Long Tailed Baby Elf Hat!

     I made this hat for my friends baby shower gift and it turned out so cute! It was very easy to make, only took me about 3 hours. I got the pattern from Oodles4Noodles.com and if you click right HERE! it will take you to the pattern. there was one stitch I was not familiar with but youtube has tons of great videos for crocheting and I easily picked it up! I hope you enjoy this super cute newborn hat too!

Coca-Cola Pulled Pork!

     There are many different versions of this recipe all over the Internet. I'm not for sure which site should actually get the credit for this one but it's definitely not my own recipe! This is a slow cooker recipe which makes it very easy! You only need 3 ingredients to make this; a pork shoulder, a can of coke (i have also read that Dr. pepper is really good to use as well), and some BBQ sauce!

INGREDIENTS
3-5 lb pork shoulder
1 can of coca-cola
BBQ sauce

MAKE IT
1. Place the pork into the slow cooker and pour the coke on top, cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.
2. Remove the pork from the crock pot and shred it with a fork, strain the juices from the slow cooker and save them for later.
3. Place the pork back into the slow cooker and add some BBQ sauce (add as little or as much as you desire) add a little of the juices from the slow cooker to thin it out...and more if you would like!
4. ENJOY!

Celtic Knot Headband!

     Pinterest is way way too addicting haha but of course I found myself trying another pinterest project! This is a Celtic knot headband that is super easy to do! I made mine totally no sew because I was feeling too lazy to whip out the sewing machine just for 5 seconds of stitching! I used hot glue instead and it worked out just fine! The step by step picture tutorial comes from the blog Love Stitched and if you click right HERE!! it will take you there! I hope you enjoy this little project as much as I did!

Taco Braid!

    I love to try new things so when I came across this recipe on pinterest I was excited to try it out. This recipe is super easy and there is so much that you can do to spice this up if you would like! The recipe comes for the blog Life as a Lofthouse and if you click HERE it will take you to their step my step tutorial!

INGREDIENTS
 1 lb ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

1 cup water

1 can refried beans

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup salsa

1 can Pillsbury Pizza Dough

MAKE IT

1.Unravel the Pizza Dough and let sit out on a greased cookie sheet while you brown the ground beef. Once beef is cooked, add the taco seasoning and 1 cup water. Mix well and let simmer for 5-10 minutes on low.

2.Now that dough is room temp and easy to work with, shape out into a large rectangle. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut one inch strips down along sides of dough. In the center spread out the refried beans.

3.Next spread the seasoned ground beef on top of the beans, and then drizzle the salsa over the meat. Last sprinkle the cheese evenly. Now start braiding the one inch strips over the top.

4.Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown! Let cool 5 minutes and ENJOY!

Bacon and Rice Stuffed Tomatoes!

     Okay so it has been way too long since I last added a recipe to my blog. I have been so busy with the kids and school lately that I just didn't have the time. I got this recipe from the grocery store Hyvee back home. I made a few changes to it, I used regular white rice instead of the precooked rice and I added some cheese to the top. I also used turkey bacon because that is what i had on hand! i hope you enjoy these as much as i did! You can also view the recipe right on the Hyvee website right here at Hyvee Seasons!

INGREDIENTS
6 medium tomatoes
6 slices  reduced-sodium bacon
1 (8.8-ounce) pouch precooked long grain and wild rice
1 tbsp  unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. chopped green bell pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/2 c.  butter garlic croutons
MAKE IT
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut a 1/2-inch slice from the top of each tomato and discard. Using a teaspoon or melon baller, scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell. Discard seeds and coarsely chop pulp (should have about 1 cup). Set aside.
2.Cook bacon until crisp. Drain and crumble; set aside.
Prepare rice according to package directions; set aside.
Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Stir in chopped tomato pulp, green pepper and parsley. Sauté for 2 minutes, until pepper is crisp-tender. Stir in bacon, rice and croutons.
3.Spoon rice filling into tomatoes. Arrange stuffed tomatoes in an 11-by-7-inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately.

Homemade Laundry Detergent!

