Green Chili Pork Taquitos

8-10 corn tortillas

2 cups shredded pork

1/2 can chopped green chilies

1/2 cup cheese

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Place about 2-3 TBS of the filling down the center of a corn tortilla, roll and secure with a toothpick. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a deep skillet. Fry the taquitos in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes each side, or until golden brown over a med/high heat. drain on paper towels and serve with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

Bread Machine Potato Rolls

I got this recipe from my new favorite recipe blog They came out perfect and were SO yummy I just had to share!

Potato Dinner Rolls

1 cup milk
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup instant potatoes flakes
3 cups unbleached white bread flour
2 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Place all of the ingredients in the the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set on Dough cycle, press Start.
When cycle is complete, remove dough from the machine, deflate and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces and form into rounds. Place the rounds on lightly greased baking sheets, decoratively slash top of each with a sharp razor or knife, if desired. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm area until doubled in volume, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown.
Makes 12 rolls.

Honey Apple Pork Roast

1 pork roast (our was about 2lb shoulder roast)

4 cups apple juice

2-4 cups of water

2 chicken bullion cubes

1 TBS cajun seasoning

2 tsp salt

2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

2 TBS honey

*I added 1 TBS of Cabellas maple jalapeno seasoning, but you dont NEED it, since I am pretty sure not everyone keeps that in their pantry;) But FYI its really good seasoning, so if you are at cabellas, pick some up!

Throw everything into the crockpot (EXCEPT for the honey) and cook on LOW for at least 10 hours. I cooked ours for 18. yes eighteen hours. I never cook any kind of meat in the crockpot for less that 10-12 hours. For the last 2-3 hours, take the roast out and shred it, strain all the yuckys out of the liquid and put the STRAINED liquid BACK INTO the crockpot. Add the shredded meat back into the crockpot along with the 2 TBS of honey and finish cooking for 2-3 hours.

I just throw it into the crockpot on Saturday night and the its done sunday for lunch. This roast is so sweet and tender, we LOVED it!

chewy cookie bars

My mother in law actually gave me this recipe, so props to her :)

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup tub margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups of chocolate chips

Cream together the margarine, vanilla and sugars, then add the eggs. sift together the dry ingredients and add to the wet ingredients. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. (the dough will me slightly runny, at least ours was) Grease a cookie sheet and pour the cookie dough onto the sheet. Ours didnt quite fill the entire sheet, but almost. Bake at 350 for about 25 min. they wont look completely done, but let them sit in the pan for like 10-20 min and they will be perfect!

Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp

 Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp

w/ White rice

Over Valentines day weekend, we went down to VEGAS

to enjoy a child free dinner at our Favorite Restaurant!

My husband and I Love Love LOVE the Cheesecake Factory.

I tried the yummy 'chicken enchilada' meal,

and my hubby got the 'bang bang chicken and shrimp' dinner.

And I tell you, I ate more of his dinner than I ate of my own!!

It seriously is DELISH!!!!

Thank you Meemo's Kitchen blog for posting this recipe.

{click the link above for recipe}

It seriously taste so similar to the 'real' meal,

it will quickly become a staple at your house!!

Don't be overwhelmed by all the ingredients,

or the steps to make this dish...

when I first read the instructions, all I kept thinking was

"NOPE, I'm not going

to be able to make this...."

but once I organized all the spices, it wasn't as daunting.

*I did make some adjustments:

*added extra water to the peanut sauce, I wanted it a bit thinner

*cooked my chicken and shrimp, and then added to the curry

so it could soak up some of the flavor.

But that was all...

So, there you go.

Make it. Eat it. Love it!

Chicken Parmesan

Easy Healthy Chicken Parmesan

2 Chicken breasts
1 extra large egg
1tsp water
1 cup italtian bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp parsley
2 TBS parmesan cheese
Whole wheat spaghetti noodles
spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella cheese

Mix egg and water in a shallow bowl, and in a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and parmesan cheese. Dip chicken into the egg mixture, and then into the breadcrumb mixture and coat evenly. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 20min or until the chicken if FULLY cooked. While chicken is baking, cook enough spaghetti noodles for two. When noodles are done, mix with enough spaghetti sauce to coat the noodles. Place cooked chicken on top on of spaghetti and top with mozzarella cheese.

