Quick and easy Sloppy Joes!

Need something quick and easy for dinner?? Sloppy Joe TVP sandwiches are FAST, easy, Quite healthy and cheap! The Sloppy Joe mix is not real ground beef. It is made from a Textured Vegetable Protein or a soy based protein. TVP reminds me of the leanest ground beef you can get because there is no gristle but its a lot cheaper then ground beef and it has more health benefits.  In 1/4 cup of the sloppy joe TVP there is 2.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. 

Recipe

1 TBSP. Butter

1 tsp. garlic

2 cups water

1 c. THRIVE sloppy joe TVP

1/4 cup THRIVE tomato sauce, dry (I would cut back on this a little)

2 TBSP. THRIVE chopped onions (FD)

1/2 tsp. THRIVE chef's choice Seasoning Blend

Sweat butter, garlic, and onions together in a pot. Add water and bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients and cook until heated through. Use more or less water to reach desired consistency. 

We enjoyed this recipe but it was a little salty for my family (My husband likes sweeter sloppy joes) so I will be trying a new recipe next time I make this! I will post the next recipe I try if it is better!

Price Breakdown

$19.79 for #10 can ( I got mine on a special so it was cheaper!! Yay for monthly specials!)

1 can makes 8.75 batches (1 cup sloppy joe TVP)= 5 BIG sandwiches (It would make more small sandwiches if you want smaller sandwiches.)

If your batch makes 5 sandwiches that is .45 per sandwich for the meat! Alright! I like a cheap and yummy meal! 

Why is Thrive so healthy??

Thrive foods have NO additives or preservatives!  I love looking at the food labels on THRIVE cans because on the ingredient list most cans just say "Freeze dried beans" or "Freeze dried Blackberries" or whatever food it is! We put so much CRAP into our bodies from the food we eat! There are preservatives and additives in almost everything we eat BUT with THRIVE there are NO additives or preservatives AND they are fast, easy and convenient! Most of THRIVE food is freeze dried which is GREAT. The Freeze drying process keeps all of the nutrients and flavor. It is done at the foods optimal state of growth so all the nutrients are present. The freeze drying process is done by lowering the temperature and air pressure to a point where the water is forced out—it goes from water to gas. SO all the nutrients stay in the food! You can eat freeze dried food how they are or rehydrate them to return them to their regular consistency. There is no added salt, sugar, or preservatives. You do need to be aware that thrive does have some dehydrated food as well! Some nutrients are lost in the dehydration process but there are no additives or preservatives in the dehydrated foods.   THRIVE is healthy, convenient, and long-lasting- There are no additives or preservatives and yet they last up to 25 years!

Cans from the grocery store have a high amount of additives and preservatives. They also found that the heating process during canning destroys 1/3 to ½ of vitamins A and C, riboflavin, and thiamin. For every year the food is stored on your shelf  it loses an additional 5-20% of these vitamins. 

So, ask yourself, What am I putting into my body and how is it affecting me?!?

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Ham Fried Rice!

Looking for an EASY throw together dinner? Ham fried rice is the recipe you want! When Egg Rolls are on sale then I'll pick some up and keep them in the freezer. Then on a hectic night that I need to throw something together fast, I grab the egg rolls out of the freezer, throw them in the oven and I make ham fried rice. Quick, easy and tasty! I didn't have to run to the store for anything because I have all the fresh Thrive ingredients on hand!

Ham Fried Rice

3-1/2 cups THRIVE chicken broth (3 1/2 tsp. THRIVE chicken bouillon + 3 1/2 cups water)

1 3/4 cup THRIVE instant white rice

1/4 cup THRIVE carrot dices

1/2 cup THRIVE green peas (FD)

1/2 cup THRIVE diced ham (FD) or THRIVE ham TVP

2 THRIVE Whole eggs, rehydrated (2 TBSP. powder + 1/4 cup water)

1 TBSP. vegetable oil

1 tsp. THRIVE iodized salt

6 TBSP. soy sauce

1/2 tsp sesame or vegetable oil, optional

           Directions!

1. Boil 3 1/2 cups water and chicken bouillon with instant rice. Reduce to a simmer and cover for 5-10 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Set aside.

2. In a saucepan, add carrot dices, green peas, chopped onions and ham with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables and meat are tender. Drain and set aside.

3. Mix whole egg powder with 1/4 cup water and pour into a greased frying pan. Cook as scrambled eggs. Set aside.

4. Heat frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil and swirl to coat. Add rice and vegetable mixture to wok and stir fry 2 minutes until heated through. Add salt, soy sauce and sesame oil. Gently add eggs into the rice mixture. Serve warm with Egg Rolls. 

There is also an alternative Ham fried Rice recipe if you would like to try this one as well

Ham Fried Rice Recipe

TVP Taco Salad!