     For a while now I have been wanting to try making my own laundry soap, but I wasn't really brave enough haha. My friend Becca made it and she really liked it so I decided I would give it a try. It works really well and smells great...I wont lie I was really surprised! The recipe comes from the blog being creative to keep my sanity!

INGREDIENTS

1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle

2 small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle. (this is optional)
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-naptha)

MAKE IT

1. Start out by grating your Fels-naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have. Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. This part makes your whole house smell great. Once everything is mixed store soap however you like.

Orange Scented Vinegar!

 

     I use vinegar as my main cleaning agent in my house because it is pet and child friendly.  All you need to do is take some vinegar and take your orange peels from the orange you have eaten and let it soak for a few weeks. You dont need to go and peel a bunch of oranges right away just add the peels as you eat them!!! I came across this when I was searching on the site dollarstoremom.com!

Easy Cooked Cabbage!

     This recipe is just like is says, easy! Cabbage has a lot of flavor of its own so it doesn't need too much to spice it up! I got this recipe from Cooks.com

INGREDIENTS
1/2 a head of cabbage
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of water
salt and pepper to taste

MAKE IT
1. Melt butter in a large skillet add chopped cabbage and toss until cabbage is coated. Add salt and pepper, and water, cover. Cook until cabbage is done about 15 minutes.

Zesty Chicken Pot Pie!

     Oh my goodness this recipe is so delicious and really easy to make! I got the recipe from my friend Rebecca's blog Becca Bass's Bistro. I hope that you guys enjoy this recipe as much as my family did!

INGREDIENT

12 oz of Philadelphia cream cheese (1 and 1/2 of 2 8oz packages)
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 package of frozen mixed vegetable (10 oz)
2 envelopes of Italian good seasonings dressing mix
2 refrigerated ready to use pie crusts

MAKE IT

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Place cream cheese in large saucepan. Add broth; cook on low heat until cream cheese is completely melted, stirring frequently with wire whisk. Stir in chicken, vegetables and dressing mix. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Place one of the pie crusts down. Spoon in filling. Cover with pie crust; seal and flute edge. Cut several slits in crust to allow steam to escape. Place pie plate on baking sheet.

2. BAKE 20 to 25 min. or until golden brown.



English Muffin Bread!

   I had never made a loaf of bread before until this recipe, and oh my goodness am I glad I did!  My friend Tahlor had posted on her Facebook about this recipe and raved about how good it was so I knew I needed to try it!  The recipe for Carole's English Muffin Bread makes 4  regular sized loafs but I made mine in mini loaf pans and halved the recipe because I didn't have enough flour on hand that day!  This bread was a hit with everyone in my family...my grandma was visiting and she loved it too!  The recipe comes from "one good thing" by jillee and if you go to the link they have a step by step picture tutorial for you to look at!


INGREDIENTS
5 1/2 cups warm water
3 packages yeast
2 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons sugar
11 cups flour (i used all purpose)

MAKE IT
1. Mix altogether, let rise in bowl until double in bulk, the spoon into (4) well greased loaf pans. Let rise in pans until dough reaches the top of the pan, and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. 10 minutes before its done, brush with melted butter.  (bread will be moist at first, allow to cool completely before cutting..makes terrific toast!)

Hawaiian Chicken Wings!

     OMG.....I can not even begin to tell you how much I love these chicken wings, this is probably my most favorite! I got the recipe off of friends blog my rustic simplicity and it is totally a must have! This recipe is really simple...doesn't call for a bunch of ingredients! I hope that you love them as much as I do! I don't have a fryer so I used a frying pan and the still came out super delicious! 

INGREDIENTS
chicken wings
peanut oil
flour
salt
pepper
2 cups of soy sauce
2 cups of sugar
1 bulb of green onion (add some of the green too)
3 tablespoons garlic

MAKE IT
1.Mix the soy sauce, sugar, onion, and garlic together, this is the sauce for the chicken wings. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper together and coat the chicken wings in it. Then fry in a frying pan or fryer until they are done, about 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Once the chicken wings are done cooking immediately put them in the sauce mixture and stir them until fully coated, leave them in the sauce for about five minutes...then remove and serve!

