White Chocolate raspberry cupcakes

I recently made these to take to dinner at a friend's house. I (and everyone else) was pleasantly surprised on how they turned out. I am not a baker, so mine definitely did not look like the picture, but they were very good and super easy with just a few ingredients. They don't have icing, which I liked and frankly, they don't need it. They are decadent and worth a try!

White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

MAKES 6 (I doubled my recipe, but this recipe below only makes 6)

1/2 cup white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup self-rising flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (I used frozen and did not defrost them)
confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 6 cup muffin tin by greasing or adding liners.

In a small saucepan over LOW heat, melt half the white chocolate chips with the butter, stirring gently until smooth, set aside to cool.

In a mixing bowl, sift the flour. Stir in the sugar and remaining white chocolate chips. In a small bowl combine the egg, milk and melted butter and chocolate mixture.  Add all at once to the flour mixture together with the raspberries. Stir until just moistened. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cups.

Bake until the tops spring back when lightly tapped, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 5 minutes, then turn out.  Dust with confectioners sugar.

Enjoy!

Playdough!

You can go out and buy expensive playdough in the containers or you can mix up a batch right in your own kitchen with stuff you already have in your pantry, I guarantee it!  This is the best recipe I have found so far for playdough, and I have tried alot!  And with helpful little hands that can actually help you make it, it's a breeze and fun to make!

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/4 cup salt
1 Tbsp veggie oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
food coloring
saucepan
cookie sheet (for cooling your dough)

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and mix well. Stir in the ingrdients on medium heat for about 5 minutes.  When the mixture forms into ball, it's time to remove it from the heat.  Turn the ball of goop out onto your cookie sheet and let it cool.  When the mixture is cool enough to handle, flatten it out a bit and place desired amount of food coloring in it. Fold up the sides and start kneeding it until it's the color you want.

You have to store it in an air tight container. I put mine in a plastic bag, flattened it out, sealed up the bag and stored it in a glass container.

Enjoy!

Austin's first day of PreSchool

It's a day I have been uncertain of for months...after a long hard look at things, we decided it was time for Austin to start PreK.  He is going to Clear Branch Methodist Church 3 days a week for 5 hours a day.  As if handing in tear stained registration papers a few months ago and bawling at the welcome letter that came in the mail from Mrs Dana (austin's teacher), the constant "I'm NOT going to preschool" I got from Austin had my mind in a whirlwind. I knew he would love it once he gave it a chance.

We met Mrs Dana last week and he was very shy and quiet. She had cookies to decorate and some magnetics and playdough for the kids to play with and get used to things. He spent most of his time decorating two cookies and eating them and then playing with the magnetics in the room with a few other boys.   At the end, when we were walking out (after grabbing a cookie for Lucas), he turned to his teacher and said "Mrs Dana! I'm not scared anymore! see you tomorrow".

It was a short battle this morning to convince him to go. I showed him his new back pack and special lunch I packed him complete with a juice box...and as a special surprise, a Lego napkin from his birthday party in June. I was ready and prepared for a battle at the car line.  He was steadily looking for Mrs Dana and when he saw her, his face lit up and he was all aglow. When he reached the front of the car line, I was sure we were about to have WWIII on our hands. The woman came to the car, unbuckled him and he jumped out, grabbed his bag and said "Bye Momma!" like such a big boy.  My heart lept with joy and then sank to the bottom of my stomach. My sweet "baby" is growing up. He is getting so big and there he goes, right through the door... to a new world for him (and me).

Lucas was a little upset by the thought of some strange woman coming and snatching "bubbah" out of his seat and taking him into a strange new building. He kept asking "where bubbah going momma? Where he going??" He was not a happy camper on the way home. His little face drooped and he sat there and kept asking me over and over where his bubbah was going. Pitiful is not the right word... pathetic is.

I took Lucas to the Moody Library story time. They read a story about Llama Llama learning to share, drank lemonade and cookies (thanks ladies) and then painted with a paint brush a special picture. We then went inside and checked out a bunch of new books for us to read tonight.  When we got home, we read every single one of the books, played Hi Ho cherry-o, ate lunch and mommy cleaned up while Lucas watched Team Umizoomi for a few minutes.

