Showing posts with label favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorites. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2012

Hashbrown Casserole

I had a ton of cooking to do for the Holidays and we always have my husband's family reunion the Sunday after Thanksgiving so there was even more cooking to be done.  Neil has a cousin that always looks for something different and has always complimented my new recipes.  While that is wonderful it always adds the pressure on to impress him with something new and something delicious. 

Well this year was busier than normal with and unexpected passing in the family and I got sick as a dog Thanksgiving night.  I did not feel good, did not feel like cooking, and definitely did not feel like trying something new.  So I made some reliable recipes and then stumbled upon and new recipe while I was looking for something easy to do with hash brown potatoes.  The blog, Never Trust a Skinny Cook had a recipe for "crack potatoes." 

They looked good and easy so that made them perfect to try and they did turn out great, but again I modified the recipe.  I saw some comments that they were great and then a few that said they were too salty and had too much ranch.  So I decided to cut back some of the ingredients and they turned out great!
*original recipe can be found here. And again apologizes for only 1 picture.  I was sick and did not think about it till the casserole was almost gone.

Ok here is what you need:
*Bag of shredded hash brown potatoes (I used fresh not frozen but I am sure it would work either way)
*16 oz container of sour cream
*1 pk of ranch dip mix
*1 small container of plain Greek yogurt
*2 packs of real bacon bits (toasted up/ you could use regular bacon and crumble it but I felt bad and was going for easy and fast)
*2 cups of shredded sharp cheese (save a little to the side to top with or add extra)
*Pre heat the oven too 400

Now mix the sour cream, ranch mix, yogurt, cheese, and bacon bits together in a large bowl.  Then stir in the hash browns and mix well.  Now spread into a casserole dish.  I did not have a 13x9 so I used a disposable tin pan that was 11.5 x 9 or something like that, but I think either size would work fine. Sprinkle the left over cheese or extra on top and then cover with tin foil.  Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes and then remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to give it and nice little crust and browning.

Now enjoy!  Well let it cool a bit or you will burn your tongue. :)

It was so good and everyone was pleased with it.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Strawberry Banana Pudding

I know it has been a while but I am finally back and have some great recipes to share in the next few posts.  Today I wanted to share my take on Paula Deen's Not Yo Mommas Banana Pudding. 
You can find the orginal recipe here.  (Also sorry but I was sick and busy so I only took a few pictures, like 2, sorry.)


*Disclaimer*  If I haven't said it before or if this is your first time stopping by I am not a follow the recipe kind of girl.  I will follow the basics of it but always change it up and add to or take away.  I also am not a measurer.  I like to eye ball most of the things I add. With that said,  I will try my best to get you a close measurement but cooking is all about trying new things and blending new things together and well just having fun.  So have fun if you think it will work try it, the worst that can happen is it will be inedible.  :)

A friend at church made the original recipe and I tried it one night.  It was good but super sweet.  I could only eat a little of it but I liked it and well I wanted to make it for an upcoming dinner.  I knew the basic recipe was good but I needed to cut some of the sweetness out. 

I decided some strawberries would add some tang and that if I made my own whipped cream it would not be as sweet.  I also used less sweetened condensed milk and added some Greek yogurt.  I also used less pudding.

Not huge changes but it made a difference and what came about was great!  So here is my recipe.

Ingredients:
-2 boxes Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies
-2 cups of milk
-1 box 3.5oz of instant French vanilla pudding
-4 to 5 ripe bananas
-small bag of frozen sliced strawberries (thawed) (make sure no sugar has been added) *you can also use fresh I just didn't have any at the time
-8oz of cream chz (softened)
-small can of sweetened condensed milk (around 14 oz but you will use a little less)
-12 oz of heavy whipping cream (you can use cool whip if you want for ease I did once when I had no cream and it was still ok I just used less than the 12 oz)
-small container of plain greek yogurt (I used Oikos 5.3oz size and I actually ran out of the plain and used the strawberry this last time and it worked)

Ok line the bottom of a 13x9 pan with one bag of the chessman cookies.  Next top with sliced bananas and then add a layer of sliced strawberries on top. 


Then in a small bowl mix the milk and the pudding on medium for 2 minutes and set aside.  Now mix the cream chz with the condensed milk.  I used most of the can I just did not scrape the sides but most had come out. (sorry again that I can not be more specific) Blend it till it is nice and smooth then add in the yogurt and stir well.  Now whip the heavy cream in another bowl on high until peaks appear.  Mix the bowl of pudding with the cream chz mixture and then fold in the whipped cream. 

