Thursday, March 17, 2011

Let's Keep it Simple!

Our family eats "Tex-Mex" of some kind at least once a week. I'd love to broaden the meat intake of my boys but unfortunately, for the most part, they'll only eat boneless chicken/turkey breast, ground beef/turkey and on occasion steak. Since they are so selective our menu options are also somewhat limited. I try not to make the same meal more than once in a month. Therefore, I am constantly searching for new, simple, quick and wallet friendly recipes. Here are two that we've had this week that you are sure to enjoy...WARNING: They are not very healthy but with a few minor changes they could be.

Doritos Casserole with Garlic Rice
From the Kitchen of Kasi Sellers (Best Neighbor and Friend our family has ever had)

1 family size bag Doritos
1-2 pounds ground beef or turkey
2 Cans Enchilada Sauce
Velveeta Cheese

Grease 9x13 pan and layer with crushed Doritos. Brown and drain ground meat. Layer on top of Doritos. Pour enchilada sauce over meat and Doritos. Cube Velveeta and spread evenly over Casserole. Bake on 350 20-30 minutes or until Velveeta is melted.

Garlic Rice
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic (I buy mine in a jar)
1-2 Tablespoons EVOO
1 Cup Jasmine or Minute Rice (Minute cooks faster)
Garlic Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Cups Water (or more)

In a skillet brown garlic in EVOO. Add Rice, garlic salt and pepper and continue to "brown/sautee". When rice has reached desired color add 2 cups water (you will have to add more for rice to completely cook). Allow rice to boil and then reduce heat. Cook until FLUFFY!

Crock Pot Chicken and Salsa
from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup salsa (I measured mine in the soup can)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 cup sour cream

Place chicken, soup, and salsa in the crock pot. Pour taco seasoning on top (I mixed mine all together). Cook on low for 6 hours. Pull the chicken out and shred and return to the crock pot. Stir in sour cream and heat until ingredients are combined. Serve with Rice and/or on a flour tortilla as a soft taco.

*Serve with these optional ingredients; Guacamole,lettuce, Sour Cream and Cheese*

Enjoy!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Delightful....Enough Said!

Creamy Italian Chicken w/ Rice or Egg Noodles
from: Jenna's Journey

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 pkt. Italian seasoning (I used Italian Dressing Seasoning Packet)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can (soup can) water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 pkg. cream cheese
Sliced Shrooms
Green Onions (Optional)

Mix all together in crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Serve with Jasmine Rice or Egg noodles.

Beef/Turkey Taco Casserole

Beef Taco Casserolé
from: Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour

1 lb. ground beef/turkey
1 Small Yellow Onion
1 can (16 oz.)refried beans {we used Rosarita}
1 (16 oz.)jar salsa/picante sauce {we used Market Street}
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
2 ½ cups tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
4 medium green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 ½ cups shredded cheese {we used Colby & Monterrey Jack}
1 cup shredded lettuce
Sour Cream

Brown meat and yellow onion and drain. Return to skillet and add refried beans, salsa, and taco seasoning. Heat to boiling and make sure to occasionally stir! Coarsely crush your chips and place two cups on the bottom of a "Sprayed" 2-qt. casserole dish. Top evenly with the beef mixture and cover with green onions, 1 cup of the tomatoes, and the shredded cheese. Bake uncovered on 350 for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is all hot and bubbly! Top with lettuce, remaining 1/2 cup of tomato, & half cup of chopped tortilla chip.

*We left out the tomatoes since Breezy and Big Boy both hate them*

Enjoy...We surely did!

Big Boy Drew the Names and Then Winners Are.......


Sonia Boukaia Photography Photo Shoot Winner- Heather Basset

Snatches of Time Photography Photo Shoot Winner- Talisa Hatcher


You will be contacted by your photographer to set up a date, time and location! I can't wait to see photos of your beautiful families!

Monday, March 07, 2011

A Month Later....

We've been in our new home for just over a month and we're still trying to get settled in. In a month we've done a few things but not much.....

We finally received our unaccompanied baggage last week, but seriously all we sent was our clothes and Brudder's bed...what were we thinking? We're hoping that our main shipment will arrive soon. I'm ready to sleep in my bed and not on an air mattress. I'm sick of sitting on the floor, or in baskets of laundry.

