shepherd's pie... cottage pie...

A proper shepherd's pie is made with lamb. The same dish made with beef or other ground meat is a cottage pie. My take on this recipe is a little different because I add different vegetables than the standard carrot, onion, and peas.

I had the best shepherd's pie of my life in Prague, of all places. We visited Prague while studying abroad and went to an English style pub. Go figure. Anyway. It was delicious.

Caitlin's Cottage Pie

Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
1 16 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables (carrot, peas, Lima beans, green beans, corn)
2 cups prepared mashed potatoes (use leftover or make your own)
1 Tbsp and 1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, divided
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup chicken stock
Seasoned salt (or salt) to taste
Mrs. Dash (or pepper) to taste
1/2 cup shredded cheese (if desired)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350* Grease a baking dish and set aside.

In a large frying pan, brown ground turkey and season with salt and pepper and 1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Add bag of frozen veggies to ground turkey and heat through. In smaller pan, melt butter and add flour. Cook together for 1 minute. Whisk in chicken stock and 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Cook until sauce has thickened a little bit. Should be the consistency of gravy and coat the back of a spoon. Combine sauce and turkey-veggie mixture. Pour into greased baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Can top with shredded cheese or leave plain. Bake 25-30 minutes. Take out of oven and let sit for 10 or so minutes. Enjoy.

groceries and meals/randomness

Grocery shopping is too expensive. There are only two of us really eating (monster still eats baby food) and we tend to spend $100 a week. Ridiculous. Recently I have been trying to figure out ways to cut back on our grocery expenses but it is really hard with a husband who eats like a teenager and wanting to use fresh foods. I could totally eat like I did in college (ramen, etc) and be super cheap, but that doesn't even taste good to me anymore. I went to ALDI this weekend for groceries and also had to go to CUB to get a few other things. I'm pretty sure I can't take husband to ALDI ever again because he hates it there, but there are good deals to be had. Ice cream (a weakness) for $2.49? Heck yeah, I'll take it. Frozen fruits for $1.99? Oh yes please! Plus their produce is pretty cheap too. Avocados for 49 cents... sign me up! Can you freeze avocados? Anyhoo, I decided I'd try to make it for 2 weeks with this weekend trip. Here's the menu for the next 2 weeks... however, there are a couple of days where we'll be out of town, have special meals (for birthdays), or go out to eat because of friends in town. Total spent $144.28.  There are a couple things I did not get (flax meal and potatoes) and will need to pick up plus we spent $12 on baby food. (side note -- monster needs to eat table food...) I am hoping to keep it under $150 for 2 weeks (minus eating out).

Menu for two weeks:

Sunday -- Turkey burgers and sweet potato fries
Monday -- Chicken taco salad bowls
Tuesday -- Chicken and veggies
Wednesday -- Vegan tomato soup and grilled cheese
Thursday -- Baked apple cinnamon oatmeal/brothers decide
Friday -- Carmel pecan rolls/Flan/birthday supper
Saturday -- Blueberry pancakes/State Fair
Sunday -- Family party/Friends get together
Monday -- Grill out burgers and sweet corn
Tuesday -- Black bean burgers
Wednesday -- Meat loaf muffins and mashed potatoes
Thursday -- Clean out fridge/leftovers
Friday -- Out of town
Saturday -- Out of town
Sunday -- Out of town

Philosophy of a healthy life

I know all the things to do for a healthier lifestyle but it's a matter of actually doing them... for instance, eat real food, not a lot, mostly plants --- BUT WHAT ABOUT CHOCOLATE?!?!?!

•  Monitor sleep. Very important for health and well being, mentally and physically. Have a consistent wake-up time and go-to bedtime. Not always feasible but overall helpful. Progressive relaxation, listen to your breathing, focus on emptying your mind.
• Eat protein and fiber at every meal, including snacks. Help fill you up faster and keep you fuller longer.
• Increase overall intake of fruits and vegetables to 5-6 per day. Again with the low-calorie, fiber packed foods! You can eat a lot and not feel too bad (unless there is too much unhealthy dip going on!)
• Eat mini meals throughout the day. Keep metabolism up by eating every few hours. Eat within the first hour that you're awake and stop eating 2 hours before bedtime.
• Increase overall activity, start small and manageable, work up, do something that challenges you mentally but you enjoy or you will get bored and quit.