Home Matters

Friday Favorites

2012-01-20T21:49:00.001-05:00

After all of the drama and unexpected chaos that happened yesterday, I am happy to report that today was quiet and uneventful. I've received many emails about my previous post about yesterday's events and I thank you for your kind words. It was quite a day!

So, on to my Friday Favorites. Here are a few things I've pinned recently that I am anxious to try...

I love Holly's Chocolate Swirl Cake...easy and YUMMY! By the way, if you've never seen her blog , Life as a Lofthouse, I encourage you to click over right now and check it out. She always has yummy recipes!

I like this Tree of Love from Tatertots and Jello...a cute Valentine project for my kitchen table.

I saw that my friend Mandy pinned this "recipe" for a homemade Soap Scum Killa. Last night she reported that she tried it and it worked great. I am giving this one a try this week too!

What a Day!

2012-01-20T09:52:00.002-05:00

I had a nice little post planned for yesterday...then life got in the way...big time.

This is what our afternoon looked like...

That is my husband, Rob's, Jeep.

He and a co-worker were driving down the road heading to lunch when the engine shut off and he lost all power. He could see a place to pull off the road just ahead. Oncoming cars began honking and flashing lights. Rob and Matt had no idea what was going on.

Rob managed to drift onto a small access road off the main road he was on. He put the car in park but it kept moving so he pulled up the emergency brake. About that time smoke was rising from the hood. He and Matt grabbed a few of their things and hopped out of the car as flames bagan rising. Within about 45 seconds the car was engulfed in flames.

A sherriff had been driving by as it was just beginning to happen. He turned on his dash-camera so we have video of what happened. He was a great help and stayed until everything was all taken care of 3 hours later.

One of the drivers who had honked at them came back to make sure everyone was ok and said that flames were visible underneath the Jeep as they were driving/coasting to get to a pullover spot.

Three fire trucks responded and it took about 30 minutes to get the fire out completely. The fire marshal arrived. It was quite a scene.

It's amazingly scary how fast that Jeep burned. Needless to say it is totaled. Here's a picture of the fornt seat area from the passenger side window (that was completely melted and shattered).

We are SO very thankful that no one was hurt. Both Rob and Matt got out just before the flames really erupted.

We have no idea what caused this...and we may never know. The insurance people and the Jeep people are beginning to investigate so we wait.

Rob and I (and I'm sure Matt too) really hope for a calmer, less eventful day today.

TGIF!

Sloppy Joes

2012-01-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

I love this recipe. I've grown up eating these homemade Sloppy Joes. They taste much better than any canned version! It's so quick and easy and I bet you already have the ingredients on hand.

Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

2 lbs ground beef
1 bottle ketchup **
1 small onion, chopped (optional depending on taste. I never use it)
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
dash of salt & pepper

**the old recipe does not list a bottle size. I use whatever I have on hand. Eyeball it until it looks good and saucy. You may not use a whole bottle**

DIRECTIONS: Cook the ground beef in a skillet. Drain grease and wipe out skillet. Return meat to the skillet and add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve on buns.

This recipe can easily be cut in half for a smaller amount. Leftovers are great and it also freezes well.

I am sharing this recipe at Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading and Kristin's Simply Klassic Sundays.

Friday Favorites

2012-01-13T14:14:00.000-05:00

Wow...where did this week go? I had such good intentions of posting a few times but somehow that didn't happen. However, I have worked on some posts today and you will see them next week, including my recipe for Sloppy Joes and one for the birds :)

I did manage to find a few minutes to see some neat things online this week. Here are few favorites...

I am anxious to start creating some of my own fun printables thanks to the tutorial from Thrifty Decor Chick...

I thought this was a good tutorial for making the Scrabble tile coasters that are all over Pinterest. This was found on Domestic For Dummies.

And since I have been trying to stick to healthy eating choices I have no immediate plans to make these treats but I know at some point I will give them a try. Don't these look amazingly yummy!?!? Thanks Cookies and Cups!

Have a great weekend!

Catching Up

2012-01-09T12:06:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been a while since I've posted. I didn't really intend to take so much time away during the holidays but it just sort of happened. Life got busy. But my family and I did enjoy a nice Christmas and I hope you all did too.

Now on to the new year...

I've been working on getting the house back to normal after putting all of the decorations away. As much as I love having the house all dressed up for Christmas, I'll admit I was ready when the day came to pack it away and clean up.

I am excited that we've almost completed our first home project for the new year. Rob built a big 4 x 8 shelf for the garage to store most of our Christmas stuff. This will make it much easier to get to each year. The shelf hangs down from the ceiling but it's above where the garage door opens (does that make sense?). He's finished one shelf and is going to build a second one soon to complete the project. I love the extra storage!

It's a terrible photo but I snapped a quick picture to show how the shelf hangs from the ceiling. The garage door is partially open so you can see that aspect too. There's lots of room up there.

I'm back to menu planning for our dinners. Do you do it? It really helps me feel organized to know what I am making each night and keeps our budget under control too. I base my plan on using items I already have on hand, plus items that are on sale at the store each week. Here's how this week looks...

Monday...Oregano Chicken with rice, green beans
Tuesday...loaded baked potatoes and salad
Wednesday...grilled chicken and veggies on angel hair pasta
Thursday...penne with vodka sauce, salad
Friday...Sloppy Joes*, oven fries, slaw
Saturday...Taco Soup, beer bread
Sunday... grilled tilapia, rice, steamed veggies

* I will post this recipe very soon.

One of my goals this year is to try at least one new recipe each week. I did this last year too. We found some good recipes that have become family favorites. I look forward to sharing some new recipes with you too.

Some of the recipes I am anxious to try will be on the healthy side. Yet another one of my goals for the year is to get healthier, which means losing some weight. I have started making some changes...drinking more water and eating more fruits and veggies. I've walked some too but I need to be more consistent with it.

So, what kinds of goals have you made for the new year? How are you doing so far?

Friday Favorites

2011-12-08T20:50:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to enter my fun little giveaway. Today's the last day. Go here to enter to win a special edition OXO Good Cookie spatula, plus a couple of other goodies from me!

Here are a few things I've added to my Pinterest boards recently...

Salty Caramel Oat Bars from Cookies and Cups

the blog is full of amazingly yummy stuff!

Source: cookiesandcups.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest

Lots of gifts from your kitchen from Talk Crafty To Me

Source: talkcraftytome.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest

Rubber Door Mat Wall Art...I am SO doing this project after Christmas!!

The description says it is a black rubber doormat and it's sprayed with Heirloom White spray paint. LOVE!

Source: salvagedior.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. My family and I will be busy with all sorts of festive fun...attending a birthday party for Jesus with the kids at our church, finishing our Christmas shopping, whipping up some goodies in the kitchen for gift-giving and enjoying a family movie night with a Christmas classic (haven't decided yet ~ maybe Elf...that's a cute one!).

Making Christmas Memories

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Making family memories is important to me. I especially enjoy it at Christmas time, which has always been a favorite for me. Although big exciting things can make for great memories, I think it tends to be the little things that stick with us.

My daughter shared something with me the other day that just made me smile. She said, "Mom, do you know what I really love to do sometimes during Christmas? I love it when it's dark except for the Christmas tree lights and we snuggle up and watch a Christmas movie together. I feel all happy and safe."

See, it's the little things.

photo credit

So, this season we'll definitely have a few movie nights all snuggled together watching a Christmas classic. Last year we introduced our kids to A Christmas Story. That's definitely a classic and favorite in our home.

I'm also looking forward to riding around town looking at all the pretty Christmas lights, reading Christmas stories with the kids and baking cookies.

What kinds of memory-making activities are you looking forward to?

Cranberry Hootycreeks and a Giveaway!

2011-12-05T12:25:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year when thoughts turn to baking all sorts of cookies. I want to share one of my favorites with you.

A few years ago I received one of those cute jars with cookie ingredients layered in it. The attached recipe was called Cranberry Hootycreeks...what a strange name, right? Well, I have no idea what the name is all about but I can tell you that this is one yummy cookie! These are great for gifts whether you make the layered jars or bake a batch for someone. Or just enjoy them yourself like I did today! I hope you give them a try (see recipe below).

This is also a great time for me to share a little something with you from OXO. I was recently chosen by OXO to receive one of their Be A Good Cookie spatulas to try out. I love the products this company makes and have quite a few in my kitchen. This is a great spatula for cookies. It's made of silicone and the

end gives just a little to make it easy to slip under the cookie to lift off the baking sheet. The size is great making it easy to use, even on a sheet crowded with lots of cookies. The handle has a non-slip cover that is just a little soft and is very comfy to hold.

To make this cute little spatula even better, the Be A Good Cookie spatulas support Cookies for Kids Cancer, which is an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research and was founded by two OXO employees whose son was diagnosed with cancer. Proceeds from the sale of these special spatulas will go to the organization. As a survivor of childhood cancer myself, I just love supporting this cause. These special spatulas are sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond, as well as Amazon. I'm attaching some of these to the cookie jars I'm making for gifts this year.

Click HERE to learn more about Cookies for Kids Cancer.

OXO wants you to have one of these spatulas too! They have provided one for me to give away to one lucky reader (and I'm throwing in a little something too...some cookie cutters and cute Christmas napkins!).

**To enter, simply leave me a comment below about your favorite Christmas cookie.

This giveaway will end at 11:59pm on Friday, December 9th. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hrs, a new winner will be chosen.

And now, on to the recipe...

Cranberry Hootycreeks

5/8 cup flour

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I've used walnuts and pecans...both work well)

*if layering in a jar for gifts, layer in the order above and attach the following recipe*

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg, and 1 tsp. vanilla until fluffy. Add jar of dry ingredients and mix by hand. Drop by heaping spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges start to brown.

**Disclosure: I was provided a Good Cookie spatula by OXO to try out and review and was provided a second one to give away. All opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own.

I'm joining Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. Check out what everyone's cooking this week!

Friday Favorites

2011-11-30T13:49:00.001-05:00

I used to have a Friday Favorites post most weeks where I would share a few of my favorites things from other blogs. It was a good way for me to keep track of the fun things I was finding.

Then I discovered .

I'm guessing most of you already know about this fun (and totally addictive!) online tool but lately I've had a lot of people ask me about it. Basically, it's like an online memo board where you "pin" sites that you want to refer back to for a recipe, craft project, gift idea, etc. You can see what others are pinning too, which helps you find so much cool stuff! You can categorize your boards in as many ways as you'd like (some of mine include Christmas, Favorite Recipes, School Stuff, etc). I love how easy it is to find something online that I want to save for future reference, click "Pin It" from my toolbar and then the link (and a cute little picture of it) goes right onto one of my boards.

So, when you have some time, check it out. If you need an invitation to join in, let me know and I will send you one.

In the meantime, here are a few things I've recently pinned...

Super cute Santa cookies made from Nutter Butters

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest

Lasagna Soup

Source: afarmgirlsdabbles.com via Jennifer(HomeMatters) on Pinterest

Tips for taking pictures of your Christmas tree

Source: unskinnyboppy.blogspot.com via Jennifer (HomeMatters) on Pinterest

So, the week got away from me and this is my first post. I'm prepared for next week though. On Monday I will be sharing my favorite cookie recipe and I'll have a little giveaway to go with it. Hope you'll stop by to visit.

