Pinterest not so tried and true

So Pinterest is a great quick resource to do my weekly meal planning. I've had great successes so far but you can't win em' all. Photo and recipe courtesy of:
http://thepost-itplace.com/2012/01/crockpot-cube-steak-and-gravy/

We just were not a fan of cube steak.
The flavors were ok but we couldn't get over the idea that it looked and tasted like cat food. (not that ever eaten cat food but it's what I imagined it to taste like blah).Once I get something in my head watch out too. I mixed ours with some egg noodles and sour cream to create a stroganoff. Lets just say the leftovers ended up in the garbage. Perhaps a diff cut of meat would have worked better for us.

So Pinterest is a great quick resource to do my weekly meal planning. I've had great successes so far but you can't win em' all. Photo and recipe courtesy of:
http://thepost-itplace.com/2012/01/crockpot-cube-steak-and-gravy/

We just were not a fan of cube steak.
The flavors were ok but we couldn't get over the idea that it looked and tasted like cat food. (not that ever eaten cat food but it's what I imagined it to taste like blah).Once I get something in my head watch out too. I mixed ours with some egg noodles and sour cream to create a stroganoff. Lets just say the leftovers ended up in the garbage. Perhaps a diff cut of meat would have worked better for us.

Pinterest tried and true

Another successful Pinterest recipe-yippee. I've never been crazy about meatloaf but this Italian version is yummy. Who doesn't love the taste of Italian food??
http://mommyimhungry.blogspot.com/2012/02/parmesan-meatloaf-gluten-free.html?m=1

I did a few of my own variations too.
I did not use gluten free breadcrumbs
I added 2 cups of fresh chopped spinach to my mixture.
I added 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese to my mixture.
I only used 1lb hamburger. But after discussing with Evan we decided next time it'd be yummy to mix in some Italian sausage with the hamburger.
Evan raved about how yummy it was, and Mr Cade ate up pretty well too.
I will def be making this again as there was only one slice left!
Photo courtesy of www.mommyimhungry.blogspot.com

Another successful Pinterest recipe-yippee. I've never been crazy about meatloaf but this Italian version is yummy. Who doesn't love the taste of Italian food??
http://mommyimhungry.blogspot.com/2012/02/parmesan-meatloaf-gluten-free.html?m=1

I did a few of my own variations too.
I did not use gluten free breadcrumbs
I added 2 cups of fresh chopped spinach to my mixture.
I added 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese to my mixture.
I only used 1lb hamburger. But after discussing with Evan we decided next time it'd be yummy to mix in some Italian sausage with the hamburger.
Evan raved about how yummy it was, and Mr Cade ate up pretty well too.
I will def be making this again as there was only one slice left!
Photo courtesy of www.mommyimhungry.blogspot.com

Pinterest tried and true

I love posting about these fab Pinterest recipes lately. I hope it's helpful for someone out there too.
Recently I made this: http://www.saving-makes-cents.com/2012/07/what-is-for-dinner/

So yummy, super easy too. It tasted like restaurant style roast chx. Caders ate it up and I even enjoyed it the next day for lunch. I'm not normally a chx leftovers gal.
Photo credit: www.saving-makes-cents.com

This week our menu consists of the following: some crockpot and some Pinterest recipes too.
I'll be sure to report back.

I love posting about these fab Pinterest recipes lately. I hope it's helpful for someone out there too.
Recently I made this: http://www.saving-makes-cents.com/2012/07/what-is-for-dinner/

So yummy, super easy too. It tasted like restaurant style roast chx. Caders ate it up and I even enjoyed it the next day for lunch. I'm not normally a chx leftovers gal.
Photo credit: www.saving-makes-cents.com

This week our menu consists of the following: some crockpot and some Pinterest recipes too.
I'll be sure to report back.

Recipes

It's been awhile since I posted about any recipes so here goes:

This is one of our fav pizza's to have. We use pre-made crust-Bobboli (gasp) to save some time, and use Basil vs. Arugula.  The basil just takes more fitting with this

sweet yet salty pizza.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/fig-prosciutto-pizza-with-arugula/

Try it, you will not be sorry.

