Steak Salad, Cupcakes, and Pork!

Today was such a beautiful day!!! Started with the gym, and for lunch I made a saladish dish.  I don't know what to call it but it was very yummy.

Steak Corn and Bean Salad

I used my tyson seasoned steak strips
1/2 can corn
1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 of an avocado chopped

cilantro

olive oil

lime juice

Mix it all up and enjoy!! I also made roasted veggies to snack on throughout the day. I have never roasted veggies and decided since I had the time today I would. Sooo I did some Brussels sprouts and cauliflower with olive oil, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning! YUMM they didn't last long!

I have been wanting to make these cupcakes forever, and finally was able to because my friend Sara brought me the pink mascoto I needed!

White Chocolate Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 box Betty Crocker White Cake Mix
1pkg White Chocolate Instant Pudding
4 Egg Whites
1c sour cream
1c vegetable oil
1/2c milk
1t vanilla extract
1/4t sea salt... i just used salt
Raspberry filling

Mix it all up expect the raspberry filling. I bought raspberry preserve. So then fill your muffin tins and place some preserve in the center. Set the oven for 375 then prior to putting them in turn down to 325. Cook 18 minutes.

Frosting
1 stick butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1-1/2 T barefoot bubbly pink moscato

For dinner since it was so nice out I wanted to use the grill! Boneless pork chops were 10 for 10 at The Andersons a while back so I bought ten so now have lots of pork that I need to use! I fell pork recipes are always the hardest for me, but I have been wanting grilled pineapple so found a good one!

Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops

1/2c brown sugar
1/2c Italian salad dressing
1/4c pineapple juice
3T soy sauce
Save half of your marinade for grilling and marinate the pork in the rest. Heat your grill up and grill 5 minutes a side (mine were kinda thick so I went a little longer). Then you grill your sliced pineapple and baste this with the marinate while cooking!!Hit the spot!

I also made broccoli cheese patties! I know I couldn't stop cooking!! HAhahah! I thought I could take this with me to work and eat them for snack or lunch throughout the day.  All you do is chop frozen broccoli really fine, 2 eggs beaten 3/4c bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese. Before adding the onion and garlic saute it in butter. Mix all together and form into patties. Grease baking sheet and cook on 400 for 15 minutes. Flip the patties and bake another 12 minutes. Yummy! I feel it needs a sauce to dip it in too but haven't found a good one yet.

Best salmon recipe & quick and easy crockpot chicken dinner!

Another successful day of cooking!!! Breakfast, simple and easy, a wrap with egg, spinach, cheese, and a mix of siracha and mayo!! I have been using a lot of spinach lately, kinda obsessed! After hitting the gym, I had to hurry and make lunch because we were taking Lauren to the movies. So I went with salmon. I found this recipe on pinterest and it is my new favorite!!

Chili Glazed Salmon
(I cut this recipe in half for myself)

Glaze:
1/3 c chili sauce (I used my chipolte Tabasco pepper sauce)
1/4c soy sauce
1T ginger
2T brown sugar
3 garlic cloves minced

Sauce:
1T may
1/4c plain greek yogurt
1t lemon juice
1t salt
1-1/2 T siracha sauce
1 garlic clove minced
scallions/green onion to top.

Line a pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray. Spread the glaze on and let sit 30 minutes. I didn't have this time so only let it sit 10mintues or less. Turn on your broiler and cook 8-10 minutes. Once cooked I laid some spinach down and placed the salmon on the spinach. Then top with your sauce. WARNING: this is spicy, well for me it was. I would probably use less siracha if you don't want it as spicy, but YUMMMM! Must try!!!

After lunch we went and say Non-stop, good movie, suspenseful! We went to one of the movie theaters that you can have food in!! It was a fun experience, but of course I was not hungry, but had some queso dip. Prior to leaving for the movie I put dinner in the crock pot. This one was very quick and easy and delicious!