I am not a fan of ground beef BUT I am a fan of Thrive's Taco TVP! TVP is a Textured Vegetable Protein and I love it! I NEVER get gristle in my TVP like I do in ground beef. There is just as much protein in the TVP and way more fiber then ground beef. (Meat doesn't have fiber and fiber is fabulous for your digestive tract.) I don't have to worry about food sanitation with TVP either and it's super easy to take camping! No refrigeration necessary well, before it is cooked! SO it's great to take camping or back packing! Here's the link to the recipe I use for my taco meat.

Taco Salad/Taco
Taco TVP!

Zesty Southwestern Mac and Cheese!

Wow! I have been slacking! I blame it on family vacations, morning/all day sickness, a family wedding, a busy boy who won't let me open my computer....Ok I really shouldn't use any of these excuses! I have just been slacking! I have been meaning to share one of our FAVORITE Thrive dinners! It is the Zesty Southwestern Mac and Cheese! YUMMMM! We love it! I hope you do to!
Zesty Southwestern Macaroni and Cheese

3 cups pasta

1/2 c. cheese blend powder

1/4 cup butter powder

2 cups milk

3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 c. Colby cheese

1 can black beans

1/4 c. mixed bell peppers

1/4 c. chopped onions

1 tsp. Salt

2 TBSP. tomato powder 

3/4 c. cream

1 tsp. seasoned salt

2 tsp. hot sauce

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tbsp. lime juice

1/2 c. sour cream

Cook pasta

combine all ingredients except noodles, lime juice and sour cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well and bring to a simmer.

Add cooked pasta; reduce heat to low, stirring noodles until noodles are coated. Stir in lime juice and sour cream. Allow to sit a few minutes before serving.

Top with crushed tortilla chips

Thrive's recipe site is new and it is fabulous! You can create your menu by choosing the recipes you want and then it will add to your cart what Thrive foods you need! AWESOME! I hope you like the new site as much as I do!

Have a super day!

Green Muffins!

I love buying the big bag of spinach from Costco but I don't always eat the whole bag before it goes bad and I hate to see food go to waste! I have really loved using Thrive spinach in my smoothies and muffins! You can't even taste it, as long as you don't put too much in. Here is a yummy muffin recipe that I use with my Thrive spinach. Your kids might complain about the color but after they taste them then hopefully they'll stop complaining! 

Green Muffin Recipe

                *½ cup butter (I do 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup coconut oil. Personal preference!)

                *1/2 cup brown sugar (If I do bananas for my fruit puree then I do even less sugar)

                *1 cup pureed fruit (Applesauce, peaches, bananas...
                    ANY fruit just be mindful of how sweet the fruit is.
                    For example, Strawberries are not very sweet so you may
                    have to add more sugar.)

                *1 ½ cups whole wheat flour (I grind my own wheat on the pastry setting.)

                *1 tsp baking soda

                *½ salt

                *1/2 cup Thrive spinach (If I have fresh spinach then I use about 1-1/2-2 cups)

                *1/2 cup Juice (Any flavor is fine!)

DIRECTIONS

Combine sugar, fruit puree, spinach and juice in food processor. Blend until everything is well mixed. Mix softened Butter, flour, soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the mixture from the food processor to the dry ingredients. Mix together and Put in muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 16 minutes.

Now you have some delicious, healthy muffins for you and your family! Enjoy!

I use Thrive EVERY day!!

Using Thrive has been VERY helpful with having a little one. There are so many preservatives and crap in pretty much all foods! What am I supposed to feed my little boy when we are out and about when he needs a snack?? I want him to eat healthy foods but I couldn't pack preservative free, soft fruits and veggies to take everywhere with us because they would go bad...UNTIL THRIVE!! I ALWAYS have freeze dried fruits, veggies and yogurt bites in my diaper bag. My son LOVES Thrive freeze dried fruits, veggies and yogurt bites! Since Thrive freeze dries their stuff ALL the nutrients are present AND the nutrients stay longer then they would in a fresh fruit or veggie AND I am not breaking the bank to feed my son healthy foods. :) There are NO preservatives or additives either! What a perfect snack to feed my little boy when we are out and about! When we are home, my 16 month old son knows EXACTLY what is in my Thrive #10 cans. He will carry the cans to me, which are half his size, wanting to eat what is in it. I no longer question what I can take as a snack for my little boy! I am happy to give my little boy healthy, preservative free snacks that are light weight and easy to pack! YUMMMM!

Look who found the Thrive! The #10 cans are great toys too!! ;)

Digging right in! I usually put some in a bowl for him but he was a lucky boy this time and got to eat out of the can. He felt pretty special! :)

What a happy boy! He LOVES his Thrive foods!