Easy Baked Ravioli

I made this dinner last week and couldn't wait to share it with you.  The ingredients are inexpensive and it took me 10 minutes to prepare. That was it.  Ten minutes in the kitchen, a few items in the trash and dinner went into the oven. My kind of meal.  The fabulous thing was how delicious it was. Not only for dinner but leftover for lunch the next day. This would also be a perfect meal to freeze or make for friends who could use a home cooked meal. Save this recipe, you'll thank me later! 

Easy Baked Ravioli

Courtesy of Betty Crocker

          Ingredients

1 jar (26 to 28 ounces) pasta sauce (I used tomato basil)

1 package (25 to 27 1/2 ounces) frozen cheese-filled ravioli

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp italian seasoning 

Directions

1.  Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of rectangular baking dish 13x9x2-inches, with cooking spray.

2. Spread 3/4 cup of the pasta sauce in baking dish. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in single layer over sauce; top with half of the remaining pasta sauce and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and italian seasoning.

3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 40 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot in center

Sausage & Cheese Muffins

This year we decided to have a last minute get together for the Super Bowl.  Usually I spend a good amount of time planning our get togethers or parties.  In this case, I had about 48 hours. I immediately headed to Pinterest to look for some quick and easy recipes that wouldn't have me spending a fortune. 

I chose these sausage & cheese muffins because they would be a great compliment to the rest of the menu I had planned.  We were also having chicken wings, chips and queso, seven layer dip and buffalo chicken dip.  I also knew the boys would eat these up.  

Results: A hit of the party, not only with the men but with the ladies as well.  I loved that they were bite sized and full of flavor.  I had a few left over and enjoyed them for breakfast reheated the next morning.  Enjoy! 

Sausage & Cheese Muffins

Courtesy of Plain Chicken 

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. hot ground pork sausage
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 3 cups all-purpose baking mix
• 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed fiesta nacho cheese soup
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup buttermilk (water or milk will work too)

Directions: 
Cook sausage and onion powder in a large skillet over medium to med-high heat, stirring until it crumbles and no longer pink. Drain and cool. 

Preheat oven to 375. Combine sausage, baking mix, and shredded cheese in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Stir together the soup and buttermilk; add to sausage mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon until lightly greased mini muffin tins, filling to tops of cups. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Turtle Cheeseball

I'm way behind on posting the recipes I've been making these past few months.  Life around here seems to get busier and busier…this blog always seems to fall on the back burner.  

Anyhow, we traveled home to FL for the holidays this past year.  Every year my parents host a Christmas Eve open house.  They've been doing it since we moved to FL over 20 years ago.  Neighbors and friends stop by throughout the night, enjoying food, friends and some delicious drinks.  It's a night I look forward to all year long.  

One of the recipes I added to the sweets menu for the party was a turtle cheese ball.  I found it while going through my appetizer board on Pinterest.  It looked easy enough to prepare ahead of time, wouldn't take up too much space in the already full fridge and how could you go wrong with caramel, chocolate and cream cheese? 

This sweet treat was a hit of the party.  Many guests asked for the recipe.  It was very rich, so you didn't need a lot to satisfy your sweet tooth.  And it was just as good the left over.  My mom has requested this be added to menu again for next year.  Will do, mom! Enjoy. 

Turtle Cheeseball

Courtesy of Shurgary Sweets 

Prep Time: 1 hour

Yield: serves 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Tbsp caramel sauce (found with ice cream toppings)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup Kraft caramel bits 


Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with butter until fully blended. Add caramel sauce and sugar and beat until combined. Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
2. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on counter. Drop cheeseball onto plastic wrap and cover cheeseball completely. Once covered, shape into a ball. Refrigerate for one hour.
3. In a bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips, pecans and caramel bits. Unwrap cheeseball and roll into bowl of chocolate chip mixture. Press toppings gently into the cheeseball. Rewrap in plastic wrap (a new piece) and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Once it's on the serving plate, drizzle some additional caramel syrup over it.
   
   
   ENJOY.