Crock pot Chicken Dinner

4 chicken breasts (I used chicken thighs)
1 large or 2 small cans of cream of chicken soup (I used one small can)
2 boxes of stuffing (I used one box of cornbread stuffing)
1c sour cream ( i used 1/2c.)
1 small bag frozen beans

Spray your crock pot and then place in the chicken. Mix your soup and sour cream together then pour over the chicken. The next layer is the stuffing mix, then the green beans. Pour one cup of water over it. You do not mix it all up, just do in layers. Cook on low for 6-1/2 to 7 hours. The picture for this is not great, but man was this a great meal. I love to mix my food up when I eat sometimes so this was a great mix!

Now for a snack my love made me a plate of apples, cheese, and garlic flavored ritz crackers!! He also got me this wine glass for my birthday and the wine in it is my fathers Baco, the last bottle I have left from my visit home!!! Have a great evening!!

Healthy eating: Cabbage and Turkey!

HEYYY!!! I"mmmm really back in action today! I know it's been a while, but man these last two weeks have just been so busy!!! I am soo blessed to have a great family and awesome friends!! Today has been a great day too. First started off with the trainer at the gym today, it was the day of measurements too. Ekkk!! I know I have gained weight since I began (2lbs), but come to find out that although I gained weight I lost 5% body fat!! Woott WOott! Erin and I kicked butt today too especially after a late night at the crab races!! When I got home it was lunch time and I just seasoned up some chicken breast and baked it for a little and made Chis and I chicken sliders with asparagus, YUM! After eating I began searching for recipes to make for the rest of the weekend, I started to do this before I ate but that was just torture! I made my list and headed to the store. Well, went to Aldi and Meijer and brought home more then expected of course!!! haha always happens that way! I have been wanting to make this cabbage recipe for a while now, but have not had the chance so today was the day. Soo cabbage... yeah, I use to hate when my mom would make pigs in a blanket, as we call them, or golumpki, or cabbage rolls. I have never been a fan of cabbage, but was not really sure why...so I did some research online and was sold. I will share what I found:

9 Healthy Benefits of Cabbage

1. Ideal for weight loss, it only has 33 calories in a cup of cooked cabbage. It is low in fat and high in fiber!! Score!

2. It is a brain food, full of vitamin K and anthocyanins that help with mental function and concentration. Always a plus in my book!!

3. High in sulfur, the beautifying mineral! Helps dry up oily and acne skin!

4. Helps detoxify the body: The high content of vit C and sulphur in cabbage removes toxins which are the main causes of arthritis, skin disease, and gout.

5. Has well-known cancer preventative compounds.

6. Helps keep blood pressure from getting high. The high potassium content helps by opening blood vessels up and easing the flow of blood.

7. Cabbage for headaches: A warm compress made with cabbage leaves can help relieve the pain of a headache, or drink raw cabbage juice.... ew!

8. Hangovers from heavy drinking were reduced by using cabbage since Roman times--- I did not know this, found it interesting!!

9. Anti-inflammatory and Blood Sugar regulator--more directed to red cabbage!

And I am adding one to this list, IT IS CHEAP!!!! So what I did was slice the cabbage then put some olive oil or butter on it. I used butter flavored cooking spray. Then sprinkle with garlic salt and wallla! I added some bacon bits to it as well. Preheat oven 400 and bake 20 minutes then flip and bake another 10.  The recipe said 30 and 30 but I made mine thin and kept checking and this is what worked best. Also a note some of the cabbage may brown/blacken from the sides around the cabbage, just discard.

