Taco Chili

A delicious and super easy recipe!

Try it, you'll like it!

What you need:

1lb browned ground beef

1 onion diced

1 can corn

1 can black beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1 packet ranch seasoning

1 packet taco seasoning

1 1/2 cups beef broth

Brown meat and add onions, drain. Add all other ingredients and mix together. Either simmer 2 hours on stovetop or crock pot on low 6-8 hours. 

Add cheese and sour cream when served.

Creamy Chicken and Noodles

Another winter storm hit Missouri on Sunday and I was confined to the house with a puppy who needed out in the blizzard every 30 minutes to pee! Not so fun! But, I did get some things done and even got some relaxation time.

Something about the snow and the cold just makes me want to cook. Not just anything, but rich, hearty (as The Hubs calls it) comfort foods! So on Sunday evening I got on Pinterest (because where else do you find inspiration these days?) and found a recipe for Creamy Chicken and Noodles that fit the bill! It was delicious and made enough to freeze half and still have some left over for the fridge (those are the BEST kind of meals!)

Here is the link to the recipe pinned on my Pinterest. 

Note:

I added frozen corn and green onions to the recipe and I used egg noodles instead of fettucini. 

Here is a picture of my mess of a kitchen while cooking.

Here is the finished product! 

This is a really good one I can see becoming a regular! For more of my favorite Pinterest meals to make go to my "Recipes: Made & Loved" Board here. 

Breakfast Braid

I woke up early Saturday morning and really felt like cooking up something special for breakfast. By special I mean something other than a cereal bar or pop tart! So I looked on my Pinterest boards and found something I had been wanting to make for a while! 

Breakfast Braid!

{Pinned Here}

It was very simple, quick and delicious! 

Here is a shot of what you will need. 

1 container of crescent roll dough

real bacon bits

4 eggs

1 tbsp milk

salt and pepper, to taste

2-3 tbsp shredded cheese

1 tbsp green onion, sliced

<<Directions>>

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Knead crescent rolls together into a ball and let sit for 15 minutes.

Start by scrambling 4 eggs,1 tablespoon of milk, and salt and pepper until just done and fluffy. 

When eggs are done, set aside and roll out crescent dough into a rectangle shape. 

Sprinkle half the cheese, some bacon and green onion on rolled out dough.

Add eggs, then top with remaining cheese, onion and bacon bits. 

Make even cuts on extra side dough and "braid".

Place in oven for 13-15 minutes. 

When done, let set out for 3 minutes before cutting and serving!

Eat and enjoy!

Let me know if you try this and what you think!

Broccoli and Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes

Made this recipe a while back for a Saturday lunch and never got around to posting it. It was very easy to make and tasted great! They were still great as leftovers and I was also able to freeze some that we ate a few weeks later.

I took a picture of the ones I made but 1. I lost it and 2. It was not this fancy.

photo source: skinnytaste.com

Find the recipe here or on my Recipes: Made and Loved Board on Pinterest

Easy Homemade Granola

What you need:

6 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup almonds or preferred nut, chopped (I used pecans)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup maple or pancake syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan 
2. Mix together oats and nuts in large bowl.
3. Heat brown sugar and water until it just begins to boil. Turn off heat, then stir in oil, syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour over oats mixture and stir until all of the oats are evenly coated. Pat oats evenly into bottom of pan so that the layer is no more than two inches thick. 
4. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes (stirring every 15 minutes), or until toasted and a dark golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in pan before crumbling. Store in an airtight container.

Cinnamon Zucchini Bread

A recipe for some amazing sweet cinnamon zucchini bread! I had never made zucchini bread before this and thought it would be complicated. I was proved very wrong by this recipe, so easy and absolutely delicious.

Recipe found here

Pinterest Recipes

I have been on a cooking spree lately and have tried quite a few new recipes from Pinterest! What I mean by a spree is that I have loved every single one I have made! Wanted to share them so others can make and eat these delicious meals!

Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps
These were so incredibly easy and delicious! It was also a healthy recipe which is always a bonus!

Source

Spicy Sausage Pasta

This is probably my favorite of all the new recipes I have tried. Easy after all the prep is done (lots of chopping involved). I love that it uses sausage, which is a meat I don't cook with often. Really adds some variety to my cache of recipes! 

Source

Broccoli & Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes

These were also easy and delicious! I baked my potatoes the first time in the oven so that took an hour but you can do it in the microwave if you don't have the time. 

Source

Scones

These are copycat Starbucks scones and they are delicious! I was surprised by how easy they were and that I had every ingredient. They also taste exactly like the ones at Starbucks! I made one batch blueberry and one chocolate chip!

Source

My Own Guacamole Recipe

Smash avocado to desired consistency and add remaining ingredients. Add 1/2 tablespoon of lime juice before storing.

Devour and enjoy!

Catalina Chicken and Spuds

My absolute favorite chicken recipe EVER and some delicious potatoes I made-up myself!

<<1 cup catalina dressing >><<1 cup apricot preserves>><<1 packet onion soup mix>>

Combine all ingredients in a greased 9 by 13, mix together well. Add chicken breasts (thawed or frozen) and cover with sauce. Bake at 350 for an hour.

