• Cheesy Potato Soup - prepare in the crockpot and come home to a nice warm meal!
    Dinner - Recipes

    Cheesy Potato Soup {Crockpot}

    November 3, 2015 - By 

    The weather here is getting colder (at least a few days each week) and I love that because that means its soup weather. This Cheesy Potato Soup can be prepared in the crockpot and who doesn’t love that! Servings: 12 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 5 and half hours Ingredients: 5 pounds russet baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup butter 1 cup half and half 12 oz. bacon, cooked until crisp, drained on paper towels, and crumbled (easiest way to cook bacon here) 6 green onions, chopped Salt and freshly…

  • Cookies - Dessert

    Butterscotch Apple Toffee Cookies

    October 22, 2015 - By 

    I’ve been wanting to try a pudding mix cookie. When I thought about mixing apples with a butterscotch flavor, I thought there was no better recipe to try it with. Cookies with pudding mix in the batter becoming quite soft and more cake like, so keep that in mind if you decide to do this recipe. Servings: 24 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 12 minutes Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup light brown sugar 1 package of Instant Butterscotch Pudding 2 eggs 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1…

  • Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    Low Fat Garlic Honey Marinade Recipe

    October 19, 2015 - By 

    This marinade is great for pork tenderloin, pork chops, chicken, or shrimp. Can’t wait to try it with shrimp! It is so easy just whip up the Low Fat Garlic Honey Marinade the night before and grill the next day. Servings: 1 cup (for 2 lbs. of meat) Prep Time: 5 minutes + marinade time Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1/2 cup honey 2 tbs. paprika 1 tbs. olive oil 2 crushed garlic cloves 1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper 1/2 tsp. salt Directions: Combine in ingredients and place in ziplock bag. Marinade for 8…

  • Beef - Dinner - Mexican - Recipes

    One-Pot Southwest Skillet Beef & Rice

    October 14, 2015 - By 

    If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love Mexican food of all kinds. Mexican, Baja, Southwest, Santa Fe…I adore it all! This Southwest Skillet Beef & Rice is a meal I’ve made for years, but I decided to try it as a one-pot meal. I was so glad I did. So easy and just as delicious. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb. ground beef 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice 1 can of chopped tomatoes and green chilies 1 can black beans (drain and rinse) 1 large onion, diced 1/4…

  • Appetizers & Snacks

    Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

    October 9, 2015 - By 

    It’s the time of year when pumpkin patches are visited, jack-o-lanterns are carved, and pumpkin seeds are toasted. My kids always enjoy collecting the seeds from the pumpkin, getting all that ooey-gooey inards off the seeds, and toasting them. These always turn out great. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Ingredients: Pumpkin seeds Cooking spray, olive oil, or butter Optional: Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, or other seasoning of choice Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with non-stick foil. 2. Rinse pumpkin seeds. Remove all the pulp. Drain pumpkin seeds and…

  • Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    Frito Pie

    October 6, 2015 - By 

    One of my favorite dishes that my Granddad made growing up is Frito Pie. I mean how can you turn down seasoned ground beef, cheese, and Fritos! This is one of those meals I also used to help Granddad make. This is a great meal to prepare with your kids, because it’s easy to prepare and it’s one everyone will love. Servings: 3-4 people Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2-3 cups of Fritos 3 cups of Mexican shredded cheese 1 lb. of hamburger meat 1 small chopped onion 1 can of Texas style chili beans 2…

  • Dessert - Recipes - Sides

    Baked Cinnamon Apples

    September 28, 2015 - By 

    Cooler weather, leaves beginning to change, football… It is officially fall and I’m loving it! I love seeing the large bushels of apples at the market during this time of the year. This recipe is one of my favorite standbys. I used these Baked Cinnamon Apples as a side dish, a dessert (just add some whip cream or caramel sauce on top), or a warm afternoon snack! Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 3 peeled apples 1 stick of butter 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1 tsp. of cinnamon dash of all spice Directions: 1.…

  • Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    Philly Cheesesteak Roll-Ups

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    It’s been awhile since I’ve come up with a new variation to my yummy roll-ups. The other night I had a serious craving for Philly Cheesesteaks, but we didn’t have any buns. Then, it occurred to me that I could make Philly Cheesesteak Roll-Ups. These were so delicious and since it was soccer practice night I could have them ready for on the go. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb. steak (I used a cheaper cut, like Chuck Steak) Next time I’m going to use frozen thinly sliced steak similar to this: Philly…

  • Appetizers & Snacks - Mexican - Recipes - Sides

    Southwestern Salsa

    September 4, 2015 - By 

    I always enjoy going to “covered dish” events. Being the foodie that I am, I love food and trying new recipes makes me heart and my taste buds happy. When we were at the lake with our Scout Troop, I got to try a few new recipes that I kept a mental note of. One was a salsa similar to this one that I called Southwestern Salsa. This recipe is perfect for a potluck or covered dish event, because you can whip it up at the last minute or make it the night before. One thing to know about this…

  • Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    Cheesy Hamburger Potato One-Pot Dish

    August 22, 2015 - By 

    I recently had a week, where I decided I was not going to the grocery store. What we ate for dinner would come only from ingredients we had in the pantry/fridge/freezer. One of the nights, I looked in the fridge and saw a pound of ground beef, an onion, and about a half of red and green bell pepper that needed to be used. I looked in the pantry to find a few more things including some potatoes. I had recently found a recipe on a food website and I thought that I could make it into a one-pot dish,…

  • Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Monterey Chicken {Chili’s Copycat Recipe}