Spicy Goulash!

     This recipe came from a slow cooker cookbook I got for christmas from my parents called "Taste of Home Slow Cooker".  This was a really easy recipe and made a lot so it was great for when I had family here! Everyone seemed to love it, even my little ones ( i mixed in some sour cream so it wasn't as spicy).


INGREDIENTS
1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey would be great too!)
4 cans (14-1/2 oz each) mexican diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cans (16oz each) kidney beans , rinsed and drained
2 cups of water
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsely flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups elbow macaroni


MAKE IT
1. In a large skillet, cook the meat over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, water, onion, green pepper, vinegar, chili powder, worcestershire sauce, bouillon and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until heated through.
2. Stir in macaroni; cover and cook 30 minutes longer or until macaroni is tender.

makes about 12 servings!

Homemade Gummy Candy!

     I came across this great homemade candy recipe on pinterest and i had to give it a try!  I was unable to find candy molds in the small town i live in so i just used a mini donut pan i had at home but you could also use and ice cube tray if you wanted to!  i chose to use the sugar free kind of jello for this recipe because i think my kiddos get enough sugar as it is!! these were really good, my husband and i enjoyed eating them as well! The recipe comes from the blog  not so idle hands!

INGREDIENTS

2 three oz. packages of flavored Jello ( I used the sugar free)
6 envelopes of Knox unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup of cold water + half of a 1/3 c. (yeah, it confused me too)

A double- boiler setup (I just do a glass measuring cup set in a small pot with simmering water)
candy molds, or ice cube molds or whatever you want to use

MAKE IT
1. First, measure the water into the glass measuring cup and slowly add all the gelatin and Jello. Make sure to add it a little at a time and stir it in before adding more.
2. Once you add all the Jello & Knox together, cover it and let it sit for 10 minutes while you start boiling some water in your pot.
3. When the 10 minutes are up, it should look like this....or even a little thicker. It looks kinda yucky, but this is good.
4. Put the glass cup into the (now simmering) water and let the goo melt. You just want to melt it, not cook it...that's why we are using a double-boiler. You can just do this straight in the pot, but be VERY careful not to burn it (only melt it).
5. Once melted there will be a thin layer of foamy jello, but it's fine, that part tastes good too!
6. Now pour it into your molds. It will be easy since you made it a pourable glass measuring.
7. You can now put the molds in the fridge or freezer for 5-10 minutes to help them set faster. Once set, you can pull them right out of their molds (you don't have to grease your molds....they shouldn't stick to anything) and enjoy!     (store in an airtight container)

Homemade Dog Treats!

     My doggie Kota just turned 5 recently and for her birthday we made her some homemade heathly treats! I don't have a dog bone shapped cookie cutter yet so I just used a mickey mouse one! This recipe is so super simple and she loves them!

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon



MAKE IT

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.In a stand mixer, mix together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon

3.Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.

4.Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

5.Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.

Applesauce Pancakes!

     Pancakes are a favorite in my house so I am always trying different types of pancake recipes just for fun!  These applesauce were so delicious! I found the recipe on allrecipes.com!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups dry pancake mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup milk


MAKE IT
1. In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the pancake mix. Add the eggs, applesauce, lemon juice and milk; stir until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Sippy Cup Leashes!

     Im not sure about your kids, but mine are always throwing their cups and then its my job to try to find them...well I saw a post on Make It - Love It and knew I had to have one! I made a few for my babies and some for my friends! Its great in the stroller or in the car because now we dont have to wonder where the sippy cup has gone!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting!

    
     I made these delicious cupcakes for my 24th birthday this year! These cupcakes were so moist and the frosting was so good, I'm pretty sure the frosting is my new fav! I found this recipe on Glorious Treats.

