Bloom Everyday
Inspiration for Healthy Living.Archive for 9-to-5 Survival Guide
Cajun Crockpot Chili (Vegetarian)
I love chili. But it’s hard to find a good veggie chili. Here is my favorite chili recipe sans the meat, yet it’s satisfying and thicker. My secret weapon? Refried beans.
Supplies:
garlic, 4 cloves, minced
onion, small, chopped
carrots, 1 cup, chopped
green pepper, medium, chopped
red pepper, medium, chopped
celery, 1 cup, chopped
whole peeled tomatoes (with liquid), 28oz can
black beans, 2 – 15oz cans, undrained
bean tri-mix, 1 -15oz can, undrained
refried beans, 1 – 15oz can
corn, frozen, 1 cup
chili powder, 2 tablespoon
cumin, 1 tablespoon
basil, 1 1/2 tablespoon
granulated garlic, 1/2 tablespoon
pepper, to taste
cayenne powder, 1 teaspoon
cajun seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons
1. Combine all ingredients in a crockpot.
2. Cook on high for 4 hours.
3. Top with cheese if desired. And enjoy!
Easy Spicy Cajun Pasta Cream Sauce
So Mark and I picked up some of this spice. We were so excited to give it a try. Be careful though! It’s not so spicy but more super salty. So check out my balanced recipe of spice and creaminess. Perfect on pasta!\
What You Will Need:
oil, 2 tbsp
red onion, medium, sliced
red pepper, half, sliced
pepper
cajun seasoning of your choice, 1 tbsp
red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon
grated parm, 1/8 cup
fat-free half-and-half, 1/4 cup (or more depending on how much you want to make)
pasta water, 1/3 cup
1. In a pan, drizzle some oil.
2. Add the red pepper flakes to flavor the oil.
3. Add the red onions, cook on medium heat to get them soft.
4. Add the red pepper, and cook down ’til they are just soft.
5. Add the cajun seasoning.
6. Next add the half-and-half.
7. Add the parm!
8. Reserve some of the cooked pasta water. This will help loose the sauce up and help it stick to the pasta. Enjoy!
Light Night Veggie Sandwiches
The other night my husband and I were weighed down by some heavy food. We wanted something light and fresh! So we whipped these babies up. Make these on a night when you don’t want to cook, but want something wholesome.
What You Will Need:
2 rolls, whole wheat
fat free cream cheese, 1/4 cup
avocado, 1 small
tomato, medium, sliced
cucumber, 1/2 sliced
alpha sprouts
spinach leaves
salt & pepper
italian seasoning
cheddar cheese, optional
1. In a bowl, whip the cream cheese until light and spreadable.
2. Add the avocado and continue to whip until smooth with salt and pepper.
3. Spread on one half of bread.
4. Top with beautiful toppings!
5. Spring with seasoning.
6. Chomp!
Super Easy Baked Pasta
This is a great meal to make with the crockpot tomato sauce I made the other night. Super fast and super easy!
What You Will Need:
pasta, 1 1/2 pounds cooked
tomato sauce
ricotta cheese, 1 container
italian seasoning, 1/2 tablesppon
grated parm, 1/4 cup
salt & pepper
garlic powder, 1 teaspoon
chili powder, 1 teaspoon
parm, shredded
1. Mix together ricotta cheese mixture of everything from ricotta cheese to garlic powder.
2. Put cooked pasta in a large baking dish. Put in red sauce.
3. Mix in a few scoops of the ricotta slightly.
4. Put a few ricotta dollops on top with shredded parm cheese.
5. Bake in 350 degree until cheese is melty.
A perfect weeknight meal!
Super Easy Rose Pasta Sauce
Tired of the old pasta and red sauce? Mix up your weeknight meal with this really easy variation. Rose sauce!
I started my new job today and I am so excited to get into it. But my brain is also exhausted and ready for a nap. We are headed out to go bowling in just a bit too, so this is fast dinner that anyone would enjoy! I made mine with some veggies (my favorite) to “beef” up the meal. But it would be good alone on some pasta, or even with some chicken or shrimp. Skies the limit!
