Crockpot Pepper Steak

This was a new recipe on our menu this week, and it was SO good! :) It's definitely a keeper. I'm posting the original recipe (copied from the forums at Boot Camp Buddies- posted by Jacque at this link) along with my notes in red... you know I can't ever follow a recipe the way it's written, LOL! :)

SO-EASY CROCKPOT PEPPER STEAK

2 lbs round steak, cut into strips or cubes (I had one pound of meat, and left the 4 small round steaks whole rather than chopping them up.)

Salt & Pepper

1 14.5oz can Italian Diced Tomatoes (mine were plain)

1 6oz can Tomato Paste (I used 8oz tomato sauce)

1 tbs Hot Sauce (I left this out for the kids... DH spiced his plate up with fresh hot chilis)

16oz bag frozen pepper & onion mix (sometimes called Fajita mix)

Italian seasoning, to taste-- as suggested by the original poster-- I just sprinkled some after the sauce layer.

Put the meat in the bottom of the slow cooker, sprinkle with salt & pepper. In a bowl, mix together diced tomatoes, tomato paste and hot sauce. (I didn't mix anything, just poured it all in the crockpot one on top of another.) Pour over meat. Place frozen vegetables on top. Cover and cook on Low for approx. 8 hours. Mix together and serve over noodles or rice, or your choice. (I had wild rice.)

Divided into 6 servings, would be approx. 6 points, plus noodles or rice. Jacque used 1lb and got 4 servings for 5 points. (I used 1lb of meat also, assuming 5 points per serving.)

This one will definitely be repeated in our house... very tasty and simple, especially for being such a low-points recipe!

The Template Won

After several days of messing around... and messing up... my template, I've gone back to a standard template for now, just using my own header image. I'll try again later to get the custom template working, but right now, I simply don't have time to worry about it, and having a template up with problems really bugs me, so, I had to do something. I'm guessing that nobody but me cares anyway, LOL! ;)

Menu Plan Monday 9/3

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: I was surprised, but DH and DD both liked the Calzones, so that recipe is going into my "keeper" file. I wound up changing the WW Creamy Chicken & Pasta casserole a lot... here's my version.

Here's this week's plan. WW points are included if I can calculate them.

• MONDAY: DH is eating at work. DD and I will have my homemade potato soup (8pts).
• TUESDAY: new recipe: Crockpot Creamy Ranch Potatoes and Chicken (4pts) with steamed broccoli and red peppers (0pts) (LOL-- this has been held over from several past menus- it always seems to be the meal each week that gets bumped. I really am going to try this one! )
• WEDNESDAY: broiled pork chops (6pts), sliced tomatoes (opts), parslied potatoes (4pts)
• THURSDAY: new recipe: So Easy Crockpot Pepper Steak (1lbs meat, 4 servings= 5pts) over rice
• FRIDAY: chicken fajitas with lots of veggies (guess-timating at 8pts for 2 fajitas)
• SATURDAY: It's my birthday, so we're having a late lunch at my parents' house with some of my sisters & my parents after DD's soccer game. For supper, we will most likely be picking up take-out from our favorite hot wings place. :)

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu or see what others are eating this week!

P.S. If anyone can tell me how to make the main part of my blog stop floating (I need a fixed width for the template, I think, but I can't figure out where to put the tag) I would really appreciate your help! I know just enough about HTML to get myself into trouble like this. :) EDITED 9/4: I gave up and changed the entire template! :)

Del Monte Savory Sides: Review

I picked up a can of Del Monte Savory Sides Santa Fe Corn last week at the local discount store. It contains corn, black beans, and peppers... it seemed like a great side for the Mexican food we love.

So, we tried it last night along with a tortilla casserole. On the can there's a picture of lovely bright yellow corn with the red peppers making a very attractive plate. Not so much when I opened the can... everything inside had a dark brown color. Definitely not an attractive presentation.

The flavor wasn't bad, actually, but I was the only one who thought so-- neither my husband or my 4 year-old daughter liked it. I tried mixing it with rice to soak up some of the sauce, which did help a little with making it look better. The flavor was about what you'd expect with a "southwest" side dish- a little like taco sauce, but more bland.

So, since I was the only one who ate it, I won't be buying this product again. That's ok, though... I always enjoy trying something new!
P.S. I'm not being compensated in any way for this review... just expressing my personal opinion!