Chocolate Cupcakes INGREDIENTS

(makes 24-27 standard sized cupcakes)

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (best quality available)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (best quality available)
1 cup boiling water
MAKE IT
1.Line muffin tin with paper liners. Heat oven to 350*F.
2.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3.  Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for one minute.
4.  Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin, don't worry, this is right).
5.  Fill liners 2/3 full with batter. (I usually put the batter into a large measuring cup with a pour spout, and     then pour the batter into the liners.)
6.  Bake cupcakes for approximately 22-24 minutes.
7.  Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup smooth peanut butter (chose a peanut butter with no added sugar)

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream (or milk)

MAKE IT
Beat the butter until smooth.  Add the cream cheese, and continue to beat until smooth and fully combined with the butter.  Add the peanut butter and beat until well combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar and continue to mix until the frosting is smooth. Add in the cream, and beat another 30 seconds.  Frost cupcakes.

 

Huevos Rancheros!

     This is another great recipe I got from my friend Becca's Blog.  I had never had huevos rancheros before and they looked amazing!  The recipe is called Jamie's Huevos Rancheros and it came from Paula Deen's  The Deen Family  Cookbook.  Click Becca Bass's Bistro to go to the recipe!

Apriocot Chicken!

     This is another simple but delicious chicken recipe, its similar to the razzle dazzle chicken.

INGREDIENTS
4-6 chicken breasts
1 packet onion soup
1 jar of apricot preserves (jelly)
1/2 of a container of thousand island dressing


MAKE IT
1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F.  Mix all onion soup packet, jelly, and dressing together, pour over the chicken and cook for 45 to 60 minutes! Enjoy!

Easy Baked Spaghetti!

     Baked spaghetti is super easy to make and tastes great! All you need to do is make spaghetti like normal, mix the sauce and noodles together and put in a casserole dish and top with cheese. Then bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes!

Pacifier Clip!

     When my twins were 3 months old I was starting to get frustrated with always losing pacifiers and I was not able to find any pacifier clips at any of the stores around. One of my babies used the soothie pacifiers and my other the nuk ones, these paci clips worked great with both of them! I decided I would just make my own and came across this picture tutorial from my crafty side to make a quick and easy pacifier keeper. The clips I used I ordered online and have rubber inside to protect clothing but you can also get just regular suspender clips at any craft store or even walmart! (sorry the picture isn't the best quality, it was taken from my phone)

Basic Pillow Case!

     I had just enough fabric left over from making my son's window valances to make him this super cute pillow case! Pillow cases are very easy to make!  I used a plain navy blue on the back!  Once again I have another picture tutorial from make it and love it, I absolutely love this website!

Stuffed Bell Peppers!

     I got this recipe from my friend Tyra, they are amazing! Stuffed peppers are one of my favorite foods....I craved them a lot when I was pregnant with the twins! (sorry the picture isnt the best...i took it with my phone)


INGREDIENTS
4 large bell peppers
1 lb ground beef
1 cup rice, cooked (measure dry)
1 tbsp Worcester sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp minced onions
15 oz can tomato sauce
6oz can tomato paste
Shredded cheese


MAKE IT
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook beef with onions. Drain. Add garlic powder, worchestire sauce, salt, rice, 15 oz can tomato sauce to beef. Fill peppers, standing them upright in a 13x9 pan (or whatever)
3. With the remainder mixture in pan, mix 6 oz can paste + 6 oz can water. Spread on top of peppers. Cover with foil.
 4.Place on oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle shredded cheese on top, cook for 10 minutes.

Cajun Chicken Pasta!

     OH MY GOODNESS, I am so in love with this recipe....it is hands down probably one of the best pasta's I have ever had and is now one of my favorites!!!!  The sauce is just amazing! The recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman, she has so many delicious recipes and not too long ago got a show on the food network!  Her recipe calls for a cajun spice mix so I made my own off of a recipe on The Food Network.



INGREDIENTS
3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes 
3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste (recipe below)
1 pound Fettuccine 
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 
2 Tablespoons Butter 
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced 
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced 
1/2 whole Large Red Onion, Sliced 
3 cloves Garlic, Minced 
4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced 
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth 
1/2 cup White Wine 
1 cup Heavy Cream 
Cayenne Pepper To Taste 
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste 
Salt To Taste 
Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste


MAKE IT
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
2. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate. Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.
3. Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.
4. With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!
5. Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine. Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

CAJUN SPICE MIX RECIPE

    I was very please with this spice mix recipe and it will definitely be a keeper in my house! I halved the recipe because it makes a lot! 

