Thursday, March 31, 2011

~Twisted Thursday - 3.31.2011~

So here's what to do...

It's YOUR turn to share one of your favorite recipes! Leave the title of the recipe - along with your blog's name, if you want and the website url.

You can also grab a button for your blog from the right hand side --->


Last week, I had the most sharing yet! YAY! I hope it picks up from here on out.




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Monday, March 28, 2011

Menu Plan Monday - Mar. 28, 2011

I am so excited for this week's menu! And I nearly started singing "Party in My Tummy" - what a mom moment!

Make sure you go link up at orgjunkie.com/

Tuesday, Mar. 29
Wednesday, Mar. 30
Thursday, Mar. 31
Friday, April 1
Saturday, April 2
Sunday, April 3
Monday, April 4
Extras: Chunky Brownie Cookies, Hostess Cupcake Cake, Homemade Mozzarella Sticks and Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

My goal this week is to make EVERY breakfast item on my list because I always cop out in the mornings. I'm definitely not a morning person. :/

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

**Sunday Social - 3.27.2011**

I hope that everyone has a great week. It's still a little slow on Fantastical because I am still sick. I've heard this is called a spring cold. I would like to know where the spring part is - it's 27 up here in New York. That is much too cold for almost April! So if you are in the sunny, warm south...please, let me live vicariously through you!

Later today, I hope to share two recipes: Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts and Chicken Rolls. I'll add links when I actually do get them up. Also, bare with me as I mess around with the appearance of the blog. I learned how to make a header, but I'm still fine-tuning all of that yet.
Some great recipes I've tried this week:
  • Skillet Taco Macaroni - I think this may be the first thing that I make for my husband when he gets home for R&R. It was filling and a good kick from the Rotel and it was cheesy!
  • Good Ole Sweet Tea - A family recipe that is too good not to try. I drink it warm because I'm a weirdo.
  • Elbow Macaroni - something different to try for lunch instead of macaroni and cheese!
This week was too good of a week in the blogworld! I think this may be my longest list so far:
Make sure you check out these recipes and the blogs themselves! Have a great week!!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Elbow Spaghetti

My kids are a bit "by the book" - they love mac'n'cheese. I feel guilty as a mom feeding them processed crap from a box, but when I make it from scratch, it's always missing that delicious processed cheese taste. So sometimes for lunch, I make them what I call elbow spaghetti. My kids love spaghetti.

What you need:
  • 1/2 box elbow macaroni
  • 1 jar Prego (or homemade sauce...I use Prego because nothing has come close homemade-wise, yet)
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 lb. ground beef/turkey, cooked and crumbled (optional)
Directions:
  1. Prepare macaroni according to package directions; drain.
  2. Stir in butter until melted.
  3. Add Prego and sour cream. You may need to turn the heat back on to warm everything back up. If you want to have meat, then add it at the same time as the sauce and cream :)
**The big flavor is packed in by adding the sour cream. NEVER underestimate the power of sour cream. It is SO good with spaghetti!!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

~Twisted Thursday - 3.24.2011~

It's Twisted Thursday :]


So here's what to do...

It's YOUR turn to share one of your favorite recipes! Leave the title of the recipe - along with your blog's name, if you want and the website url.

You can also grab a button for your blog from the right hand side --->



Good Ole Sweet Tea

I don't like sweet tea....well, I don't like COLD sweet tea.

That probably makes me a freak of nature, right? My stepdad makes some KILLER sweet tea. My husband doubted that killer sweet tea recipe until I made it and he tried it. Have you all ever had Mayfield sweet tea? That's my husband's favorite and he said this is unbelievably close to Mayfield's.

I normally wouldn't make sweet tea for myself, but I've been sick for a little over a week now and I needed some hot tea for my sore throat.



What you need:
  • 3 to 4 tea bags. I use Liptons....I think.
  • 1 to 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
Directions:
*Note: Excuse my plastic jug/drink container-y thing. I don't have a glass one :(

In a small sauce pan, bring 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water with tea bags in it to a boil. JUST to a boil.

