Thursday, October 30, 2014

Easy Dinner Idea- Pasta

This post is going to start different than planned. It was going to be about how angel hair pasta cooks fastest, and how to keep some spaghetti (or other pasta sauce) on hand can help make a fast dinner. In the end I think it's about how chaos can even sneak a few points in there too sometimes!
Yesterday was a long day. So when I was making my quick pasta dinner I grabbed a jar that Hormel sent me to review. I saw pictures of tomatoes and garlic with the words thick and chunky on it, and assumed pasta sauce. I even decided to try my new app and make my first gif to go along with this pasta dinner post. After I poured it in the pot I thought, something is off about this pasta sauce. Sure enough that's because it's not pasta sauce, It's salsa! Good thing I caught it, cause that would have been some weird pasta!

So as a side note I will review Chi Chi's salsa and let you know what I think. I might try it in a yummy recipe, let me know if you have a good one to try!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Easy Dinner Ideas- Anything Covered In Syrup

The title says it all. Usually when I need something fast that I know all my kids will like I go with Breakfast for dinner. Anything my kids can put syrup on is never a fail in my home. Pancakes, waffles, french toast or even scones. Yup I once told my kids scones were pancake balls so to this day they cover them in syrup.


I think french toast is one of my favorites. Granted I like to make my french toast with texas toast. This is something I had to actually make a habit of keeping in my pantry just so I could make french toast in a pinch. My favorite thing to add to the toast is a syrup I got from a friend a few years ago that she called Magic Syrup. This is how you make magic syrup.
Magic Syrup:
In a saucepan melt 1 cube of butter; add 3/4 Cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of buttermilk. I don't usually have buttermilk on hand even though it is cheap and lasts a long time. It's OK if you don't just do milk and about a half a Tablespoon of white vinegar. Boil this then add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
My kids love to scoop out the bubbles onto their toast. 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

SkippyYipee

To add to my crazy week I thought I would add my favorite snack. It's Skippy peanut Butter. It goes with so much stuff! I like it plain, with celery, raisins, on crackers, on toast, or sometimes with chocolate. I tend to be an ornery mom when I'm hungry. So Skippy makes me more of a yippee  mom! When I fell full i can be more spontaneous and fun. Peanut butter has the protein I need to fill up and goof off.  Here's some of my Skippy Yippee's moments from last week of just goofing off and enjoying life as a craze (not ornery) mom!

Baby Cell Phone Selfies
Mario Kart Tournament
So click here to have some fun with the #SkippyYippee Fun Button. It may just help brighten up your day and help you get through one more crazy day.




Ithe spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own 

Easy Dinner Ideas- Hot Dogs or Chili Dogs

Let me start out by saying I am not a huge hot dog fan. I don't eat them very often, but if I do I like them 3 different ways. Grilled, in central park with mustard or with Hormel Chili. Since I don't have time to bust out the grill, and I'm not in New York, then that means its time to bust out the chili dog.
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Hot dogs are one of my kids favorite things to eat. They are super easy to cook as well, whether you boil them or use the microwave they don't take very long at all. Although my kids just like to dip theirs in ketchup Dad and I like ours with Hormel chili. Dad likes his hot dog  in a bun with cheese and jalapenos, I sometimes like mine just like my kids- plain on a plate, no bun. Either way adding the chili elevates the usual hot dog into something more hearty and tasty for my husband and I.

Another thing I like to do if my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I heat up too much chili is make Cheese and Hormel Chili Dip. Which can also be great if you are going to a Halloween party this week and need to bring a dish to share. You can get the easy recipe here. Next time I suggest  dipping bell peppers in it.
What else do you like to put Hormel Chili on?
In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Easy Dinner Ideas- Fajitas into Tortilla Soup

I don't know about you but this is going to be a crazy week for me. I have 1 child having surgery, practices, Halloween activities, church responsibilities and other time consuming things going on.  I like to have a few go to recipes that I can go to when having a day (or in this case a week) that I need a quick dinner using ingredients on hand. Sometimes the hard balance with this is healthy dinner vs. quick dinners. Several days this week I am going to post some of the things I make for my family in a pinch and how I like to make them more mommy and daddy approved.
Since yesterday I had some time to cook and prep for the week I decided to make fajitas for dinner. Diced some yummy bell peppers that have been awesomely priced, added some chicken and made fajitas. Fajitas with a wheat tortilla and some non fat plain greek yogurt makes it  a win for me. Chicken, cheese and tortillas made it a win for my kids.

Then tonight we are using the leftovers to make a crockpot tortilla soup. I threw the leftover fajitas in the crock pot and added about a cup of chicken broth, black beans, kidney beans, corn, diced peppers and a can of enchilada sauce. My husband likes to eat his with tortilla chips, while my kids mix their soup with sour cream. Depending on the diced peppers and/or enchilada sauce it can come out a little spicy.  Another nice thing is sometimes if I have a ton left over I freeze the soup, then next time I'm in a pinch again all I need to do is reheat and serve.
This is one of my favorite use of leftovers into a different recipe. What's yours? I would love to know. Comment, tweet or facebook me yours. Maybe I'll share it with everyone :)