This was my snack today!! Okay next was dinner. I had so many ideas so I let Chris pick between salmon or ground turkey and he picked the ground turkey.  Everyone is so iffy about ground Turkey, I know I have said this before, but it is cheaper most of the time then ground meat, better for you, and taste great!!  So I made Turkey Patty Melts

Turkey Patty Melts

1lb ground turkey
1 Large egg while
1/4c low fat ricotta cheese
1/2t black pepper
1-1/2t Worcestershire sauce
1c vadilla onion, or sweet onion
Swiss cheese
bread

So heat some olive oil in a pan. Chopped up your onion. Cook in oil five minutes or so. Add to a bowl with the ground turkey. mix in the rest other than the cheese. Form into patties. Place on greased baking sheet. Heat your broiler up. Cook until no longer run pink. I would say 8-10 minutes a side... use your judgement depending on the thickness of your patties. Top with shredded Swiss cheese and serve on bread. I added a few touches of my own. I sauteed some mushrooms and put this on the patty first then the cheese. I also made "fancy sauce" (ketchup and mayo--term from the movie Step Brothers) and spread this on my cibatta bread, then put some spinach down and there ya have it! These were soooooo yummy! Great flavor! Chris loved it as well!!!

Porkkk

So I havent post in a while, not because I havent been cooking but because Im cooking boring! Lol. I have soo much leftover stuff that we have been eating!! Not a bad thing at all! And some eating out with having my brother and sister in law in town for the weekend, then my mom, then my bday sooo yeh!! But dont forget to check in because I will be cooking !!

Today I wanted pork and always struggle how to make it. Well I tried this out.

Pork Yum

1/4c soy sauce
1/4c honey
1/4t garlic salt
1/2c chicken broth
2T ketchup
1/2t ginger
Salt and pepper the chops and brown in oil. Put in pan and mix all other ingredients and pour over. Cook 15 minutes at 350. Pour juice in kettle and heat. Mix juice with 1t water and 1T corn startch And pour in juice. Whisk until thick. 

New twist on a sloppy joe!

I've been soo busy lately that food in the house has consisted of simple and easy stuff that is not much for sharing such as tacos, burgers etc. This weekend my brother and his wife came, and it is March Madness so we did not eat in much. Chris and I had burgers Friday and then ate out Saturday.  This morning was biscuits and gravy and dinner I finally got up and decided to cook! I always struggle to find something to do with ground beef. I did not want tacos, meatloaf, or meatballs. Then I remembered that I made this recipe a while back and it sounded good! It is called

Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe's

1lb ground meat
1T olive oil
Green Pepper
Onion
1/4c steak sauce
1c beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
1 T butter
1T flour
1c milk
1 c mozzarella cheese

Brown your ground beef in oil then drain. Add back to skillet and add your green pepper and onion. Cook for three to four minutes. Then stir in your steak sauce, broth, and salt and pepper. Bring to boil, and cook until thick and bubbly. I let it boil about five minutes or more, just so it is not runny anymore.

Next your going to make your own cheese sauce! Melt the butter then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup of milk and cook until bubbly. When it starts to bubble remove from heat and add your one cup of cheese! Wooooollla! It's a tasty little quick and easy meal! It is not the prettiest but very yummy! Give it a shot!

Bourbon Street Chicken

Crock pot cooking is the best!! AND my days wine which Im indulging on now! Yesterday I decided to make this recipe because I had a lot of work and running around to do. Well we went out to watch my friends band and decided to get pizza so bourbon chicken was for today! Which actually worked perfect since it was my late day! This is vey yummy!! I remember tasting bourbon chicken when my cousin would get it...or at least thats a memory I have. LOL!

Bourbon street chicken

4 chicken thighs no skin. You can use bone in because it will fall off the bone by the end.
2-3 garlic cloves minced
1/4t ground ginger
1/4c apple juice
1/4c brown sugar
2T ketchup
1T cider vinegar
1/2c water
1/3c soy sauce.

Put chicken in the crockpot and drump rest on top. Cook low 8 hrs

Family time

This weekend Chris and I made the trip to New London! We had such a great time with my mom and dad and my two nieces!!! We of course ate well too. The best was Sunday!! Reuben sandwiches!!! Mom made it out n the crockpot.

Guinness Corned Beef

2lb red potato quartered
1lb baby carrots
2 celery ribs
1 small onion quartered
1 corned beef brisket with spiced pack
1 bottle Guinness... we used 1/2 bottle black and tan and 1/2 cup beef broth.
1/2 small head cabbage sliCed

Crock-pot 6 hours low.

