Ree's Philly Cheesesteaks #SundaySupper

These Philly cheesesteaks are topped with colorful bell peppers and a yummy Velveeta cheese sauce.

It's time for another Sunday Supper event and this event is for Big Game Day Party recipes, hosted by D.R. of Gluten Free Crumbley. While we don't watch a lot of football much anymore, we enjoy game day foods. In past years, we have gotten together with our friends and watched the Super Bowl together and snacked on all sorts of delicious foods. I think pizza and subs are quintessential game day foods, but I can also see Philly cheesesteaks being served up for a "main dish" when there's a crowd of hungry football fans around.

I wasn't a huge fan of Philly cheesesteaks until around 2010. Nick loves them and because I will never NOT make something just because I don't like it --- I ended up finding some recipes for cheesesteaks to try out. I didn't expect to like any of the recipes, but I was making them for him, not me. However, I DID find a recipe and I devoured my sandwich and went back for seconds. From then on, I haven't turned down a cheesesteak.

This particular recipe comes from one of my favorites - Ree Drummond! I swear I'm not super picky, but I don't really care for Velveeta. I didn't expect to be blown away by a Velveeta cheese sauce - especially over traditional provolone. But...I devoured my sandwich. The Velveeta is exactly what this sandwich needs. It was such a flavorful sauce and it had the perfect texture to go with the meat and veggies. I also just adore that there are three different colors of sweet peppers in this sandwich. It looks so pretty and colorful!

Do y'all eat a main dish for game day or do you snack on appetizers? 
What are YOUR favorite game day foods?

Fantastical Friday: 39 Chip Dip Recipes for Corn Chip Day

Today is Corn Chip Day! I love wacky holidays like today and look forward to the food-themed ones to share a round up. Since I'm sure there are only a few different variations for how to make corn chips, I figured I would share something to DIP them in! So grab a chip (or two or more) and check out these yummy dips from some of my favorite bloggers.

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

The classic sandwich takes form as a pasta dish perfect for the busy weeknights!

When we were transitioning from military life to civilian life, the kids and I headed to Tennessee a few months before Nick and he was left to fend for himself. The poor thing. He stayed with our friends and he started cooking recipes that I had saved to a Pinterest board for him. Once he got down to Tennessee, he helped cook dinner a lot - which really helped when I had a hard day pregnancy-wise. He actually had made this recipe in New York a few times before moving and it was one of the first things he wanted to make all of us when he got home. We really loved it (of course - it's Philly cheesesteak AND pasta)! :)

Jalapeno Crunch Burger

Add a little heat to your burger with some little crunchy jalapeno rounds!

I know I have been talking about my pregnancy with Mason a lot in these last few weeks - no, it's not being nostalgic because he will be a year old in less than a month. It's because of the whole making these recipes in 2014...when I was pregnant with him. I decided to just go ahead and post them in order and not try and mix up the different courses and have breakfast foods and desserts thrown in there. Then I have the daunting task of working on ALL of 2015. I've only posted newer recipes from 2015 for Sunday Supper or Secret Recipe Club. :S

I have made these burgers twice since the first time I made them. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it really is for me. Now that we have our "Throwback Thursday" dinner night, we should have more of our favorites more often, but burgers and pizza fall on Fridays, even if they are throwbacks. I need to remember this recipe. NEED. TO. REMEMBER. The jalapeno crunches are the best! They were originally supposed to be strips, but I thought that rounds (like jalapeno coins) would work better on a burger.

Menu Plan Monday - January 25, 2016

 

I decided to start grocery shopping on Sundays again because it's cold and I hate taking Mason out when it's cold. I hate having to wrestle his thick coat on and off of him in the car (carseat safety comes first!), but I hate the side-eye I get when he's wearing sweats, hat, and mittens plus I wrap him in a thick fleece blanket before taking him out of the house/car and is not out in 30 degree weather for longer than a minute. Last time that he went with me, he was sweating from the time it took us to leave the house and get to the store (a total of 5 minutes max). Anyways, he hates the jacket, he hates the hat, and I don't care to wrestle with an 11 month old!! It's nice to have the peace and quiet too. However, on drill weekends, I will have to shop on Mondays. Boo!!

This week, I'm making a few recipes from Food Network Magazine - I affiliate linked to Amazon where you can get a subscription for a great deal.

