Rice Cereal Cookies

My daughter is loving those little rice cereal cookies that you can buy at your local grocery.  We buy ours from Wal-Mart.  However, even buying store brand they are about $2.50 per box and I just hate to spend that much!  So, I looked around for some recipes.  I found one from Wholesome Baby Food that I liked.  I, as always...., changed one thing in the recipe.

My recipe:

You can also use flavored baby cereal if you want. I made them plain, just because this was the first time I was trying the recipe.  Next time I may play around with some flavors.  The original recipe only used the rice cereal,but I thought I would try it with a mix, and it was a hit!  

Let me know if you try them and what you do differently!

Cream of 'Whatever' Soup

I (as many of you) try to pinch pennies whenever possible, without losing quality.  I also love to use my crock pot...especially on days that I babysit.  Several of my crock pot recipes call of a can of cream soup.  While browsing Pinterest I found a recipe for a dry cream soup mix.  I have actually been planning to try it for awhile...but am just now getting around to it.  What can I say...life happens! The original recipe can be found 'here'.  There is also a second dry soup mix recipe I have pinned that I want to try when this one runs out.  I did make a couple minimal changes to the recipe!

You will need a container (that will seal well) to store your dry mix in.  I chose a large glass jar.  I also used a Sharpie marker to write the recipe and directions on my jar.  (If I need to use the jar for something else a little acetone will wipe that marker right off!)

The recipe is:
1 c. Non-fat dried milk
3/4 c. Cornstarch
1/4 c. Bullion
4 T. Dried Minced Onion
1 t. Basil
1/2 t. Thyme
1/2 t. Parsley
1 t. Pepper

I did learn something very new when making this recipe.  It may be something you all know, but it was new to me and I was excited! It truly is the little things that make me happy!  I did not know that you could buy bullion powder!  I have only ever purchased bullion in cubes.  This stuff is amazing!  I can use just a couple teaspoons when I make rice!  I love it!  If you don't want to purchase this item, you can crush up some cubes.  Although the bullion powder was very reasonably priced!

Also, I didn't have any minced onion, so I used Onion powder and it worked great! If I have something in my cabinet/pantry that will work I don't buy new!


To use the dry mix you add 1/3 c dry mix and 1/2 c water.  Then microwave for 30 seconds (or until it starts to thicken.  Just be careful, if you cook in longer increments it may get too thick, so check it often until you find the right time for your microwave!

Let me know what you think!!

Let's Try This Again...

So, in my last post, I stated that I would be blogging again....which I truly had every intention of doing.  However, my computer had other intentions! :)  Don't you just love technology some days?  Anyhow, the computer is once again in a cooperative mood and this time, I am back! :)  I have several things lined up to blog about over the next week or so including a recipe or two, some home remodeling, and of course something crafty! So, please, don't give up on me! 

I look forward to sharing with you soon!!

~

Healthy New Year

So, I have started running - I actually started (purposefully) before the New Years! :)  I didn't want it to be just a 'New Year's Resolution' kind of thing.  I am certainly starting slow, because I have not run since high school....unless you count running late! :)    I knew I needed to do something.  I have gained weight in the two years that I have been married and am starting to get frustrated at my limited choice of clothes!  I don't really want to sink money into a gym membership, and everyone around me is all about running...so, I figured, why not?  So far, I am enjoying it.  I think it will enjoy it more when the weather is not quite so close to the freezing temperatures! 

So, since I wanted to get to a healthier me, I also spent a little of my Christmas money and purchased a fancy pedometer.  I bought a fitbit.  You can purchase a small one at your cellular store, or the larger version online.  They now offer one that will automatically sync with your cell.  I am enjoying it!  It has definitely made me more aware of my level of activity (or inactivity) throughout my day.  I also like that it syncs with my food tracker app - My Fitness Pal.  It keeps up with the distance I have traveled, the steps I have taken, and the stairs I have climbed.  It also tracks my sleep and the number of times I wake up!

