Sloppy Waffles

My kids are huge fans of the Nickelodeon show Sam and Cat, and yes my husband and I enjoy it as well.  The show has been cancelled but they still air all the old episodes.  In one episode, Cat (Ariana Grande) mentioned her idea about Sloppy Waffles, which is Sloppy Joe's but with waffles instead of bread.  My husband loved the idea and I said I would make it some time. 

Months passed and we still hadn't tried Sloppy Waffles. 

Last Thursday, the day before the boys were to leave for camping with the scouts, I had the idea of making a fun dinner.  It was a very bad week, much like today, and I just wanted to do something fun.  So I made Sloppy Waffles. 

I was expecting a better reaction from my husband but he seemed to enjoy them.  My daughter does not like waffles or pancakes so she just ate the Sloppy Joe part.  My son liked it.  I may make them again.  I have to say, it was really good.  I'm impressed. 

Blogmas Day 9 & 10 - Warmth and Cookies

 I didn't get a chance to do Day 9 yesterday so I'm going to combine it with today's Blogmas.

I am not a fan of winter or the cold weather.  Even though I don't like the cold I also don't like bundling up and covering myself up with too much.  I just don't like the feeling of being smothered.  So I don't wear scarves or turtlenecks unless I absolutely have to.  I just recently purchased one of these head bands.

I took this picture this morning after my shower and before makeup.  But that's my new headband.

I also don't own any winter boots.  I better add that to my Christmas wish list.  It would make playing in the snow with the kids much more enjoyable.

I also love my flannel sheets and heavy blanket to sleep with.  I have to be warm when I sleep and that's pretty much the only time I'm okay with being bundled up.

I'm thankful to have a house with working heat when the winter weather comes.  And during this cold season I enjoy sipping on hot tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate and coffee with peppermint creamer.

This year I am looking forward to trying a few new cookie recipes and hopefully work on a gingerbread house with the kids.  Every year I made a batch of sugar cookies and use my Christmas shaped cookie cutters.  The kids help putting the ingredients in the bowl and mixing everything together.  Then they add the sprinkles.  With little kids it becomes a mess that I try not to stress out about.

The recipe for these cookies are on the box of my 101 Cookie Cutters. 

Roll-Out Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsps baking powder

3 cups flower

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Mix baking powder and flour, add one cup at a time, mixing after each addition.  The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour by hand (if dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time).  Do not chill dough.  Divide dough into 2 portions.  On a floured surface, roll each portion into a circle approximately 12 in. diameter and 1/8 in. thick.  Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use.  Bake cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. 

Makes 20-24 average size cookies.  

You can tint the dough with food coloring or add sprinkles and frosting for an added touch.  

These cookies are soft and chewy and are a big hit for anyone I bake them for.  

I am going to try making these Pretzel M&M Hugs and these Crinkle Cookie Cakes.  I have never made cookies from cake mix before. 

Tasty Tuesday - Nutella Cookies

These were so delicious!  We're a big fan of Nutella in this family and when I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to try it.  It was a big hit.  If you're looking for a cookie recipe that's a bit different you'll have to try it.  It's easy to bake and delicious to eat.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/nutella-cookies/

Marshmallow Peep Smores

Last Easter my dad purchased a few-too-many boxes of marshmallow Peeps for the kids.  Four months later we still haven't finished them.  So we decided to use them to make Smores. 

Matthew wanted blue and I took pink. 

First put the Peeps in the microwave for a few seconds, until they start to rise. 

Then split a graham cracker in half and cover one side with chocolate (we use Nutella).  Then put the Peep on top of one graham cracker and close it down with the other. 

Viola!  Peep Smores.  Yummy!

4th Of July Fun

Happy Independence Day (1 day late).  I hope it was good for you!  I can't put it into words just how grateful I am to be an American and being part of this great nation.  Freedom wasn't handed to us.  It was fought for.  I can't say I'm happy with the direction our country is going lately but I'm still grateful (and I'll leave it at that). 

We stayed at home most of the day and had my parents over for a barbecue.  Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, kielbasa, baked beans and I made potato salad the same way my mother always made it (sorry not sharing that recipe).  I also made some desserts. 

