holiday food

As I was sitting here making my grocery list and thinking of what I was making for Thanksgiving, which is coming up, I started getting really excited as some of my favorite dishes came to mind like this....

 

BAM... Jalapeno Dip!

BAM... Strawberry Salad!

BAM.... Sweet Potatoes!

 

 

I literally gasped out loud when I thought of the jalapeno dip that I must have made five times during the holidays last year because it is that good.  I immediately starting thinking of ingredients that I needed to have on hand for the weeks ahead.  It's funny that you are allowed to make any and all of this stuff all throughout the year but usually don't.  I think it's what makes holiday eating special.

 

Here are some of the things that are on my list to make.

 

 

Pioneer Woman Soul Sweet 'Taters

I have made these several years now and they are wonderful.  The only thing I do differently is that I throw my sweet potatoes on the smoker while we are making the meats.  It gives them a yummy flavor.

 

 

 

Jalapeno Popper Dip



By ABeautifulMess.  Seriously one of my very favorite dips in the world as of last year.  Very easy to do and not as hot as one might think.  Just hot enough to be addictive!

 

 

 

Grandmother Brown's Strawberry Salad

 

Cranberry Relish

By Me.  I love cranberry relish.  There's just something about that tiny bite of tanginess on the side.

 

 

 

 

Pioneer Woman French Silk Pie

I have made this gem countless times and it is so delicious.  I always have to hide a piece for later.

 

 

 

Quick Cake Mix Cookies by Me

Talk about easy and on hand.  All you need for these is a box of cake mix, a tub of Cool Whip, an egg and powdered sugar.  Yum.... these are a must!  I've made just about every kind there is but the lemon will always be my favorite!

 

 

On The Menu

So.. we have a long weekend four wheeling trip coming up and I'm already in the planning stages.  Not like getting the four wheeler ready or packing clothes!  I'm thinking about food!  Last year, this trip to the big fall jamboree was just a boys trip.  This year, because I haven't been anywhere in a while and I do love to four wheel in the mountains, I decided to go.  I'm not the only chick going... I don't think.  It would be ok if I was the only girl.  I feel like I fit right in sometimes... they even call me Larry.  Not in an offensive way!  One of Shaun's buddies little girl can't say Laurie real good so she says Larry and Shaun.  Sweet thing!  Anywho... the boys trip last year didn't involve much food from what I've heard.  More of a "pork chop in a can" kind of trip.  All I can say is... not if I'm going... or at least not for me.  They can do what they want.  When we went for our Christmas vacation last year I cooked breakfast and planned suppers and such so the guys pretty much had a cook with them.  Nice huh?!?!  It's the shorter trips that the guys don't want me to worry about cooking and say "Awe.. it's no big deal".  But this girl's gotta eat!  When we've been on the shorter trips we usually get those frozen breakfast bowl things with the meat, eggs and gravy.  They're ok if that's all you've got but this time I've found a couple of recipe that I am going to make ahead of time, for quick breakfasts, that we can just heat up!  Brilliant!  And with the help of the internet I've found a few that I am going to try.  I might not even take my skillet with me.  I'm making a face.  No bacon??  Maybe I'll take it just incase.  (click on the name or picture to be directed to the recipe.)

Egg Muffins

 

Egg muffins look super easy and super good.  I can just see a whole Ziplock full of these cuties ready to go!  Found on hellobee

 

 

 

French Toast Sticks

I absolutely LOVE French toast sticks!  Back when I ate fast food, Burger King used to have some good fast French toast sticks.  All I will have to do it take along a little thing of syrup!  These will be made THIS weekend!  Found on iowagirleats.com

 

 

Refrigerator Oatmeal

I've been a big fan of overnight refrigerator oatmeal for a while now.  It's so easy and nutritious.  I don't know that I will lug jars of it four wheeling but these are some good variations and who knows... I might!!

 

 

Bacon Hashbrown Roll Ups

Ok no picture here but these sound very easy and delish.  I can't decide which to use!!

 

 

Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos

I am a fan of make ahead burritos in lots of styles and have taken lunch burritos four wheeling with us before.  These will probably be made and packed to go with us.  Too easy and good not to.

 

 

 

 

 



salads

I have always been a salad lover but never really stuck to eating salads as a meal.  Lately, in an effort to get rid of what I call and am not afraid to admit "the winter beginnings of a beer gut" I have been eating fresh salads for lunch.  My lunch salad is lovely and contains only a little bit of dressing and no meat.  I have wanted to get Shaun on the salad wagon too, at least for some of our suppers, as he complains about the "BG" too... on himself... not me!  In an effort to do this I have tried to come up with salads that have meat added to them.  The problem I find is in the dressings.  Mexican or Tex-Mex salads are easy.. just throw on some salsa to counter act the dryness along with some chicken.  I love it but it will get old and you can't just throw ranch dressing on everything.  So I employ the help of my beloved library.  I found tons of books to grab online and have sent to my local library plus a few extras that had salad in the name and seemed fun enough to place on hold too!

