Saturday Rice Krispies

Melt 3 Tbsp butter with 1 pkg marshmallows. Mix in rice cereal. Press into 9x13 dish coated with PAM. Top with more marshmallows, milk chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips. Toast (very carefully) under broiler until golden brown. Sink your teeth into the ooey gooey goodness! For Recipe, go here.

Chicken Pot Pie

Tonight, I made individual Chicken Pot Pies and they were OH SO YUMMY! I got on Food Network's website and looked at the recipes to see which ones were 1. easy 2. highly rated and 3. listed ingredients that I had in my fridge. I came across Ina Garten's Chicken Pot Pie recipe, which was very highly rated, so I decided to use it.

You can actually take it from an Intermediate level to Easy by simplifying some of the steps. For example, I roasted a Chicken last week and cut it up, saved the broth & stored in my fridge, so that step was done prior. I also bought refrigerated pie crusts (not frozen) & was able to omit this step as well. Then the only other prep that was left to do was cut up the onion and carrot. I added green beans & omitted the small onions & parsley to mine. Oh and I also cut the butter way back to about 1/2 a stick or 5 Tbsp. (cut down on broth as well to balance out... but not the cream!). This was delicious and will definitely be saved in my recipe rotation for future! I served rice and salad on the side.

Here is how I modified the recipe to fit our needs:

1 1/2 - 2 cups cubed chicken (from roasted chicken)
2 cups homemade chicken broth (fat drained off)
1 chicken bouillion cube
5 Tbsp. butter
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/4 - 1/2 cups flour
1 cup diced carrots (about 2-3)
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup green beans
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 pkg. refrigerated pie dough

I would definitely recommend this recipe. Delicious!

Blueberry Breakfast & A Beautiful Morning

This is what Olivia had for breakfast this morning! Is she not the most spoiled thing?! She doesn't know how good she has it! Ha ha ha! She LOVES blueberries! What a great eater I have.

Cinnamon Pear Oatmeal with Blueberries
1/4 cup cooked Steel Cut Oats (Organic)
Pureed pears
Blueberries
Dash of cinnamon

Mix pears in warm oatmeal. Add a dash or two of cinammon and mix well. Top with blueberries.
Hear the "mmmm"s and both of you enjoy!

When I awake in the mornings, what more could I ask for than to see such a happy, smily face!? Blessed is always the word that comes to mind, but is always such an understatement as well!

This picture is an oldie.. she was about 2 months old.

A Texas Sunday

Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest! But, I didn't want to rest! For some reason, I had the uncontrollable urge to bake! And something chocolate! So, what was to fill this desire? Why a homemade Texas Sheet Cake, of course!

I got this recipe from a friend who had the great idea to include a few of her favorite recipes in with the wedding gift she gave me at one of my bridal showers. This was actually one of three recipes she gave me and the first time I've tried this particular one out. I can't believe I waited this long to try such a delicious recipe! This is how we roll in Texas, ya'll! Lots of butter and sugar! Enjoy!

Texas Sheet Cake
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp. mexican vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, & salt in a mixing bowl and mix well. Bring the butter, cocoa powder, and 3/4 c. water to a boil in a medium saucempan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Pour into the flour mixture. Beat on medium to high speed until combined. Add the eggs, buttermilk & vanilla; beat 1 minute. Batter will be thin. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool slightly and then pour warm frosting over the cake and spread evenly over top. Let stand until cool at room temp.

Chocolate Buttermilk Icing
1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter
3 Tbsp. buttermilk
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/4 c. sifted powder sugar
1/2 tsp. mexican vanilla
3/4 c. shopped pecans (optional)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Bring butter, cocoa powder & buttermilk to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Add powdered sugar & vanilla & stir until smooth. Stir in pecans.

And, now, for your Sunday HAM...

Hope you have a blessed week!

Yummy Homemade Nachos

Here's some Mexican food before all the turkey! Tonight, I made nachos and Anthony LOVED them. Probably cause I did more than sprinkle cheese on some chips. He specifically said I need to make note of what I did so I can make them for him again- yay! That's what I'm talkin' about- haha! Heres what I did / "recipe"!

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (small-medium sized - depending on how many you are feeding)
small amount of Cilantro
1/2-1 lime
Tostito's Restaurant Style white corn chips
Ranch style Pinto beans with jalapenos
Cheese (mexican style or monterrey jack mix)
Guacamole (recipe below)
Simple salsa (recipe below)
Sour cream

Salt and pepper chicken breasts and chop up the cilantro. Place chicken and cilantro into a ziploc baggy. Squeeze the lime juice into the bag and onto chicken. Close bag and massage chicken with cilantro and juice until chicken is coated well. Stick in fridge and marinate about 4 hours. Cook chicken on grill after done marinating. Set aside.

Place chips in a single layer onto a foil lined baking sheet . I try to avoid layering the chips onto each other, so almost every chip gets topped with yumminess. Drain beans and sprinkle them evenly over chips. Sprinkle cheese on top. Slice chicken to your liking and place slices over cheese. Broil nachos until cheese is melted and bubbly and chips are slightly golden. Let nachos rest a few minutes. Then top with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. Enjoy!

Simple salsa
bunch green onions
bunch cilantro
2-3 jalapenos
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 lime
1/2 lemon
salt
pepper
Rough chop onions, cilantro and jalapenos and pulse in blender or food processor (depending on how "chunky" you like your salsa). Add tomatoes, lemon, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Pulse until blended together. Chill 6 hours before serving.

Simple guacamole
1 avocado
garlic salt to taste

Mix together with a fork until guac is smooth.