BBQ Cowboy Beans with Biscuits ($5 Meal)

I have another yummy meal that I found on the $5 Dinners Website for BBQ Cowboy Beans with Biscuits.  Now of course everything in here (except the meat) were items not allowed on my diet so I just had to smell and let the boys and Rick's buddy who came over for dinner tell me how it was.  It was a simple recipe to make, didn't take much time and yet again I was close to the $5 mark on the cost and it feed 2 grown men, 2 kids and there was even left overs.  Now I usually make my own biscuits and not use canned but I was running behind so I used the can but either way it is a nice meal for these cold nights!

Ingredients (**I left her pricing next to each, mine was a bit more)

1.3 lb ground beef ($1.93)
2 garlic cloves, crushed ($.10)
2 cups cooked black beans ($.40) Substitute 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups cooked pinto beans ($.40) Substitute 1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup BBQ sauce ($.75)
1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained ($.29)
Drop biscuits ($.75)

Directions

1. Brown the ground beef with the crushed garlic cloves. Drain and return to skillet. Add the black and pinto beans, as well as the BBQ sauce, diced tomatoes…and stir through. Let simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes.

2. Make drop biscuits.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  It looks like we'll be staying in most of the time for some reason this week is a tight week for money, paid the mortgage and Rick's car payment and suddenly it makes no money ... UGH.  BUT it will get better just have to get threw this week we will be back on track.  Now let's just hope I can make $10 last until next Friday for the whole family ... lol, who needs gas or food right? TEEHEHE.

Warm me up please …

It’s been so chilly lately around here and it’s effecting my mood … ugh.  Then I wake up this morning to see this ------>

YUP that’s SNOW!

Why not share some yummy tummy warming meals I made last week.  First off I want to share The Best Darn Chili Con Carne With Beans. This is from one of my favorite sites Skinny Kitchen.  This was easy to make and the boys loved it, Cole even took it to lunch.  I used a sausage instead of lean ground beef (because that is what I had on hand).

Last on our list was one I loved the boys and Rick just thought it was ok.  This Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole is from my other favorite site Skinny Taste. I cut up my chicken to make it easy for me and steamed my broccoli so it wouldn’t be hard.

  I’m going to go visit my grandmother before we leave for Disney tomorrow so I’m not sure I’ll be making dinner … lol it maybe a cereal night … hehe.  Hope you’re all staying warm!

Tuesday Dinner Friends Spaghetti Feed!

Another yummy meal that was a hit with all this week.  Our normal Tuesday night guest was not feeling well but my other friend was planning to come.  I made a double batch earlier in the morning so we had plenty to send home with our new guest and left overs for the next day. 

Of course I found some amazing recipes of Pinterest first off on my list was Old-Fashioned Spaghetti & Meatballs.  I’ve never cooked with bulgar wheat before so I picked it up in the bulk section and made it.  They turned out fabulous and easy to make.

I then found this amazing light bread that was easy to make with what I had on hand.  This Lighter Cheesy Garlic Bread was a no yeast bread that I mixed up and threw in the oven and served hot and yummy!

Dinner is served!

I made a yummy dessert then I remembered our guest doesn’t eat dessert. I know who doesn’t eat dessert, a smart person that is … Hmmm maybe I should have ate her and my helping … lol.  This Baked Apple Streusel was simple to make and I add a dolop of non fat whipped cream.

So there you have it another Tuesday Dinner meal .  On our menu tonight will be Crock-Pot Creamy Chicken Soup.

Tuesday Friends with Full Bellies

Last week was a Mexican meal week, I didn’t realize that while I was making my meal plan for the week. This was super yummy and I can’t believe how easy! This Bubble-Up Enchiladas were a hit even my friends son that is a picky eater.

Then for dessert I made a Apple Oatmeal Crisp, that was easy and way to yummy!

So what is on your menu tonight?

Been Sick so Been Crockpoting it!