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup Kosher salt
1/4 cup cayenne
1/4 cup paprika
1/4 cup garlic granules
1/4 cup ground black pepper
2 tablespoons onion granules
2 tablespoons oregano, dry
2 tablespoons thyme, dry

MAKE IT
1.  Mix the ingredients together and store in a baggie or airtight container. 

Make Your Own Tutu!

     Tutu's are so cute on little girls and I couldn't resist putting my own daughter in one! I was given one before my twins were born but I wanted to make my own as well.  I can't remember what tutorial I used when making this red,white, and blue one but this tutorial from make it and love it is very similar to what it did! I took to elastic and measured it to the length I needed for her (she was 6 months old then) and sewed the end together...and other than that its not sewing involved.  When I was all finished i wrapped it with ribbon to finish it off as you can see in the picture below!

Penne Pasta With a Sausage Cream Sauce!

     I got this recipe from my good friend Rebecca's blog, and oh my goodness am I in love with it!!  It seriously is a must have recipe for the kitchen, even all 3 of my children couldn't get enough of it!!! Click Becca Bass's Bistro to go to the delicious recipe!!!!

Make Your Own Moby Wrap!

     I really really really wanted a moby wrap but I just couldn't spend that amount of money on one to buy it.  After googling some tutorials on it, I realized how easy it is to make your own and I only spent $11 dollars on fabric for it, and had enough to make 2 and have scrap peices!  The tutorial I used was monkey sew monkey do. It is very easy to make and will make babywearing very easy for you as well!

Make Your Own Baby Ring Sling!

     I am a big fan of babywearing and the ring sling is one of my favorites, it distributes the weight of the baby in a way that doesn't cause me any pain, I also made my own moby wrap and really liked it but for some reason my twins don't really like being in that one.  Wraps can cost a lot of money and honestly are very easy to make, when my 1st child was a baby I bought an Aloha Baby sling for $40 but I was able to make my own at $10-15 a piece....how great is that!!!  All you need is 2 - 2 1/2 yards of fabric, fold in half with the print facing each other and sew along the edge, then flip the fabric right side out and sew along the open end ( you can also add a pocket to this if you would like).  Then all you need to do is thread it with a pair of ring slings from slingrings.com for about $4.  I have posted below a video on how to thread your ring sling without having to sew the rings on and a video on how to make it just in case you didn't understand my instructions.  It is very sturdy as long as you thread it right....don't worry if it takes you few practice tries to get it right! 

Cinnamon & Sugar Pull-Apart Bread!

     I saw this delicious recipe on I Heart Food & So Can You and had to try it!  We call it monkey bread in our house just because it is exactly like the monkey bread you can buy from the store.  Click the link to the I Heart Food & So Can You blog for a detailed step by step picture tutorial on how to make this!!!

Homemade Window Clings!

 

    
     Have I told you how much I love mod podge lately? Well just incase I didn't , I'm going to say it again! I LOVE MOD PODGE!!!!  These homemade window clings were super easy! I made heart shaped ones for valentines day!  All you need to make this is some mod podge and some paint. My friend Emberlee told me she saw there was a tutorial on how to make these on modpodgerocksblog.com.

     To make these she suggested to use these plastic mats to make them on but I didn't have any so I just used wax paper.  Just pour some mod podge onto your wax paper and then pour some paint (any color of your choice) on top of it and mix them together.  As you can see I didn't mix mine completely because I liked the marbled look!  Then spread it out into a thin layer with your knife and let it dry over night.  Then once it is all dry cuz it out into the shapes you want.  If you would like to see the step by step tutorial just click on the link!!!

Smoothie!

