Cooking, eating, and recipes!

A friend of mine recently asked if I am still posting recipes...I haven't been obviously...but I need to!  I have tried so many fabulous new recipes the last year or so. Like these paleo blueberry scones (I used the new cashew meal from Trader Joes instead of grinding my own)-

And one that we have repeated over and over is a fabulous recipe from my friend Deborah-
Buffalo Turkey Sloppy Joes (which we eat in lettuce wraps instead of bread-scroll down for the recipe). We had them with some roasted brussels sprouts and blue cheese crumbles in this photo (the kids love this meal, too!):

I love cooking but I find that the recipes I make need to be quicker and easier these days! I am also trying really hard to feed us healthy, clean, fresh foods.  We try to avoid any convenience foods.  We use lots and lots of fresh veggies (I really don't like frozen or canned! Well, except Trader Joe's frozen green beans...the skinny ones...they are awesome and convenient!)  I have also been eating gluten free for about a year and a half and have a tendency toward "paleo" meals.  I'm not strict with the paleo thing...I just more use it as a guide to remember to eat lots of fruits, veggies and lean proteins.  We eat some grains but try to limit them. 

So anyway...I rambled on about that long enough!  I will try to start sharing more of the yummy meals we make.  unfortunately, they tend to be less like "recipes" in the traditional sense and more like methods of preparation for the fresh foods we eat. Does that make any sense?  When I do look for recipes, I love to try new ones from some of these sites-
www.inspiralized.com (LOVE my spiralizer!)
www.paleomg.com
www.againstallgrain.com
www.civilizedcavemancooking.com

And here's a new recipe for you to try.  This is great as leftovers.  We have also had it on top of cauliflower "rice" and it's delicious. Hubs and I always add extra hot sauce to our servings.  
Buffalo Turkey "Sloppy Joe" Lettuce Wraps:
(Serve on buns as Sloppy Joes if you prefer)
1-2 lbs. extra-lean ground turkey
4 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup hot sauce (we like the Frank's buffalo wing sauce)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 oz.) crumbled blue cheese, optional
Lots of lettuce to scoop up the meat to eat! The kids totally dig loading up their own leaves.

Directions:
Cook the first five ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium heat until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, hot sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and pepper; heat through. Serve on buns; sprinkle with cheese if desired.

Well, my friends, I hope you give one of these recipes a try.  I promise to share more soon.  I feel like besides scrapping and running the kids around, all I do is go to the gym and cook (and EAT!).  So I have loads to share with you all.

Chat soon!
Stacey

PS Leave me some comments about what you would love to see or read about!! I would be so grateful!

Card sketch-Inspired to Scrap

Happy Friday my crafty friends!!  Are you planning on scrapping this weekend? J
 
I have a card sketch to share with you from a previous Inspired to Scrap card class.  It’s a super simple design that you can throw together quickly with scraps.

 

And here’s my card that I created using this sketch:

ALSO, have you ever used a card sketch to create a layout??  Or a layout sketch to create a card?  Fun stuff I tell ya!  I will share some of those ideas for you soon.  Right now, I need to head back over to our Weekend Warrior sketch class at Inspired to Scrap and see how all the ladies are doing on their challenges!  (You can still register and join us!  It’s not too late!!)

Have a crafty weekend!!!
Stacey

 

Layout of LOVE!

Hello my friends!  It's been a while since I shared some scrappy goodness with you.  I have been so caught up with Inspired to Scrap, the kids, and life that I forgot to get some posts written here.

(By the way, you should join me and hang out at Inspired to Scrap!  We have a fun forum with chatting, scrapping, recipe sharing and more!!  If you are waiting approval on your registration, send me a message or leave me a comment and I will get that approved for you!)

Anywho...I've done lots and lots of scrapping since I have updated! And lots and lots of tutorials and tips for Inspired to Scrap.  In honor of the month of LOVE, here are a couple of "lovely" layouts to inspire you (all based on sketches by me from the sketch classes!):

 

And some sweet and lovely embellishments I used on a new class layout (can't share that one yet!!):

 

Watch for more sharing, recipes and tips soon!!  Leave me a comment about what you would love to see posted here. :)  I have missed you all!!

Stacey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper Bag Album

Hello everyone!!  I created a fun little paper bag album using the same collection as the card I posted last week...Fancy Pants "The Good Life!" I think this has been one of my favorite collections.  Every layout and project I have made with it I have really loved! (Now all I have to do is figure out what photos I want to add to this little guy. :) )

I made this for my Saturday CROP challenge at Inspired to Scrap.  Head on over for some tips and details and create an album this weekend. :)  Be sure to share if you do!!!

