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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Egg & Sausage Casserole

My family LOVES it! First time I've made an "egg-type" casserole and they went nuts! It was approval from all (and they fought of the left-overs). My husband leaves for work at an awful early morning hour and when the girls woke up they were so bummed that there was only 1 piece left (and try splitting one piece of anything with a set of twins)! One got it and the other one got NONE! This recipe is so easy to make, we all declared that this is a MUST for our next camping trip (motorhome style camping, you need an oven to cook it)!

We love Jimmy Dean sausage, but the girls want to try a few other types of meat (Canadian bacon, regular bacon and ham are the next meats we plan to try in this delicious casserole)!


Egg & Sausage Casserole
adapted from Bob Evans recipe (seen in advertisements)

1 lb Jimmy Dean Sausage roll
2 cups shredded cheese (mixed yellow & white)
1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
4 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Crumble and cook sausage in medium skillet until browned. Drain. Line bottom of 9x13 baking dish with crescent roll dough, firmly pressing perforations to seal. Sprinkle with sausage and cheese. Combine remaining ingredients in medium bowl until blended; pour over sausage. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares; serve hot.

This recipe is being shared at: Hunk of Meat Monday

Friday, April 29, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Banana Muffins with Lemon Icing

My family goes through bananas like crazy, so it's not often that I have many bananas that will just hang around to get ripe. But every once in a while we do, and I am a little sick of banana bread. We only have one recipe of Banana Bread we make and it gets a little old (although they all love it), I was just ready for something new. I knew when I saw this recipe linked up to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party that this was a recipe I was going to try for sure; Banana Muffins with Lemon Icing. And I just noticed that it is a Weight Watcher recipe, even better. I made these last week and froze them to take to Florida, (of course, I ate two before I did that, and they were scrumptious).

My twin daughters are competitive dancers and we will be leaving today to compete at the WORLDS DANCE Competition in Orlando, Florida. (We'd love for you to say a little pray for us, for save travels and for all the dancers to be positive and to do their personal BEST)! We are all very excited. There are over 28 countries represented there and this is an awesome opportunity for all of them to compete and meet other dancers from all over the world. It's equally exciting to watch them communicate and trade t-shirts with girls from Japan, Finland, China and so many other countries. They all share the common ground of dancing even though they do not speak each others language. It's amazing. 

This is their costume from last year, and their team took 2nd place at the Worlds Dance Competition. (I am sure I will be sharing new pictures next week from this year's competition).

We are always so grateful for these opportunities for our kids and I too am so proud of my daughters. They have been dancing their hearts out for 9 years and each and every year they worker harder then the year before. it's amazing watching them grow. GOOD LUCK Ashlyn, Kayley and the entire Pace Elite Dance team. (If you are interested you can LIKE USAF/IASF on facebook and watch routines live all weekend, my daughters company she dances for is PACE ELITE)

See note below on freezing (for all the holes in my muffin)!
I made a dozen of these Banana Muffins (froze them) and will pack them and take with us to Florida. I also made Magic Sweet Potato Muffins. When we are at this competition it is hard work. We wake up at 4am and get to the competition and they practice...practice...practice... until it's their time to compete... then compete like no other. Then we stay all day til about 10 or 11 pm (wait for the finals announcements for the following day), only to wake up and do it all over again the next day! And I have to say the girls are so amazing, they never complain. They just go... go...go... and LOVE every minute of it! This is why it's important to have lots of food and healthy snacks for them to eat all day long. They pack breakfast, lunch and dinner so that they are well feed and do not eat junk all day long.

Now, onto the Banana Muffins recipe.

Banana Muffins with Lemon Icing
originally found on Addicted to Recipes

1/2 cup sugar
5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup milk
4 bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line muffin pan with paper liners.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; cream with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly mixed.

In another large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add half of flour mixture to butter mixture; beat well with mixer. Add milk and remaining flour mixture; beat until batter is combined and then fold in mashed bananas.

Spoon batter into muffin liners about 3/4 full. Bake until muffins start to brown and a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Allow muffins to cool in pan for about 2 minutes; remove to a wire rack and cool completely before icing.

Lemon Icing1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract

Meanwhile, combine icing ingredients in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Ice cooled muffins; cover and refrigerate any uneaten muffins.

