• Dessert - Recipes

    Strawberry Pudding

    May 13, 2015 - By 

    Since May is Strawberry month and it’s strawberry season, I’m sharing several strawberry recipes this month. If you missed my Strawberry Crumble recipe, you need to go check it out! I’ve also been craving these Chocolate Chip Strawberry Cookies. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that is so easy and mouth-watering. I took the idea of Southern Banana pudding and altered it a bit for this Strawberry Pudding. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb. of strawberries, sliced 2 boxes Vanilla pudding 1 box Strawberry Jell-O graham crackers 1 tub Cool Whip (12 oz. container)…

  • Travel

    Naples, Florida

    May 12, 2015 - By 

    After leaving Sanibel Island, we continued south for a stop in Naples. Naples has lots of metered parking along the streets as well as some parking lots. We probably drove around for a good 30 minutes looking for a spot as well as gawking at the beautiful homes. We were about to bale when we found a spot in front of Oh! Oh! Shoes on 12th Avenue, which was perfect because we were not far from Naples Pier. This area where we parked was filled with upscale shops and restaurants. Beautiful area with gorgeous landscaping and clean streets. It was…

  • Mexican - Pork - Recipes

    One-Pan Mexican Hashbrown Pie

    May 11, 2015 - By 

    Sometimes, I come up with the best recipes, when I have ingredients that I have in the fridge that need to be used before going bad. I had some Chorizo that was nearing its expiration date, so I decided to try it in a breakfast dish. This One-Pan Mexican Hashbrown Pie was really easy to make. If you’re not a fan of Chorizo, it would be good with regular breakfast sausage or even hamburger meat. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup finely chopped onions 1/4 cup finely chopped jalapenos 1 small can of…

  • Life

    Happy Mother’s Day

    May 10, 2015 - By 

    Today is Mother’s Day, so I’d like to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. I’d like to say a special Happy Mother’s Day to the sweet lady that gave birth to me. My Mom is one of those cool Moms, who is not only a Mom but a best friend to her 3 kids. If asked how to describe my Mom, I would describe her as loving, generous, unselfish, caring, playful, silly, and just all around awesome! She never puts herself first. She’s willing to give up the last dollar in her pocket for someone who…

  • Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Stuffed Pepper Soup with Chicken

    May 9, 2015 - By 

    The other day we had some amazing steak kabobs out on the grill, so I had about 3 peppers left over. I knew I needed to use them soon, and I was wanting to do something in the crockpot. I decided to chop up the peppers and some grilled chicken that I had, throw it in the crockpot with some other ingredients and call it Stuffed Pepper Soup with Chicken. It turned out so delicious. It’s no doubt one of my favs now. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 20 minutes (cook chicken and rice) Cooking Time: 6 hours Ingredients: 3 bell…

  • Appetizers & Snacks - Mexican - Recipes - Sides

    Spicy White Cheese Dip

    May 8, 2015 - By 

    One of my family’s favorite thing to get at restaurants is Spicy White Cheese Dip, but paying $8 a bowl gets pretty costly. I have been trying to come up with a recipe similar to what we get and this is the it! I love that I can make it for half the cost, which means we can have it more often. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 0 minutes Cooking Time: 5-10 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup Monterey jack cheese or American cheese 4 ounces green chilies 1⁄4 cup half-and-half 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped fine sprinkle of salt Directions: 1. Put all…

  • Chicken - Dinner - Lunch - Recipes

    Buffalo Chicken Paninis

    May 7, 2015 - By 

    Here’s another Recipe Remix with the Buffalo chicken. Yeah, so I’m a little obsessed, but really, who doesn’t love making something one night and then being able to pull it out the leftovers (that you made on purpose) and you them in a new recipe! These Buffalo Chicken Paninis are so yummy, easy, and different that you and your family will just love them. My family was totally stocked that I used bagels instead of hamburger buns or bread. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes Ingredients: Bread/buns/bagels (I had some bagels that I needed to use…

  • Pork - Recipes

    Sausage Muffin Bites

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    I’m always looking for easy breakfast ideas that can be made ahead of time. These Sausage Muffin Bites are easy and so yummy. I love that I can warm them up in the microwave and eat them in the car on the way to work. Servings: 24 muffins Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Mexican Blend) 1 lb. ground sausage (browned and crumbled finely) 1 cup bisquick baking mix 1 cup of milk 2 eggs 1/2 finely chopped onion Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to °350. Spray mini-muffin tin with non-stick…

  • Travel

    Sanibel Island

    May 5, 2015 - By 

    We arrived at Sanibel Island and we were starving. We wanted to stop at a local place so we ended up at the Sanibel Cafe, which is in the Tahitian Gardens Plaza on Periwinkle Way. You could already tell we were visiting an island that has as abundance of shells, since all the table were nicely decorated with glass covered tops with shell designed underneath. We enjoyed a nice breakfast. Pictured below is the Pina Colada French Toast, which is what Rob got. Here’s the Breakfast Menu Page 1 Page 2 After leaving there with bellies full and spirits high,…

  • Mexican - Recipes

    50 Cinco de Mayo Recipes

    May 4, 2015 - By 

    Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and since my favorite kind of food is Mexican, what better way to celebrate than by collecting great Mexican recipes. A couple of my favorite Mexican recipes of my own, that I didn’t include in this list are Chimichangas, Guacamole, and this easy Restaurant Style Salsa. Here are 50 amazing recipes to choose from tomorrow when you’re celebrating. Salsa Verde Enchiladas Spicy Shrimp Tacos Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas Barbacoa Mexican Corn Casserole Black Bean Roasted Poblano Enchiladas Taco Bell {copycat} Enchirito Skinny Sunrise Cocktail 20 Minute Healthy Chicken Burrito Recipe Carne Asada Homemade Tortillas Roasted…

