This easy one-skillet meal is perfect for a weeknight and will fuel the whole family! This recipe was inspired by one that I found in a Beachbody cookbook. The original recipe didn’t have any protein from meat, so I decided to “beef” it up a little, then ended up changing the entire thing. Oops! Our version is full of lean ground beef, veggies, and a little cheese to top it off.
Strength = Balanced Diet + Physical Activity + Good Physical and Mental Health
To me, this is the true definition of strength and I feel that you have to have all three to be truly strong.
Over the last two and a half years, I have found that I thrive on a balanced diet and daily physical activity.
I have not shared much about this side of my life here on the blog. However, after Ross was born, I struggled with postpartum depression. I remember sitting in a chair in our living room and saying to my Mom and Arturo “I am not right.” I remember the dark feeling of not wanting to get up and feeling overwhelming exhaustion. I of course went to the doctor and she prescribed an antidepressant. I tried it and it made me feel just icky. I thought I would try to manage my depression with exercise. I started walking and then started running. When it got cold and Arturo started traveling more, I could not get out and hit the dirt road, I started slipping back into that black hole. So, Arturo suggested that I give the workout videos that we had bought before I even got pregnant with Ross, 21 Day Fix by Beachbody, a try. In January of 2017 we both started 21 Day Fix and it was a game changer. Being able to get in consistent workouts every day helped me push through the hard days.
My workouts were not about losing weight. They were about me finding strength in all areas of my life.
After 21 days of consistent workouts, we saw changes in ourselves physically and I was feeling so much better mentally. We started doing more research on eating properly and fueling our bodies better. In our research, we learned that we need to anchor our plates with protein, and of course, we chose lean beef, and then fill it with the majority of vegetables and some carbs. So that’s what we did! Combining our active lifestyles with proper nutrition has truly helped us become stronger mentally and physically.
As a mom and a rancher, I need to be strong…not only with physical strength to carry babies to bed and close wire gates, but I also need to be mentally strong to jump from one task to the next and handle one melt down to the next.
Beef is a Powerhouse Food
I share all of this with you because I truly believe in the power of exercise and beef for fueling those workouts. Beef provides our bodies, and our brains with Zinc, Iron, and Vitamins, which play key roles in brain health. A 3 oz serving of beef also provides you with 51% of your daily protein requirements. It seriously is a powerhouse of nutrients, that taste amazing too.
Beef It’s Whats for Dinner
Over these last two and a half years, I have stayed consistent with my workouts. I use my in-home library of workouts almost every day. I have also trained for and completed two 25k trail runs and a half marathon. I ask my body to do a lot and I have learned and continue to learn that I must fuel it properly.
We share a lot of our “Sunday Funday” meals here on the blog. However, during the week we strive to eat balanced meals, anchoring our plate with protein and filling the rest with veggies and some carbs. The “Sunday Funday” meals are the ones that Arturo likes to cook the most, those are the recipes that have more stories and memories tied tthe o them.
We hope that you enjoy this dish and start “anchoring” your plate with BEEF!
Ingredient List
Italian ground beef
Cauliflower
Tomato paste
Pesto
Onion
Garlic
Diced tomatoes
Red pepper flakes
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Panko bread crumbs
Beef and Cauliflower Casserole
Begin by browning your ground beef.
While the beef browns dice up the onion and cauliflower.
Once the beef is browned remove from skillet and set aside.
Add a turn of olive oil to the skillet, then add the onion and cauliflower. Sautee the onion and cauliflower for 5 minutes, till the onions become translucent and the cauliflower begins to soften.
Next add the can of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, pesto, red pepper flakes and garlic.
Cook down for about 5 minutes and then add the beef back into the skillet and top with the cheese and bread crumbs.
Pop into the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with parsley.
Beef and Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef seasoned with our Italian Ground Beef Sausage, see recipe below
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1 onion diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 14oz diced tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese grated
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- parsley for garnsih
Instructions
- Begin by browning your ground beef in a 10 1/2" skillet.
- While the beef browns dice up the onion and cauliflower.
- Once the beef is browned remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add a turn of olive oil to the skillet, then add the onion and cauliflower. Sautee the onion and cauliflower for 5 minutes, till the onions become translucent and the cauliflower begins to soften.
- Next add the can of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, pesto, red pepper flakes and garlic.
- Cook down for about 5 minutes and then add the beef back into the skillet and top with the cheese and bread crumbs.
- Pop into the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with parsley.
Italian Ground Beef Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tsp. thyme
- 1/4 tsp. oregano
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4/ tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper or more if you like a little spice
Instructions
- Place the beef in a bowl.
- Add all spices and mix with your hands.
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