(Freezing Note: Since I was freezing these muffins and did not want the icing to be a problem. I used a skewer and poked several holes in the top of the muffin before adding the icing. This allowed the icing to set down into the muffin instead of laying on top.)


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake EVER & Justin's 12th Birthday


Spring Break is behind us and my son had an AWESOME week. With his birthday right in the middle of Spring Break, I don't think he could of asked for better timing. Being OFF school on your birthday ROCKS! On his actual birthday he got a set of brand new golf clubs and went to golfing with his dad. Then a friend came over and we headed over to Downtown Disney for a movie and dinner at ESPN Zone. When the weekend rolled around we had a full day of celebrations planned. On Saturday we started the day with three friends at the showing of the movie Disney's Cats from Africa; then meet up with his entire group of friends at Sky High Jump, after that we headed back to the house for an evening of friends & family complete with his favorite meal Homemade Lasagna.

He also requested a Texas Sheet Cake, which I made last year for his birthday (for the first time). We had a huge party last year so I was able to make two different recipes. And this one WON! The Pioneer Women's Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever!!! (from the two cakes I made this one was by far the BEST)


Best Chocolate Sheet Cake EVER
from Pioneer Women

2 cups Flour
2 cups Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
4 tbsp (heaping) Cocoa
2 sticks Butter
1 cup Boiling Water
1/2 cup Buttermilk
Eggs, beaten
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt; set aside. In a seperate pan boil water. In a saucepan, melt butter, then add cocoa and boiling water allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

Chocolate Pecan Frosting
1/2 cups Finely Chopped Pecans
1-3/4 sticks Butter
4 tbsp (heaping) Cocoa
6 tbsp Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
3-1/4 cups Powdered Sugar

While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop pecans finely. Melt butter in a saucepan, add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together. Add the pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.

When I asked my son what he wanted me to write on his cake he said "Justin is Awesome"
Ask and you shall receive... He got just what he wanted!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Family Meal Planning 4-25-11


SPRING BREAK.... over! Already?!?! That went by way too fast! Good thing this is a short week for me and my girls. We are leaving Thursday for the Worlds Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida. The grocery shopping for this week; NONE! Yahooooo! I have to run by a store or two for snacks, but that's it. My husband will be staying home (but working) and my son will be going to grandma's house.

We will be eating left-overs, left-overs and some more left-overs. My refrigerator is some how packed full.. and we are leaving in 3 days. We better get to eatin' soon! We have a little Lasagna and lots of salad left-over from my son's birthday party. There are a ton of Hard Boiled Easter Eggs, that my daughter will be making her Mushroom Egg Salad or the Bacon & Cheese Egg Salad, there is a little left over from Olive Garden too. And to top it off I thought I was gonna run out of Lasagna at my son's birthday so I stayed in the kitchen making an entire Pasta Casserole, and come to find out I didn't need it after all. We had a few more people show up then I was expecting and I started to panic. I will have to share that story with you too sometime!

My kids have just 31 more days left of school, I can hardly believe it! This summer is SO needed and I can't wait! (It's my favorite time of year and this year our summer is jammed back full of exciting things!)


Check back and we will link the actual recipe!
(not all recipes will become reality so if there is not a link, we haven't made it yet)

Lasagna (left-overs)
Mushroom Egg Salad
Bacon & Cheese Egg Salad
Sour Cream Enchiladas (left-overs)
Banana Muffins with Lemon Icing (freezer food)
Magic Sweet Potato Muffins (freezer food)

click for the recipe: Mushroom Egg Salad



Also don't forget our weekly linky party
this week is "EASTER DINNER"

I LOVE Linky Parties, what a great way to mix and mingle with lots of bloggers! Today, I am sharing my Menu Planning & My BUDGET Grocery Shopping with: Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday, I'm and Organizing Junkie: Meal Plan Mondayand GCC Shopping Round Up,

Monday, April 25, 2011

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS LINKY PARTY #26 (Easter Dinner)

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #26
The Theme is: Easter Dinner
(What was your favorite dinner this week?)