New favorite dish!

So this is either my new favorite dish or I was really hungry or more likely both!!! We went to the gym today since im going home to see my favoritest people this weekend!! Ahhhaha sooo excited! Its been too long! Ok so new favorite dish...Um going to call it

Creamy Balsamic  Chicken and pasta

Chicken chunks
Broccoli
Penne or any pasta
1T olive oil
Onion
1/2c chicken broth
1c heavy cream
2T balsamic vinegar
1t salt
1/4t pepper
1/4t garlic powder
3/4c Parmesan cheese

Ok cook your pasta according to the box. Add your broccoli to the pasta the last 2 minutes of cooking. Im separate skillet add oil and saute onion 4 minutes.  Add chicken cook until no longer pink. Add balsamic, heavy cream, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder.  Cook 4 minutes or so. Drain your broccoli and pasta and add to chicken.  Add cheese. Chris wanted bacon so added some of that too. Very very very good!!!

Stir fry

I have made stir fry so many ways...here is the one I tried tonight that was easy.

Pork
2T soy sauce
1/2c chicken broth
2t corn starch
2T water
Garlic
Ginger
And veggies!!
Cook your veggies in oil til tender. Cook pork. Pour soy sauce and chicken broth in bowl and pour in then add cornstartch and water

Baking and Beef

Today was such a great day! The weather is spectacular! Buddy and I played fetch in the bake yard!! I also did some grocery shopping and got free milk, and saved 53$!!! Good trip! I also saw two clients here in Reynoldsburg, baked muffins and cookies, dinner, and the gym! Wow what a day!!! Okay so I want to share my baking recipes with you. The first one I have shared with some people and they all love it! It is a healthy recipe too!

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

1-1/2c oats
2 bananas mashed
1c unsweetened apple sauce
1t vanilla
1t cinnamon
1/3c raisins (I used crasians)
1/4c walnuts ( i didn't have any)

First mix the apple sauce with cinnamon and vanilla. Then add everything else. Blend and let sit 10 minutes (opps I did not do that). Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes!! Yess no flour no sugar nothing! They are soo yummy!!

The next baking item was chocolate chip mini muffins! I usually do cupcakes, but couldn't decide what kind I wanted to make so mini muffins will do!

Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

1/2c sugar
1/4c shortening ( I used stick butter)
1 egg
1/4c milk
1/2t vanilla
1c flour
1/2t baking soda
1/2t baking powder
1/4t salt
2/3c mini chocolate chips

Beat your sugar and butter until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and milk, beat until creamy. Combine the dry ingredients and gradually add to cream mixture. Add the chocolate chips. Spoon into mini muffin tin. Bake 375 for 10-12 minutes!!

For dinner Chris had made a request for "Beef and noodles." To me this was stroganoff, but I went with the traditional beef and noodles and did it in the crock pot. Yummm!

Beef and Noodles

Sirloin/Roast whatever

1can cream of mushroom soup

2cups beef broth

1 package of onion soup mix.

Put it all in the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours. At about 3 1/2 hours add your noodles and cook a 1/2 hour.  I used the Amish homemade noodles. It was yummy!



Chicken Thighs and bacon pie!

Today was such a lazy day!! I did manage to make breakfast and dinner though!! For breakfast I got creative! I wanted to use crescent rolls I had left so decided to make a pie! All I did was press the crescent rolls into a greased pie dish. I then beat like six eggs, added cheese, and some chopped up ham. I poured this into the pie dish and then laid the bacon across. the top! I cooked it on 350 for probably 30-45 minutes. Just had to judge it based on the bacon being cooked.  It felt like forever I think because I was starving!!!

For dinner I really did not want to move from the couch, but had chicken thighs that were calling my name. Have I mentioned how much I love chicken thighs! Hahaha! Well I went with one of my favorites from Momma's recipes!! Paprika Chicken!! When I put the plate in front of Chris he said it was one of his favorite dishes, mine as well!!! Here is what ya do.

