Cooking with Kids Thursday: Muddy Buddies

I know I just did a post on Chex mix not that long ago, but my friend introduced me to this Muddy Buddies mix (a.k.a. Puppy Chow) and I just had to share.  I think I ate almost a whole batch myself.  It was so good!  Of course, my kids loved it too and were less than thrilled that I finished it off so quickly.  The kids and I will definitely be making more very soon.

Here is what you need to make this:

  • 9 cups Rice Chex®, Corn Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Here is how to make it -> Chex Muddy Buddies Tutorial

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Tasty Treat Tuesday: Baked Pears in a Cherry and Chocolate Sauce

Here’s another recipe to add to your “healthier desserts” pile (or as I like to call it “The I overdid it during the holidays” pile).  My mouth is watering already!  Both pears and cherries are on sale this week so it is the perfect time to try it out.  Thanks to Yum Sugar for the recipe!

Here is what you need to make this:

  •  4 ripe, but firm Bartlett pears
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries (I am going to use fresh)
  • 2 Tbs. light corn syrup
  • 3 oz. semi sweet chocolate
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Here is how to make it -> Baked Pears in a Cherry and Chocolate Sauce Tutorial

 

 

Cooking With Kids Thursday: Tortilla Snowflakes

The beginning of January is sort of a let-down.  Christmas is over, but it is still a little too soon to start celebrating Valentine’s day.  So in my house, for those first couple of weeks, we dercorate and craft all things winter… mostly snowflakes and snowmen.  These flour tortilla snowflakes are just perfect for that and did I mention they are super yummy too!  Thanks to Tami at Family Corner for the recipe.

Here is what you need to make these:

  • flour tortillas
  • scissors
  • powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • skillet

Here is how to make it -> Flour Tortilla Snowflake Tutorial

 

Tasty Treat Tuesday: 3, 2, 1 Cakes

I totally overdid it with treats over the holidays and now I am feeling pretty guilty.  However, I don’t think I could ever just completely cut sweets out of my life, so I am looking for a healthier option this week.  I came across this recipe for 3, 2, 1 cakes and it seems almost too good to be true.  The cakes are single serving sizes so you don’t overindulge and you can have them made in just a minute’s time… seriously.  Enjoy and make sure to share what yummy cake combinations you come up with.

Here is all that you need to make these:

  • 1 box of Angel Food cake Mix
  • 1 box of cake mix (any flavor of your choice)
  • 2 Tbs. Water
  • Desired toppings (whipped cream, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, sprinkles…)

Here is how to make them -> Better Recipes 3, 2, 1 Cakes Tutorial

 

Menu Planning Monday: my menu plan for the week of 1/1!


It’s been WAY too long since I’ve done a Menu Planning Monday post, but I’m trying to get back on track in the new year!  I know that meal planning helps our family save so much money and I also know that it helps me to eat better!  In the past, I have planned my menus a week at a time, but I think today I’m going to try to sit down and plan out a menu for a month!  I think it will help me to be more organized and it will help me watch for sales to pair up with menu items, too!

The plan listed here just includes our dinner menu and recipes. I have calculated some Weight Watchers points values using the e-tools Recipe Builder, and points values this week are based on the new Points Plus program! (I will update with points values on the others as we have the meals)

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know that for the past two years, I have done a $40 weekly budget. With the changes to our eating habits and the end of grocery stores in our area doubling and tripling coupons, I’m still experimenting to try to figure out what a reasonable budget is.  Stay tuned!

If you’re new to menu planning or would like tips for getting started, check out this post here.  You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

SUNDAY – Leftovers!  Yesterday was a lazy day for me and our refrigerator was full of leftovers from the previous week, so we did a clean out!

MONDAY – Spinach chicken wraps – This is an easy “Cheater” recipe when you want to throw a meal together quickly. I buy Spinach tortilla wraps, a bag of Caesar salad mix, and a bag of grilled chicken. I add tomatoes and mix it all together and fill the wraps. The kids love it!

TUESDAY – Chicken & dumplings (slow cooker)

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2-3 carrots, sliced
2-3 celery stalks, sliced
1 onion, diced
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use 98% fat free)
1 tsp salt, optional
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
paprika
2 pkg refrigerated biscuit dough, torn in pieces (I only use one)Place chicken, vegetables, soups & seasonings in crockpot and fill with enough water to cover.  Cover with lid and cook on low 5-6 hours.  About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough into the crockpot.  Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

NOTE:  If I don’t have time for the biscuits to cook in the slow cooker, I just cook them in the oven and then tear up the biscuits and add them.

WEDNESDAY – Steak stroganoff (slow cooker) – This is a family favorite!

Ingredients:
2T flour
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1 3/4 lb. boneless round steak
2 cans 10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup (I use 98% FF)
2 c. water (or 1 can 100% FF beef broth for more flavor)
1 envelope beef stew mix
4 oz can mushrooms, sliced and drained
1/2 c. sour cream
1 T minced parsley

Combine flour, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika in slow cooker. Cut meat into 1 1/2 inch strips. Place in flour mixture and toss until meat is well coated. Add soup, water, and stew mix. Stir until well blended. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours. Stir in mushrooms, sour cream, and parsley and then cook on high 10-15 minutes until heated through. Serve over egg noodles. (Depending on the consistency of the sauce, you may need to add cornstarch to thicken or add morewater/broth to thin)

To freeze: Pour into gallon freezer bags (I used Ziploc containers for this one). Allow to cool before freezing.

To reheat: Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Warm on stove and serve over rice or egg noodles. (Add sour cream when warming if you left it out of the initial recipe)

WW points = 7 points/serving, 6-8 servings (add 3 points for 1/2 c. cooked pasta or 5 points for 1 cup)
Sides = green beans and green salad 

THURSDAY – Shredded lime chicken tacos –  This is a recipe from Marci’s On My Menu blog.  It’s family friendly and easy to make since you cook the meat in the slow cooker!

 

Ingredients:
* 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat – cubed
* 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
* 1/2 lime, juiced
* 1 teaspoon white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
* 1/2 white onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:
Mix together vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, onion, garlic and cilantro. Put in crock pot with chicken and cook on low 6 hours. Shred chicken apart with forks and serve in tacos with toppings of choice

FRIDAY – Rice meatballs – This is a recipe from my mother in law.  I’m going to make the meatballs before I go to work so all I have to do is cook them when I get home!

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked minute rice
1 lb ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 t. grated onion
2 t. salt (I cut this in half)
1/8 t marjoram
dash pepper
2 1/2 cups tomato juice (or two 8 oz cans tomato sauce mixed with 1/2 cup water)
1/2 t sugar

Combine rice and all other ingredients except tomato juice and sugar. Form balls and arrange in skillet. Pour tomato juice & sugar over meatballs. Bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered 15 minutes.

WW points = 7 points per serving
Sides = green beans and green salad 

SATURDAY – Beef fajitas – This is a request from my daughter.  I bought pre-marinated fajitas at the grocery store, so all we have to do is grill and slice!

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