Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich aka "The Elvis"

I'm running out the door...

Today's "MY" day.  The day I do things that I want.  Pampering day, shopping day, anything that tickles my fancy.  So I'm off to attend a couple of classes.  First up is a class on making Easter Baskets.  Easter is a favorite holiday of mine, so making an Easter basket is right up my alley.  Brings back so many great childhood memories.  

And, it that is not enough, I'm attending another class too!  A cooking class discovering the many dishes using fresh spring vegetables.  How cool is that!  I can't wait to share these recipes with you.

Needless to say I'm running around the house trying to get ready.  One thing about me....I'm hungry in the morning.  My stomach is actually yelling "feed me" from the moment I wake up.  Always has been...always will.  So a quick on the go breakfast is a must today.

Do you find yourself ever needing a good breakfast, one that travels well?  One you can take with you and eat along the way?  I think there are always times like that. This sandwich is perfect for on the go rush breakfasts.  The combination is classic peanut butter, bananas, and toast.  Also known as "The Elvis" (I'm a huge Elvis fan!) This is wholesome and good for you, if you use the right ingredients.

To make this lighter we use a light wheat bread (lower calories and carbs), light peanut butter (lower fat and sodium), and a banana (healthy as is!).  Simple to make, full or protein, and easy to eat on the run.  Plus the kids will love it!

Hope you enjoy my "quick" breakfast sandwich.  "Thank you, thank you very much!"

Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich aka "The Elvis"

serves 1

2 slices of light wheat bread
4 T light peanut butter
1 medium banana, sliced

Toast the wheat bread until golden brown.  Spread peanut butter on both slices of bread.  Top one bread slice with banana slices covering the peanut butter.  Top with the other slice of bread, peanut butter side down.   Slice sandwich in half and enjoy.

Tangerine Beef and Bok Choy Stir Fry

I'm hungry and it's dinner time!

Yesterday I had a beef and orange salad that inspired me to take this wonderful combination of flavors and turn it into a delicious stir fry.

It just so happened that I had most of the ingredients already in the house.  Tangerines are slightly more sweet and will lend a great flavor mixed with ginger, creating a sauce to die for.  Baby bok choy is just a wonderful vegetable that lends crunch and veggie goodness to the dish.  I also put in some asparagus tips for good measure.  

All I needed was the beef.  So I used some very thinly sliced sirloin.  Something that can be cooked up quickly and stay tender.

This was a GREAT dish!  Again, there is no need for take-out when you can create a masterpiece such as this one.  It's way better than take-out!  This dish comes together fairly easy.  The most time spent is making the rice, and creating the sauce.  Segmenting tangerines takes a little while and since they are a key ingredient, it's best to make the sauce first and have everything ready when you start to cook.  

So this dish is a little more involved, but I was still able to get dinner on the table in about 45 minutes.  I'm sure that you can buy stir fry beef, and use mandarin oranges and some juice as a way to cut time, and everything will be equally splendid.

Oh, and the topper is that this dish is LIGHT...that is low in calories.  It contains no sugar, like many Asian stir frys do.  The veggies are healthy and a good source of vitamins and fiber.  The protein is lean, and the fruit is fresh!  Great combination all the way around, and fits so well into the EAT WELL 2013 motto....I just love that!

Enjoy!

Tangerine Beef and Bok Choy Stir Fry

Serves 4
Time:  45 minutes

2 cups water
1 cup long grain white or brown rice
2 T low sodium soy sauce
1 T cornstarch
1 lb of sirloin cut into very thin strips 
3 tangerines
zest of 2 tangerines
1/4 c sherry
1 T ginger, minced
1 t cornstarch
1 t toasted sesame oil
4 t canola oil, divided
2 heads of baby bok choy
1/4 lb of thin asparagus

Boil water in a medium sauce pan over high heat.  Add rice, reduce and cover.  Simmer rice for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile add soy sauce and cornstarch to a medium bowl.  Stir to combine.  Add beef strips and toss to coat.  Allow to marinade while you make the sauce.  No need to refrigerate.

Zest two tangerines and place zest in a medium bowl.  Slice off the top and bottom of two tangerines.  Running your knife from the top down the sides, remove all white pith.  Segment the tangerine sections and place in the bowl.  Squeeze juice into the bowl with any leftover flesh and pith.  Do this with two tangerines.  With the third tangerine, peel and squeeze out all the juice and place in the bowl.  Add sherry, ginger, cornstarch and sesame oil.  Whisk to combine.  

Chop bok choy into chunks.  Cut off asparagus stalks, using only the tips.

Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large skillet.  Remove beef from the marinade and place in hot skillet.  Stir fry, turning often, for about 3-4 minutes until just cooked through.  Remove from skillet to a bowl.  Add remaining 2 teaspoons of oil and heat.  Add bok choy and asparagus to the skillet and stir fry for about 3 minutes until tender.  Add tangerine sauce.  Add beef and stir to coat, and allow sauce to thicken.
Serve over rice.

Easy Mexican Rice

Mexican Food is almost a staple when you live in Southern California.

If you grew up here the Latin influence in food was sure to have been part of your diet.  So it's no surprise that it's made in the home...and often!

A few days ago I brought you a wonderful Mexican chicken dish called Chicken Milanesa.  What a great way to eat chicken!  An even better treat is the side dish.  My Easy Mexican Rice is the perfect accompaniment for many dishes.  You know that rice goes with just about everything!  Being a starch it is a perfect foil for all types of protein. 

 This dish is easy to make.  It only takes a few ingredients, and cooks up in about 25 minutes so it's a great dish to make anytime.  This dish is always a big hit with friends, family, and children, plus it's easy to double and make a large batch.  Use leftovers in a quick Arroz con Pollo, which is a baked dish useing rice, shredded cooked chicken and cheddar cheese.  Yum!

Easy Mexican Rice

Serves 4
Time:  25 min plus prep

1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup Pure Wesson® Vegetable Oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 large = about 1 cup)
2 cans (8 oz each) Hunt's® Tomato Sauce
1 can (14 oz each) chicken broth

Cook rice and oil in large skillet over medium-high heat 3 minutes, or until rice is lightly browned, stirring frequently.

Add onions cook and stir 5-7 minutes, tender. Stir in tomato sauce and broth.  Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover skillet with lid; reduce heat to low.

Cook 25 minutes, or until rice is tender. Stir before serving.