<<Potatoes>><<1/2 stick of butter>><<italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste>>

 Cut up potatoes sprinkle with seasoning and add butter. Bake at 350 for an hour. Mix halfway through cook time.

I frequently make these dishes together because they cook at the same temperature for the same amount of time!

Menu Planning Update

So I have been menu planning for two weeks now and am happy to say that it is going great and saving tons of money already!

I plan the menu for two weeks and do one shopping trip to get everything needed for those two weeks.

Here is the first week's menu. Leftovers nights are strategically worked into the plan!

Week One Menu
Monday >> Left-Overs
Tuesday >> Cajun Chicken Pasta
Wednesday >> Left-Overs
Thursday >> Lasagna
Friday >> Chicken Taco Rice
Saturday >> Frozen Pizza
Sunday >> Hamburgers

Week Two Menu
Monday >> Left-Overs
Tuesday >> Chicken & Dressing
Wednesday >> Left-Overs
Thursday >> Stromboli
Friday >> Hot Dogs
Saturday >> Shrimp Tacos
Sunday >> Chicken Pot Pie

Went shopping the week before the menu started and got all the things I needed (and didn't already have) to make these meals. We needed a few other things like snacks, paper towels, face wash and other odds and ends. But for the food, we couldn't believe how little there was in our cart! I didn't use any coupons this time, but I plan on starting to use them from now on. *I am an amateur coupon user!

After totaling up all the food needed for the meals (including a bag of tortilla chips, wheat thins and sandwich meat for lunches and snacks) the total cost of the food for two weeks was $47.42! Of course some of the ingredients we already had at home, but this was a huge improvement for us. In the past we would spend about $100 on each shopping trip and would go about twice a month. So, BIG improvement. I was able to make each meal with everything we bought and we had plenty of leftovers for lunches and leftover nights!

I think I will like this whole menu planning thing! Especially if it means more money in the bank!

Easy Strawberry Pie

Made my first strawberry pie the other day and boy was it good! Found this super easy recipe *online and wanted to share!

What you need:

2 sheets roll-out pie crust
2 tablespoons butter, melted
White sugar, for top of crust
5 cups strawberries washed and cut
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch salt

Cut up your strawberries, I cut them pretty thin to make for more.

Next, mix strawberries, sugar, cornstarch and salt together.

Put your crust bottom in pie dish and add filling. 

Then add the lid of your crust. You can do it any way you like as long as there is a slit or two. I tried my hand at lattice and it wasn't too pretty. I know how to fix it next time though!

Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle sugar on top. Place in oven at 400 for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes reduce heat to 350 and bake for remaining 30 minutes.

Best served warm with ice cream :)


* Recipe found here

Texas Straw Hats

A Raney family favorite, this is an easy and delicious meal you can throw together in no time!

Simply, crush up some Doritos for the bottom.
Brown 1lb of hamburger and add 1/4 packet of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of catalina dressing
Top with anything you want. Shredded cheese, lettuce tomatoes etc.

Then eat! Yum!

Easiest and BEST Chicken Pot Pie

So I got this recipe from my sister who got it from a friend of our moms. I had it at my sister’s house once and told her I HAD to have the recipe. Seriously so stinkin’ good. I was thinking that it was probably a pretty complicated recipe because it was so good and involved pie crust. Boy was I surprised when I saw the recipe card. EASY AS PIE (ha, see what I did there?)! 

Wanted to share it with you because it is that good and a staple in the Smith household. 

What you need

2 Cups of cut up chicken (I have used both chicken breasts and rotisserie chicken)

1 can mixed vegetables drained

2 cans Cream of potato

Thyme and pepper as desired

Store bought pie crust (of course if you want you can make your own)

Ignore the chicken broth.

Place bottom crust in pie pan

Mix together all ingredients and spread in bottom crust

Place crust lip on top and cut slits in

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes

Yep, really that easy!

Fresh

Is your mouth watering yet?

I whipped this up (pun intended) the other night because I wanted to try my hand at homemade whipped cream. We already had some leftover brownies and fresh strawberries in the fridge, so I just put it all together! I was incredibly pleased with the result, and full as a tick (as The Hubs would say). 

You have got to try this one out, it is to-die-for!

What you will need:

Brownies
Strawberries
Whipped Cream

Homemade Whipped Cream
Half pint of heaving whipping cream
2/3 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
                 ~
Pour cream and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl
Mix on high with an electric hand mixer for 2-3 minutes
Add vanilla and mix for another 2-3 minutes
Mix until peaks begin to form and consistency is correct

Tear brownies into small pieces then layer brownie, whipped cream and strawberries. As many layers as desired. 

Easy as that! You can eat it right away or chill before serving. 

Sausage Tortellini Soup

A super easy recipe for a really good soup. I got this recipe from Pinterest and modified it a little, it is now one of The Hub's favorite meals! 

Seriously though, this is one you gotta try! 