 

Does this not sound like fun in a jar?!? 

And goodness knows I've got the jars to do it!

 

 

On the list for this one.  It's on order.

 

 

The thing I love about the warmer months is that it is never too late to throw some seeds in a pot of dirt and before you know it... fresh greens!

 

 

 

 

My spring mix growing at the day care.  Lovely to be able to snip a few leaves to go with my romaine for lunch.

Made into a healthy lunch for me.

 

Hey... here's an idea... check out a book from the library instead of staring at your phone or kindle or whatever you choose to stare at.  It will probably reduce your stress level not to mention get your eyes off of the blue glowing screen. 



On The Menu

This week, even though it's Thursday, I thought I would share what's On The Menu at our house for supper.

Monday: Chicken Lo Mein

Picture found on pinterest.com                                        

I am trying a new recipe on Monday for Lo Mein from the cookbook Cook Without a Book which I am in love with!  It is actually a meatless cookbook but it is easy enough to add meat to the recipes.  I am making my Chicken Lo Mein with broccoli and baby corn.  The cookbook I rented from the library and have tried one other recipe that turned out fabulous and was easy as can be.  I must have it on my shelf soon!

Tuesday: Talapia with lemon sauce, mixed rice and 

Steamed Zucchini and Squash

Sorry folks... no picture here.  I will be making a very easy supper.  

The fish recipe is one of my own and a favorite that you can find HERE.  

The steamed veggies are so simple it's silly.  You make them by chopping up vegetables in to bite sized pieces, placing in a small casserole dish with a non-fitting lid or saran wrap with a crack left open, placing a little water in the bottom and seasonings of your choice.  Then cooking in the microwave for about three to four minutes.

The rice medley is one I've found recently and really like.  It cooks in ten to twelve minutes.

Wednesday: supper at Granny's! a.k.a. my night off!

Thursday: PW's Sour Cream Noodle Bake with Salad

Picture and recipe both from The Pioneer Woman's website from 2011.  This recipe has been a favorite of ours for quite some time and is super easy to make.  It's a lot like lasagna but then different too.  I plan on throwing a simple salad together of mixed greens, tomatoes and crunchy croutons.

Friday: Sloppy BBQ & White Bean Fritters

Another one of our favorites and a leave it then eat it kind of thing!  

Also I have another really good cookbook on loan from the library right now called Meatless, from the kitchen of Martha Stewart Living.  I found a recipe there for White Bean Fritters that I am itching to try.  Mainly because I love white beans and the crunchiness of a good fried fritter!  Maybe I will throw on some turnip greens just to make my cheeks rosy!  Geeze... I don't sound southern at all!

As for the weekend... well... it sounds like we may have some leftovers!  

It inspires me to come up with our meals ahead of time.  Even better to do so before I go to the grocery so I can make sure I have everything on hand.  Planning ahead does take the pressure off and also eliminates unnecessary money spent on last minute eating out because you can't decide or can't agree on what's for supper.   Hopefully you have an agreeable eater like I do!

For meal planning ideas from Peppysis  Click Here

On The Menu

Here we have some vegan recipes that I have come across simply by going to Pinterest and typing in "vegan breakfast".  Truth is, I am being urged (by no one but myself) to actually do the 108 day, The Ultimate Yogi program.  The program not only consists of daily yoga and meditation but also a big change in diet, for me anyway.  Lots of juices, no processed foods (which I try my best to stay away from already), vegan, raw, and no alcohol.  It would be tough until I got the hang of it.  But this morning I wondered... what to vegans eat for breakfast?  I eat pretty healthy and switch my breakfasts from my berry-beet smoothie, my favorite green smoothie, over night oats and rye toast with almond butter, banana and flax seed.  Sounds like I would do ok I reckon.  As I was browsing, I found a few recipes I'd like to have a go with.  I actually tried making the 3 ingredient biscuits Sunday morning and not sure if the one container that I used to keep self-rising flour in still contained SR or not, I used it anyway and turns out it wasn't SR flour.  Not sure what it was actually.  Tasted pretty salty and smelled like play dough.  My fault.  Worth a try though!