Now pour the mixture over the cookies, bananas, and strawberries.  You will have more filling than you need (even the original leaves you with extra) so you can save it to use as a dip for fruit or cookies or make another small dessert, but you would need more cookies, bananas, and strawberries.  Now top it with the other bag of cookies and allow it to chill in the refrigerator. 

Pretty and delicious!
 
Linking to some of these great parties!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Dreaming of Ham / PreThanksgiving

I am so not ready for the Holidays yet.  Time is flying by way too quickly.  I can not believe this week will be Halloween.  AHHH!!  Five million times ahhh because I have so much/want to do.  With all of that said I am however very very ready for the food that comes with the approaching holidays.  So much so that I have been dreaming about it. 

And the thing I am most dreaming of .... Ham.  Not just any ham not deli ham, *ick* but real ham.  Pink ham!  Well at least that's what I have always called it.  You only get "pink ham" on holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter to be exact.  You know the ham I am talking about that has that wonderfully rosy color is super delicious and oh so bad for you.  :)  I think it is technically called a smoked ham but I grew up calling it pink ham and still do.  (I learned the hard way the 1st year I tried to buy one from the store and the butcher thought I was crazy and had no idea what I was talking about.  Funny story but completely off topic. Maybe I will share at another time.)

Anyway back to the ham.  I have been thinking about that ham for days and I told myself I only had a bit longer to wait and well then I decided why wait.  I wanted ham and I could have it.  Totally fine to have ham on a non holiday, except when I start meal planning I tend to get carried away a bit. 

At first I just wanted a nice meal of ham, potatoes, and cabbage.  Well then it grew into that I had some carrots and those would be good too with the potatoes.  Next I noticed some great looking raspberries at the store and decided I would make some lemon raspberry mousse squares for dessert since I already had the Nilla wafers.  (If you would like the recipe it is here.)

Nice meal but not totally satisfied.  While washing dishes I thought how great some devilled eggs would be.  I mean who doesn't want devilled eggs with pink ham. 

Now I had been cooking and washing dishes most of the day, due to making baby food, so I thought that I should spread the wealth a bit.  It would be Sunday after all and I did not want to be in the kitchen all morning before church.  So now my little dinner has turned into a Pre Thanksgiving meal.  :)

I called my parents and they are bringing some tea and some kale.  My brother is bringing the deviled eggs and I am providing the rest.  Only thing missing is some pumpkin but I am trying to be good.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. 
What is one of your favorite meals?

*Update*  Sorry no pictures.  We devoured it. 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Italian Chicken Noodle Soup

This is a super fast, super cheap, super yummy, super soup and one of my new favorites!  I found this recipe on Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy hour and just knew I had to try it.  I love soups and with it finally feeling like fall I was ready for some warm comfort.  I modified her recipe some to make it faster and cheaper but if you would like the original you can find it here.


Ok here we go this soup is very quick to put together and it just gets better as you eat it.  It also heats up well, for left overs.

Ingredients:
-1 bag of frozen stir fry mix that contains onions and a variety of peppers (thaw in the refrigerator a few hours before or the day before)
-2 tbs of dried oregano
-1 tbs cheyenne pepper
-1 tbs of olive oil
-2 cans (28oz) of diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano, onion (I used Hunts)
-8 cups of chicken stock (about 1 1/2 large boxes I used Swanson reduced sodium)
-Rotisserie chicken with the meat pulled off
-box of small noodles (I used small shells but wanted the Ditalini)
-1 3/4 cup heavy cream
-bag of shredded Italian cheese or shredded Parmesan

*I only used two pots for this dish but to make it a one pot wonder just cook your noodles first and then leave them in the colander until you are ready to add them to the soup.

In a medium pot cook your pasta till not quite done.  My shells called for 8 minutes but I stopped cooking at 6 minutes so they could finish cooking a bit in the soup but they would not get mushy.  No one wants mushy noodles.

Ok in a large pot add 1 tbs oil and 2 tbs dried oregano.  Stir just until it smells good, just a few seconds.  Then add the bag of onions and peppers and cook until soft about 10 to 15 minutes.  Next add the stock and tomatoes and cheyenne.  Bring soup mix to a boil and then add the chicken and reduce to a simmer.  Simmer for just a few minutes then remove from heat and add noodles and stir in the cream. 


Now ladle it into a bowl and top with as much cheese ( I love cheese so don't judge my portion) as you would like and enjoy.  It is rich and creamy and oh so good.  It really seems to get better with each bite. 

