Happy Birthday to my Mama!!!!!!!!!

So I have been super busy and have a moment today to write a post just to announce to the WORLD that it is my FANTASTIC Mother's Birthday!!!!!!  Other than my hubby, she is my most best friend and I could not be happier to have her as my mom!  I haven't always thought she was my best friend, but because she WASN'T my best friend growing up, she is now!  Her and my Daddy are awesome parents and if I can only be half as great as they are, I'll be happy!!  So Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

 

Sausage Potato Chowder

So this is a classic recipe that my mom has made for years.  And she got it from a lady a church who has made it for even more years.  It's easy and delicious, a perfect combo for a cold February evening!! 

Here is what you need:

• 1 pound skinless smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 1/2 cups peeled, diced potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

The first thing you want to do is peel and dice your potatoes.  Then dice up your onion and celery.  Throw those in a dutch oven and cover with the chicken broth.  It may not cover it completely, but that's OKAY!  Just make sure to stir often :)

Turn on your heat and once it is boiling, allow it to cook for a few minutes until the potatoes are tender but not mushy.  While this is cooking, slice up your sausage so you have it ready go.  Also mix up your flour and only 1 cup of the milk in a container that you can shake it together in.  When the veggies are ready, add the sliced sausage and the remaining 2 1/2 cups of milk.  Stir to combine.



Once that happens, you will want to add your milk/flour mixture too.  Once you add that, make sure to keep stirring constantly as to not let it burn on the bottom of your pan.  You will want to cook it until it becomes nice and bubbly as well as slightly thickened.

When it is boiling and thickened, add the frozen peas and allow them to simmer for several minutes.

After a few minutes remove the soup from the heat completely and add your cheese.  Keep stirring until all the cheese is melted into the soup.  Allowing it to sit for a few minutes before eating seems to help too!!

That's it!  See, EASY!  It is something that is really easy and usually very cost effective to make!  We have it for dinner and always have enough for lunches the next day. 

Happy Tuesday!!!

Sunday Comfort

There's not a lot better in the world than a hot meal of roast, potatoes, and carrots outta the crock pot.  There is just something about the perfectly cooked combo that says comfort!!  I took the easy way out this Sunday and threw a smallish roast from my local meat market along with a sliced onion, peeled potatoes, and baby carrots in my crock-pot.  Easy and delicious!!

 

I first put my roast in and sliced onions on top of it.  I tried something new this time and added a water/beef base mixture to basically cover it.  I wanted to make sure it stayed moist and tender!

 

Next I peeled and added potatoes on top.  I usually add quite a few because this is the whole meal all in one pot.  We like to eat it as leftovers for lunch the next day as well, and who wants only half of the meal tomorrow??  I don't dice them, I just cut them in half or if they are fairly small, I leave them whole :)

 

The final thing I added was carrots.  WOW how many carrots does one family need in the crock-pot at the same time?!?!  All of a small bag, thats how many.  See the problem is, we tend to fight over these AMAZING carrots.  They are perfectly cooked and seasoned with the broth!!  Plus, who's mom would be mad that they are fighting over CARROTS???  Mine might think it's odd thats for sure! :)

 

 

I pull the roast out of the crock pot and shred it some.  Then its every man for themselves in taking what you want from the potatoes, carrots, and broth.  I like to sort of mash up my potatoes and put a little butter on them followed by broth.  OUTSTANDING!!  Its so easy and simple, and pretty cost effective too!  This would easily feed 4 adults one meal or 2 adults two meals :)  It all depends on the size of your roast!!

(YES, my roast has ketchup on it.  Don't judge!! )

 

Hope you had a restful weekend!  Can't believe we're almost to the middle of February already!  Summer will be here before we know it!! :)



Busy Busy Busy!!!

So as you may have noticed, my posts have been scarce this week!  At the first of the year, I took on a new role at my school and now not only work with Emotionally Disabled Students, but I am teaching computer for part of my day.  That makes for a much busier schedule and I have been just trying to find a perfect balance!!  One day I hope to have my own Elementary Classroom. . .That is what I would call LIVING THE DREAM.  As things are right now, I still want to continue my blogging, but I think it was composing far to much of my time.  Basically I took too much on my plate all at the same time!  My new goal is to blog several times a week rather than every day.  We often eat fairly late because we both have to travel a ways to get to and from work, so it becomes tiring to drive, work, drive back, grade, make dinner, do dishes/picking up around our apartment, and THEN blogging!  As I try new things I will be sure to include those and things that are tried and true but new to you too!  Thank You for reading and I hope you will continue to check back with me periodically!!  Hope you have had a spended week and enjoy the upcoming weekend.  Seems to finally be some SUNSHINE in our future! 

Super Bowl Sunday Sunday Sunday!!

So we just had a few snack like things for dinner and enjoyed the evening with my Father-in-Law. . .I'll be honest, I'm always watching the Super Bowl for the snacks and the commercials.  UNLESS, my Indianapolis Colts are in.  Then, it's another story!!! :)  Now, on to what sort of goodies I made today!  First I made pickle roll-ups.  If you have no idea what these are, you are missing out.  At most family functions these baby's are fought over.  My aunt is usually in charge of bringing them, and she can hardly get in the door before she is being swarmed!  They are SOOOOOO easy, its ridiculous.  All you need is some Buddig Beef, Turkey, Chicken, etc; dill pickle spears, and cream cheese.  See, already easy!  All you do is lay out your slice of meat, spread room temp cream cheese on it, and roll it around a pickle.  DONE.

 

The next thing I "made" was a fancy meat and cheese tray. . .Don't Judge!!  I'm cheap and easy! ;-) And yes, we were having some fancy beverages!  My hubby's choice was Jack & Coke and I was having a Margarita!  It was 5 o'clock somewhere!!

 For our main staple of this shin-dig, I made my mom's famous Frontier Sandwich.  It's so easy and so delicious.  Here is what you need:

• 1 Loaf Italian Bread
• 1 pound of ground beef
• BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 chopped green pepper
• 1 jar or can mushroom slices
• 12 American cheese slices

You first need to get your hamburger, onion, and green pepper cooking together; once the beef is nice and brown, drain and put back into the pan.

 After you have done that, place your mushrooms and BBQ sauce in.  The recipe calls for 3/4 cup sauce, but I just eye ball it to make it nice and covered.

While you allow the BBQ mixture to heat back up, cut your loaf of Italian Bread long ways, clean out the middle, and lay 6 slices of American cheese on the bottom.

After the mixture is hot, spoon into bread and layer the remaining 6 slices of cheese on top.  Make sure you are using American cheese. . .it has the perfect melting properties for this sandwich!!

Once you have it all in the bottom, place your bread lid back on and wrap it up in foil.  It needs to bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Thats it!  I also baked some buffalo chicken boneless bites; we can't have a superbowl party without "wings" of some sort!!

Here is the final product!  It is really yummy and easy to make.  It also can feed 4 or 5 easily for a simple dinner.  We don't have it very often because it does make a whole big sandwich!!  And yes, I did have ONE healthy option along with this not so good for you dinner!  My mama taught me right :)

 

Hope you stay warm and have a blessed week!!

Happy Sunday!!!