Frozen Banana Bites

If it is hot and almost unbareably muggy where you are, you wont want to miss this treat!
      Okay okay... there are much more humid climates. But you see, Utah is supposed to be dessert.  And for the last few weeks the humidity levels have been abnormal to say the least.  Example: I walk outside turn the hose on, stand there holding the hose watering my hopeless veggie plants that I transplanted from the old house to the new house drinking my Diet Pepsi and before I know it I've got what seems to be a river running down my back, my hair is almost instantly wavy from the sweat on my neck, and now I need yet another pointless shower for the day.
Anyways... Here is a super simple treat for you to make that may just help you through those rivers.

You will need:

• 4 large bananas
• 3/4 cup milk or dark chocolate chips depending on your preferance
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• Optional- course sea salt, coconut flakes, Oreo baking crubms

Melt chocolate and peanut butter together stirring freaquently to avoid burning the chocolate.
Lay a piece of parchment paper on a plate that will fit somewhere in your freezer.
Peel and cut the bananas into bite sized pieces or about a 1/2 inch.
Using your fingers dunk each banana piece into the melted goodness and set on the parchment paper.  When all of the pieces are covered lick your fingers! Don't burn yourself like I did though!.

Spoon the remaining chocolate over the top of the bananas, you wouldn't want to waste in now would you.
 If you have any optional ingiedients to sprinkle over the top now is the time to do that. 
Now place in the freezer.  You will want to let them freeze for 2-3 hours.

I will love having these babies in my freezer from now on!  I get a serious sweet tooth just before bedtime and a couple of these will be perfect.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is one of those meals that I throw together when all of the sudden out of nowhere the clock says 5:45 PM and I haven't given supper the teeniest tiniest thought.  It is very fast to prepare and doesn't really need to bake for too long at all.  Just about anyone would have every one of these ingredients at any given time as well.

You will need:

•  2 1/2 cups Egg Noodles (If I don't have egg noodles I just use whatever kind of pasta I have and it works just as well)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 4 Tablespoons Flour
• Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 2 cups Milk
• 2 cups Colby Jack Cheese
• 2 or 3 cans (small cans) Chunk White Tuna
• Plain Potato Chips Or Ritz style Crackers, Crushed

Preheat oven to 400. Boil noodles until nice and tender. 
In a medium sauce pan on medium heat melt the butter then add the flour and whisk well.  Be sure to incorporate them as soon as you put the flour in. Then add the other seasonings and continue to whisk.  Once well incorporated, pour in the milk, increase heat a medium high and whisk some more.  -I sound like a broken record I know but it truly is important, you want the butter, flour, and milk to become one ingredient and it will also burn quickly-
Once the mixture starts to boil it will start to thicken.  Once thick remove from heat and stir in cheese and tuna. 
Drain noodles and pour into a sprayed 9x9 baking dish. Pour the cheesy tuna mixture over the top and mix through it a little. 
Now, crumble an even layer of potato chips or crackers over the top and bake uncovered for about twenty minutes or so. 
Serve with a green salad and garlic bread.

...

I think this crazy chapter in my life is slowing down (((KNOCK ON WOOD))) and I hope to get back to some of the things I enjoy. 

I have accutally been making my family decent meals!  This is something that truely makes me happy.  A local grocery store had a killer deal on chicken wings, thighs, and drumbsticks so I got 5 packages.  Which means I had to do some recipe searching because I have never cooked with any of these cuts before.  I made the obvious Fried Chicken on Tuesday night.  I used the recipe out of  The Pionee Woman's cookbook. I also made these delicious Popovers they were so easy and good.  They are like my Hoot-N-Nanny Pancakes but a dinner roll vergan.  YUM

For those of you Utahians I am thinking about hosting a few Food Canning/Preseving classes. Leave me a comment if you might be interested or know someone that would be.

I have so many things I need to sew and so many things I want to make for my new home but so little time.  My list is getting longer and longer.  Here are some ideas that are on my list...

Knot So Hard Flip Flops

Drunken Gummie Bears

I am also going to be making very easy shmeazy citronella oil out door lanterns for my new patio... My next tutorial.  COMING VERY SOON!!!

Sharing Time...

When we began moving we decided to move everything that we needed to live and get it all put in it's new home first then we could go back (only like 3 minutes away) for the rest.  So as I am typing this I sit in a plain, boring, undecorated house.  I want so badly to get all of my paintings, pictures, shelves, etc. That is my plan for tomorrow.  My handy husband had to work today and I have a bridal shower to go to.  So I just don't think I will be doing much moving today. 

Today I thought I would show off my very creative husband's handy work.  He makes me the coolest furniture!  You will see.  But I am warning you now... you will be jealous!  He loves to use old reclaimed wood.  He always has his eye out for an old barn that is falling apart or a fence someone is replacing or some random pile of "crap" wood that someone would be grateful for him to get off their property.

I took these pics with my phone so I hope they work out okay...

This is my night stand.  He made one for each side of our bed.  They have concrete counter tops and HUGE drawers to lose stuff in.

This... is my favorite piece of furniture EVER!!! My bed he made me for Christmas two years ago. He wouldn't let me out in the shop I new he was making me something but had NO idea it was this magnificent bed. I love it!

His dad is an amazing wood carver.  He learned to carve from his father and carves the neatest things for all of us.  So, my hubby had my father in law carve this to go on the headboard.  So sweet hu! 

It says "made with love for the love of my life".

And this........ Is our front porch.  He made this a few years ago as well.  This picture does not even do it justice.  It is SO darned pretty!

So, there you have it.  Just a few pieces of my husband's handy work. 