Have a great weekend!

Thankful For The Technology Break

2011-11-27T17:24:00.001-05:00

I've been without my computer for a couple of weeks now. Some crazy virus had started attacking my computer and each time I tried to use email or open a new page on the internet, it would attack my system all over again.

So, now my computer seems to be fixed and running well (thanks to my husband!).

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends, and good food!

I'll be back to posting this week with a recipe and I'll give you a peek at our Christmas decorations. Hope you'll stop by to visit.

Southern Christmas Show

2011-11-14T12:10:00.001-05:00

"Cakes and cookies, toys and gifts. Christmas at your fingertips..."

If you live anywhere in the Charlotte area you are probably quite familiar with that little jingle advertising the Southern Christmas Show. This is its 44th year. I grew up going to it and even worked at it with my parents for a few years. It's a tradition for many in this area and kicks off the holiday season.

Lauren and I were trying to sneak pictures as we walked along so the photography is not the greatest. Between the huge crowds and some vendors not allowing pictures, we did the best we could. Of all we managed to take these turned out the best.

She loved all of the twinkling lights hanging down.

Lots of eye candy with room vignettes set up by area designers.

There are also door displays and Christmas Tree Lane. Lots of fun stuff to see.

The Southern Christmas Show runs through Sunday, Novemebr 20th. Tickets are available at the door and you can also get discounted tickets at all area Harris Teeter stores. See all of the information you need HERE.

Tomorrow I will share a couple of the neat things we bought at the show and share my recipe for Apple Pie Cake. Hope you'll stop by...

Thanks To All The Veterans...

2011-11-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

credit: IncrediMail Social Connect

Host a Hershey's Cookie Exchange Party

2011-11-09T09:08:00.002-05:00

I've been quiet the past couple of weeks. Life has been busy. I do have some new posts in the works so stay tuned for some new recipes in the coming days (cookies, dessert and dinners!).

In the meantime, I wanted to share some information about a fun opportunity.

You can apply to host a Hershey's Cookie Exchange Party. How fun! Simply fill out the form to enter and if you are selected you will receive this following...

(1) Hershey’s® and Betty Crocker® co-branded Holiday Apron for the Host

(3) packages of Hershey’s® Kisses® chocolates

(1) container of Hershey’s® Cocoa

(3) pouches of Betty Crocker® Cookie Mixes

(15) Hershey’s® bakery boxes for guests to carry their favorite cookies home

(16) Hershey’s® and Betty Crocker® recipe cards featuring classic cookie recipes including: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Chocolate Snowballs, Easy Holiday Cutout Cookies and Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hershey's will select 1,000 people to host these parties. Winners will be notified by the end of this month.

Good luck! Let me know if you are one of the lucky winners.

Double Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

2011-10-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Homemade cookies are so much better than store bought ones. Don't get me wrong. I am very happy with a package of Oreos. But they can't compete to homemade treats.

It had been a while since I'd whipped up any homemade cookies. These cookie bars sure hit the spot. We all loved them. I'll definitely be making these again. Thanks, Cookin' Mimi, for the recipe!

Double Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick or old fashioned oats
1-2/3 cups of mixed chocolate and peanut butter chips (Nestle makes a combination bag)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
In a large bowl cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until mixed thoroughly. Slowly add flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Stir in oatmeal and chips by hand.

Grease a 15"x10" jelly roll pan and spread mixture to the edges.

Bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Cut, serve, and enjoy!

A Nicholas Sparks Book + Kleenex

2011-10-26T17:05:00.000-04:00

These two things really go hand-in-hand.

I finished the latest Nicholas Sparks book, The Best of Me, a few days ago.

I cried. Isn't it a given that you'll cry when reading one of his books?

I loved every single one of the 292 pages.

{sigh}

Are you a Nicholas Sparks fan like me? Which one is your favorite?

Giveaway Winner

2011-10-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

The winner of the Freschetta Proud To Support Pink giveaway is #7 Tiffanee! Congratulations :)

An email has been sent to the winner. I will pick a new winner (via Random.org) if I do not hear back from the winner within 48 hours.

Hope everyone has a great day today!

Pumpkin Muffins

2011-10-18T06:46:00.001-04:00

I love most anything made with pumpkin! This muffin recipe is from my childhood. I'm not sure where my mom got it but it sure is a good one...so moist and full of yummy fall spices. Hope you enjoy it!

Pumpkin Muffins

1 cup pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use canola oil)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1-2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into muffin tins.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

I've joined Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam and Feasting In Fellowship at Comfy In The Kitchen this week. Stop by and see what everyone else is cooking!

Fun Birthday Card Treat

2011-10-17T10:30:00.000-04:00

My kids and I had fun making Rob's birthday card the other day. He loves candy, especially chocolate, so when I saw this cute idea I knew it would be perfect for him.

I've seen different versions for birthdays, Mother's Day/Father's Day, Teacher Appreciation.

It was a big hit...he LOVED it!

The message reads...

Dad, We were going to give you a WHOPP ing 100 GRAND for your birthday but the money slipped through our BUTTERFINGERs. We didn't have an EXTRA WHATCHAMACALLIT to sell and it wasn't PAYDAY. We didn't think a pet KITKAT, a trip to New YORK, or an ORBIT around the MILKY WAY would be appropriate. We do want to wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY both NOW & LATER as you eat this card. We hope it doesn't make you ROLOver and get sick. If it does we promise not to SNICKER.
Love your favorite AIRHEADS

*We couldn't find an individual package of Now & Later candy so we just wrote it in.

I'm joining Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading. Stop by and see what everyone has been doing this week!

Giveaway ~ Freschetta Proud To Support Pink

2011-10-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Freschetta is doing its part to support research be presenting the Freschetta Proud To Support Pink Program. From September 25 through October 31 when you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

These specially marked packages are printed with codes that you can enter at ProudToSupportPink.com. For each entry code, the makers of Freschetta products will donate $1 to this center to support breast cancer research.

While on our family vacation last week I picked up a couple of Freschetta pizzas for some quick lunches. My husband and I like the Simply Inspired varieties but to keep everyone (the kids) happy, I went basic and chose the Brick Oven Pepperoni. My daughter couldn't wait to be my spokes model for our lunch :)

To kick off the campaign I received a Freschetta Proud To Support Pink prize pack that included...

1 coupon for a FREE Freschetta pizza (value up to $8.29)
2 pairs of Freschetta Proud To Support Pink earphones
*1 pair to keep and enjoy
*1 pair to share with a friend or family member

And even better than that...

One of my readers will win the same prize pack!

Here's how to enter...

*Leave me a comment below telling me your favorite kind of pizza. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?

Giveaway ends Tuesday, October 18, 2011. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another winner is chosen.

Disclosure: The makers of Freschetta Pizza contacted me and provided myself and one winner a prize pack. All thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-10-10T14:21:00.001-04:00

For some reason lately I have been very lazy about making a weekly meal plan and sticking to it. When I do take the time to meal plan I feel so much more organized and prepared. I also think it helps save money. I base my dinners around a combination of ingredients I already have on hand and what's on sale for the week.

So, in my attempt to get back in the swing of meal planning, here is what's on our dinner menu this week...

Monday...Easy Crock Pot Chicken with rice and broccoli (will post recipe)
Tuesday...Bow Tie Chicken Soup (will post recipe)
Wednesday...Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast with egg noodles and green beans
Thursday...homemade pizza and salad
Friday...leftover night

***
Last week my family enjoyed some time away for a vacation so I am trying to get back in the swing of things today. Stay tuned this week for some photos from our beach trip, some new recipes, a cute birthday idea, and a fun giveaway!

Happy Fall Y'All

2011-09-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

It's official...Fall is here!

It's my favorite season. I love so much about it.

The colors...

Photo Credit

The Pumpkins...

Photo Credit

The Food...

Photo Credit Photo Credit

And all the fun activities...

football

fire pits with roasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate

cuddling under a blanket

lighting candles as the evenings come earlier

and the start of the holiday season!

What do you love most about this time of year?

"Tastes Like Thanksgiving" Casserole

2011-09-22T17:42:00.001-04:00

For some reason I've thought about Thanksgiving several times recently. More specifically, I've thought about the food at Thanksgiving.

Photo Credit

So when I ran across this recipe I knew I wanted to give it a try. I can't remember exactly where I found it on a message board so thanks to whoever it was that unknowingly shared this with me :)

It was easy to make and it did remind me of a Thanksgiving dinner, especially when paired with some cranberries and veggies. I prefer the real thing but this definitely satisfied me until November 24th rolls around. (sorry for the lack of a photo...completely forgot to take one!)

"Tastes Like Thanksgiving" Casserole

3 cups cooked chicken
1 box of stuffing mix
1 can chicken broth
3 Tbs. butter
1 1/3 cups milk
1 can cream of chicken soup

Put the chicken in the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish.
In a large bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Add the chicken broth and stir in the stuffing mix.
Set aside while you mix the milk and cream soup together in a separate bowl. Pour the milk/soup mixture over the chicken.
Top with the stuffing mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour.

{Crock Pot} Loaded Potato Soup

2011-09-19T18:38:00.000-04:00

Last week here in NC we started out with sunshine and high 80's to low 90's for temps. We ended the week on Friday and through the weekend with gray overcast skies and temps in the high 50's. Wow! I mean, I am all for cooler fall weather but that was a pretty drastic change.

Weather like that makes me start thinking about warm comfort foods. Mmmmm...

Friday morning I pulled out the crock pot and started some soup. I had been anxious to try a potato soup using the slow cooker and had found one last week on The Country Cook's site. Brandie, thanks for posting this recipe. It was so nice to throw it in the crock pot and let it go.

My family declared this one a winner!

{Crock Pot} Loaded Potato Soup

4 lbs. potatoes (Yukon gold, red skin, or russet), peeled and cubed
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
2 stalks celery, finely diced (optional)
2 14oz. cans chicken broth
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half and half
Garnish: shredded cheddar cheese, cooked and crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, etc

Directions:
Spray inside of crock pot with some non-stick spray then throw in the cubed potatoes (5-quart crock pot).

Top with chopped onion, garlic and celery (if using).

Add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Broth will not completely cover potatoes.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.

When finished cooking, mash potato mixture with a potato masher. I like chunky soup so I made sure to leave some potato chunks in it.

Stir in half and half. Cover and cook on high for 20 more minutes, or until mixture is thoroughly heated.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with your favorite toppings.

* As info, I used Yukon Gold potatoes and I did add the optional garlic and celery.

Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken

2011-09-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

I can't really remember where I first saw this slow cooker recipe but it's the kind I like...a handful of ingredients that I already have in my fridge or pantry to throw in for a quick meal on a busy day and night. We had this chicken with potatoes and some yummy sweet corn. It would be great on sandwich buns too. Hope you enjoy it!

Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken

4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
1/4 butter, melted
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup bbq sauce

Put the chicken in the slow cooker. Mix the melted butter and remaining ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
I shredded the chicken after it was finished cooking and mixed it back in with the sauce before serving.

I've joined in at Full Plate Thursday with Miz Helen and Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading!

Honey Carrots

2011-09-07T19:03:00.001-04:00

Here is a quick and easy side dish that your kids will love! I have used fresh baby carrots for this but usually prefer the frozen ones to speed things up.

Enjoy!

