Pecan Pinwheels: A 5-minute Dessert

Hi, Islanders!  It's been forever.  Like, forever.  I've been living and loving and loving life as I'm living it.  I've promised some updates but for real, they're on the back burner because I've got some 5 minute ideas I need to share over the course of the next few days.  First up?  A five-minute Dessert!

Pretty Pecan Pinwheels

Supplies

- Store-bought pecan pinwheels
- Canned whipped topping
- Chocolate or caramel syrup
- Crushed pecans

Step-by-steps

1.  Remove pecan pinwheels from package.  Tip: if preparing for immediate consumption, warm the pinwheels up prior to assembly.

2.  Top with whipped cream.

3.  Drizzle with syrup.

4.  Sprinkle pecans on top.

5.  Place on platter and get ready for compliments :)

This is the perfect dessert for the commuter who wants to participate in the office potluck but doesn't have the means to carry a lot of food on the road; these supplies pack easily in most bags and can be assembled onsite!  I also love that they look fancy and homemade.  Plus, they're effortless and affordable!

Head to your local grocery store and whip up some  last-minute and fabulous desserts!

Feel Better Slush Recipe!

I mentioned in the Easter wrap-up that Munch was sick over Spring Break.  She had come down with a stomach virus and, according to the doctor, ituse s symptoms could linger for a few days.  Munch returned to school for one day and woke the following morning under the weather.  I determined that she was dealing with those aforementioned lingering symptoms and was most bothered by the dehydration effects, particularly the headache, from the bug.

To re-hydrate and to combat the fever while offering her electrolytes and (shhh!) fooling her into thinking it was a treat, I came up with the sick slush recipe.  This one is DEF for the books!

All you need is your favorite flavor of sports drink and ice!  Combine 1/2 cup of ice with 1/2 cup of sports drink and blend until smooth. You may decide to add ice and/or sports drink until the texture you prefer is desired.  Pour into a cup with a straw and enjoy!

That's it.  Two ingredients.  Three Steps. And yummy!

Make it.  You'll thank me for this.

Munch didn't want to eat or drink but when I put the feel better slush in front of her?  SUCCESS!  This drink would make a great treat in the summer when the kids don't want to stop playing to drink water.  Mix up some slush and rest easy!

Coq Au WEEKNIGHT!

Coq au vin (French for chicken cooked in wine) can take two days to prepare if you include marinating the chicken overnight.  I followed a recipe many years ago for a healthier alternative (no bacon and no butter) but I've simplified it for our everyday lives.  I'm sharing our everyday version today.  Get excited because it's super easy and super yummy!

Photo taken before baking

Super easy and super delicious all year long!  Here's the recipe card!

Day 23: $3 Pumpkin Drop Cookies

You know, everything in my mind doesn't come out as I plan.  Sometimes, things turn out better and on some rare occasions, things just fall short.  I haven't quite decided where this recipe falls but I know this:

It's good.  REALLY good. 

Are you wondering how something can be so good and still be a flop?  I'll get to that.

So, I had this vision.  I saw the cute paper straws DT has for the fall holidays and the Baker's chocolate and thought I could create a 2-ingredient cake pop.  One that requires no egg, and would just roll, freeze and dip perfectly.  In my mind, I was going to break the internet.  Wait.  You don't know what a cake pop is?  I found this infographic:

Source

It's an accurate and hilarious description of the difference between cake pops and bake pops.  I assumed everyone knew what a cake pop was... Until recently when I was talking to Devona. Get this, she's a baker chick who has never had a cake pop.  To clarify, she's made bake pops but doesn't know the original recipe calls for a truffle-like consistency (aka - cake dough). WHAAAAAT?!

HOW ARE WE EVEN STILL FRIENDS?!

Day 22: $6 Chili Recipe

So, I know you don't believe it but YES, the Dollar Tree (DT) sells chili.

AND NO.  I don't care how great the reviews are, I'm NOT talking about canned chili!  This month's challenge has forced me to LOOK for cool things at DT.  It's been fun! While searching, I scanned the food aisles and this McCormick seasoning packet caught my eye.  

Hmm, skillet chili.  Sounds interesting enough...  The package said all I needed was a 1 can of tomatoes, 1 can of red or kidney beans and a pound of ground beef.  I made ours with a can of fire roasted tomatoes (purchased from DT), a can of Goya brand kidney beans (purchased from DT), a pound of ground turkey (purchased for $1.89 from Aldi), and I served it over white rice (purchased from DT).  That's $4 at DT and $2 from Aldi for the meat.  A meal for 4 adults for less than $10?!  Unheard of!