This cold has really kicked my butt, 3 weeks of coughing and feeling like dirt it enough!  Then add on stress of having to have Rick’s car in the shop and rent a car on top of it … and oh yeah come up with $750 dollars you know can really help one feel better .. lol.

I’m hoping to be back up and running soon, in the meantime I thought I’d share some crockpot recipes.

First off we have a Beef & Broccoli that was yummy and easy to make.  I Made some brown rice and used the steamer on top of my rice cooker for the broccoli.  I hate mushy broccoli!

Then to I made Crockpot Chicken Fajitas, the boys love anything Mexican.  I used corn tortilla’s.

And last on our list is the Crockpot Pork Chops & Potatoes.  An easy all in one meal!

Happy Wednesday everyone.  Ok sadly I did start this post on Tuesday … lol.  Hope you enjoy the recipes and find something you may like.  What is on your menu?

Is it a Holiday Themed Meal Already?

So I was in the mood for a holiday themed meal and found some favorites in a weight watcher themed way!  For you who have asked you would think with all this eating healthy I would be loosing weight sadly just staying the same … ugh.  But I’m sure soon something will go my way … lol.

First I start out with a Corn, Ham & Potato Scallop with was done in the crockpot.  For those who know me, know I love the crockpot since it’s so easy to throw things in and be done when I’m done with work.

Next on the list was a yummy side dish, not your usual Sweet Potato Casserole.  This recipe I found on my favorite site Skinny Taste. Now the pineapple was a different addition to this recipe, it gave the texture a different feel to it.  It also made it very sweet which means you can’t eat much which of course is a good thing in my case … lol.

Next on my list was a dessert, Cherry Cobbler.  The original recipe called for it to be in the crockpot but I put it in the oven since my crockpot was busy.  My little helper really enjoyed helping on this meal.  Sadly I had tons of left overs our dinner guest that night were sick and then the next day I got sick so left over’s went to waste .

So there you go a meal with a flair for the upcoming holidays. I’m sorry I’m still sick, feeling better but my voice is gone which is challenging since I’m on the phone all day long. 

Anything special for dinner tonight?

Tuesday Dinners (Pineapple Chicken & Blueberry Scones)

Happy Monday everyone, I seems to be a crazy week already.  I’m just hoping that we want have any drama like last week.  We did have a great dinner with our Tuesday dinner date.  I switched swim days so I can attend a small group at church on Monday which works out better since now we can swim at 4p instead of 6:30pm and be home earlier.

So I found this Crockpot Pineapple Chicken recipe and let it cook away while I ran out got the boys to swim and back home.  This was a very yummy dish and easy to make.  It was a little dry I think next time I won’t drain the pineapple.

And for a yummy simple dessert I made this Blueberry Streusel Scones that turned out so yummy I had to send the left over’s home with my guest so I wouldn’t eat them all. SUPER easy and yummy!!

Happy Monday everyone!  So what is on your menu tonight?

No Pony Rides but it was a good day …

So yesterday was the the big 35 and sadly no pony rides or jumpy houses.  Oh wait I guess we only get those big over the top (cost of my car payment) when your young .. lol.  I had a good day, when you get older good is by far a wish come true.  I start of the day was a little rocky but it got better.  You all know I’m crazy control freak (what I’m working on it).  So if someone takes over something I’ve been working on I may just get a little freaked … lol I know I told you I’m working on it.  So after getting my panties in a bundle I had another cup of coffee and just said screw it let the person do it, I know I did my part and I’m happy with what I do if they finish it whatever … ok maybe not ok with it but AGAIN I told you I’m working on it!