Honey Carrots

1 bag frozen crinkle cut carrots

1/3 cup raisins

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons butter

Cook carrots according to package. Drain carrots and return to pan. Add raisins, honey and butter. Cook over low heat until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.

*I always just “eyeball” this recipe and never really measure anything.

Very kid-friendly! Great way to entice them to eat some veggies!

Creamy Chicken Casserole (aka Cracker Chicken)

2011-09-07T18:59:00.000-04:00

My family loves this easy casserole. When the kids were younger I'd call it Cracker Chicken as an easy way for them to remember it and the name has stuck. This is one that my kids request. It's yummy comfort food. It makes a small casserole so it's just right for the 4 of us, sometimes with leftovers and sometimes not!

Creamy Chicken Casserole

3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10-3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 (8 oz) carton sour cream
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 sleeve crushed Ritz crackers (or similar)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine first 4 ingredients; spoon into a lightly greased 11 x 7 inch baking dish. Combine crushed crackers and butter and sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes. Yield: 4 servings

Serve with a salad or veggies. Tonight I served it with Honey Carrots and green beans.

Enjoy!

I'm joining in the fun at Amanda's Family Friendly Food Week. Stop by and check it out!

I'm Back to Blogging...And a Dessert Recipe!

2011-09-06T10:20:00.001-04:00

I pretty much took most of the summer off from my blog. I didn't really intend to but it just seemed to happen that way. Summer was fun and I enjoyed the time with the kids.

They are both back in school now. My son started at a new school this year, a charter school in the area, and he went back to school on July 27th. Seemed a little crazy at the time but we adjusted and he is doing just great. My daughter just started back just over a week ago. She was ready for it!

And it's not just school that's started again. It's things like dance lessons, cub scouts and sports that are all beginning again. All these things make for some busy afternoons and evenings. Part of this new weekday routine is finding quick and easy meals that everyone enjoys, especially on the evenings with extracurricular activities. Look for lots of quick, easy and family-friendly recipes in the days and weeks to come.

In the meantime, here's an easy dessert you can throw together for a yummy treat for your family. Hope you enjoy it! (Sorry for the lack of a photo...we were in too much of a hurry to dig in!)

Easy Blueberry Dessert

1/2 of a boxed yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
1 frozen bag of blueberries (or fresh berries right now since they are in season)

Put the blueberries in the bottom, then the cake mix. Then pour the melted butter over the top. Bake at 350 until golden brown and bubbly...about 20 minutes.

Serve with a big ole scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Garden Fresh

2011-07-05T17:54:00.001-04:00

We've been taking advantage of all the fresh veggies that summer brings...and I love it! Many recent dinners have included a mix of veggies sauteed in some olive oil. This particular night we added a splash of balsamic vinegar and freshly ground black pepper. YUM!

(zucchini, yellow squash, vidalia onion, red pepper, green pepper, cherry tomatoes)

I love the colors!

Our garden is producing some terrific tomatoes this summer...Cherry, Grape and Roma. I love home-grown tomatoes. Don't they just taste so much better?

(Providence Produce)

Unfortunately, the rest of our garden is not doing so hot. We've managed to get a few yellow squash and we have a few green peppers that are almost ready to be picked but that's about it. We're not sure what has gone wrong with the garden this summer. It's kind of disappointing.

But we have good friends who are sharing with us, plus a wonderful produce stand just up the street with really good prices.

Do you have a backyard garden? I'd love to know what you are cooking up with your summer veggies!

Tonight's dinner for us...grilled chicken on top of garden fresh salads :)

Joining Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Tie Dye Day

2011-07-01T15:25:00.001-04:00

The kids and I took advantage of a sale at A.C. Moore and bought all the supplies we needed for some tie-dye fun. I've always loved tie-dye t-shirts but hadn't done it in years. We had a great time!

It was hard to wait until the next day to see our creations. A little pool time in the morning helped to distract!

Here are all of the colorful creations after we unwrapped them. So cool!

Oops...didn't pay attention to the dog. She got a little too close to our wet shirts and now has a nice blue streak of fur!

We are loving our new summertime shirts!

I've added this post to Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading...

Camp CARE

2011-06-27T13:03:00.002-04:00

Camp CARE (Cancer Ain't Really the End) has been a HUGE part of my life for many, many years. It is a week-long summer camp for children in the Charlotte, NC area who have, or have had, cancer and their siblings. The organization also provides other year-round activities but the main one is the week of summer camp.

I am a survivor of childhood cancer. I was diagnosed at age 11 after surgery and went through 2 years of chemo treatments. Camp CARE began as I was just finished with my last treatment. It took me a few years to get involved and once I did I was hooked. I began at age 15 and continued through my late 20's. I still keep my foot in the door and volunteer with events as I can. It will always be an important part of my life.

I met my BFF at Camp CARE the first year when we were 15. I wish I had the capabilities to scan an old photo of us. Here is one from last year when we visited Camp CARE to celebrate the 25th anniversary. I am forever grateful that we met through Camp CARE. We still share a wonderful friendship and are enjoying watching our children grow up together.

During my years with Camp CARE I met another volunteer who eventually became my husband. We spent several years working on camp stuff side by side until I got pregnant with our first child and I decided to step back. Here is a picture of us when we visited Camp CARE last year.

This morning my kids and I volunteered for Camp CARE...checking in the campers and loading all the luggage onto the buses. A little piece of my heart went with them as the buses pulled out for the 2-hour drive to Lake Lure, NC.
Here is my very favorite TV story about Camp CARE. It's from 2007 from the Carolina Traveler, a local TV show. Please take just a few minutes to watch the video clip and get just a little glimpse of what Camp CARE is all about...

To learn more about Camp CARE, please visit their website HERE.

And in honor of Camp CARE this week, I'm making Cookie Mush today! It's a big deal to get this dessert at Camp CARE. Go HERE for my recipe and post about one of my favorite treats.

Friday Favorites

2011-06-24T14:38:00.000-04:00

Here it is…another week has gone by without a post from me. It’s been a busy week getting my little guy to Lego camp each day, having playdates with both kids’ friends, spending time at the pool, and other fun summertime stuff with the kids.

Speaking of fun summertime stuff, I found some fun posts to share with you this week. Hope you enjoy!

I have some posts planned for next week (finally) so I hope you'll stop by. Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

All-American Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Grin and Bake It

Pop Rocks Rimmed Cocktails from Pizzazzerie

4th of July Tin Can Windsocks from Random Thoughts of a Supermom

DIY Coke Icee from Bake at 350 (I want a tabletop ice cream maker now!)

Friday Favorites

2011-06-17T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's been forever since I've done a Friday Favorites post. I haven't been reading many blogs lately with everything else that's been going on. So, this week I took a little time to check up on some of my favorite food blogs and thought I'd share a few things that caught my eye.

I know why they caught my eye...it's 'cause I am trying to watch what I eat and not indulge in these sweet treats as often. These tummy-yummies sure are tempting!

Hope you enjoy...

Nutter Butter Brownies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache from Bake at 350.

Oreo Cookie Cupcakes from Things That Make You Say "Mmmm".

Better Than Sex Cake from Life as a Lofthouse...need I say more???

Get 2 Free 8x10 Photo Collages ~ Great Gift Idea!

2011-06-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

I love photo freebies and try to take advantage of many of them. Here is a nice one...and would make a fun Father's Day gift for a dad or grandpa in your life.

Walgreens is offering 2 codes to get 2 different 8x10 photo collages FREE! This offer starts today (6/16) and end on Saturday (6/18).

GO HERE to create your photo collage. Enter the promo code 1FREEBIE and choose to pick up in-store to make this a true freebie.

To get your second FREE 8x10 Collage Print, text DAD to 21525 and sign up for Walgreens Special Offers Text Alerts today! You'll receive a second coupon code in your first text!
Message & data rates may apply.

Extreme Makeover: Puppy Edition

2011-05-19T17:29:00.000-04:00

Before…

After…

Yay for dog groomers!

Eat What You Want

2011-05-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

Did you know that yesterday was National Eat What You Want Day? (actually it was Wednesday but Blogger was down and I couldn't post this on time)

Hhhmmm, what would I want?

I think I’d like to start with a big bowl of ice cream. Most any flavor would be good. It is my very favorite thing to eat J

I think the only thing that would make this day better is if it were Eat What You Want And Not Gain An Ounce Day!

So, what would be at the top of your list for Eat What You Want Day?

Blog On The Back Burner

2011-05-11T19:55:00.000-04:00

Amazing how life sometimes gets so incredibly busy and you take a look and realize that some things need to be put on the back burner for a while until life slows down again.

That's what has happened with me for the last few weeks.

Life has been incredibly busy. Thankfully it's all been good stuff but busy none the less.

I've been missing everything around the blog. I haven't kept up with the blogs I enjoy so I look forward to playing catch up with everyone. And I certainly haven't posted in weeks and I look forward to getting back to that.

I'm working on some posts...recipes, smart shopping grocery tips, a couple of house things and an upcoming giveaway. I look forward to being back here within the next few days...

Til Next Time,
Jennifer

Saying Goodbye Is Hard

2011-04-11T14:54:00.000-04:00

God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there,

I believe he'll be there” - Billy Graham

This weekend we said goodbye to our sweet dog, Gabby.

I hope she is having fun running through heaven and enjoying a never-ending bowl of treats.

Miss You, Gab!

2011-04-11T14:46:00.000-04:00

We'll be utilizing our grill a lot this week and eating lots of fresh produce. Here's a peek at plans for this week.

Monday...grilled chicken fajitas with peppers and onions, fresh fruit
Tuesday...burgers on whole wheat buns, pasta salad with veggies
Wednesday...Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes, salad
Thursday...Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs, citrus rice, fresh green beans
Friday...homemade pizza and salad

Sweet Treat...Almost Fat-Free Key Lime Pie (I'll share this recipe tomorrow!)

Giveaway Winner

2011-04-09T19:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who entered my Cookie Giveaway. The winner chosen via Random.org is #1 Stephanie! I apologize for not knowing how to post the box showing the winner. I have emailed the winner. If I have not heard back within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

Stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon.

It's Time...

2011-04-07T09:46:00.003-04:00

It's time for me to start taking better care of myself. It's time I lose some weight and start to get in better shape. I tend to focus my attention on taking care of others and not so much on myself. Do you do that too? That needs to change.

I've been feeling like this for awhile but it's time to start doing something about it.

Next month I will turn 39. So you know what next year is...ugh. I can hardly believe I will be 40 years old. I really want to look and feel better by then.

(photo credit Dreamstime.com)

So, where do I start?

I am not signing on with any weight loss program. And I am not doing any special diet. I want it to be a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. It took me a while to get to this point and it will take a while to improve it.

I need to make better food choices and incorporate more fruits and veggies in my diet.
I need to drink more water.
I need to cut out the Cokes.
I need to get out and walk.

I've been entering everything I am eating and drinking this week in My Fitness Pal. I actually downloaded the app to my phone but you can also access it on your computer. I have a friend who has told me numerous times to keep a food diary so I can really see what I am eating and where the calories are coming from. I never listened...until now.

I can drink more water even though I don't really like to. But thanks to lemons and Crystal Light On The Go I can do it. The Raspberry Lemonade is my favorite!

