Snow Cream

Don't knock it til you try it ;)

So easy to make, tastes like vanilla ice cream and kids LOVE it. You can add different flavoring to it by using different extracts(like banana,cherry,strawberry).

All you need:

Snow
Milk(for richer flavor use half and half or cream)
sugar
vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together til it's the consistency of ice cream or a slushy. Use about a TBSP of vanilla(or any other extract of choice). Serve immediately. mmmmmm there's nothing like it.


*you can sit a bowl outside while it's snowing to collect "clean" snow, please don't use the snow on the ground, you could get a bug or even snow that a bird has pooped on lol. That, wouldn't be good.

Granola Bars

Ok so I tried this recipe from Melanie and I have to say that everyone that's had them has LOVED them. I encourage anyone that likes granola bars to give this easy recipe a try. I don't know if I will ever buy granola bars again!!!

Granola Bars

2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 cup rice krispy cereal

1/4 cup coconut

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup honey

1/2 tsp vanilla

Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix together until combined. Press into a square 8x8 pan.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and score into bars.

Let it set completely and then cut into bars. Enjoy!

Today, I made another batch. This time I added 1/2 C of chopped walnuts. mmmmm nuts lol.

Homemade cheese sauce

There are so many ways to make Mac and Cheese. I think EVERYONE should know how to make a "white sauce" bc w/this sauce, you can do so many things to it. This is the basic sauce that you add cheese to, to make mac and cheese or a cheese sauce for veggies. (basically ladies, this is like a white gravy that we Southerners like to put on our biscuits lol, only most will cook the sausage then use that fat instead of butter.....)



White sauce:

2 tbsp butter
2tbsp flour
1/2tsp salt
1C milk, cream or half and half (you can use 1/2C evaporated milk and 1/2 C water if you don't have enough milk)

Melt butter in saucepan then add salt and flour. Whisk til smooth and thick.

To make Cheese sauce, you will add shredded cheese of your choice and whisk together til the cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. I like to add some pepper as well ;)



There are so many sauces you can make w/just the basic white sauce. You can saute garlic in that butter before you add flour and make a cheesy garlic sauce for pasta, you can add the cheese sauce to broccoli AND this is the basic sauce for all those "cream of" soups. ALL you do is add the celery,broccoli,mushroom or whatever to butter-saute then after sauce is thick and cool, use a hand blender to make smooth. SO EASY. Once you learn how to make this white sauce, the possibilities are endless. You can even use this to make chicken pot pies ;)

If you like your sauce thinner, add less flour. If you like it thicker, add more flour.

While you are making the Cheese sauce, boil your noodles(we like whole wheat shells) then drain water off of them. After your noodles and sauce is done, add the noodles to the cheese sauce and stir til well combined. Now, you can leave it like this,

OR you can pour into a casserole dish, add more cheese to top, even some bread crumbs, ritz crackers, whatever you like as a topping, and bake in oven til cheese is melted or top is golden brown. You can even add broccoli, chicken or whatever to this while it bakes, for a complete meal.
Just look at all that melty goodness!!! You know you wish you had some.....so go on, make some. :)

Have you seen me?

This Vegetable Supreme is SO good on asparagus. It has a buttery taste and I CAN'T FIND IT ANYMORE. It's a sad sad day in my house. I have to use something different on my asparagus. So if you see this, let me know. He's missing in action and I would like to have him back in my spice cabinet lol.

Has he been replaced by this:


If so, I would like to tell McCormick that this is NOT as good on veggies. It is a bit spicy and for kids, that may not be a good thing. I want my buttery seasoning back on my store shelves PLEASEEEEEEEE.

Thank you,

just another stay at home mom trying to please her kid......

Zucchini and Mushroom bake

4 zucchini's
a can of mushrooms(or fresh)
one onion cut into chunks
butter or EVOO
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the Zucchini any way you like it. Add mushrooms and onions. Add a little butter for flavor or use EVOO. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the veggies. Put in a 350 degree oven til veggies are tender.

*variations

I sometimes will add cheese to this, or even make a vinegar dressing for it. It's really yummy and so easy to make.

Taco Chili

2lbs of ground beef or turkey(I use turkey)
2 cans dark red kidney beans(drained)
2 cans light red kidney beans(drained)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
water

seasonings:
1 pack of ranch seasoning
1 pack of taco seasoning mix(or 1/4C)
3 TBSP minced dry onion
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder

In a large pot, brown your beef/turkey(you hunters could even use ground deer if you wanted..yuck btw haha) then add your drained beans and tomatoes. Mix together and then add can of tomato sauce. Stir and add water til the water is over the beans and tomatoes. Add all seasonings in and simmer.

You can now add topping of choice, the same ones you like on your tacos. We like:

green onions
black olives
sour cream(joe)
shredded cheese
avocado

This is so good. You can even substitute some of the beans for black beans if you like them. I hope y'all enjoy this as much as we do.

Pineapple Casserole

Tonight, I had to use 3 slices of pineapple, just 3. I had tons left so I thought, "what am I going to do w/these little babies?" Then it hit me. Joe's cousin, Chuck(if you know him, you love him. He cracks us up) loves Pineapple Casserole. His wife made it for us one night and we all loved it. SO I decided to make this. SO thank you Chuck and Amy for giving us something new :)

Pineapple Casserole

1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks-drain liquid and reserve
1/2C sugar
3 tbsp flour
3tbsp pineapple juice
1 C grated cheddar cheese
1/3C butter(or less if you don't want to use that much)
1C crushed Ritz crackers(I just crushed a half of a bag and used that LOL)

Mix 1st five ingredients together and pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle the crushed crackers on top and then pour butter on top of the crackers. Bake at 350 for 20 min. VERY GOOD.

I know these ingredients don't sound like they would be good together. BUT they are very good. Try it and you will see :)

Fiesta Fish

3-4 Tilapia fillets(or any white fish)
2 lemons or limes
Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning blend
your favorite salsa

Jasmine Rice


In a 9x13 baking dish(not metal, I use glass) lay fish side by side. Squeeze lemon(or lime)juice all over fish and if desired sprinkle fish w/the zest. Then sprinkle fish w/the Mrs. Dash seasoning and add a spoonful of Salsa on top. Bake fish at 375 til fish flakes w/a fork.

Serve over Jasmine Rice. Very yummy and healthy!!!!

Tilapia is a very mild fish. It isn't "fishy" tasting at all. If you just are not a fish person, try this w/chicken. ;)