Thursday, January 13, 2011
Dinner After Divorce: Empanadas with Ground Chicken and Olives
Dinner After Divorce: Empanadas with Ground Chicken and Olives: "As mentioned in my previous post I was planning on a home cooked meal my son and I could both enjoy. My son helped with picking the recipe. ..."
Empanadas with Ground Chicken and Olives
As mentioned in my previous post I was planning on a home cooked meal my son and I could both enjoy. My son helped with picking the recipe. When he showed me the picture of the Empanadas I quickly began realizing this was going to be a difficult recipe to make. Of course I was the one who gave him the book to pick out the recipe. I'm thinking he picked it because it looked like perogies and he could eat with his fingers.
I wish I could say this is an easy recipe to make, but it is not. The recipe actually calls for making your own dough for the empanadas. My planning was to pick up a ready made pie crust when grocery shopping, but when at the supermarket I forgot to pick one up. So I decided to make it from scratch.
When making the dough, I found it to be a little dry and difficult to roll. I ended up being lazy and making only half of what the recipe called for. I did tweak the filling. The original recipe called for ground beef I used ground chicken. Since I was making it for my son, I cut back on the spices. I also had some problems folding the dough over the filling. I think this was because the dough was too dry. But overall I can say I was successful. My son tried it and enjoyed it with some sour cream. Again I think he found it appealing because it was finger food.
However, if I decide to make it again, I will be using ready made pie crust.
Ground Chicken-Olive Empanadas:
8oz. Ground Turkey
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. bottled minces garlic
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/8 cayenne pepper
1/4 chopped pimiento stuffed green olives
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. golden raisins
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg slightly beaten
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
1. Filling:
In large skillet, cook ground chicken, onion, and garlic until meat is brown. Drain off fat. Stir in cumin and pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in olives, tomato sauce, and raisins.
2. Pastry:
In medium size bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles cornmeal. Stir in milk and beaten egg. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface; knead for 10 to 12 strokes. Divide dough in half.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Roll one portion of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out 3 - inch rounds; re roll scraps to make additional rounds. Place 1 rounded teaspoon of filling in the center of each round. Moisten edge with water; fold in half and seal edges with a fork. Prick dough several times. Place on ungreased baking sheet.
4. In small bowl, combine 1 egg and water; brush of empanadas. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
I wish I could say this is an easy recipe to make, but it is not. The recipe actually calls for making your own dough for the empanadas. My planning was to pick up a ready made pie crust when grocery shopping, but when at the supermarket I forgot to pick one up. So I decided to make it from scratch.
When making the dough, I found it to be a little dry and difficult to roll. I ended up being lazy and making only half of what the recipe called for. I did tweak the filling. The original recipe called for ground beef I used ground chicken. Since I was making it for my son, I cut back on the spices. I also had some problems folding the dough over the filling. I think this was because the dough was too dry. But overall I can say I was successful. My son tried it and enjoyed it with some sour cream. Again I think he found it appealing because it was finger food.
However, if I decide to make it again, I will be using ready made pie crust.
Ground Chicken-Olive Empanadas:
8oz. Ground Turkey
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. bottled minces garlic
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/8 cayenne pepper
1/4 chopped pimiento stuffed green olives
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. golden raisins
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg slightly beaten
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
1. Filling:
In large skillet, cook ground chicken, onion, and garlic until meat is brown. Drain off fat. Stir in cumin and pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in olives, tomato sauce, and raisins.
2. Pastry:
In medium size bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles cornmeal. Stir in milk and beaten egg. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface; knead for 10 to 12 strokes. Divide dough in half.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Roll one portion of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out 3 - inch rounds; re roll scraps to make additional rounds. Place 1 rounded teaspoon of filling in the center of each round. Moisten edge with water; fold in half and seal edges with a fork. Prick dough several times. Place on ungreased baking sheet.
4. In small bowl, combine 1 egg and water; brush of empanadas. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Home Cooked Meal Challenge
As a married parent you were probably once cooking meals for another adult, your spouse, and your children. Even if your children were younger and may have a different meal than you, you were able to enjoy cooking meals that would be shared by another adult. As a single parent it can all change, especially if you have younger children. Not only are you faced with different meal planning, but grocery shopping and sitting now at the table for dinner with your children may change too.
Frankly during the early phase of your separation or divorce you probably didn't feel like eating anyway, or when you were eating you found you wanted puke it up. But eventually the nausea subsides and you start gaining your appetite back. Then the thought, what to do about dinner?
I have struggled with the dinner question for six months now, every week vowing to start making meals again that my six year old son and I can both eat and are healthy. This is not easy. We have very different tastes after all. I have asked my single parent friends, many who are also newly single with young children, what they do. Most reply, "My kids are happy with chicken nuggets. I make myself a salad."
