Southwest Turkey Mini Meatloaf......Review!

This is a recipe I found on theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. It is really good! A must try for us post-op'ers.

Shelly's Southwest Turkey Mini Meatloaf

1 Yellow Onion, diced

4 Green Onions, diced

3 cloves of Garlic, minced

1 1/4 pounds Ground Turkey, the average weight of 1 package

1/4 cup Italian Style Dry Bread Crumbs

1/4 cup Milk1 Egg, beaten

1/2 cup Corn, canned or frozen

1/2 cup Black Beans, rinsed & drained

1/2 cup Pico de Gallo (near the salsa in the refrigerated section)

1 Tablespoon Fresh Cilantro, chopped

1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt

a few twists of Black Pepper

Butter/Oil for sauteing

Saute onions till golden. Add garlic cook 1 more minute. Set aside to cool. Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 1 minute. Beat egg. Add egg and soaked breadcrumbs to ground turkey. Add cooled veggies and all remaining ingredients. Mix till combined.

Divide into 8 equal mounds. Form into mini meatloaves or if you have this super groovy pan like me use it. Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. These freeze well either cooked or uncooked. You can serve the meatloaves as is.

Now, I added some salsa and fat free sour cream to the top of mine. I also didn't have the 8 mini-loaf dish to bake it in, so I used 5 of the aluminum mini-loaf dishes I got at Walmart. I sprayed the inside of them with Pam before baking. I froze 3 of them for later eating!

Here's a pic of how mine turned out:

I'm not a fan of ground turkey, but this was REALLY good. Hats off to eggface for another great creation!

Her link to this recipe: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/01/birds-for-barack.html

Tanya

Walmart.....

I'm convinced the people that work at Walmart are ignorant. They must be on work release. Especially the one on Wards Rd.

I stop by there at 5:30am on my way home from work today.....had a few items to grab. Wanted to get some "Fuze" drinks. I go to the back of the store where the drink isle is....and....low and behold...they have that isle roped off. I looked and the other end of the isle didn't have a rope up.....so....I slid under the rope to go get my drinks. 2 employees yell at me like I'm stealing the damned drinks. This did NOT set well with me. So, I let em have it. When I was done with them, I was so mad, I proceeded to go check out......forgetting the rest of the stuff I went for.

The lady at the cash register asked me how I was and I let her have it! I told her I needed to see a manager because I didn't appreciate being yelled at by their employees.

The manager comes over and I let her have it. I asked her...."Is this a 24 hr Walmart?" She said "Yes maam." I said "Then why the HELL do you have isles roped off when you know people come from all over to shop? If you're gonna close down isles, you need to close the whole store!" I proceeded to yell a few other choice items and took my 5 items and spun outta there like a bat outta hell.

Now I remember why I HATE the Lynchburg Walmart. I mean....really...what was I supposed to do? SIT and wait for them to take the rope down? I could have been there for hours. The floor wasn't wet.

I can feel my blood pressure going up.

Another one bites the dust......

Well, this year is almost over. Thanksgiving came and went. Christmas came and went. New Years is 2 days away. As I look back over this year, I cant seem to find where the time went.

A few biggies:
I started online classes to get my BSN.
I went back to the ER to work.
I bought a new mustang.

Some weight loss accomplishments:
I fit into a size 16 jeans while shopping at the beach.
I fit into roller coaster rides at Kings Dominion.
I bought a little black dress and high heel shoes!

Some things I'm looking forward to in 2009:
Losing those last 50lbs.
Our "girl" Vegas trip in October.
Continuing my photography persuits.

So, so long 2008. Looking foward to new adventures in 2009.

Noodleless Crockpot Lasagna

Here's a recipe I obtained from OH.com. I made it a few days ago and it was quite yummy!
The next time I make it, I'm going to add ground beef to each layer.

Crock Pot Lasagna

--1 - 26 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce
--1 small container of ricotta cheese
--8 slices of mozzarella cheese
--2 cups shredded Italian cheese mix
--1 large eggplant
--3 summer squash
--1 pound of sliced mushrooms
--1 bag of baby spinach
--2 T warm water

The Directions

I used a 6 quart Smart Pot for this dish, it was the correct size pot to use. If you have a smaller crock-pot, you will need to scale back a bit.Wash all of the vegetables. Slice the squash and the eggplant in long, slices, about 1/4 inch thick. These are going to be your noodles! I did not peel the squash or the eggplant. In the bottom of your crockpot, pour about 1/4 cup of pasta sauce. Layer in a few pieces of squash and eggplant. Smear some ricotta cheese on top. Add a handful of baby spinach and mushrooms, and a few slices of mozzarella cheese. Pour in some more pasta sauce. Continue layering the ingredients until your crockpot is full, and you have run out of ingredients. Top with the end of the pasta sauce and the shredded cheese. Put 2 tablespoons of warm water into the empty pasta sauce jar, cover, and shake. Pour the remaining sauce on top of everything.

Cover your crockpot and cook on low for 5-8 hours. This is done when the vegetables have reached their desired tenderness and the cheese is melty.

What it's all about......