Giving up my Cokes? Oh that's gonna be a tough one. I only drink 1 a day and I like it at lunch time. But at 140 calories do I really need it? Some days I think I do!!! See, I told you it was gonna be a tough one for me.

As for walking, I can do that. It's free and it's a great way to enjoy these pretty days. Walgreens rolled out a new Walk With Walgreens program. In an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle and help save you money they've developed this program. Basically you log in your walking minutes and you are rewarded with coupons. Did someone say coupon??? You know I love my coupons :) Go HERE to learn more about this program and get started. And I can play Just Dance with my kids. I did the other night and really danced my heart out. I was huffing and puffing after about 3 songs. But it is a fun way to work out so I'll be doing it again.

I won't be posting about this all the time but from time to time I will post my progress. I need the accountablity.

Are you in the same place I am? Maybe we can help each other. Or maybe you've already been here and can share your tips and tricks. Help is always appreciated.

I'm sharing this at Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading party today.

If You Read My Post About The Extreme Couponing Show...

2011-04-06T20:34:00.000-04:00

I just read what Tara, the Deal Seeking Mom, posted about why she won't be watching the Extreme Couponing show tonight. It is a great post and so well written. I agree whole-heartedly with what she wrote although I will be tuning in to see the show out of curiosity. Go HERE to read her post.

Tara's site is one of my very favorites. I highly recommend that you check it out. Subscribe to her daily emails or "like" her on Facebook.

Extreme Couponing

2011-04-06T13:55:00.002-04:00

Tonight TLC will air a show called Extreme Couponing. Did you see the first one a couple of months ago? It was a huge hit and now TLC is starting a series of 12 half-hour episodes.

Yes, I am a couponer and love that I can get items for free or for pennies. I have learned to shop smart and on average save at least 50% on my food bill and some weeks save more like 80%.

Will I watch this show? Yes. Will I love it? I'm not sure.

I felt like the first episode gave couponers a bad name, especially to those who don't do it at all. Most of the people the show featured came across a little crazed and like hoarders. I mean who needs 1500+ sticks of deodorant piled up in their garage? One lady even has a separate insurance policy for her massive grocery stockpile!
I've read a couple of blog posts about the two ladies being featured in tonight's episode. Both stated that they received special permission from the stores to do this and were given advanced copies of the store ad, had items special ordered in advance, etc. I have also read another story about a coupon blogger who was passed over for the show because she was more of a "normal" couponer and not extreme enough.

istockphoto

Coupons are already changing and I worry that they will change even more and stores will begin changing their policies to where it will be harder to find the good deals. I am fortunate to live in an area where the grocery store market share is a big competition and we have a few stores that double coupons everyday and occasionally offer promotions like Super Doubles or Triple Coupons. It is nice to be able to take advantage of these things to keep the pantry stocked at a fraction of the normal cost.

So go ahead and watch the show but know that these people were given special permission and had rules bent all for the sake of "reality" tv.

And if you want to learn how to get started shopping smarter and saving on your grocery bill I will be starting a series on Couponing Basics next Monday. Nothing too extreme, just basic coupon and shopping strategies to get you started on saving. I hope you'll join me!

*I just saw that the original first episode airs at 8pm EST tonight on TLC if you want to watch the first one I keep referring to. The new one starts at 9pm EST tonight.

Cookies & A Giveaway

2011-04-05T14:56:00.001-04:00

I love making homemade cookies. I love eating them too :)

But sometimes when you are short on time and still want a little treat the break & bake cookies are just what you need.

I recently tried some Chocolate Chunk cookies from Immaculate Baking Company. First of all, it's chocolate chunk. How can that be anything but good, right? And these were good!

The two things I liked best were that they are all natural and do not contain any high fructose corn syrup so they're not as bad for you as they could be AND I loved the cute little size of the cookies. I could eat one or two ~~or ten~~ and not feel too guilty about it. I believe you can enjoy treats in moderation :)

Another thing that makes me happy about the Immaculate Baking Company is their support of Cookies for Kid's Cancer. I am a survivor of childhood cancer so things like this always get my attention. Go here to learn more about Cookies for Kid's Cancer.

Back to these cookies...Have you tried cookies from Immaculate Baking Company? Locally I have found these at Harris Teeter and Earth Fare. You can go HERE to find a store near you that carries these yummy treats and to learn more about the company, including information on their gluten & dairy free products.

*****************

Want to try some of these yummy cookies? I am giving away a coupon to try some Immaculate Baking Company cookies for FREE, plus a cute oven mit & potholder set to use while baking these treats.

Here's how to enter...

**Leave me a comment with your favorite kind of cookie
(I'll be sharing my favorite homemade cookie with you next week!)

Additional Entry...

**Follow Home Matters via Google Friend Connect, subscribe to emails or "like" Home Matters on our new Facebook page. Leave a seperate comment for this so it counts as a second entry.

The giveaway ends this Friday, April 8th at 11:59pm. The winner will be announced on Saturday and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a coupon from Immaculate Baking Company. All opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own.

Oregano Chicken & Rice

2011-04-04T09:27:00.004-04:00

This has always been one of my go-to recipes. It is so quick and easy to throw together and I always have the ingredients on hand. To be honest for a while it seemed like I was going-to this one a little too often so I took a break from it. I decided to make it again a few nights ago and it was so good. This has always been a family favorite but it tasted even better after not having it lately. Hope you enjoy it too!

Oregano Chicken

¼ cup butter or margarine, melted
¼ cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 large clove garlic, crushed (I usually use minced garlic in a jar since I always have it on hand)
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
Hot cooked rice

Combine first 6 ingredients; stir well. Place chicken in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Pour butter mixture over chicken. Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.
Serve chicken and sauce over rice.

I'm adding this recipe to...
Melt In Your Mouth Monday at Make ahead Meals For Busy Moms
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed With Grace
Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Feasting In Fellowship Friday at Comfy In The Kitchen

Friday Freebies

2011-04-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

Here are some good freebies to take advantage of today...

GO HERE to request a Free Sample of Orville Redenbacher’s Pop Up Bowl
(site is having issues so keep checking back).

For the whole month of April kids eat FREE at IHOP from 4pm to 10pm. You'll receive a free kid's meal with the purchase of any adult meal (for kids 12 and under). You may want to call to be sure your local IHOP is participating.

Welcome...Join The Party!

2011-04-01T10:51:00.001-04:00

It's party time around blog land and I'm ready to join in! Starting today and all next week it's the 5th Annual Ultimate Blog Party happening at 5 Minutes For Mom. Go check it out...discover tons of new blogs and there's prizes too!

So, let's get this started...

(photo by Odd Dog Design & Photography)

Welcome to Home Matters. I'm so glad you came by for a visit!

My name is Jennifer. I'm married and have 2 sweet children, ages 10 and 7. I'm an at-home mom and feel blessed that I can do that right now. We're from North Carolina (I'm native but my hubby is originally from PA). I love making our house a real home...not a perfect magazine-worthy home...but a real one with toys on the floor and fingerprints on the fridge. And in the midst of all of that some nice stuff too :)

I love to cook and believe sitting down to dinner together is such an important part of the day. I'm definitely not a gourmet chef and don't make anything fancy. I love good food that is quick, easy and family friendly. Sharing recipes is one of my favorite things to do with my blog.

I also love to coupon and shop for deals. And I like to share that with others. That is actually why I originally started my blog. But over time it has changed to reflect more about recipes and home stuff. I do still add in some deal stuff too and am planning a couponing series to begin in a few weeks.

My blog is all about real stuff, nothing fancy here. Cooking, cleaning, deals and I'll be posting more about home stuff in the days to come. And, once I find the right words, I will share about my son's Alopecia, which explains the cute little bald boy in my photo :)

I hope you'll come back and visit again soon. You can keep up with what's going on here at Home Matters by becoming a "follower" through Google Friend Connect (that sounds like stalking...wish they'd change that wording), by subscribing to receive email updates or you can "Like" me on my new Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by. I'd love it if you'd leave me a little "hello" in the comments :)

Hope to visit with you again soon!

Friday Favorites

2011-03-31T20:14:00.000-04:00

Here are a few of my favorite posts I've come across this week. Hope you enjoy them too. And please come back to visit next week as I have several posts in the works, including some recipes and a fun little giveaway!

Seasoned Salt - Make Your Own from Eat At Home...great idea, Tiffany! Do any of you notice that I refer to Tiffany's blog quite a bit? I love it! Be sure to check it out. Oh and check out her list of 36 Recipes for Easy Restaurant Style Meals at Home. Love it!

I just love Centsational Girl's Patchwork Picnic Blanket. I don't know how to sew...wish I did...so I won't be making this one. But for those of you who are handy like that, this is a great tutorial. And these DIY Colorful Dessert Stands are awesome. I am always amazed at the creative bloggers out there!

Amanda has been doing a series of posts on Commenting 101 Blogging Tips & Tricks. This week she wrote about How To Leave a Good Comment. I know I have a lot of readers who are not bloggers themselves so I thought I'd include this post. I've learned a lot about leaving a good comment from several fellow bloggers who consistently leave me such nice, genuine words about something I post. It makes my day to read all of the comments I receive so for those of you who read some of my posts but stay quiet...please share some comment love!

$10 Coupon for Lowes Home Improvement

2011-03-31T14:39:00.001-04:00

What kinds of projects are you planning around your home this spring?

We have a long list...haha!

To begin, we need to get our garden started.
Then, we want to paint our master bedroom.
Next, we'd like to install a ceiling fan in our son's room.
After that...
Well, you see how this list will go on and on.

Lowe's released a great coupon today to help you get a project started. Go HERE to print a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase. This is a great coupon...don't see these kinds very often. Be sure your printer is ready as you can only print this one time.

*coupon expires April 4th*

So, tell me what projects you're planning...

This Week...

2011-03-31T13:10:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted much on here this week. I've been busy with lots of other stuff.

Yesterday much of my day involved changing around all of our bedrooms. We had a new mattress set delivered for our bedroom, which started the chain reaction of moving things around and making changes. Today I will finish the last little bits of that project and hopefully can post some pictures soon.

I do have some posts in the works for next week, including several recipes and a fun giveaway!

Hope you'll join me then...

Kids Eat Free at Chili's

2011-03-28T20:29:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 29th) kids eat FREE at Chili's (with coupon)! Go HERE to send this deal to yourself if you did not get a Chili's email. The email will include a coupon to print and take to the restaurant. You can also choose to send the deal to a friend.

The coupon says 2 kids meals per adult entree purchase.

Enjoy!

Kelloggs Cereal Rebate = $10 Prepaid MasterCard

2011-03-28T14:01:00.000-04:00

Kelloggs just released a new $10 on cereal! Go HERE to view the details and print your form.

Basically, you need to purchase 10 participating Kelloggs cereals by December 31, 2011. Cut the UPC codes from the boxes and mail them in along with the completed rebate form. You will receive a $10 prepaid MasterCard in the mail. There is a limit of 5 rebates per household.

The participating Kelloggs cereals must be 10oz or larger...

