changes for 2012

So i found this on another blog and i have decided that this will be one of my changes for 2012.
I will clean more, cook more, and work out more. Here is my cleaning list i will be trying to stick too.

Daily Cleaning List:

1. Make beds
2. Wipe sink and clean toilet
3. Do dishes after every meal and sweep after dishes are done
4. Keep all rooms picked up. Pick up before each meal and make sure everything is in order. Make sure children pick up toys when they are finished before they go on to something else
5. Run a duster over main surfaces
6. Do laundry about 5 days a week – keeping hampers almost empty
7. Vacuum main traffic areas
8. File papers

Weekly Cleaning List:

1. Clean bathroom. Do bathtub and shower walls. Clean mirrors and sinks. Clean toilet, wiping all around the outside and floors around toilet by hand.
2. Vacuum each room
3. Dust, including frames and figurines – dusting under everything
4. Sweep and mop floors
5. Clean out fridge, getting rid of leftovers and wiping up spills
6. Wipe off outside of all appliances
7. Change sheets on beds
8. Sweep down cobwebs
   from:Jill's home remedies

Peanut Butter and Banana Sweet Rolls

recipe and pic  from pillsbury.com

These are amazing, and only THREE yes thats right i said THREE ingredients. 

My 2 year old loves them too!

1 can (12.4-oz ) Pillsbury refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls

1 banana

1/2 cup peanut butter

Bake Cinnamon rolls as directed, 

In a bowl mash 1 banana mix in peanut butter

and reserved icing until blended to make peanut butter dipping sauce.

If its to think add a dab of water. 

So its starting to get cold here in Texas. Its one of them rainy, gloomy, cold, days i just love. hehehe

I have got Chicken n' Dumplings in the crock pot. Willow, Jacqueline, i just got done watching 

Beauty and the Beast. The Christmas one on Disney channel. We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  

I pretty much have the house cleaned, and after lunch the girls and i are going to go look at a new apartment. 725 dollars is just way to much for us to be paying in rent right now. This new apartment that we will be looking at is only 550 a month. Can you say extra money if we get it. 

Today has been a pretty awesome day, Just wish my husband was off last night and today so that 

we would be able to have some good ol' family time today. Later on today the girls get to see their nanny. YAY! They always love to have Nanny time. 

Cock pot Chicken and Dumplings

3 chicken breast (i already had some cooked and shredded in the freezer)

A box of chicken stock 

poultry sensing

garlic powder

sage

1 can chicken gravy

2 carrots chopped up small

4 celery chopped up small

1/2 onion chopped up small

Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. 

I really do not measure the spices i just put how much i think it needs.

so you be the judge:)

if you use raw chicken in it put it on bottom and throw everything on top.

cook about 6 to 8 hours on low

you can also use cream of chicken. its good with that too

crock pot cream cheese chicken chili
2 chicken breast
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 can whole kernel corn (do not drain)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1t chili powder
1t onion powder
1t garlic powder
1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese
place chicken in crock pot. top with corn, rotel, beans, ranch dressing mix, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder. stir to combine. Then top with cream cheese. cook on low for 6-8 hours stirring once or twice to mix in cream cheese.  When done shred chicken and serve over rice:)

Firecrackers!!!
a box of Saltines
1 1/2 cups of oil
1 ranch dressing pkg.
2 tsp. of garlic powder
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Mix, pour over Saltines in a container, serve after 24 hours of coating.
My mom use to make these all the time when i was a kid. I would eat them like candy. SOOOO GOOD!

Cowboy Casserole
 from a recipe at The cutting edge of ordinary
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I used 80/20)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (15.25oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 bag (30 oz) frozen tater tots (I used Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns)

Before I got ready to make this casserole, I let the Crispy Crowns sit on the counter to defrost for an hour or so. The original recipe used still frozen tater tots, but I felt they wouldn't cook as well if they were still frozen solid.

In a large skillet cook the onion until tender and translucent. Add the chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the beef and cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the mixture and place into a large bowl and set aside.

In a small bowl combine the soup, milk and sour cream. Whisk until smooth. Add to hamburger mixture and stir to combine. Add corn and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Gently mix to combine.

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the Crispy Crowns on the bottom, pour the hamburger mixture over the top and then layer with the other half of the Crispy Crowns. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.

snack attack

Nutella Puppy Chow

1/2 cup butter

1 cup Nutella

3/4 cup chocolate chip9s (semi-sweet or dark)

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

2/3 cups hazelnuts

13 cups of chex cereal 

3 cups powder sugar

preheat oven to 350, roast hazelnuts until light brown (about 8mins)

allow to cool and remove as much skin with a towel

Grind up hazelnuts  (food processor )

Put the Cereal in a large bowl

In a pan over medium-low heat, melt butter, chocolate, and white chocolate, stirring constantly.

When all is melted, remove from heat and add Nutella and stir until mixed in, then add hazelnuts and stir well.

Slowly pour over cereal.