Today, I also made some homemade ranch: 

care of: http://fluffimama.blogspot.com/2012/03/little-something-for-your-time.html

1 cup Dannon Oikos plain nonfat greek yogurt
1 packet hidden valley ranch (dressing, not dip)
1/2 cup 1% milk

Whisk together in bowl and chill for 1 hour before serving. As you can see below this filled my canning jar. There is a lot of talk about HOW much milk to use, to get the right consistency and I found this dead on for 'regular' ranch or any other creamy dressing.

The best part....this ENTIRE jar of dressing, is only 255 calories, 1.75 grams of fat, 42 carbs and 34 protein. That calculates to 8pts on the new points plus system. For an entire jar of dressing. I would hazard a guess that this would yield about 20-24 servings.

 

Cade and I also made some oatmeal choc chip cookies, our favs.

We have a care package to take to a friend tomorrow

so today I was getting some things made for them also. 

 

Thanks to my coworker, Kim I have been craving iced Chai Tea.

Not loving the $5 price tag at Starbucks though.

So I bought some decaf (of course) chai tea bags and made my own iced version

(pic care of:http://www.artandlemons.com/2011/01/homemade-chai-tea.html)

2 tea bags, 1/2 cup milk heat until dark enough, 1 packet splenda

then popped into the freezer to chill.

Yummy treat for me!

The tea bags were $2.29 for 20 bags at Kings, so much kinder to my wallet!

I feel ultra productive today and made up our weekly meal plan list:

Tonight we are having Filet with sauteed mushrooms and bleu cheese cob salad (hey, its our anniversary so we are living it up tonight.)

Home made chx noodle soup its been chilly here so this sounds yummy!

Pork chops with Pears and Bleu cheese

Lemon Salmon with rice and scallions

General Tso's Chx

Cod Fish Fry-never made this, I think Ev's going to cook this one

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

 

Cheers, Carri

It's been awhile since I posted about any recipes so here goes:

This is one of our fav pizza's to have. We use pre-made crust-Bobboli (gasp) to save some time, and use Basil vs. Arugula.  The basil just takes more fitting with this

sweet yet salty pizza.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/fig-prosciutto-pizza-with-arugula/

Try it, you will not be sorry.

Today, I also made some homemade ranch: 

care of: http://fluffimama.blogspot.com/2012/03/little-something-for-your-time.html

1 cup Dannon Oikos plain nonfat greek yogurt
1 packet hidden valley ranch (dressing, not dip)
1/2 cup 1% milk

Whisk together in bowl and chill for 1 hour before serving. As you can see below this filled my canning jar. There is a lot of talk about HOW much milk to use, to get the right consistency and I found this dead on for 'regular' ranch or any other creamy dressing.

The best part....this ENTIRE jar of dressing, is only 255 calories, 1.75 grams of fat, 42 carbs and 34 protein. That calculates to 8pts on the new points plus system. For an entire jar of dressing. I would hazard a guess that this would yield about 20-24 servings.

 

Cade and I also made some oatmeal choc chip cookies, our favs.

We have a care package to take to a friend tomorrow

so today I was getting some things made for them also. 

 

Thanks to my coworker, Kim I have been craving iced Chai Tea.

Not loving the $5 price tag at Starbucks though.

So I bought some decaf (of course) chai tea bags and made my own iced version

(pic care of:http://www.artandlemons.com/2011/01/homemade-chai-tea.html)

2 tea bags, 1/2 cup milk heat until dark enough, 1 packet splenda

then popped into the freezer to chill.

Yummy treat for me!

The tea bags were $2.29 for 20 bags at Kings, so much kinder to my wallet!

I feel ultra productive today and made up our weekly meal plan list:

Tonight we are having Filet with sauteed mushrooms and bleu cheese cob salad (hey, its our anniversary so we are living it up tonight.)

Home made chx noodle soup its been chilly here so this sounds yummy!