Big Boy has been sleeping on a "camp-out" but he hasn't complained one bit. We're going to be painting his "Toy Story" room this week so that it's all ready when our things get here! He's super excited about his new room. He suckered me into painting his room "To Inifity and Beyond Green" (he made that color up). On another note, we found out today that the cut-off for Kindergarten here on post is 1 October..Big Boy makes the cut off by about 4 days and will be going to FULL DAY Kindergarten next school year...Tear! We're so glad he won't have to go to Part Day Preschool again.

We've really had a time with Brudder staying sick since he was born. Since he was 3 mos old we've been told that he was lactose intolerant. We could never understand why he was spitting up,having diarrhea, staying so ill and keeping a diaper rash until we saw the pediatrician last week. Brudder has a MILK PROTEIN allergy instead. This is much worse than your typical lactose sensitivity. Since our visit we've eliminated ALL dairy from his diet, changed him to a hypoallergenic formula and you'd never know he was the same child...HE'S EVEN SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT NOW :-). Now we're working to adjust our ways of eating so that we can feed him the right way. This change will be alot of work but totally worth keeping him well.

Boy Jack, the newest addition to our family is growing and driving me crazy. Potty training is "going". I think in another week we'll finally have this pee'ing and pooping outside thing down pat. Jack is still very hyper and jumps on the boys and they both hate it. We're working on obedience and I see "school" in Jack's future.

We bought a "new to us" car. I told Wes I wasn't going to be stranded at home everyday when he went to work :-). Being stuck in Germany was one thing but there's WAY to much that I can get done here to be stuck. Plus I'm hoping to get a part time job very soon!

We finally bought a washer and dryer. I love being able to just walk down to the basement inside my house to get my laundry done anytime I want AND I don't have to share them with anyone. I could do my laundry naked and nobody would ever know :-).

My momma and daddy are coming to visit very soon and Clark and I are very ready to see them. Clark asked me if his BoBo was gonna bring him a swing set and toys in his suitcase...had to tell him nope. BoBo does plan on doing some fun things with his boys while he's here and maybe even taking them to the toy store..why? Because ever kid needs toys. That's what BoBo says!

I'm sorry for the lack of photos but I can't find my camera cord. I think I packed it in our HHG shipment. I'll post some as soon as I can! I must go for now, Brudder is waking up from his nap and will be ready for some lunch!

Spring Fever Give-A-Away

*Photo by Sonia Boukaia*

I'm so very excited about this week's give-a-way. I've partnered up with two of my dearest friends and favorite photographers, to bring an offer to you that you will not want to miss. This week, March 7th thru March 13th, you all will be commenting to win the following;

For my friends in Germany;
A 1 Hour (on Location) photo session with Mrs. Sonia Boukaia with Sonia Boukaia Photography.

About Sonia:
Sonia has always had a passion for photography. That passion became an obsession and eventually a business, when she had her first child. Sonia does not consider herself a professional or being in the photography business. She's in the business of capturing emotions, spirits, special moments and expressions. Sonia's photography is about being as natural as possible, so she utilizes the natural light of the world we all live in. Her goal is to create beautiful portraits in a comfortable,relaxed environment!

For my friends from the "Wiregrass";
A 1 Hour photo session at the Dothan Botanical Gardens with Miss Amanda Hatcher from Snatches of Time Photography.

About Amanda:
I am Amanda Hatcher...from the small town of Headland, AL. My sister and I recently started a photography business called "Snatches of Time Photography"...because we believe that a good picture is a all about capturing that special moment in time, those priceless moments in life that take our breathe away! While we specialize in children and families, wedding and engagements, events, and photogenic head shots; we do our best to meet any and all needs!

These gals take AMAZING photographs..TRUST ME! They both work hard and do a fantastic job capturing the realness of your family, which I believe is the most important part of their jobs. My walls adorn work from both of these gals and I am always so proud to show them off. Take a few minutes and visit their websites and then be sure to comment for your chance at a free photo session

Sonia's Website: http://www.soniaboukaia.com/
Amanda's Website: http://www.snatchesoftime.com/

To enter all I need is for you to comment on this post with;

1. Your Name
2. Your Location
3. Your E-Mail address

Happy Commenting!