All-Bran Original
All-Bran Bran Buds
All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes
Smart Start Strong Heart Antioxidant
Smart Start Strong Heart Toasted Oat
Corn Flakes
Corn Flakes Touch of Honey
Raisin Bran
Raisin Bran Crunch
Raisin Bran Extra!
Crispix
Product 19
Mueslix
Cracklin’ Oat Bran
Lowfat Granola with Raisins
Lowfat Granola without Raisins
Fruit Harvest Strawberry/Blueberry
Rice Krispies

***To sweeten the deal even more, purchase your cereal when it is on sale and paired with coupons. For my fellow Harris Teeter shoppers, you can take advantage of BOGO sales on Raisin Bran and Raisin Bran Crunch (sale ends tomorrow) to get you started with this rebate offer. Before any coupons, the BOGO cereal will come to $1.99 per box. Plus, at HT when you buy any 3 or more Kelloggs cereals in the same transaction you'll receive a catalina (coupon that prints at the register) for a FREE gallon of milk on your next shopping trip (this offer ends April 9th).***

Go ahead and print your rebate form(s) now, hang 'em on your fridge or put in your coupon organizer (or some other good spot), and start working toward your prepaid cards!

Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes

2011-03-28T10:51:00.001-04:00

I am kicking myself for not grabbing my camera before we sat down for dinner last night. I think it was all I could do to get the food on the table before everyone was digging in. That chilly gray day had us all ready for some warm food.

The other day I picked up a pack of McCormicks Recipe Inspirations. I'd never tried this before but it was free during my grocery store's Super Double Coupon promotion (Harris Teeter) so I figured it was worth a try. For those that haven't seen these, it is a little pack of pre-measured spices to make a specific recipe. The recipe is on the back of the package.

So last night I made the Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes. YUM!! This was definitely a hit with my family. I saved the recipe card and will be making this again and again. All of the ingredients that came in the little packet are things I always have in the pantry and I bet you do too so it'll be easy to make on my own without buying that little pack again (now McCormick is really not happy about that suggestion...oops!). Since the recipe is printed on the little packet I am posting it here. The little packet makes it nice and convenient, especially if you don't typically keep these spices on hand.

So here's the recipe...

Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes

2 tsp paprika
1-1/2 tsp crushed rosemary leaves
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp course ground black pepper

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
chicken *I used boneless breasts cut into strips but the packet called for thighs. Use what you like.
1-1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes *I just eyeballed how many potatoes I thought would work

Mix oil, all of the spices and salt in a large bowl. Add the chicken and potaotes, toss to coat well. Arrange chicken and potatoes in a single layer on foil-lined baking pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Roast in preheated 425 oven for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, turning potatoes occassionally.

Another similar recipe we like is for Rosemary Potatoes. I've never posted it on this blog but found it on the McCormick site this morning so check it out HERE.

I'm joining Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed With Grace.

Recipes To Try

2011-03-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

I've been finding all sorts of recipes lately that I want to try. My criteria for a recipe is that it needs to be fairly quick and easy and cannot have weird ingredients that either a) I've never heard of before and b) is something I have to buy and won't use ever again. And it needs to be family friendly. With two children in the family I need dinner to please everyone. I cook one meal and that's it. I'm not a short order cook making different things to please everyone. Who has the time and patience for that?

Anyway, here are a few recipes I found recently that I am anxious to try. I hope this encourages you to give a new recipe a try as well.

Spaghetti Braid from Life as a Lofthouse (love this idea!)
Colorful Cranberry Barbeque Chicken from Singing With Birds
Chicken Divan from Mommy's Kitchen (made this before but it has been years so this was a great reminder)
Chicken Pasta Salad from My Blessed Life

And check out these sweet treats...can't wait to try 'em!

Nutella and Macadamia Nut Braided Strudel from Eat at Home
The Best Apple Squares Ever from Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms (my great grandmother made these. I actually remember eating them as a child. Not sure if it is the exact same recipe but I am dying to try it and see.)

I'm joining in with my recipe round-up at Friday Favorite Finds at Finding Joy In My Kitchen.

Another White Pizza

2011-03-22T09:47:00.002-04:00

Last night my hubby made another white pizza. It was similar to the Easy Chicken Alfredo pizza we made recently. This time we took advantage of the fresh spinach and tomatoes we got in our produce co-op basket (more info on this group coming soon!). And we used up some leftover grilled chicken too.

We started with our homemade pizza dough and then added some Alfredo sauce (from a jar), mozzarella cheese, sliced grilled chicken, fresh spinach, and sliced fresh Roma tomatoes. We sprinkled on some oregano and garlic and Parmesan cheese.

YUM!! This is one of my favorites :)

Do you play around with pizza toppings or just stick to cheese and pepperoni?

I'm joining...
Totally Tasty Tuesdays at Mandy's Recipe Box
Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-03-21T14:20:00.002-04:00

Here's a little glimpse at some of the prettiness blooming around my yard right now...

Our pansies have been blooming all winter.

Phlox

This is one of our Thundercloud Plum trees.

This is Forsythia from trimmings in my mom's yard.

Phlox

This is one of our favorites...Flowering Almond.

Here is a branch from our Flowering Dwarf Peach tree.

I've join in at Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading Party!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-03-21T14:14:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the Purex Complete Crystals Softener coupon giveaway. Stay tuned for another giveaway from Purex coming in the next few weeks.

These are the lucky winners of the coupon for a FREE bottle of new Purex Complete Crystals...Winners were drawn via Random.org (but I can't get the widget to post on here...sorry!).
#11 Katychick
#4 JulesMcG
#9 Serving While Saving

I have emailed each winner. If I do not get a response within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-21T09:57:00.001-04:00

Here's the plan for this week's dinners...

Monday...spaghetti, salad
Tuesday...hot dogs, mac & cheese, baked beans
Wednesday...burgers, skillet potatoes, veggie dippers
Thursday...Oregano Chicken & Rice, green beans (will post chicken recipe this week)
Friday...baked potatoes & salad

I'm planning to make these sweet treats as well...
Easy Banana Pudding Parfaits (gotta use up some bananas!)
Double Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars (have everything on hand...these will be good lunchbox treats)

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

2011-03-17T13:41:00.003-04:00

I am all about quick and easy recipes but this has to be a record for the easiest thing I make. I mean it is kind of silly to call it a "recipe". Throw two ingredients in a slow cooker and let it cook all day. Can it get any easier?

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce *In this house it is ALWAYS Sweet Baby Rays!!

Put the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce on top. Cook on low all day. Remove the chicken and shred it. Return it to the slow cooker and mix back in the sauce to coat.

Sometimes I'll serve this on buns for sandwiches, other times it's just the shredded chicken on a plate. It is all drippy with sauce and so yummy!

Sorry it's not a great picture. Snapped it as I ~~threw~~ placed the food on the table before everyone went in different directions...dance class, school meeting, etc. Perfectly quick dinner for a night like that. Added some macaroni & cheese and steamed broccoli on the side.

Just as I was ready to post this I saw that one of the blogs I love has a similar recipe posted today. Tiffany from Eat At Home has added another ingredient to her Zingy BBQ Chicken in the Slow Cooker or Oven. Go check it out. Next time I make this I am going to give her version a try. Thanks for the idea, Tiffany!

I've joined...
Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now

Laundry: New Product Review & Giveaway

2011-03-15T21:04:00.000-04:00

Laundry is one of the household chores I actually ~~like~~ don't mind to do. Except for times when I skip it for a few days (like this past weekend) and it turns into mountains of dirty clothes, towels and sheets. Ugh!

For the past two days I have been working on this mountain. It really wasn't too bad since I was anxious to try out a new product. I was recently chosen to be a Purex Insider and was sent some of the new Purex Complete Crystals to try. I was intrigued. I typically use dryer sheets, which helps with static but doesn't always leave a lot of extra softness and scent behind.

Purex Complete Crystals doesn't look like a typical softener. I love the cool little beads. Did you know most traditional liquid fabric softeners are oil-based? Purex Complete Crystals are 92% natural so they dissolve and infuse your washables with a long lasting scent.

I love that you add it directly into the washing machine at the beginning of the wash instead of waiting for the rinse cycle. It is safe for all fabrics and all types of washing machines, including high efficiency ones.

I've used the Purex Complete Crystals for several loads. I tried the Fresh Spring Waters scent...love it! It is such a nice clean, fresh scent. I've enjoyed walking into the laundry room and having that scent greet me. It's easy to use, smells good, didn't leave any residue...I'm loving this new product!

Purex wants YOU to try it too and have provided me with coupons to give away! Three (3) winners will each receive a coupon for a FREE bottle of the new Purex Complete Crystals.

How To Enter:
* Leave a comment below...anything about laundry...like it, hate it, how many loads you wash...whatever!
PLEASE be sure to leave a valid email address if it is not linked to your profile.

Additional Entry: Become a follower of Home Matters via Google Friend Connect (or let me know you already are) or subscribe to receive Home Matters via email (or let me know you already do).

This giveaway ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, March 20th. Winners will be drawn on Monday via Random.org and will be notified via email. If winners do not respond within 48 hours, new winners will be drawn.

I received Purex Complete Crystals, coupons and product information from Purex Insiders. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and truthful.

Lemon Pudding Cake

2011-03-14T22:03:00.002-04:00

I was looking through old recipes in my recipe box over the weekend and came across one I haven't made in a long time. It's a simple little snack cake that starts with a boxed cake mix. This snack cake turns out so moist. You can make a glaze for it if you'd like. My mom never used a glaze when she made it and I never missed it.

I enjoyed mine with Cool Whip ('cause everything is good with Cool Whip!) and fresh strawberries!

Whichever way you decide to make it I hope you and your family enjoy it!

Jello Pudding Cake

1 package yellow cake mix or lemon cake mix *

1 small package lemon instant Jello pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 cup oil

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed with an electric mixer. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 sheet pan.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.

Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Optional Glaze:
1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
1 tbsp hot milk
3-4 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

Gradually add hot milk and food coloring to the confectioner's sugar in a bowl. Mix well. Drizzle onto cooled cake.

This cake can be made in a 9x13 sheet cake pan or in a bundt pan. If using the bundt pan I would suggest adding the glaze. The sheet cake can go either way in my opinion.

*You can use either a yellow cake mix or a lemon cake mix. Obviously the lemon cake mix will make it even more "lemon-y".

I'm joining the fun this week...
Tasty Tuesday
Potluck Sunday at Mommy's Kitchen
Totally Tasty Tuesdays at Mandy's Recipe Box

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-13T20:35:00.003-04:00

Do you make menu plans? I find it very helpful both to keep me organized (especially on hectic weeknights) and to keep my budget under control. I plan my dinner menu by the week and base it on food items I already have on hand and what is on sale at the store that week. This week I am pulling chicken and homemade spaghetti sauce & meatballs from the freezer. I'll buy the fresh produce items and everything else I already have on hand.

Here's my plan for dinners this week...

Monday...Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, mac&cheese, broccoli
Tuesday...spaghetti, salad
Wednesday...Easy Chicken Enchiladas, rice
Thursday...Breakfast Night ~ Belgian Waffles, Sausage, Fruit
Friday...out

Later this week I will post about my produce basket for this week. For new readers, I participate in a local produce co-op. It has been a while since I participated and posted anything about it so stay tuned for the info. If you are local to me it is definitely worth looking into. For those not local to me, I hope this will encourage you to check into any programs like it in your area.

I'm joining Menu Plan Monday at Org Junkie this week. Stop by for lots of menu planning inspiration.

Friday Favorites

2011-03-11T14:25:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been so quiet the past 2 weeks. We've had some out-of-town company and my computer time has been very limited.