Day 11: Smoothie Prep Tips and Tools!

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.  

I shared how we pack all of Munch's snacks for the week on Sundays.  I've also mentioned how we find her clothes for the week on Sundays.  I haven't shared that we also prep all of Munch's breakfasts for the week.

Hubbs is a gym rat.  He is the guy with the shaker cups and protein powders.  He's the guy who has an extra shaker cup and protein powder in his trunk JUST IN CASE he can squeeze in a mid-day workout during lunch or if he forgets to mix in the morning.  Now that he has the morning routine, Munch noticed he was mixing his protein smoothies and she recalled the time I was faking a health nut lifestyle and mixing smoothies for myself (...and giving her the extras).  On a Sunday grocery shopping trip, Munch squealed as she ran to the frozen fruit section.  She begged me to buy her some frozen fruit and to make her smoothies in the morning.  WHAT?! Who has time for that?  Have you seen the price of frozen fruit?  I'm not wasting $10 on two bags of fruit to make a smoothie the kid probably won't like.  I also am not wasting my morning minutes to mix her up anything.

She got an attitude but I kept my pennies that day.  Then, later that same day, it happened.  We were shopping in DT... you know, the place my kid knows the odds are in her favor if she makes a reasonable request... yea, there.  She saw it.

DT (those locations with freezer sections) sells frozen fruit!  Mango? Pineapple?  Peaches? Berries?  Strawberries?  For a $1?!  I agreed to take the time that afternoon, find the recipe that works for her, show her how to use the blender and, IF SHE ACTUALLY STUCK with it, we'd make it part of our routine.  Well, Islanders, she made me eat my words; it's been a month.  Munchface prepares a smoothie every morning and we employ DT products to make our lives easier.

Day 10: Cookie+Brownie+Oreo = A Brookie-reo?!

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.

Pause.  I know you saw that title and thought, "brookie-reo?  What is Tabby doin' now?!"  Just go with it.  It's *totally* a new thing... As a matter of fact, it's a Chocolate Chip Brookie-reo.  You get it, right?  Seriously, if I made the title BROOKIE-REO would you even know what I was talking about? Whatever.  Let's talk yummy and we can come back to this discussion later.


via GIPHY

I'm always impressed when I visit the grocery aisles at the Dollar Tree (DT).  I recently discovered their Betty Crocker cookie mixes.  They make 12 cookies each and I was so excited because they are the perfect size for us.  We only like fresh-baked cookies so having leftover dough is always a challenge for us... we're the people who'd rather bake 6 cookies everyday than have cold or crunchy cookies for a week.  Weird, I know.

Recipe: Easy Salmon Kabobs

I've mentioned how back in Munch's younger days, she and I shared Mommy-n-Me Mondays.  On this day, we would bake or craft or play or whatever we wanted.  As she got older, we slowly moved away from our weekly activities.  Every now and then, when schoolwork is all caught up, we will spend an evening having fun!

On a recent night, Munchface asked to help with dinner. I planned to make salmon but, with her offer to help, I had to jazz up the recipe.

So, the salmon kabob was made :)

WW: Everything's Better On a Stick, Right?

Wordless Wednesday

Recipe: Birthday Cake Blondies

Islanders, there was a time when Munch and I enjoyed making something together every Monday.  We would bake or craft to our hearts' delight.  We called this awesome day Mommy-N-Me Mondays.  As she grew, Munch's homework requirements increased and so did my work responsibilities.  This year, for the first time ever, Munch doesn't have childcare after school.  She was wait-listed and I refuse to pay one of the local facilities close to $200 for a few hours each week.  As a result, Hubbs is responsible for the morning routine - wakes her up, refreshes her hair, makes sure she has breakfast and puts her on the bus - and I changed my schedule so I can be home when she gets off the school bus.  Islanders, this is a major change in my life.  MAJOR.  I am now in a position to start our evening routine 5.5 hours before bedtime instead of trying to race against the clock in a short 2.5 hours before bedtime.  One of my new schedule's benefits is the return of Mommy-n-Me time!  It's great for us and for you guys too because I'll be sure to keep you in the loop with our creations!

We made these yummies during the first week of school and they were a huge hit! 

Birthday Cake Blondies

Perfect Potatoes

I promised awhile back that I would share some  easy weeknight recipes.  Today, as promised, I'm sharing an awesome side dish.  It is perfect for a steak dinner or a healthy turkey burger or a comfort breakfast or a chicken salad sandwich; it's perfect for any laid back summer (fall or winter or spring or any frikkin' time of the year) meal.

