My Favorite Super Hero

I would have to say that my favorite super hero would be Mrs. Incredible.There are so many times that her ability to twist and stretch would come in handy. To easily grab the child that runs off or reach across the room to grab something. Think of the trips one could save. LOL. Let's not forget separating two or more children that are having it out over a toy or because someone said something the other didn't like. Or changing a diaper while performing another task with ease. The possibilities are endless.

Family Vacation

This is the resort we stayed at in Florida on our family vacation.

Bad Habbit

I have several that I would love to get rid of. I think the one that tends to get me in the most trouble is I can swear like a sailor sometimes. I know..I know..I know...It is bad! I didn't used to curse for the fear of my life. I started as a rebellious teen and never got over it. I have tried. I am better than I used to be, but it is still an ongoing problem.

The Meaning Of The 7 B's

I would love to say it was some really cool catchy thing that took a lot of creativity. It's not. It in fact is pretty straight forward. We are a family of 7 and our last name starts with a B.

15 About Me

1. I am the youngest of 3 children. 
2. I was born in C.A.
3. My favorite color is blue.
4. I always wanted to be a homemaker ( since elementary school age).
5. I have been married for 7 yrs
6. I did real estate while I was pregnant with my 4th child.
7. I love puzzles of all kind.
8. I want to go to school for Zoology. That was the other thing that I wanted to be :)
9. I love animals. I am sad that I just do not have time for them now.
10. I am terrified of spiders! I happened to marry a man that loves them.
11. I love to do outdoor things ( Camp, fish..ect)
12. I have been to Germany when I was in the 5th grade.
13. I love to sing.
14. I am not a morning person.
15. I live off of caffeine.

Something Else To Write About

My good friend Shellie over at The Thought Nugget has started doing this blog challenge in order to expand her blogging topics. I have decided to join her as well. I only usually blog about the food that I cook ( Which I haven't been doing lately). I really would like to include other things not just food. Wish me luck. LOL

•Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
•Day 02- The meaning behind your Blogger name
•Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
•Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
•Day 05- A pi c tu re of somewhere you’ve been to
•Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
•Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
•Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
•Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
•Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
•Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
•Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
•Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
•Day 14- A picture of you and your family
•Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
•Day 16- Another picture of yourself (baby pic!)
•Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
•Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
•Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
•Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
•Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
•Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
•Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
•Day 24- A letter to your parents
•Day 25- What I would find in your bag
•Day 26- What you think about your friends
•Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
•Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
•Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
•Day 30- Who are you?

Anyone up to join this blogging challenge too?

MPM more like MPW

I know most Menu Plans are on Mondays but payday here is on Wednesday. So I will be doing my grocery shopping on Wednesdays for now.
Breakfast:

• Muffins w/ fruit
• Toads in a Hole w/ fruit
• Cheese toast w/ fruit
• Wake up Casserole w/ fruit
• Breakfast Tacos
• Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch:

• P.B.& J
• Tuna Salad
• Sandwich Meat
• Egg Salad
• Left overs

Dinner:

• Roast
• Taco Soup
• Lasagna ( frozen)
• Patao Soup
• Sausage beans w/ Salad
• Chicken Spaghetti
• Crock pot bbq chicken quarters

Cheesy Toast

I have always liked making cheese toast paired with fruit in the morning for a quick kids breakfast. I found this recipe recently that was a little different. It makes 5 pieces of toast. * Once again I am sorry for not posting a picture. I think I need to just keep the camera in the kitchen :)

• 5 Pieces of bread
• 2 cups grated cheese ( whichever you prefer )
• Butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp whole grain mustard ( I used a little of dijon because it was all I had)
• pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450. Butter one side of the bread. Place butter side down on the cookie sheet or baking pan. Mix the rest of the ingredients. Spread on the bread. Place in the oven for 10- 15 min.