Stir with your hands! (make sure they are clean first!) It is MUCH easier than with a spoon.  It may take some time since the the batter is thick.

Dump into a gallon size zip-lock bag and pour in powdered sugar. Start out with a little and add more as needed.  You don't want them TOO coated with powdered sugar because they will end up tasting to sweet. Zip up the back and shake it until they are coated

So i am sitting here trying to figure out some more healthy options for my almost 2 year old. I think she has been getting to much junk/fast food here lately  since Jacqueline has been born. So I am thinking i need something easy, fast, and healthy for her. I have found a few recipes i would like to try. I am going to go ahead and post them and then try them later when i get the chance to go to the store. 

Spinach Nuggets

1 16-oz  package frozen chopped spinach, cooked, drained, and chopped further if needed 
1 cup Seasoned bread crumbs - (3/4 cup breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup wheat germ or flax meal is a healthy substitution!) 
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese Try tomato & basil cheddar!)
3  Large eggsor 5 egg yolks

Heat oven to 375F

1. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. *Add seasonings if you  like - garlic powder, pepper, extra basil & oregano for example. Add a fruit or veggie puree to substitute for the eggs if desired*.
3. Shape mixture into nuggets or fun shapes such as squares or squigglies etc..and place on baking tray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turn nuggets over after 15 minutes. Serve warm 

You can "roll" this out and then try using small cookie cutters to make these into fun shapes!

Meatballs

1 pound ground turkey or ground beef
bread crumbs
wheat germ
1 egg
spices such as garlic, pepper, basil, thyme and/or oregano

Mix ground beef with approximately 
1 cup of bread crumbs, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1 egg and the spices you have chosen. 
Vary the measurements as you blend the ingredients, you may require more/less bread crumbs.

Roll into balls, bake at 375F until golden or for about 25-30 minutes. Do not allow these to burn. 
Cover the pan with tin foil to help prevent burning if need be.
Use a small baking pan so you may shake and roll the meatballs around - helps to keep even cooking . 
Cool, Wrap, Freeze!

Applesauce Pancakes

1 cup flour – 
1/4 teaspoon salt – 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 tablespoon melted butter – 
1/2 cup milk – 
1 beaten egg 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla – 
1 1/4 cups applesauce 

Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl. Combine butter, milk and egg. Stir into dry ingredients. Add vanilla and applesauce; beat well. Spoon batter into a hot, well greased griddle, enough batter to applesauce pancakes about 4 inches in diameter.  **Freezes Well**

Peanut butter & Banana Grilled Sandwich

Peanut Butter

Bananas

Whole Grain Bread

Warm frying pan
Lightly butter 2 slices of whole grain bread

When frying pan has warmed, lay one slice of bread butter-side down and spread with peanut butter and thinly sliced bananas

Top with remaining slice of bread; butter side up. Fry and flip sandwich as needed until bread becomes golden and toasted

This is our new little girl. Jacqueline Faith Emery. Born October 19th at 8:00am she was 8lbs 5oz and 20in long.
Sorry im just now getting around to updating my blog. These last 3 weeks have been pretty good. Jacqueline has started getting on a scheduale and i have more enegry now. Our other little girl Willow Rose is a great big sister. She has added the word "sister" to her vocabulary. Willow loves giving Jacqueline hugs and kisses. It is really cute.

Recipes to Remember

Recipe and Picture from landolakes

These recipes should be easy enough to throw together once baby Jacqueline comes into our lives. Cause i know that as little time as i have now with one little girl ill have much less time with two. But i would never change a thing, or do anything over again. Well i might marry my husband over again lol

Slow Cooker Mushroom Barley Chicken

1 tablespoon of butter

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 cup Med. pearled barley

1 cup carrots chopped

1 med. onion chopped

1 rib of celery chopped 

1 can (14 1/2oz can) of chicken broth

1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning 

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 bay leaf

Melt butter in 12-inch skillet until sizzling; add chicken. Cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until browned (5 to 7 minutes). Drain off fat. 

Place all remaining ingredients in slow cooker; stir. Place chicken thighs onto mushroom barley mixture. Cover; cook on Low heat setting for 2 to 3 hours or until chicken and barley are tender.

Recipe and picture form money saving mom

Build your own Haystacks

• Frito's
• Lettuce, shredded of finely chopped 
• Tomatoes chopped
• Taco Meat (brown ground beef with onions and taco seasoning ) mixed with cooked pinto beans
• Shredded Cheese (cheddar or any kind you like)
• Salsa
• sour cream
• Guacamole (or chopped avocado) optional

Black olives optional

Set out haystack toppings (we usually keep the taco meat in a crock pot or saucepan on the stove so it stays warm) and let everyone layer their own toppings on their individual plates in the order they prefer. Enjoy!