Paprika Chicken

4 chicken thighs (it's better if they are boneless and skinless, but either way)
1/3c butter
1/3c flour
1T paprika
1/2t pepper
1t salt
1 small onion, chopped
3c chicken stock
1c sour cream

First things first. Mix the flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Melt butter in a skillet on the stove. Coat pieces of chicken in flour mix then add to skillet. Brown on both sides about 10/15 minutes. Add your onion to the skillet. Then add 1-1/2cups of the chicken broth. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes take the chicken out. I usually put the oven on warm and stick them in the oven. Then add the rest of the chicken broth and the sour cream to the juices. You can add more sour cream to make it more luscious. I also add a little bit of flour to thicken it up. Let it heat up. I then make some dumplings. Use the direction for biscuits on the box. Mine was 1/3 c milk with 1-1/4c baking mix/biscuit mix. Then roll them in little balls and drop in your sauce mixture and let them cook for five minutes. I have to have these every time I make this. I will not make it unless I can make these dumplings!! Enjoy!!!

Honey-lime salmon

What a beautiful two days in Columbus of 55-60 degree weather!! We went last night to meet Shauna for dinner at a place called Pies Gourmet Pizza Bistro right by our house. I love that place, its fancy but casual at the same time! We got crispy Brussel sprouts and their gourmet pizza. Chris got the fried chicken dinner!! I love trying new foood there! Delicious. 

Today went to the gym then stopped to coupon at CVS! OMG suchhh a good idea. My total before my CVS card and coupons was 70$. Well, I got everything for 27!!! AND I got 5$ in reward money to use next trip! Score!! After this I made my black bean quesadilla from a prior blog yum!

We went looking for a vehicle for Chris today, but no luck.  He wanted taco bell so that meant I could make whatever for dinner! I went with salmon.  I found a quick and easy one and it was yummy!!

Honey-lime Salmon

6 salmon filets
1/4c honey
1T lime juice
1t chili powder
1/8t cayenne pepper
Green onio
Salt
Pepper

Season the salmon with salt and pepper.  Mix all other ingredients except green onion. Brush on salmon and broil 10 min. Flip halfway through and brush some more.  Reserve some glaze for serving.  Enjoy!!

Pork chops!

What a weeek! Two days in a row of everyone showing up!! Ohhhh my! Thats 9 hours straight no stopping!!  That includes assessments toi so my pay check should be great!! Even after a super busy day we made it to the gym!! I am very proud of us, we worked out hard! Sooo with going to the gym I didnt get home til 8 so I wanted quick and easy. I had two pieces of pork left. I lovvvvve pork chops so thats what I did. This is my favorite way to cook them I dip in egg the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese blend. Brown them in oil then back 10-15 minutes...depends on the thickness. Im not sure how others cook pork chops but this is my favorite so far!!! Hope everyoNe has a great week.

Fabulous Feta & Fire Roasted Shrimp

Blahhhhh feeling the hump day today.... It was gym day...but skipped out....just a blah day! BUT we are making it up tomorrow at the gym so all good! Although it was a ehh day I knew I was cooking one of my favorite dinners.  If you want to impress people with dinner but don't have a lot of time, or cant cook very well, this is the recipe.  Ive shared this with many people and they all love it!!! Sooo with lent upon us...great meal to try!!

Fabulous Feta & Fire Roasted Shrimp

3-4 garlic cloves minced
Shrimp
Olive oil
Parsley
Feta
Fire Roasted tomatoes

Alll u do is cook the shrimp in oil and garlic then add 1 or 2 cans of fire roasted tomatos.  I use one, since Chrissy is picky! Cook a pasta of your liking. .I prefer angel hair. Toss the pasta and shrimp mixture together in a bowl. Add feta and parsley! Walllla!!! Delicious I promise.

A change to sloppy joes!

