I can make your kid eat brussels sprouts!

First, thanks for the CONGRATS on our adoption news! We are so excited and no a sweet little waiting orphan in China will not be 'fatherless' for much longer and come into a loving family!!! I am really trying to be patient! LOL.... http://themcneiljourney.blogspot.com/

One of my favorite things to make is my chunky spaghetti! Do you know how many kids react negatively to roasted beets and brussels sprouts? Most everyone. If your kid doesn't count yourself lucky! So I found the perfect way to disguise them...a way that you will smile while they take bite for bite thinking 'ha I gotcha'! If they like spaghetti they will like this!

Why beets? See below!

Beets are high in many vitamins and mineralsPotassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine; folic acid. Beets cleanse the body. They are a wonderful tonic for the liver, works as a purifier for the blood, and can prevent various forms of cancer. Nuff said, right? Tastes good and prevents cancer? No brainer.

So here is the newest way to trick your kid into eating these beets in a tasty dinner while you make hubby happy too!

1 cup finely chop brussels sprouts
1 cup chop/diced canned beets or you can roast fresh beets
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup (small cubes) chopped eggplant
¼ cup of bell peppers chopped
1 lb. of ground turkey or lean ground beef
1 tablespoon of minced garlic,
1/2 cup or green onion
1/2 cup of onions chopped
1/4 cup of celery chopped fine
1 jar of Ragu
1 can of stewed tomatoes


Toss Brussels sprouts eggplant, beets, bell peppers and zucchini in a bowl with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, little white balsamic vinegar and put onto a pan with foil and roast at 400 for 15-20 minutes. Take out and set aside.

In a skillet sauté with olive oil, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, green onions, onions, celery until all are soft. Stir often and add a little water or broth if needed so garlic doesn't burn.

Add in ground round or turkey and sauté with the veggies until meat is cooked.

Drain fat and then combine roasted veggies, meat mix, stewed tomatoes and 1 jar of Ragu into a large pot. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 hour and stir occasionally so bottom does not burn.


* Cheat Day Pasta Option - boil pasta and when its done add a teaspoon of truffle oil, 1/4 cup parmesan and a little butter!


CROCKPOT OPTION: Sautee veggies and cook meat night before and put in fridge. Next morning dump in a crock pot with all ingredients and put on low/warm and let it warm and mix flavors all day so ready by dinner time!