Before we knew it, it was time to go pick up Austin. We sat in the car line and when it was our turn, I saw Austin coming out of school beaming from ear to ear. That sweet look he has melts my heart. The very first thing he did when he got in the car was say "LUKIE!!! I missed you" and gave Lucas a hug. He  had an awesome day! I asked him how Mrs Dana was and he couldn't tell me enough about her. She was great and nice and funny... "the best day ever". He got to pick a prize from the treasure chest for being a good boy all day.  He read books, colored me a picture, played outside and even talked about Carver and Nathan, his new little friends.

I am thrilled that he was so happy when I picked him up. He was even more happy when I told him he gets to go again Thursday. He even gave me a high five when he found out.

My son is about to blossom in a way I can't even fathom. He needs this more than I do. Lucas needs this more than I do. I cant wait to be able to spend some special time alone with Lucas while Austin grows and matures into a little BOY.

Preschool is going to be a major blessing for Austin (and me) and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for all of us.

So....you don't use paper towels?

I was asked this question yesterday at work. My answer was no. This post is going to sound trivial to some, but I was so shocked that the people questioning me were shocked that I had said no.  When I was growing up, we didn't use paper towels... we used rags. We used old towels cut up or old t-shirts probably even underwear... anything that was old but still had some use...was turned to rags. I have actually have distinct memories of folding laundry with my mom and she got up and got her scissors and just started cutting away on some of the older towels.

I use rags for everything, even down to wiping my kids faces when they are done eating their meal so I can at least save a little money not using the baby wipes we have around.  I clean the counters, floors, doors, mirrors...everything in my house with rags. It's so easy to rinse them out in the sink, let them air dry (draped over your laundry basket) and wash with the towels on hot.

It's unimaginable to me to use paper towels and spend $5 a week on them. I can buy  2 pounds of ground beef, a gallon of milk, a pack of diapers (great value brand is $5.97) with that $5...stuff that I actually will use instead of just throwing away the paper towels.

I am not judging anyone that uses paper towels, that sounds ridiculous.So please don't get defensive and start sending hate mail to me! :)

So here's a great challenge.  Go around your house and find old towels, t-shirts that are on their last leg even underwear...don't forget about your old dish rags or your old wash rags. Grab your scissors...remove the waist band (if you are using men's underwear) and go to town cutting them up. You can make a small cut and then just riiiiiip. If you want to get fancy, trim off the uneven sides. I like squares...don't ask me why.  There you go. You just saved yourself some money, re-used something that was just going to be thrown away (unless you donate your old clothes) and have a nice supply of rags to use for cleaning or whatever your heart fancies.

I literally just spent 15 minutes cutting up a huge pile of Jerry's (too big) underwear. It's so easy is laughable.

Enjoy!
Crystin

Saying hello to a smaller me!

Jerry and I are going to Orlando, FL October 4th for the much anticipated Halloween Horror Nights. We have been going on our anniversary since 2003. It's been a tradition for almost 10 years. We did skip a few years after Austin was born just because we didn't have anyone to watch the kiddos for us. One year we were quite "plump" to put it midly and the pictures were so horrible I refuse to even look at them.  This year, we are going and have decided to loose 10 pounds by the time we go.

On July 30th we started a exercise and weight loss program.  It consists of nothing more than eating healthy and exercising. Nothing snazzy or exciting...  We had a reception in Houston to go to on the 4th of August and let's just say our diet was ruined in those few days. On the monday we got back, we were back at it. For a full week (since August 6th) we have kicked it into high gear.  We are both sticking to a 1200 calorie a day diet and working out regularly.  In just a few short days, I have seen a pretty awesome difference not only in the way my body looks, but the way I feel.

I have been an early riser for quiet some time and lately, with the first thing I do in the morning is workout... I either head to the YMCA or I do an aerobics video in my living room. I also go to the gym during the day if I can manage it and then at night I am doing an aerobics video (if I didn't go to the gym during the day).

I eat several times a day. I eat small "snack" and light meals.  I read labels and stick to my plan. I have been using MyFitnessPal on my phone (and on the web) and it's dramatically helped me keep track of my calories. In addition to tons of fruit and veggies, I am also incorporating 2 servings of whole grain a day. In addition, I am steering clear of alcohol (*sigh) and eating out. It's saving us money too in the long run, or I would like to think so.