'lace' wreath.

this is super duper easy cheesy. 

get these:

-foam wreath

-paper doilies

-hot glue gun

-2 pins/strip of thin fabric {to use on the back when 

all finished to hang onto wall}

It's the same concept as the book wreath. Just rolling and glueing. 

not much to it. just takes a napping baby and a good show on to 

help finish. {just because all you do forever is glue and roll}

Honey & Soy Broccoli and Mushrooms

Prudence Pennywise is my favorite place to get recipes. She lives in St. George and she is the most amazing cook! I tried this recipe the other night and I cannot wait to make it again... SO GOOD! And only a few ingredients!

(You can thank Prudy for the picture)

Honey and Soy Broccoli and Mushrooms

1 teaspoon oil

4 ounces sliced mushrooms (Use whatever you can get on sale)

2 cups chopped broccoli florettes

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons honey

pinch of red pepper flakes

In a small skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook for two minutes. Add broccoli and stir fry for 3 minutes, or until tender crisp. Stir in soy, honey and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute more.

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

One of my new years resolutions was to perfect my perfect pizza dough recipe, well I think I've done it! My mother in law bought me a breadmaker awhile back, and I was stumped at how to use it. Well the other week I dusted it off and made some bread. It was glorious! So now I have been using it for everything! It's so easy just to throw everything in there and press start and let it run! No mixing, no kneading, no mess! I've made pizza and breadsticks 3 times in the past week!
Basic Pizza Crust
1 1/4 cups of warm water
2 T. + 1 t. olive oil
3 1/2 cups of flour
1 T. of sugar
1/2 T. of salt
2 1/4 t. of yeast (or one packet)
1 T. Garlic bread seasoning (mix of garlic powder, onion flake, parsley and lots of other seasonings)

Put the wet ingredients in the bread maker
Put the dry ingredients into the bread maker EXCEPT for the yeast and garlic seasoning.
Make a small valley in the center of the dry ingredients and fill with the yeast making sure it does not touch the wet ingredients
Set the bread maker to the dough setting. Let the machine run until it has formed a ball. Add the garlic seasoning and let it run until the seasoning is incorporated and the dough ball is smooth. Stop the bread maker, and place the dough ball into an oiled bowl. cover with plastic wrap and let rise for a little while, until it has about doubled in size. sprinkle the ball with a little flour, pull it out and place on a floured board. Roll into whatever form you want (pizza, bread sticks, calzones) and let the dough rest and rise again for a few minutes before using. Bake at 425 until done (It just depends on what your cooking, anywhere form 15-25 min)
This pizza was pineapple and Canadian bacon with, get this... HOMEMADE Canadian bacon! Beau's step dad made us some, and it was AMAZING!! sorry this isn't the best picture, we keep eating it all before i can get over there with a camera! At least that tells ya its good!

chicken cordon bleu

(not my picture! I got it from the site I got the original recipe from linked below)
I saw this recipe link on Sammi's blog and I figured I'd give it a try! Now this is a big deal for me. I don't ever try new things. I'm horrible I know. I changed the recipe up a little to fit our tastes, so if you want the original recipe you can go here. but here's how I made it.
makes enough for the 2 of us, but probably really only 1 person... we aren't huge eaters, and I hate leftovers.
1 chicken breast
1 egg
1 tbsp water
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion flakes
4 slices deli ham
Mozzarella cheese
vegetable oil spray

Preheat oven to 350°. Pound you chicken breast between 2 layers of plastic wrap until its about 1/2 the thickness as it started out. place the ham slices and cheese on top and roll tightly and secure with toothpicks. Mix the egg and water in a shallow bowl, and in a separate bowl mix breadcrumbs, garlic powder and onion flakes. Roll the chicken in the egg mixture and then into the breadcrumbs. Place on a greased cookie sheet and spray lightly with vegetable spray. Bake for about 30 min or until chicken in completely done.

My mom makes this awesome sauce to dip homemade chicken strips in, its just 2/3 miracle whip and 1/3 mustard, and it was SO good to dip this chicken in!!

kick a cold

don't you HATE when you feel that first little tickle in your throat and you just KNOW you are getting sick? Well my lovely mother showed me how to kick it before it takes over!


She had me use elderberry drops and they are a lifesaver! When you first start to feel your cold coming on, you take it 2-3 times a day (4 drops on your tongue, let it set for a minute and then swallow) and 99% of the time, if you catch it quick enough you'll never really get sick! Or if you are already sick it will shorten a cold! My mom works as a secretary at an intermediate school so she is around sick kids all day, and she takes it every day during cold season and she never really gets sick! You can buy it at the health food store or i think harmons for like around $8! It's totally worth it! Blake has been sick all week and when i started to feel myself getting it I started taking the drops, and I still haven't gotten worse! That little tickle is still there... but no sore throat, cough, or stuffy nose! SO worth it!!

keeping my tummy warm.

