Cooking up a storm!

As I mentioned here, one of my new year’s resolutions is to be more organized with meal prep, shopping, planning etc.  I am happy to report that this is going well (2^nd week of the year…lol) and I am on dinner #4 for this week!!

Here’s what I have cooked!!

Monday: Baked Spaghetti

I use the recipe that I posted about here….of course it always changes a bit, depending on what I have in the cupboard.  This week it was penne noodles, since I was out of spaghetti noodles.  Always a hot though…and the leftovers are perfect for my hubby to take to work.

Tuesday: Cheesy potatoes w/ Smoked Sausage

I tried this recipe that I found on Pinterest.  It was good…but maybe a little TOO cheesy (can’t believe I am even saying that).  Will make again, but will tone down the cheese next time!

 

Source: food.com via Annie on Pinterest

Wednesday: Italian Wedding Soup

No picture for this…but it’s good…and here is the recipe:

1 pound of sausage (I use Turkey sausage)

2 large boxes cans of chicken broth
½ box acini de pepe (8 oz) (I use a little less I think)
1 bunch of fresh spinach
Italian seasoning

Brown sausage, drain.  I sprinkle in some Italian seasoning (approx. 1 table spoon) add chicken broth.  Bring to boil, add ½ box of the acini de pepe and spinach.  Simmer on low for 20 minutes.

 

Thursday: Tacos

 

Tonight is taco night....can't go wrong there!!

 

 

~Yay for week 1...patting myself on the back.  Lets hope this trend sticks for a bit!~

 

Oh, How Pinteresting...

I am linking up with Michelle...(I know post overload today)

Pinning....one of my fav hobbies :)

Love this look:

Source: asequindressatbreakfast.net via Annie on Pinterest

How cool is this? Blake would DIE!

Source: thecreativemama.com via Annie on Pinterest

Cutsie pumpkins...

Source: dandelionsdragonflies.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

I made this last night. This pic is not very appitizing...but it was GOOD (and super easy)!

Source: goingjane.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

I could totally make this...I think I will :)

Source: sweetdaisydesigns.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

 

What are you pinning?! Follow me here!

Hey Good Lookin...What Cha Been Cooking?!

I have been cooking up some of the recipes that I have been pinning, and I thought that I would share some of my finds :)

Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini
This one was GOOD. I think that it will become a summer staple. We do grilled chicken and veggies a lot, but the tortellini added a good carb to the mix!

Source: myrecipes.com via Annie on Pinterest

Lawnmower Taco - freezer meal or make & bake!
This was good and super easy...using ingredients that I always have on hand. It was like Nachos....but in casserole format! Topped it with lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream, taco sauce...Yum!

Source: lifeasmom.com via Annie on Pinterest

Best Steak Marinade 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup olive oil 1/3 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder 3 Tbsp dried basil 1 1/2 Tbsp dried parsley flakes 1 tsp ground white pepper 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp minced garlic Combine all ingredients. Pour marinade over meat. Cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Cook meat as desired.

I did this on flank steak and then grilled, so good!

Source: plainchicken.com via Annie on Pinterest

Calzones
This was easy and good for a change of pace for dinner...will def. make again!

Source: family.go.com via Annie on Pinterest

Banana Bars
I always have leftover bananas...tried this this past weekend...good...makes a HUGE batch though. We couldn't eat it all. May cut it in half next time!

Source: melskitchencafe.com via Annie on Pinterest

Banana Cookies
These are my favorite. I make these often and they always turn out SO good!

Source: chef-in-training.com via Annie on Pinterest

Cinnamon Rolls in the Waffle Maker!
What!? Crazy...but we tried it and it was yummy. I dont think that I will do it ALL of the time...but it was a fun little Saturday morning treat for the whole family!

Source: Uploaded by user via Annie on Pinterest

Have any of you found yummy recipies that you could share with me!? I love trying new things...Pinterest usually comes through for me....but sometimes the recipies that LOOK good on there are flops!

Tasty Tuesday

I am hope with the kids today. My mom usually watches them on Tuesday's, but she and my dad are on a cruise right now {jealous}. That means that I get a bonus day off of work at home with the kiddo's!!

We have been busy playing, cleaning, and cooking. I don't know about you but we OFTEN have bananas in the house that get too ripe to just eat. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and I made it today. I have to say that this one gets 2 thumbs up! YUMM. It was super easy and they taste super delish!! Livi LOVED them.

