Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Garlic Shrimp in a Mushroom and Vodka Sauce

I know the word "mushroom" turns most people off but the truth about this dinner is that the mushrooms are completely infused in the delicious sauce so a mushroom flavor is totally absent! If you reallllyy hate mushrooms you could try substituting them for an eggplant, sweet potato, bok choy, asparagus, or another favorite veggie. Mushrooms tend to soak up the flavors and spices that are used in a dish therefore I like that the mushrooms aren't the show stopper in this dish...the shrimp and sauce is! However it is your choice :)! This was a crowd pleaser!


Shopping List
1 lb deveined shrimp
one medium onion diced
12 campari tomatoes diced and or crushed 
1 lb mushrooms- I buy the pre packaged kind that are already washed and sliced
five cloves of garlic-smashed
1/2 cup vodka-or red wine if you like that better
one teaspoon of chili sauce 
1/2 cup of sour cream
1 cup of chicken broth 
salt/pepper/tony sacherys

Procedure

Over medium high heat start by cooking your tomatoes down in a generous drizzle of olive oil
once the tomatoes start to release their juices add in the onions and mushrooms..add a little more olive oil
once those start to simmer together add the garlic and chili sauce and cook until onions are clear
once veggies have cooked together add the sour cream and fold into the mixture
once sour cream is added-color should look like a flesh pink- then you can add in your chicken broth
flavor it with salt/pepper/tonys and your vodka/redwine
cook down and allow the flavors to marry.
add in your shrimp and only cook until pink...turning them once. We don't want rubbery shrimp! Turn  down heat and allow sauce to thicken.
Serve over white rice!




Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Peanut Butter Banana Bundt Cake

 Okay peanut butter lovers...this one is for you.

I am a huge peanut butter lover.. even better than peanut butter..is peanut butter and chocolate..or wait.. peanut butter and banana! Yeah you know when you were a little kid you LOVED that peanut butter and banana sandwich that mama made! I know I did :) This is a fabulous cake to make for any occasion. I actually made it for my little brothers birthday since he is peanut butter freak. Must run in the family :) There was not one slice left over the two day vacation.....

Here ya go! Courtesey of @mixandmatchmama

Ingredients:

one box yellow cake mix
two small boxes of instant banana pudding 
1/2 cup veggie oil
1 1/4 cup water
4 eggs
2 mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups peanut butter divided
buttercream frosting- I used duncan hines
one sliced banana

Procedure:

preheat oven to 350 degrees
grease your bundt pan
in a medium sized bowl combine cake mix, oil, puddings, water, eggs, and banana. beat in 3/4 cup of peanut butter. Pour butter in pan and bake for 45 minutes

for the frosting: simply combine the butter cream and the rest of the peanut butter...frost cooled cake and garnish with sliced bananas!!


and just for grins a couple of pictures of us at the beach :)



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Facts and Questions!


11 Facts about Me

1. I love wedges
2. I love wine 
3. I teach Pre-K and I love it
4. I love to get lost in a great book, I will literally stay up until 4 AM finishing it.
5. My favorite movies are Goodfellas and Casino 
6. My favorite holiday is Christmas
7. I love the beach
8. I collect lipgloss
9. I also collect cookbooks and read them from cover to cover.
10. I love hosting parties!
11. My favorite food is Mexican

11 Questions

1. What is your favorite sound?
Christmas Carols

2. What makes your life lovely?
My relationship with Christ, Family, Friends

3. If you had three months off from work and no budget what would you do?
TRAVEL with my husband :)

4. What is your favorite cupcake?
Anything from GiGi's Cupcakes

5. What is your favorite animal?
Cat and Dog

6. What is your favorite quote?

It is actually a proverb " Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own  understanding"

7. What is your favorite caffeinated beverage?

COFFEEEEEE

8. What do you hope to accomplish this year?

My wood floors in december!!!

9.  What is your favorite season?
Late Fall/early Winter..I love the anticipation before christmas..

10. What is your favorite store?
Nordstroms!!

11. What is your favorite hobby?

Cooking!!!!!

Mozerella Stuffed Meatballs


Okay so I came up with this idea after Brandon and I ate at this little mom and pop Italian restaurant behind our house called Figlio's. The spaghetti was thin and the mozzarella was melting out of the bison stuffed meatball. It was amazing. I decided I would come home and try it and ended up finding a similar recipe on Pinterest. This recipe Called for Turkey but I decided to use 100 percent grass fed ground top sirloin. However It would be a lot healthier with turkey but just use whatever you want :)
The mozzarella just sort of oozes out of the meat ball and your mouth will do a happy dance! Thank me...or Pinterest...for this yummy recipe!!