(sorry about picture quality. A friend is borrowing my camera so I used the iPad)

Ingredients 

1 lb of sausage

1 can of Evaporated Milk

6 Chicken Bouillon Cubes 

4 cups water

1 bag of Cheese Tortellini 

1 tbsp Parsley

1 tbsp Oregano

salt & pepper to taste

Parmesan Cheese

First cook the sausage all the way, then drain any grease. 

Next, bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling add the 6 chicken bouillon cubes and stir until they are dissolved. 

After the cubes are dissolved, turn heat to medium high and add the evaporated milk, all seasonings and sausage. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes. (really bad picture on this one. Sorry)

After the mixture has simmered for 15 minutes then add tortellini and allow to boil according to pasta pkg. instructions. 

 Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve. It is very hearty and makes a lot! Great soup to serve when you have lots of guests!

Happy Cooking!

Starbucks Recipe: White Chocolate Mocha

My favorite thing to order at Starbucks in a nice warm White Chocolate Mocha! I posted the link to this recipe a long time ago (like my second blog post ever) but here is a step by step. I am serious when I say that this tastes just like the real thing. And it takes about 10 minutes total to make. Try it! You will like it!

I don't measure things usually so bare with me...

What you need: Coffee, white chocolate chips, milk, small pot, glass bowl that fits in the pot

 First, brew some coffee extra strong and you only need about enough to fill 1/3 of the coffee mug.

Then put a little bit of water in the pot and bring to a boil, after the water begins to boil place the glass bowl in the pot to create a double boiler. (Keep on the heat, I just took it off to take the picture.)

After you place the glass bowl in the pot, reduce heat to medium. Pour roughly 1/2 cup of milk in the glass bowl and a big handful of white chocolate chips (the more chips the stronger the chocolate taste, so use your judgment) Stir consistently until chocolate chips are melted, it takes about a minute or two. You will have a really smooth, runny mixture.

Then pour the milk/chocolate mixture into the coffee and mix together. You're done! Easy as that, and delicious. I usually like to add whipped cream to the top but we were out :(

Enjoy!

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

I found this great new recipe for easy slow-cooker chicken and dumplings, it really is easy (unlike a lot of recipes that claim to be) and it tastes AH-mazing, seriously one of my new favorite meals!

Easy Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
INGREDIENTS

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen or fresh)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup (I have used one can of chicken and can of celery or mushroom for variety)
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 – 2 tablespoons, mix and match your choice of favorite seasoning – choices are: garlic powder, all purpose or poultry seasoning, paprika, cumin, dried parsley, rosemary, thyme.
• 1 small onion, diced (optional, but we love it, finely diced)
• 1 – bag of frozen or canned mixed veggies (optional)
• 1 can of flaky refrigerator biscuits – you may desire two if your family wants lots of dumplings

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup,seasonings, onion, (and optional veggies) in a slow cooker.
2. Pour chicken stock to cover.
3. Cover, and cook for about 4 hours on High or 7 hours on low. (All slow cookers vary)
4. About one hour before serving, take lid off of crock pot and shred chicken with fork.
5. Then take biscuits, flatten and tear into fourths. Place the torn biscuit dough in crockpot, making sure that you push pieces down into the liquid, so the tops are covered as well.
6. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center. (If you’ve been cooking on low & need to hurry the process, turn up to high until dough has cooked.)

Just combine everything but the biscuit dough(you add in an hour before serving) in your crock pot. I added veggies (carrots, peas, corn) and used garlic powder and italian seasoning. I also cooked it on high for 4 hours, it would probably be better cooked on low so the flavors can mix but I still thought it was great.

And I cut up my dumplings and flattened them when I made everything else so they would be ready to just throw in. 

The dumplings cook for the last hour and should puff up like this by the end!

It makes A LOT which is good for leftovers or guests! I highly recommend this recipe it really was easy, tasted amazing and made the house smell awesome. And bonus, it supplied The Hubs with lunch for work and dinner since I work late! 

Shrimp Tacos and Fall Decor

After taking a little hiatus from blogging because of a busy week, I am back with double fun for today!

A recipe.
Decor.

Enjoy!


Shrimp Tacos

What you will need:

Frozen Shrimp
Olive Oil
Packet of Taco Seasoning
Lime
Tomato
Lettuce
Shredded Cheese
Salsa
Tortillas

Run shrimp under hot water for about 2 minutes to thaw.

Pull the tails off the little guys :)

Put a little olive oil in a skillet and add shrimp.

While shrimp cooks cut lime in half and slice up desired amount of tomato.

Squeeze half a lime over shrimp then add taco seasoning. Shrimp should cook about 5-7 minutes.

After cooking shrimp place on warmed tortilla then add any extras you want. I used lettuce, cheese, previously cut tomatoes and our favorite Peach, Pineapple, Chipotle salsa.

Put it all together, add some tortilla chips and get ready to feast!

And now a few pictures of my new fall decorations. I figure by putting them up now I can will fall weather into arriving sooner!

A birthday gift from my sister in-law. It is a solar light so it "charges" all day and has a nice little light once it gets dark.

Found this cute little door hanger at the Target Dollar Spot!