What you will need:
garlic, 2 cloves diced
your favorite red sauce (about 2/3 of jar for 1/2 pound of pasta)
fat free half-and-half (about 1/4 cup)
salt & pepper
oil
parm cheese, finely grated (optional for topping)
1. In the pan you just drained your cooked noodle from, put a smidgen of oil in and cook the rawness out of the garlic.
2. Throw in the red sauce.
3. Hit it with some fat free half-and-half to give it a nice “rose” color.
4. A bit of salt & pepper. Mix it all together, and you have yourself a classy dinner!
So fast and easy! And it tastes so delicious.
Sweet Herb Roasted Nuts
I love almonds! So when my husband bought a huge bag of unroasted almonds, I was excited to roast them at home (often I just purchase the roasted/salted variety). I was in a pinch (less than half an-hour before I had to be somewhere), so I whipped these babies up in no time. Really — it only took me about 10 minutes from start to finish. Next time you can spare 10 minutes – try making this easy healthy snack!
What you will need:
2 cups raw whole almonds
1 Tbsp butter (melted – I used yogurt spread)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8-1/4 tsp cinnamon (depending on your tastes)
Roast almonds in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, rotating and keeping a close eye on them, as not to burn the nuts.
Meanwhile, melt butter then stir in brown sugar, thyme, salt, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Once nuts are roasted, toss in a bowl with butter mixture and spread out onto a sheet of aluminum foil. Let cool completely.
This snack will last for at least a week in the refrigerator. Or freeze them for a yummy snack later!
-Heather @ BloomEveryday
Super Easy Burritto Filling
Mexican food is a weekly staple in our household. Mark and I love enchiladas, nachos, taco salad…we always have the ingredients in! I made these burritos the first time for my husband (then boyfriend) in college. My family loves, his family loves them. This is my fool proof recipe that is delicious anytime of year when the Mexican food craving hits. Plus it’s super simple!
What You Will Need:
small onion, chopped
garlic, 3 cloves, diced
corn, 1/3 cup
green pepper, 1/3 cup
jalapeno, 1/2 of medium, chopped
olives, sliced, 1/4 cups
refried, black, or pinto beans, 1 can
1/4 cup salsa (or fresh tomatoes if you have them)
cumin, 2 teaspoons
chili powder, 2 teaspoons
garlic powder, 1 teaspoon
basil, 2 teaspoons
tarragon, 1 teaspoon
parsley, 2 teaspoons
oregano, 1 teaspoon
hot sauce, to taste
oil
salt & pepper
buritto makings as needed (tortilla, cheese, spinach)
1. In a large pan, heat a little bit of oil and add onions. Cook until slightly tranlucent. Throw in the garlic and saute until you smell it. Then quickly add in the corn, pepper, jalapeno, and olives to prevent in from burning the garlic. Throw in some salt and pepper. Cook until veggies are soft but still have a “crunch”.
Isn’t this little guy cute? He’s from our garden:
2. Next add in the beans, salsa, and all the seasoning through the oregano. Let the flavors marry together.
Add some hot sauce to kick up the spice!
3. Create your self a delish burrito and enjoy!
– Katie @ BloomEveryday
Easy Pan Fried Pasta
Remember when I made stuffed shells? Well, I had some left over shells that I needed to make something with. Growing up, this was a staple in our household! My mom would make us fried pasta with the leftovers either for lunch or for dinner later that week. You can make this recipe just with the pasta alone, or do what I do, and add whatever leftover veggies you have in the fridge or frozen in the freezer.
What you will need:
Leftover pasta, in red sauce
oil
salt & pepper
tomato sauce, if needed
parm cheese, finely ground
veggies, optional
1. In a large skillet, heat some oil on medium-high heat.
2. Add your leftover pasta to the pan, add more sauce if needed. Add in veggies if desired. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Do not move too much, you want your pasta to get a nice golden brown color on the bottom.
3. Lastly, add some parm cheese on top.
4. You’re done! Easy dinner in minutes.
My hubby and I love this easy dish, we hope you do too!
– Katie @ BloomEveryday
Bloom Everyday 