Broccoli Cheese Soup - Easy, Fast, Kid Approved

This recipe is so quick, easy and delicious!  It is perfect on a cold night with little time to get dinner together!

Ingredients:
2 + 4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 can chicken broth
2 cups whole milk
1/2 onion diced
2 cups chopped broccoli
1/2 tsp. ground mustard
1/2 tsp. paprika
Salt & Pepper to taste.
2 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:
1.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan.  Add onions and saute until clear.  Set aside.
2.  In stock pot on medium heat, melt remaining butter.
3.  Add flour to melted butter and still to combine.
4.  Whisk in 2 cans of chicken broth.
5.  Once combined, whisk in milk.
6.  Add spices and stir to combine.
7.  Cook on medium high until it begins to bubble.
8.  Add cooked onions and broccoli.
9.  Simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
10.  Stir in shredded cheese.
11.  Serve!  You can also top with extra cheese!

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

This breakfast cake is light, fluffy, ooey-gooey deliciousness!  I used frozen blueberries we had left over from picking last summer, but feel free to use fresh ones too!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup flour
1 3/4 cups Bisquick Mix
2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk with tsp of lemon juice)
1 Tbsp sugar for top

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.
2.  Cream butter and sugar on low until light and fluffy.
3.  Add egg and vanilla.
4.  Add Bisquick slowly to butter/sugar mixture alternating with the buttermilk.
5.  Combine blueberries with flour.
6.  Fold in blueberries.
7.  Spray 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
8.  Spread batter into pan (it will be thick).
9.  Sprinkle top with remaining sugar.
10.  Bake for 40-45 minutes.
11.  Let stand for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Oven Baked Tacos - Easy, Fast, Kid-Approved

Themed nights make dinner time a snap!  Taco Tuesday is the current phenomenon in our house.  Please do not attempt to make something other than tacos on Tuesday, the natives (or kids) will not be happy.  Instead of plain, boring meat in a shell, I have been making this recipe which is a hit in our house!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1 can of refried beans
1 (8oz) can of tomato sauce
1 packet of taco seasoning
12 pack of hard shells
2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend
Toppings:  lettuce, sour cream, and salsa

Directions:
Brown the turkey and drain off the fat.  Add the can of refried beans, sauce, and seasoning mix.  Cook on low until combined and hot.  Line taco shells on a 9x13 pan.  Fill each shell 1/2 with meat mixture and top with shredded cheese.  Bake for 10 minutes at 350F.

Meat mixture can also be made ahead of time and then added to shells, you may just have to add on to the baking time.

Add toppings and enjoy!

Pizza Baked Ziti - Easy, Fast, Kid-Approved

I am that woman, the one who loves pinning away for the perfect recipe (not kidding, check out my boards).  I then spend hours in the kitchen prepping and preparing only to have my family tell me it was okay??  The way we judge new recipes in our house is, first did you eat seconds? And second, would you want me to make this again?  So many of the recipes I make we eat once and never again.

So I had some pepperonis in the fridge and I had some extra ground beef left over from making a dinner to take to some friends who are going through a rough patch right now.  Quickly, on a Monday night, my Pizza Baked Ziti was born and man did my family love it!  My husband had leftovers and exclaimed how wonderful this was!  My son ate his second helping as a bedtime snack and told me to make sure there was some leftover when he got home from school tomorrow!  Guess this one is a keeper! Not only is it quick and easy to prepare, it come in at less than $5 to feed a family of 5 - 6.

Ingredients:
1 box of Ziti, cooked to package directions
1/2# - 3/4# ground beef
1/2 an onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 - 1 jar of prepared spaghetti sauce
1 - 2 cups of shredded mozzarella
Pepperonis

Directions:
Brown ground beef with onion and garlic.  Once pasta is cooked, return to pot and add cooked beef mixture and spaghetti sauce and mix well.  Pour into a 9x13 pan (or use a foil pan for easy clean-up).  Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and pepperonis.   Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy with a side a breadsticks!