I made Matthew a red, white and blue drink I saw on Pinterest.  It didn't come out as perfect as it should have but Matthew liked it.  First you add ice, then cranberry juice or fruit punch (I chose cranberry), then blue Gatorade.  The recipe also says to add Sprite last but he doesn't like carbonated drinks so I left that out.  

I made cupcakes but I regret this.  24 cupcakes for 6 people?  There is so much left but I guess it will be nice for Rob and the kids to enjoy.  Anyone want a cupcake?

This is a dessert I found on Brianna's High Five magazine.  So yummy!  First you crush some strawberries with a fork and put them on the bottom.  Then add vanilla yogurt.  Then blueberries and a little more yogurt.  Then top it off with crushed sugar cookies.  Matthew said he wants me to make this again. 

Of course, The 4th of July isn't complete without watching fireworks.  We sat outside of a nearby church so we could see the ones that were shooting off from the city.  I am not an expert on how to take firework photos so this was the best I could get. 

Then back home to play with sparklers before going to bed. 

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

I love using my crock pot, although I don't use it as often as I'd like.  It's so easy to wake up in the morning, throw everything in the pot and let it cook until dinnertime.  The aroma that fills the house is wonderful and it makes it especially easy on days when I have plans and won't be home in time to cook. 

Today I decided to pull the crock pot out of the cabinet and put it to good use.  My husband had picked up a roast from the store and so I decided to make that dinner for tonight.  I'm not a big fan of pot roast but it's a simple meal to throw together. 

I received a slow cooker recipe book with the crock pot years ago and pulled out one of the recipes from there.  It's very simple to make and doesn't require a lot of ingredients. 

POT ROAST

This is what it looks like after cooking for 8 hours

3 potatoes, thinly sliced

2 large carrots, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3-4 lb pot roast

1/2 cup water

Put vegetables in bottom of slow cooker.  Stir in salt and pepper.  Add roast.  Pour in water.

Cover.  Cook on Low 10 - 12 hours

I actually left the onion out this time since I didn't have one.  I also didn't start the roast as early as I should have so I cooked it on high for the first few hours and then back on low.  Now I turned it back on high until we eat in a few hours.  This is actually one of my dad's favorite meals.  

Don't forget the gravy! 

Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken

I wanted to try something new for dinner yesterday and, as usual, I looked up one of the recipes I found on Pinterest.  It was delicious and even the kids ate every bite.

BAKED PARMESAN GARLIC CHICKEN

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 pack Good Seasons Italian dressing mix

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

6 boneless chicken breast halves

Preheat oven 400 degree F

Mix cheese, garlic and Italian dressing mix together

Moisten chicken breasts with water, coat with cheese mixture.  Place in shallow baking dish.

Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle

If you like Parmesan cheese you will love this dish because that's what you taste the most.  I made this with a side of corn and scalloped potatoes.  Yummy! 

Chicken Ranch Pasta ... oh delicious!

I have never been much for cooking.  I do enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals but I'm not very good at it.  Unless I have a recipe in front of me I have trouble throwing things together and coming up with a decent meal.  My husband is great when it comes to cooking.  I wish to do better.  That is why I'm so glad I joined Pinterest.  It has been a way for me to find ideas for crafting with the kids, how to decorate my house, and certainly it's helped me find many different recipes.  Last night, for the second time since finding the "pin," I made chicken ranch pasta.  Sure, it's not the healthiest meal but it is delicious.  My husband and both the kids didn't have any problem devouring every bite.

I didn't take a picture from my own creation but here is the one from the website.

I will also share the recipe.  It takes a lot of time to prepare but very easy to make and delicious to eat.

CHICKEN RANCH PASTA

8 ounces penne pasta

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix

2 cups milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup cooked chopped bacon

2 cups cooked chopped chicken 

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.  

In the same pot melt butter.  Add flour and stir.  Cook flour for 1 minute.  Slowly whisk in milk.  Continue cooking until sauce thickens.  Stir in the ranch dressing mix and cheese.  Stir until cheese melts.  Add chicken, bacon and pasta.  Stir to coat.  

Recipe found: http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/09/chicken-ranch-pasta.html

As I was mixing the milk, butter and flour it took a long time for it to thicken so my husband came up with the idea to add a little more flour.  Eventually the sauce did thicken and it came out perfect.  I do recommend this dish to anyone.  Enjoy!

I look forward to finding/making more recipes for my family and sharing it on my blog.