Tortilla Soup

I used the recipe from foodnetwork.com. It is Emerils. I would def. change it just a little. I think it could use less broth and also when cooking the veggies I would add some flour that way the broth will thicken.  I also added corn and  black bean ( canned that were rinsed and drained).These are just my suggestions. I enjoyed it otherwise and so did all of the kids. I am sorry about not having any posts lately. I keep forgetting my camera so I haven't posted anything. I forgot it tonight as well, but thought oh well it is better have something posted than nothing at all :)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/emerils-favorite-tortilla-soup-recipe/index.html

Chocolate Banana Muffins

- recipe from epicurious.com 

Evelyn’s Coffee Bar, Banff, Canada

Yield: Makes 12 muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line twelve 1/3-cup muffin cups with foil muffin liners. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Mix mashed bananas, egg, melted butter and milk in medium bowl. Stir banana mixture into dry ingredients just until blended (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake muffins until tops are pale golden and tester inserted into center comes out with some melted chocolate attached but

no crumbs, about 32 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack; cool.mI

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A Day of Great Food

Breakfast: Cheese & Sausage Corn Muffins

The original recipe can be found at this blog http://chickensintheroad.com

1.1 cup of all purpose flour

2. 1 cup yellow cornmeal

3.1 T. baking powder

4. 1/2 t. salt

5.1/4 cup canola or other oil

6. 2 eggs

7. 1 cup buttermilk

8.1 lb cooked sausage

9. 1 cup cheese

Preheat oven to 425. Fry sausage. Once it is cooked and finely crumbled, drain and set aside. Combine dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. Stir to combine. Add sausage and cheese and stir lightly. Prepare your muffin tins. I used butter in mine. Fill the cups almost to the top and bake for 15 min. I doubled this recipe and it made 30 muffins. Adding some Chiles would be nice too even bacon.

Snack: Armadillo Legs

• 12 Jalapeños
• 1 container of cream cheese
• 1 lb of bacon

Preheat oven to 425. Cut jalapeños in half. Scoop out seeds and rims. If you like it hotter leave some in ( that is the way I like mine). Take the cream cheese and  fill the halves. Then slice the bacon in half crosswise not lengthwise. If you have large jalapeños you will want to use the whole slice of bacon so do not cut. Mine were smaller ones. Place on a broiler pan and cook for 15 to 20 min.

Dinner: Crockpot Beef Stew

You can find this on my recipe page.

Crockpot Oatmeal..Some Things Should Not Be Done!

As a mom of 5 of which 3 now go to school. The mornings are a little hectic around here. I have exactly 1 hr to get everyone up, dressed, fed, teeth brushed, hair done, and out the door. I have come to find that the more simplified things are the faster this goes. This includes breakfast.
We do not do a lot of cereal here because it is way more expensive and it does not last as long. Like most larger families it is easier to feed a good breakfast that is cooked rather poured in a bowl. This has sent me on a mission of scouring blogs to find good & easy breakfast ideas. This is how I happened to come across the idea of Crockpot Oatmeal. My kids LOVE oatmeal. It's just a little hard to make during the week because when it comes straight off of the stove it is REALLY REALLY HOT!
Thus I decided to give it a try. My husband and I were a little apprehensive.We both were thinking that it was going to become mush. Mushy oatmeal is never good. Against better judgement I decided to give it a go. I put it in and set it and left it. When I awoke it was worse than I had imagined. Not only was it mush but there was this gelatinous gooey crust that had formed on top. It was brown and black. Underneath that was mushy oatmeal. Underneath that was stuck on oatmeal. This is not going to be fun to clean up later.
I decided to give it to the kids to try anyways.....no one even wanted to try it. With a lot of coaxing they eventually ate it. They did not like it and asked that I never make that again. You know it is bad when the kids that LOVE oatmeal hated this. So, PLEASE whatever you do..NEVER EVER PUT OATMEAL IN THE CROCKPOT!

Here I Am...

So...The last several months have brought along many events. I moved 4 times, had a baby, husband got out of the Navy and finally found a new job, the kids have started school, and we are still trying to unpack and get stuff out of storage. That is the basics of the past 6 months.
It has been a whirlwind of good times, bad times, and in between times. I sit here on my last nerve so it feels. It has just been one of those days..You know what I am talking about. The day when you try to get stuff done, but yet nothing gets done. The kids are doing everything they possibly can to get on each others nerves including mine. The baby refuses to be put down for any period of time. It's dinner time and I haven't the energy to even try to cook. Who hasn't been there?
This has been my life alot lately. I really need it to change. I think I need to wipe the dirt off of my butt stand up and get back to my life before the whirlwind of events began. I hope that this is the beginning of that. I am going to start menu planning and chore planning that way with the grace of God I can get my life back. Whish me luck :)

Unexpected Move

This will be the last time that you will hear from me for some time. I am moving to TX unexpectedly with all of the kids. I will be living with some of my husbands family in Seguin,TX while my husband finishes up his time in the Navy. Unfortunately where I will be living does not have internet service. So, that is the reason why there will not be any posts for some time to come....JULY!

