Frito Pie

How long has it been since you've had Frito pie?  Just brown a package of ground beef with Mexican seasonings and some chopped onion, if desired.  Then add in a can of diced tomatoes and/or pinto beans.  Serve over Fritos and top with grated Cheddar cheese!  (and maybe jalapenos if you like heat!)

Theater Popcorn at Home

Have you ever tried the Whirley Pop popcorn maker? It's really the only way to make popcorn at home that tastes like theater popcorn.  Be sure and buy the packets of corn/oil that go with the Whirley Pop!  It's fun to use and the popcorn is delicious!

Toy basket

My daughter recently was given a really cool basket for her living room, which she uses to store toys away at night that her son has played with during the day. The basket is large, has a little chalkboard on the front, and looks great.  It's from Target, made by Smith & Hawken.

Leftovers

What to do with leftover chicken, and/or leftover baked potatoes or new potatoes?

Shred the chicken and season it, add grated cheese, and roll up in corn tortillas, then place carefully seam side down, in a skillet of hot canola oil.  Turn once until golden brown and drain on paper towels - sprinkle with a bit of kosher salt.

In the same skillet place your already cooked potatoes (cube them) and also fry til golden brown and drain.

Open a can of refried beans and you've got your dinner!

Melted Goodness

Who knew that melted cheese tastes delicious poured over fresh green beans and new potatoes!  I used my new cheese raclette with raclette cheese, and we melted it tonite, then slid it off onto the two veggies.  Delish!  (I had to ask my deli for the raclette cheese - and they had it in the back)

Thinking Ahead

What a cute pool for kids for when the weather gets warm...  We got this today for a birthday boy we know.  There was this crab pool, and a blue puffer fish, as well.  Both at Target.

Muffin Meal

This Sunday night is the Oscars, and I love any reason to cook food and celebrate.  This time we're having all sorts of savory muffins.  You can find them in Family Fun Magazine. I'm making all five of them!

Tonight I made the shepherd's pie, and I'll make the rest tomorrow.  Try them out!

Pork fajitas

I saw this recipe in a cookbook that uses either 3,4, or 5 ingredients and made it tonight.  It was really simple and delicious.  The ingredients:

Pork Fajitas

• pork tenderloin cut into thin slices (do this when it's not quite thawed out, for easy slicing)
• sliced onion
• sliced green pepper
• fajita seasoning -3 Tablespoons
• flour tortillas

Season the 1 lb pork tenderloin slices in a bowl with the seasoning, then add all ingredients into your skillet where olive oil has been heated. ( I added some fresh corn off the cob, too!)  Stir fry all of the ingredients until the pork is cooked through, and the veggies are tender.

Serve the fajitas with guacamole and grated cheese if desired.

Slouch Pants

New York & Company - I like this store because the sizes are a classic fit.  The prices aren't cheap, but they often run great sales.  I found these slouch pants today that I love.  So wait until they run their buy one/get one free sale again soon!  Or...sign up and receive their coupons in your email!

Herb Stakes

I recently planted a garden full of herbs and veggies in my cool planter box my husband made.  Then I found these cool metal herb stakes at a local store.  However, there are lots of choices on line,
with one being Pier 1.

Dessert on the Fly

My favorite dessert in a "pinch" (pun intended):

mini pretzels
chocolate chips
peanut butter

dip the pretzel in peanut butter, then stick on a few chocolate chips and bite - pure joy!

Lunchtime

My favorite go-to sandwich for lunch during the week:

Multigrain bread spread with a bit of chipotle mayonnaise - topped with sliced carrots, cucumbers, greens and red onion.  Serve with pretzels.

Very satisfying and tasty!

Raised Bed

I've posted on FB but I just have to post here, as well. We wanted to get a raised garden bed for herbs and veggies, but the ones we looked at cost upwards from $200.  So my handy husband went to Home Depot on his lunch hour, got the materials, and built me a very nice one for about $60!  Here it is... If you want to know how to make it, I'm sure he'd share!  

Oven Fries

If you cut 2 large baking potatoes into 1/2 inch wide and 1/2 thick fries, toss them with olive oil and your choice of seasonings...then bake them at 425 degrees (turning once) for 30 minutes - you have the most tasty   fries.  We used a spice blend for veggies, but one recipe by Emeril calls for paprika and parmesan!  Try them!