Banana Pancakes {Toddler Approved}

I'm constantly on the search for toddler approved recipes.  As soon as my little one turned 15 months she became super picky with her food.  One day she LOVES something, the next she wants no part of it.  It's frustrating considering I usually spend a lot of time preparing food for her.  

Lately, I've been looking for recipes I can freeze.  That way if she likes it one day, it will be there.  If she decides she doesn't the next, I can freeze it until she likes it again.  Pancakes are so easy to make and freeze well, so I've been trying lots of different variations.  This is the most recent.  The little one liked them for two days.  Hubs and I enjoyed them for dinner one night (yes dinner.)  They are fill of flavor and actually taste just like banana bread! 

Ingredients: 
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tbs sugar 
1/8 tsp salt 
1 1/4 cup milk (I used almond) *If the batter is too thick for you, you can add more milk*
1 egg 
3 tbsp melted butter (cooled) 
2 ripe bananas 
2 tsp cinnamon (more or less if preferred) 

Directions: 
1. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a  small bowl.  Mix well.  
2.  In a separate bowl, mix egg, milk and cooled butter.  Mix until the batter is free of  lumps.  Let this mixture sit for about 10 minutes.  
3. After 10 minutes, mix in the bananas.  It's easiest to mash them with a fork in a bow and mix them in.  
4.  Heat your cooking surface for the pancakes and spray with cooking spray.  I use a griddle for all of my pancakes.  
5.  Scoop batter onto heated surface.  I use a large cookie scoop to make the perfect toddler size pancakes.  
6.  Flip the pancake when one side is cooked. The key to well cooked pancakes is to flip them when you see little bubbles appearing on the surface.  You want a golden brown look on both sides.  
7.  Serve slightly warm with syrup if you choose.  If you're going to freeze them, make sure they are completely cooled before going in the freezer in a sealed freezer bag.  

10 Game Day Snacks

The Super Bowl is just a few days away. 

Hubs and I decided to throw a last minute Super Bowl get together.  

Since we only have a few more days to plan, I started looking for things to make immediately.  

I put together a list of things that are either tried and true or looked perfect for the big game.  

Buffalo Chicken Kabobs from A Night Owl Blog

Nieman Marcus Dip from Simply Made with Love

Crock Pot Bourban Little Smokies from Tammilee Tips

Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Puffs from Plain Chicken

Artichoke Dip from Simply Made with Love

Buffalo Wing  Hummus from Skinny Mom

Twisted Pretzel Bites from Six Sisters Stuff

Cheesy Spinach and Bacon Dip from Simply Made with Love

Buffalo Chicken Nachos from The Girl Who Ate Everything 

Sweet Potato Pulled Pork Sliders from Lauren's Latest

What is on your menu for the big game?  

Nieman Marcus Dip

While planning our super bowl menu I realized I never posted this dip I made back in September.  When we first moved we had my parents in town along with friends visiting for the weekend.  It was also one of the first weekends of football season. This dip had rave reviews all over the WWW.  

It was easy to make and a big hit with our family and friends. It was VERY rich, I could only have a little bit at a time.  Nonetheless, it was full of flavor.  Definitely worth making, especially for a game day party. Enjoy! 

Courtesy of Just a Spoonful of…

Ingredients: 

5 - 6 green onions

 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 jar Hormel Real Bacon Bits 

1 pkg. slivered almonds

Directions: 

Chop the green onions.

Shred the cheddar cheese.

Mix the onions, cheese, mayo, bacon bits,

 and slivered almonds together.

Chill for a couple hours.

Serve with Ritz crackers.

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

A friend posted this recipe on her blog this week, I knew I had to make it.  I already had leftover rotisserie chicken in the fridge, so it was a quick trip to the grocery store for the remainder of the ingredients. The original recipe was stove top, but looked easy enough to be done in the crock pot. The dish turned out more like a soup but it was delicious.  I knew it would be a repeat winter meal when hubs finished his bowl in no time.  We had it the next night for leftovers, I looked forward to it all day.  It was still just as good! Enjoy!