MPM...Sort of

I am a little out of sorts this week. To be honest I really started getting off track last week. Right now I have a vague MPM for this week. Already I am behind on it. Last night the hubby cooked. It was Mac & Cheese. On Sunday we went out to eat.  Anywho..I am going to list what I plan to have this week by breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. I will not put anything to a specific day. This week I am going to pretty much wing it. We will see what I actually make and when.
Breakfast:

• Pancakes
• Cereal & fruit
• Cinnamon & Apple Oatmeal
• Egg Sandwiches
• Baked French Toast, Sausage, & fruit 

Lunch:

• Sandwiches
• Leftovers
• quesadillas 

Dinner:

• Mac & Cheese
• Tuna Helper
• Salisbury Steak
• Mexican Black Bean Bowls
• Spinach & Sausage Casserole
• Chicken Alfredo
• grilled Cheese & Soup 

Tonights Dinner

It was supposed to be the lemon chicken tonight but the chicken did not thaw in time. I guess it looks like hot dogs and mac and cheese ( gasp!). On the upside to this I was able to do something that I have been meaning to try. I have read in some of my blogs about freezer waffles and pancakes. Today I actually made 66 pancakes and have them freezing in the freezer. I am hoping that they will last the whole month. I plan on doing pancakes and waffles for breakfast at least once a week. Tomorrow I am going to make freezer waffles. That is going to take me a lot more time to do seeing as how my waffle maker only makes 2 waffles at a time.

Enchilada Casserole

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Enchilada-Casserole
This is the site for the recipe. I changed it up just a little bit due to diet needs ( my sons acid reflux), what I had on hand, and personal preference.  I mixed everything together except for the cheese and tortillas. Cook over med. hi heat until meat is cooked.. I then layered tortillas, meat, and then top with cheese according to their directions. I did it three times. bake 350 for 30 min.
Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs of ground beef
• 2 cups frozen mixed veggies (instead of corn)
• 1 cup of canned black beans drained and rinsed.
• 1/2 of a lrg. onion chopped
• 1 can of green enchilada sauce
• Satl & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp of cumin
• 1lrg. clove of garlic grated      
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 6  10 inch flour tortillas                                                                                          

Marinade Packets

In an effort to make veggies more tasty I have tried different things. My newest is to use meat marinade packets on the veggies. Tonight we used a Hawaiian Luau Marinade packet on the broccoli. It worked great. The kids loved it. I simply mixed according to direction and poured it over fresh broccoli. I let it set for a few min while the pan heated over med. heat with a little oil in it. When it was hot I added the broccoli and cooked until done. If you haven't tried doing that you should. Simple and yummy.

What's for Dinner?: Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli

What's for Dinner?: Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli
This is the link to the recipe. If you have not checked out her blog I would recommend that you do. It was very easy to make. I hope that it is as good as the comments.
Update: It was very good. The only down side was that it was a little on the greasy side. It says that it serves 8 but we still had half left and that was after feeding a family of 6. 

Menu Plan Monday - Week 4 3/1/10 - 3/7/10

Monday:
Breakfast : Yogurt & Fruit
Lunch: Ham & Turkey Sandwiches
Dinner : Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli &; Broccoli
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Sausage, Eggs. Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Cooked Apples
Lunch: Left over Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli & Broccoli
Dinner: Pot Roast
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt
Lunch: Left over Pot Roast
Dinner: Enchilada Casserole
Thursday:
Breakfast: Migas
Lunch: Chicken Salad Wraps
Dinner: Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken , Sweet Potato fries, & Salad
Friday:
Breakfast: Waffles , Eggs, & Fruit
Lunch: Left over chicken and fruit
Dinner: Sausage Spinach Bake
Saturday:
Breakfast: Pancakes, Bacon, & Fruit 
Lunch: Egg Salad Sandwiches & fruit
Dinner: Saucy Mock Steaks
Sunday:
Breakfast: Skillet Potatoes, Eggs, Sausage, & fruit
Lunch: Tuna Melts
Dinner: My Birthday !                    
   