Monday
Chicken-Potato Chip Club Sandwiches [FNM]
bacon, wheat bread, potato chips, tomato, lettuce

Tuesday
Tamale Balls
ground beef, sausage, tomato juice (6 cups), brown rice*

Wednesday
Snickerdoodle Crumble Donuts // Slow Cooker Beef Stew
egg (1), milk, white chocolate chips*, heavy cream (3/4 cup)* // beef chuck roast (3 lb), beef stock (32 oz.), tomato paste*, red onion*, carrots, potatoes*, frozen peas

Thursday
Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage (doubled) [FNM]
orecchiette pasta (2), chorizo (2), green onions, cherry tomatoes (2), Parmesan*

Friday
Extra Cheese Pizza with BWW Copycat Wings
bread flour, pizza sauce*, sliced mozzarella cheese* , shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese*, chicken wings

Saturday
Mini Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes [FNM]
bittersweet chocolate (2 oz.), eggs (2), buttermilk (1/4 cup)*, heavy cream (1 cup)*, bittersweet/semisweet chocolate (8 oz.)

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Sweet & Salty Frito Snack Mix

Cheer on your favorite team with a batch of this addictive snack!

Hello, all! Today, I am over on Knoxville Moms Blog sharing this recipe for only the BEST snack mix ever in the history of man! :) Be sure to stop by and save the recipe.

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Roasted Potatoes, Chicken Sausage, and Peppers

An easy, no-fuss hash recipe with delicious Italian chicken sausage - tossed with some rosemary and baked in the oven!

During my pregnancy with Mason, easy recipes became my thing. I was not big on chicken during my pregnancy, but because I insist on eating a variety of foods - including not having red meat all week long - I still ate chicken. I found this recipe and couldn't pass it up. I love hashes. I'm a happy girl with potatoes, peppers, and onions in my belly. I had never heard of chicken sausage before, so I searched my grocery store's meat department to see if they sold it - and they did! So I definitely put this recipe in my meal plan. It was as good as expected. I really liked the chicken sausage because it wasn't too "chicken-y" and thankfully, I was able to eat it without issues during pregnancy :)

I believe the original poster used a different brand - I found mine as this Thin2Trim brand.

Chicken alla Boscaiola

Although technically not a boscaiola anymore, this recipe has a rich, flavorful sauce that really hits the spot.

Something that I really appreciate about recipes is that they change from person to person. Someone might find a recipe on my blog and put their own twist on it. By the way, if you ever do, please tell me because I love switching up old recipes when I make them again anyways and it's even better to have a success story for a variation :)

Anyways, I don't always follow the recipe to a T. Sometimes I fail to read directions (a lot) and prepare it way differently. Other times, I exchange or just leave out ingredients. Martha switched up classic Pasta alla Boscaiola with bacon instead of pancetta and she added chicken to it. I know technically what I made isn't Boscaiola at all because I left out the mushrooms (Boscaiola is a mushroom sauce), but I really didn't know what else to call it!

I made this back in 2014 while we were staying with my in laws while we were house hunting. I did make Chicken Boscaiola for my mom-in-law, but left the mushrooms out for everyone else. It was actually my very first time sauteing mushrooms and I was terrified I'd screw them up. Luckily, she said I did a great job with them and she loved that I made some just for her to enjoy. Cami snagged a few too. Her and her Mimi don't get mushrooms enough because of all us mushroom haters.

Even without the mushrooms, the sauce has so much flavor and richness to it. It was a supremely delicious dish. I know I am definitely craving it right now!

Menu Plan Monday - January 18, 2016

 

I'm back for yet another installment of MPM. Here is what goodies I have in store for the family this week...I'm really excited about Thursday. Haven't had Chicken Parm in FOOOOOREVER!

Chicken Enchilada Roll Ups

A classic main course made into a dip made into a roll-up appetizer that no one will be able to get enough of!

Another 2014 recipe here - going through my old photos is definitely a walk down memory lane. These roll ups were made during one of our last get-togethers with our best friends in New York. I definitely miss having them so close. It's definitely a "pit" of being a military family. Of course, the "peak" is having met them in the first place. We were a very snacky bunch, so I could always count on making appetizer foods to keep us all sated. We usually ate before dinner and after dinner, so having a surplus was a good idea. These surprised me with having loads of flavor and being very addictive!

Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza

Chicken pizza is mighty delicious, but add roasted garlic to the mix and you'll be in for a life-changing experience!

I've only made roasted garlic a handful of times, but it is one of the easiest and most tasty concoctions I've ever had. I'm lucky to be married to someone who loves garlic as much as I do. We joke around because whenever a recipe calls for a clove of garlic...it usually ends up being at least 3. I honestly can't imagine how I would stay married if he didn't like garlic because I'm not going to have less garlic on anything!!

This was a great variation for our usually red meat-heavy pizza. AND it doesn't have ranch dressing on it like most chicken pizzas - it uses herbed cream cheese! It goes really well with the roasted garlic :)

Menu Plan Monday - January 11, 2016

 

I'm being ambitious again this week - planning bread for a Monday. Although, luckily, no girl scouts on today. So maybe I'm not too ambitious. In fact, Matthew is done with boy scouts, so no scouts today means a "slow" Monday really. No rush. I'm hoping to make a few breakfast recipes this week and we're doing brinner twice because I'm really wanting some savory breakfasts.