     I am obsessed with smoothies, I could have them all day long!  Making smoothies is very simple, you throw all your ingredients into a blender and that's it! ( i normally never make one smoothie to the next exactly the same, i use what ever i have on hand)

INGREDIENTS
6 oz container of yogurt, any flavor ( i used peach for the one in the picture)
2 bananas ( i always use at least 2 bananas, you can always add more!)
fresh or frozen fruit (and whatever you would like, the one in the picture is a hand full of frozen strawberries, a hand full of frozen blackberries, and a hand full of frozen peach slices)
1/2 juice, you can add more if you think its too thick (orange is my favorite to use because it adds more flavor)
a hand full of ice


MAKE IT
1.  Put all your ingredients (except the ice) into your blender and blend until smooth, then add your ice and blend until smooth. 

Hawaiian Pizza Pockets!

     This is a fun recipe, your kids will love it!  Its a extra large pizza roll, and what kid doesn't love pizza! This recipe comes from parents magazine. You don't have to make them hawaiian, you can make any kind of pizza you want!


INGREDIENTS
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh pineapple (i used the canned and chopped it up myself)
1/4 cup chopped cooked ham
1 lb. frozen pizza dough, thawed (i made my own using the pizza dough yeast packet)
1 tbs. olive oil


MAKE IT
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet; set aside. Mix cheese, sauce, pineapple, and ham; set aside.
2. Divide dough into 8 pieces. on a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch each piece to a 6x3 inch rectangle. Place 1tbs. of cheese mixture on one side of each rectangle. Fold the unfilled side of dough over the filling; seal well, pressing edges with the tines of a fork. Prick tops of pockets with the fork. Arrange on baking sheet. Brush with oil. Bake 15 minutes. Makes 8 Pockets.

Stir-Fried Chile Beef & Broccoli!

     I love stir fry so when I saw this delicious recipe in parents magazine i knew it was for me! I just wish I had a wok!!!


INGREDIENTS
5 cups bite-size broccoli florets (12 ounces), stems cut into 1/4-inch pieces
12 ounces flank steak, trimmed
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon dry sherry, divided
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon Sriracha or hot chile sauce (more to taste if you desire)
2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil, divided
1 small red onion, thinly sliced


MAKE IT
1. Steam broccoli over an inch of boiling water in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket until bright green, about 1 minute. Transfer to a colander to drain
2. Cut steak with the grain lenghwise into 2 inch wide pieces. Cut each strip across the grain into 1/4 inch think slices. Combine the steak garlic, ginger, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sherry, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Mix hoisin sauce, chile sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of sherry in a small bowl.
3. Heat a 14 inch flat bottomed wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in 1 tablespoon oil. Carefully add the beef in one layer. Cook undisturbed for 1 minute, letting it begin to sear. Then, stir-fry until lightly browned but not quite cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer to plate.
4. Swirl the remaining 1 tablespoon oil into the wok, add onion and cook until just translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli and stir until just combined, about 15 seconds. Return the beef and any juice to the wok. Stir the hoisin sauce mixture again and swirl it into the work. Stir-fry until the beef is just cooked through, about 1 minute. Season with more chile sauce, if desired.

Breakfast Burritos!

     My mom and dad made these breakfast burritos a lot when I was growing up.  They would make them ahead of time, roll them in foil, and then put them in the freezer for easy breakfasts in the mornings. They got the recipe from someone they knew when we lived in Arizona.  These are my absolute favorite breakfast burritos!


INGREDIENTS
2 large links of chorizo (mexican sausage)
1 bag frozen hash browns with onions and peppers (potatoes o'brien)
1/2 cup of butter
16 oz.  cheese
1 cup salsa
12 eggs
2 packages flour or wheat tortillas! (sometimes it can make more than 2 packages worth, it all just depends on how much filling you put in each tortilla)


MAKE IT
1. Cook the chorizo in a large pan. Don't drain the grease and add the frozen potatoes. Cook and stir until potatoes are soft.
2. Add butter, salsa, and cheese. Cook through until cheese is melted.
3. Scramble the eggs and add to the mixture, cook over low heat and stir often until eggs are done.