What was your favorite dinner this week? I think mine was Easter (steak, baked potato and salad), maybe it's because I didn't have to cook any of it! I got to enjoy a meal made by my mommy! YUM! We all voted on a non-traditional dinner and LOVED it, and the vote at the dinner table was next year "steak again". I think we just started a new tradition.

No worries though, I did my fair share of cooking lots of other things this week. The Chocolate Rice Krispy PEEPS were the HUGE HIT of the week, and the NEW Bacon & Cheese Deviled Eggs came in a close second. I also made my son a Texas Sheet Cake and his favorite Homemade Lasagna for his birthday celebration, plus a NEW Banana Lemon Tart Muffin and Sweet Potato Muffins to freeze to take with us this week to Florida (for the Worlds Dance Competition). I will be posting all of these new recipes this week.

I LOVE Linky Parties and it's MONDAY already! Let's do this bloggers... it's a fresh start to a NEW week! I can't wait to mix and mingle with all of you and see what has been cooking in your kitchens!  The recipes today will be shared with: It's a Blog Party Delicious DishesGet Your Craft On, Made from Scratch Tuesday, Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, 33 Shades of Green Tasty Tuesday, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Titus 2sday Linkup, Tuesday Night Supper ClubTuesdays at the TableA Little Birdie Told MeDelectable Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays

*****************************************************
Now onto the LINKY PARTY! Please only link recipes with our theme!
This week's theme is: Easter Dinner

(What was your favorite dinner this week?)

Here is a complete list of the past weeks and a list of what's coming up on This Week's Cravings!
If you are a regular link-up we're excited to see what you made! If you are new please read & follow the simple rules, so everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, link back or add a button IN YOUR post you will receive a gentle reminder. THANKS A MILLION!


Please Grab Our Button!!!

This Week's Cravings Past & Future Recipe Links


This is a BLOG HOP Party hosted by MOMS CRAZY COOKING, From My Tiny Kitchen and Delightful Country Cookin'  stop on by and say HELLO to the other hosts!

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!
(from Monday to the following Monday at Midnight)!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Snickers Cupcakes

Just wanted to let you guys now that you MUST take a look at the over 130 Easter Cookies & Treats link ups that we have for Easter... today is only Saturday and there is still plenty of time to make one of these AWESOME EASTER TREATS from.....THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS "Easter Cookies & Treats"

Now on to today's post of Snickers Cupcakes.....We have a BIG Year this year!!! My husband just celebrated his 50th Birthday! (later this year my twins will celebrate their 18th Birthday and it will be my 40th birthday!) WOW, What a year it will be!!!! My husband choose camping for his 50th Birthday, and yes I made it happen! Camping, Friends & Family! What could be better! My son had a blast too.... his first time dirt bike riding!!!

My husband's favorite candy is Snickers, so when this recipe was linked up to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS "Chocolate" week, I just knew this was the perfect dessert for his birthday! And it was a HUGE hit at the campsite. Everyone LOVED them and they thought the Snickers in the middle was the coolest thing ever! I made the Snicker Cupcakes for the first night and my husband's favorite cake "Camping Cake" for night two.




Justin had the time of his life!
 















Snickers Cupcakes 
adapted from Mama Schell Says 


1 pkg devil’s food cake mix
1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs; lightly beaten
1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp of vanilla
24-30 frozen Snickers Miniatures

Preheat oven to 350. Line cup muffin tins with paper liners.

Mix together the cake and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla and water. Pour batter into cupcake tins. Gently push a frozen Snickers Miniature bar into the center of the batter and smooth the surface making sure to cover the candy bar with batter.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cupcakes thoroughly on wire rack.

I was camping and in a hurry (and I totally just bought ready made frosting). But, homemade Buttercream Frosting would go PERFECT with these delicious cupcakes!  Garnish with Snickers bars and a drizzle of caramel (skipped the caramel this time; sorry). Make sure that you add your Snickers bars to the frosting shortly after applying it or they will not stick in the frosting well.

