Easy Beef Roast

Ok friends...if you are new to my blog, let me tell you that with three kiddos at home and running an at home business online, I am ALL ABOUT quick and easy recipes!  My cooking approach is kind of a "throw healthy things together and see how they come out" style. (99% of the time they are pretty delish) and then I (try to find the time to) share with you afterwards if I love it!  This week I made a beef roast in the crock pot and it was SOOOO good AND QUICK (which is very important) so of course I have to share! 

If you don't already have a crock pot, I recommend this one because it's programmable. I love crock pot cooking because you can set it and forget it! My style! ;)

So for this beef roast I used a 3 lb roast.  Feel free to adjust the other ingredients if you have a larger or smaller roast.  3lbs was for my family of 5 and left enough for some leftover lunches for my hubby!

Easy Beef Roast

Ingredients:
3lb beef roast
2 cups of organic mini potatoes, halved. (You can also use 2-3 regular potatoes and cut into quarters).
1 cup baby carrots or 3 large carrots chopped
1 onion
2 Teaspoons minced garlic
Adobo
Garlic Powder
Italian seasoning
Basil
1 beef boullion cube or 1 heaping TB of Better than Boullion
1 Cup of Water

Directions:
Slice Onion into circles and place on the botton of the crock pot.  
Place the roast on top of the onions.
Cut a few 1/2 inch slices on the top of the roast and spread the minced garlic on top and inside the cuts.
Shake some Adobo, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasoning & Basil on top of the roast and rub in. I just do a few shakes of each to be honest, probably equaling about 1 TB of each if you are a "measure everything" cook. :) 
The beef boullion goes in the botton with ONLY 1 cup of water. The beef creates its own liquid as well.
Put on low for 8 hours.  After 4 hours add the potatoes and carrots.

Note: If you are setting it in the morning and forgetting it ;) you can add the potatoes and carrots at that time. I prefer to add later when possible so they don't overcook and get soggy.  

That's it! So simple and delish!! The roast had great flavor and it's a well rounded meal even the kids loved! (Although they don't like potatoes, so I had some white rice on the side for them...hence the few grains of rice in the picture! Haha).

If you try it, let me know how you like it!! :)  Happy Thursday, aka, almost Friday! 

~Erin Leigh

On a side note, I recently received this Instapot and it is a MAJOR time saver!!! I'm just figuring out how to use it and I made some chicken burritos in...wait for it...15 minutes from beginning to eating. The chicken cooked in 8 minutes and it was SOOOO tasty! If you don't have one, get one! (Feel free to use the link to the Amazon one - because Amazon Prime is life). :)  I'm going to (try my best to) do a series of healthy Instapot recipes as I experiment with it!!  So stay tuned for that! In the meantime, this roast will be a great addition to your meal plans!! If you try it, let me know how you like it!! :)

Turkey Quinoa Deliciousness

So this blogging thing has been back on my mind for quite some time. I miss it so much! Quite honestly, I have several partially written blog posts from over the last two or so years that never were completed.  I guess you could say I have been busy!  Running a business from home, taking care of three kiddos including a (I think now she may technically be a toddler, but I'm not ready to use that word yet) baby, kid's activities, homework, social calendar and more. I guess it doesn't sound like a lot, or maybe it does (?), but basically every moment is filled up. Until now, I'm squeaking this post in early in the AM because a lot of people have been asking for this recipe, so of course I want to share and this is the easiest way! :)

For those new here, the initial focus of my blog was to be able to have a creative outlet to document my ideas, goals, memories, stories and things about life in general for myself...and anyone else who feels like keeping up with me. :)  Fitfunlifestyle came from a combination of things I love - fitness, having fun, living life and style. See what I did there?? ;)

So with no further delay (frankly because I'm running out of time), here is the delicious Turkey Quinoa Taco Meal I made this week! Note: I make a double recipe so we have plenty of leftovers because it is a great leftover meal. If you are cooking for 2-3 people I recommend cutting the recipe in half.

Here you go!

Turkey Quinoa Taco Meal

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground turkey
1 large onion
2 TB minced garlic
1 can diced chilies (I use mild)
2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
1 jar salsa (I use mild)
1 cup frozen corn
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can small kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
2 tsp sea salt
3 TB chili powder
1 1/2 TB cumin
1 packet taco seasoning
As much cheese as you desire for the top - I use FARRR too much. ;)

Directions:
Cook 1 Cup of Quinoa in small saucepan as directed.

Simultaneously, heat large skillet with EVOO and add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for one minute and then add ground turkey. Cook until turkey is cooked through.

Add diced chilies and stir in first. Then add the tomatoes, corn, salsa, beans and all seasonings. Just literally throw it all in and mix together well. 

When quinoa is cooked through, add to the skillet combination and mix all together and cover. Have heat on Med/High heat so the liquid (very minimal) can boil and then turn to simmer to let all the deliciousness mix together.  After 5 minutes, open the lid, add your desired amount of cheese, cover to melt and then serve!

Its a complete meal on its own but it can also be served with tortilla chips.  Topping recommendations are sour cream (confession: I use farrrr too much of this too) and avocado.

Let me know if you try it! It's on our bi-weekly meal plan! (When I have time to make a meal plan)!

Told you I use a lot of cheese! ;)

ENJOY!

~Erin Leigh