1 can garbonzo beans

1 can black beans

1 can of white beans

1 can corn

1 can diced tomatoes, not drained

1 pound ground beef, cooked

1 packet of ranch mix

1 packet of taco seasoning

put into crock pot on high until it's all heated through. 

serve with sourcream, cheese, and corn chips. 

delicious.

It's Cold Season

I've looked all over for baby cold medicine--to find that it doesn't exist! Every label says that kids can't have it until they're 4. :( I was at Pioneer Nutrition the other day getting some vitamins and the clerk showed me these. They're baby Vitamin C Cold Tablets that kids can take as early as 1 year! (and since Taft's close, and weighs as much as a one-year-old, I gave it a go) They're homeopathic, no side effects, and awesome! These totally clear up his congestion and stop his runny nose.

easy berry wreath

For some reason, i always buy garlands, and end up needing wreaths. So instead of going out and buying one, I made one using things i had laying around!

You need...
a grapevine wreath
a berry garland
hot glue

All you have to do is wrap the garland around the wreath and move it around until you've gotten an even amount of fullness all the way around. Then hot glue the ends and in a few random places so it will stay in place, and your done! I love the texture and color it adds to my plant shelf!

Chicken Alfredo Pillows

1 tube of mini biscuits
alfredo sauce
cooked chicken cut into small pieces
mozzarella cheese
Stretch biscuits into ovals and cover with alfredo sauce. Fill one side with chicken and cheese and fold over. Bake according to biscuit directions.
you could also do this with bbq sauce, or just regular pizza toppings! they are like mini calzones! but you dont have to mess with the pizza dough!

Tutu's for your tiny Dancer

ITEMS NEEDED:

*Toole - Any color, depending on size plan on about 1.5 yard

*Sharp Sissors

*Measuring tape

*3/4 inch Elastic Band

*about 1 hour (or less) Time

Click on pics for step by step how to!

Tutu's for your lil one or YOU!  :)

Super Soft baby girl Headbands

I call these:

Nylon Super Soft Baby Girl Headbands

So easy, all you need:

*knee high nylons (small, any color.) - for the Band

{you can get 2 headbands from 1 pack}

*any fake flower (with plastic parts removed) and

*some type of jewel center - for the flower center

*Hot glue/gun

*needle/thread or sewing machine

Here's How to Put it all together:

1-Cut off top of Knee High (the 1-2 inch seam on top)

2-Stitch toes of nylon to the unfinished top.

3-wrap around the previous stitch, the 1 to 2 inch seam you

cut off in step 1. Sew to give finished look. See pics above.

4-Hot glue on any embellishments.

*ALL DONE*

fabric flowers

My super awesome sister in law taught me to make these this weekend and i am ADDICTED! I cant wait to buy more fabric! They are super easy... ill try and explain...

1. Cut 6 flower shapes, or circles, either shape works. Just make sure they are about the same size.

2. Cut 4 wavy circles of netting slightly larger that the fabric circles. I just fold a piece of netting into 4ths and cut around a fabric flower. also, cut a small circle for the top of the flower.

3. Take 4 of your 6 fabric flowers and fold them in half.

4. layer your 4 half circles like you would the top of a cardboard box.

5. Layer and hot glue your fabric and netting in this order....

Top going to bottom. 4 layered fabric flowers. 1 piece of netting. fabric flower. 1 piece of netting. 1 fabric flower. 2 pieces of netting.

6. On the back, attach some sort of clip, or pin, or whatever you want to use.

7. On the top of the 4 layered fabric flowers, glue the small circle of netting you cut out, and some sort of button, or bead for the center :)

I hope this all made sense!!

happiest toddler {and baby} on the block.

Buy this book. It's awesome! 
There is another version,
Happiest Baby on the Block. 
buy that too. haha. 
great books!

LINK HERE.

Big Mac Sauce

Am I the only one on earth who loves these cheesy, greasy, fattening things? I crave Big Macs. Sad I know. Thankfully my dear sweet husband despises McDonald's and we only go MAYBE once a year. So I guess I'm not THAT bad. I did however made the sauce last night for our burgers, and it was SO good!

1/4 cup miracle whip

1 Tablespoon sweet relish

1 1/2 TBS kraft french dressing

1 tablespoon re-hydrated onion flakes*

1/2 tsp white vinegar

1/2 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp salt

Mix ingredients together and set aside. The longer it sits the better it gets!

