Monday, June 27, 2016

Happy 4th of July 2016!


I hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July!
My parents are coming up for a visit, and we plan on heading up north to spend some time with family and enjoy some quality beach time.

It's a place my family has been going since 1979, and, well, it's just special.
My poor (stuck in the south) father is jonesing for some lobster and steamers and my mom is just happy to be with her family.

That being said, I will be taking a bloggy break for this week and maybe even next week, I have not decided yet.

I will leave you with a recipe round up for all your cookout needs!
What do you plan on making?



Appetizers:





















Side Dishes:























Main Dish:






















Dessert:

























Sunday, June 26, 2016

Week in Review Week 25: June 19- June 25, 2016

Sunday June 19, 2016
Meatloaf
Glazed Ginger Carrots
Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

Monday June 20, 2016
Leftovers

Tuesday June 21, 2016
Popcorn

Wednesday June 22, 2016
Noodles and Butter

Thursday June 23, 2016
Beef and Veggie Stir Fry made especially for us by the girl child!

Friday June 24, 2016
Pizza.
(We were out for a co-worker's going away party)

Saturday June 25, 2016
Celery and Cream Cheese



Monday, June 20, 2016

Zesty Carrots

Mr. Fuzzy Bum the cat is scared to death of our stereo.
We think it is the bass, but as soon as he hears the power button click....he is GONE

Hubby had the music going while we were cleaning and doing all that fun stuff....so Lennon was just hanging out in our room. Enjoying the queen sized bed all to himself.

Then...the unthinkable.
Mom opened a can of tuna.
He heard it. He could smell it....but that scary noise box was still going.
What to do, what to do?

Solution: I will stand in the doorway and yowl loudly. My people will take pity on me and make the world a better place.
(we all remember what happened the last time he didn't get tuna juice, right?)

Hubby, who is pretty anti cat....reminded me again why I married him.
He heard Lennon. Stopped the music. Walked down the hall and talked to him. Walked him all the way out to the kitchen, and brought him right to the bowl of juice.

MELT!

Side note...actually about the food...
I do not care for spicy food. I just don't have the taste buds for it. These carrots made me nervous.
I ate them. My friend who is worse than me about spice ate them.
Try them, don't let the horseradish scare you!

Ingredients:
2 Lbs baby carrots
⅔ Cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp grated onion
2 Tbsp prepared horseradish
¼ Tsp salt
½ Tsp ground pepper
½ Tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Cup panko crumbs
¼ Cup butter (melted)


Directions:
1. Cook carrots until tender
2. Reserve 3 Tbsp of the carrot water
3. Spoon carrots into 2 quart baking dish
4. In bowl, combine mayonnaise, carrot liquid, onion, horseradish, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire
5. Spoon mixture over carrots
6. Combine breadcrumbs and butter, sprinkle over carrots
7. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes

Print




Recipe adapted from My Recipes

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Week in Review Week 24: June 12- June 18, 2016

Sunday June 12, 2016
Leftover Chicken Fingers
Potato Salad

Monday June 13, 2016
Baked Potato
Leftover Chicken Fingers

Tuesday June 14, 2016
Pork Chops
Mashed Potato

Wednesday June 15, 2016
Chicken Soup
Asparagus Soup
Baked Beans

Leftover Chicken Legs
Leftover Potato Salad.

Thursday June 16, 2016
Frozen Pizza
Salad
Homemade Peppercorn Dressing

Friday June 17, 2016
Chinese

Saturday June 18, 2016
Leftover Chinese


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Krispy Kreme Donut Cake

Have you ever had a Krispy Kreme?
I mean, visit NC and get one of the original, not from a grocery store box or some random location like in NYNY in Vegas?


It's a life changing experience.

I brought hubby down south and told him about Krispy Kreme. He said "what's the big deal about some donuts?"
Yeah, famous last words.

We went to the store, and waited.
What were we waiting for?
This sign.
It matters that much.
He ate six. We are lucky we all even got any!

Fast forward to living in New England. No Krispy Kreme to be found.
Sigh.
Walking through the store one day, what do I see?