This just doesn't sit with me well. Having different meals once in awhile is really no problem, but sharing a home cooked meal together is about family time. Divorce should not mean the end to family dinners. So I have put myself to the challenge. I am going to start preparing at least one home cooked meal both my six year old and I will enjoy. Now I assure this is not going to be an easy task. My son is a picky eater. So my solution is, he is going to be helping me pick the home cooked meal. (Tuesday Taco night does not count.)
If it successful, I will be happy to share the recipe here.
Frankly during the early phase of your separation or divorce you probably didn't feel like eating anyway, or when you were eating you found you wanted puke it up. But eventually the nausea subsides and you start gaining your appetite back. Then the thought, what to do about dinner?
I have struggled with the dinner question for six months now, every week vowing to start making meals again that my six year old son and I can both eat and are healthy. This is not easy. We have very different tastes after all. I have asked my single parent friends, many who are also newly single with young children, what they do. Most reply, "My kids are happy with chicken nuggets. I make myself a salad."
This just doesn't sit with me well. Having different meals once in awhile is really no problem, but sharing a home cooked meal together is about family time. Divorce should not mean the end to family dinners. So I have put myself to the challenge. I am going to start preparing at least one home cooked meal both my six year old and I will enjoy. Now I assure this is not going to be an easy task. My son is a picky eater. So my solution is, he is going to be helping me pick the home cooked meal. (Tuesday Taco night does not count.)
If it successful, I will be happy to share the recipe here.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Mommy Diet by Alison Sweeny
Alison Sweeny, host of the Biggest Loser, just recently appeared on The Today Show to promote her new book The Mommy Diet. She is the mother of two kids. Obviously living a very busy life, but making the point that mothers need to take care of their health to become a better parent. She admits that she needed help as well, and was fortunate to be around experts who could share their advice with her.
A mother does need to put herself first regarding her own self care. And in self care I mean eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and participating in activities that reduce stress. This cannot be more true during the time of a separation or divorce. During separation it is so easy to stop caring for yourself, eating right, finding time to exercise. Women or men facing divorce can become overwhelmed with new responsibilities, worries about finances, their children and the future. It becomes easy to forget what you did to take care of yourself and your family pre-divorce. I know for myself I stopped making home made meals. I know longer had the time to exercise because I was the primary care giver for my children. Sleeping was difficult because I worried many nights. Fortunately, I was conscious of the negative changes, and did my best to continue eating healthy.
What I like about The Mommy Diet , I find it addressing all areas of taking are of yourself, not just eating. Separation and Divorce can affect all areas of one's wellness and health. Although, the book is not geared to single parents. (I have not found one that is.) it certainly looks to be a valuable addition to the cookbook collection.
A mother does need to put herself first regarding her own self care. And in self care I mean eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and participating in activities that reduce stress. This cannot be more true during the time of a separation or divorce. During separation it is so easy to stop caring for yourself, eating right, finding time to exercise. Women or men facing divorce can become overwhelmed with new responsibilities, worries about finances, their children and the future. It becomes easy to forget what you did to take care of yourself and your family pre-divorce. I know for myself I stopped making home made meals. I know longer had the time to exercise because I was the primary care giver for my children. Sleeping was difficult because I worried many nights. Fortunately, I was conscious of the negative changes, and did my best to continue eating healthy.
What I like about The Mommy Diet , I find it addressing all areas of taking are of yourself, not just eating. Separation and Divorce can affect all areas of one's wellness and health. Although, the book is not geared to single parents. (I have not found one that is.) it certainly looks to be a valuable addition to the cookbook collection.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Healthy Lifestyle for 2011
Of course the start of a new year is always a great time to look at one's lifestyle and make changes. It's been six months since the start of my separation and I'm at a point where I'm ready to start to examine where I want my life to lead. The past six months was about loss, grieving, and healing. The rest of my life is about self improvement, living a healthy life for myself as well as my children, and living my life to my fullest potential the way I want it.
When I started to imagine this blog, I initially was thinking about the way I prepared dinner for myself and my children. But living life after divorce is not just about adjusting your meal plan. It about adjusting every area of your life and well being. It's about eating healthy, exercising, thinking positively, finding new interests and having fun. Therefore, this blog will emcompass more that just what is served at dinner, lunch or breakfast, but will look at all healthy aspects of one's life as a single parent.
When I started to imagine this blog, I initially was thinking about the way I prepared dinner for myself and my children. But living life after divorce is not just about adjusting your meal plan. It about adjusting every area of your life and well being. It's about eating healthy, exercising, thinking positively, finding new interests and having fun. Therefore, this blog will emcompass more that just what is served at dinner, lunch or breakfast, but will look at all healthy aspects of one's life as a single parent.
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