Shopping List

One jar of Marinara sauce of your choice -We used tomato basil but we found it a tad sweet..I would go with simple marinara or maybe a four cheese red sauce.
pecorino cheese-if you don't want to be fancy and buy the block at the cheese market then just get the bagged stuff :) Three cheese italian blend will work nicely too.
Cubed Buffalo mozzarella chunks.
1 LB of whatever ground meat you would like-top sirloin, turkey, bison, Elk
oregeno
Salt/Pepper
Fresh Basil
One cup of Bread Crumbs
One egg 

Procedure
Start by Dumping all of your contents into a mixing bowl
Sauce, meat, pecorino, all spices, egg, and cup of bread crumbs.
mix thoroughly with your hands and mix all of the crumbs in with the  meat mixture.
Take a mozzerella cub and ball the meat mixture around it. ( I made my meatballs large but you could also serve them small and over spaghetti)
Once the meatballs are formed, in a large skillet pour olive oil inside and set to medium high heat.
brown your meat balls on top and bottom for 6  minutes each. Once they are browned on the outside then pour the sauce over them and cover with a lid for 25 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil. 
Serve alongside a caesar salad or on top of some yummy spaghetti. Such a simple dish and super flavorful!!!!!


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Chicken & Spinach/Artichoke Casserole



Okay..it was the first day of school..I am exhausted..what am I going to make for dinner??

....two things work for me when I am busy at work during the morning/afternoon and those two things are: The Crockpot and Casserole dishes. Mainly when you think of a casserole you think of something chocked with cheese butter and noodles..however there are ways to make them healthy. And guess what.. They are EASY and QUICK. Just what this busy and tired Pre-K teacher needs after a day at school. The casserole I made tonight was sooooooooooo good. I always say that my recipes are good (heehee) but I'm serious this one is really yummy. It was the perfect balance of cheesy yumminess and healthy veggies:) Give it a try!


Shopping List

one Rotisserie chicken-chopped
A bag of spinach
one zucchini-chopped
one squash-chopped
a bag of blended italian cheese
one onion-chopped and diced
two large red bell peppers-chopped
bag of japanese panko breadcrumbs-italian
two cans of artichoke hearts
salt and pepper 
one jar of alfredo sauce
one cup of quinoa cooked


Procedure

sautee' your chopped onion along with the bell pepper, zucchini, and squash
Once the veggies are soft add half the bag of spinach and let it cook down. Add more oil if you need to. 
While the veggies are browning cook your quinoa
drain quinoa and add to veggie mix
add chicken, artichoke hearts and alfredo sauce
add remaining amount of spinach
stir and fold in the spinach and then add the italian blend cheese
salt and pepper and season to your taste at this point. I just taste and add..taste and add..
when your mixture tastes as YOU think it should " I like lots of cheese and for my veggies to have that charred flavor from my cast iron skillet and olive oil" Top your mixture with a handful of panko crumbs and spray pam on the top for a yummy golden brown topping.
Pour your mixture into a casserole dish and bake at 350 for twenty minutes.

Enjoy :)



Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Crockpot Lemon Chicken Piccata

Lemon chicken piccata is one of my favorite Italian dishes! This simple version is great for when you are in a pinch for dinner yet it is full of flavor! I have confessed my love for the crockpot in many of my posts and I am using it again! This dinner will not disappoint.




Shopping List

bone in chicken thighs and legs-I purchased eight
capers, olives
juice of two lemons
one sliced lemon
one cup of chicken stock
1/4 cup of flour
2 TBS cumin
salt/pepper
olive oil

Procedure

generously salt and pepper both sides of your chicken
in a pan with oil on medium heat brown your chicken for three minutes on both sides
Transfer the chicken to the crockpot and layer with lemon slices
continue to do these steps until all of your chicken is used. 
layer more lemons on top if needed, add capers,olives ( i used some of the juice as well)
*In a shallow bowl mix the flour, lemon juice, and cumin. Whisk away until flour is dissolved. Then pour this mixture over all of the chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours. I also think it would be amazing to splash a few gluts of white wine...I added some italian blended cheese as well :) My house smells AMAZING. Thank you again crockpot for making my life SO easy!



Monday, August 18, 2014

Apple Butterscotch Bundt Cake

Yep.. its another fall recipe only this time its a DELICIOUS dessert! This was my first ever Bundt Cake and I am telling you this is definitely not my last. My friend @Mixandmatchmama goes through 100 bundt cake recipes all "mixed and matched" so that you can basically take a simple plain bundt cake recipe and just add a few different ingredients here and there and come up with a whole different cake! Genius!!! This was the butterscotch version and it was amazing. I made this cake on Friday and I think there may be a crumb left... i am not sure Brandon probably ate that too. This cake is pretty good just sayin'.




Shopping List

one bundt cake pan -I use a 10 inch one
two small boxes of instant butterscotch pudding
one apple grated-I peeled and grated a Braeburn
one cup of butterscotch chips
one box yellow cake mix
four eggs
 1/2cup of veggie oil
1 1/4 cup water
one cup of praline pecans
one can of butter cream frosting

Procedure

In a bowl combine cake mix, oil, water, eggs, puddings and stir with an electric mixer. Pour in apple and butterscotch chips. Pour into a greased bundt pan
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for ten minutes before inverting it on another cake plate or stand.
wait until cake completely cools to add frosting and garnish with the praline pecans. 

DELICIOUS