The Scramblog

Burritos make such a simple and satisfying meal, and there are endless variations you can create, depending on your family’s palate. These are reminiscent of some fantastic burritos from Burrito Brothers in Washington, DC. Watch Jessica make then on Facebook Live!Spinach BurritosPrep + Cook Time= 20 minutes, Makes 6 servings 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 30 oz. canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed1/2 cup salsa (look for brands with no sugar added), plus extra for serving9 oz. baby spinach 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey jack cheese 6 large (burrito size) whole wheat or flour tortillas (use wheat/gluten-free, if needed)

We’ve reached that time of year when the treats are plentiful, the food is rich, and the drinks enticing. We’ve also reached the moment when many of us start to make deals with ourselves:“I’ll go all out until the New Year and then I’ll reset in a big way.” “I’ll go nuts today and then will only eat salad and exercise every day for the rest of the week.” “I’ll only eat a little bit/skip all the carbs/avoid anything with sugar, so that I can have X, Y, or Z.” I know these deals because I used to make them with myself, not just at the holidays, but all year round. My eating was in a constant state of negotiation, until I learned to let go, listen to my body’s cues, and enjoy food again. It wasn’t an overnight change, but this switch changed my life, so I wanted to share some of the baby steps that helped me to get to where I am (modified for the season we are in, so that maybe you can enjoy the holiday goodies, while staying sane in the...

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These burgers, suggested by Scramble member Sherry Ettleson, are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and full of wonderful fiber and protein for your family. Dress them up like any burgers, with lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese, or your favorite toppings. They’re also great topped with salsa. Watch Jessica make them on Facebook Live!Black Bean BurgersPrep + Cook Time: 30 Minutes, Makes 6 Servings 15 oz. reduced-sodium canned black beans, drained and rinsed1 Tbsp. tomato paste or salsa (look for brands with no sugar added) 1/4 red onion, minced (1/2 cup)1/2 cup bread crumbs (use wheat/gluten-free, if needed) 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 egg, lightly beaten1/4 cup yellow cornmeal 3 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil 6 whole wheat hamburger buns (use wheat/gluten-free, if needed) 6 leaves iceberg lettuce, for serving (optional)1 tomato, sliced, for serving (optional)6 slices Cheddar or Muenster cheese, for serving...

I may love to experiment with dinners all year round, but there are a few special meals where I am loathe to stray from my tried and true favorites and Thanksgiving dinner is one of them. That's right, I am a traditionalist when it comes to the main event--I like my mashed potatoes creamy, my turkey roasted, and my vegetables simply prepared. But I still love to play with the appetizers and this year is no exception. This year I am sharing two simple Thanksgiving appetizers that are simple to prepare (ready in 30 minutes) and a little different from the standard options: Creamy Indian-Spiced Spinach Dip and Cranberry & Brie Puffs (plus these would be great for any holiday party this season). Watch me make them on Facebook Live!Creamy Indian-Spiced Spinach DipPrep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes, Makes 6 servings 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ¼ yellow onion, finely diced, about ½ cup 1 clove garlic, minced ½ tsp. sweet paprika ½ tsp. garam...

This month’s challenge from The Recipe Redux was to share a fun spin on soup. For a while, I thought about offering up a curried soup or a whimsical soup bowl or bread bowl, but then I realized that this was a great opportunity to share one of the suggestions I make in workshops all the time: pureed vegetable soups with fun toppings are a winning option for parents of picky eaters. When my younger son was in the depths of his super picky phase, I had all but given up hope that there would ever be a time when he ate vegetables other than the occasional raw carrot. Then, one day, I made a pureed vegetable soup and served it with saltines. I showed him how you can crush the crackers into the soup and then scoop them out. And, like magic, he was hooked! I think he ate two bowls of soup that night as I sat (in shock) watching him shovel (and he was pretending to be a backhoe at the time) the soup and saltines into his mouth. From there we were off and running, topping soups with...

Thanksgiving is just the beginning. Between now and New Year’s Day, there are so many celebrations. Parties, family gatherings, and special traditions are all included in this busy time of year. For a lot of us, this means tons of cooking, which can be wonderful, but also exhausting. So why not enlist some help? Big cooking projects that are tied to special occasions are fantastic opportunities to get even reluctant cooks into the kitchen. Here are some ways to include kids of all ages:How to Involve Your Kids in Holiday CookingPreschoolers:Not only do they want to help, but they love to have ownership over a task. Here are some activities that you can give them to do that will actually save you time because they don’t require close supervision.

• Pulling fresh herbs off their stems
• Tearing greens for a salad
• Combining dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl
• Washing produce

Younger School Aged Kids:These kiddos are more coordinated than they used to be...

This is a homemade version of the packaged stuff that was inspired by a recipe on the Today Show website. While it takes more than 4 minutes to make, the resulting savory soup is so delicious it justified the extra 26 minutes. Scramble tester Debbie Firestone said, “We thought it tasted WAAAAAAY better than regular ramen noodle soup. This one is a Scramble Homerun!” Watch Jessica make it on Facebook Live.Homemade Ramen Noodle SoupPrep & Cook Time: 30 Minutes, Makes 4 Servings 9 oz. udon noodles or curly Japanese noodles (use rice noodles for a gluten-free option) 1 Tbsp. sesame oil 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped, or more to taste1 tsp. minced garlic, (about 2 cloves)8 oz. sliced cremini or white button mushrooms, or use 1 oz. dried wild mushrooms, added with the broth32 oz. reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, (for a brothier soup use 5 – 6 cups of broth)2 carrots, sliced1/4 cup red or yellow miso paste, or use 2...

This one-skillet meal will bring your breakfast-for-dinner game to a whole new level! Scramble recipe tester Leanne Guido said, “This recipe was delicious and perfect for a chilly night.” Watch Jessica make Potato and Prosciutto (or Mushroom) Scramble on Facebook Live!Potato and Prosciutto (or Mushroom) ScramblePrep + Cook Time: 25 Minutes, Makes 4 Servings 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 russet (baking) potato, peeled and finely diced3 - 4 oz. prosciutto, chopped, or use mushrooms8 eggs, beaten1/4 tsp. salt, or to taste1/8 tsp. black pepper, or to taste

This recipe was a finalist for the National Beef Cook-Off. The trick here is to microwave the potato before adding it to the stew to make the meal preparation go much faster. The addition of chipotle peppers gives the stew an enticing smoky flavor. Watch Jessica make it on Facebook Live.Chipotle Beef, Black Bean, and Sweet Potato StewPrep + Cook Time: 25 minutes, Makes 6 servings 1 medium sweet potato, peeled3/4 - 1 lb. 95% lean ground beef, turkey, or meatless crumble 1 yellow onion, chopped28 - 30 oz. reduced-sodium canned black beans, drained and rinsed28 oz. crushed tomatoes 1 - 2 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, with some of the sauce, minced1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped1 - 2 lime, 2 Tbsp. juice plus 6 wedges