Hmmmmmm.
I had to get it and make it.
In the name of science and some junk.

I got it.
I made it.
We ate it.
It was good.
But, well, I expected more.

I would get it again...but it does not (in any way) taste like a Krispy Kreme.
Oh well!



Monday, June 13, 2016

Tortellini Appetizer

This weekend was busy busy busy

Friday night we went out to celebrate my sister in law's birthday. It's a fave restaurant of theirs, so that is always a pleasant surprise for the birthday person! Hubby and I decided to share a new type of pizza that we had never heard of before and it was delicious! I am going to try to replicate it one of these days.

Saturday was my not-so-little cousin's graduation party!
Pretty much the whole family was there. We all ate, laughed, and just had a great time together.
Per usual, I got asked to bring
Deviled Eggs
Garlic Knots

My cousin J spent the night after the graduation party.
We got up in the morning and she made me a rhubarb custard pie and rhubarb sauce!

Sunday was a surprise 25th anniversary party for my aunt and uncle. It was fun being with them all day Saturday...and wondering if someone was going to spill the beans. Nobody did, yay us!
Just a small gathering, which included all of the wedding party except 3. (one has since passed, one could not get off of work, and one had a sick family member to care for)
I brought:
Fudgy Frosted Brownies
Strawberry Shortcake

Came home to relax and ended up making a big potato salad for us to munch on during the week.


Ingredients:
18 Cheese tortellini
¼ Cup Italian dressing
6 Thin slices of provelone cheese
6 Thin slices of hard salami
18 Large green olives


Directions:
1. Cook tortellini according to package directions
2. Drain and rinse in cold water
3. Combine tortellini and salad dressing. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
4. Slice cheese and salami into thirds
5. Roll meat and cheese, place on toothpick
6. Add a tortellini
7. Finish with an olive

Print





Come party with me HERE!
Adapted from: Taste of Home

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Week in Review Week 23: June 5- June 11, 2016

Sunday June 5, 2016
Salad

Monday June 6, 2016
Tater Tots

Tuesday June 7, 2016
Macaroni and Cheese

Wednesday June 8, 2016
Reubens

Thursday June 9, 2016
Fish Sticks

Friday June 10, 2016
Out to dinner for my sister in law's birthday

Saturday June 11, 2016
Lobster
Chicken Fingers
Macaroni and Cheese





Monday, June 6, 2016

Cheeseburger Quesadillas

It is that wicked crazy time of year!
I feel like we are running around at 90 mph with no brakes.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer. We spent time with family at the coast and it was really relaxing. I did make a big batch of my chili for them and froze half so they could have it at a later date.

Short weeks at work are crazy weeks! We were straight out, and even our clients seemed a little more hectic than normal.

This weekend, my "little" cousin graduates. My use of quotes revolves around the fact that he is 6'4". Seriously. As short vertically challenged as I am, it's always awkward when we stand together and I look like the child and him the adult!

Next weekend is the graduation party for him as well as plenty of other social functions. For a homebody such as myself, this is craziness!



Ingredients:
1 Lb Ground beef
Salt and Pepper
¼ Cup Ketchup
⅛ Cup Mustard
2 Tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 Large flour tortillas
Optional Toppings: Relish, Cheese, Tomato, Onion, Pickles etc


Directions:
1. Brown ground beef, lightly season with salt and pepper. Drain.
2. Stir in ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire
3. Lay tortillas out and spread ¼ of the ground beef mix on half of each tortilla. Fold closed.
4. Cook in a large skillet until browned, flip and repeat
5. Add any toppings
6. Cut and serve

Print



Our particular additional toppings


Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats

Come party with me HERE!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Week in Review Week 22: May 29- June 4, 2016

Sunday May 29, 2016
Chili

Monday May 30, 2016
Omelette and Toast

Tuesday May 31, 2016
Burger King

Wednesday June 1, 2016
Pizza

Thursday June 2, 2016
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

Friday June 3, 2016
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Saturday June 4, 2016
Mushroom and Cream Cheese Enchiladas