3 Ingredient Coconut Oil Biscuits

Photo and recipe from: gimmesomeoven.com            

Breakfast Cookies

Photo and recipe credit: diary of a mad crafter... obvi                             

Vegan Breakfast Burritos

Photo and recipe from: veganfreezerexchange.blogspot.com  

  

These burritos remind me of a lunch variety of burritos that I made for myself to eat on the trails four wheeling.  I actually haven't eating any lunch meat (processed) in over a year and didn't want to spoil that being in a pinch for picnic food.  So I made "make ahead lunch wraps", ate them cold and truthfully enjoyed the heck out of them.  This version has tofu which I will admit I have never tried and am a hesitant to do so.  I'm not real sure what tofu is exactly and since we mentioned processed.... it sounds like tofu would have to be processed somehow.  I've often stared at it at the grocery store with a difficult look on my face wondering... soft? firm? what am I going to make with it? will Shaun come near it?  So I wind up leaving it there.

Do you have any vegan breakfast ideas or suggestions? Lemme have em please!

On The Menu

I've heard that an open bottle of wine doesn't have a very long shelf life.  Especially when you over indulged with the first bottle and thought a second bottle would be a good idea.  Turns out the next day... it wasn't such a good idea.  I keep mine corked and in the fridge and usually don't finish a bottle in a glass but prefer to use wine in recipes.  I will never get tired of the way cooking with wine makes my house smell.  Lucky for me The Pioneer Woman just happened to post a recipe on facebook from 2009 for short ribs that uses two cups of dry red wine.  Bingo!  A use for the rest that second bottle cause I shore ain't gonna touch it otherwise for a while!  I seriously just spelled the same way that I talk.  I love it! Here's a pic and a link to her recipe and a few more.  The chicken with tomatoes and garlic is absolutely one of my favorite recipes to make.  I have thighs in the fridge right now for this very reason.

Braised Short Ribs

Photo and recipe credit: ThePioneerWoman.com      

and my favorite.

Chicken with Tomatoes and Garlic

Photo and recipe credit: ThePioneerWoman.com      

Burgundy Mushrooms

Photo and recipe credit: ThePioneerWoman.com      

And here's a fantastic recipe using white wine that I've made a bunch.

Lemon Chicken Cutlets

Photo and recipe credit: marthastewart.com                        

And now a few of my own.

Rabbit in Mustard Sauce

Venison Minute Steaks

A Quick Marinade

On The Menu

Don't you just love popping around the web, especially on Pinterest, and finding all sorts of yummy treats to make?  I certainly do!  And here is where I share them with you!

OK with Valentine's day coming up, and lucky me who gets to celebrate at home and at the day care with the kiddos, I found an idea or two that I can't get out of my head!

Photo found on Pinterest linked to twokidscooking.com           

 I love the idea of everything heart shaped and also a lunch where the kids could put their own meal together however each one chooses!  This certainly will not be limited to these for treats.  That's a lot of heart cutting!  And the crackers....

Photo linked to thekitchn.com                 

The crackers look simple and fun to make.... now let's talk about a dip shall we??

Photo and recipe credit: allisoneats.com        

      

I would like to confess that I am trying my very hardest to enjoy kale.  Maybe I haven't had it in the right recipe or combination yet although I've tried many.  This dip however may just do the trick for me!  It will be perfect for little ones to dip their Valentine lunch hearts into don't you think?  

And let's not forget that sweet tooth!  

Photo and recipe credit familyfreshmeals.com                   

I am a big fan of chocolate, cherries and smoothies.  Why wouldn't this be the perfect Valentine dessert go to?  It's healthy and looks delicious.  I've kind of always been partial to raspberries with my chocolate... or lemon with my dark chocolate... but this one I will definitely give a try!

I absolutely love the title of this blog post featuring a good looking, healthy smoothie.

Show Yourself Some Love With A Berry Beet Smoothie

I admit, when I used to go and have lunch with my Grandmother at her assisted living facility, she would always have beets on her plate and I wondered why.  "They can't be good", I thought and truthfully to me they're not.  Dr Yim once told me to add raw celery and beets to my diet to help cleanse my liver.  So I bought the pickled kind which have sugar added.  They're something to get used to.  I believe totally that I will brave, for my liver's sake, the beets and try this beautiful smoothie.  Love your liver... eat beets!

What about you?  Got any special Valentine recipes on your list to try?

twelve easy diy's

Need some homemade gift ideas?  I have grabbed twelve simple ideas for you from previous posts of mine that you could almost make with things lying around your house and give as simple gifts to friends or family.  If you don't already have the stuff I bet you could make a quick trip to the grocery and be done with it.  

Nuts & Bolts (with a recipe link!)

Lavender Face Toner

Homemade Granola 

Easy Journals

Lip Gloss 

Magazine Organizers 

Make-It-Box 

Caramel Popcorn 

Recipe Notebook

Freezer Paper Stencil Shirts 

Therapy Pouches 

Tool Pouch