Rick’s car has been a pain in our behinds for sometime now last paycheck it was brakes and rotors to the tune of $300 … UGH.  This paycheck it was a tune-up & oil change to the tune of $200.  So this one hour fix turned into 3 1/2 hours he was gone.  Thankfully the kids played outside and I worked on catching up on my emails.  So I guess I did get some quiet time, not the FULL day I asked for in my list but hey I take what I can get.  So I did get some:

Rick got home around 6:30pm and I ran to the salon to get my pedi!  Now I didn’t have a cup of coffee (since if I stopped to get it the salon would be closing).  BUT the lady was very nice and let me read my book on the iPad in peace.  She barely spoke to me … YEAH.  I know that sounds rude but I really just wanted to relax.  So I did get to do half of this:

Rick got me dinner so I didn’t have to cook!  He picked up Alice Springs Chicken & Cheesy Fries at my Favorite place Outback.  So I blew the diet but it was super yummy!!  So I got this:

Rick said I could order my camera, yeah so I have a working camera .  So I got this:

Rick also gave me a very nice card he had the boys sign, my favorite desert Flan and some Hard Cider.  I don’t drink very often but I do love a hard cider once a year or so .  It was very yummy!  So I got:

So sadly no Nanny, no house cleaner, no new body or spanx & no bare minerals.  But overall it was a GOOD day, again people Good is just that and you take what you get and cherish it .  Thank you again for all the birthday wishes, that meant the world to me.  XOXO

Weekend of head aches!

My camera decided to finally die this weekend so I’m missing a LOT of the picture moments I would normally take.  So I had to use a camera my mom gave Cole to use (which mind you he wasn’t happy to share) and it works on batteries … UGH you know how hard it is to find batteries in this house! 

When I downloaded the little pic’s I had I found these pics .

Saturday after I worked we hit Lowe’s for the kids clinic it was a BUSY day at work, it was GREAT I had a good amount to schedule which I haven’t had in a while.  So we were late to Lowe’s and all the tables were gone and sitting on the ground with the boys and hammers so NOT my idea of good times.

So off to the gym we went and then I had a hair to head to Value Village next door.  They were having 50% their yellow tags AND they let me use my 20% off coupon for donating.  So I got all this for $34! WHOO HOO!  Clothes for the boys, a toy, a skateboard and 3 bibles & a cookbook.  Cole was wanting a bible for school and I wanted one to read for night time.

Then Sunday our church had a BBQ which I made these brownies for the POTLUCK.  Ok people when you go to a potluck that means you BRING a dish and you only take a little of each dish.  Why is it that people show up with NOTHING but they dish up like no tomorrow.  I cut up my brownies and before I could plate them the vultures attacked me (I barely was able to get one for the boys).  It amazed me that some took two for themselves (before anyone could get one) and then one guy actually had the gaul to say he wanted a big one NOT the small one I put on his plate .. UGH.

Then we headed to my friends house to let the boys run it out (sorry no pics camera not working).  Then my mom wanted us to come up to her house for dinner.  I looked at my gas tank light come on, still with no debt card I thought I’d run into safeway to buy a Visa GC with my check so I can then buy gas.  The lady for 10 min couldn’t figure out how to ring it up, then she couldn’t get my check to work so a supervisor came over, which made everyone behind me SIGH.

Then she took me over to CS to try & write a check there and then told me my check was declined that I was over my limit of checks per day … yup my 1st check of the day & the first visit at this store in 3 months!  Yup 20 min and boys going NUTS and me almost in tears.  Had to call my daddy to come save me since I had no access to my $ and no gas to get home! UGH

Finally an hour later (and hour late to dinner) we got to my parents and had a quick dinner before the rain came down .  I was still a little upset but it was a nice dinner and I’m happy to be done and hoping to finally get our debit cards and THEN switch banks!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

MSM ~ Fathers Day All Day Meals

Technically I didn't make these all for Rick but I did make them ... hehe! I just thought it would be perfect way to show a whole day of recipes! Yes Rick didn't get a big fancy day of food, payback for mothers day ... lol :). I know I'm evil but he does get to eat these special treats like this every day.

BREAKFAST

Strawberry Pancakes by Rachel Ray - Nothing like homemade pancakes for breakfast. Who doesn't want to wake up to that goodness?

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for serving
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• Pure maple syrup, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla. Preheat a nonstick griddle over medium heat.

2. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir in the melted butter. The batter should be thick and smooth. Fold in the strawberries.

3. Spoon the batter onto the griddle 1/4 cup at a time. Cook the pancakes until set and thoroughly bubbly, about 3 minutes. Flip them with a spatula and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

   ALEXIS NOTES: I did half whole wheat and white flour. I think I used to many strawberries so a little runny, I would add more flour next time.

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LUNCH:

Chicken Salad Pita Pockets - Rick loves chicken salad and will always buy it at the store for like $5.99 a pound!!! It kills me so I had to make a yummy version for him at home.

Chicken Salad Pita Pockets

4	boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2	tablespoons olive oil
1	cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2	tablespoons lemon juice
1/2	teaspoon ground cumin
1/4	teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1	red bell pepper , cored, seeded and chopped
1	3.8-ounce can sliced black olives, drained and chopped
1/2	red onion , diced
1/4	cup cilantro, chopped
1	15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4	whole wheat pita breads, cut in half
1/2	head bibb lettuce, leaves separated
1	tomato , sliced
	coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

[1] Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in a greased baking pan and cook for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through. Let cool and cut into cubes.

[2] Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, cumin and red pepper flakes in a small bowl; set aside. Combine chicken cubes, bell pepper, olives, onion, cilantro and garbanzo beans in a large bowl.

[3] Add yogurt mixture to chicken mixture; toss gently to coat. Line each pita half with 1 lettuce leaf and 1 tomato slice; add 1/2 cup chicken mixture to each pita half and serve.

ALEXIS NOTE: I didn't have any pita left but I found these amazing thin buns that are like a thin bread. The only way the boys will eat bread is these they have no crust and are thin. This turned out yummy, it needed a little extra seasoning.

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DINNER:

Chicken Rice and Green Bean Casserole - Ricks favorite at holidays is the green bean casserole dish. I came across this dish an had to try it out, how can you go wrong with chicken, cheese and fried onions! This was so yummy I wanted to keep going back over and over to get more!

Chicken Rice and Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

- 10 3/4 ounces cream of mushroom soup - 2 cups milk - 1 cup white rice, uncooked (do not use instant rice) - 2 cups chicken, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces - 1 pound frozen green beans, slightly thawed - 4 ounces mushrooms, drained - 2 tablespoons pimentos, chopped - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (use more if desired) - 1 (2.8 oz. container) French fried onion rings (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Coat the casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large sauce pan, combine milk, cream soup, and rice.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Reduce heat and add chicken, green beans, mushrooms, and pimentos.
• Stir to combine.
• Remove from heat and pour into the prepared casserole dish.
• Spread shredded cheese on top of the mixture. Sprinkle the onion rings (if desired) on top of the cheese.
• Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cover the casserole loosely with foil to prevent over-browning. Bake an additional 20 minutes.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used brown rice along with canned green beans and skipped the mushrooms. Next time I would add a little more milk and cook longer when using the brown rice.

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DESSERT

Banana Rice Custard - Since I'm on a HUGE rice kick why not use the banana and make up some yummy rice custard! I made a double batch to take some to the church youth dinner I was making.

Banana Rice Custard

3 medium bananas, fully ripened
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cups cooked rice
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 cups milk
Nutmeg, sliced bananas and whipped cream for garnish (optional)

1. Mash bananas with fork; stir in lemon juice. Blend with rice in 2-quart baking dish.
2. Beat eggs; add salt, sugar, lemon peel and milk; stir into banana-rice mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
3. Place baking dish in larger pan; half-filled with hot water.
4. Bake in 325°F (160°F) oven for 1 hour.
5. Chill thoroughly, at least four hours, before serving.
6. Serve with whipped cream and sliced bananas for garnish, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used the white rice because I wasn't sure how the brown would do I may try brown next time. I didn't have a lemon peel so I skipped that part. I also needed for it to cook a little longer.

Phew now that is what I call a day of recipes I hope you enjoyed and will try one or all of them :).