Place 1 cup of sugar into the container you will keep your sweet tea in...I prefer a glass jug thing. Why can't I think of the word to use for what you put drinks in??? Then add your boiling tea water (without tea bags) directly to the sugar...stir to help dissolve the sugar. Then add about 1/2 a gallon of water  and stir. Place in the refrigerator to chill.



Or if you are like me, add honey and drink warm!


This is linked up @For the Love of Blogs

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Turkey Chili with Beans

Confession time: I have a problem. My problem is my appetite...coupled with cravings. I am seriously obsessed with food. In fact, right now while I'm typing up this post, I'm watching "Good Eats." I'm not really a bandwagon type person...I like to do my own thing and in my own way...but when everyone keeps talking about turkey chili...yeah, you best believe I am on that bandwagon.

What you need:
  • 1 large green bell pepper
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/4 lb. ground turkey
  • 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup tomato juice
  • 2 cans (15 oz. each) dark red kidney beans, undrained
  • 1 tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. celery seeds (I used celery salt)
Directions:
Deseed and chop peppers; chop onions.
Heat oil in skillet and add turkey, peppers and onions together until turkey is cooked through and onion is tender. I cooked mine in my Dutch oven to minimize clean up because I'm lazy.

In a Dutch oven, combine all ingredients, including cooked turkey mixture, and simmer over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes.
I added this to the Linky Party @ Sugar and Dots

    Tuesday, March 22, 2011

    Skillet Taco Macaroni

    I cannot stress how delicious this recipe is...at all.
    It sounds like nothing special, but do not doubt the epic flavor behind these everyday ingredients :)

    What you need:
    • 1 lb. extra lean ground sirloin
    • 1 small onion, chopped
    • 16 oz. tomato sauce
    • 16 oz. water (use can from tomato sauce)
    • 16 oz. Rotel, undrained (they come in 10 oz. cans so I used 2 full cans)
    • 3 cups elbow macaroni (I used shells - because they are more awesome), uncooked
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • 1/4 tsp. pepper
    • 1/2 to 1 tsp. cumin
    • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
    • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
    • 1 tsp. dried cilantro
    • 1/2 cup milk
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
    Directions:
    In a large skillet, brown ground sirloin and onion; drain if needed.

    Add tomato sauce, water, Rotel, macaroni and seasonings. Stir and bring to a boil.

    Reduce heat to medium-low and cover.
    Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring a couple times. 
    I had to turn up the heat a little to make sure the pasta cooked.
    Add milk and cheddar cheese and stir until cheese melts completely.
    Recipe from Food.com member *Parsley*
    This is linked to Tasty Tuesday @ 33 Shades of Green and @ For the Love of Blogs
    and
    Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings

      Monday, March 21, 2011

      Menu Plan Monday - 3.21.2011

      Another Monday - I'm actually looking forward to Mondays now :]

      Again, if you haven't been to orgjunkie.com/ you HAVE to check it out!! I'm about to buy her book Clutter Rehab because I have a lot of clutter and I need some rehab. I'll most likely blog about it on my own personal blog - feel free to follow me, I don't mind.

      This week's menu includes:
      Tuesday
      Wednesday
      Thursday
      • Breakfast: Baked Pumpkin Donuts
      • Lunch: Leftovers or Wendys
      • Dinner: Friendly's (Eat Out - we will be going into town this day - I haven't been into town in a while now)
      Friday
      • Breakfast: blueberry waffles
      • Lunch: grilled cheese and applesauce
      • Dinner: Crockpot Chili Dogs and chips
      Saturday
      Sunday
      • Breakfast: poptarts
      • Lunch: mac and cheese and applesauce or yogurt
      • Dinner: Pepperoni Pizza Twist and salad
      Monday
      Extras

        Sunday, March 20, 2011

        **Sunday Social**

        Another kind of hectic week for me: I got sick on Tuesday and I'm almost feeling better today. I finished all my finals and I finally have a break until the beginning of April. I hope that everyone else had a good week :)




        My favorite recipe from this week on Fantastical is definitely...



        Another week of a LOT of great recipes on foodie blogs!