I started this weight loss journey at 160 pounds (eek! since I'm 5'2)...and I know for a fact I have lost weight, I can see it. Jerry and I decided to go two solid weeks without weighing in, so I will see how much weight I have lost on the 17th.  I have until the 4th of October to loose all the weight I want. I really am looking forward to this being a life change... NOT a diet. I love the way I feel. I don't feel sluggish or run down and I have tons of energy during the day.

Here's to a better me!

New uses for old things

I love to find interesting ways to reuse stuff I was going to throw away.  Here is a running list of ideas for turning "trash" into treasures that you can use around your house. If you have any ideas for reusing stuff around your house, let me know and I will add it to this list!

1.  Paper Towel or toilet paper tubes as a hair tie holder.  I thought it would be cute to paint the tube or wrap it in scrapbook paper... Secure all your hair ties to the tube...barrettes or bobby pins can fit nicely on the top.

2. New shine to old shoes:  add a dab of veggie oil to a rag and rub gently on patent leather shoes. It gives a beautiful shine and makes them look brand new.

3. Tiny travel sewing kit:  Get a match box...tuck a few essentials into it and hide it away in your overnight bag for emergencies. This would also fit securely in your purse or glove box.

4.  Kleenex box for a plastic bag holder.  Shove all your bags you get at the grocery store for an easy grab when you need them.

5. Rubber bands used to hold tank tops or strappy dresses on hangers. If you don't have those hangers that have the holes specifically for tank tops, why not tie some rubber bands at the end of the hanger. These keeps your tanks nice and secure without falling off.

6. Contact lens container for a pill container when traveling.  Empty contact lens cases work perfect for a pill container. If fits easily in a purse, pocket or carry on.

7.  Use a clear elastic band to keep flowers nice and tidy in a vase. Secure a band around the bottom of the flowers and let them fall naturally

Greek Pasta Salad

This is definitely a great recipe and a really good way of using leftover veggies. It's heaped full of pasta goodness, veggies and OF COURSE Feta Cheese. I love Feta Cheese.

Traditionally, there are olives in this recipe, but I do not like olives, my husband does... So I left them out. I was thinking of putting a little bowl on the side for him with some chopped olives? If you love olives, add a 2.25 ounce can into the recipe. I would probably drain it first.  I had the leftovers after it was in the fridge for a while chilling and it was tasty, although the pasta had soaked in the dressing... so you may want to add more dressing the next day.

Greek Pasta Salad

16 ounce rotini pasta (I use garden blend and it's so pretty to look at)
2.25 can of olives, drained (optional)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup diced red onion (I actually kept some on the side and put more on my salad. I love red onions)
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1-2, 1.5lb pkgs skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
Greek seasoning (sprinkled on the chicken)
Greek dressing
2 ounce crumbled feta cheese

Cook pasta according to the package instructions, drain.  Cube chicken and season with Greek seasoning liberally. Cook in pan on medium high heat until done.  Add all ingredients to a very large bowl. Stir to mix well. Cover with as much greek dressing as you like and top with feta cheese.

Jewelry Cleaner

I found a great "recipe" for jewelry cleaner online today and HAD to share. Normally I just use plain old toothpaste, but most of my rings that I own have small intricate details or raised stones and it's very hard to clean underneath the setting.  I don't take my engagement ring off alot and that's the worst to clean. This recipe is super easy and after a 10 minute soak, my rings were completely dazzling!

Jewelry Cleaner

1 cup water
1 T dish soap
1 T baking soda
1 T salt
cereal bowl (or smallish bowl)
a piece of aluminum foil that roughly covers the bottom of the bowl

Put aluminum foil on the bottom of the boil. Microwave water on high for 1 to 2 minutes.  Pour water in the bowl, add additional ingredients and let your jewelry soak for 5 to 10 minutes.  Remove jewelry and dry completely.

BLING BLING!

*Note* I only have tried this on my white gold and gold rings. I have no idea how it will work other jewelry materials.

Fish Po' Boys

These filling and (semi)healthy sandwiches were so quick and easy to make.  They were very tasty and I probably wouldn't change a thing about them...except maybe buy more bread so I could make more!

