Let them Eat Cake

   

    A little over 3 years ago I made my first yellow cake from scratch for Liam's first birthday party. For all the work I did I was disappointed, it was no better then a box cake. Ever since then I have been afraid to try a yellow cake because I get very upset if my baked goods don't turn out delicious. So for the fourth I decided I wanted to make a flag cake and I was so excited to find one on Smitten Kitchen. This blog hasn't steered me wrong yet, it's my go to for any baked good and they always turn out excellent. If I do say so myself it turned out better then the last cake we bought from  a bakery. Here's the recipe give it a try even if you don't decorate it as a flag. Trust me you won't be disappointed.

Snowman Pancakes

     We make these every winter at least once and it's always a fun winter treat especially if we have them for dinner. They are so simple to do I recommend trying it your kids will love them.

Ingredients
Make your favorite pancakes we made banana this time and make 3 different sizes (small, medium, and large)
Sausage
whipped cream
strawberries
blueberries
sprinkles (optional but they always make things more fun)

   Arrange your 3 pancakes on a plate from smallest to largest
   Spray whipped cream on pancakes
   Put sprinkles on you can see Liam went a little crazy with the sprinkles
   Use blueberries for eyes and buttons
   Slice strawberry and use for nose
   Cut one sausage in half and use for arms
   ENJOY:) 

Egg Casserole Recipe

I love having a nice hot breakfast in the morning. The only problem is my little guys are super hungry in the morning, so they usually are not very patient. This recipe can be prepared the night before and then just popped into the oven in the morning. Usually I do it as soon as I wake up, then by the time we are all dressed, it's ready to eat. I actually make this Christmas morning every year, so I enjoy watching the kids open gifts and don't have to worry about cooking.


Egg Casserole
12 eggs
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1/3 package of frozen hashbrowns
8oz package of shredded cheddar cheese
1 tube of breakfast sausage or 1 package of bacon if preferred

Cook the breakfast sausage or bacon in a pan till brown. Spray the bottom of a glass 9x12 pan and layer the bottom with hashbrowns. Then layer sausage and cheese on top. Combine eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and mix until the eggs are scrambled. Pour the mixture evenly. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight or you can prepare in morning and cook right away. Bake in at 350 degrees for about 35-45 minutes (until top is golden brown). Enjoy!

New recipes

    I love trying new recipes and since I started reading blogs I have found so many I want to try and Pinterest has so many too that look delicious. The other day I tried a white chicken chili recipe I found on a blog. I have one of my own that I love, but this was a creamy one and I wanted to try something new. It turned out ok, it was a little bland but I may try it again and add a couple of things to it.
I just hate when I try new recipes and am disappointed. I feel like cooking was a waste of time if the food is just mediocre. When I look at recipes though that have great pictures, I just always think it will taste just as good.
A while back I tried a couple Rachel Ray recipes and was totally disappointed with those as well.  I enjoy cooking, but with 3 kids I like meals that are easy or where you can do the prep work ahead of time since I'm on my own at dinner time. So I thought I'd ask you guys if you have any recipes or sites you love to go to for new recipes?

Sunday Supper: BBQ Chicken Pizza

     I know I've been lacking on the recipe posts, so I thought this week I'd be sure to get one up. This recipe is super easy and a favorite in our house. I think it's even better then most restaurants I've tried.


Ingredients
Refrigerated pizza dough crust or make your own if you are ambitious 
1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce I like Sweet Baby Ray's
1-2 cooked chicken breasts(shredded)
4 strips of cooked bacon (chopped)
8oz package of Mexican shredded cheese
1/4 cup chopped onions (optional)
1/4 cup of chopped red peppers (optional)

Directions
Spray pan and roll out dough.  Cover in BBQ sauce, cheese, and all your other toppings. Cook according to directions on dough. Enjoy!

Sunday Supper: Chicken Soup

I know what some of you are thinking it's too early for soup. I love soup, and since it was cooler today I thought it was a perfect day to make it. Plus, I have a sick little guy here and I haven't been feeling well and what's better for that then homemade chicken soup.

Overnight in crockpot cook 4-6 bone in chicken breasts or one whole chicken (sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder) pour one can of chicken broth on bottom and put chicken breasts on top. Cook on low overnight or 8 hours then put on warm till you are ready to use them. I cook extra chicken to have for other meals, but if you're just making this you can cook only two.

Soup Ingredients
2-3 chicken breasts shredded
3/4 bag of frozen carrots
1 tablespoon of pepper
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
5 tablespoons of chicken paste
5-6 cups of water
1/2 a bag of egg noodles

Shred two chicken breasts and place in bottom of large pot

Add carrots, water, pepper, Italian seasoning, and chicken paste.  Mix then bring to a boil and add egg noodles. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes, then enjoy!

Not sure why it keeps cutting off the bottom of the picture when I upload it, but you get the point.  Everybody loved it, I'm definitely ready for fall and lots more soup and chili:)

Sunday Supper: Grandma Mary's Beef Sandwiches

  


    So if you haven't noticed from my last recipe I love food that is easy to make and full of flavor.  This recipe is from my grandma and is used at family parties all the time and everyone says how good they are. When I got older I asked for the recipe and once I realized they are so easy to make, I now make them all the time.  You cook these in the crockpot, which I also love because you can just throw everything in then you're done. 

Grandma Mary's Beef Sandwiches
3lbs pot roast
1/2 a bottle of fat free Italian dressing
1 package of dry brown gravy mix

Put all the ingredients in the crockpot cook about 6-8 hours. Use a fork to shred beef and serve with cheese and peppers.
*make sure to use fat free dressing I've been told if you use regular it's greasy
* I've made it without the brown gravy packet and it's still great
*You can easily double or triple recipe for parties
Honestly you have to try these I've made these for parties and people always tell me what a great cook I am.  Little do they know it's so easy!

Sunday Supper: Pepper Lime Chicken

So I thought once a week I would start posting a recipe.  This is super easy and delicious.                                  
Pepper Lime Chicken Ingredients
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp pepper
2 limes
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1-11/2 lbs of chicken pounded thin
shredded pepper jack cheese optional

Put olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in bowl.  Squeeze the juice from one lime into bowl and then grate lime and put zest of one lime in the bowl.  Mix ingredients.  Pour over chicken and put in refrigerator. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, I like to prepare marinade the night before and marinate over night.

 Grill or cook in pan about 10 minutes on each side or until middle is no longer pink. Put cheese on top during last minute or two of cooking and let melt. Use the second lime to squeeze juice onto chicken before serving.

We decided to have brown rice and corn on the cob with ours today. I have also used this chicken for tacos with cheese, avocado, and cilantro. Easy to make and everyone loves it. There's your Sunday Supper.