Kick the Pre-Packaged Mix - 2015 Challenge

Call it convenience, lazy, or just a taste preference, I have a slight addiction with packages of different mixes.  I actually have a whole shoe-box size basket in my pantry loaded with these little envelopes!  Yes they are convenient, however they also contain a lot of ingredients that are really not necessary to make a meal.  In addition, most of the ingredients that you need are more than likely in your spice cabinet.

I am challenging myself to break this habit (and I may not eliminate it completely), I truly want to find out if a homemade mix is truly as good as these prepackaged ones.  I know when I am in a rush,  I will probably still grab a packet, but if I have the time I am consciously going to try at making my own mix!  If I find one I like, I can make a large batch and store it for future dinners!

The internet is an amazing place when it comes to recipes.  So much so, that I do not even think one truly needs a recipe box anymore!  I spent some time trolling the internet for some prepackaged alternatives.  Here is a good list to try!

Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix - $5 Dinners - I tried this and it was amazing!  The verdict?  I will use this instead of an envelop mix!

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe - Whole New Mom

Meat Loaf with Homemade Seasoning Mix - Just A Pinch

Homemade Gravy Mix - A Few Short Cuts

Homemade Fajita Seasoning - Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Ranch Dressing Mix - Untrained Housewife

Beef Stew Seasoning Mix - Budget 101

Chili Seasoning Packet - Family Corner
 
Homemade Enchilada Sauce - Damn Delicious

Dry Onion Soup Mix - Yummly

Homemade Vegetable Dill Dip - Katrina's Kitchen

Caesar Salad Dressing - Heart Healthy Home

So do you have a favorite you care to share?  Leave the link in the comments!

Cheesy Baked Penne

This recipe is super quick to put together and have on the table in less than an hour.  It would also be a good recipe to take half and freeze for another night!

Ingredients
1 box of Penne noodles (16 oz)
1 jar of Alfredo sauce (10 oz)
1 container of Ricotta cheese (15 oz)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup freshly cut parsley (you can sub dried parsley)
1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
1.  Cook Penne according to package directions and drain.
2.  Combine Penne and Alfredo sauce.
3.  In a separate bowl, combine Ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, and parsley.
4.  Spray a 9x13 dish with non-stick spray.
5.  Put half of the Penne in the dish then top with Ricotta mixture, put remaining Penne on top.
6.  Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
7.  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

Note - if you are going to freeze, before baking cover with foil and freeze.  To cook, thaw completely and then bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Basil Sandwiches

If you love the flavors of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, then you will love this twist on a grilled cheese sandwich!  I was able to use fresh tomatoes and basil from my garden and it was amazing!

Ingredients:
3-4 slices of fresh tomato
4 leaves of fresh basil
4-6 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
butter
2 slices Italian bread

Directions:
1.  Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat on a medium-high.
2,  Butter one side of each of the slices of bread.
3.  Put one slice of bread (butter down) on the heated skillet.  Top with 1/2 of mozzarella, basil leaves, tomato, and then other 1/2 of mozzarella.  Top with other slice of bread (butter side up).
4.  When golden brown, flip sandwich to brown other side.
5.  Enjoy!

Macaroni and Cheese Pie - Easy One Dish Dinner

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup uncooked macaroni (I used small shells)
1/2 cup all purpose baking mix
2 1/4 cups milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:
1.  Heat oven 375F.
2.  Spray 9" glass pie plate with non-stick cooking spray.
3.  Place uncooked noodles in pie plate.
4.  Spread 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese over the top.
5.  In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients until blended.
6.  Pour mixture into pie plate.
7.  Spray s sheet of foil with non-stick cooking spray and cover. 
8.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
9.  Spread remaining cheese over top and cook for additional 10 minutes.
10.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.


Enjoy!

Next time I am going to try some different add-ins, chopped broccoli or diced ham would probably work well!

Baked Cheesy Heart Crackers

 

This recipe was so easy, I almost could not believe it! 

 

I did these crackers in the shape of a heart for my preschooler's Valentine's Day Party!