Yum doesn't that look great!  I also think it would be yummy even with out the cream added.  So if you are watching your waist add less cream or none at all but I do feel it is worth the splurge. 

I do apologize for the pictures but I had already eaten a bowl full before I remembered to get a picture.  It really is that good.  Enjoy and thanks again to Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour for the inspiration. 
Oh and the soup shouldn't cost more than about $12 to make and it fed 6 people with left overs so I would say around a dollar per serving.  (Which we probably consumed way more than a serving.)

Linking to some of these great parties



Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Lemon Raspberry Mousse Squares

I have a ton of apologizes to go with this post first it is months late and 2nd I kept forgetting to take pictures and by the time I remembered it was gone.  It really is that good that is doesn't last.  Hopefully I can update this post soon, with my pictures because I just got some great berries from the Fresh Market yesterday so one of these may be in my near future.  Anyway here is my very old post. :)
picture is from nilla Wafer website and is the property of kraft food and nabisco


Ok I know it is like several months late but here is the fabulous dessert I promised.  I made this for Father's Day and it was gone.  I mean gone before everyone got some and there were more desserts there than just mine.  It looks super pretty so it is very inviting and it tastes  superb!  I can not take credit for the recipe, it came from the Nilla Waffer box a year or two ago.  Just a heads up I did follow the recipe exactly the 1st two or three times I made this and then I decided to change it a bit to make it easier.  (I will tell my changes as I go, nothing major just a lazy I mean easier way.)

Ok here is the list of ingredients and supplies you will need.

- 3oz box of lemon jello (not the pudding the jello)
-1 cup boiling water
-1 cup of ice
-8oz pack of cream cheese (softened)
-8oz container of cool whip
-1/4 cup sugar
-2 tsp lemon zest (optional- I didn't have any this time so I didn't use it and I could not tell a difference)
-48 Nilla Waffers (I did not count mine out I just used what I needed.  I also think any plain cookie would work for this, shortbread, or the Pepperidge Farm chessman)
-1/3 cup Seedless raspberry preserves
-fresh berries for topping

-small bowl, large bowl, 8x8 pan, electric mixer, spoons, cling wrap (optional)

Ok put your lemon jello in the small bowl and dissolve it in the hot water stirring for 2 minutes.  Then add your cup of ice.  (It can be cubes I just put enough cubes in a 1 cup dry measuring cup to fill it up.)  Stir until the ice dissolves.  Now set that to the side and cream your sugar and cream cheese together using a mixer.  Once it is combined add your lemon jello and mix it.  Then stir in 2 cups of your coolwhip.  This is also the point where you would add your lemon zest but I didn't have any so I worked without it.

{The original recipe which you can find online, has a specific number of cookies for you to put around the sides and on each layer it also has you line the pan with cling wrap so you can invert it.  I did not follow these steps.  It is just as pretty in the pan.  I just turned their sequence of steps around so my dessert would be the way theirs was once it was inverted.}

Ok so now place your cookies in the bottom of your pan.  Then poor half of your lemon mixture on top of your cookies.  Now top with another layer of cookies.  Next  heat your preserves in the microwave for about 15 seconds on high.  If it has not melted it some then do it a little longer.  Spoon your preserves on top of your cookies and kinda mash it out a bit with the spoon so it will spread some.  Now pour the rest of your filling on top.  Then if you would like add a few cookies to the top and decorate with some fresh berries.  Now just cover it and refrigerate for a few hours and then enjoy!!

If you want the original recipe just go to the website for Nilla Waffers here.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Weekend laughs

Well this post started out going to be a Friday Family Faves but after our mishaps on Friday it turned into more of a Friday Funny.  I will give you the long and the short of it in a bit.  Just remember it is all about observation.  :)

First I wanted to share my favorite meal this week.  Oh it was so good I telling you.  I really wouldn't mind sitting down and having it again tonight.  We grilled pork chops that my father in law raised (well he raised the pig that became the chop)  We actually named the pigs Bacon and Pork chop (who later came to be fondly called The Devil Hog) and I just kept my distance so I didn't get attached.   Sorry I am rambling and completely off the topic of dinner.  So we had grilled chops, stewed fresh potatoes, squash and onions, cabbage, and peas.  All the veggies came from the local farmers market except the peas, they were courtesy of a can.  And it was delish!  That is exactly how my 3 year old described it.  "This is de-lis-E-us Mommy!"

