Thursday, January 30, 2014

Rolo Cheesecake Bars



These are a little piece of heaven in your mouth!! I love the combination of chocolate and caramel and this really hits the sweet spot! :) There were none to bring home from the party that I brought these too...



Rolo Cheesecake Bars
(recipe found on pinterest via hugsandcookiesxoxo.com)

CRUST:
3 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sugar
2 sticks melted butter

FILLING:
2 (8 ounces) cream cheese
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 package unwrapped rolos

GLAZE:
1 stick butter
6 ounces chocolate chips
4 teaspoons light corn syrup

additional rolos for top, if desired

MELT IN THE MICROWAVE:
1 STICK BUTTER & 6 OUNCES CHOCOLATE CHIPS.
STIR SMOOTH AND ADD 4 TSP. LIGHT CORN SYRUP.
POUR SMOOTHLY ON BARS AND CHILL OVERNIGHT.
CUT WITH A BIG KNIFE! I ADDED A CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE AND A HALF A ROLO ON TOP!

Stir all crust ingredients together and press into a 9x13 pan that is lined with foil. Bake at 350 for 7-10 minutes, cool. Beat cream cheese, eggs, sugar and flour together until smooth. Add rolos and stir. Pour onto the cool crust and bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool and add glaze. In the microwave, melt butter and chocolate chips. Once they stir smooth, add corn syrup and stir until combined. Pour over top of bars and chill overnight. Cut into bars and add 1/2 rolo to the top of each bar.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Parmesan Tilapia



Yes! Another easy tilapia recipe that my family will eat! It is one of our go to fish dinners and I like to have a little variety in the ways that I cook it... This one was super easy to make and we all enjoyed it.


Parmesan Tilapia
(recipe found on pinterest via (thegingermama.com)

8 tilapia fillets
parmesan
paprika
salt and pepper
olive oil

Mix parmesan, paprika, salt and pepper. Drizzle your fillets in olive oil and dredge in your parmesan mixture. Lay on a sprayed baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Mexican 3 Bean Soup



Minnesota has been having a bit of a colder winter then normal this year and soup definitely hits the spot when it is that cold! We have it at least once a week at our house and it is usually in the crockpot so that I don't have to worry about it. This was a great open up and dump recipe that was wonderful!!

Mexican 3 Bean Soup
(recipe found on pinterest via (fencerowtofencerow.com)

1 pound ground beef
1 diced onion
2 (15 1/2 ounces) cans kidney beans
2 (16 ounces) cans pinto beans
2 (15 1/2 ounces) cans navy beans
1 (15 ounces) can corn
1 (14 1/2 ounces) can stewed tomatoes
1 (14 1/2 ounces) can tomatoes with chilies
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 package ranch salad dressing mix

Brown beef and onion over medium heat. Drain. And undrained beans, corn, tomatoes and seasoning mixes. Simmer and serve!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Cheesy Chicken Chalupas



Oh these were delicious... Again, a quick and easy meal that I could double with no problems! We had one for supper and the other I stuck in the freezer for another day... That day was not too long away since my family loved this meal!


Cheesy Chicken Chalupas
(recipe found on pinterest via twomaidsamilking.com)

2 (10-3/4 ounces) cans cream of chicken soup (or double a batch of cream of everything soup mix)
16 ounces sour cream
1 (4 ounces) can diced green chilies
1 (2 1/4 ounces) can chopped black olives, drained
3 green onions, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4-5 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
10-12 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese

Mix together soup, sour cream, vegetables and cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of soup mixture for topping; add chicken to remaining mixture. Spoon chicken mixture into tortillas; roll up and place into a 9×13 baking pan coated with non-stick spray. Spoon reserved soup mixture over tortillas; sprinkle with monterey jack cheese. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for one hour. Freeze & Serve Instructions: prepare as directed; do not add cheese. Cover unbaked casserole tightly with aluminum foil; freeze. To serve, thaw overnight in refrigerator. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese and bake as directed.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Loaded Baked Potato and Chicken Casserole



How can you not love a good baked potato? And when it comes in the form of a casserole, it gets even better! This was super yummy... Not the healthiest meal that I have ever put together, but truly a good filling meal!