        • Rum Punch Cupcakes from Annie's Eats - I love rum-flavored anything and my husband is a huge fan, so I couldn't resist when I saw this recipe! And you can even do pineapple and a cherry on top! How perfect is that?
        • Baked French Toast Sticks from One Crazy Cookie - French toast is one of my favorite breakfast foods and I love the stick version - amazingness :)
        • Broccoli & Ham Frittata from Mommy Hates Cooking - I love frittatas and broccoli....and ham. Frittatas and quiches are delicious!
        • Banana Split Dessert from I Heart Naptime - this looks like a moonpie and that in itself makes it a done deal for me. I cannot wait to try this recipe out!
        • Potato, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Taquitos from Sing For Your Supper - Egg and cheese burritos are amazing and potatoes added in with scrambled eggs alone is epic. This is bound to be a really great breakfast recipe.
        • Butterscotch Pudding with Carmelized Bananas and Cream from Joy the Baker - She used whiskey in this recipe...that's good enough for me :)
        • Sour Cream Noodle Bake from Pioneer Woman - my husband probably wouldn't touch this with a ten-foot pole, since he hates sour cream and I still have half a deployment to make it and enjoy it while I can.
        • Blueberry Cheesecake Bars from Baked Bree - I love cheesecake and I love blueberries...bars are pretty great too.
        • BBQ Country Style Ribs from Mommy Hates Cooking - Ribs...seriously..RIBS.
        • Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream from Tracey's Culinary Adventures - sounds yummy, right? And guess what! They are VEGAN.
        • New Momma Take-in Tray from Mel's Kitchen Cafe - not so much a recipe, but a great idea that definitely needs to be shared with everyone!!
        I hope you all check out these great recipes and have a good week too - I have some good recipes coming up this week!

        Saturday, March 19, 2011

        Stuffed Peppers

        This is probably one of my most favorite recipes in my arsenal. I always make the full recipe and then freeze half of the meat mixture and buy half the amount of bell peppers, so I have a cheap meal for some day in the future.


        What you need:
        • 10 medium bell peppers
        • 2 lb. ground beef
        • 2 onion, grated
        • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
        • 1 small can tomato paste
        • 3 tomatoes, chopped
        • 1/2 cup water
        • Salt and pepper to taste
        Directions:
        Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds.

        Heat salted water to a boil and add peppers; cook for 5 minutes and drain.

        Brown ground beef and onion. 
         
        Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.

        Spoon meat mixture into peppers.

        Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
         
          **I freeze half of the mix to use at a later time because we're only a family of four and my toddlers split one pepper between them, so it'd be wasteful to make 10 stuffed peppers. If it's frozen before cooking, bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

          Thursday, March 17, 2011

          ~Twisted Thursday - 3.17~

          It's Twisted Thursday :] Happy St. Patty's Day!

          So here's what to do...

          It's YOUR turn to share one of your favorite recipes! Leave the title of your favorite recipe - along with your name and the website url.

          You can also grab a button for your blog from the right hand side --->



          Monday, March 14, 2011

          Walking Tacos

          This is adapted from Picky Palate's Walking Taco recipe.

          What you need:
          • Small bags Fritos (one for each person - or more for each person, depending on how many they eat)
          • 1 lb. ground beef
          • Taco seasoning
          • 1/4 cup water
          • 1 each red and green bell pepper, sliced
          • 1 onion, diced
          • 1 clove garlic, minced
          • 1 can diced tomatoes
          • Toppings: shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, etc.

          Directions:
          Saute peppers, onions, and garlic in a little vegetable oil. Remove and set aside.
          Brown ground beef, drain. Then add taco seasoning to taste and water. Stir in vegetables and simmer until liquid is soaked up.
          Serve in a small Fritos bag, by scooping in the meat mixture.
          Then your toppings and ENJOY ON THE GO :)

          Menu Plan Monday - Mar. 14

          It's that time again :)

          I encourage everyone to do a menu plan and then link up at orgjunkie.com/

          Here's what we're having this week:

          Sunday, March 13, 2011

          **Sunday Social**

          Happy Sunday everyone, or maybe not so happy since we all lost an hour of sleep :( I hate DLS.