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

We as a society have lost our minds. A walmart employee was trampled to death while shoppers looked on and continued to shop. What in the world? I fully believe that the world is coming to an end.
We have forgotten what Christmas is all about people. Forget the presents and forget the food. Christmas is about Jesus. First and foremost.....nothing else. The day we can trample a man to death for a few "bargains" is a sad, sad day. I realize that accidents happen but to continue to shop as this man lay dying......well, that's just despicable. Makes me ashamed to be a member of society.

Thanksgiving......

As the time nears for my family to arrive for dinner, I cannot help but think of what I am thankful for this year.

1. My family
2. My health
3. My dogs
4. My job
5. My home
6. My friends

We must remember no matter how bad things are in our life, someone....somewhere...has it worse than we do. Pray for those less fortunate than you are. Be grateful for what you have.

Tanya

Apple Cinnamon Protein Cake

Made this recipe I obtained from Eggface's blog tonight. Another yummy find!

This time, I put it in a 3 cup glass baking dish before I microwaved it. I had to microwave it for 4 mins to get the center done.

Here's the recipe:

Shelly's 5 Minute Sugar Free Apple Cinnamon Cake

1 Egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons Milk

2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Caramel)

2 Tablespoons No Sugar Added Applesauce

2 Tablespoons Canola Oil

3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon Pecans, chopped

1 Tablespoon Raisins

1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

Pinch salt

1 Measuring Cup or Microwave Safe Mug

In a measuring cup or microwave safe mug, Mix egg, milk, syrup, applesauce and oil and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, cinnamon, nuts, raisins, protein powder and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined. Nuke in microwave for 2 minutes. Let it sit for three or so minutes (it pulls away from the sides) before tipping the cake onto a plate. Yields 4-5 slices.

I topped it with Land O Lakes Sugar Free Whipped Cream, a drizzle of Smuckers Sugar Free Caramel Sauce and some chopped nuts.

You can catch this and other recipes on Eggface's blog at:

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Banana Caramel Nut Protein Cake

Okay, hats off to eggface again! I made this recipe I obtained from her blog today and it is YUMMY! You really MUST try it!

Shelly's 5 Minute Sugar Free Banana Caramel Nut Cake

1 Egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Caramel)

2 Tablespoons Banana, mashed

2 Tablespoons Canola Oil

3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix (I used whole wheat)

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Pecans, chopped

1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

Pinch salt

1 Measuring Cup or Microwave Safe Mug

In a measuring cup or microwave safe mug, Mix egg, milk, syrup, banana and oil and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, nuts, protein powder and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined.

Nuke in microwave for 2 minutes*. Let it sit for three or so minutes (it pulls away from the sides) before tipping the cake onto a plate. Yields 4-5 slices.*Microwave wattage varies. Mine takes 2 minutes but start with 2 minutes and add 20 second increments if needed till no liquid is seen.

For a dessert I topped the cake with Land o Lakes Sugar Free Whipped Cream, Smucker's Sugar Free Caramel Sauce, sliced Banana and a sprinkle of chopped Pecans. Slices of this are great toasted for breakfast too. It's a total banana nut muffin fix.

OMG....This is soooo good! Thanks eggface!

You can catch her blog recipes at:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Myrtle Beach.....Day 5

Well, today was a relaxin' day. My 2 friends went for some shopping at the outlets on 501 and I hung around the hotel. I did go out for some dunkin donuts coffee and to get Kali a souvenir. Then I came back, took myself out to the beach and lounged in the sun. I painted my toenails, listened to my MP3 player.....and chilled! It was soooo nice. Lookin' at the waves makes me wish I could do this 365 days a year. I took a small walk and took some random pics. There was a seagull family nearby with 3 baby seagulls. They were soooo cute!


We ended the night at the "Sea Captain" restaurant down on 30th avenue. I had a bowl of she-crab soup....which was AWESOME! I had 2 bites of scallops and oysters and I was full. It was all good. I loved the soup so much I ordered a bowl to go. If you ever want a good seafood restaurant to eat at in MB, eat here! It's right on the water.

After dinner, we decided to head back over to broadway at the beach so my friends could go back in shops they wanted to pick up a few things at. Kathy spent forever in the Cat shop and still didn't get what she really wanted. I managed to find a starbucks...YUM and get some pics of the lit up Christmas tree. Very pretty I might ad! I sure will miss MB when I leave tomorrow....to go back to the read world.

Myrtle Beach....Day 4

Us girls had a discussion today as to why it is we always have problems when we go out together. We have come to the conclusion it is because our expectations are too high. We are professionals and we expect everyone else to act as professionals and when they don't, it ticks us off. Then we have to show ourselves. We are going to get shirts that say "High Expectations" on it to wear when we're together.

With that said, we spent the day shopping at the outlets in North Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Landing. We stopped by McDonalds across from Barefoot Landing to get some sweet tea and went thru the drive thru. When I placed my order, the girl said "pull around to the next window." Well, at the next window, there was no one there. I sat there a few mins and pulled up to the next window. A few mins later, she comes over. I gave her my money and asked her "Did you tell me to pull to the next window?" She just looks at me. I said "Oh, excuse me...did you hear me?" She said "Yes I heard you. I told you to pull around to this window." I just looked at her. All I can say is.....HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

Here's a pic I took today when the sun was going down....