I love slow cooker meals. I love how smoothly my days "run" when I've got dinner going in the slow cooker. I love being able to sit on the couch through the "witching hour." (Who am I kidding...I'm don't sit on the couch. And just sit.) So I guess, I love being able to get through the witching hour without being in the kitchen and having little people pulling at my knees or … [Read more...]
Setting the Table – My New Strategy…
Having my kids in the kitchen during "those final moments before dinner is on the table" is not ideal (for me anyways)...they trapse through the kitchen, leaving a trail of toys behind, causing me to almost trip. They dilly-dolly when it comes to getting spoons, cups, forks to the table. I want the boys to be responsible and helpful members of our family...so they set the … [Read more...]
Chicken Ranch Wraps
You can pre-make these and store in the fridge, to grab later for an "anytime" meal, on-the-go fast food, or a late night dinner. I was delighted to find Perdue chicken nuggets in the reduced meat section of our local store. It didn't matter that they were shaped like "cars." My teens didn't mind at all! The lettuce in this reduced package was colorful, convenient, and … [Read more...]
15 Bean Enchiladas Recipe
Melt in your mouth enchiladas... Yep, these are those. I've made all kinds of enchiladas over the years. But never with a random mix of beans like this. Hurst Beans sent me a few bags of beans to cook with and experiment with...and it took me all over 2 seconds to know that I'd use the Cajun 15 Bean Soup mix to make some Cajun-kickin' enchiladas. The beans are cooked … [Read more...]
BLT Sliders with Parmesan Mayo
There is just something so American about BLTs. Something so basic and delicious. I was not a fan of tomatoes until about 7 years ago. Some time during my days in the Dominican Republic, my taste buds morphed and decided to start liking tomatoes. Then I had to break the news to my Aunt Julie (the only family member on my moms side who didn't like tomatoes either), and turns … [Read more...]
One Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Skillet...yes, please. One Dish...literally. OK, well...skillet...but whatever :) Melt the butter on the stovetop and stir in the other ingredients...then bake. You can find the specifics on One Dish Dinners! … [Read more...]
Cajun Pork Roast
Pork roast is an inexpensive meat that can be make many different ways. What happens when you coat a pork roast in blackening seasoning? You get the most flavorful, delicious, tender pork roast with a little Cajun flair- all allergy-free! This may sound like a spicy dish, but it isn't at all. Combine it with some mashed potatoes and a fresh green salad and you'll have a … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Chicken Pesto With Bowtie Pasta
We do a lot of bulk cooking because our schedules are crazy during the week but we really prefer to serve home cooked meals to our five kids. This is a super simple recipe as well as a great way to cook once and eat many times! I just bought 40 pounds of boneless chicken breast for a great deal but I need to get it put up in the freezer pretty quickly so I put half of … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Reduce the Amount of Sugar in Your Kitchen
This past August, I challenged myself to not eat an ounce of refined, processed sugar. No white sugar. No brown sugar. No chocolate. It was tough, but I did it. And I learned a few things. I thought it would be prudent to share some more of these things as we start into the new year, as we challenge ourselves to think outside the box, to push ourselves outside our comfort … [Read more...]
Buffalo Chicken Chili
If buffalo wings could be made into soup form, this is it! Chicken. Spice. Celery. Blue Cheese. Seriously. Yum! I decided to double this recipe...some for us to enjoy at home, and some to take a potluck this past week. I only made a slight change to the recipe that I served my family...I added half as much of the red hot pepper sauce. I didn't want the kids to … [Read more...]