Pork chops with Pears and Bleu cheese

Lemon Salmon with rice and scallions

General Tso's Chx

Cod Fish Fry-never made this, I think Ev's going to cook this one

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

 

Cheers, Carri

Weekends & Recipes

This weekend was filled with fun things for the Beauprez Fam.

Friday night was dinner at the in-laws house-Olive Garden's Zupa Tuscana soup and salad.

Saturday I had a triplet photo shoot in Denver, so fun to see those babies growing up!

Saturday night was a family bday celebration for Ellia and Brevin.

Sunday AM we made french toast, and Cade says " I can do it" as he helped.

yes, the HULK helped too! lol

yummo!

Sunday we took Cade to Petco to get an aquatic frog. 

He is insisting that the frogs name is "Frog".  ok then, meet Frog~

His home is right next to Mr. Paddington Bear

Cade loves it~

Also today we went grocery shopping. I made an almond kale pesto that you freeze in muffin tins to use at a later date.

Hoping it turned out yummy, can't wait to try it this week!

http://bottomupfood.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/kale-almond-pesto/

picture courtesy of the website above.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Cheers, Carri

This weekend was filled with fun things for the Beauprez Fam.

Friday night was dinner at the in-laws house-Olive Garden's Zupa Tuscana soup and salad.

Saturday I had a triplet photo shoot in Denver, so fun to see those babies growing up!

Saturday night was a family bday celebration for Ellia and Brevin.

Sunday AM we made french toast, and Cade says " I can do it" as he helped.

yes, the HULK helped too! lol

yummo!

Sunday we took Cade to Petco to get an aquatic frog. 

He is insisting that the frogs name is "Frog".  ok then, meet Frog~

His home is right next to Mr. Paddington Bear

Cade loves it~

Also today we went grocery shopping. I made an almond kale pesto that you freeze in muffin tins to use at a later date.

Hoping it turned out yummy, can't wait to try it this week!

http://bottomupfood.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/kale-almond-pesto/

picture courtesy of the website above.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Cheers, Carri

Recipes-unique.

I'm so proud of myself, I have done so well at opening up our menu options.

Tonight was Potato, kale and kielbasa casserole.

Sounds not so good but was super good!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Kale-and-Kielbasa-Casserole-11645

I altered the recipe to such:

2 potatoes chopped

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

3/4 cup beef broth

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 bunch kale, coarse stems discarded and the leaves washed well

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 pound smoked kielbasa, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces

1 large onions, halved lengthwise and sliced thing crosswise

I cooked my potatoes and kale in the broth until potatoes were nearly tender.

While that was boiling/cooking, I started another pan sauteing the butter, onion and kielbasa.

Once potato mixture was cooked I used my potato masher to mash down kale/potato mixture.

Place mixture into bottom of baking dish and top with 1 cup cheese,  and then kielbasa onion mixture.

Top with remaining cheese and pour 1/4 cup of broth that you cooked the potatoes in, onto the baking dish.

Bake 400 for 20 mins. 

Super yummy, even Caders loved it!

I'm so proud of myself, I have done so well at opening up our menu options.

Tonight was Potato, kale and kielbasa casserole.

Sounds not so good but was super good!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Kale-and-Kielbasa-Casserole-11645

I altered the recipe to such:

2 potatoes chopped

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

3/4 cup beef broth

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 bunch kale, coarse stems discarded and the leaves washed well

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 pound smoked kielbasa, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces

1 large onions, halved lengthwise and sliced thing crosswise

I cooked my potatoes and kale in the broth until potatoes were nearly tender.

While that was boiling/cooking, I started another pan sauteing the butter, onion and kielbasa.

Once potato mixture was cooked I used my potato masher to mash down kale/potato mixture.

Place mixture into bottom of baking dish and top with 1 cup cheese,  and then kielbasa onion mixture.

Top with remaining cheese and pour 1/4 cup of broth that you cooked the potatoes in, onto the baking dish.

Bake 400 for 20 mins. 

Super yummy, even Caders loved it!

Recipes-meatless.

I stumbled upon this on my last trip to Sprouts:

We love http://srithairestaurant.com/so I was reluctant to even attempt this type of food

But I was pleasantly surprised, even on day two of leftovers, was even better!

