Fantastical Friday

First up, I have to put out my link up announcement once again, just in case anyone missed it or forgot :) My buddies, Melissa and Amber, and I are doing a link up on May 2nd. All you have to do if you want to participate is make a blog post containing your photo an hour pictures - link back to one of the hosts - and then add your post to the link up on one of our blogs. We tried to keep it really simple and stress-free. I need to get my pictures uploaded and ready to go in order! Very excited about it!

Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Popcorn

Typically, we eat popcorn about once a week. On our Friday or Saturday movie nights, of course! Since we've been microwave-free for almost two years now, it's nice to make a variety of different popcorn. This is a really simple recipe that isn't overwhelmingly sweet.

Jalapeno Coins

Sometimes you look in the mirror and you don't recognize yourself...

It seems I've been doing this a lot lately when it comes to my time in the kitchen.

I'm not really a beer drinker. I like some beers, but it's not my first choice of any type of beverage. I am hooked on beer foods though. [insert meme: BEER BATTER ALL THE THINGS!!!!] It's crazy. I also invested in a little deep fryer that also can be a steamer and a pot-shaped slow cooker - it's pretty awesome [see it on Amazon]. Once upon a time, I said I would never get one because I remember how messy they were from the Fry Daddy my family had when I was a kid. But so far, it's amazingly easy to clean and take care of. I kept the container that the oil came from and use a measuring cup to pour it back into that container. It's surprisingly easy to keep everything clean and not greasy all over.

These beer battered jalapeno slices are so addictive. I couldn't make them fast enough!

Menu Plan Monday

{Monday}
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken // Are You Kidding Me Cake
Fresh sage, chicken tenderloins, bacon // golden vanilla cake mix*, blueberry pie filling*, 3 eggs

{Tuesday}
Raspberry Blueberry Banana Muffins // Taco Mac & Cheese
whole wheat flour*, honey*, banana, 2 eggs, applesauce*, blueberries*, raspberries // elbow macaroni*, shredded cheddar cheese, 1 lb. ground beef, taco seasoning*, 1 tomato, cilantro, green onions

{Wednesday}
Crockpot Chicken & Corn Chowder with Garlic Bread Bowls
2 cans cream of celery soup (have 1), frozen corn, 2 cans cream-style corn, chicken breasts, 2 potatoes, carrots, 1 onion, fresh parsley, evaporated milk*, shredded cheddar cheese, 1 egg

{Thursday}
Omelet Sandwiches // Asian Turkey Meatballs Over Pasta
whole wheat bagels, Canadian bacon, sliced extra sharp cheddar cheese*, 6 eggs, spinach, green bell pepper // 1 lb. turkey, 1 egg, broccoli, red bell pepper, snap peas, 2 chicken Ramen packets, crushed red pepper flakes

{Friday}
Garlic Lover's Pizza
1 tomato, 16 oz. fresh mozzarella

{Saturday}
Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls // 3-Envelope Pot Roast // Vanilla Bean Frappe
1 egg, all-purpose flour, 8 oz. cream cheese* // brown gravy packet, ranch dressing packet*, onion soup packet*, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, baby carrots, beef roast // vanilla bean ice cream

{Sunday}
Leftovers

Total spent: $155.71
Not including my lunch for the week, the kids' lunch for the week (spring break), 
yogurts and granola for snack, milk, and creamer, my total would have been $95.32

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Fantastical Friday

I am declaring myself the Test Taker Beast...because I quite honestly have been beasting so many tests/exams lately. Monday, I took yet another Praxis exam (my fourth) and I was lucky enough to see my score immediately after finishing. I came home and checked my score versus what I needed for the state of TN and I passed! I logged into my Praxis account and found out I also passed my third Praxis that I took back in March :) Yesterday I took one of my class finals and passed it too. I'm very excited that my accelerated path is continuing to be successful.

I didn't upload any pics from my daughter's field trip last week, but I finally got one to sum it all up...this is the sugar shack where they boil the sap. Snow and ice all around :/