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 2 (15-oz) cans Great Northern beans, drained
• 2  7 oz cans of salsa verde 
• salt and pepper to taste 
• 1 avocado (sliced)
• 1 cup mexican cheese mixture 
• chopped cilantro (about 1 TBS)
• tortilla strips (I used Archer Farms southwest tortilla strips (salad toppers) 

Directions

Place chicken broth, chicken, beans and salsa verde in the crock pot, stir to combine.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  When it's time to serve top with cheese, avocado, cilantro and tortilla strips.  

**I added my cheese to the bottom of my bowl and poured the soup/chili over the top.  It melted and mixed in perfectly that way**

{Toddler Approved} Fruit & Pancake Bites

Last week I hosted a coffee playdate. My moms group started doing one a week this year.  It's a chance for the moms to catch up, enjoy some coffee and let the kids run wild.  I wanted to have a bunch of bite sized snacks for the kids. Since it was a 10am playdate, I decided to make these pancake and fruit bites. 

I used an entire box of pancake mix to make about 60 mini pancake bites.  I put half out for the playdate and froze the other half.  They were a hit with the kiddos, definitely a recipes I'll be making for years to come.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

A box of your favorite pancake mix.  

Fruit of your choice

 *I used an 8oz bag of mixed frozen fruit, which included peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries*  

Directions: 

1.  Preheat oven to 350. 

2. Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray. 

3.  Prepare pancakes according to the directions on the box.  I used the entire box and made about 60 muffins. 

4. Use a small cookie scoop, fill with a scoop of the pancake batter. 

4. Top with fruit, pressing the fruit down just a bit. 

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

6. Remove to a cooling rack after a few minutes & let them cool. 

***You can also top with bananas, chocolate chips, bacon, nuts…the possibilities are endless***

Red Velvet Donuts

Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day breakfast? 

You've come to the right place.  

These cake mix donuts are a family favorite and oh so easy to make.  

Enjoy!

Red Velvet Donuts

Ingredients:

1 box of red velvet cake mix

1 cup of milk  (I used almond milk)

2 large eggs

1 stick of butter (melted) 

Icing: 

Confectioners sugar mixed with milk.  I started out with a 1/2 cup of sugar and a tsp of milk.  I added and mixed until I had the consistency I was looking for.  

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350. Grease donut pan.  

Mix eggs, butter, milk and cake mix.  

Stir until smooth. 

Pour batter into donut pan (1/3 filled). 

Bake 11-13 minutes.  

Let them cool completely.  

Prepare the icing.  

I dipped some of the donuts and drizzled frosting over the others. 

 After I was done with the frosting, I let them set out for a bit to let it harden.  

Store in an air tight container for 3 days.  I also froze the leftover donuts in a freezer bag.  

Valentine's Sweet Treats

Now that Christmas has come and gone (and my decorations are FINALLY put up), it's time to think about Valentine's Day.  I'm not sure about you, but the one thing that comes to mind when I hear Valentine's Day is CHOCOLATE (and sweets). 

This year I'm hosting a Valentine's play date, will be sending in sweets to hubs' work and will be planning a dessert for Valentine's dinner.  That is a lot of sweets to make.  To get a head start I started browsing Pinterest for recipes.  I decided to share some that looked amazing with you.   Here are 20 sweet treats that caught my eye.  I can't wait to try some out for Valentine's Day.  

Now I need to start thinking about what I'm going to do for hubs this year.  It's going to be hard to beat my Date Night In Jar and Basket full of Love from last year! If you have any ideas, I'm all ears! 