  • Dessert - Recipes

    Strawberry Crumble

    May 3, 2015 - By 

    May is National Strawberry month and I’m super happy about that. I hope to take full advantage of that and try to roll out several easy and yummy strawberry recipes this month. I haven’t met too many people who don’t love strawberries. I know my family can’t get enough of them. One of the recipes on my Recipe Bucket List is a Strawberry Crumble. I found a recipe on Popsugar that looked easy and delicious. I just altered it a bit and increased it to make enough for my family. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 27 minutes…

  • Travel

    Alex’s 1st Camp Out as a Boy Scout

    May 1, 2015 - By 

    Family Friday A couple weekends ago Alex attended his first Boy Scout campout without Rob or us as a family. Boy Scouts is quite different from Cub Scouts in that campouts don’t include parents unless they are certified leaders. Drew, of course, was there. They went to Cumberland Caves in McMinnville, TN. Here they are before leaving. Here are a few pictures provided by the leaders on the trip. Not only did they enjoy the typical educational walking tour through the cave while learning about stalactites and stalagmites, they also got a true spelunking experience. They covered their heads with…

  • Memories of the Month - Taking time to document the important memories from January.
    Life

    Memories of the Month {4.2015}

    April 30, 2015 - By 

    This month I was happy about: that something miraculous happened and now my blogs are working normally. *fingers crossed* This year I’m going to rate the books & movies. Here’s my rating system: ♥ ♥ = Love it! A must read/see! ♥ = Really good! Highly recommend. ✓ ✓ = Good, not great ✓ = Not much to talk about X = Awful. Total waste of time Movies I watched were: Flight – X – It’s rated high, but we were totally mislead by the reviews. This is a move about addiction and very little of it is about the…

  • Recipes

    Breakfast Roll-Ups

    April 29, 2015 - By 

    As busy Moms, we find ourselves often scrambling around trying to whip dinner together. These roll-up recipes are such an easy answer to hectic evenings. Every Sunday, I throw the ingredients for pizza dough in the oven, so throughout the week I have it ready for homemade pizza or these easy roll-ups. If you don’t have a bread maker just get some refrigerated dough, which is just as good and easy. I like these because they can be made for breakfast ahead of time. And for those of us who like dinner for breakfast, this is a great option! Servings:…

  • Beef - Dinner - Pork

    Lasagna

    April 27, 2015 - By 

    Lasagna has been one of those dishes that I have struggled with and finally quit trying. Drew gave me a cookbook for Christmas called Gooseberry Patch 5 Ingredient Family Favorites and it has the recipe in there, so I decided to give it a try again. I did have to improvise, because I didn’t have any pasta sauce on hand. I am so glad I decided to give Lasagna! It turned out amazing. I’m not sure what my hang up was before, but whatever it was it seems this recipe resolved it. I’m curious to know what dishes you avoid…

  • Recipes

    Recipe Bucket List

    April 25, 2015 - By 

    I am a list lover. I love making lists of all kinds. I thought it would be fun to have a running list of recipes that I want to make. This way when I’m looking for a recipe to fill a spot on my weekly menu, I can refer to this list for ideas. I will add a link to them as I complete them. So what recipes are on your list to make? Appetizers Mozzarella Cheese sticks – I’ve made these, but didn’t document. Desserts Chocolate cake roll Donuts Gingerbread cookies Texas Sheet Cake Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or…

  • Life

    Prom 2015

    April 24, 2015 - By 

    Family Friday A couple weeks ago, my heart cringed with angst as I took pictures of this handsome young man and his beautiful girlfriend before releasing them into the jaws of the Junior/Senior right of passage called PROM. In the back of my mind, I feel like it was just a couple years ago that was me going to prom. Anyway, the plan for Drew and Caitlyn was to meet over at a friends house with their group for dinner before going over the Auburn Hotel and Conference Center for the main event. I offered to meet up with them…

  • Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Buffalo Chicken Casserole

    April 23, 2015 - By 

    As a busy mom who works full-time, I’m always trying to come up with new recipes that are quick and easy. My family loves Poppy Seed Chicken and Jalapeno Popper Chicken, so I’ve been thinking of similar recipes. This Buffalo Chicken Casserole is so good and can be ready to eat in under 40 minutes. How can you not love that? Servings: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups cooked and diced chicken 2 tbs. garlic powder 1 cup Buffalo Sauce 2 stalks of celery, chopped 1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup 1…

  • Cheez-It Breaded Chicken Fingers - Looking for a new way to bread your chicken fingers? This Cheez-it Breaded Chicken is so easy and makes for a wonderfully crunchy batter.
    Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Cheez-It Breaded Chicken Fingers

    April 22, 2015 - By 

    Looking for a way to get crunchier chicken fingers? These Cheez-It Breaded Chicken Fingers are so easy to make and are truly delicious. The first time I made these my family was upset that I didn’t make more. Next time I’ll be doubling the recipe. Oh, the life of a house of full males! 🙂 Servings: 4 Prep Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 lbs. of chicken Breading Ingredients 2 cups of Cheez-Its 1 tbs. garlic 1 cup of flour (I used wheat flour) 1 tbs. Cayenne pepper salt and pepper Egg Wash Ingredients Tabasco sauce 2…

  • Fort Myers, Florida
    Travel

    Before Leaving Fort Myers, Florida

    April 21, 2015 - By 

    On Day 4 of our Florida tour, we woke up from our restful night at the Hotel Indigo got packed up and got ready to site-see the area and then, head further south. While we waited on our car to be brought up from the valet, Drew decided he wanted to climb the large Mangrove tree across the street from our hotel. Here he is after he started coming down. I love this picture of Rob and I, because it shows how mammoth this tree really is. After watching him climb as high as he could go and getting a…