I do have quite a few posts planned for next week and have several giveaways coming up in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

I did manage to find a few minutes to check out some neat stuff to share with you this week. Hope you enjoy visiting these talented ladies.

Lucky Me Board (Tutorial and giveaway) from icandy handmade

Baking Bites has a bunch of Homemade Girl Scout Cookie Recipes. We love the Thin Mints and Samoas in this house. I might have to give some of these a try!

The countdown is on for Easter and I found this really cute project for your little ones...DIY Stuffed Animal Easter Baskets from The Idea Room (check out this blog if you've never visited before).

Hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend. I'm looking forward to getting back to my blogging next week :)

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-07T14:35:00.000-05:00

Here's my plan for this week's dinners.

Monday...Italian Chicken & Veggie Soup, garlic bread
Tuesday...Meatball Subs
Wednesday...grilled chicken and veggies, angel hair pasta
Thursday...ravioli, salad
Friday...homemade pizza, salad

Buffalo-Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

2011-03-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday a friend made a really wonderful new recipe for a teacher's event at our children's school. I was lucky enough to get a quick taste. Wow! I knew immediately that I had to share it with all of you even before I make it for my family. And all of the teachers loved it...not a crumb left in the pan when I returned to clean up after the event. Thanks for sharing this, Kathy!

Straight from the Food Network website here is the 5 Star recipe...

Buffalo-Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Cook Time: 45 minutes Level: easy Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the dish
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup hot sauce (preferably Frank's)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
2/3 cup sour cream
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chicken mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.

Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Photograph by Con Poulos

Friday Favorites

2011-02-25T09:30:00.001-05:00

Here are a few of my favorites this week...Take some time and check them out.

Cake Batter Pancakes from How Sweet It Is...LOVE this idea for a fun birthday breakfast!

With all the flu going around right now this Virus Killing Soup from Eat At Home might be just what the doctor ordered. The name doesn't sound very good but it sure looks like a good recipe. I'll be trying this one very soon!

I like this idea For Prayers over at Dukes and Duchesses.

I liked checking out all the creativity from bloggers who linked up their projects using their crafty cutters at Amanda's I {Heart} My Crafty Cutter Party. I don't have one of these things but they sure are neat. I love all the fun projects.

And last but not least, I just loved reading The Nester's take on How To Cure Thrift Store Shopping, I Hate To Pass Up a Great Deal-itis Disease Syndrome. She wrote 3 posts on it this week. All were a great read. I ~~think~~ know I suffer from this syndrome...do you? Check out all 3 posts and see what you think.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Chicken Primavera with Pasta (new product)

2011-02-24T18:47:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the new Philly Cooking Cremes? Have you tried them? If you are some of my fellow Harris Teeter shoppers you may have been able to score this for free last week during Super Doubles. I did and was very anxious to try it.

Each container comes with a recipe, which is good since I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. Plus, there are many more recipes on the Philly website. I decided to start with the Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme and the recipe for Chicken Primavera with Pasta. It is a quick and easy recipe (my favorite kind!). I like using these convenience products, especially during the week when we have pottery/dance/scouts/baseball in the late afternoons or evenings. It certainly makes getting a good dinner on the table a lot easier.

In my rush to oversee homework and get the food on the table fast so my husband and son could get out the door for scouts, I neglected to take any pictures of the food prep or final results. So, I am borrowing the photos from the Philly website.

Chicken Primavera with Pasta

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables (such as broccoli, carrots, red peppers, snow peas, etc)
1 tub (10 oz.)PHILADELPHIA Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme
2 cups hot cooked fettuccine

Cook and stir chicken in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 to 6 min. or until done. Add vegetables; cook 2 to 3 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Add cooking creme; cook and stir 3 min.
Stir in cooked pasta.

The results? A great tasting meal that was quick and easy to prepare. I served this with a salad and we all loved it. I think next time I will add some sun dried tomatoes for an extra flavor. I actually made a double batch of this and the leftovers dried out a lot more than I expected so I'm not sure how it will be for my lunch tomorrow but made fresh tonight it was great.

The Philly Cooking Cremes come in Original, Italian Cheese and Herb, Santa Fe Blend, and Savory Garlic. Be sure to check out the website for all sorts of ideas for each flavor. Next on my list to try is the Easy Chicken Enchiladas with the Santa Fe Blend. You'll see that recipe very soon, I'm sure : )

I am linking this recipe to...
It's A Keeper
Full Plate Thursday

*I was not asked to write this post, nor compensated in any way. I just wanted to share a new product with you. All opinions are 100% truthful and my own.

Free 8x10 Photo Collage Thursday, 2/24 Only

2011-02-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

I love photo freebies so I was excited to see another offer from Walgreens this week. They are offering a different photo deal each day but Thursday's deal is the freebie.

You'll be able to get a FREE 8x10 photo collage Thursday only. Check back tomorrow for the code needed at checkout!

It is easy to do. Register or sign in HERE. Follow the simple instructions to upload your photos. Choose the 8x10 photo collage. Be sure to select in-store pick up to make this a completely FREE deal!

I am working on my photo layout today and will share it tomorrow.

Do you take advantage of these free photo offers?

Easy Chicken Alfredo Pizza

2011-02-21T14:59:00.006-05:00

I like pizza but sometimes get tired of the same old kind. Last week we played around with some convenience products to make a chicken alfredo pizza. We all loved it and made it again just yesterday! Hope you enjoy it too...

Easy Chicken Alfredo Pizza

pizza crust (we used a pizza dough ball from the grocery store bakery but you can use your favorite store-bought or homemade. We wanted to try this dough ball and it made a really good crust!)
jar of Alfredo sauce (We used Bertoli 'cause I got a deal on it but use your favorite brand)
grilled chicken (Hubby grilled chicken earlier in the week and I saved some for the pizza. Grilled with a little salt, pepper, and oregano)
spinach (either fresh or frozen works just fine)
mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese (we added a bit of provolone cheese with the mozzarella 'cause I had some on hand. It made it extra cheesy and good!)
minced garlic, oregano

Spread the alfredo sauce on the pizza crust (the size of your crust will determine how much to use. We made several small pizzas and used about half the jar all together).

Add the sliced chicken and spinach and minced garlic. Cover with cheese. Sprinkle with oregano.

Bake according to your dough/pizza crust directions. For our dough, we baked it at 400 for about 12 minutes.

This week I am sharing this recipe here...
Melt In Your Mouth Monday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now
Ingredient Spotlight: Spinach at Eat At Home

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-21T14:37:00.000-05:00

I've been MIA for the last week. Sorry. I got a little busy with life and didn't pay any attention to my blog. But I am back this week and ready to share a few things.

Here's what I am planning for dinners this week...

Monday...grilled chicken & veggies with angel hair pasta
Tuesday...chili & rice
Wednesday...Chicken Pasta Primavera (recipe will post later this week)
Thursday...spaghetti, salad
Friday...Dorito Chicken, potatoes, salad (chicken recipe will post later this week)
Saturday...out for a cub scout banquet

Friday Favorites

2011-02-11T14:36:00.000-05:00

Here are a few neat things I found to share with you this week. Hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Valentine *Conversation Heart* Chocolate Bark from Bake at 350

Paint Chip Wall Art from Jennifer at Life, Crafts and Whatever.

No Sew Pillows by Kaitlyn at The Birds Nest...right up my alley since I don't know how to sew!

mmmm, Strawberry Cobbler from ingredients, inc

A Little Touch of Love...And a New Table!

2011-02-11T10:35:00.001-05:00

I don't decorate with much for Valentine's but I do like to have a few little touches of love around our home. My favorite right now is in the foyer. We've lived in our house for 5 years and I've always wanted a table in the foyer. It's always been a matter of not finding what I wanted or not having the money to buy it. So, for five years our entry was empty and blah.

Not anymore!

A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, we hopped in the car and headed to Home Goods. I was so excited to find a table in there that I loved...and that I could afford! So, we added it to the foyer, found a great deal on a lamp at Kirklands and propped up a big metal star in a frame that we already had (from Old Time Pottery). I'm not so sure I'll keep the star there but I'm happy with it for now (and I don't have the budget for buying anything else for that wall right now!).

As for my touches of love, I kept it very frugal. The red flower topiary was a Goodwill find (thanks to my mom), the LOVE print in the frame is a printable from Wannabe Betty Crocker (I just printed a small version on some brown paper I had on hand and added it to the frame I already had). The printable has 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) in the background with LOVE in red. I just took the easy way out and printed it on the computer rather than anything fancier. The red candle is a clearance find from Target a long time ago, and the scrabble tiles are from our game in the playroom :)

Happy Valentine's!

Blogger Awards...Thank You!!

2011-02-10T15:58:00.003-05:00

Within the last week I have received a few blogger awards and I was surprised and tickled with each one. I am so amazed that these ladies thought of me and my little blog when choosing who to spotlight.

For those of you who are new to blogging, or who don't blog, these awards are a way for bloggers to share the love and spotlight fellow bloggers who we feel should get some extra attention.

So, I am sending a BIG THANK YOU to Kim at Moonlight Dreams, to Kaitlyn at The Birds Nest and to Ellen at A Season For All Things. I've recently found these three ladies and am enjoying each of their blogs.
Please take a few minutes to stop by and visit them!

Now, to pay it forward to others and follow the rules of the awards. I am to tell you 7 little things about me and I am to pass this along to 15 bloggers. So, here it goes...

**I am a 30something wife and mom living in North Carolina. I'm a native North Carolinian, which is rare these days as we seem to have LOTS of folks from NY and NJ moving in.
**I love coupons, shopping clearance racks and thrift stores.
**My favorite food is ice cream.
**I'd wear flip flops year-round if my feet didn't get so cold.
**I love to get lost in a good book.
**I used to decorate ice cream cakes at Baskin Robbins (MANY years ago!!).
**I cannot snap my fingers no matter how hard I try.

Now, here is my list of 15. Some are new-to-me and some are not but I love them all. Please take some time to stop by and visit these great bloggers. You might just find a new favorite blog to follow :)

*Mandy at Serving While Saving
*Tanya at FrouFrou Britches
*Amanda at Serenity Now~A Mommy's Solution To Staying Sane
*Traci at Ordinary Inspirations
*Leanne at Organize and Decorate Everything
*Brandie at The Country Cook
*Nanci at Willow House with Nanci
*Leslie at Goodbye House, Hello Home
*Kristin at A Guide To Living Graciously
*Paula at Sweet Pea
*Stacy at She's {kinda} Crafty
*Tiffany at Eat at Home
*Carmella at Southern Fried Dreams
*Becca at Home Is Where My Story Begins
*Jo at Smile Monsters

Again, thanks to Kaitlyn, Kim and Ellen! Now I get to share the love with the bloggers on my list : )

Let me know if you discover a new favorite blog from my list!

Polka Dot Cookie Recipe

2011-02-08T09:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a quick and easy sweet treat...They didn't turn out very pretty but they tasted yummy :)

Polka Dots

1 package fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup white chocolate chips

Combine the first 3 ingredients, stir well. Stir in the white chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I'm sharing this recipe here...
Tuesdays At The Table
Tasty Tuesday

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

Here's what I'm planning for our dinners this week...