Perfect Potato Wedges

Supplies
- Red Potatoes
- Olive Oil
- Pam non-stick spray
- Knife
- Cookie Sheet
- Black Pepper
- Seasoning ( I used Adobo con sazon but seasoned salt would work just as well)

Step-By-Steps

1.  Rinse potatoes until all dirt is removed and cut off any roots that may have sprouted.

2.  Slice potato in twelfths (in half, then in half again, then each quarter piece into thirds).

3.  Spray the cookie sheet with Pam

4.  Place the potato wedges on the cookie sheet with the skin down.

5.  Drizzle with olive oil and seasonings.

6.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

I removed them and they were perfectly browned and lifted easily from the cookie sheet; I was super excited!

The Birthday Dinner - Remixing Tradition

Howdy, Islanders!

Yesterday, I shared some pics in honor of Hubbs' birthday; it was a great day!  Normally, I start planning pretty early on.  This year, however, I found the perfect gift (totally NOT like me) and I set the wheels in motion to get it.  He's going to love it (it needs to be built).  I was so focused on and distracted by the gift that I almost let the day slip by.

Our family has a number of traditions and our birthday tradition includes a family spaghetti dinner.  I picked Munch up from school.  We were off to pick up things for the dinner but Munch was fed up with spaghetti and wanted to try something different.

"Daddy always wants spaghetti! Can't we try something different?"

We brainstormed for a few minutes then we decided on spaghetti pizza!

Yes.  You read correctly.  No, seriously.

Taken November 2014

On one of their daddy-daughter dates, Hubbs and Munch tried the pizza and came home bragging about it.  They CLAIMED they brought some home for me but, after about 30 minutes, the two piglets gobbled up "my" leftovers.

Because I'd never tried it, I had to rely solely on Munch's taste buds' memory.  I tried to Google a recipe as we walked into the grocery store but none of them involved a crust so, we were really forced to wing it.

I picked up all of the ingredients, we picked up last-minute decor supplies and we headed home for cooking, baking and set-up.

We taped up the wall mural and Munch slid on the guest of honor's chair cover.  She set the table and placed his cards on his plate.

Oh, and have I told you that she has become quite the drink server?  Well, she made a fancy drink for Memorial Day and it was a hit among our guests.  I'll share more on that later. For now, check out her awesome set-up.

She even cut that strawberry on that cup all by herself!!!  I pulled out some platters and we set-up a birthday spread fit for the Birthday King of the Keese castle.

Did you see it?  No, not the gummies, the spaghetti pizza!

We weren't sure how it would taste but it smelled awesome and we were certain it would be a pleasant surprise for Hubbs when he arrived home. 

He was excited to dig in and gave me an obligatory smile just before he said grace.

I was sure the pizza would taste okay but, when I decided to remix his favorite meal of all time, I was nervous it wouldn't measure up no matter how good it was.  We cut it, we served it, we started to eat and...

HE LOVED IT! He actually said our version was BETTER than the big fancy restaurant's!!!!

We also made his favorite cake (strawberry cake with strawberry icing) and surprised him with the birthday song when he and Nuke returned from their evening walk.  It was a great evening and an awesome birthday for Hubbs.

I know this family dinner is nothing like the events we talk about here on the island.  There was no fancy sweets table or fun games to talk about.  There was no two-tier cake custom-designed or any table linen or time-consuming hand-made decor.  

Not because I don't love a good party or because I don't appreciate what those events require but because I'm reminded of the time I threw Brian a low-key surprise birthday party.

There was a cake.

There were friends.

There were video games.

There was also a moment, after everyone left, when Hubbs pulled me into the room and got emotional.  REALLY emotional.  He said he was so grateful for the party because he knew I put a lot into it and it reminded him of the last party he had when he turned five years old.  His grandmother called all of the neighborhood kids over to share in some of the cake she made him.  Hubbs recalled how special he felt with everyone surrounding him and wishing him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  He recalled how much he enjoyed sharing in his favorite flavor of birthday cake and he recalled longing for that feeling ever since.

As my obsession with event planning and crafting grew, I wanted to host more extravagant events for Hubbs.  Every time I'd begin the conversation, he'd shut down.  All he wants every year for his birthday is his favorite dinner with his favorite cake.  I appreciate him for that.  He keeps me grounded and, in his own jerkface-butthead way, he serves as the balance I need.

I love that he knows our family traditions and reminds me to place more value on time together than capturing the fabulosity during holidays and milestones.  This little ol' dinner may not be anything special to you but for us this work of heart was MAJOR!

Here's hoping you remember to make milestones more than picture-worthy posts on so-called social media!

