $ 2.49
  Total $11.42($1.27 per slice)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Facts Per Slice
Calories 156
Carbs 14.9g
Fats 5.2g
Protein 12.4g
Sugar 1.8g
Fiber 2.1g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Place your ground beef in a fry pan over m/h heat and start breaking up using your handy dandy chopping tool. ( See YouTube video.)

Step 2: Once meat is all broken up add your diced onions and brown with the meat.

Step 3:  While your meat is browning ( to save time you want to do this now) put all of the frozen mashed potato disks in a microwave safe dish with 1T of water and microwave for 7 minutes covered with a microwave safe lid.

Step 4:  When meat and onions are done add 2T Zhoug Sauce, and 4T of the red pepper/eggplant spread.  Mix thoroughly  with the meat and onions.

Step 5:  Your potatoes will be done around the same time as the meat.  Remove from microwave and stir so there are no lumps.  Spread all of the potatoes over the entire meat mixture.  Cover with a lid and heat for about one minute.  Slice into 9 pie size slices.  ( can also be refrigerated and re-heated for later use.)

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancake With Omelet.

 

 

So many cultures eat eggs for dinner, and I see why.  They are a great source of protein, low calorie, and super inexpensive.  Not to mention there are so many different ways to prepare them quickly.  I love paring up  Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancakes, with a simple omelet .  Put a dollop of  their tasty Tzatziki sauce on top, and you have a quick healthy meal, that you can enjoy any time of the day.

 

Ingredients Cost
1 1 Trader Joes Scallion Pancake $0.87*
2 1 egg plus 2 egg whites $0.47*
3  1T tap water $0.00
4 2T Trader Joes Tzatziki Sauce $0.43*
  Total $1.77 each

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from TraderJoe’s

(There are 4 scallion pancakes per bag)

 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 296
Carbs 23.8g
Fats 13.9g
Protein 17.5g
Sugar 2.7g
Fiber 2g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1: Spray your fry pan with a little olive oil spray.  On M/H heat warm up a defrosted scallion pancake.

Step 2: While pancake is heating up ( flip to warm both sides) place one full egg with two egg whites in a small bowl.  Add one T of water and whisk all together.

Step 3:  When your eggs are whisked, your pancake will be heated through, remove from pan, and put on your dinner plate.  There will be some oil in your fry pan and this is ok.  Pour your eggs directly into your fry pan.  I like to use a fairly small fry pan for an individual serving.  When eggs start getting solid, gently push the cooked eggs so that the runny eggs form on the outside.  Cover with a lid to cook up the top.  If the bottom of your eggs start getting too brown, now is a good time to gently turn your eggs.  If your omelet breaks  it is ok,  they will still taste the same.  The eggs cook up pretty fast so keep a close eye.

Step 4:  Remove omelet and place on top of the scallion pancake.

Step 5:  Put 2T of Tzitziki Sauce on top.

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Asian Rice Noodles with Chicken and Veggies

 

Feeling daring, I cooked a dish for the first time without taste testing, with a promise that if it turned out good I would post. Well since you are seeing this it turned out better than expected.   I LOVE a good Chow Fun noodle, the really thick noodle that I only seem to find in NYC or Chicago.  With the advice of a instagram friend I ventured into a wonderful grocery store with about 1000 noodles.

Ingredients serves 4 Cost
1 1 lb package of chicken tenders $4.99
2 1/2 package of Asian Best Rice Sticks $1.50*
3  8T Goyza dipping sauce $0.59*
4 1 bag fresh Bok Choy $2.69
5  4 stalks scalions $ 0.14*
  Total $9.91($2.48 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 351
Carbs 52.8g
Fats 2g
Protein 31.8g
Sugar 4.7g
Fiber 0.9g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s ( Rice Sticks from a local international market)

Directions

Step 1: Take a half a bag of your rice sticks and soak them in water for 30 minutes.  Drain and they are ready to use.  They will continue to cook and soften while they cook with the rest of your ingredients.

Step 2: Spray your pan with a little olive oil spray and brown up your chicken tenders, once you turn them add the drained noodles on top and cover your pan.

Step 3:  Since we are all about saving time, while your noodles soak and your chicken is browning, now is a good time to cut your veggies.  I used scallions and bok choy.  You can use bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms, be creative or use our recommendations.

Step 4:  Add your veggies on top of the noodles and pour the sauce on top. Cover and continue to cook on M/H heat.

Step 5: Stir to incorporate and cook until noodles are soft/firm and chicken is cooked.

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Cauliflower Gnocchi with a Cauliflower Cream Sauce

Cauliflower has never been more popular!  Gone are the days when cauliflower was  just another boring vegetable your mom made you eat. Thanks to keto and other low carb lifestyles, cauliflower is now being used as a low calorie/carb substitute for pizza crust, mashed potatoes,  rice, you name it.  Now I bring you the ultimate in cauliflower dishes, because you really can never have too much cauliflower.   Using mashed cauliflower for the base of my cream sauce is the perfect compliment to this cauliflower gnocchi.

Ingredients serves Cost
1 2 Bags Frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi $2.99
2  1 /2 Bag Frozen Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes $1.99*
3 3T Heavy Whipping Cream $1.00*
4

5

 

3 Slices Bacon Substitute of choice

5T Grated Parmesan Cheese

 

 Total

$ 1.99

 

$7.97($1.99 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

Nutrition Facts Per Serving 
Calories 222
Carbs 29g
Fats 8.9g
Protein 6g
Sugar 1.5g
Fiber 6.8g
Source: MyFitnessPal

 

Directions

Step 1:  Defrost the cauliflower gnocchi and mashed potatoes in the fridge

Step 2:   Spray a pan with olive oil spray and brown the gnocchi, spraying more olive oil as needed and stirring so the gnocchi doesn’t stick.

Step 3:  While browning the gnocchi put half a bag of defrosted cauliflower mashed potatoes in your ninja and pulse with 3T heavy cream.

Step 4:  Microwave 3 slices of veggie bacon on a paper towel until very crisp and crumble into gnocchi’s,  sprinkle with Parm cheese.

Step 5: Enjoy!