Fantastical Friday: Favorite Food Finds of the Week

Let's talk New Year Resolutions...I'm not really one to do them. I think if I want to do something, it should not take the "New Year" to push me to do it. Right?! Plus I think that if you "fail" at your resolution, it can discourage you from continuing to try. So I don't like to call my changes "resolutions". Silly as that may be.

Bacon Jack & Jalapeno Quesadillas

Jalapeno and bacon pair with cheese to bring a jalapeno popper-esque flavor combo to this quesadilla recipe!

In yesterday's post, I touched on trying to blog ALL my old recipes from before 2015 that have yet to make to the blog. This recipe has actually been scheduled countless times, but I never finished typing up the recipe or post body itself, so it got moved and moved and moved. This one was made in May of 2014 just like yesterday's post. It is way overdue to show up on the blog.

It's a fairly simple recipe that I adapted from Food Network and the quesadilla wedges are fabulous topped or dipped with salsa and sour cream. I love making quesadillas for lunch on the weekends - it's such a quick meal to make and I rarely mess them up like other foods (burnt grilled cheese, anyone?). This quesadilla recipe has bacon and jalapeno in it, so it almost tastes like a jalapeno popper. :)

Tostada Pizza

Let's just call this a pizza-shaped taco - it's got all the taco fixings and it is to die for!

This year, I'm trying to work hard to post all my older recipes from 2014 (yes, 2014, two years ago) and post 2015 recipes mostly in order. I'm also going to be working hard to write my instructions more clearly, take better pictures, and keep a schedule. Those are my "food blog resolutions" and I'm really hoping to stick with them. Towards the end of 2015, I got a lot better at posting and I think that is mostly due to the fact that I got more organized and spent more time "working" than messing around online. That Facebook tab can be a doozy.

Anyways, if you are a new reader to Fantastical, hi and welcome! I like to make a variety of foods each week and we started doing themes which really help me when I'm meal planning. Our weeks start on Monday - Monday is One Pot/Crockpot meals, Tuesday is Taco Tuesday (anything Mexican), Wednesday is Soup Night (we even have a song for that), Thursday is Throwback Thursday (I make old favorites instead of new recipes), Friday is All-American Night (Pizza OR Burgers), Saturday we eat at Nick's mom's house, and Sunday is the elaborate meal night - where I will make a recipe that takes more time to make than I'm usually willing to spend - meatloaf, pot roast, etc.

On Fridays, we alternate pizza and burgers. I also make different recipes to keep us from getting bored of the same ole thing. I (obviously) made this tostada pizza on a Friday - back when we were still living in New York. In fact, after checking the date on the photo - end of May 2014 is when I made this pizza. Short of copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas, I had never made a pizza with refried beans for the sauce. I was excited to try beans on an actual pizza, not tortillas.

I doubled the amount of beef and used roma tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. I also used more than 1 cup of cheese, but honestly could not tell you how much. I usually buy a large bag of cheese and just scoop it out by the handful until the pizza "looks right". This pizza was fabulous. It's so savory and tastes like tacos, but in pizza form. I mean that is just the best of both worlds, right?!

Menu Plan Monday - January 4, 2016

 

I have gotten both ambitious and lazy with my MPMs. I am ambitious because I've been scheduling them all at the beginning of the month for a whole month, so I'm not struggling to survive on Mondays because I haven't made my grocery list - putting me getting back from grocery shopping in time to scarf down lunch and turn around and pick up the kids at school - or drive over to volunteer for girl scouts. I'm lazy because I don't even bother looking to see if I have the ingredient. I just guess. Like, I'm fairly certain I have an unopened bottle of buttermilk in the fridge, but I'll just put a question mark next to it and check 5 minutes before I leave to grocery shop today. LOL. And as always, you'll find links to buying Food Network Magazine (FNM) on the cheap on Amazon - it's such a good deal and 2 of my recipes are from the magazine this week.

Countdown to 2016: Wild Card

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! To start off 2016 with a bang, my food blogging friends and I are choosing their own category of recipes to share today!

Last year, this category was called "Pick Your Poison" and this year, I decided to change it to "Wild Card". I felt it fit a little better :) What that means is that the following bloggers are picking a category they would like to share with the best recipes of 2015 for that category. I am going to share my top 5 favorite recipes I posted in 2015 and a recipe in each category that I am excited to make in 2016 from other bloggers!! I wanted to say thank you once again to my fellow bloggers who joined in - it was so much fun to round up our 2015 recipes and bring in the new year that way. Thank you for joining me!! I hope everyone has a wonderful, prosperous, positive 2016 full of good happenings, people, and, of course, FOOD! :)