Bean Dip

Sissy wanted something new in her lunch box....a new dip. So I found this recipe in Feeding the Kids
And it is SO EASY I let her make it herself!

Here is what you will need:

1 can fat free Refried Beans
1 cup salsa (this is good recipe to use up bottom of salsa jar)  :-)
1/2 cup cheese ( We used Mexican b/c it was almost gone and I wanted to use it up)

Combine beans and salsa in microwavable bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Add cheese on top and continue to microwave until cheese is melted.

She was VERY proud of HER Bean Dip!!!   

Also from the same night:
Do you know what happens when you are on the phone with Walmart customer service trying to find out where your husbands TV is and why it isn't at your blankety blank blank house????

Your kids steal your camera and take 50 pictures in 5 minutes....this was the best one!  :)

Lunch 2-25

Sissy packed her lunch last night with very little help. And she was very proud of it!

Here is what she packed:
Bean Dip(that she made)
Tortilla Chips
Peanut Butter Egg
Apples
Carrots w/ Ranch in little blue box
  * HM Beef Jerky in side slot
She also took milk to drink with it.

Homemade Stromboli

Big Daddy LOVES Stromboli! And he loves THIS Stromboli!  I try to make it often enough but not too often since it is definitely NOT a healthy choice! 

Here is what you will need:

1 Refrigerated Italian bread
1 jar (14oz) pizza sauce
1/4lb sliced pepperoni
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4lb fully cooked ham
1/4lb sliced hard salami
1/4lb sliced mozzarella cheese
1/4lb sliced Swiss cheese
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
   2 Tbsp melted butter

Spread dough out on counter

Layer ham and pepperoni lengthwise on half of dough
Sprinkle with onion and pepper
Top with 1/4 cup pizza sauce
Layer mozzarella, salami, and Swiss cheese over sauce
Sprinkle with basil, oregano,garlic powder and pepper
Spread another 1/4 cup pizza sauce on top

You can fold dough over filling and seal edges OR you can roll it

Place on a greased baking pan
Bake @ 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown
Brush with melted butter and let sit 5 minutes before cutting
Heat the remaining pizza sauce and use for dipping

Ohhhhh SO GOOD!!!   :)

Lunch 2-24

Today she had:
Peaches
Pirate Booty
Graham Crackers with Nutella in HK container
Ham and Cheese stars
She had V8 Splash(watered down) to drink

Italian Chicken and Potatoes

Here is what you will need:

3lb split chicken breasts
1lb red potatoes, diced
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing ( I ALWAYS mix my own with cider vinegar)
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place chicken in a greased 9x13 pan. Arrange potatoes around chicken. Drizzle with dressing; sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.

Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 minutes longer until potatoes are tender and chicken juices run clear.

Yum Yum Folks!! This is super easy recipe and very tasty!! :)

Lunch 2-23

Here is what Sissy had today:

Tortilla Rounds
Pizza Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese
Turkey Pepperoni
Carrots
Watermelon
Graham Crackers
With a bottle of water

Homemade Beef Jerky

I love love love homemade beef jerky! My mom use to make it when we were younger and my brothers and I would take it to school and sell it!  And it's so simple, the hardest part is the wait!!

Today is my brothers birthday and instead of sending gifts I sent Homemade Beef Jerky and Homemade Granola! :)  Happy Birthday Matthew! 

Here is what you will need:

3lbs meat, sliced (I used London Broil b/c I found it on sale awhile back and stocked up;Venison is the best if you can get your hands on it)
1 bottle liquid smoke
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup Soy sauce
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper

In a medium bowl mix your marinade

Add your meat to the marinade and let soak 12-24 hours.

Spread the meat out on your dehydrater trays

Let dry for 12-15 hours.

Thats it! See how simple that is?? And it tastes oh so good people!  :) Try it, you might like it!

Amazing Lasagna

One of my favorite meals to make for my family is Homemade Lasagna!
Seriously Y'all don't be scared of making Lasagna, it's really easy! This is the best recipe I have found, everyone in my family loves it! In fact we just had it for my brothers Birthday Dinner last night!
 Happy Birthday Timothy!