Fish Po' Boys

1-2, 1lb packages tilapia fillets, thawed
2 T Extra Virgin Olive oil
1/2 cup mayonaise
2 t hot sauce (I use Texas Pete)
1T lemon juice
hardy rolls, open and toasted ( i used ciabatta rolls and I am so glad I did)
lettuce
tomato slices

Heat oil in a medium pan; fry fish fillets until no longer opaque in the middle--or a little longer for a more crispy texture.  Combine mayo, hot sauce and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.  Before fish is done, toast bread if desired.  Assemble sandwiches with fish, mayo mix, lettuce and tomatoes.

I served chips on the side and some leftover Easy Glazed Honey Dew I made the night before.

Enjoy.

Mexican Shredded Pork

Mexican night made easy! This is a CROCK POT recipe... who doesn't love crock pot recipes really? How can you hate something you start first thing in the a.m., go about your crazy hectic day and when you get home, you get to throw dinner on the table like you are a rock star?  Pretty sure the answer is you can't hate that.  So try this recipe out.

Mexican Shredded Pork

2 lb pork loin
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 cup water

Place pork loin, taco seasoning and water in a crock pot. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Remove roast, shred. Return meat to crock pot to soak up the juices and heat through.

I served this pork shredded with some Spanish Rice and some Fiesta Grillin' beans from Bushs. I love those beans by the way. I had never bought them before, but they were good!  I cut up some veggies like tomatoes, onions, lettuce and we made burritos/soft tacos.

Company Tilapia

Did you feel fancy reading that title? When I think of this dish, I feel fancy. It makes me want to host something...anything... and bring this dish. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tilapia. To be honest, I had never made fish before this recipe. Sure, I had made shrimp before, but it's pretty hard to mess up shrimp.  This was my first attempt and I was so pleased with the outcome.  This is definitely "company" tilapia because whether you are serving friends or just your small family, you will feel like super mom serving this fish.

Company Tilapia

1+lbs, 4-6 tilapia fillets, thawed
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese (spring for the actual shredded parm... the can stuff is not the same)
4 T butter softened
3 T mayo
1/4 t salt
1/4 t seasoned salt
1/4 dried basil
1/4 t pepper
3 T finely chopped green onions

Lay fillets in a single layer in a buttered casserole dish. Brush tops with lemon juice.  Bake fish in a 350 degree oven 10-20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake. Combine cheese, butter, mayo salt, seasoned salt, basil, pepper and onions. Mix well with fork. Spread cheese mixture over fish; bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

**The fish was a tad on the salty side. I personally like salt... but if you don't as much, you might want to reduce the salt on this recipe... Maybe put a shaker on the side. I wouldn't reduce the seasoned salt, just the regular salt.**

I served this dish with some long grain wild rice and summer squash.

Summer Squash

This is a great side dish to nearly anything you make. The flavors are mellow so it's not going to overpower the star of dinner. It's subtle but really really tasty.

Summer Squash

1 onion, sliced
1/4 cup of butter
3-4 medium yellow squash, sliced

Saute onion in butter until tender.  Add squash; stir until squash begins to soften. Cover; cook on low 20-25 minutes until squash is nice and tender. Season with salt and pepper.

Easy Glazed Honey Dew Melon

Easy Glazed Honey Dew Melon

1 honey dew melon, cut into chunks, rind removed
1 T lemon juice
3 T sugar

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice and the sugar until dissolved. Toss with honey dew melon. Serve chilled if desired.

I recently served this with Santa Fe Pizza and it was the perfect "fresh" taste I needed with such a hardy filling meal. It definitely balances it out. The tartness of the lemon and sweet of the melon and sugar is a pretty good pairing.

Santa Fe Pizza

This recipe got a "this is the best pizza!" comment from my husband last night. It's a different spin on your regular pepperoni and cheese but it's good.  Instead of pizza sauce, the recipe calls for salsa.  I haven't bought store bought pizza crust in years... I normally just make my own Pizza Crust but I think the store bought crust worked well with this particular pizza. It's a hardy dish so I think the store bought stands up to the toppings better than my home made pizza crust.  There are enough ingredients to make two pizzas in this recipe... I just reduced mine because I certainly didn't need two.  The recipe below is NOT cut in half. It's the full recipe.

