Apple Crisp

Today, I helped make Apple Crisp with my sister and niece. They did most of the work... I just got to use the cool apple de-corer/peeler!

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp Recipe

• 4-6 apples
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup melted margarine
• Peel and slice 4-6 medium apples. Place into 8 x 8 pan. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with some ice cream and enjoy!

My niece did most of the work! 

Things I've Learned

• I enjoy cooking with other people especially my awesome family!

Chicken Fajitas

I'm did another freezer meal recipe today and made the Crockpot Chicken Fajitas.

Chicken Fajitas

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas Recipe

• 6 chicken tender or 1 lb chicken breast (I used almost 3 lbs of chicken breast.)
• 1 medium onion sliced (I chopped mine... oops.)
• 1 medium green pepper sliced
• 2 cups salsa
• 1 can of green chiles
• 1 pakage of fajita seasonings
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• Place all items in freezer bag. Toss and freeze flat. When ready to cook place all ingredients in crockpot and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Remove chicken from mix, shred and then add back into the mix. Serve with warm tortillas, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy! 

Things I've Learned

• I would say freezer meals are great for if you want to give a meal to a new mom or someone who is ill, but I think it would have been easier for me to spend a half hour a day throwing everything into a crockpot instead of 4 hours making 4 meals to freeze.
• This was my husbands favorite recipe, which means it was almost too spicy for me. Still yummy and bearable, though I wouldn't recommend it to people with sensitivity to spicy foods.

Italian Sausage

I did another freezer meal recipe yesterday and made the Crockpot Italian Sausage Recipe.

Italian Sausage 

Crockpot Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

• 1 lb Italian Sausage Links
• 1 large pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cups diced tomatoes (I used 1 14.5 oz can.)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• Mix all ingredients in freezer bag and freeze. (I made the mistake of putting the links in first, which makes it a little more difficult to mix up.) When ready to cook, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve on warm hotdog buns and enjoy!

Things I've Learned

• Marinating meat is the best! YUM YUM YUM!

Black Bean Chili

I did another freezer meal recipe today and made the Crockpot Black Bean Chili.

Black Bean Chili

Crockpot Black Bean Chili Recipe

• 1 lb ground beef cooked and drained (I forgot the beef.)
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 medium green pepper chopped
• 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (I bought 14 oz cans, so I added an extra can.)
• 2 12 oz cans of black beans (or kidney or pinto beans if you prefer)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbs cumin
• 1 Tbs chili powder
• Place all items in freezer bag, lay flat, and freeze. When ready to cook, place all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with warm cornbread muffins and enjoy!

Things I've Learned

• I love love love that this site has a shopping list to print at the bottom of the page! It was so handy to have while out shopping!!!! Even though I still accidentally forgot the beef. Ooops.
• I can't stress this enough if you have room in the freezer and a small crockpot DO NOT lay flat to freeze!

Crying Back Into Cooking

Alright, so I have failed over the last couple months at my new years resolution which is sad, but I'm actually crying because of all the onions I've had to cut for my freezer meals for the week. Summer has been pretty busy, but this week I'm going to get back to cooking (and hopefully once school starts catch up on scrap booking). I am pretty excited to try these freezer meals this week!

Pasta Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

• 2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes (Oops I used only 2 14.5 oz cans.)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 Tbs garlic chopped (I used garlic powder.)
• 1 Tbs oregano
• 1 Tbs basil
• 1 Tbs thyme
• 1/2 Tbs herbs de provence (I've never heard of this and couldn't find it, so I skipped it.)
• 1 cup white wine (I used chicken broth.)
• Place all ingredients in freezer bag, lay flat, and freeze. When ready to cook, put all ingredients in a crockpot on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve over cooked spaghetti. (I cooked on high for 4 hours.)
• I would say this sauce is boring with hardly no flavor at all. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone to try... if you do maybe double the seasonings?

Things I've Learned

• I cut one onion and felt like I was dying! Then I looked at the other recipes and realized almost everyone calls for an onion. I used this article online to figure out a better way to cut onions. I tried to freeze the onions for 15 minutes (which turned into an hour with toddlers needing breakfast, hair done, potty time, etc). Plus, I cut them under the oven fan on high. I have pretty sensitive eyes when it comes to onion cutting, so I would say it was for sure better than just cutting. My eyes never watered so much that I couldn't see, so I guess it was a success.
• I would have to say do not lay flat to  freeze if you have the room in your freezer. I had to cut it in half in order to get it to kind of fit in the crockpot, but I have kind of a small crockpot.
• I hate onions!!!! I don't think I will ever get rid of the smell. I am never cooking with onions again!

Banana Muffins

Today I made this classic banana muffin recipe. We have been eating them for a few days. They make great breakfasts and excellent little snacks too!

Banana Muffins

These were a huge success!!!! Everyone loved them!

Classic Banana Muffins Recipe

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 mashed bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/4 cup yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin liners or lightly grease muffin pan. Set aside. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in large bowl; set aside. Mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla with wooden spoon in medium bowl. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape batter into prepared muffin cups; bake until muffins are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

They were picked at before I even got a picture. :-)

Things I've Learned

• This whole using a spatula to fold wet ingredients into dry is kind of a huge deal! Before I almost always resorted to mixing with my hands. With this spatula technique I don't feel as inclined to do so!

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

I decided to make these chicken nuggets for the girls for dinner today. I wish I could say the girls ate lots of them, but they didn't.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

I thought they were delicious though.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe

• 3 whole, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp Italian seasonings
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup oil
• Place chicken, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, cayenne and 1 tsp of salt in the food processor and process until smooth. Combine 1 tsp salt with flour in a bowl and beaten eggs in another bowl. Roll the chicken paste into a small tablespoon size ball and flatten. After dipping in egg on both sides, dip into flour. Make sure both sides are coated well. Place them on a plate or baking sheet until you are ready to fry them. Heat oil in a large fry pan and place as many as will fit without overlapping. Fry 3-5 minutes on each side until browned. Find your thickest nugget and check to make sure inside is not pink. If cooked thoroughly enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!

They don't take much.

I don't have a food processor,
so I tried our Bullet and Blender.
Neither really worked that great.

Frying away...

... and all fried up!

Full chicken bites for Jason and I.

Yum!!!!

Things I've Learned

• A blender does not work the same as a food processor.

"Pink" Chocolate Cookies

Tonight the girls and I made these cookies together. I didn't have the same cake mix as the one in the recipe, so I tried to dye the cookies pink. The girls wanted pink cookies. They had a little pink in them...

"Pink" Chocolate Cookies

All cookies are yummy!!!!

Pink Velvet White Chocolate Cookies Recipes

• 1 box Pink Velvet Cake Mix (I only had Classic Yellow Cake Mix.)
• 1 stick (8 oz butter)
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup white chocolate chips (I used chocolate chips.)
• Combine butter, egg, vanilla, and cream cheese. Slowly add in cake mix until fully combined. Stir in white chocolate chips. Roll chilled dough into one inch balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow the cookies to cool before eating. Enjoy!

Girls ready to help make cookies!

All you need.

Such great helpers!

Mixed up!

Ready to go in!

Crumbly when they first come out,
but amazingly moist once the cool!

Things I've Learned

• The girls are excellent sweet little helpers! :-)