Finger Licking BBQ Chicken W/ sour Cream & Onion Mashed Potatoes

I love Crock Pot meals. It makes dinner time so easy.
Chicken Ingredients:

• 4 -5 lbs of chicken drumsticks
• 2 bottles of bbq sauce
• 1 cup peach or apricot preserves ( I used peach)
• 4 tsp prepared mustard

1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. Mix other ingredients together. Then pout over chicken.
3. Cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hrs on high

Sour Cream &Onion Mashed Potato Ingredients:

• 4 large Russet potatoes
• 1/2 a stick of butter ( 4 Tbs )
• 1/4 - 1/3 cup sour cream
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 green onion chopped
• enough milk to make smooth

1. Wash and cut up potatoes into chunks. Place in a pot and cover with water. Boil until done. Drain.
2. Add butter, salt , pepper ,and potatoes to bowl and mash. Add sour cream and milk. Continue to mash until desired consistency. Add more salt and pepper as desired. Top with green onion.

Ranchero Black and Pinto Beans

I adapted this recipe from the recipe on 5 Dollar Dinners blog. If you haven't checked her blog out I would encourage you to. I had to change it because one of my children cannot have anything that is spicy or with tomatoes in it. He has acid reflux. The other reason was because of what I had on hand. So, if you want her version please check out her blog. This meal cost under $5 to feed my family of 6! Lets not leave out the fact that it was quick and easy to make.
Ingredients:

• 2 cups ham steak diced
• 1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 can of pinto beans drained and rinsed
• 1 small onion chopped
• 3/4 of a can of mild green enchilada sauce
• 2 cups rice
• 4 tsp chicken base
• 4 cups of water

1. Bring the 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Add the 4 tsp of chicken base along with the 2 cups of rice. Cover and simmer for 20 min.
2. While rice is cooking heat a small amount of oil over medium high heat in a pan. Add the onion and ham and cook for 4 min
3. Add the beans and cook for another 2 min.
4. Add the enchilada sauce and cook for another 3 - 5 min.
5. Serve over rice.

Sausage Apple Egg Casserole

I was amazed at just how simple this really is to make. It's great for any meal really. Especially on those days when you are running short on time. Once again I got this recipe from the 5 Dollar Dinner blog. Please check out her blog.
Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bread cut or torn into pieces
•  1 large apple or 2 small apples chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 lb of sweet sausage
• 8 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of milk
• Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with non stick spray.
2. Tear or cut up the bread and place in pan.
3. Cook and crumble the sausage.
4. Add sausage, apples, and onion to the bread toss together.
5. Add eggs, milk, salt, and pepper to a bowl and wisk.
6. Pour over the sausage mixture. ( she says to refrigerate over night for best results)
7. Place in 350 degree oven for 30-45 min.

Creamy Potato Veggie Chowder

Originally this was supposed to be Potato and Corn Chowder from a guest post on $5 Dinners. I had to change it around to fit what I had on hand and then instead of adding cornstarch to thicken it I made a rue instead. Next time I will use less water and add more salt and pepper. Otherwise it was very yummy. Just keep these tips in mind when you make it. Less water and lots of salt and pepper.

Ingredients: 

• 8-9 med. russet potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes.
• 3 ribs of celery chopped
• about 3 cups of frozen mixed veggies ( add more as you see fit)
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cups whole milk or half and half
• 4 cups of water ( remember to use less)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 4 tsp of chicken base or 4 bullions
• 4 bay leaves 
• dried oregano to taste
• 8 tbs butter ( for rue)
• 8 tbs flour ( for rue)

1. place everything into a stock pot exept for the flour and butter. Bring it to a boil and turn down to simmer.
2. While the chowder is simmering make your rue. Melt the butter in a pan and then add flour. Wisk it around for a few min.
3. Add the rue to the chowder and let thicken. Finish cooking until potatoes are done. I also smashed a few of the potatoes against the side of the pot to also help thicken the chowder. Check seasonings and adjust as you feel needed.