Along with running and trying to keep myself active, I am trying to be a healthier cook! :)  I found an amazing soup recipe!  Olive Garden has a small history with my husband and I.  Our first date was to an Olive Garden and we stayed until the place closed and the staff was ready to leave!  We have been back each year for our anniversary.  So, when I ran across a copy-cat recipe for their Zuppa Toscona, I HAD to try it!!!!  and Wow! So, here is the link to the recipe I originally found.  Below you will find the recipe with a few changes that I made to make it more like the restaurant!

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (Potato Soup)

1 lb. ground Italian sausage
    (if you are like me, I had never looked for 'Italian sausage' before - it is in the fresh meat section of 
      your local grocery store - sold in links.  You will have to cut open the casing of the links and
      remove the ground sausage to cook it)
1 tsp. crushed red pepper                    1/2 c. bacon - diced
1 c. diced onion                                  3 potatoes (I made slices,
2 garlic cloves                                        like potato chips)
1 quart (4 cups) water                         2 cans chicken broth
2 c kale, chopped                               1 c heavy whipping cream

Brown Italian sausage with crushed red pepper in pan.  This is where I added the chopped Kale.  I simply rinsed it in the sink, and then took my kitchen scissors and cut it into smaller pieces before adding it to the sausage.  I did not add it until the sausage was almost browned.  It will cook down and resemble the green stuff you would see in the soup at the restaurant. (You can use the soup pot if you don't want to mess up multiple pans.) Drain excess fat and set aside.

Sauté bacon, onions and garlic until the onions are soft. (You need to do this in the soup pot) Mix in the chicken broth and water.

Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.

Add the sausage, and the heavy cream, and  heat through.

This was so delicious, that after the last bowl was eaten, my Mountain Man asked me to make another pot, as soon as possible!!  If you have any suggestions please let me know!

Enjoy!

S'mores...

So, I don't know about you, but I love S'mores....they always make me think of Girl Scout camp.  A bunch of us girls and a few of our moms (including my wonderful Mom) went on a camping trip.  We had a little cabin with a kitchen and a lot of sleeping bags!  Our cabin was right beside a little creek and there was a fire pit behind the cabin.  One evening we made S'mores and they were wonderful!  There are so many other times I have made S'mores also, but this memory was always a fond one! 

While S'mores are delicious, they are not always easy to fix...I hate to fire up the grill for one S'more!  :)  My mother use to make a S'more's snack mix with Golden Grahams, Marshmallows, and Chocolate Chips...but recently I ran across a recipe for a Rice Krispie treat type S'more!  So, I tried it!! 

DELICIOUS!

 

 

I couldn't resist sampling the warm gooey goodness as I was making these!!

 

 

You need:

5 Tb butter

1 bag mini marshmallows

1 (12 oz) box of Golden Grahams

1 bag chocolate chips (chilled in freezer)

splash of vanilla (optional)

13x9 cake pan (sprayed with cooking spray)

 

Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Add marshmallows.  When they are almost melted you can add the vanilla if you would like to.  Then add the Golden Grahams and Chocolate Chips.  Pour into a pan to set up, cut and enjoy!

 

I probably would use a larger pan than I used this time....they were a little thick for my personal preferences.  However, they were wonderful!!

 

Enjoy!

 

Taco Soup...

Today I made the first soup of the season...and it was wonderful!!!  Tonight was a perfect night for a bowl of soup!  We had a great morning at church, then came home relaxed, put soup on the stove, and then this evening we sat down to eat that soup and watch some football!!

This is a recipe that I use Deer meat for, but it can be made with hamburger or ground turkey, or without meat!  I must give recipe credit to my Mother-in-law.  She gave this to me after I found out it was one of my husband's favorites.  I have also heard of people adding cabbage, but...I don't.  It can be made within 30 minutes and lasts my family (myself and my amazing husband) about a week - one night of dinner and then lunches a couple/few days each.

