Payson Roundup

Green Chile Beef Mini Sandwiches are a new treat to try at your football party celebrating the Arizona Cardinals.

Make this game day pizza with a can of Hormel Roast Beef Hash and a ready-made pizza crust.

OK. The Cardinals are one game away from the 2009 Super Bowl. It’s time to celebrate. Feasting and football is a match that’s hard to beat.

So, here are some recipes to put together to enjoy while you watch the Cards take on the Eagles in the NFC championship game Sunday.

Sandwiches score big flavor

Tackle the menu for the big game like a champ with fun foods that keep the crowd cheering during all four quarters.

Green Chile Beef Mini Sandwiches combine the protein punch of affordable beef pot roast with the flavor blitz of tangy onions, chunky green salsa and melted pepper Jack cheese, served on warm mini sandwich rolls. Chuck shoulder pot roast is not only easy on your wallet; it’s also a lean beef cut, which helps you go the extra yard when serving a hungry crowd.

With only four ingredients, these zesty sandwiches are a snap to make, leaving you more time to enjoy the game.

Beef is an excellent source of protein, which helps fuel an active and healthy lifestyle. To find more delicious beef recipes that will score with your family, visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Green Chile Beef Mini Sandwiches

Total preparation and cooking time: 2-3/4 to 3-3/4 hours. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

1 boneless beef chuck shoulder, arm or blade pot roast (2-1/2 to 3 pounds)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 cup prepared thick-and-chunky green salsa

12 to 16 mini sandwich rolls (2 to 3 inches long), split

8 slices pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese, cut in half

1. Heat oil in stockpot over medium heat until hot. Place beef pot roast in stockpot; brown evenly. Remove pot roast from stockpot. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon drippings.

2. Add onion to stockpot; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Return pot roast to stockpot. Stir in salsa; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 2 to 3 hours or until pot roast is fork-tender.

3. Remove pot roast; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking liquid; keep warm. Carve pot roast into thin slices; stir into cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

4. Warm rolls, if desired. Layer cheese and beef mixture evenly onto bottoms of rolls. Close sandwiches. Serve with additional cooking liquid.

Cook’s Tip: Recipe can be prepared in a 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 quart slow cooker. Prepare recipe through step 1, browning pot roast, if desired. Place onions and pot roast in slow cooker; add salsa. Cover and cook on LOW 8 to 9 hours or on HIGH 5 to 6 hours until beef is fork tender. Remove pot roast and onions; proceed as directed in step 3. Beef can be returned to slow cooker with cooking liquid and kept warm on LOW setting for up to 2 hours.

Man food

Man cannot live by meat alone.

Surveys of eating habits suggest that men eat more meat and far fewer fruits and vegetables than women do. Men usually reach for comfort foods that are warm, hearty and satisfying.

Men should be eating better because a bigger waistline can hurt their heart health. Is it possible to eat healthy and still get the satisfaction of “man food”? The answer is yes.

Balancing Act

When it comes to making meat choices, there are two words to remember: moderation and lean.

Moderation: The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than six ounces of lean meat or fish each day. A three-ounce cooked portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. Here are some examples:

• 1/2 of a skinless chicken breast or a chicken leg with thigh

• 3/4 cup of flaked fish

• Two slices of lean roast beef

Lean: There are 29 cuts of meat that qualify as “lean.” The American Heart Association has a list of extra-lean meat choices certified to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol. If you look for the American Heart Association’s heart-check mark on food packages, you’ll find a growing list of deli meats, beef, chicken, bison, turkey, pork, seafood and more.

What to Eat

An overall heart-healthy eating plan is important. The American Heart Association has simple recommendations:

• Eat a variety of foods from all food groups and choose vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products most often.

• Eat less junk food, i.e., limit foods and drinks high in calories but low in nutrients, and limit saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.

• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men.

To find heart-healthy foods in the grocery store, start by making your grocery list online. Visit heartcheckmark.org to build your list from more than 800 products ranging from meat and dairy to vegetables and snacks, all certified by the American Heart Association to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Print your list for future use, or access it from your Web-enabled mobile phone or PDA at mylist.heartcheckmark.org.

Men don’t have to feel unsatisfied by eating healthy. Eating well can be satisfying and delicious, even for a guy.

For more information on eating heart healthy visit americanheart.org.

Tex-Mex Chili Pie

Serves 4; 1-1/2 cups per serving

Perfect for wintry nights or while watching sporting events, this hearty chili is accented with crisp corn tortillas, fat-free cheddar cheese and dollops of fat-free sour cream. This recipe is worth repeating, so save time now by making a double batch and storing the leftover chili in an airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Chili

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

1, 15.5-ounce can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained

1, 14.5-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

1, 8-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt-free all-purpose seasoning blend

Tortillas

Cooking spray

4, 6-inch corn tortillas

Toppings

1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

In large nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned, stirring frequently to turn and break up. Using slotted spoon, transfer beef to 2- to 3-quart slow cooker. Add remaining chili ingredients to slow cooker, stirring to combine. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 7 to 9 hours, or until onions and bell peppers are tender and flavors have blended.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Using sharp knife, cut each tortilla into 8 triangles. Place in single layer on baking sheet. Lightly spray tops with cooking spray.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until chips are golden brown and crisp. Transfer baking sheet to cooling rack. Let chips cool for 15 minutes.

When chili is ready, place 8 tortilla chips with pointed end up around inside of each rimmed soup bowl. Ladle chili into bowls. Sprinkle cheddar over chili. Top each serving with dollop of sour cream.

A fresh perspective on an old tradition

With every New Year comes new products, new trends and new fashions - out with the old and in with the new. There are some things, however, that are always in style, like a good old-fashioned pizza that makes use of an unusual convenient food.

Quick and Easy Pizza

Serves 6

1, 15-ounce can Hormel Roast Beef Hash

1/2 cup chopped onion

1, 4-ounce can sliced mushrooms, drained

1/4 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed or ripe olives

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1, 8-ounce can pizza sauce

1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1, 16-ounce Italian bread shell or 1, 12-inch baked pizza crust

Heat oven to 450 degree. In large skillet, cook hash until crisp. Stir in onion, mushrooms, olives and garlic powder. Place bread shell on large baking sheet. Spread with pizza sauce. Top with hash mixture; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.

Courtesy of Family Features