    August 20, 2015 - By 

    I posted this on my old blog way back in 2009, but recently made it again and decided to post it here. This Monterey Chicken is similar to the one that Chili’s serves. It’s got bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce which creates lots of layers of flavor. You wouldn’t think something this good would be easy to make, but it is really simple. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2 tbsp Olive Oil (I prefer EVOO) 4 boneless skinless chicken breast 8 teaspoons barbecue sauce 8 slices crispy bacon 1 cup shredded Monterey jack/cheddar cheese…

  • Recipes - Sides

    Microwave Mac & Cheese

    August 10, 2015 - By 

    Recently when we were out of town, I was looking for a microwavable meal. I scrounged together these few ingredients and decided to attempt it in the microwave. Since I was taking this side dish and making it into a meal, I needed to add something to it. I had some thick cut ham, so I chopped it into cubes and threw it in to make it more filling. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 0 minutes Cooking Time: 6 minutes Ingredients: 8 oz. of macaroni noodles 1 cup water 1/2 cup half & half 1/2 cup of butter 1 cup of…

  • Beef - Dinner - Mexican - Recipes

    One-Pot Tamale Pie

    August 6, 2015 - By 

    I am constantly on the lookout for new Mexican dishes. I found this recipe for Tamale Pie and knew I had to try it. I decided to adapt it a bit and make into a One-Pot Tamale Pie. This recipe brought me back to the days when my Granddad would crack open a can of tamales, throw them in a pan, and heat them up. Yes, that wasn’t the healthiest of meals, but regardless its a memory and a flavor that I cherish. I’ve never tried making tamales on my own, which would be better for you than from a…

  • Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    Italian Chili {Crockpot}

    August 5, 2015 - By 

    I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted a recipe. That doesn’t mean haven’t been cooking. In fact, I have such a long list of recipes that I’ve made that I wasn’t even sure where to start. Posting this Italian Chili seemed like a good choice, because with kids starting back to school tomorrow I’m frazzled and when I put dinner in the crockpot that’s once less thing to worry about after work! Who doesn’t love that? Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 6 hours Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef 1/2 lb. Italian sausage 1 can (28 oz.)…

  • Dessert - Recipes

    Southern Banana Pudding

    June 4, 2015 - By 

    One of my all time favorite desserts is my Granny’s Southern Banana Pudding. It is so easy and is yummy. I’ve thought of some variations to change it up, but every time I start to make it I find that I just have to stick with the original! Servings: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 4-5 bananas, sliced 2 boxes Vanilla pudding Nilla Wafers 1 tub Cool Whip (12 oz. container) Directions: 1. In a bowl, mix together 2 boxes of pudding following box directions. 2. In a round baking dish with a lid, line the…

  • Dinner - Recipes

    One-Pot Chili Mac

    June 3, 2015 - By 

    Servings: 6 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb. hamburger meat 2 tbs. of minced garlic 1 small onion, diced 1 can of tomato sauce 3 cups water 10 oz elbow macaroni sprinkle of salt and pepper 1/3 cup of Chili Powder 1 can of black, pinto, or kidney beans (rinsed/drained) Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies 2 cups of shredded cheese (Mexican blend) Directions: 1. Brown meat with chopped onion and garlic in an oven safe pan. I use Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware, 12-inch Set When it’s cooked through drain grease, and add…

  • Lunch

    Pizza Monkey Bread Bites

    May 29, 2015 - By 

    Alex and I were home one night and I needed to make something quick and easy for dinner, because he was wanting to watch a movie. I thought it would be fun to get him in the kitchen and these Pizza Monkey Bread Bites were a perfect recipe to have him help with. Monkey bread is just the quintessential kid food! Servings: 24 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 (12 oz) packages of refrigerated biscuit dough – I used homemade dough recipe found here. 3 cups Mozzarella cheese 1 cup (2 sticks) butter 1 package of…

  • Recipes

    Hash Brown Casserole

    May 28, 2015 - By 

    If you’ve ever had the hash browns at Cracker Barrel, these are very similar to those. Just absolutely yummy! Servings: 10-12 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Ingredients: 1 package 26 oz. frozen hash browns 2 cups shredded Colby cheese 1/4 cup minced onion 1/2 cup beef broth 1 cup milk 2 tbsp melted butter 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground pepper Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 2. Mince the onions. 3. In a large bowl, combine the frozen hash browns, cheese, and onions and mix well. 4. Combine the milk,…

  • Appetizers & Snacks - Recipes

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Bites

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    A while back I made Sausage muffin bites and they were so easy and delicious. I had some cooked shredded chicken and some bacon that needed to be eaten. I decided to try substituting those instead of the sausage. These Chicken Bacon Ranch Bites make for a savory muffin bite that’s great for a brunch or snack or a savory breakfast. Servings: 24 muffins Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Mexican Blend) 1/2 lb. bacon (browned and crumbled) 1/2 lb. chicken (browned and shredded) 1 cup Bisquick All Purpose Mix 1…

  • Beef - Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    One-Pot Pasta Bake

    May 25, 2015 - By 

    Hope y’all have had a lovely Memorial Day weekend. Even though it’s a long weekend, I’m still going to need a quick and easy dinner resolution for this week. This One-Pot Pasta Bake is an awesome recipe. Dirty up one pan and have dinner ready in about 30 minutes! I’m also going to be having a frozen dinner I made last week, which was this easy peasy Lasagna. Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 8 oz. of pasta 1 lb. of hamburger meat or Italian Sausage 3 tbs. of Oregano 1 can of tomato sauce…