Crop sketch peek!

Are you joining me at the Inspired to Scrap Crop next week?  We have a ton of challenges and fun activities planned.  Here's a peek at the special crop sketch I created-

 

See you at the crop!

Stacey

 

Card Inspiration

I haven't made a lot of cards lately....not sure why!  They are fun little bursts of creativity.  I need to build up my stash again so expect to see more. :)

I used some leftovers of The Good Life collection from Fancy Pants for this fun, everyday card-

I hope you are finding some crafting time today!
Stacey

 

A February of LOVE

Yes, I am a little late posting about Valentine's Day!!  But here's a little love from our home to yours. :)

 

Ellie has been practicing writing a lot lately.  She worked very hard on her valentines for her friends this year.  I can't believe she will be in preschool next year!!!

 






I hope your February was filled with love.  Ready for SPRING??????

Stacey

PS: I am working on some fun things for the Inspired to Scrap Crop coming up next weekend!!  I hope you will join us!

Our first Weekend Warrior class is ending...

I had a great time scrapping with all of our Inspired to Scrap class  members!  They all inspire me so very much and I am thankful for each and every one! Thank you ladies for scrapbooking with me! :)

Here are my two favorite layouts from class...no sketches of course since those are secret class material ;) .  (You can always buy the class PDF for access to all of the sketches, Design Team samples and tips and tutorials!!)

 

 

Have you had time to scrap lately?  If you need some inspiration, we are planning a SPRING CROP for March!!!!  I will post more details soon. :) 

 

Happy Scrapping!!

Stacey

My distractions from crafting!

I have lots of things that keep me from crafting as much as I would like.  But these three are the most important...and cutest! :) Seems I would have more time to craft as they get older...but instead, I find they need my attention even more!  Between homework, activities and just day to day things (laundry, chores, playing endless games of chess and Go Fish!), I hardly have time for myself.

I did manage to make this cute little snowman in January at a Pinterest craft party with my mom's group-

And now I am back to my scrapping desk.  (Even though it is FREEZING at my desk!  I am right by the back door draft...brrrr!) I have scrapping to do so I will probably be up late at night.  My three little munchkins require most of my attention these days!!!

I hope you will be joining me in class this month.  :)  Let's get scrapping!

We're at it again!

Join us as we become Weekend Warriors...scrapbooking our memories one weekend at a time. :)

 

Our class is February 15-17 and is only $5!!!  Join us!

www.inspiredtoscrap.net

 

New Sketches!! July 2012 Sketch Class!

Woohooo!  I just finished up a bunch of brand new sketches for our upcoming Inspired to Scrap sketch class!

Want a peek?

All of the sketches call for photos that are 4" and larger.  (So, I have 4x6's, 4x4's and 4" circles!) This will allow you to use the photos you already have printed instead of worrying about ordering smaller photos.  *Of course you can alway use smaller photos, too!!!*

**We have some fabulous prizes lined up in the next couple of months on I2S...including $25 at Crop Chocolate and some kits from Scrapbook Steals!**

Join us on the forum and/or in class to be inspired and possibly win some great prizes!! If you are a member but haven't been by in awhile, don't be afraid to pop back in and say hello!  We would love to know what you have been up to. :)

Baked Chicken Sandwiches-Freezer/camping meal

We made these last year from Once a Month Mom's recipe here to take camping.  They were a big hit and very yummy. 

This time, I added a little extra chicken and celery and stretched it into two bags.  Each bag has five 1/3 cup servings in it.  I will take the bag out of the freezer, put it into the camping fridge to defrost and then put the sandwiches together before cooking them.

(I will try to update after we eat these and I get a photo!)

Baked Chicken Sandwiches
(includes my updates)
Ingredients:
2-3 cups Chicken (or Turkey), cooked & cubed
6-8 ounces Cheese, shredded (I used a Mexican blend)
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
2-3 cups Celery, diced very small
2 Tablespoons Onion, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
10 Hamburger Buns

Directions:
In a bowl mix all ingredients (except buns). Season to taste. Divide into one or two freezer bags (I divided it up for two separate meals for us). Press out all of the air and double bag your bags to prevent freezer burn. You could bag it up along with five buns if you wanted to be fully prepared.  Freeze.

To prepare:
Defrost in the fridge. Add approximately 1/3 cup of chicken mixture onto each bun, wrap in aluminum foil, bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Alternatively, I bet you could cook these on a grill (covered).  Be sure to turn them often if using a grill!
Servings: 10 (or 5 per meal)

DIY distressed side table

Anyone else like to re-fashion things to make them "new" again?  Or buy inexpensive thrift store items to fix up?  This has been my latest interest!!  My friend, Misty, sparked my interest in searching through thrift stores and I am on the hunt for fun, nifty and thrifty items!