Here is what you will need:

Meat Sauce

1lb ground beef
1/2-1lb Italian sausage (I use the sweet ground)
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cans Italian style diced tomatoes
1 small can Tomato Paste
1 tsp Dried Basil leaves
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder

In a large skillet add ground beef,sausage, and onion. Stir frequently until browned.

Drain grease. Stir in tomatoes, paste, basil,sugar,oregano,salt and garlic.

Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered for 45 minutes- 1 hour. Stirring occasionally until very thick.

Filling

6 Lasagna Noodles
2 Eggs
15oz Ricotta Cheese
1 cup Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh Parsley
4 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Cook Lasagna noodles as directed; drain and place in cold water to cool.

In medium bowl beat eggs, stir in ricotta, cottage cheese, Parmesan, and parsley; set aside.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
In a 13x9 ungreased baking dish start with meat mixture (about a cup spread out)
Then 3 noodles on top of the meat sauce, 1/2 egg mixture, 1/2 remaining beef mixture and 1/2 mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers starting with noodles and ending with cheese.

Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Take foil off last 10 minutes to melt cheese through.
When cheese is melted take out of the oven and tent foil over it and let stand 10 minutes.

Once you get the hang of this you can make double and get some put up in the freezer  :)

Lunch 2-21

Both kids had a re-check doctors appointment this morning. I packed Sissy's lunch in less than 5 minutes, hence the lack of nutrition...  Well, we got in to see the doctor and Sissy was running a fever! Ugh   So between the yucky cough she STILL has and the fever I figured she would get sent home from school so I kept her at the house....she slept for 3 hours and is now up and still sluggish...  Doc says just allergies but still don't like her being sick!  Brother on the other hand is fine. Had to have 2 shots today and was a good trooper!  :)

From top left:
Juice pouch
Cheese stick
Crackers
Yogurt
Ham
Carrots

She ate this when she got up from her nap. She tore up her ham and asked that I do that instead of roll it b/c then she gets more!  :)

Menu Feb 21-27

I had fun with Brother again this weekend. I wouldn't say he is "Mommas Boy" he is definitely "Daddy's Boy" but we have fun playing just the same.  :)  His personality is coming out more and more and he is curious as ever! Can't believe he is almost 16 months ALREADY!!

I feel pretty good about all the cooking/freezer meals I did yesterday. It's nice to know if I am running late or working late that Big Daddy can pull something from the freezer and we can have a home cooked meal instead of running for fast food!
A lot of Breakfasts are still the same...I don't know if we will ever get up early enough to have breakfast...or if Sissy will ever want to eat that early, but I am going to keep trying. I also carried over some "extras" and added some more that I want to do here and there this week.

Here is what we are having:

Monday:
Giant Breakfast Cookies
Bento
Italian Chicken w/ potatoes

Tuesday:
Oatmeal
Bento
HM Pizza night w/ Salad

Wednesday:
Yogurt
Bento
Goulash w/ Green Beans and toast

Thursday:
Cereal
Bento
Pancakes w/ Turkey Bacon and Eggs

Friday:
Banana w/ yogurt
Bento
Rice Dish

Saturday:
Fruit Smoothies
Salmon patties w/ raw veggies
Chicken Curry in Crock Pot

Sunday:
Biscuits and Gravy w/ Sausage and Eggs
L.O.s
Taco Night w/ all the fixings

Extras:
Banana Bread
Jell-O
Bean Dip
Pizza Cups
Boiled Eggs

Pork Chops and Veggies

This is one of those Yum Yum comfort foods. I got this recipe from a friend a few years ago. It's kind of a modge podge of foods but they come together really well!

What you will need:

4 Pork Chops
3 potatoes (chopped)
Carrots (hand full)
1 small onion
1 can green beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can sauerkraut
1/2 cup Chicken Broth mixed with 1/2 cup water
Garlic powder
Salt/Pepper
1/4 cup sugar
Caraway Seeds ( if you like. These are pretty strong! Very small amount will go a long way, I used a little less than 1/2 tsp)
                            

Lightly dust chops, fry in 2 Tbsp canola oil in electric skillet.

Remove chops, leave drippings. Add sauerkraut, let cook a few minutes. Add all other ingredients, put chops on top.

Cover and let simmer until veggies are tender. 30 minutes or more.

This is really good with corn bread on the side!  :)