I LOVE Linky Parties I can't wait to mix and mingle with all of you and see what has been cooking in your kitchens! Today, this recipe is linked to the following linky parties: Homemaker Monday, I Made It MondayJust Something I Whipped Up, Made by You MondaysMaking the World Cuter, Market Yourself Monday, Melt in Your Mouth MondayMotivate Me MondayMouthwatering Monday, Your Recipes My Kitchen

Friday, April 22, 2011

Bunny Rabbit Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich

We couldn't let a holiday pass without making OUR FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!
I am sure we've all seen these delicious looking Bunny Rabbits in all the Nestle Toll-House ads and I just had to try them out for myself! (I am NOT the best decorator, but I just keep trying) My girls and their friends devoured this cookie like no-other (it still tastes great), I ONLY made one Bunny Rabbit (and split with 6 teenagers, it didn't go very far)!
I used the Vanilla Marshmallow Frosting (tinted pink) and it was perfect! And since I only made ONE Bunny Rabbit Cookie, I made the rest into cute pink Chocolate Chip sandwich cookies, just frost and stick together! Easy Peasy!!!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Lemon Blueberry Bread

The lemon flavor of this is so light, that I like it! I am not a huge fan of lemon, so there are very few things you'll see here on my blog with a lemon flavor. But with 5 or 6 extra lemons laying around that were given to me FREE! I could not let them go to waste! (I just googled LEMON) and looked for a few of my favorite blogs to pop up!  I found this recipe over at Joy of Baking!
I was taking 6 teenagers (my two daughters and 4 of their friends) to a dance competition at the LA Convention Center and then for a fun adventure in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills! This Lemon Blueberry Bread, I made the night before, so that when we left at 6am in the morning, I had something delicious to feed them! They all grabbed a banana and a piece of bread and we were off! Here are a few fun photos of our day in LA! ENJOY!!! (Plus the recipe for the Lemon Blueberry Bread, at the bottom)


Lemon Blueberry Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar 
2 eggs 
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp grated lemon zest (outer yellow skin of the lemon)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Lemon Glaze:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Spray loaf pan with non stick vegetable spray(Pam).

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Then in your mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft. Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture slowly and milk (alternating between the two). Mix only until combined. Gently fold in the blueberries.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 55 to 65 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

With about 10 minutes cooking time left on the bread start to prepare the Lemon Glaze. In a small saucepan bring the 1/4 cup of sugar and the 2 tbsp of lemon juice to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

When the bread is done, pierce the hot loaf all over with a wooden skewer or toothpick and then brush the top of the loaf with the hot lemon glaze. Cool the loaf in the pan for about 30 minutes then remove from pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Happy Birthday to my son.... JUSTIN

(Please excuse this interruption on my food blog, so that I can wish my son a Happy Birthday!!! I will be spending the day with him at Disneyland after he golfs with his dad.)


Happy Birthday to YOU... Happy Birthday to YOU... Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to YOU!!! I love you with all my heart! My baby is growing up to a handsome YOUNG MAN!!!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Family Meal Plan 4-18-11


SPRING BREAK.... it's that time of year! Almost Summer Time (my favorite time of year!) Although I love the schedule, I like the kids having a relaxing time too! Even though I don't think my house ever really is relaxing. We go 100 miles per hour 366 days a year (yes, I added an extra day)!

Spring Break this year is suppose to be very little, but it seems like for 3 days straight, we've been going and going and going! And as for cooking (who has time to eat?). We did cook on Saturday evening after we spent the better part of 8 hours Spring Cleaning (we wanted the house cleaned all week so no one would have to lift a hand)!!!

My son's 12th birthday is TOMORROW!!! I can't wait to celebrate HIM!!! He got a new set of gold clubs and will golf with daddy in the morning and then we will head over to Disneyland for an afternoon of fun! (gotta love season passes, we live really close). Then on Saturday is his big birthday party with friends & family. He has requested a Texas Sheet Cake for his birthday (so watch for the recipe coming soon)!
Our Family Meal Plan for this week. I'd love to hear if you have any short cuts, tricks or tips.