Picture and recipe by money saving mom

Macaroni and beef with cheese

1 large onion, diced

1 tablespoon canola oil

salt to taste

optional seasonings: black pepper, oregano, cumin, coriander, chopped garlic, hot smoked paprika, chilli powder—whatever you’re in the mood for (I just used black pepper, garlic and a tablespoon of fish sauce, which gives it depth)

one 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, pureed in the can with a hand blender or in a blender blender

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 box macaroni

1 cup each grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses

Sweat the onions in the oil with a three-fingered pinch of salt.  Add the beef and cook it, breaking it up as you do.   Add another three-fingered pinch of salt or two, along with any dry seasonings you want.  Add the tomatoes and any fresh seasonings you may be using, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for an hour.

Cook the macaroni in boiling water till it’s half done.  Drain it and add it to the tomatoes.    Stir it into the sauce.  Taste it.  Add more salt and other seasonings as needed, and cover.  When it’s cooled and the pasta has absorbed the tomato juices, transfer it to a large baking dish and cover it with foil.  It can sit out for several hours like this, be refrigerated for up to two days, or frozen a few weeks

Bake it in a 400 degree oven till it’s piping hot (about 45 minutes if it’s cold to room temperature).  Just before you’re ready to eat, remove the foil, cover macaroni with the cheese and broil till it looks beautiful.

I just love Fall!

Fall and spring have to be my favorite times of the year. All the great smells of fall fill my nose and make me a very happy girl. I am so happy that our baby girl that will be born on the 19th of October will be a fall baby/ Halloween baby. Also have i said anything about Halloween and Thanksgiving are my all time favorite holidays ever.

recipe and picture form landolakes

Scones

1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Fat Free Half & Half or milk

1 egg yolk

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup currants, if desired

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Fat Free Half & Half or milk

Heat oven to 375°F. Combine butter and brown sugar in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add pumpkin, 1/4 cup half & half and egg yolk; continue beating until smooth and creamy. Stir in all remaining scone ingredients except currants until well mixed. Stir in currants, if desired.

Drop rounded 1/4 cupfuls of dough evenly onto ungreased baking sheet. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and scones are set. Remove from baking sheet to cooling rack. 

Combine powdered sugar and enough half & half in small bowl for desired glazing consistency. Drizzle over warm or cooled scones.

picture and recipe from  landolakes

8 ounces chorizo sausage*

1 (28-ounce) package frozen diced potatoes with onion and peppers, slightly thawed

6 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Eggs, well beaten

2 tablespoons chopped green chiles

6 (3/4-ounce) slices Land O Lakes® Deli Hot Pepper Cheese

 

 Sour cream, if desired

 Salsa, if desired

Cook sausage in 12-inch skillet over medium-heat until no longer pink (6 to 8 minutes). Add potatoes; continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender (6 to 8 minutes). Stir in beaten eggs and chiles. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring gently, until eggs are set (1 to 2 minutes).

Remove from heat; top with cheese slices. Cover; let stand until cheese is melted (2 to 3 minutes).

Serve with sour cream and salsa, if desired.

*Substitute pork sausage.

Will my toddler eat this?

Maybe i should ask, Will my wonderful, handsome husband eat this?
Well im going shopping tomorrow so we will have food in the house again. Like i have said in my
other post. I like easy tasty things. I'm pretty simple to please with food unless it is burned or just has no flavor at all.

Beef- Stuffed Crescents

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
• 1 package (8 ounces) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese (softened or cubed), cubed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook beef and chilies over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the cream cheese, cumin and chili powder. Cool slightly.
• Separate crescent dough into 24 triangles. Place 1 tablespoon of beef mixture along the short end of each triangle; carefully roll up.

Place point side down 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

thanks to taste of home

Apple Tuna Sandwiches 

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 pouch (7.1 ounces) light water-packed tuna
• 1/2 cup chopped red apple
• 6 slices reduced-calorie bread, toasted
• 6 lettuce leaves

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; stir in tuna and apple. Spread 1/2 cup tuna mixture on three slices of bread. Top with lettuce and remaining bread.

Thanks to Taste of home

cooking for a toddler and husband...2

Well i said that i was going to post some more easy recipes in the next few weeks before Jacqueline arrives. This lets me keep them on hand so i can remember them and maybe to help a few people out. I'm posting budget recipes with this post.

Black beans an Rice

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups long-grain rice
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 large green or red pepper, chopped (1 ½ cups)
• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, undrained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup sliced scallions (optional)
• In a medium saucepan, combine 4 cups of water with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1 ½ teaspoons of the olive oil. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
  
  In a large saucepan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion, green or red pepper, and garlic until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, broth, vinegar, bay leaves, black pepper, cumin, and remaining salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes; remove the bay leaves. Spoon the beans over the rice and sprinkle with the scallions, if desired. Serve warm

French Toast 

• 4 eggs, beaten thoroughly
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 6 slices (or more) of whole wheat bread
• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Maple syrup

Coat a skillet with cooking spray & heat over medium heat. Mix eggs, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon & milk together thoroughly. Dip each slice of bread (on both sides) then place in hot skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side until they are golden brown. Serve with butter, sprinkled powder sugar and maple syrup. I served with fresh fruit & turkey sausage. Enjoy

thanks to For the love of cooking