Source: chef-in-training.com via Annie on Pinterest

I will definitely make these cookies again...and I recommend that you make them too :)

Tasty Tuesday

I have been trying lots of new recipes...most of them from Pinterest. I set a goal for myself to try at least ONE new one a week. I made this last night.....
Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup:

You can click on the picture to get the link to the recipe. I tweaked in a bit. I always try to make things "lighter." This isn't the healthiest meal, but I lightened it up with milk (instead of half and half), and low-fat anything when I could.

On a scale from 1 to 5, I would give it a 3...it was OK. Nothing to blow your socks off...but warmed me up on a cold night, so that was good! It was easy to make. Had left-overs today for lunch, so that is a bonus!
Ryan likes anything, so he is not a good judge. He NEVER complains about my cooking (bless his little heart).

Food, food, food....

SO..I have been really thinking that I need to be careful with what I eat. I have been thinking about counting all of my 'points.' I have been thinking about loosing weight (or maintaining my weight loss). Notice that I say THINKING about each of these things. Because, lets be honest, I am NOT doing very good at any of it.

Take a few recent examples:

Our Super Bowl Sunday spread....

Sunday was pretty much an all day eat-fest. Oh well....that is to be expects, right?!

And then...I keep seeing all sorts of recipes on everyones blogs that I nee to try. I have been really trying to plan ahead and have our dinners prepared/organized in advance. This makes my days less stressful and my night more relaxing. Honestly, I try to reduce the calories in each recipe by using low-fat or no-fat alternatives...and cooking is better than going out, right? Right.

I tried Jennifer's Beef Enchilada recipe. Ryan told me that these were "way better" that what I usually cook. LOL....I guess I know what he thought of my old recipe! Really the only difference was the addition of the Hormel Turkey Chili (no beans)...but it made the sauce much better.

I also recently made taco soup. This was from a recipe that I ran across too...I think that I originally got the idea from Tiffany here, but adapted just a tad b/c of what I had in the pantry.

Tonight I am making Chicken and Rice. One of our old favorites. I think that our dinners will get lower in calories when we can grill outside and eat some nice fresh veggies (excuses, excuses...I am sure that I will come up with another then :))

Super Bowl Sunday

My mom and dad have a party each year for Super Bowl, so we are heading there for the big game. There is always WAY too much food and I spend the entire game bellied up to the bar (eating) and NOT paying attention to the game. I guess that is why I like it so much!

This is what we typically have:
meatballs
bbq pork sammies
veggies and dip
nacho dip and chips
shrimp cocktail
quacamole and chips
veggie pizza
desserts
etc.

(gotta stop..getting hungry)

I am making this:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

(google image)

Ingredients
2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

I got this recipe from a friend *well actually a friend's mom* and have only made it once before, but it was a huge hit...and seems like perfect Super Bowl Sunday food. Hot Wings and Dip all rolled into one!

1st and foremost, I am not a fan of canned meat (tuna, spam, chicken..ANY...the though just makes me queasy)...but I had tried this at a party not knowing that it was canned meat...and liked it, so I knew that it would be good!

I used the food processor to chop my chicken up real small.

THEN, combine all of the ingredients. Add about 1/2 the cheese to the mixture, save the other 1/2 to sprinkle on top.

Bake till it gets warm and gooey and serve with chips or crackers.

It'll be a hit...trust me!

OK...Play Ball...(or whatever they say for football!)

Top 2 Tuesdays! Recipes

Taylor at Jimmy Choos and Baby too is trying something new this week! She has asked that we link up and share 2 of our favorite recipes. I am always looking at new recipes…so I thought that I would link up and share some of mine!

I have been trying to plan my week’s dinners in advance to save some hassle mid-week when I am not in the mood to think after work. Here are two that our family likes:

Spaghetti Bake….
Who doesn’t like spaghetti?!!? WELL...this spaghetti recipe is better that just plain old noodles and sauce….and you always have the ingredients at home. I sometimes substitute ground beef or turkey for the sausage…and it is just as good!! Find recipe here.

And

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
OK….if you would have told me a year ago that I would have eaten (and liked) this I would have told you NO WAY (beacuse of the name alone). BUT, I am trying to cook “outside of the box” for my hubs, since I didn’t use much meat (esp. red) before he was in the picture. AND I have been trying to use my crock pot…because that just makes things SO much easier. Ryan goes in to work at 6 a.m. and gets home at 4:45 p.m. I get home at 5, and needless to say, he is hungry like NOW…so the less work I have to do after 5 and before I get dinner on the table the better!

This recipe is super good and super easy b/c you use one of those slow cooker season packets…boil some egg noodles....and ta-da…dinner on the table! Find info on this recipe here.