Friday, December 18, 2009

Christmas gift-giving thoughts.

I can't remember exactly where I heard this, but this little phrase has been popping in my head over and over this Christmas season. With regards to buying gifts for children, one woman sticks with ditty to help guide her Christmas shopping:

Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read.

Isn't that fantastic? Using this phrase when Christmas shopping for your little ones (and big ones, for that matter!) would prevent overspending, over giving, and shopping burn out. I'm not alone when I say that shopping, particularly during the holidays stresses me out. And let's face it...kids (especially when they're young) don't really need a whole lot. Give my boys a new thing-on-wheels and I could call that Christmas. More importantly, sticking with these "rules" may free up some more time to focus on the real reason behind Christmas - Jesus and the miracle of His birth.

So, while it may be too late for you to put this phrase into practice this year, it may serve helpful to you in the years to come.

Easy Beef Stroganoff

I've never posted recipes on here before, but I love reading about what recipes others have found to be tasty. This is quickly becoming one of my "go to" recipes, particularly now that it's cold out. Bonus points for me that both of the boys will eat it.

So...I give you Easy Beef Stroganoff. Some of you may be turned off by the ground beef ingredient in the recipe, but if it's 5 o'clock and you need to get dinner on the table amidst the chaos that is two boys running rampant in your house, then cooking up some ground beef doesn't seem so bad.

I'd love to hear some of your favorite recipes as well!


Easy Beef Stroganoff

* 6 Servings
* Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients

* 4-1/2 cups uncooked yolk-free noodles
* 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
* 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
* 1 large onion, halved and sliced
* 1 tablespoon reduced-fat butter
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1 cup (8 ounces) fat-free sour cream
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

* Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the beef, mushrooms and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Remove and keep warm.
* In the same pan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
* Carefully return beef mixture to the pan. Add the sour cream, salt and pepper; cook and stir until heated through (do not boil). Drain noodles; serve with beef mixture. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup beef mixture with 3/4 cup noodles equals 326 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 48 mg cholesterol, 342 mg sodium, 39 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 24 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable.


http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Easy-Beef-Stroganoff