Taco Soup:
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
2 cans whole kernel corn
1large can crushed tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning **I use homemade Taco Seasoning
1 package ranch seasoning
1 lb ground meat (browned)

Combine all ingredients (don't drain the beans, just open the can and dump) in pot and heat through!  Serve with corn chips and shredded cheese!  Although it can be made quickly, if I have time, I like to put it on low heat and let it cook slowly through the evening....makes the house smell delicious!!

Deer Calzones...

First of all, these can be made with any type meat you choose...but at our house...deer is preferred!

I start with browned (scrambled) deer meat.  I add pizza sauce and seasonings to it and let it simmer.  Then I use a pizza crust mix (the kind you just add hot water too) and mix it up as the directions say.    I usually get about three calzones out of one pizza crust.  After the crust is ready, I separate it into three sections.  Take one section and roll it out...

 

I brush the inside of the calzone with a little bit of EVOO, then spoon in the deer meat mixture.  I also sprinkle the deer meat with cheese and top with Turkey Pepperoni.

 

Fold over the top of the calzone (be careful not to poke a hole in the crust like I did on one of the ones below!), and I seal it with a fork.  If you are overly picky about how it looks you can take a knife and trim off the ragged edges after you have sealed it.

 

 

Then I make a mixture of EVOO, Parmesan cheese, and oregano.  The consistency needs to be a little more runny than a paste.

 

Lightly brush the mixture over the tops of the calzones.

 

 

Place in the oven and bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes, or until crust is a golden brown.

 

 

ENJOY!!

 

Mini Lasagna!

I do my best to make a weekly menu each weekend for the following week.  I also do my best to have a variety of meals.  I try to include chicken, deer, pork and fish each week...which only covers 4 meals.  I am also working to try to make my meals healthier! 

While scrolling through my Cooking Board on Pinterest I ran across a recipe for 'mini' lasagna!  I thought...well, why not!  You can find the original recipe here. 

I (of course) modified this recipe! :)

You will need:

• Marinara Sauce (I used the Wal-Mart brand 'pasta' sauce)
• Ricotta Cheese (will be near the cottage cheese...learned that after walking through the whole grocery side of the store a couple times)
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Won Ton wraps (near the healthy stuff in the fresh produce section)
• Deer mean (or meat of choice) - Optional

Spray your pan well.  Place one won ton wrapper in each muffin space.  Add a spoon full of marinara sauce, a spoon full of deer meat and a spoon of ricotta cheese.  I then placed another won ton wrapper on top of the ricotta cheese and sprinkled the very top with mozzarella (the original recipe added a full 2nd layer of everything). 

Bake at 375 for about 18 minutes and Enjoy!!! I served mine with a small Caesar salad and sweet tea!!

Pinterest Project of the Day - Day 3

Hi, my name is Cori, and I am addicted to dessert... 

My Grandfather is talked about for asking what was for dessert as soon as the prayer for the meal was over!  I think I am much like him in that way.  I am always ready for dessert.  As a child, I would tell my mother that I was full of regular food, but that I had a separate space for dessert!  Being in and out of town or visiting with family during the summer means that I don't do as much cooking.  The only desserts I have made in the past few weeks have been to take places.  Tonight after dinner, I wanted some dessert, but I did not want to make a big dessert.  I recalled seeing the Mug Cake on Pinterest.  So, as usual, I compared a few different recipes that I found, and modified them to make my own version.  It was delicious!  This project was definitely a success.  I may still tweak the recipe some...next time I plan to try using one egg in two mug cakes (I made two tonight,because if you make dessert, you should have enough to share with your loving husband!).  I will let you know how it goes in the future.  Below is the recipe I compiled and modified to make my own.  If you have any recommendations, please comment! I would love to hear your feedback!

Mug Cake

4 T All Purpose Flour

4 T Sugar

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 Egg

1 T Coco Powder

1 1/2 T Hershey's Syrup

1 T Milk

1/2 tsp Vanilla

3 1/2 T oil

Chocolate Chips

Mix all ingredients in large coffee mug.  Cook in microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.  Let cool - just enough that it won't burn you.  ENJOY!!!