Tuesdays...blah!! I hate getting home soooo late! Over the weekend I subscribed to the magazine Simple and Delicious.  My mom got me a subscription a few years ago and she got taste of home and we would always talk about and swap recipes. I have been wanting to subscribe since it ended LOL! For 12 bucks for the whole year....why did I wait!! Tonight a recipe came from the magazine.  It is called Tangy BBQ sandwiches. I am going to call it...

Tangy Sloppy Joe's

1lb ground meat
1 medium onion
3/4c ketchup
2T water
2T brown sugar
2T Worcestershire sauce
2T Ground mustard
2t white vinegar
1/4t salt

Ground the meat and onion then add the rest!!! Nice change for the normal sloppy joe!

Crepes and Blintzes Ohhh my!

Today was a nice and relaxing day! I decided to make some crepes. They are easy to make just take some time, so Monday for me is full of time! I have sooooo many memories or stories about crepes and blintzes. I am still to this day jealous of my mother because she has a crepe maker and I have to use a pan. I remember growing up my mom use to always make crepes, and they came out sooo perfect with the maker. It was also really fun to help make it!! I love them with Cinnamon and sugar right of the maker! I always keep my eye out for one at the thrift store or a garage sale!! I would love to have one. Any time I make crepes it is to make blintzes. No one ever knows what I mean when I say this, but it was something my grandma Pastel would make, which in turn my mom would make them, and my Aunt Patty and Aunt Mary would always tell me how grandma Pastel would make them. Makes it more enjoyable knowing and having these memories when making them. Well they were fabulous and I suggest everyone make them!!!

Okay for the recipe.

Blintzes
4 eggs
2c flour
1c water
1c milk
Mix all up and let sit for a little bit.  Pour in pan or use your crepe maker. You are only going to cook one side of them for the blintzes. After you have made your crepes, make your filling

Filling
12oz cottage cheese
1 egg
2T sugar
(Squeeze of lemon juice)--i did not do this.

After you mix this up, place 1T in the middle of the crepe and fold up into a little square with the uncooked side left out.  Once you have all them made up, melt some butter in a pan and let them brown up. Top with Applesauce! I also froze some of them!

Since I was making crepes and had recently bought a bunch of strawberries I decided to make dessert! I mixed some vanilla yogurt with cool whip and strawberries and rolled up the crepe with this mixture. Of course for Chris I added some ice cream on top with chocolate syrup and bananas. It was veryyy yumm as well!!

 

Strawberry Sunday

Another great weekend in the books!! Today started off at the gym and had a great workout! When I got home I had to make lunch, but did have some entertainment watching Chris and Buddy outside playing in the snow! Chris was chasing him with the leaf blower! Hahah. Yesterday I went to the store and bought a bunch of strawberries because they were 5/5 at Meijer! Sooo that means I had to think of things to make with strawberries! Well a week ago mango's were on sale. I have never ever bought a mango or used mango but decided to pick one up. Sooo I went with a strawberry mango salsa recipe! Nice quick and easy snack! Here is the recipe!

Strawberry Mango Salsa

3/4c diced strawberries
3/4c diced mango
1 Jalapeno seeded and minced (I did not have this)

2T red onion diced

2T fresh cilantro
2t or more to taste of honey
The juice of one lime

Mix it all up and enjoy!!!

For dinner I decided to roast a chicken. It is cheap and easy to make and also makes for a bunch of leftovers!! 

Simple Roasted Chicken

I first seasoned the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then I pour this marinade over it, and basted throughout cooking.

2T soy sauce
1T brown sugar
2T red wine vinegar
3T olive oil
4 shallots (I did not have these)

3 garlic cloves minced

Yummmmyyyy!! Of course had to have with some asparagus that I got one sale at Aldi!!

And of course had to make a dessert with strawberries!! All I did was make some vanilla pudding, then added some cool whip to the pudding. I placed some sponge cake pieces in the bottom of the cup then added strawberries, then added the pudding. I repeated this until full!! OMG soooo yummmmy!!