Santa Fe Pizza (yields two pizzas)

2 rolls/tubes pizza dough
12-16 ounces of ground sausage, cooked
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups salsa
1 t chili powder
15 can of black beans, rinsed
2+ cups of shredded cheddar cheese
8 ounce sour cream
sour cream and additional toppings (optional)

Spread pizza crusts on 2 sprayed pizza pans (or cookie sheets). Bake as package directs. Meanwhile, cook and drain sausage. Rinse with hot water to make sure there is not fat left on it. Add back to the pan and add in the red bell pepper. Cook for 3 minutes. Combine salsa and chili powder, stir well. Divide in 1/2 and spread on both baked crusts; salsa, sausage and peppers, beans then cheese. Bake at 450 degrees until cheese melts.  Serve with sour cream or any other toppings. I think Shredded lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream are winners.

I served my pizza with Easy Glazed Honey Dew Melon.

Enjoy.

Tortellini and Sausage Medley

I get super excited when I think about this dish. I really do. It's such a fun dish to eat, it's pretty and it's healthy(ish)...did I mention it's easy and cheap? No? Well it is. I made it in about 20 minutes... I was actually watching the pot cook instead of frantically trying to pull dinner together at the last minute. What a way to be at 5:00! Woo-hoo.  I pulled this dinner together with a some garlic bread sticks out of the box.  It was filling, I didn't even finish my whole bowl.

Tortellini and Sausage Medley

1 lb ground sausage
9 ounce refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
28 ounce can Italian crushed tomatoes
2 T Italian Seasoning
14 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes (un-drained)
10 ounce frozen box of chopped spinach, thawed**
15 ounce can of broth

In a large soup pot, brown sausage and drain.  Add tortellini, crushed tomatoes, italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, chopped spinach and broth.  Heat to boiling; simmer 10 minutes or until tortellini is soft. Don't over cook or the tortellini will start falling apart on you.

**An easy way to get the boxed frozen spinach thawed and "drained" to put it in the microwave and defrost it like the instructions on the box say. When it's done... take a clean dish towel, put the spinach inside and wring it really tight over a bowl. Most of the water comes out. I can't take credit for that... I used to be addicted to cooking shows... Thank you Rachel Ray for this tip. I thought of you while I was making this recipe! LOL

Enjoy!

Shrimp Linguine

I don't know what it is about cooking seafood...but I just feel fancy while doing it. I am not sure if it's just because we don't eat enough of it and I'm not used to cooking it or because I love it shrimp so much that I feel that it's a treat. To be honest, I am pretty sure I don't need an excuse to cook this recipe... considering you can buy frozen shrimp at walmart for about $5 a pound in the frozen section. I never knew that until I found it. I just stick the whole bag in my fridge when I come home from the store and cook it the next day...normally defrosts over night.

Shrimp Linguine

12 ounce uncooked linguine noodles
1 lb (raw) shrimp, peeled, deveined, thawed
4 T butter
8 ounce package sliced mushrooms
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 t minced garlic
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 t dried thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (don't skimp on this detail)
parm cheese (optional...well, to me, it's no option... YES please!)

Cook pasta al dente by package directions. Add shrimp for the last 3 minutes of cooking time then drain. While pasta cooks, melt butter on medium high heat in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and red pepper; saute 4 minutes then add garlic.  Stir in cream; heat just to boiling.  Reduce heat; add thyme and parsley. Stir and pour over pasta/shrimp. Sprinkly with parm cheese if desired...serve hot.

I combined this dinner with some garlic bread sticks and a nice green salad. I was a super mom this night :)

Sidenote: the leftovers were DEVOURED by me, my mom and grandma the next day when they came to visit....you get a lot of food with this one too. They raved about the results too.

Spice Rubbed Chicken

The thought of a whole chicken terrifies me. I have never made a whole chicken before... In fact, it makes me gag thinking about it.  Even on Thanksgiving, my husband handles the turkey. He normally fries is so I get out pretty easy on that deal.  When I received this recipe, it sounded too good not to try... even with the thought of a whole chicken looming out there. I gave it a whirl and I'm pretty impressed with the results. The best part... it's a crock pot meal! SCORE!

Spice Rubbed Chicken

1 4 lb whole roasting chicken, guts removed, rinsed and patted dry
2 t salt
2 t paprika
1 t cayenne
1 t onion powder
1 t thyme
1 t pepper
1 t garlic powder
1 cup chopped onion

Combine seasonings in a small bowl until blended well. Remove the giblets (if you haven't already) and rinse/pat dry.  Rub spice mixture well all over chicken.  Put chopped onion on bottom of the crockpot. Place chicken on top. NO LIQUID NEEDED. (this is serious... I know you might want to add some liquid, dont. This chicken makes a TON of juice on it's own)  Cook on low 8-10 hours. I shredded the chicken once it cooled. It was extremely juicy and flavorful!  I paired it with Roasted Cauliflower and everyone loved it. Lucas had finished his plate even before I got to the table with his milk and was asking for seconds, which he gobbled down.

