So I can't claim this idea. It came from a friend...and I knew I had to try it out with the Hurst Beans. And boy, oh boy. It worked. And by golly, it's delicious! So all you vegetarians out there, this one's for you! (And anyone else who likes pot pie too!) (Beans are much cheaper than chicken...just sayin'.) It's amazing that something so simple can be so … [Read more...]
Easy Cashew Bark
This cold winter weather is the perfect excuse to stay indoors and make lots of yummy desserts like this super simple cashew bark! We like to make lots of this yummy stuff during the holidays and give it away as gifts. I bought some Christmas themed coffee mugs that I plan to fill with cashew bark and wrap with pretty cellophane for the kids to give as teacher … [Read more...]
Holiday Baking on a Budget & Holiday Cookie Recipes
Holiday Baking on a Budget: Creative Cookie Exchange Ideas to Sweeten the Season It’s in the mess that memories are made. Right? At least that’s how it seems to be work at our house. Be it in the kitchen or outside in a pile of leaves or with bubbles in the bathtub. It’s the fun and messy activities that make the best memories. My oldest elf Ryan helping scoop … [Read more...]
Pizza Quesadillas
My family is pulled in so many directions during December: Church Christmas pageants, caroling, recitals, school finals, parties, and shopping. All of these activities make it harder for us to sit down as a family and enjoy a meal together. My solution? Fast and easy recipes that can be assembled in minutes and made with ingredients that will convince everyone to find room in … [Read more...]
Cake Mix Cookies
I have no time to bake, yet cookies are needed at pre-school, scouts, the party at dance class, and oh yeah, I did sign up for that cookie exchange. Ok, no time to panic. Let's put away the Martha Stuart aspirations and go with something easy, fast and of course, tasty. When I have no time to bake but have to have baked goods in less than 12 hours (mom, I promised we'd bring … [Read more...]
Waffle Iron Chocolate Chip Cookies
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Waffle Iron Sometimes all a girl wants is just a chocolate chip cookie. Or two. Or four. (At least that's how I feel about cookies.) And that's one of the reasons I like to keep dough in my freezer at all times. For "one of those days." Before we go on... Patiently waiting. (Such is the life of a child of a food … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Old Bay Rotisserie Chicken
So many times I turn to the slow cooker for feeding my family. And often I try to put a new spin on a family favorite recipe just to make it stretch a little further for those hungry teens. Recently I paired two different slow cooker recipes. The result was delicious! My friend Phyllis, at Household Ways, inspired my Slow Cooker Old Bay Chicken recipe. I made a new … [Read more...]
Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn
There are controversial chemicals in packaged microwave popcorn but our family loves to eat popcorn as a healthy snack, and I really enjoy the convenience of popping it in the microwave, so we simply make our own using brown paper lunch bags. It's quick and easy to make and also costs a fraction of the price of the packaged variety. All you need are a few simple … [Read more...]
BBQ Chicken Topped Potatoes
I've been on a potato kick lately. Big, big potato kick. Totally pregnancy related. But still, a big kick. I think it's the butter. I generally eat a low-fat diet and I sense that when baby needs to grow and needs some fat, I crave potatoes. Because my body knows that I will slather butter all over them and get some good fat into the potato. (Amazing, I think, how the … [Read more...]
Peppermint Bark Chex Party Mix
I wanted to make a treat for my family to snack on while we were decorating the tree, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time making it, so I came up with this fast and easy recipe for Peppermint Bark Chex Party Mix. To crush the candy canes without making a mess, place them in a ZipLoc bag and then roll a rolling pin over them. The Rice Chex added a delightful … [Read more...]