Menu Plan Monday - Week 3

I am so sorry for my lack of blogging. I have been sick lately. Today is the first day that I actually feel decent. I know it's a little late, but I figure better late than never.

Monday - Papa John's Pizza
Tuesday- Bee Rocks ( The Happy Housewife)
Wednesday- Northern Beans & Cornbread ( The Happy Housewife)
Thursday- Sausage Apple Egg Casserole ( $5 Dinners)
Friday- Potato Corn Chowder ($5 Dinners)
Saturday- Ranchero Black & Pinto Beans ( $5 Dinners)
Sunday - Finger Lickin BBQ Chicken ( 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes)

BBQ Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes & Corn

This dinner cost about $5-$6 for me to make.

BBQ Meat Loaf  
 







Ingredients :

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• approx. 2 cups ketchup ( or 2 (8oz) cans tomato sauce )
• 3 tbs vinegar
• 3tbs brown sugar
• 2 tbs dijon mustard
• 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce 
• 1/2 cup water, to thin sauce if necessary

1. Preheat oven to 350 . Mix together the beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the ketchup or sauce.










2. Form the mixture into a loaf and place in a shallow pan.

3.Stir together the remaining ketchup or tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and the water ( if too thick).

4. Pour over the meatloaf. Bake for 1 hr, basting every 15 min w/ the pan juices.

Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:

• 2.5lbs of Potatoes 
• 6 tbs butter
• 3/4 cup of whole milk
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 cup shredded extra sharp cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream  

1. Peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch to 1 inch chunks. Place in a pot and boil until tender then drain.

2.Mash the butter, salt, pepper, and shredded cheese together. Next add sour cream and milk.

Lemon Pepper Corn
Ingredients:

• 2 cans of corn
• 2 tbs butter
• lemon pepper seasoning to taste

1. Put both cans of corn in a pan along with the lemon pepper and butter. Turn heat to med. Cook until butter is melted and corn is warm. With slotted spoon transfer corn to a bowl and add extra lemon pepper seasoning.

Chicken Fajitas w/ Re- Fried Beans & Mexican Rice

This meal was pretty cheap. It fed my family 3 times :) We had Chicken Fajitas with the sides for 2 dinners and then bean and rice burritos for lunch the next day.  When I break it all down by price I was able to feed my family 3 meals for $0.83 a plate ! It was a total of  $15 for 3 meals.

Chicken Fajitas :

• 1.5 -2 lbs of Chicken
• 2 Fajita packet seasonings
• 1 pack of flour tortillas
•  2 green bell peppers
• 1 onion

1. If you buy the chicken breast instead of the chicken tenders you will want to cut then into strips. while you have your pan heating on med. high with about 1 tbs of oil.
2. Cut up your bell peppers and onions into slices.
3. Add the chicken to the pan and begin to cook.
4. While the chicken is cooking mix the seasoning packet as directed
5. When chicken is almost cooked add in the bell peppers and onions. Finish cooking until done.
6. In the last few seconds before you take it out add the seasoning mix to the pan and toss to coat.
7. Serve with tortillas

Mexican Rice :

• 2 cups of rice
• 1 bell pepper
• 2 small cans of tomato sauce
• 1 -2 cloves of garlic minced
• 6 tbs of chicken base or you can use 2-3 bullion cubes
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 tsp Cumin   

1.  Place rice in a pan with about 1 tbs of oil. brown rice over med. high heat until golden brown.
2. Add the 4 cups of water plus about 1/4 cup more. 
3. Add the rest of the ingredients.
4. Bring back to a boil. turn heat down to med. med. low heat and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. If rice is not cooked when liquid is gone add more water.

Guacamole :

• 2 hass avocados  or 1 of the other smooth skinned avocados
• 1 roma tomato
• 1 pearl onion or about the same amount of a reg. onion
• 1 clove of  garlic
• salt and pepper to taste 

1. place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired consistency
2. Check for seasonings. Add more salt or pepper if desired.
3. Chill before serving.