Loaded Baked Potato and Chicken Casserole
(recipe found on pinterest via www.recipebest.com)

3-4 medium russet potatoes, diced
1 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp, cooled and crumbled
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 green onions, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces


Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9" x 9" baking pan or casserole dish. Spread half of the diced potatoes in bottom of pan. Place the diced chicken breasts evenly on top. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Sprinkle with half the bacon crumbles, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and half the green onions. Spread the remaining diced potatoes on top, followed by the remaining bacon, another 1/2 cup cheese, remaining green onions and another 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Pour heavy cream over top of casserole and then dot with the butter. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes. In the last few minutes of baking, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and bake until melted. Serve.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Pizza Casserole



Again, a freezer meal that is super simple, LOVE IT!! This one actually makes enough for two pans, so you can easily freeze one and have one for your supper.... As always, anything pizza is a huge hit in our house and this was no exception. I made it up early and was able to finish up homework by the time that this came out of the oven - winner, winner!


Pizza Casserole
(recipe found on pinterest via thisfarmfamilyslife.com)

2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 (28 ounces) jars spaghetti sauce
1 (16 ounces) package rotini, cooked
1 (16 ounces) package shredded mozzarella cheese
5 ounces sliced pepperoni

Brown beef and chopped onion. Stir in spaghetti sauce and pasta. Place mixture in 2 greased 9x13 pans. Sprinkle with cheese and pepperoni. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. To freeze: Cover unbaked casserole tightly with aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Uncover and bake as directed.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Southwest Roll-Ups



I found these beauties on pinterest and haven't regretted making them at all... In fact, we are on our second batch of them! They are super easy and make for a nice lunch in the middle of the day or a good pick for when the kids have pick your own night. My oldest picks these quite a bit and knows how to pop them in microwave on his own, even for a quick snack... Gotta love it!

Southwest Roll-Ups
(recipe found on pinterest via moneysavingmom.com)

2 cans refried beans
1/2 cup salsa
2-4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
16 tortillas

Mix together beans, salsa, and chicken. Spread 1/16th of mixture onto one tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides in and roll up. That's it! Easy peasy!!
To freeze I place each roll up in a snack size ziploc bag and the put all of those into a gallon size freezer bag. To serve: Heat an individually wrapped roll-up in the microwave for around two minutes, or until heated through. Make sure you remove it from the ziploc! :)

Monday, January 20, 2014

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole



I have been on a huge quick of freezer meals lately... I don't have the time (or haven't made it) to sit down and do a whole bunch at once - the way that I decided to do it was to just double whatever meal that I am making for supper and we eat one and freeze one. That has worked really well for me and we have a bunch of meals stored up in my freezer, waiting for those weeks where the grocery bill is a bit too high when the paycheck is a bit too low or the nights when I want to be able to pull something out quick.

This recipe was perfect for doubling up, especially since the whole family loved it! Even with the broccoli, which at times makes my kids a little leery, everyone thought that it was good. I also love a good freezer to crockpot meal that I can put into a ziplock bag. I don't really love any of the aluminum pans that I have found so far (they are too flimsy) and I hate using all my 9x13's for freezer meals. This makes a lot, so be ready!


Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
(Recipe found on pinterest via moneysavingmom.com)

10 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
4 cups chopped broccoli, lightly steamed
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (or double up a batch of cream of everything soup mix)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (again, or double up a batch of cream of everything soup mix)
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. To freeze: Divide into four ziplock freezer bags and seal tightly. Freeze flat. To serve: Thaw overnight (or for 8 hours) in the refrigerator. Dump one bag into an 8x8 greased pan or two bags into a greased 9x13 psn. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Weekly Line Up - 1/18-1/24



Okay, I think I have everything back under control! Family blog is back up and running, so the extended family is happy, the kids are organized, the house is as clean as it is going to get for now and I am ready to do some foodie blogging! :) I have papers piing up everywhere; lists of meals, recipes and ideas are all getting heavier then my fridge magnet can handle! :) If I can just remember which pictures go with what recipe we'll all be doing great!

Anyhow, enough of my whining... This week is going to be a quiet one compared to the past few weeks, so I am excited to be home, do some cooking and get caught up on life! Here's what is cooking at my house!

Saturday - *crockpot beer chicken and *land your man baked beans
Sunday - chicken taco salad
Monday - *ranch pork chops and potatoes
Tuesday - pick your own night
Wednesday - grilled cheese and spaghettios (I have been letting each of my kids take turns picking one meal a week and that is what my oldest picked, simple enough!)
Thursday - *vegetable and bean Soup
Friday - wrestling meet - supper out!

Extras - *cookies and cream fudge, *pizza buns