To start, I grabbed this ugly old (and cheap!!) little table from the basement.  I have had this for a long time...and I am pretty sure it came from my mom who got it from a rummage sale. I wanted a spot for the girls to be able to store their hair clips, play jewelry and brushes.  The bathroom counter wasn't big enough for their box so I painted and distressed this table.  I think it turned out fun and much cuter than when it started!
BEFORE-

AFTER-

Show me your thrifty makeovers!!!  I have a tiered appetizer stand I am working on now. :)

Pikachu card

Hubby got me a Silhouette Cameo for my birthday.  He was pretty slick picking it out and getting it as a surprise.  He was a bit bummed when I guessed what it was right before opening it, though. LOL!!!

Anyhow, I haven't had a whole lot of time to play with it...but I did manage to make this card tempate this morning for Joshua to use as his birthday thank you notes.  Hoping to have him write those today...we are a little late on them!

Whatcha think?  Not perfect...but I think it is cute!!

Menu Planning Monday

See more menu plans at www.orgjunkie.com

Time for another plan! 

Monday- Crockpot taco style lentils and rice, lettuce, cheese, salsa, leftover steak (burritos)
Tuesday- Chef salads with lettuce, quinoa, ham, hard boiled eggs, various veggies, cheese, homemade bread
Wednesday- Roasted red pepper sausages, brown rice, carrots, salad
Thursday-Egg drop soup with chicken and noodles, edamame
Friday- Pasta with red sauce, broccoli, salad
Saturday-Taco bowls-Crockpot black beans, Mexican rice, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, salsa, cheese, etc.
Sunday- Mini meatloaves, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad

What are you fixing?

Crockpot-Taco Lentils and Rice

This is a really easy, tasty and inexpensive recipe.  We usually eat this as a burrito filling but it would be good as a side dish as well. 

Crockpot-Taco Style Lentils and Rice
(From Hillbilly Housewife...I have changed the spices to suit our tastes better.  Adjust to your liking.)

3/4 cup dry lentils

3/4 cup brown rice
4 cups water
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1  teaspoon cumin
1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Rinse the lentils and rice. Combine everything and cook in the crock pot on low for about 5-6 hours. Stir well. Use as a taco or burrito filling. YUM!

Menu Planing tips

A friend recently asked me for some menu planning tips.  I thought I would share in case it would help any of you! :) Here is my reasoning and the method to my madness. ;)

I used to love cooking. And I still do. But I just don't have the time to cook like I used to. Kids pulling on legs, hungry, crying, activities we have to go to, bath and bedtimes to do afterwards, etc.

Later, I would spend time going through sale ads and buying up what was on sale before making my plan. Then I would plan based on what I bought (plus the staples I usually buy.) But honestly, I don't have time to do that most of the time. I just buy what we like, stock up on fruits and veggies that look good and are a good price and then plan.

Menu planning prep work-Type up a list of your family's favorite meals that are not too difficult (or expensive) to prepare. I recommend listing meals that EVERYONE will like...not just you and your hubby. You don't want to be a SHORT ORDER COOK. You should have a little bit of what your kids like at each meal and maybe one new item for them to try. I think I read that it takes about 15 times for a kid to try something before they actually accept it. Don't give up...keep trying.  They will learn to eat new things eventually. Serve them things you like and they will learn to like many or most of them.

You can use this list week after week to quickly add most of your meals to your plan. I tend to resort to tried and true recipes most of the time. (Mostly, ones using things I tend to buy a lot or usually have on hand.) Then if I have a little extra time or desire, I might add in a new recipe or two to try a week. (But even then, I would have a back up listed just in case you didn't get to the store or run out of time.)

1. Before I make the weekly plan, I make a list of the things in the freezer/fridge/pantry that I want to try to include in the plan. Generally, things that will go bad if we don't use them this week or things I may have forgotten about that I want to use up. This would mean using fresh veggies earlier in the week then using canned or frozen later in the week if you run out of fresh-instead of running back to the store.

**Next, print a few planner sheets.  I couldn't find the one I usually use that I got online several years ago...but this one looks good.

2. On your planner, make note on the planner of any "special" lunches/dinners. "Special" might mean a dinner out. Or it might mean a lunch that should be packed in a cooler ahead of time (park playdate or?). Or it might mean that you won't be home in time to cook or have to leave after eating so you want to make it a crockpot night to make it easier.