 Red Velvet Brownie Truffles from Cookin' Cowgirl

 Be Mine Cherry Brownies from Gooseberry Patch

Red Velvet Puppy Chow from Your Cup of Cake

 Valentine Dipped Wafer Cookies from Craft-O-Maniac

 Cupid Crunch from Plain Chicken

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from Simply Made with Love 

 Sweetheart Cupcakes from Echoes of Laughter 

Chocolate Cherry Bark from Confession of a Cookbook Queen

 Rice Krispy Valentine's Treats from Chef It Up

 Chocolate Cherry Valentine's Scones from Betty Crocker 

 Marshmallow Cherry Kisses from Kraft

Valentine Oreo Truffles from Mom Endeavors 

Chocolate Cherry Glazed Cookie Bites from Simply Made with Love 

 Sweetheart Cupcakes from Posh Pink Giraffe

 Valentine Petite Fours from Echoes of Laughter

 Valentine Cheesecake Nibbles from Very Best Baking

 Valentine's Day Brownies from Ingredients, Inc

 Brown Sugar Blondies from The Recipe Critic 

 Chocolate Cherry Chip Cupcakes from Bird on a Cake

Fudge Cake Truffles from Koot Hoot

Almond- Crusted Pork Chops with Creamy Mustard Glaze

I have to admit, most of the pork chops I've made recently have been in the crock pot.  With a little one climbing all over the kitchen, I have been looking for quick and easy recipes. Which usually means another crock pot dinner! 

Now that the new year has arrived, I've set some new goals.  One of which is eating more clean.  Not only do I want to do this for myself, but I want to do this for my daughter. I want to know everything that is going in that little body of hers and teach her the importance of eating healthy at an early age.  

When I received my weekly eMeals menu (yes, directly to my inbox!) I knew this was one of the first recipes I would make.  It reminded me of one of my most popular recipes, pretzel chicken but a much lighter version! 

It was easy to make, even with a little one pulling out all the pots and pans at my feet.

  

Almond Crusted Pork Chops with Creamy Mustard Sauce 

Courtesy of eMeals 

20 minutes prep time, 10 minutes cook time 

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole wheat panko breadcrumbs

3/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 egg whites

6 pork loin chops (boneless)

2 TBS olive oil

1 can (14.5 oz) reduced sodium chicken broth 

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 TBS cornstarch 

3 TBS Dijon mustard

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream 

Directions: 

Place breadcrumbs, almonds and garlic in a shallow dish: beat egg whites in a small bowl until foamy. Dip pork ships in egg white, dredge in panko mixture. 

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add pork chops. 

Cook 10-12 minutes, turning once, until browned and done- remove from skillet and keep warm.   

Whisk together chicken broth, wine and cornstarch, add to skillet, and cook, whisking often, over medium high heat until thickened. Stir in mustard and sour cream until blended; serve sauce over pork chops.  

 eMeals is a subscription service that sends weekly meal plans to your inbox based on information you provide. We've been very happy with the recipes so far! 

Sign up in just 4 simple steps:

1. Pick your meal plan (I have the clean eating plan)

2. Recipes for the WEEK along with sides will be emailed to you.  

3. They even give you a grocery list to take shopping.  

4. Enjoy an easy dinner that your husband will think took hours to make! 
USE CODE DINNER15 to save 15%

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

A staple side dish over the holidays is potatoes.  They can be made so many different ways.  I'm sure I've tried hundreds over the years.  For this Christmas, I was looking for something that I could prepare ahead of time.  Something that would serve my entire family and that the mini would like.  I decided on this twice baked potato casserole.  I would actually call this mashed potato casserole. You can't go wrong with mashed potatoes.  You definitely can't go wrong with mashed potatoes mixed with cream cheese, sour cream and cheddar cheese topped with bacon and chives!  The dish was easy to prepare ahead of time and pop in the over when the time was right.  The entire family (along with the mini) gave this recipe two thumbs up! 

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Courtesy of Six Sisters' Stuff 

Ingredients:

• 5 lb russet potatoes
• 10 sli bacon
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 0.5 c unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c sour cream
• 0.25 c chives, minced
• 2.5 c cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 t kosher salt
• 0.5 t pepper

---

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain; return to pan, cover, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp and browned, turning once. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, and crumble into pieces.
3. Using a fork, mash the potatoes in pan until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, butter, and sour cream, and stir until combined and smooth. Add the chives, 2 cups cheddar cheese, half the bacon, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
4. Transfer to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake until top is slightly golden and potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with remaining bacon. Serve immediately.