Check back and we will link the actual recipe!
(not all recipes will become reality so if there is not a link, we haven't made it yet)

Fresh Mozzarella BLT w/ Pesto Sandwiches
Sour Cream Enchiladas
Sausage & Egg Casserole (for dinner... I need to test it out for Easter day)
Cake Batter Pancakes (I MUST try these ASAP)
Homemade Lasagna (Birthday Boy's request for his Family Party Saturday Night)
Easter Dinner at Moms House (Steak & Potatoes, yep non-traditional)

Also don't forget our weekly linky party
this week is "EASTER COOKIES & TREATS"

I LOVE Linky Parties, what a great way to mix and mingle with lots of bloggers! Today, I am sharing my Menu Planning & My BUDGET Grocery Shopping with: Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday, I'm and Organizing Junkie: Meal Plan Mondayand GCC Shopping Round Up,

Monday, April 18, 2011

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS LINKY PARTY #25 (Easter Cookies & Treats) and Peeps Rice Krispy Treats

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #25
The Theme is: Easter Cookies & Treats

What could be better then Chocolate and Rice Krispy Treats? NOTHING! Add a Peeps to them and you've got an incredible easy and delicious treat for your Easter celebration!

This is not a new invention or anything and I've seen many other bloggers do them as well and I just had to try them too! I first saw them on Love From The Oven (so I will give the credit to her, but since then I've seen this on at least 4 or 5 more blogs, they must be good!) They are really popular so you know they have to be Absolutely Scrumptious.

These little treats are so cute, I plan on making a few more batches for all my nieces and nephews on Easter Day, plus my kids want a handful for their friends too! We had a few samples that we passed out at the Dance Competition yesterday and everyone LOVED THEM!

Chocolate Covered Rice Krispy Treats with Peeps

1. Cut Peeps in half (the bunny ones work better then the traditional peeps)

2. Melt about 1/2 lb of chocolate in microwave (we used milk chocolate and white chocolate)

3. Get the pre-packaged Rice Krispy Treats (I believe these work far better then the real thing, as these stay fresh for a lot longer)

4. Dip one half of the Rice Krispy Treat into the chocolate and place half of the bunny Peep on the front, sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles. Set on wax paper to dry. When completely dried, insert stick into the bottom and then dip the other side of the Rice Krispy Treat, place the back half of the peep and sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles again.

5. EAT & ENJOY!!!



I LOVE Linky Parties and it's MONDAY already! Let's do this bloggers... it's a fresh start to a NEW week! I can't wait to mix and mingle with all of you and see what has been cooking in your kitchens! Today, this recipe is linked to the following linky parties: Homemaker Monday, I Made It MondayJust Something I Whipped Up, Made by You MondaysMaking the World Cuter, Market Yourself Monday, Melt in Your Mouth MondayMotivate Me MondayMouthwatering Monday, Your Recipes My KitchenJust Another Meatless Monday, Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, My Meatless Mondays, Check Me Out SaturdayIt's Party Time, Recipe Swap Sundays, Sweets for Saturday, Spotlight Saturday, Sister Sister SundaySundae Scoop, Potluck Sunday, Weekend WanderWho Made What Weekends, Chic and CraftyOne Food Club, It's a Blog Party Delicious DishesGet Your Craft On, Made from Scratch Tuesday, Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, 33 Shades of Green Tasty Tuesday, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Titus 2sday Linkup, Tuesday Night Supper ClubTuesdays at the TableA Little Birdie Told Me, Tip Junkie's Tip Me TuesdayDelectable Tuesday, Totally Tasty TuesdaysCreative Share Wednesdays, Gold Star Wednesdays, Homemaking Link-Up, Let's Do Brunch, Living Well Wednesdays, Show & Tell, Wandering Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Whats on the Menu Wednesday, What's on Your Plate, Make it Yours Day, Sweet Tooth Friday and Tea Rose Linky Party


*****************************************************
Now onto the LINKY PARTY! Please only link recipes with our theme!
This week's theme is: Easter Cookies & Treats

Here is a complete list of the past weeks and a list of what's coming up on This Week's Cravings!
If you are a regular link-up we're excited to see what you made! If you are new please read & follow the simple rules, so everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, link back or add a button IN YOUR post you will receive a gentle reminder. THANKS A MILLION!


Please Grab Our Button!!!

This Week's Cravings Past & Future Recipe Links


This is a BLOG HOP Party hosted by MOMS CRAZY COOKING, From My Tiny Kitchen and Delightful Country Cookin'  stop on by and say HELLO to the other hosts!

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!
(from Monday to the following Monday at Midnight)!
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