Shrimp Tacos

Tonite my son made dinner for his fiance and used this recipe from Food Network. It was easy and delicious, they said!

Chipolte Shrimp Tacos with Avacado Salsa Verde!

Trofast Storage

I helped my daughter rearrange her little boy's room today, and we filled a bin organizer from IKEA that looks great.  The bins serve as drawers, and they hold little toys...and big!

Spring Outfit

Tonight at Target I saw a cute skirt on the clearance rack.  I think skirts are great for spring/summer.  Consider a solid bright color, and a loose sheer top with a floral tank underneath!  So fun....

Potato Rolls

Tonight we had pulled pork from the slow cooker...boy was it tender!  But the recipe I had also said how to serve it, which was delicious as well!  Potato rolls open faced with chipotle mayonnaise, pickle slices and swiss cheese - melted/toasted in the broiler.  Then put the pulled pork on top and close the roll...and eat!

Brown paper & ribbon

I recently stopped by Michael's - an arts/crafts store - and saw a bin full of  colorful, fabric ribbon - $1 each for 3 yards - even the wide ribbon!  I got a few rolls and used them as ribbon for packages - on plain brown paper.  They dressed them up so nicely and the recipient of the gift loved the look!

Fried!

Tonight we had chicken fried olives and buffalo fried pickles, both of which were tasty and served with a delicious dipping sauce.  So I think I know what they did -

The green olives were stuffed with pimento cheese and battered just like regular batter (egg, milk & dipped in flour) and fried.  The pickles were sliced and into the batter (egg, milk & dipped in flour) was added buffalo sauce.  That's my guess!   Maybe you can go on line and find other recipes:

The Low Down

I saw this today and thought I'd post about it.  I have not tried it, nor do I intend to - but the concept looks interesting and possibly useful - but it doesn't look comfortable.  The lady at the store said this is for low-back tops or dresses...The Low  Down.

Salty & Sweet

I saw this being made on TV and it looked fairly easy and delicious.  I see it got mixed reviews, but it's worth a try because it looks so darn good!  Great idea for Valentine's Day!

Clinton Kelly's Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cheesecake

Popcorn

Well, who knew?  On a TV show we saw that the panelists were trying pickles and popcorn, because they heard people do that in Texas!  I had no idea that wasn't a nationwide snack!  So have you tried it?

What about these other good combos? bacon and popcorn, croutons and popcorn, and my personal fave - Goobers and popcorn.

Foodie Kit

This foodie kit is something odd but interesting, found at uncommongoods.com!   For the person who has everything for a world "disaster" they just might need this!

Tortilla Soup

I got this recipe for tortilla soup from a high school parent cookbook when my kids were in school, and it's still my favorite...and easiest...for a quick night dinner!

2 cans cream style corn
2 cans Rotel diced tomatoes - original
2 cans chicken broth
1 lb cooked chicken (buy already cooked for ease)
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

mix everything in large pot and simmer 20 minutes.  serve with grated cheese, avacado, and tortilla chips.

Clothesline Decor

My daughter's friends gave her a "sprinkle" today (that's the new term for a baby shower for the second child - who knew?).  Cute idea they used as decor...and as a gift.  Little onesies strung up on a clothesline!

Savory Spice Shop

Discovered this little shop today, and found out it's a franchise - you can buy on line....  What a great shop full of spices, all arranged in categories, in gifts sets, and on inviting attractive shelves!  We got some great new citrus spices for veggies and a barrier reef spice for chicken, as well as vanilla bean sugar for yogurt or coffee!

Check out Savory Spice Shop!

Warm Bodies

We saw the movie Warm Bodies tonight - a zombie movie.  Not something I would typically see, but I read a review at www.pluggedin.com that caught my attention, and it received a nice rating in our newspaper.

The movie was different, filmed in a cool retro feel, the story had tons of analogies and parallels to life and community and relationship.

It's worth a view, if you don't mind a bit of cannibalism mixed in with comedy, romance, and a cool story that warms the heart. (no pun intended)