My big boy loves his brother but he doesn't always want to have a lot to do with him.  He will speak to him and play with him occasionally but he normally is busy doing his own thing.  On Wednesday I was putting away the laundry when I walked in on this.

Isn't that just sweet.  It melted my heart I tell ya.  I know they are gonna be best buds, when they are not fighting.  ;)

Oh and I have to share these cookies.  Yum they are so good.  I love dark chocolate and I rarely go down the cookie aisle but I needed some Nilla Wafer for a recipe and saw theses. 
You should so try them. (I will share the yummy dessert I am making for Father's Day later this week)

Ok now are you ready to laugh at strangers.  Come on sure you are.

Friday afternoon we ran by Babies R Us so I could exchange my little ones flip flops.  I left my hubby and boys in the van since I was just running in for a second.  They didn't have the right size so I was in and out in a matter of minutes.  I was thinking about where we were going next as I grabbed the handle of the van when I saw a huge scratch on the side door.  I let go of the door to examine the scratch and was still looking at it when I opened the door again about to tell my husband about it, when I noticed him waving frantically at me through the widow of the van I was trying to get in.  It was then that I realized he was a van over and there was a strange women staring at me.  I mumbled an apology and shut the door and ran to my van.  I was laughing about the whole thing as my hubby started lecturing me about how unobservant I am.  (now in my defense I was gone like 1 minute and the van was right in front of ours, same color, same make and model)    So we make it back on the road as he is still fussing about me being unobservant and telling me a story our preacher told about him being not being observant.  Then we go stomping on the breaks to keep from running a red light.  Now who was not paying attention.  Haha!  He was not paying attention to the lights as he was telling me a story about being unobservant because of my lack of attention.  Ok it was funny.

Hope you have a great week!  I will be trying out this magic shower cleaner, that is all over pinterest, and I will let you know how it works out.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Friday Faves

I must first say how blown away I am by the blogs I have visited and have the pleasure of following and reading.  There is an enormous about of talent, humor, inspiration, motivation, and just great tips and insights out there.  I could spend hours just reading blogs and finding connections with people and well of course pinning some great crafts and recipes.  I also love and find it so funny how most of the blogs I follow are run by inspirational women who love God and put him 1st.  I did not seek this out just realized it was a common thread with most of the blogs I follow and well it is an amazing connection.  I am trying my best to serve the Lord and make sure he shines in all I do and that my children learn to love him at an early age.  I hope I can start and continue to find wonderful ways to share my faith with those around me.  

That being said I have seen so many blogs have "Friday Faves" and share a bit about themselves and their taste.  I am still so new to blogging and everything is exciting about it and frustrating at the same time, but I want to give you a glimpse into my world.  I hope that will help me connect more with all my readers.  I get giddy each time I get a new comment and I am ecstatic every time I am featured so you can just bet how tickled I am over a follower.  I am telling you it is like Christmas!! :)  So to help us get to know each other better here are my Friday faves.


*Catching sweet moments between my children and their Daddy. 

*Getting together with my family and cooking and laughing.  We played whiffle ball with my parents on Memorial Day after we grilled out.  My momma even hit the ball some!  {If you knew my momma you would be shocked}  It had been years since she had swung a bat.  So wish we had gotten a picture.

*Finding great inspirational websites!  Here are a few of my faves.  Go check them out!
-www.tddm.org -www.proverbs31.org -www.focusonthefamily.com

*Gurgles and laughter.  I so wish you could hear them.


*Watching America's Test Kitchen and the Chew :)  Yum it just makes me hungry and want to cook!

*Singing with my 3 year old.  This week he is in LOVE with "Heavenly Sunshine"  I think we sing the chorus 5 and 6 times in a row as we swing on his swing set.


*Smash on NBC I know it is off for now but I loved it and I am looking forward to its return.

*Fresh fruit!  We went to the Farmer's Market last Saturday and oh my goodness the berries were so good we had then all gone by Sunday.

*Lunch with friends

*The Fresh Market!!  Love being able to get meat that is normal and not pumped full of antibiotics and hormones

*Linky Parties!  Always fun and I always find so many things I want to make!

*Shirts without real sleeves.  ;)  Haha I do not know how to make sleeves yet so I love all these new styles that don't have separate "real" sleeves.  Most you can just curve and there is a sleeve and that is the style now yay!!  It makes sewing my own tops much easier. 

*Homemade cleaner!  I will share more about that soon.  So happy with the turn out!

I really could go on and on but I will save some for next Friday or well when ever I get around to it.  Times get busy around here so I will try my best.  Have a great weekend everyone and please come back again!!