WW: What I'm Bringing to Dinner

Sweet Potato Cornbread

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Creamy Mac-n-Cheese

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Pumpkin Dump Cake

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Easy Honey Rosemary Chicken

I'm sharing a super easy recipe inspired by a photo I saw on Pinterest.  It was a recipe for this pretty chicken:

Image Source

I have a thing with Pinterest.  I love it. I really do.  I just feel there is an intimidation factor with it. For awhile, I was worried my projects wouldn't look like the finished products professional bloggers take with their professional cameras... it's as if the site's users have forgotten the purpose of Pinterst is to get inspired to try something on your own!  Well, that picture inspired me to make some chicken...  good chicken.  I didn't follow their recipe exactly and I certainly didn't take my weeknight minutes to "skewer" the chicken... I added a little more of this than that and it helped to make this chicken APPROVED for weeknight (real) moms :)

Here's how I made MY version:

Quick Recipe - Chili Mac

Hey, Islanders,

 

I may not talk about it often but this Mama cooks.  Every night.  I also try to cook a balanced meal.  Every night.

 

Now, that doesn't mean I don't have my moments but... I believe if I make our food at home I KNOW what's in it...  can't trust everybody's everythang, ya know?  Over the years, I've gained some quick go-to meals.  I figured I should start sharing some of my go-to weeknight recipes for others who may be interested in meals that don't break the bank and aren't SO fancy they intimidate you from trying.  These recipes may not be pretty but they taste good :) They also are designed for my real cooks - the ones who try to squeeze something to eat into the 3-4 hours between the time they get home and the time they [should] climb into bed.  Can I get an Chandelier CHAN-DALAY?!

Are you lost by where that term came from? Read about it here!

---ANYHOO---
 

I believe my inherent desire to ensure meals are prepared at home, and with as little "processed" assistance as possible, came from my parents.  They made sure we always had a home-cooked meal.  They didn't use store-bought or ready-made anything...  Things most people take for granted nowadays like homemade spaghetti sauce or gravy were always homemade in our house.  When I think about it, my parents used to make a dish called Chili-Mac.  It's what I relate Hamburger Helper to be.  It takes the same amount of time as Hamburger Helper but is MUCH healthier and makes more servings. 

I guess one could consider this recipe my version of Chili-Mac.  Enjoy!

 

Easy Mini Meatball Subs

O, Islanders. I've been really emotional about Olivia's first birthday.

To know that she's gone from our little peanut to a wiggly noodle is just crazy to me.  I know what you're thinking and YES, I've been through this with Munch.  NO, she's not my baby BUT...

Isn't that what coffee tables are for?  Crawling tunnels?

I thought time would've slowed down by now... that 'Liv would be a baby for longer.  After all, I know how to sit still and enjoy babies now… I was careful not to rush her to the next milestone, she was always fine in all her baby glory. 

Munch leaning into the playpen to steal kisses before bedtime.  Yes, 'Liv has to sleep in Munch's room when she visits with us.

Despite my best efforts, God gave Time a different plan.  Olivia's turning one whether I like it or not.

Wait.  Islanders, didn't I say not to talk about it in yesterday's post?!

Moving on...

I've been nostalgic and stalking my own photos from the baby shower (read the posts here).  While reading the posts, I realized I've never shared one of my easy party menu items.

Mini Meatball Subs

I love meatballs.  Seriously, I love them so much that I have several recipes (the Hawaiian, the grape jelly, the BBQ, the marinara, the hand-rolled, the cheese-filled, the gravy, etc.)

They're just an easy crowd-pleasing comfort food.  For the Made In Paris shower, I wanted to provide bite-size food that didn't require a fork.  I also wanted food that was equally as cute as it was filling.  This EASY meatball sub recipe is my go-to for events of this sort all the time!

Ingredients

- Meatballs (sold in the freezer section)

- Spaghetti sauce

- Dinner rolls

- Provolone cheese

Step-by-Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.  Place meatballs in a baking dish.

3. Bake meatballs for 15 minutes.

4.  Remove from oven and pour sauce over meatballs.  Stir to ensure sauce is evenly distributed.

5. Return to the oven for 30 minutes removing periodically to ensure sauce distribution.

6.  Remove meatballs from oven.

7. Slice each dinner roll on it's top.  I like to cut in the shape of the letter -V with the widest part at the top of the loaf.  Remove the excess bread and place a slice of cheese inside the roll (I use half slices for each sandwich).

8.  Place 2-3 meatballs in the "bun."

VOILA! 

Enjoy your easy and delicious mini meatball subs!