Monday...grilled chicken, loaded baked potatoes, green beans
Tuesday...spaghetti, salad
Wednesday...Honey Pecan Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn (chicken recipe coming soon)
Thursday...Breakfast Night = eggs, bacon, fruit salad
Friday...Chicken Alfredo Pizza and salad (pizza recipe coming soon)

I also have a couple of sweet treats planned so stay tuned for those recipes this week.

Friday Favorites

2011-02-04T10:29:00.001-05:00

I've been discovering all sort of new blogs recently. You name it and there is probably a blog all about it somewhere out there. My favorite types of blogs are centered around home decor, cooking and crafting. I am amazed at the talented ladies out there and the inspiration I am finding.

I found lots of cool stuff the past couple of weeks. Here are just a few of the neat things I came across...

Learn to make your own Tin Craft Stars...From a Cake Pan at Choose To Thrive.

I am LOVING this new-to-me blog!

German Chocolate Caramel Gooey Bars at Ordinary Inspirations

Need I say more?

This is also a new-to-me blog that I am loving!

I love this Playroom Art Gallery Wall at Centsational Girl

Check out her blog...love it! And she was on the Nate Berkus Show yesterday (he's such a cutie!)

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Taco Soup

2011-02-02T12:19:00.004-05:00

I've seen quite a few variations of Taco Soup recipes. This is one I've tried recently. It is quick and easy...pretty much just dump the stuff in a big pot. The last time I made this recipe I doubled it and froze several containers to have on hand for quick and easy lunches or dinners.

Sadly, my picture does not do it justice. But do you notice that my bowl matches the one in the cookbook? I love my Gail Pittman polka dot bowls!

Taco Soup

taken from Southern Living Ultimate Quick & Easy Cookbook

1 pound ground beef

2 cups water

1/2 cup diced green bell pepper

1 (16-ounce) jar medium picante sauce

1 (16-ounce) can pinto beans, undrained

1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (11-ounce) can yellow corn with red and green bell peppers, undrained

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, undrained

Cook meat in a Dutch oven (or big pot!), stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Return meat to your pot.

Add 2 cups water and next 6 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve soup with tortilla chips.

Garnish with some shredded cheddar and sour cream, if desired.

I am sharing this recipe at...

Recipe Swap Thursday

It's A Keeper

Pizza Dip Recipe

2011-02-02T10:42:00.004-05:00

I've posted this one before but thought I'd pull it out again in preparation for the big Super Bowl Weekend.

This is such a quick and easy dip to throw together. And it is always a crowd-pleaser...who doesn't like pizza, right?
Hope you enjoy...

Pizza Dip

1 (8oz) package cream cheese
pepperoni slices (I usually quarter these so they are very small bite size pieces in the dip)
pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese
oregano or Italian seasoning

Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a pie plate. Arrange pepperoni slices on top (I just eyeball enough to cover the cream cheese). Spread a layer of pizza sauce (I eyeball this...usually half a jar or a little more). Top with mozzarella cheese, spread to cover the whole thing. Sprinkle oregano or Italian seasoning on top.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Linking to...
Super Bowl Party Food at Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms
Tasty Traditions at Coupon Cookin'

S'more Dessert, Please!!

2011-01-31T21:44:00.008-05:00

I recently tried my friend, Heather's, yummy S'mores dessert and knew I had to share this one. This stuff is so good there is no way to eat just one little bite. I made this last week for a teacher's meeting at my children's school. I wasn't surprised to see an empty platter at the end of the meeting. Enjoy this yummy treat!

S'mores Dessert

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar
12 graham cracker sheets
3 cups mini marshmallows
4 Hershey chocolate bars (I used a sleeve of 8 mini bars since I had those in my pantry)

Preheat oven to 350.

Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil and arrange graham crackers.

Melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Pour over graham crackers and bake in over for 5 minutes.

Break chocolate into small pieces.

Remove graham crackers from oven and sprinkle marshmallows and chocolate pieces on top. Return to oven for 3 to 4 minutes until marshmallows have puffed up and chocolate has started to melt a little.

Cool completely and cut into pieces.

I am linking this recipe to the following fun parties this week...

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Tasty Tuesday

Full Plate Thursday

It's A Keeper Thursday

Fun For Kids Friday

Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now

And I am adding this to Melt In Your Mouth Monday too!

Cracker Snackers

2011-01-31T10:21:00.003-05:00

The countdown to the Super Bowl is on! Whether you are hosting a party, going to a party or even just sticking close to home like I am, I have some yummy recipes to share with you this week that will be great for the upcoming big game weekend. (Go Steelers!!!) Sorry...I had to sneak that in.

My husband made these yummy crackers during the Christmas holidays and they were a hit in our house. We enjoyed them as a snack but they would also be good to use as croutons on a salad or bowl of soup.

Cracker Snackers

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced (we used minced since we had it on hand)
1 (11 ounce) package oyster crackers
1 (0.7 ounce) envelope Italian dressing mix (we used Good Seasons)
1 tsp dried dill
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 parmesan cheese

Combine oil and garlic. Let stand for 30 minutes. Discard garlic.

Place crackers in a bowl and sprinkle with oil. Combine dressing mix, dill, garlic powder, and cheese and sprinkle over crackers, stirring well.

Let stand for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

I'm adding this recipe to the Super Bowl Party Food linky party at Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-31T09:07:00.001-05:00

Here's what I am planning for dinners this week...

Monday...pizza & salad
Tuesday...Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast, egg noddles, green beans
Wednesday...steak fajitas
Thursday...Creamy Chicken Casserole, honey carrots, cinnamon apples
Friday...out attending a birthday party
Saturday...having friends here for dinner and haven't decided on the food yet
Sunday...Super Bowl Snack Dinner...Go Steelers!!!

I have several recipes to share with you this week. Stay tuned.

I'm linking my menu to Menu Plan Monday. Be sure to check out what everyone else is cooking up this week.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

2011-01-24T12:20:00.010-05:00

I think my taste buds died and went to heaven on Saturday morning!

We enjoyed a lazy Saturday morning this past weekend and I decided to make a nice breakfast for the family (instead of the usual quick cereal, etc). I had come across the yummiest sounding recipe that I was so anxious to try...and I am glad I did! I found a recipe for Cinnamon Roll Pancakes on Kristen's blog, Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker. This is a "new-to-me" blog that I found last week and am enjoying. I especially like her weekly party, Your Recipe, My Kitchen (this link will take you to today's linky party).

I love, love, love cinnamon and knew I had to try these pancakes. They were a big hit around the table Saturday morning. These are easy but do take a little extra time and effort (totally worth it!). This isn't something I will make a lot but definitely worth treating the family to occasionally on days where we can enjoy a relaxed big breakfast.

So, here's what you do...

Use your favorite pancake recipe or mix. I didn't want to make everything from scratch so I used a boxed mix from Hungry Jack that I had in the pantry and it worked just fine.

Cinnamon Filling
In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix until smooth.
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
Put the mixture in the microwave for 10 second intervals until the consistency is that it can be squeezed in a steady stream in a spiral onto the pancakes through the pastry bag or ziploc bag with the corner snipped.

Cream Cheese Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
2 ounces cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp milk
Using a hand mixer, mix until smooth and pour the icing into another pastry bag (or ziploc).

Mix the cinnamon filling and the icing and fill your pastry bags (or ziplocs with the end snipped off). Set aside until ready to use.

Make your pancake batter. Ladle the batter onto the hot griddle and then squeeze the cinnamon filling in a spiral pattern over the raw pancake batter. Flip to cook the other side.

Once the pancakes are cooked and plated, squeeze the icing over the pancakes in a criss-cross pattern.

Y.U.M!!!!!!!

I hope you give this recipe a try for your family. Let me know if you do. And thanks again to Kristen!

Enjoy...

I am linking this recipe to these fun parties this week...

Tuesdays at the Table
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Delicious Dishes
Tasty Tuesday
Works For Me Wednesday
Let's Do Brunch
Full Plate Thursday
Recipe Swap Thursday
Home and Family Friday

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-24T10:57:00.000-05:00

This week's dinner plans look like this...

Monday...chicken pot pie, cinnamon apples

Tuesday...lasagna soup*, garlic bread

Wednesday...chili & rice, veggie dippers

Thursday...chicken & veggie stir fry

Friday...homemade pizza, salad

*recipe for Lasagna Soup coming later this week

I will also share a recipe this week for a S'mores dessert that is beyond YUMMY! Stay tuned...

Friday Favorites

2011-01-21T13:16:00.001-05:00

Wow, this week really got away from me. It is Friday and I haven't posted one thing on here all week. I sure do hope next week is not so full. But, I can't complain. It has been a good week full of good stuff.

In the midst of a busy life this week I did somehow manage to find a "new-to-me" blog called Decor Chick and was excited to see the linky party she is hosting. Now, first let me say that I love checking out a bunch of home blogs. I love the ideas and inspiration, the photography and the little peek into other people's homes. Sometimes I get a little nuts when I see the posts because it always looks so perfect and my home is nowhere near perfect. I do know that their homes are not either but rarely do they show that part of it.

Until now.

That's right, Decor Chick hosted a linky party to keep it real, folks. It's all about Real Houses, Real Messes, Real Lives. I love it! It totally makes me feel better about the state my house is in right now.

So, go check it out and feel better about yours too. Celebrate that your home is LOVED and LIVED IN!!!

See you next week...I've got a bunch of posts for you!

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

2011-01-12T11:12:00.003-05:00

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup mashed banana (2-3 overly ripe bananas will give you a cup)
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil (I use canola oil)
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture for wet ingredients.

In a separate bowl combine egg, mashed banana, milk and oil. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until just moistened. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

*If making muffins follow the same instructions to mix ingredients. Spoon batter into greased muffin pans (or use liners). Fill about 3/4 full. Bake at 400 for about 18-20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately.

I linked this recipe to Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Works For Me Wednesday.

Italian Chicken & Vegetable Soup

2011-01-11T12:09:00.008-05:00

I love soup and have been on the hunt for some new recipes. I found this easy one from Paula Deen (LOVE Paula Deen!). Can you believe there's recipe from Paula that does NOT include butter???

Just a handful of ingredients makes this quick and easy soup and it is very good! My family gave it a thumbs up last night so I will definitely be making this again.

My version of

Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup

(from Paula's Home Cooking, Jan./Feb. 2006 issue)

2 tablespoons olive oil
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (1-3/4 pounds or a little more)
1 small onion *
1 cup sliced carrots (about 3 small) *
2-1/2 cups sliced zucchini (about 2 medium) *
2 (14.5 ounce) cans of diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano *
2 (14.5 ounce) cans of chicken broth
grated Parmesan cheese, optional

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add onions and carrot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in zucchini, diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Top each serving with grated cheese, if desired.

makes 6-8 servings

* I did not use a whole onion (base it on your family's preference).
* I used more carrots and zucchini than the recipe called for because I like really chunky soup. The extra amounts worked well.
* The canned tomatoes I used were Hunts Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano with No Added Salt. I was fine without the salt but my husband thought it needed a little.

*** The recipe did not call for any pasta but we decided to serve this soup over some small bow tie pasta. We cooked the noodles separately and spooned the soup over them. Very filling and good!

I'm sharing this recipe with everyone at The Country Cook's Soup and Stew linky party. Stop by and see what everyone else is cooking!

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T15:19:00.000-05:00

We're enjoying a wonderful snow day here in the south.