The re-fried beans were from a can. Don't forget the sour cream! Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

I am sorry that I am a day late on this. I was unable to do this yesterday. Last week there were a few things that I did not make due to poor planning on my part. I hope that this week will go better.
 With that said here I go for week 2 of MPM!


Monday - Chicken Fajitas w/ Mexican rice and re-fried beans ( recipes to come later today )
Tuesday - Left overs
Wednesday - Meat loaf w/ mashed potatoes and corn ( this is from last week that I didn't fix )
Thursday - Chicken and Dumplings ( another I did not make )
Friday - Sweet Italian Sausages w/ all of the fixings
Saturday - Beef Tacos
Sunday - Pizza

Beefy Mac ( Not Hamburger Helper ) & Stir Fry Broccoli

This is a family favorite. The pasta makes enough to feed my family of 6 for 2 nights. The only thing I have to fix is another veggie. The total cost for both nights including a veggie came to $13.93. That means it was $6.97 a night and $1.16 a plate. That's not bad if I don't say so myself.

Pasta Ingredients:

 

• 1.5 lbs of ground beef
• 1 box of beef broth ( 4 cups )
• 2 cups of water
• 16 oz of elbow macaroni
• 2 (12oz) cans evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup processed cheese sauce
• 16 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Preheat large saute pan on med. high heat. place ground beef in pan .Stir to break up into pieces.
2. Continue to cook until beef is brown and no longer pink.

3. Stir in broth, water, and macaroni; bring to a boil. Cook 10 -12 min. or until liquid is mostly absorbed and macaroni is tender ,stirring occasionally.

4.Stir milk into pasta: remove from heat. Add in both cheeses. Stir until smooth and melted.

Broccoli Ingredients:

 

• 1-2 lbs of broccoli
• 1/2 cup of stir fry sauce

1. Heat about 2 Tbs. of veg. oil in a large pan.

2. While oil is heating cut broccoli up into preferred sizes.

3.When oil is hot place broccoli in the pan and cook for about 5 min. stir constantly.

4. Add in the stir fry sauce and continue to cook until desired tenderness. You may have to add a little extra oil. Remember to continue to stir it.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Tonight is going to be the Beef Stew ! I LOVE Beef Stew and so does my family. I am going to use Emeril's recipe. I can't wait to try it. I think I am also going to try my hand at homemade biscuits. I can't believe I have never tried it but I haven't.

Ingredients :

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 3/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 pound button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups veal or beef stock, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 pound small (golf ball size) new potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan and season the beef with 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1 teaspoon Essence and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper. Sear the beef (in 2 batches) in the saute pan for about 2 or 3 minutes per side.

Add the butter, mushrooms, flour, veal stock, tomato paste, herbs, spices, and browned meat to a slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and set the temperature to high. Cook for 1 hour. Add the potatoes and carrots and continue to cook the stew for another 7 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add the pearl onions and replace the lid. Once the stew is cooked, stir in the peas and parsley and serve immediately.

Menu Plan Monday

This is the first week that I am attempting to do this. I wish I could claim this as my idea but I simply cannot. I came upon it at fellow blogger's site. www. orgjunkie.com. I would definatly encourage you to take a look at her page. She offers a lot of helpful tips and recipes. So, with that said here is the beginning of me jumping on the Menu Plan Monday band wagon!

Monday : Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Asian Crunch Salad
Tuesday :Crock pot beef stew
Wednesday :Beefy Mac
Thursday : Leftovers
Friday : Meat loaf w/ mashed potatoes and corn
Saturday : Beef tacos , Mexican rice, and re-fried beans
Sunday : Chicken and dumplings

As I get better at blogging and doing the MPM I will expand it to include breakfast and lunch :)

Sesame Ginger Drumsticks W/ Crunchy Asain Pasta Salad

Drumsticks :

• 4.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks
• 1 bottle of Lawry's Sesame ginger 30 min. marinade

1. Get your grill started
2. While waiting on grill put your drumsticks in a dish and add the marinade.
3. Cover and place in fridge for 30 min. If you want more flavor marinade over night.
4. When grill is ready place chicken on grill and cook until done. Be sure to baste with additional marinade during the grilling process.
   