  

3. Fill in your meals. I like to try to alternate types of proteins, veggies, etc. so there is a decent variety. Use your list of family favorites as well as the list of items you would like to use up. If I have time and feel like coming up with a couple of different recipes, i might flip through some cookbooks or do an online search as I plan.

** I also list a couple of alternatives on the bottom of the paper in case I want something different or am actually out of something I thought I had. If you don't use these extra ideas, you can put them on next week's plan (or not.) :)

 **NOTE** Menu planning takes time but it will make your life easier in the long run. Also, you can mix up the days you serve meals on...the point is to have a plan to fall back on and have an idea of the sort of meals you can make with what you have.

 Here are a couple of favorite menu planning sites that have great tips and ideas:

Frugal menu planning (she makes a lot of good points. I follow her on facebook and like seeing her thoughts on saving money and feeding a family.) http://goodcheapeats.com/category/meal-planning/

Menu planning resources- http://orgjunkie.com/menu-plan-monday-guidelines/menu-planning-resources

**This site also hosts Menu Planning Monday where 100's of people link up their meal plans for the week.

Good luck!!! You can do it!!

Menu Monday!

Our new sketch class started yesterday!  It's not too late to join in the fun!!! Register HERE. :)

Here's my menu for the week.  (Life is just a little easier having a plan. I don't always stick to it, but it is there and that helps a lot!) We are on Spring Break this week and we have a couple of birhdays so plans may indeed change. Anyhow, here it is:

Monday- HG BBQ chicken (crockpot), roasted cauliflower, rolls, quinoa
Tuesday- Taco salads (beef or chicken, beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, salsa, cilantro, etc.) (Or possibly out or bring something home for my birthday.)
Wednesday- Pizza (out for Joshua's 7th birthday!)
Thursday- CP creamy Italian chicken, rice/cauliflower rice, squash, salad
Friday- CP Santa Fe Chicken, chips and cheese
Saturday- Egg drop soup with chicken and noodles, possibly homemade wontons
Sunday- I know, tradition states ham.  But I am thinking- grilled steak & sausages, biscuits, salad, deviled eggs. 

What's on YOUR menu??? :)  Visit www.orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas!!

Chicken Parmesan (healthy!)

We have made this many times and it is excellent!  The kids love it.  I love it.  Hubby loves it.  You need to try it so you can love it, too!

Chicken Parmigiana

(makes 4 servings)
1 lb uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly pounded (4- 4 oz pieces)
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
½ cup dried bread crumbs (premade or grind a couple of slices of bread to a fine consistency.)
1 TBS Italian seasoning (more or less to your taste)
½ tsp salt
1 tsp olive oil
1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce (whatever kind you like!  Homemade, jarred, etc. or even just spiced up tomato sauce)
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 TBS grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.

Place egg whites in a shallow bowl. Combine bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and salt; pour into another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in egg whites; turn to coat. Dip chicken in bread crumb mixture; turn to thoroughly coat.

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and add oil; heat over medium-high heat. When hot, add chicken and cook until lightly browned and no longer pink in center, about 4 minutes per side.
Pour 1/2 cup of sauce into prepared baking dish; place chicken in dish and pour remaining sauce evenly over chicken. Sprinkle with cheeses and bake until chicken is cooked through and cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes.

**I like to have this with just a big salad.  It would be great with pasta as well.  I usually double this since we love it and the leftovers are great as well.

Cauliflower rice!

I can't believe I haven't tried this earlier...so good and healthy! Even my six year old liked it (and he was quite against "cauliflower rice" at first.) I have seen several recipes for this rice substitute around Pinterest.  Here is what I did:

Cauliflower "Rice"
Ingredients:
1/2- whole head of washed and dried cauliflower
A handful of diced onion
a clove of garlic (minced)
*(Next time, I think I might try just some garlic and onion powder to see if I like it without the chunks of onion.  But it was really good this way, too!)
Cooking spray

Directions:
~Pulse cauliflower in a food processor until about the consistency of rice (actually, it's more like couscous). Make sure your cauliflower is good and dry!  Do not add any water at any point.
~Put "rice" into a microsafe bowl and lightly cover (don't seal it tightly) with wax paper or lid. ~Microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring halfway. (Again, do not add water!)
~Saute your onions and garlic with a bit of cooking spray in a large non-stick skillet.  Add your rice and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.
~Serve as you would rice and enjoy far less calories!!!
(We had this with Kielbasa and black beans...can't wait to try it with an Asian dish!)