These pictures were from our first venture outside this morning. The snow has continued to fall all day. It's a beautiful winter wonderland and we love it! We are expecting ice to move in this evening.

I'm off to make some muffins and start my new soup recipe for tonight's dinner (recipe coming tomorrow).

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-10T09:15:00.001-05:00

This week's dinners are planned!

Monday...Italian Chicken & Veggie Soup (new recipe...will post soon)
Tuesday...tacos & mexican rice
Wednesday...out for a company dinner (kids will have soup & sandwiches with the babysitter)
Thursday...grilled chicken and veggies with angel hair pasta
Friday...baked potatoes & salads

Hope everyone has a good week. I'm off to play in the snow with my kids!

I've joined the menu planning over at Menu Plan Monday. Check it out to see hundreds of weekly meal plans and get some new ideas.

Thanks One Crazy Cookie!

2011-01-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

Do you enter blog giveaways? I do sometimes but I've never won. Until now! I was excited to see my name as the winner for a recent giveaway on one of the blogs I follow, One Crazy Cookie. Thanks Tiffanee!

You've got to check out Tiffanee's site. She posts lots of yummy recipes that have normal ingredients and are family friendly. That meets two of the criteria I look for in trying new recipes. I recently posted about one of her recipes that became an instant hit with my family, Creamy Italian Crock Pot Chicken. You can check out my post here and her original one here.

Oh, and be sure to check out her post today for some amazing Caramel Apple Dip! I think I might have to try this one!

Today's Super Doubles Trip to HT (with coupon links)

2011-01-05T12:28:00.001-05:00

Today's trip to Harris Teeter for Super Doubles

Spent $31.12 out of pocket for $140.22 worth of stuff

Here's what I got...

This week's Meal Deal (with coupon comes out to $5.80 for the whole deal...used the $0.60/2 Prego coupon from Sunday's paper)

Buy 2 Prego Pasta Sauce 45 oz., Get the following FREEPepperidge Farm Garlic Texas Toast 11.25 oz.

Kraft Parmesan Cheese 7-8 oz.
Harris Teeter Fettuccine, Linguini, or Angel Hair 16 oz.
Pepsi Product 2 L

3 packs of HT boneless, skinless chicken breasts Buy 1 Get 2 Free

Gallon on milk

4 - ziploc containers BOGO, used $1.50/2 printable

(**these have more $1.50/2 coupons inside so pull them out and use them for more this week!)

2 - Clorox Wipes $2, used .75 printable

2 - Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent BOGO, used $1/2 printable

1 - 2000 Flushes Toilet Bowl Cleaner, BOGO, used $1 printable

3 - Electrasol Finish Powertabs for dishwasher, BOGO, used $2.25 coupons

2 - Muellers Egg Noodles, 2 for $3, used $1/2 coupon

4 - Muellers Thin Spaghetti, $1 each, used $1/2 coupon

3 - Campbells Chunky Soup, BOGO, used $1.50/3 printable

2 - Alexia frozen potatoes

(**I found some bags of roasted red potatoes with garden veggies on clearance for BOGO. Used two of the $1 coupons from Facebook and got them for $0.25 each!)

2 - Breyers YoCrunch Yogurt Parfaits, $2, used $1 printable

2 - Immaculate Baking Co. refridgerated cookie dough, BOGO, used $1/2 printable

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-04T13:54:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late in posting this menu plan (ssshhh!)

One of my goals this year is to try one new recipe every week. I had planned to do that this week but it is not happening. I am still working on reclaiming my home from all of the Christmas stuff and this is just a busy week with appointments and such. So, to help make this week run smoothly I am relying on using things I have on hand and quick and easy options for our dinners. Next week I will be adding something new to the mix and will be sharing it with you.

Monday...chili & cheese BIG baked potatoes
Tuesday...spaghetti & meatballs, salad
Wednesday...taco soup & cheese quesadillas
Thursday...grilled chicken & veggies
Friday...chicken & rice enchiladas, salad

Free 5x7 Photo Book

2011-01-03T14:41:00.000-05:00

I love photo freebies! Here is a nice one from Kodak Gallery. Get a FREE 5x7 photo book...pay just $1.99 shipping. Enter code TGTFREEBOOK at checkout to receive the free book (regularly $9.99). This offer is good through January 9, 2011. Go here to create your free photo book...

Thanks Mandy at Serving While Saving!

Extreme Couponing

2010-12-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

Tonight there is a new show debuting on TLC called Extreme Couponing. Several couponers will be showcased. These people take it to the extreme with their stockpiles (1500 deodorants!) and ways of collecting coupons (dumpster diving!).

Yes, I am a couponer and yes, I do stockpile some items for my family. I do this in a much more realistic way than what I think will be portrayed on this show. I hope that the show does not make people lump all couponers into this category of extreme ones who are more like hoarders.

Stockpiling is actually smart shopping by buying multiple items at rock-bottom prices (or even free) and saving for future use rather than buying at full price when you need them. You can shop from your pantry rather than running to the store and paying the full price. Examples of some of the items I have a stockpile of include toothpaste, deodorant, pasta, peanut butter, cleaning products like Windex, etc. And my stockpile is nothing crazy...I'm talking a few to several of these items. Once I start scoring deals on more than that I start sharing with others and donating to food pantries.

I'm anxious to tune into tonight's show (TLC at 8pm EST).

Salmon with Pecan Crunch Coating

2010-12-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

from the archives...This is a good recipe. I hope you enjoy it. I am joining in this week's Ingredient Spotlight at Eat At Home.

(photo from All Recipes)

Salmon with Pecan-Crunch Coating
4 salmon fillets (about 1-1/2 inches thick)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1-1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper; place skin side down, in a lightly greased baking dish.
Combine mustard, butter, and honey; brush over salmon. Combine breadcrumbs, pecans and parsley; spoon evenly across top of salmon. Bake, uncovered, at 450 for 12 to 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.
Yield: 4 servings

Amanda's Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast

2010-12-13T10:21:00.002-05:00

I am linking this recipe to Your Recipe, My Kitchen this week. I posted this one a while back so if you are stopping by to see it, I'd love for you to check out some of my more recent recipes too.
This is a good one...hope you enjoy. I'll be making this again this week!

Well, life has certainly gotten in the way the past couple of weeks and kept me from posting anything here on the blog. It's times like this when I am so happy to have really quick and easy recipes to go to that my family loves. I recently tried a new one and immediately added it as a new family favorite.

Amanda at Serenity Now posted a recipe not long ago for the Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast. The way I usually make a crock pot roast is really easy but this sounded a little different so I wanted to try it. I am so glad I did. Yes, it is super easy and it also is super yummy! I neglected to take any pictures (life has been crazy for a couple of weeks, remember?) so I am using one of Amanda's pictures. And be sure to click on the link to go directly to her post for additional pictures and to read her post.

(Amanda's Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast. Photo from Amanda's blog, Serenity Now.)

Amanda's Easiest Ever Crock Pot Roast
1/2 cup water
1 packet Italian Dressing Mix (as info I used Good Seasons)
1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix (as info I used Hidden Valley)
1 packet Brown Gravy Mix (as info I used McCormicks)
1 Beef Roast, sized for your crock pot (I actually used a london broil 'cause that's what I had in the freezer)

Pour 1/2 cup water into base of crock pot and place roast inside. Pour dressing packets and gravy packet over roast. Cover and cook 6-7 hours on low.

***Amanda's version adds potatoes and veggies to the crock pot after cooking the roast for 4 hours and letting the taters & veggies cook for 2-3 hours. She uses 2-3 potatoes with the skin on cut into chunks and mixed veggies (she uses a bag of frozen carrots, broccoli & cauliflower).
I didn't add the taters & veggies to mine this time. Instead I served the roast & gravy over egg noodles with broccoli on the side.

Hope you enjoy this easy recipe. Thanks Amanda!!!

OFFER EXPIRED $5 Off a $5 Purchase at Hallmark THIS WEEKEND

2010-12-02T14:50:00.002-05:00

Go here to print this $5 off coupon from Hallmark. Minimum purchase is $5. Last year I had a couple of these and scored really nice wrapping paper for free and several cards for free!

This coupon is good tomorrow, 12/3 through Sunday, 12/5 only. Print and hurry to Hallmark this weekend!

Online Santa Fun For Your Kids

2010-11-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

Portable North Pole lets your children receive a personalized message from Santa. Very cool!

Starting on Wednesday, December 1st you can track Santa with the Official Norad Santa Tracker.

Creamy Italian Crock Pot Chicken

2010-11-29T17:14:00.008-05:00

**just linked up this recipe to Your Recipe, My Kitchen

One of the things I like best about sharing recipes on my blog is participating in weekly blog parties that spotlight food and recipes. I am finding lots of yummy recipes to try and am discovering great blogs to follow.

Recently I found a yummy-sounding recipe on Tiffanee's blog, One Crazy Cookie. The recipe is for Creamy Italian Crock Pot Chicken....only a few ingredients to throw in the crock pot...gotta like that! Thanks, Tiffany, for sharing this recipe! It was an instant hit with my family.

Creamy Italian Crock Pot Chicken

4-5 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
1/2 cup butter
1 package dry Italian dressing mix (I used Good Seasons)
2 (10-3/4oz.) cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup water
1 (8oz) cream cheese
1 lb. pasta

Place chicken breasts in the crock pot and sprinkle with the Italian dressing mix. Pour can of cream of chicken soup and water over chicken. Add the butter.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours, stirring once or twice.

When chicken is done, remove it from the sauce and shred it. Add the brick of cream cheese and return the chicken to the crock pot. Allow the cream cheese to melt. Stir to combine.

This is great served with either pasta or rice. I used rotini noodles and added the cooked pasta into the crock pot and stirred to combine it with the chicken and sauce mixture.

This was a great recipe that my family all agreed was a hit. And it was good the next day for lunch too!

I'll be sharing this recipe this week...
Mouthwatering Monday
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays At The Table
Eat at Home's Ingredient Spotlight
Serenity Now's Weekend Bloggy Reading

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-29T14:14:00.002-05:00

Here's my plan for this week...

Monday...chicken in slow cooker (no idea what this is called...my friend told me about it...chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup and cheddar cheese soup in slow cooker...I'll let you know how it turns out), mashed potatoes, green beans

Tuesday...chili & rice (this is the 2nd half of the batch I made 2 weeks ago and froze)

Wednesday...Easiest Ever Pot Roast (will share recipe in a few days...thanks to fellow blogger, Amanda...she'll get a shout out in my recipe post!), egg noodles, honey carrots

Thursday...Peanut Chicken (recipe coming in a few days), rice, broccoli

Friday...out for son's b-day!

Our New Addition To The Family

2010-11-22T14:41:00.000-05:00

We have a new puppy! Her name is Karley and she is just the CUTEST!

My weekend was monopolized by her...bringing her home, puppy-proofing the house, starting the crate training, etc. I've never had to do this before. I would appreciate any advice you can give!

Family Taco Night Winner!

2010-11-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all of you who entered the Family Taco Night giveaway from Old El Paso and My BlogSpark.

The winner is...

bethwright said...

my favorite mexican meal is a chicken chimichanga :) ,

This winning number (#13) was selected via Random.org (I can't seem to get the little box to post onto here...I promise it is legit!).

The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks again to Old El Paso and My BlogSpark for providing this giveaway.