Pasta Salad :

• 2 boxes Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad classic pasta salad mic
• 1 packages Oriental Flavor ramen noodle soup mix
• 5 Tbs of sugar
• 6 Tbs veg. oil
• 4 Tbs white vinegar
• 4 Tbs water
• 2 Tbs soy sauce
• 6 cups of coleslaw mix ( I use the 3 color one)
• 2 cups snow pea pods, strings removed and cut diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 2 (150z) cans mandarin orange segments , drained

1. Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Continue to let drain.
2. In in a large bowl , stir together seasoning mixes from pasta mix and ramen mix , sugar , oil, vinegar, water , and soy sauce. Add pasta , coleslaw mix, pea pods, almonds , and orange segments; toss to combine. Place in fridge until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving coarsely crush up ramen noodles and serve on top of salad like croutons.

This dinner came out to about $13.00 of one meal for my family of 6. The pasta salad makes a lot! It will feed my family for the next couple of days so I do not mind spending the money to get everything. It cost me $12 for the pasta alone and then $5 for the chicken and $2 for the marinade. So, I spent $19 for everything and I still have food for the next couple of days. That's not bad !

Mushroom Beeforoni ( Budget beef stroganoff)

The other night I put this together using whatever I had in the pantry. I use the idea of beef stroganoff as a guide. Feel free to add more to it. Like sour cream or milk or other spices. I loved it because I was able to feed my family for 2 nights for $6.00! You can't beat that price!
Ingredients :

• 1.5 Lbs of Ground Beef
• 3 Cans Mushroom Soup
• 1 Small can of mushroom pieces
• 1 Box of elbow macaroni
  
• 1 Clove of garlic minced
• 1 Small onion
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Put pot of water for pasta to boil. At the same time heat your pan on med. high heat.
2. When pan is hot add the ground beef. Cook until brown. When water for pasta is boiling add the pasta.
3. Once meat is brown add the onions, mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until onions are tender. When pasta is done cooking drain.
4. Add soup and milk ( I used some of the cooking water from the pasta). Add pasta. Check your seasonings.

Very simple and it feeds an army :)

Menu Plan Monday

Starting next week I will join in on Menu Plan Monday! For those of you who don't know what that is I will explain. Every Monday I will post my menu for the week. I will also post recipes as the week goes on. I would like to thank I'm An Organizing Junkie for this. Every week it is linked up to her site at http://orgjunkie.com . It's just another way to try to stay organized and spend less money every pay check.

Sausage and Potato skillet Breakfast

Once again a super cheap and easy breakfast that can feed my family of 6 soon to be 7.
Ingredients :

• 4 russet potatoes ( not super big ones )
• 1 package of Jimmy Dean breakfast sausages ( mine were frozen)
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 Tbs Veg. oil
• 1 Onion chopped

1. Heat oil over medium high heat.
2. Cut up frozen sausages into a little over 1/4 inch pieces and place in hot oil.
3. Cook until brown but not fully cooked
4. While sausage is browning cut up potatoes into 3/4 inch chunks.
5. Place in the pan with sausage and add Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Chop up the onion and place in the pan.
7. Let cook until potatoes are browned and sausage is cooked through.
8. Serve with ketchup :)

This cost me about $2.00 !