 

 

Ingredients:

8 oz. finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup of flour

1/2 tsp. salt

4 tbsp. cold butter cut into small pieces

4 tbsp. cold water

 

Directions:

1.  Combine cheese, flour, salt, and butter.  I worked the ingredients through my fingers to really get it combined. 

2.  Using an electric mixture add cold water 1 tbsp. at a time until the dough is formed. 

3.  Form dough into ball and then split into two flat disks.  Wrap in plastic wrap and cool for 30 minutes.

4.  Heat oven to 350F.

5.  Roll out dough on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to stamp out crackers.

6.  Place cut outs on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

7.  Bake for 15 minutes.

8.  Cool on wire rack.

 

This recipe yielded approximately 100 heart shaped crackers (1")

 

Here is how the snacks looked at the party!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

BBQ Chicken Pizza

This is a super easy, super quick weeknight meal for us!  The kids and I love it.

Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pizza crust
1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (ours is Sweet Baby Rays)
2 chicken breasts
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1.  Cut chicken into chunks and sauté in pan in olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.
2.  Spray cooking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
3.  Roll pizza crust out on pan and then bake according to package directions.
4.  Toss chicken in BBQ sauce and spread on baked crust.
5.  Top the chicken with the sliced onion and cheese.
6.  Bake again according to package directions.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

These are fast, easy, and were a hit in my house!  Great for a quick breakfast or snack on the run.

Ingredients:
2 cups Quick Oats
1 1/2 cup Crisp Rice Cereal
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:
1.  Line a 8x8 pan with aluminum foil.
2.  In large bowl combine Quick Oats and Crisp Rice Cereal.
3.  In a microwave safe bowl, combine peanut butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and Vanilla.  Microwave on high for 30 seconds.  Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds and mix well.
4.  Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal and combine.
5.  Press mixture into foil-lined pan.  Allow to cool for 1 hour and then cut into bars.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 large box (5.1 ounces) vanilla instant pudding
3 cups milk
1 8 oz. container cool whip
chocolate syrup

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease a 9″x13″ Pyrex dish.

2.  In a medium saucepan, melt butter in water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Mix in one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding another egg. Spread mixture into pan, covering the bottom and sides evenly.  Try to get it up the sides of the pan the best you can.

3.  Bake for 25 - 30 or until golden brown.  You may want to check it occasionally, you don’t want to overcook the crust.  Remove from oven and let cool (don’t touch or push bubbles down).

4.  Beat cream cheese in a medium bowl.

5.  In a separate bowl, beat instant pudding and milk.  Once thickened, slowing add pudding to cream cheese and beat until there are no lumps.  Let cool in the refrigerator.

6.  When the crust is completely cooled, pour filling into crust.  Top with layer of cool whip and chill until ready to serve.  Before serving, add chocolate sauce to top.

Enjoy!

Egg in the (Avocado) Hole

If you love avocados like I do, I really suggest you try this amazing (healthy) breakfast.  I also think it would make an really good item for a brunch, but it is a little labor intensive to make.

Ingredients:
1 avocado
2 large eggs
olive oil
salt & pepper
feta cheese

Directions:
1.  Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet.
2  Slice avocado in half and remove pit and skin.
3.  Place avocado inside down on pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and allow to cook about 5 minutes on medium heat.
4.  Flip avocado halves over and crack an egg into the middle of each half.  Try hard to get the yoke in the middle.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Add about a 1/4 cup of water to the pan and put a lid on it.  Turn the heat on high and allow the egg to cook for 3-5 minutes.
5.  Sprinkle feta cheese on top of egg along with salt and pepper.  Replace the lid on the pan to allow the cheese to melt.

Enjoy!

Broccoli and Cauliflower Au Gratin

I made this last night for my son's 5th birthday party.  The picture above is the "pre-baked" picture, I forgot to take a picture after it was baked.  It was a hit at the party and fed about 10 people!