There are a few awesome benefits to making this chicken:
1) it's a crock pot meal...doesn't get anymore convenient than that
2) the house smells amazing all day... you may want to remove the lid...but don't.
3)  this makes plenty of chicken... which means leftovers are inevitable...my husband enjoyed the leftover chicken the next day on a sandwich with some bbq sauce. He said it was pretty good.
4)  The bones... leftover chicken bones make outstanding broth. I have never made broth with these chicken bones, but I am thinking the results would be pretty epic.  I wish I had a broth recipe of my own, but I don't. I will work on that.

Roasted Cauliflower

I love roasted vegetables if they are made right. I like them crispy not mushy...This recipe was super tasty and not what you normally think of when you think of roasted vegetables... or not what I think of. I am pretty boring when I cook. I have really been trying to step it up and get some new and creative ideas. I love this recipe because it adds a new kick to cauliflower.  My boys ATE IT UP! I served it with Spiced Rubbed Chicken and everyone was really happy with the final product.

Roasted Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower, rinsed and chopped into florets
olive oil
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t chili powder
1 T balsamic vinegar

Place Cauliflower on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper and chili powder. Toss until seasonings are well distributed.  Bake at 450 for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven; top with balsamic vinegar...toss well.

Yum!

Enjoy!!

Easy Baked Spaghetti

Mmmm... Nothing beats spaghetti. It makes you feel satisfied and happy when you are done. Not to mention, you normally make wayyyy too much, so it's always reliable for leftover lunches the next day.  This is a twist on average spaghetti, which I adore, but I admit, I was bored with it.  It never occured to me to use any other meat besides ground turkey or ground beef in a spaghetti. I don't know why... I just made it the way my mom made it.  This recipe makes a TON of food. I made this for me and the kiddos while my husband was out of town. There was so much leftover, I gave the leftovers to my neighbor. Within a few minutes, I got a text for the recipe. It's that good :)

Easy Baked Spaghetti

16 ounce package spaghetti (I actually used Penne when I made it...that's all I had on hand)
18 ounce package hot or mild Italian sausage, casings removed (I bought mine with casings on them and just sliced them down the middle and squeezed out the insides. Kind of gross, but it was worth it)
1 cup chopped red onion
1 T minced garlic
26 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce, whatever kind your family likes
16 ounce jar of alfredo sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (next time I make it, I would use more...for the top...we love cheese and I felt skimpy)

Cook pasta according to the package instructions; drain and keep warm.  In a large skillet, cook sausage, onion, and garlic at medium high heat until browned and crumbly; drain.  Combine sausage mixture, pasta, spaghetti sauce, alfredo and 1 cup cheese.  Spoon into 13x9 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Enjoy.

Pork Chops in Caper Sauce

I admit, I have never used capers. They sound extravagant being that they are actually a kind of rose buds and a little scary to be honest.  I was eager to try this recipe though... I am so glad I did! My husband raved about it and I was so surprised and felt all fancy serving it to my family.  It couldn't be easier either... with 6 ingredients and the results were quite delicious!

Pork Chops in Caper Sauce

1+lb (4-6) think cut pork chops
2 T olive oil
1/4 cup chicken broth (to save money, I actually use the boullion cubes and make my own broth, but canned will work fine too)
3 T capers, drained
2 T fresh lemon juice
grated zest of 1/2 of a lemon

Season pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large non stick skillet over medium high heat. Cook pork 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until brown.  Add broth, capers, lemon juice and zest. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer until the sauce has reduced by half.

I paired these pork chops with Bean Salad and some garlic toast. What a yummy feast.

Enjoy

Bean Salad

I made this and chilled it in the refrigerator to serve with Pork Chops in caper sauce for dinner tonight. I just tasted the bean salad and I am super excited to share this recipe. It's pretty awesome. The beans are creamy and have a bite...the "dressing" on top is very tastey and of course, I love red onions... so it's extra good! This side would pair with anything I am sure.

