Tex Mex SLoppy Joes

Again, this was a tasty meal that didn't take a lot of effort to create. My kids enjoy sloppy joes, especially since it is one of the few times we get to have chips with our meal! I just love a salty potato chip (especially the ruffled kind) with sloppy joes, I don't know what there is about that combo! I was worried about the heat factor with my kiddos and they didn't make a peep about it, just gobbled it right up... This is a meal that could easily be frozen for future use or thrown in the crockpot to heat through. Make it however is easiest and most convenient for you!



Tex Mex Sloppy Joes
(recipe found in Taste of Home)

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup ketchup
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cup chili sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 hamburger buns
2 tablespoons butter, softened

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat for 6=8 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain. Add garlic; cook 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in ketchup, chilies, broth, chili sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil Reduce heat; simmer, uncevered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, spread cut sides of buns with butter. Place on baking sheets, buttered side up. Broil 4" from heat for 1-2 minutes or until toasted. Serve sloppy joes on buns!

Weekly Line Up - 9/6-9/13

One week down and I'm still at it! :) Seriously, I'm one of those people that needs to be on a schedule to get stuff accomplished and that is what is happening right now... September promises to be a crazy hectic month with three different family members moving, two to houses that are only within a mile of each other, but they have lived in their current homes for over 10 years and they each of 4 kids! You know what that means, a lot of stuff to move! So, I foresee a lot of moving parties in the next few weeks. Since I just finished up with knew surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago, that leaves me on the sidelines for much of this moving... So, I have volunteered for kid wrangling duty and also to provide a meal or 2 - much more enjoyable then moving boxes! :) So, here's our week in a nutshell!

Friday - *Five Cheese Jumbo Shells
Saturday - *Lil' Cheddar Meat Loaves and *Refrigerator Brownie Dessert
Sunday - *Taco Pie and *Weight Watchers Cobbler
Monday - Chicken on the grill
Tuesday - *Chow Mein Hotdish
Wednesday - Spinach Penne Salad
Thursday - *Pork Chops in the Crock Pot
Friday - Roast

Extras: *Rainbow Cake in a Jar

* = new recipe, with a post to come in the future, if it's a keeper!

So, that's what is on the plan for the week. Have a great one!

Chinese Chicken Stir Fry

Yum... a good stir fry is a fabulous thing in my book! I love the ease, once it is all chopped up, of throwing everything in the pan and boom - it's done in like 2 seconds! You know me and my speedy quick meals! Once again, I did a lot of chopping in my take on this dish - easier for the kids to eat and easier to hide some of the veggies that they might not be super excited about... So, chop, slice, dice - whatever floats your boat!



Chinese Chicken Stir Fry
(recipe found on pinterest via www.eat-yourself-skinny.com)

3 chicken breasts
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
3 large carrots, chopped
1/2 onion, diced
20 edamame (I traded these out for pea pods)
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of red pepper flakes

Season chicken with salt and pepper and cut into bite size pieces. Heat skillet or wok to medium high and add oil. Allow to heat up and add veggies. Saute for about 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir fry until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

I'm Baaaccck! (hopefully!)

So, obviously I thought that I was on summer vacation also... Or my kids helped me think that! I have missed my blogging and the recipes and pictures piling up around here tell me that I have a lot of catching up to do. So, hopefully now that we are back into the swing of things and I am more into a routine I will be able to get back to posting most days! Hope you all had a fabulous summer! Here's to me playing catch up! Check it out though... I think I figured out how to get the pinterest button on my site!! Hopefully it is working because I know that I love blogs and websites that have that handy little button! See, I did do SOMETHING over break! :) Seriously though, this time with my family was well worth it and hopefully the new recipes that I'm sending your way is well worth the wait!

Weekly Line Up 5/3-5/9

The circus is coming, the circus is coming! Josh's family is involved in a little traveling circus that comes by our way every May and we love it! Not only is it an awesome show but we get to spend some quality family time with Josh's side of our gang! So, I've been baking up a storm this week, getting ready to take some goodies along with us. It's been a tradition and I can't drop the ball! :) We have a quiet week next week so I have picked out a few other new treats to make. Suppers are going to be some old favorites from my blog, but I have to always be trying something new...

Friday - Circus!
Saturday - Circus!
Sunday - Ham and Ranch Potatoes
Monday - Cheddar Chowder
Tuesday - Free Choice Night (my kids LOVE this option!)
Wednesday - Night out
Thursday - Ranch Medley Casserole

Extras - *Banana Peanut Butter Bars, *5 Ingredient Granola Bars, *Banana Chips, *Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles, Homemade Brownies

Buttery Italian Shrimp

I love shrimp... I have a hard time cooking it at times, I know that I cook it too long and that is the problem. This recipe made it simple to have great tasting shrimp turn out fabulous! This was some delicious shrimp that was easy to throw together. Not the healthiest way to eat shrimp, but pair it with a healthy side and it's still a great way to go!



Buttery Italian Shrimp
(recipe found on pinterest)

12 ounces shrimp
1/2 cup butter
lemon, sliced thin
1 packet dried italian seasoning

Heat oven to 350. While heating, melt butter on foil lined baking sheet. Layer shrimp and lemon on pan and sprinkle with italian seasoning. Bake for 15 minutes.

Chicken Bundles

These were a cinch to through together and DELICIOUS to eat up! The family loved them and they were the perfect quick weeknight meal!



Chicken Bundles
(recipe found on pinterest via www.quick-and-easy-dinner.com)

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 (13 ounces) canned chicken
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon parsley
2 cans crescent rolls
1 tablespoon minced onion

Preheat oven to 375. Combine all ingredients other then crescent rolls. Mix well. Open crescent rolls, leaving each set of 2 triangles together. Pinch seams closed on each rectangle and push out into a larger area. Place a spoonful of chicken mixture into center and fold up corners into the center. Press seams together to make a bundle. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.