Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

This slow cooked Cuban-style braised beef will make your house smell insanely good!

Ropa vieja is Cuban braised beef - I'm not sure why all of a sudden I put so many Cuban foods (hopefully authentic) on my meal plan, but I really enjoyed trying a new cuisine.  This beef was so tender and packed full of flavor. It was served up as recommended with white rice and black beans - definitely suited to pair with the braised beef. The house smelled insanely good while this slow cooked in the crockpot!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Subwhales

Even if you haven't seen the movie, these Subwhales are an epicly cute way to make a sub sandwich!

During my husband's third deployment, I tried to make the time pass more quickly for my kids with a lot of activities. Our favorite thing to do was go to the movies and we had a blast seeing Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, as the first one was one of our favorites to watch at home. The food creatures aka the foodimals were truly hilarious and even now that the kids are much older (how has it already been 5 years?!), we still adore the movie. We have made these Subwhales a number of times because they are an easy sub sandwich with some fun whale elements to them.

Even if you have a child who isn't familiar with the foodimals in the movie, this is such an adorable way to make a sub sandwich! I included a picture of the movie subwhales so you can see what we were going for!

via Google images

Copycat Petros

This is not just a Frito pie -- it's Knoxville's gourmet version and you have got to try it!

I am unbelievably excited to share this recipe because it is native to my hometown: KNOXVILLE!! :) In 1982 at the World's Fair, a couple from Spokane, Washington decided to make a gourmet version of a popular football treat: chili and onions poured over corn chips (in the bag). Joe and Carol Schoentrup added cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, tomato, green onion, sour cream, and hot sauce to the chili, onions, and corn chips combo. The World's Fair had an energy theme that year, so the dish was dubbed a "Petro" as a nod to petroleum. The Petro's Chili and Chips "restaurant" started up in a food court in our very own West Town Mall in 1992. It's a really small chain, but I honestly didn't realize it was a Knoxville thing until I went to make this recipe.

I first visited Knoxville when I was in 4th grade - back in 1998. We came down to visit my stepdad's family for Christmas. I remember getting Petro's for the first time (and Baskin Robbins) and it being the best mall food I had ever had. I thought having chili over Fritos was GENIUS. I still think so. I haven't had a legit Petro in years upon years, even though I have lived in Knoxville around 11 years (minus the 6 or so years I missed due to military life). I knew it'd be like pulling an arm and a leg to get Nick to choose Petro's over anything else if we ate fast food, so when I was craving it, I decided homemade was the way to go.

My green onions spoiled by the time I made it, so I was unfortunately without, but they would have been there because they are so good on it. You can also do black olives, salsa, and jalapenos, if you want.

Hamburger Pizza

Find the recipe on The Recipe Jackpot

Taco Ring

Find on the recipe on The Recipe Jackpot