Friday, February 25, 2011

Vacation Week Busy-ness

It has been a wonderfully busy week. L was off school on Monday and Tuesday, and it was so wonderful to not have to set the alarm for those two days!! We had a playdate at McDonalds on Tuesday, which was fun for L, but EXTREMELY frustrating for her little brother, who wanted desperately to play with the big kids, but is too small to keep up!

L on Valentine's Day...her most favorite holiday.
Next week *should* be back to normal with more regular posting. I did make two trips to Target this week because they have an AMAZING sale: buy 7 frozen food items, get a $5 Target gift card. I managed to match up some cheap items with a lot of coupons and ended up with a freezer full of chicken and vegetables (and a few pizzas too)!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Menu Plan Monday - February 21

It's the last full week in February, so I'm trying to be creative and make meals out of what I have left in my fridge, freezer & pantry. My 18-month-old is FINALLY starting to eat table foods, so I have the added challenge now of attempting to cook things that he will eat!

Monday - Making a recipe that is on the container of Philadelphia Cooking Creme that I got for $0.50 at Meijer last week. I'll share it tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday if it's good!!

Tuesday - Hard Shell Tacos

Wednesday - Saucy Franks

Thursday - Waffles & Sausage

Friday - Black Bean Soup

Saturday - Chili Mac

Sunday - Couple's Group...haven't decided what we are taking yet.

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wordless Wednesday








Z's first time playing in the snow!!




Check out more Wordless Wednesday pics at 5 Minutes for Mom.



Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tasty Tuesday - Cream Puff Dessert

Another recipe out of the family recipes cookbook. I have yet to find someone that doesn't like it!! Tastes like a cream puff but so much less work!!

Cream Puff Dessert

Crust:
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup water
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Topping:
2 1/2 cups milk
6 oz pkg vanilla instant pudding (I used two 3.4 oz packages)
8 oz pkg cream cheese (I use low-fat)
8 oz tub cool whip (Low-fat as well)
Chocolate syrup, if desired
Sliced fresh strawberries, if desired



1.Bring margarine and water to a boil.
2. Add flour and mix well.

3. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add eggs, one at a time and beat after each.


4. Spread on greased jelly roll pan. (I used a 9x13 pan.)

5.Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. (I baked it for a tad longer because I used the 9x13 pan instead of a the jelly roll pan. I would watch it during the last 5-10 minutes to make sure it doesn't get too brown. Don't worry about "hills" or "valleys" that may form while it bakes.) Let the crust cool completely.

6. Mix milk, pudding and cream cheese together.
7. Spread over crust.
8. Spread slightly softened Cool Whip over top, and place sliced strawberries about 2 inches apart. Drizzle with chocolate syrup just before serving. (Not sure why I didn't take a picture of the end result...sorry!)

Check out more Tasty Tuesday tastiness at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Check out more pics at 5 Minutes for Mom

Tasty Tuesday - Saucy Franks

A little late getting this posted...these weeks just go by too fast! This is a recipe that we ate every other week when I was kid. Still a family favorite!

1 pkg hot dogs
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup onion
1 can tomato soup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp vinegar

Cut hot dogs into thin slices. In a skillet, brown hot dogs and onions in oil. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer about 10 minutes. Serve over hot cooked noodles. Serves 4 or 5.

Check out more Tasty Tuesday recipes at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Menu Plan Monday - February 7th

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, the boring-uninspired edition. Winter needs to be over. Now. I'm longing to grill something!! Unfortunately, last week's blizzard of the century has our grill stuck in a 5 foot snow drift, so it will be awhile before anything gets grilled. *sigh* Anyways...

Monday - Black Bean Soup

Tuesday - Boneless Buffalo Wings & Waffle Fries

Wednesday - Waffles (seems to be a theme this week....)

Thursday - Saucy Franks (recipe to come tomorrow!)

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - out

Sunday - Couple's Group...thinking I'll take something kid-friendly like rice krispy treats.

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu plan ideas!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tasty Tuesday - Impossibly Easy Taco Pie

This recipe was first introduced to me in a family cookbook that my dad's side of the family published a few years ago. It is also available at bettycrocker.com, but I have made a few adjustments to suit my family's tastes!

Impossibly Easy Taco Pie

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 can black beans
1 envelope taco seasoning (I usually make my own)
1 1/4 cups milk
3 eggs
3/4 cup Bisquick
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4oz can chopped green chilies (optional)
2 tomatoes, sliced

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10-inch pie plate. Brown beef and onions in a skillet for about 10 minutes. Add beans. Stir in taco seasoning. Spread in pie plate. Beat milk, Bisquick, and eggs until smooth. Pour over meat mixture. Bake 25 minutes and top with chilies, tomatoes and cheese. Bale 8-10 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with sour cream, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce and shredded additional cheese. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

I have been known to replace the green chilies with green onion or black olives. Really just depends on what I happen to have in my pantry.

Check out Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for more Tasty Tuesday recipes!

Menu Plan Monday - Late again!

Ugh...sorry. Better late than never!!

Monday - I had leftovers, others had mac & cheese and chili.

Tuesday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Beans, Peppers

Wednesday - Meatloaf & Sweet Potatoes (didn't get made last week cuz L was sick)

Thursday - Waffles & Sausage

Friday - Pizza Braid or Calzones

Saturday - Probably out

Sunday - It's Superbowl Sunday! So we'll probably get pizza, even though we aren't football fans, really.