Morning Person? Maybe

Picture an 18 yr old slamming the quiet button on the alarm , sluggishly dragging herself out of the bed, stumbling to the closet to find something to pull on as fast as possible, throwing her hair back in a pony tail , brushing her teeth, and then rushing out of the door to race to school in just the nick of time. That 18 yr old was me every morning of my junior and senior years in high school. I was a night person and dreaded the morning.
Unfortunately that is one thing that has not changed since I have had kids. I still stay up way too late and refuse to wake up before the kids. I usually wake up about 6 :30a.m. to pull my older 2 boys out of bed and get them dressed and out the door to the bus by 6:50a.m. I then crawl back into bed until the younger 2 kids wake up around 8a.m. When they wake up I pull on whatever clothes I find and start my day. This is the usual for me seeing as how I am not a morning person.
My husband has often suggested that I get up and start my day before the kids get up. That way I have some quiet time to myself. I won't feel so rushed from the moment I jump out of bed. I get to fully wake up without hearing " Mommy I'm hungry" " Mommy I am thirsty" " Mommy I want this or that". I often don't even get a moment to think. LOL. i have often responded to this suggestion with " Are you insane? Do you know what time I would have to wake up? I am not a morning person!".
Well, I have recently been watching a friends baby for her. Unfortunately she has to drop her precious bundle of joy off by no later than 6:30 a.m. This translates to not being able to just rush the boys of to school and me going back to bed. I also have to be up , dressed, and awake by 6:30 a.m. I can't be crawling out of the bed at that time. Sooooo, my day starts now at 5 :59 a.m. It really needs to start at 5 : 30 a.m. ( I will get there). Since I have had to start my day at this time I am finding that I enjoy the peace and quiet before the baby is dropped off. Then I get more peace and quiet after the boys leave until the younger 2 wake up. I get to spend time watching the morning news, picking up around the downstairs, blogging, twittering , and anything else that I want. I find that I am in far better of a mood when the younger ones get up and I am far more productive with my day.
I must say after years of fighting the coming of the morning I think I am slowly being converted to a morning person ( GASP! ). I do enjoy it oddly enough. So, for now I just might maybe be a morning person. LOL

Amazing Cheap Dinner

With us having such a large family that is still growing ;feeding my family on a tight budget can be hard at times. I am always on the search to find cheap and yummy dinners. Last night was one of them.
We had : Saucy Mock Steaks
Twice Smashed Baked Potatoes
Romain & Iceberg Salad Mix w/ Beets
My husband and kids absolutely loved this and it didn't take too much to make! I will post recipe now and pictures later.
For the Saucy Mock Tender Steaks I found a recipe online then adapted it because it needed it :)
You will need the following : 6 pieces of Mock Tender Steaks ( mine were thick)
2 packages Onion Soup Mix
2 cans Mushroom Soup
1 can of Mushrooms
Flour for dredging the meat
1 Cup Water
2Tbs cooking oil
Seasoned Salt ( optional)
1. Sprinkle both sides of the steaks with the Seasoned Salt and let set for 1 or more hrs. in the fringe.

2.Heat oil in pan over medium heat. While that is heating dredge the steaks in the flour and set aside. Please be sure to shake excess flour from meat.

3. When oil is hot place steaks in the pan. Brown on both sides. It only takes a few min. per side.

4. Mix mushroom soup, onion soup mix, and water. pour on top of steaks. Turn heat to simmer and cover. Let set simmering for 3 hrs. Remember to stir halfway through cooking time.

5. A few min. before the time is up add the can of mushrooms. Remember to drain them first.

These steaks literally fall apart :)

For the twice baked potato I went to www.Foodnetwork.com. It is the Neely's Twice Smashed Baked Potatoes. I did not have the Gouda cheese. I used cheddar because it was what I had on hand. It was great and super easy.

For the salad : 1 package Romain Iceberg salad mix
1 can beets( I did not use the whole can )
1/4 cup or as much as you want Blue cheese crumbles

1. Place mix in a bowl
2. Cut up as many beets as you would like and place in the salad mix
3. Sprinkle the blue cheese on top and toss the salad.
4 Top with your choice of salad dressing.

New To This :)

I just wanted to state that I am new to this so PLEASE bear with me. As I get more used to it things will change and def. look better :)

Ready ,Set, Here I Go!

I have had this blog page set up for a looooong time. I never took the time to actually do something with it. With the new year I have decided to do some of those things that I just never got around to. This blog happens to be one of those particular things.
I guess it would be good to start with some small facts about myself. I am a 28yr old stay at home military wife & mother. My husband and I currently have 4 wonderful children and are expecting our 5th child soon. My childrens ages range from 9yrs to 2 yrs. I have 3 boys and 1 girl. As you have gathered my husband is in the military( specifically the Navy ). We have moved around quite a bit over the years. I am glad to say that that particular part of our lives is coming to an end this summer.
I guess that will have to do for now. I have kids and all the resposabilities of being a stay at home mom that I must get back to now.