Ingredients:
Head of cauliflower
Bunch of broccoli
4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp dry mustard
couple of red pepper flakes
2 cups of bread cubes (1/2" cubes)
olive oil
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
1.  Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Stir in flour and allow to cook for a few minutes.  Slowly add milk and cream.  Allow to cook until thickened.
2.  Add all 3 cheeses, salt, pepper, paprika, mustard, and pepper flakes.  Cook on low-medium heat until all melted.
3.  In 9"x13" pan, put chopped broccoli and cauliflower.  Pour cheese sauce over vegetables and mix to combine.
4.  In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, parsley, and garlic powder.  Toss with Olive Oil until combined.
5.  Pour bread mixture on top of vegetables and top with a bit more of shredded cheddar.
6.  Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
7.  Enjoy!

**Party Hint - I use disposal aluminum pans when I make large party foods.  It makes for extremely easy clean-up!**

Buffalo Chicken Sliders - Crock Pot Recipe

Ingredients:
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup buffalo hot sauce (I used Franks)
2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried dill
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp pepper
slider buns
ranch dressing
lettuce
tomato
provolone cheese

Directions:
Put chicken breasts in slow cooker and cover with hot sauce and spices.  Stir and cook on low for 8 hours.  Shredded chicken and mix back it in with the sauce (more or less depending how hot you want the chicken).
Butter slider rolls and toast both side under the broiler.
Put chicken on the buns along with ranch dressing, lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Enjoy!

Zucchini Cakes

The zucchini has begun to sprout in our garden.  I made two loaves of zucchini bread on Saturday morning and had some grated zucchini left over.  So last night I made these zucchini cakes to go with dinner.  They were delicious!

Ingredients:
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 onion, grated
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika

Directions:
1.  Heat oil in a pan on medium-high heat
2.  Combine all ingredients.  Shape in a patty (they are a little lose) and then carefully lay into hot oil.
3.  Flip after 3-5 minutes (when nicely browned) and repeat on the other side.

I ate mine with ketchup (but I love ketchup on a lot of things), I think sour cream would also be good!

Enjoy!

Chicken Bacon Ring

 

This was one of our dinners that resulted from what to do with leftovers?  We had some leftover chicken that needed to be used up and I came up with this recipe!

 

Ingredients

1 can of crescent rolls

1 cup shredded cooked chicken

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup diced onions

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

6 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

 

Directions

Open crescent rolls and separate triangles, arrange on non-stick pan as shown in picture 1.

Mix remaining ingredients and spread around the middle of the crescent rolls.

Fold in the triangles over the chicken mixture.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown at 350.

Enjoy!

 

Spinach Mushroom Omlet

The picture doesn't make it look very appealing, but if you love spinach and mushrooms, this one is for you!  I enjoyed this for dinner one night when we were having a "help yourself night".  No one in my family would eat this anyways, except me!

Ingredients:
2 eggs, beaten together
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 cup fresh spinach
salt and pepper

Directions:
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat.  Sauté mushrooms until tender.  Add spinach and cook down.  Pour eggs directly over the spinach and mushrooms.  Once cooked on one side, flip entire omelet and continue to cook until eggs are fully  cooked!  Salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

I didn't add cheese, but I am sure it would be a great addition!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Corn Flake Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
6 cups corn flakes
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat peanut butter, sugar, and corn syrup over medium heat until boiling.  Remove from heat and stir in corn flakes.  Pour into greased 9"x13" pan.  Melt chocolate chips in the microwave.  Use 30 second increments stirring and heating.  Pour chocolate over top.  Chill in refrigerator.  Cut, serve, enjoy!

Corn Flake Muffins

This is an easy recipe and you most likely have everything on hand in your house.  I had some corn flakes to use up so I wanted to try it out.  The results?  They were delicious, even my toughest critic (my husband) said they were "really good"!  I will definitely be making more of these!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups white flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups corn flakes, crushed
1 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.  Grease muffins cups or use paper liners.  Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in one bowl.  In other bowl combine corn flakes and milk and let set 2 minutes.  After 2 minutes beat in egg, oil, and vanilla.  Slowly beat in dry ingredients until just mixed.  Pour into muffin pans and bake for 20 minutes.  Enjoy warm.

Next time I make these, I think I will add a little honey to the wet ingredients.