John Wayne Casserole

I'm from MN and don't you know I love a good hot dish! :) Even being away from MN for a few years didn't take that away from me... Although they are called casseroles other places, they are all still the same and definitely yummy... The kids and I enjoyed this one and it was easy enough to make!

John Wayne Casserole
(recipe found on pinterest via www.navywifecook.com)

2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained
1 (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning packet
4 ounces mayo
4 ounces sour cream
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
1 onion, chopped
2 cups bisquick
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (4 ounces) can jalapeno peppers

Heat oven to 325. Add taco seasoning and water to ground beef and cook according to package directions. Set aside. In a separate bowl combine sour cream, mayo, half of cheese, and half of onions, set aside. Stir bisquick and enough water to form a soft dough. Pat dough on bottom and slightly up sides of a greased 9x13 pan. Saute remaining onions and green peppers until slightly tender. On top of bisquick mix evenly distribute ground beef, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, jalapenos, sour cream mixture and ending with remaining cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until dough is browned on edges.

Peppermint Kiss Sugar Cookies

These were one of my favorite new finds for Christmas cookies this year. They were fabulous with or without the kiss on top! Quite a few of them didn't make it to the freezer... :)

Peppermint Kiss Sugar Cookies
(recipe found on pinterest via www.overthebigmoon.com)

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups butter, softened
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped candy cane flavored hershey's kisses
granulated sugar
about 30 unwrapped candy can flavored hershey's kisses

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, extracts and egg. Beat at medium speed until creamy, about 2-3 minutes, scraping the bowl often. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and combine, scraping the bowl often. It will be a bit crumbly. Stir in chopped kisses. Shape dough into 1" balls; roll in granulated sugar and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. As soon as they come out of the oven, press a kiss in the center, holding the cookie together as you press down. (According to the original poster of this recipe, if you at this point in time, place the entire cookie sheet into the freezer you will get the kiss to hold its shape. I tried a million different times but never had it work for me. I also tried freezing the kisses before putting them onto the cookies, a combination of both of this and nothing worked. They still tasted wonderful though, they just didn't retain their "kiss" shape.)

Peppermint Popcorn Bark

If you know me at all you know that I am not one to go halfway with anything! I throw myself into everything and anything wholeheartedly and go all out... Not only did I start with the cinnamon bun popcorn, I had to add some of this peppermint popcorn bark too. Can't be having anyone getting bored with just one thing! This was pretty tasty too, but I definitely liked the cinnamon bun popcorn the best. So, if you are just making one, go for that one! :) I did make this one twice also, but forgot to take a picture of it either time... Whoops!

Peppermint Popcorn Bark
(recipe found on pinterest via www.plainchicken.com)

16-20 cups popcorn
1 6 ounces box of candy canes, crushed
1 package white almond bark
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Place popcorn and candy canes in large bowl. Melt almond bark according to directions on package. Add peppermint extract and stir to combine. Pour over popcorn mixture and stir to coat. Pour mixture out onto wax paper and allow to set. Break apart and store in sealed containers.

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn

I found this recipe a long time ago and knew immediately that this was going to be the gift that I made up for my kids' paras, sunday school teachers, specials teachers and so on... After I made it twice (and doubled the batch each time) I decided that I needed to get it out of my house before I ate all of it! :) It is so delicious and I have had so many of those same people that I made it for ask me for the recipe... Well, finally, here it is!! Enjoy, cause if when I make this again, I am devouring it on my own! :)

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn
(recipe found on pinterest via homeisright.blogspot.com)

12 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup kernels)
1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup karo syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 squares white almond bark

Preheat oven to 250. Place popcorn and pecans in a large bowl and set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in large microwaveable bowl and mix well. Chunk butter into bowl and cover with karo syrup. Place in microwave for 30 seconds. Stir to combine and microwave for 2 minutes more. Stir once again and remicrowave for another 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Add caramel mixture to popcorn mixture and stir to coat. Place on greased or foil lined baking pans and bake for half an hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and place on wax paper to cool. Drizzle with melted almond bark. When popcorn and almond bark is cooled and set break apart and place in sealed containers. At this point, try not to eat it all!!

Weekly Line Up - 1/25-2/1

Well, it's been a little while since I did a weekly line up!! I am finally getting settled back into a routine with my blogging and boy is the hubs happy! Having recipes scattered all over my house and pictures of food galore on the camera has a way of making me feeling super disorganized... My meal planning is still there, I just haven't taken the time to put it on the blog!

So, here's the plan for the week... Hope you have a great one!

Friday - *slow cooker ravioli
Saturday - *chicken and mushroom soup
Sunday - steaks on the grill/roasted broccoli
Monday - chicken on the grill, baked sweet potatoes
Tuesday - slow cooker chili
Wednesday - *melt in your mouth chili
Thursday - night out!
Friday - wrestling! which means a quick run through a drive through! :)

*new recipes

Pepperoni Pizza Rice

I made this as a main dish and added in the sausage and it was delicious... The kids loved it and it was pretty filling. I think that it would be great as a side dish as well, but this was super quick and easy to throw together!

Pepperoni Pizza Rice
(recipe found on pinterest via greenlitebites.com)

2 slices onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
6 slices turkey pepperoni, chopped
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup raw spinach, chopped
1/4 cup pizza sauce
1/2 ounce shredded mozzarella
1 pound sausage, browned and drained (optional)

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Spray with cooking spray and saute onion and bell pepper. Add rice, spinach and pepperoni. Continue to saute until spinach cooks down and is wilted. Add pizza sauce and sausage if adding and stir until everything is warmed through. Remove from stovetop and add cheese to the top, allowing it to melt before serving.

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup

I love a good open and dump kind of soup! Especially one that I can throw in the crockpot and let get ready on its own... This one was hearty and tasty and perfect for a cold winter day.

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup
(recipe found at www.skinnyms.com)

1/2 tablespoon olive oil for sauteing
1/2 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (15 ounces) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounces) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (4.5 ounces) can diced green chili peppers
1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup corn
juice from 1 lime
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste
1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
2 chicken breast fillets, skinless, cut into 1-2" cubes (no need to precook)

Saute onion in olive oil over medium low heat until tender, about 5 minutes. (This step is optional. If you prefer simply add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and eliminate the oil, this is how I made it...) Add sauteed onion and all remaining ingredients to slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.

Serves: 8
Points: 2 per 1 cup