I chopped up 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 zucchini, 1 squash and sauteed until done.

I learned that while I stepped out of the kitchen Evan added

a splash of coconut milk, butter and cayenne.

Once all was done I added one package of chopped tofu

and the entire jar of curry sauce. 

simmered for 30 mins until potatoes were tender.

YUMMY!

I stumbled upon this on my last trip to Sprouts:

We love http://srithairestaurant.com/so I was reluctant to even attempt this type of food

But I was pleasantly surprised, even on day two of leftovers, was even better!

I chopped up 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 zucchini, 1 squash and sauteed until done.

I learned that while I stepped out of the kitchen Evan added

a splash of coconut milk, butter and cayenne.

Once all was done I added one package of chopped tofu

and the entire jar of curry sauce. 

simmered for 30 mins until potatoes were tender.

YUMMY!

Chx and dumplings. Yum

http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-chicken-dumplings.html?m=1

I found this recipe via pinterest and being that I'm the crockpot lover that I am this is our dinner for Thursday night!

Evan said it was one of the best meals I have made and it took all of 5 mins to prep!! Bahhhh! It's def a hearty cold weather comfort food type food.

Cheers, Carri

http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-chicken-dumplings.html?m=1

I found this recipe via pinterest and being that I'm the crockpot lover that I am this is our dinner for Thursday night!

Evan said it was one of the best meals I have made and it took all of 5 mins to prep!! Bahhhh! It's def a hearty cold weather comfort food type food.

Cheers, Carri

Cauliflower mashes

A co worker mentioned cauliflower mashes to me a while back. I tried them once and we loved them.

Tonight I think I perfected the recipe. I'm an "eye" it type of cook except when it comes to baking. So I will do my best to describe my recipe.

1 head cauliflower

1 can chx broth

2 tbs butter

1 clove garlic

1/4cup half and half or milk

A few sprinkles of parmesan cheese, s&p to taste

Bring the can of broth to a boil. Using a steamer place cut up cauliflower into steamer and boiling pan of chx broth.

Steam about 20 min until all is tender.

Use your hand masher to mash cauliflower once all is soft and add your butter.

Eye ball it and slowly pour in milk and stir. Add garlic and stir.

Add parm , s&p and eat.

So yummy

Cheers, Carri

A co worker mentioned cauliflower mashes to me a while back. I tried them once and we loved them.

Tonight I think I perfected the recipe. I'm an "eye" it type of cook except when it comes to baking. So I will do my best to describe my recipe.

1 head cauliflower

1 can chx broth

2 tbs butter

1 clove garlic

1/4cup half and half or milk

A few sprinkles of parmesan cheese, s&p to taste

Bring the can of broth to a boil. Using a steamer place cut up cauliflower into steamer and boiling pan of chx broth.

Steam about 20 min until all is tender.

Use your hand masher to mash cauliflower once all is soft and add your butter.

Eye ball it and slowly pour in milk and stir. Add garlic and stir.

Add parm , s&p and eat.

So yummy

Cheers, Carri

Recipes

I haven't been all too creative with my cooking lately. In fact there have been a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches type dinners.

But this week I cooked up an awesome Mexican hot dish.

1lb chorizo

3 potatoes

1 green pepper

1 onion

1 can kidney beans

1 can green chile sauce

I cooked up the chorizo and diced potatoes, onions, green peppers until done. Added kidney beans and half can of green chile sauce. Topped with cheese and sour cream and serve with warm tortillas. Yummy

And to be honest it was even better the next day for lunch!

Cheers, Carri

I haven't been all too creative with my cooking lately. In fact there have been a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches type dinners.

But this week I cooked up an awesome Mexican hot dish.

1lb chorizo

3 potatoes

1 green pepper

1 onion

1 can kidney beans

1 can green chile sauce

I cooked up the chorizo and diced potatoes, onions, green peppers until done. Added kidney beans and half can of green chile sauce. Topped with cheese and sour cream and serve with warm tortillas. Yummy

And to be honest it was even better the next day for lunch!

Cheers, Carri