One-Pot Macaroni with Garden Fresh Vegetables

It's been so overcast and cool here today that it kinda got me thinking that I should do something with the ground beef in my freezer. Normally in Summer we tend to BBQ out with some meat and veggies...but it just didn't feel right for today:)

This meal is great...and sure to please all the males in your house!! Levi normally consumes anything resembling food, but he was done his first portion before Noah even started!! That's gotta stand for something?! It was a hit, nonetheless. The best part was I prepared and cooked the entire thing in under 30 minutes. The second best thing was that I had everything in my pantry or garden to make this dish:)

Feel free to omit or sub any of the veggies...or even chop them tiny so your kids won't notice them;)...a great way to use up surplus from your garden! I can see myself making double and triple batches of this one day for our growing boys and all their friends! One that note...this dish would also freeze well!

ps...I couldn't help but mention that this dish totally resembles Hamburger Helper...talk about a blast from the past...only it's about 150% better for you!!

One-Pot Macaroni with Garden Fresh Vegetables

1 lb lean ground beef (I used bison)
1 chopped onion
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 chopped red pepper
3 chopped carrots
1 tsp each oregano & basil...dried or fresh from the garden!
1/2 tsp salt & pepper
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 cups brown rice macaroni (roughly half the bag)

In large pot or pan saute ground meat over medium heat...cook until no longer pink.

Add everything except the tomatoes and macaroni...cook until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes and 3 cups of water...bring to a boil...add macaroni.

Reduce heat and cover...simmer...stir occasionally...until pasta is al dente (a slight crunch).

Feel free to garnish with a sharp grated cheese (I would have if we had some in the fridge!!)...and fresh chopped basil:)

Enjoy!!

Raw 'Cheese'cake

Well...I did it! I found a recipe that looked yummy...tasted yummy (had it at a good friend's house while our husbands were off at Warrior)...and made it 100% according to the recipe! I NEVER do that!! I either make things up, or see a recipe that looks good...and then end up changing about 89% of the ingredients and directions! Trust me...this recipe needed NO alterations...it's amazing! Made my first one this weekend since Mom and Dad Wiebe were coming to stay with us...needless to say it was well received by all:) Jay was a bit skeptical about how these ingredients were going to turn into a 'cheesecake'...but trust me...he ate his words and his share of cake too! We finished off the last two slivers this afternoon...and am already searching for excuses to make another. This new blog that I'm following is beautiful...I love it...so I thought rather than re-posting the recipe I would just post the link and let you see for yourself! That and I didn't take a single picture of it!! Ha! It's a super simple recipe...especially if you have a high-power blender...and turns out exactly like her photo...takes less than 20 minutes to make once you have soaked your almonds and cashews. Can't wait to try some others of hers! I will note that I didn't have time to search for Meyer lemons...so I used traditional organic ones...it still tasted awesome:) Oh..and I used the last of my frozen raspberries from last season with a little blueberries mixed in:!

I seriously can't say enough about this cake...you could eat it for breakfast! It's nutritionally amazing for you...regardless of the time of day. It's incredibly filling from the amount of nuts in it...so that's a bonus too! It's decadent...full of flavour...attractive...and my new favourite thing:)

This same cake would taste wonderful without the frozen fruit on top and served plain...or with some fresh fruit sliced on top...I'm willing to try many varieties:)

I have a small amount of culinary lavender left in my pantry that Mom Wiebe gave me last year for my birthday...so my next experiment will be this lovely blogger's Lavender Raw Cheesecake...I'll keep you posted:)

Here it is...my new blog goal is to start using Jay's fancy schmancy camera sitting in the closet to take my photos so my blog can resemble the quality of this one a little more...so pretty:)

If you didn't notice the links throughout...click here!

Raw 'Cheese'cake