*to re-hydrate onions, add onion flakes to hot water and microwave for a minute and then let them sit until they are soft.

a few valentine treats.

first picture LINK.

second picture LINK.

go to bakerella.com for more glorious valentine recipes. 

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been craving these cookies for a few days and finally broke down and made some. I remembered a recipe my mom used when I was younger and wanted to recreate them. At the moment I was wanting to bake, my mom was in a meeting so I couldn't call her and I was just feeling too lazy to load the kids in the truck and drive to her house and find the recipe. But then when I googled PBOCCC (I didn't actually google the acronym, but you understand that my fingers might fall off if I type it all out over and over) I found all kinds of recipes. I decided to try two and see how it went. Recipe 1 was from Martha Stewart so I figured it would be good. Recipe 2 was from Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen and it looked a lot like my mom's recipe so I was excited to try it.

Recipe 1 reminds me a lot of "Ranger Cookies" that are the only flat crispy cookie I have ever liked. Now I like two. It called for natural pb, whole wheat flour, and peanuts but I didn't use those because I didn't have them. I would love to make them again with whole wheat flour but white flour worked great yesterday. It has a ton more oatmeal than recipe 2 which may or may not have resulted in my kids' breakfast today being these cookies. They ate a banana too so I'm not the world's worst mother. Recipe 2 are fuller, almost cakey cookies that are ridiculously good as well. They kind of just melt in your mouth. They are exactly like my mom's recipe. Both are delish. I highly recommend each of them. But beware... I officially spoiled my dinner with sweets for the first time in my life and totally went to bed last night with a belly ache because I ate way too many.

Recipe links:

Recipe 1

Recipe 2

fabrics. GALORE.

fabricworm.com

fabric worm is my favorite fabric online store. 

They are all unique. They can be pricey, but like everything..if you look

you can find some awesome steals. My friend made sophs bedding out of fabric

bought from this store. {which we ADORE} 

check it out. 

Menu Monday

Monday: Leftover Night

Tuesday: Beef Fajitas and Spanish rice (since last week's fajitas miraculously turned into cold cereal :))

Wednesday: Burgers and cheesy tots

Thursday: Manicotti and green salad

Friday: Beef Taco Salads

Saturday: Date Night

Sunday: I spaced that last weeks Sunday meal would be the superbowl, so we will have the pork roast, broccoli and rolls that were planned for last week!

Better than a BLT

I pretty much lived on BLT's the first few months i was pregnant. They just ALWAYS sounded good! And i love changing them up, so here's my latest...

2 slices of whole grain bread

sharp cheddar cheese

spinach

4 slices of bacon (not turkey, its gotta be the REAL stuff)

butter

Butter the outsides of the bread (like you do for a grilled cheese) and layer the ingredients inside. grill until the bread is toasted and the cheese melts.

Does your lil man need Ties??

Forgive me for being m.i.a. lately, we've had some terrible

virus hit our house hard! So needless to say, being a mom

to 2 awesome sick kids, and being somewhat sick myself,

I was pretty down and out for a bit.

BUT I'm slowly getting back into action.

Starting with these Awesome ties for your lil' guy!

This is my lil' Logi-bear modeling the first tie I've ever made!!

Doesn't he look so adorable!?

This will be his 'Super Bowl Sunday' tie!

Thank you to AMBER over at 'Very Homemade'.

She is so crafty, and has a few tutorials on some other awesome

projects that I can't wait to try soon!! (headband anyone?! ♥)
Just follow this link and use her directions, because they

are very easy to follow. Thanks again AMBER!!

It took me longer than 30 minutes, but well worth the time!

Also, when getting your material, check out

Joann's Fabrics and Crafts..I found that they sell

1/4 yard material already cut out to use!! AWESOME!!

Anyway, ENJOY!

*Leave a comment with a link to your creations!!

Gravy

Gravy made from scratch may sound daunting... but its really SO easy! i NEVER use those packets anymore! All you need is...

a few cups of Beef/chicken broth (i usually will cook my meat IN broth, so i just use that)

Cornstarch

Cold Water/Milk

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Pour the broth into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. In a SEPARATE bowl, mix the cornstarch and COLD water/milk in a 2 to 1 ratio (2 parts liquid, 1 part cornstarch) and dissolve together. while whisking, pour the cornstarch mixture into the broth and turn the heat down to a simmer. keep whisking as the mixture thickens. add garlic and onion powder (and any other seasonings you want) and keep on heat until if reaches the thickness you want. It you want a thicker gravy, make more of the cornstarch mixture and add it it slowly, if you want a thinner gravy, add more broth.

Seriously you will never make gravy from a packet again!