The Christmas Punch....

....that my family loves. I had to make more today bc my son likes it so much ;)

I am not very sure where exactly I got this recipe or why I even decided that we needed to have some punch yesterday but here is what we enjoyed...

Fruit Punch
Cranberry Juice
Ginger Ale
Pineapple Juice

Mix all the ingredients a little at a time(I didn't measure at all, just poured half the punch, half the other juices and soda until punch bowl was full). Stir and serve. You can also add Sherbert, sorbet or ice cream to it if you want. Some of us in my family(including me) are Lactose Intolerant so I just left that out. It's a very pretty red and very yummy. Today, I just added it to a pitcher so it's easier to store in fridge.

If you've never made these....

S'mores Cookies

YOU MUST. So easy and so so yummy. I made these today for my Nail Tech. What would I do w/out her??? :)

I found this recipe via Pinterest (I am in love w/Pinterest btw) and I had to tell y'all that this recipe is a keeper! So Glad I found it!

The Girl Who Ate Everything


I hope Dee enjoys these little treasures as much as I did...bc you know I had to test it out first to make sure it was a worthy gift ;) hahahahahaha

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

1 lb ground beef/turkey
1 can tomato soup
1 chopped onion
1cup uncooked rice
1cup water
1 jar taco sauce (I used the mild bc of my son)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 tsp Cumin
2tsp chili powder
4 red peppers or pablanos
Colby Jack cheese (or whatever you like)

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef/turkey. Add the taco seasoning and water, mix well. Add the chopped onion, uncooked rice, tomato soup, jar of taco sauce, and seasonings. If it is still very thick, you can add more water. It needs to be a little thick though, too much water and your peppers will be soggy. Cook this for about 10min on the stove on low heat. In the meantime, Cut your peppers in half and clean the seeds out. Wash the peppers and dry them off. Put them in a 9x13 pan and then add the mixture to the peppers. Add some cheese on top. Then place foil over the top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Your cheese will be melted and the peppers will be tender.

These are very good. Joe enjoyed them I guess, his plate was licked clean :D LOL

Taco Soup

This is really one of the easiest recipes ever. Really. It's also, "smack your mama" good. You can get very creative w/this, add Ground beef, Ground turkey, Shredded Chicken, Shredded pork and tons of veggies like black olives and green onions.

3cans diced tomatoes
3 cans corn
2cans great northern beans
1pkg taco seasoning
1pkg ranch seasoning
one can of water

This alone is my "meatless Monday" soup that we are eating tonight. However, if you gotta have the meat then add whatever you like. Cook this on the stove OR do what I do;

ADD EVERYTHING TO YOUR CROCK POT :0 win!

If you don't have time to cook chicken then shred it, you can use a whole cooked chicken that you buy OR leftover chicken(or pork roast) and add it. Ground beef/turkey is very good also. OUR favorite way is to serve it w/tortilla chips, and sprinkle cheese on top :) It is very very good.

*that is Aiden's second bowl :D I think he likes it.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

4 bone-in Chicken breast
one bottle(12 oz) Franks RedHot sauce
one bottle(16oz)Ranch Dressing
3 (8oz each) cream cheese
celery flakes
Shredded cheese of choice(I actually shred my own cheese bc I think pre-shredded makes this oily)
Celery sticks,crackers,chips....



In a large pan, boil the chicken breast till done. take out and let cool. In the meantime, Add cream cheese to Mixer bowl and beat cream cheese until smooth. Add ranch dressing and mix well. In food processor, I add the chicken(take chicken off bones in chunks)and shred it up. Add the chicken to the cheese/ranch mixture and mix well. Then add the whole bottle of hot sauce. Mix this together well and add about 2tsp of celery flakes.Add as much shredded cheese as you like(I add about a cup) stir well and pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 til bubbly. In the last 5min of baking add some more cheese on top if desired and allow to melt.

this is good stuff. Serve w/Celery sticks, an assortment of crackers and tortilla chips. This is spicy and children may not like it...there's your warning lol.

You can bake this in the oven, then add to a crockpot to keep warm. :)

Aiden's fav mac and cheese

Ok, I know what you're thinking. It's gotta be the kind w/shells and that glop of velveta cheese right? WRONG. This is very easy and so so much better than that other stuff. You can get creative and throw extra stuff in this, will not hurt my feelings.

Any pasta you like, tonight I used Shells. I used 1/2 lb(so half of the box)
Shredded cheese. I used Colby Jack and Cheddar tonight. But have used all kinds.
Small curd cottage cheese
salt
pepper
ground red pepper

Boil your pasta until al dente. Drain water really well from pasta. Pour pasta back into pot. Add 8oz of cottage cheese, and the shredded cheese a little at a time. Stir. The Cheese will slowly melt. Keep adding cheese until it's cheesy enough for YOU. Joe and Aiden like cheesy, I like whatever(being Lactose Intolerant, I will have to take a whole box of Lactaid to eat this ROFL) Add salt,and peppers. Stir, and taste.

Now, you can use any combination of cheese you want. Be creative, try different kinds. You can add some ground turkey to this(or beef), some veggies and you have a one pot meal.

I know, I know, this is not a "magical" recipe lmao, but you don't have to use flour, and the cottage cheese helps to make this creamy. You can bake this w/some extra cheese on top or some bread crumbs.HOWEVER, Mr. Joe doesn't like baked mac and cheese. He wants creamy.

Baked Oatmeal

1 1/2C of Old Fashioned Oats
1 1/2 Tsp cinnamon
1/4tsp salt
1/4tsp nutmeg
3tbsp splenda brown sugar
3tbsp maple syrup
1 banana, mashed
one large granny smith apple, diced
1/2C chopped pecans or walnuts
1 1/4 C milk(I use Soy milk)

Preheat your oven to 350. Spray a baking dish w/cooking spray. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix together well. Pour and spread out into baking dish. I sprinkle a little more brown sugar on top to have a "crunch". Bake in oven for 20-25min until lightly browned.

This is where you can get creative. You can add yogurt, honey, more maple syrup, fresh fruit, warm milk, even your favorite jam. I like to warm up a half a cup of milk and pour over my oatmeal. If you've never had baked oatmeal, you have to try it. I have another recipe on here called "Amish Oatmeal" that is so so good. It's a favorite for my whole family. I serve it Christmas morning and it's the one time where there's complete silence in my house LOL. If you want to switch up, try adding diced pears instead of apples. Omit the banana if you don't have any or don't like them. Very comforting.