          I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Now it's time to share some of my favorites of the week :]

          I haven't posted much on Fantastical this week due to a very hectic schedule - 3 college courses, a couple things going wrong (cable bill hadn't been paid in 3 months because I got a new debit card in Dec. and my tags expired 2 weeks ago and I didn't realize it) and a little man turned 4 years old! So next week, I should be on top of things. But I still got two really great recipes up this week:

          • Shamrock Shakes - St. Patty's Day is coming up this week and since I can't really drive my car with the expired tags (my stickers are going to my in laws and then will be sent up here...oh the joys of the military)...I can't really go to McD's and get one of their amazing Shamrock Shakes. I absolutely adore the people who replicate good restaurant recipes! It's also got options for lowfat or soy versions!
          • Cherry Berry Cobbler - sounds delicious, right? Y'all will HAVE to try this one. It's so delicious! I ate the whole thing by myself, another joy of the military - no husband here, no family here, no friends here...so someone's gotta eat this food. I'm more than willing :)

           This week is FULL of amazing looking recipes all over the web:
          • Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread on Joy the Baker - I don't even know how to explain this one. It looks incredible and makes my mouth water!
          • Bacon Chicken Alfredo Pasta on Just Get Off Your Butt and BAKE! - I tried extra hard to find more non-sweets this week. Anything with bacon...and pasta...uh...YUM!
          • Thin Mint Truffles on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen - There is one thing I know well: anything with Thin Mints will be exponentially better than anything without Thin Mints :]
          • Olive Garden Breadsticks on Jamie Cooks It Up! - I don't like Olive Garden. I think its food is way overrated and overpriced. Except the breadsticks! The breadsticks are heaven!
          • San Fransisco Chops {Slow Cooker} on Mel's Kitchen Cafe - I need some more good pork recipes and this one looks so savory! And being a slow cooker recipe only makes it that much more appealing!
          • Banana Split Cupcakes on Annie's Eats - Oh my goodness gracious! They look so awesomely awesome! Banana cake, strawberry and pineapple filling, vanilla frosting, chocolate ganache and a cherry on top? YES PLEASE!!
          • Easy Breakfast Burritos on Cooking with My Kid -This one looks very simple and has my favorite things: refried beans and cheese, in it :)
          I hope you all check out these great foodie blogs and their recipes and I hope that you have a great week!!

          Saturday, March 12, 2011

          Copycat Shamrock Shake

          Update 2/24/13: Picture redo. You can add as little or as much food coloring as you want. I put way less in mine this time.
          Copycat Shamrock Shake - 4 ingredients to a seasonal favorite that you can have all year round! #copycat #shake #recipe

          Cherry Berry Cobbler

          Sometimes I think that Betty Crocker is should be a saint. Whoever she may be :)

          What you need:
          • 1 box Betty Crocker wild blueberry muffin mix
          • 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
          • 1 can (15 oz.) pitted dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup, drained (I couldn't find these anywhere)
          • 3/4 cup milk
          • 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
          • 2 eggs
          • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel (omitted)
          • 2 tbsp. sugar

          Directions:
          Heat oven to 375. In an ungreased 13x9-inch glass baking dish, mix the can of blueberries from the muffin mix, pie filling and sweet cherries.
          Mix muffin mix, oil, milk, eggs and lemon peel until moistened.
          Drop onto fruit and sprinkle with sugar.
          Bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until the top is a pretty golden brown :) Serve with ice cream, if desired!

          Thursday, March 10, 2011

          Fried Rice

          Here is a versatile recipe - you can go with meatless, chicken, shrimp, pork or steak :)
          My camera decided to eat some of the pictures so you'll have to excuse that part!

          What you need:
          • 3 tbsp oil, divided
          • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
          • 1/2 cup diced onion
          • 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
          • 1 cup chopped cooked meat, poultry or shrimp
          • 1/2 cup frozen sweet green peas
          • 3 cups cooked rice
          • 1/4 cup soy sauce
          • 1 tsp. chili-garlic sauce (I didn't have any of this...so I just added a touch of garlic powder)
          • Sliced green onions (optional)
          • Chopped almonds (optional)

          Directions:
          Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add eggs and gently stir 1 minute or until softly scrambled. Remove, chop and set aside. Heat 2 tbsp. oil  and stir fry onion and bell pepper for 3 minutes.
          Add meat (if using) and peas and stir fry for 2 minutes.
          Add rice, soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in scrambled eggs and sprinkle with green onions and almonds, if desired.