Bean Salad

4 T chopped red onion
3 t red wine vinegar
2 T olive oil
2 14.5 cans of Cannellini beans, drained

In a medium bowl mix all ingredients together...chill in refrigerator if desired. I tested when I first made it and it was awesome, but I think chilling it melds the flavors together nicely.

I will post the Pork Chops in Caper sauce recipe later.

Enjoy!!

Mexican Chicken and Avacado Salad

I love this recipe for a number of reasons. It's easy, it's cheap, it's a crock pot meal and the flavors are pretty awesome! I made it last night and Jerry and I loved it!

Mexican Chicken
2 lbs of boneless Skinless chicken breasts
8 ounce package of cream cheese, cubed
14.5 ounce can of corn, drained
15 ounce can of black beans, drained
16 ounce jar of salsa

Add all the ingredients to the crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring a few times while cooking.

Avacado Salad
2 large ripe avacados, chopped
1 cup chopped red onion
1/2 lime, juiced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 large ripe tomatoe, chopped
(I also added some garlic salt and some pepper)

Mix all ingredients together, chill in fridge until ready to serve.

DIY Fabric Refresher-No Residue

I love Febreeze, but I hate the price tag. I have been looking for a cheap way to make a fabric refresher at home. I have tried some with Baking Soda...don't know what I was thinking. The baking soda is supposed to dissolve in the water, but never does. It was a bear trying to shake all the baking soda up everytime I wanted to use the refresher. It wasn't even worth the time and effort. Not to mention, the baking soda will pool at the bottom and clog the sprayer. Disaster. So here's the recipe I found here. I tried it for the first time this a.m. and I have to say I am pleased. The fragrance I chose was Fresh Linen. I used 40 drops. The linen scent is very light... I am going to try another scent next time for sure. I sprayed this stuff only on my tattered rugs I have around the house to see how it works and if there are any bad side affects before I started using it like crazy like I do with the other fabric refreshers.

I loved the idea of adding vodka because it antimicrobial and I thought that would be perfect on the bathroom rugs and so on.  There is absolutely no vodka smell once you spray it. The alcohol disperses.  I will update the post once I know for sure it's okay.

Kiddo Car Wash

What's better than being outside on a gorgeous day? Using bubbles and water to clean all the toy cars in our backyard. I filled up a bucket of soap, gave them two rags and let them go to work. They LOVED washing their cars and getting filthy from the water bucket. They were drenched and loving every second. We washed their cars and basically that evolved into washing everything in the backyard...from the fence to the rose bushes. Everything now has a nice sheen of Gain dish soap. Smells pretty darn good outside if you ask me.

Snack PicNic

After a tiring morning washing their cars, it was time for a snack. The weather is too nice to come in right now so we pulled out our finest towel, most impressive table scape and threw an impromptu pic nic on the porch.

What a feast! Graham crackers, chewies and apples...not to mention, the expensive "wine" (juice of course). It was a world class pic nic on the porch sort of day.

"Guys... I don't Mommy likes this game very much"-Jerry

He's right....Mommy didn't like this game very much.  Leave it to a father and two boys to make up a game that involves pelting a small defenseless play cottage with oversized blocks. I come home from work yesterday and Jerry says "Boys! Why don't you show mommy our block game"... The boys perk up and everyone goes upstairs. I should have known that it was something bad when Jerry turns to me and says as he motions to tiny door on the children's play cottage..."You gotta get in, lay with your head protected under this blue table thing and your butt and legs come out this way." Imagine my surprise when I realized the "you" he was referring to was...me. "What do you mean? I LAY in this house? For..what?" I managed to get that sentence out as he's shoving me through the door. So I squish in as instructed...my head is securely under the blue table thingy for safety and my butt and legs are "out this way".  I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard the first BANG...Then the second... I soon realize MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN ARE THROWING OVERSIZED HARD BLOCKS INTO THE COTTAGE...AS I LAY THERE, defenseless.  I wasn't able to think about that reality because I was too busy in the fetal position hoping that the little blue thingy was securely covering my head. WHO DOES THIS???

The kids were having a blast..me, not so much...but they were giggling like hyenas.

I managed to take some pictures when it was Jerry's turn in the death trap.

 Leave it to Lucas to pick up a fire truck and try to chuck that into the cottage.