Tuesday, June 28, 2011

5 Ingredient Recipes!

Dear Tiffany,


Hi!  As I go through my 5x5x5 recipe challenge, I'll be listing the recipe links here as well so they'll all be in one place.


Right now, before the challenge, I'll list the ones that are already up (these won't count towards the challenge).


Honey -Baked Beans
Minister's Delight (dessert)
Crockpot BBQ Ribs (technically this is 6, but I just didn't count the pepper, ahha!)
Easy Shrimp
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
One-dish-wonder Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Baked Potatoes
Spinach Egg Salad
15 Bean Soup
Slow Cooker Ribs 2


More to come as we go through the challenge!


-Joy

5 x 5x 5 for July

Dear Tiffany,


When were talking last week, you said you were going to actually try to make the baked beans because you thought it was simple enough for you.  Now, I know for a fact that you can make every recipe on my blog, BUT I could see that some of them could be a little intimidating for you, which is how you continue to resort to the frozen dinner section of Target.


Since this blog is for you, I'm going to try something new: For July (and, ok, it goes into the beginning of August), I'm going to do a 5 x 5 x 5 recipe challenge.  (Hopefully I don't go too nuts between this and my regular challenge blog!)  The Challenge: 5 weeks, 5 recipes per week, and...5 ingredients per recipe.  I'll cook through them and share with you!


I knew you'd like that one.  I'm not going  to re-post any recipes I've already done on here, so today I'll just make a list of all the recipes that are already up that have 5 or less ingredients, and then I'll add to that list as we go through the challenge. You can expect the new recipes to start coming up early next week or maybe even this weekend.


My challenge to you: will  you commit to trying out at least one of these recipes per week?  Or more if you like?  I think you'll have fun with it!  (will anyone else commit?  Let me know on the Breakfast at Tiffany's forum here)  Let me know on my forum if there are any recipes you'd like me to cover in the next month!


I'm excited!


-Joy

Sunday, June 19, 2011

#23: Honey Baked Beans! (Vegetarian and diabetic friendly, but still super yummy!)



Dear Tiffany,

Tonight we celebrated my birthday which is coming up on Monday (I missed you, by the way!) by having a potluck.  I was looking for a way to use the epic amounts of beans I have in my kitchen, to not have to go to the grocery store, and also make something that my vegetarian friend AND my borderline diabetic friend could enjoy.  I came up with these yummy baked beans!

The Basics:
Prep time: About 5 minutes, then in the crockpot all day or the oven for about 6 hours.

Good for leftovers: yes!
cost: about $5 or less

servings: 8 to 10


The ingredients:
1lb beans (I used small white beans, but lima beans, great northern, or really any kind of beans would work great)
1 onion, chopped
1 cup honey
1-2 cups chopped pineapple (optional)

The Process:
Soak the beans overnight, then drain and rinse them.  Place half of the chopped onion in the bottom of a crock pot or dutch oven (or even just a deep baking dish).  Add the beans, then the rest of the onion, and pour the honey over the top.  Add enough water to cover an inch or two above the beans.  Then bake at 375 degrees F for 6 hours (if using the oven), or cook in the crockpot for 4-6 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low.  Check on it every few hours and add a little water if the beans on top are starting to get dry.  Towards the end, add the pineapple.

This recipe is great because...
1) its super yummy
2) super simple
3) no salt added...and in my opinion it didn't need any on serving either.
4) honey is a healthier sweetener, and a much better option for diabetics (for some interesting thoughts on honey,  see here).
5) the absence of bacon or ham fat means that this recipe is overall very low fat.
6) oh. and its really really yummy too!

If you want a less healthy, non-vegetarian version, you can take add bacon with the onions.  There's a similar recipe here that uses bacon.

Enjoy!