Home Made Traditional Tamales

These might not qualify as your average "healthy" food, but my Brother and I decided on a whim to make these on New Years day and I HAD to add them to my blog.  More so because I'm about the most disorganized person I know and I need to have the recipe at my fingertips and it's easy to find here. 

So let me start off by saying,  #1 - I am NOT a professional photographer and most of my pictures of the  process kind of suck, (the above one being the best out of the bunch) but you will get the gist of it.  If not, then I'm sorry, nothing else I can do LOL  #2 -  I am pooped out!  Although the end result was fantastic, these do require a lot of time and work and I'm just plain tired now and ready for a nap, BUT, here I am sitting here at the computer making sure that you, the readers, are able to make these phenomenal tamales at your house.

The Art of Braising

So you want to know what in the world braising is right?  The Art of Braising is a simple cooking technique in which the main ingredient is seared, or browned in fat, and then simmered in liquid on low heat in a covered pot and it has HUGE results!! 

The best equipment to use would be a crock pot, pressure cooker or Dutch oven. Whether you choose to use the oven or the top of the stove, you will be pleased with the results.

When it comes to braising meats, you want to stick with the tougher, less tender cuts that come from  animals more exercised muscles. These cuts tend to have more connective tissue that breaks down making the meat tender and flavorful. A lean cut from the loin area is a waste to braise. The meat is already tender and has little fat or connective tissue. Click on Read more for TONS more info on Braising!! 

Re-Vamped Beef Stroganoff (Healthy Style)

This classic Russian dish is easy to make; use frozen chopped onions and presliced mushrooms to speed up preparation. To maintain a creamy consistency, be careful not to bring the sauce to a boil once you stir in the sour cream mixture. Serve with rice if you need a substitute for egg noodles.

Meatballs and Peppers

Choosing ground round in place of high-fat ground beef is an easy way to cut back on fat without sacrificing flavor. In this recipe, ground round is combined with herbs, spices, and flavorful veggies then simmered in beef broth.