........ And NO I don't rent him out ;-)

M.I.A.

So, I know how every one of you beautiful followers has been wondering where in the world I have gone to and have been missing me dearly.
So, to all of you I am sorry.
I truely am. I promise!

Now I know each and every one of you have crazy lives just like me and every once in a while you just need to disappear. Well, I really really need to escape from the real world! I've not prepared a decent meal in far too long. Honestly I couldn't tell you what it even was. I have not been able to sew. I have not taken my kids to do anything fun at all.

You see we are in the process of moving. We've got just about everything (not my sewing machine) to our new home but there is still so much to organize and put away. Where away is? I have NO clue. I am having such a hard time deciding where the best place for everything is. I am determined that this house will be much - MUCH more organized and orderly with less clutter. I really truely need a more clutter free life!

On top of moving, next weekend is my towns annual Foam Day. My very talented bestest friend Shandee @ Demi Blair Couture and I have a booth to sell our goods. And I have 0 bags made! Needless to say as soon as I wake up in the AM I will be headed back to the old cassa to get ALL of my beautiful fabric, my sewing machine, my sissors, etc. Don't ask me when I will find the time to sew other than while I should be sleeping but I've got to get some done!

So please... Wish me luck! I think I will need it. Oh, and also if you have any great tips or ideas on organizing and or moving, please share them with me!

Love you all!

She's Going To The Chapel & She's Goin To Get Married...

This week has been anything but calm.
My sister is getting married tomorrow! So... we've been shopping, baking taters, cutting fruit & veggies, & today I will be baking.  My husband is smoking Turkey & Brisket.
Oh and guess what! My Grams is in town! She is the strongest most amazing woman. I love spending time with her!!! But most importantly I want my kids to know her.
I will post pictures of the wedding and the food... too bad you won't be able to taste it though. I can't wait to have some of the meat.
Well, I really need to get baking but I also wanted to share a giveaway with you.

It is a bag I made and I love! Check out my good friend Halzey's blog, Spunky Junkyy's blog 
  and check out more of her posts. This is a blog I check daily, this girl has so many different creative ideas flowing through her head. She inspires me! Anyways... check it out and be sure to enter!
Well, my baby & my baking is calling me... so you all have a less stressful day than I & make it fabulous!

Banana or Not - Oat Pancakes

These pancakes are wonderful! They are tasty, healthy, and very filling. I love them!
YIELD: 3 servings - serving size: 4 pancakes
One serving is 9 Weight Watchers points.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking or old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon sugar or 3 packets of Truvia
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup nonfat buttermilk or milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1  large egg
Cooking spray
2 bananas (optional) - if using, I do not add sugar.
1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
2. Combine buttermilk, butter, and egg in a small bowl. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
3. If using banana, mash it up and stir into batter.
4. Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Spoon about 2 1/2 tablespoons batter per pancake onto griddle. Turn pancakes over when tops are covered with bubbles; cook until bottoms are lightly browned.
If you do not use sugar one serving will be 8 Weight Watchers Plus Points.

Vintage Book Cover = New Book

I have been looking for a great way to bind a personal cookbook I want to make for gifts. But I am very picky about the way I want it bound. I have too many cookbook that have busted spines or pages ripping out. So let me show you what I found...

http://recoveringcrafthoarder.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-i-did-with-old-book-cover.html

Lyndee is brilliant. I love her blog! So please check it out.

Blah Day = Stitches

I know I'm not the only person out there that sometimes just has "blah" days. Well today was one of those days for me. It wasn't bad at all and I didn't feel sick or anything like that, it was just blah. And I was kinda just waiting for something to happen besides me getting nothing at all done. So, now I am sitting here in our pediatrician's office during their after hours clinic waiting for a numbing gel to set into my son's forehead to get stitches. We had a bike accident this evening after wearing his helmet all day long. Yeah for us!
I will tell you something about my little man. He is the toughest kid! Only cried for a minute because he couldn't figure out what he hit his head on to make his head bleed so much. What a stud! Ya, that's my guy. Now, he has had enough waiting for the doctor & is jumping around the room. So, I've got to entertain him now.

Peach Raspberry Berry Good Cobbler

This is by far the easiest dessert ever! But I'm also thinking it just may be one of the best as well. Is all you need is 4 ingredients and a dish to bake it in... yummm!

1 quart peaches, undrained
1 quart rasperries, drained. Fresh berries should work too
1 white or yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter cut into tablespoons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Mix peaches and raspberries into a deep baking dish. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the fruit. Do NOT mix! Now place butter pats on top of the mix and bake for about 20 minutes but be sure to watch it. You just want it golden.

This would be great with ice cream!

Now I know this picture is not pretty or nice looking but I didn't take a picture until after everyone dug into it. I really hate posting recipes without a picture so here you have it. A very unpretty unprofessional photo I took with my camera phone. I hope is isn't unappetizing!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway that is going right now! http://mealmakinmomma.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebrate101-facebook-followers.html

CELEBRATE...130 Facebook Followers

I am SO excited!

To be honest with you, at some times I thought I would never make it to 100 followers. So to thank all of you amazing chefs out there...
I'M DOING A GIVEAWAY!
If you win you may choose a Drawing Backpack or a Hobo style bag. 
So, to enter:
For ONE entry - FOLLOW this blog and leave a comment saying you you do follow or are now following!
For a SECOND entry - LIKE the Meal Makin Momma's Facebook Page and leave a second comment here stating you LIKE my FB page.
For TWO BONUS entries - blog about Meal Makin Momma with a link to this blog and leave a comment here with a link to your post so I can check out your rad blog.

A winner will be chosen randomly on Thursday.

Raspberry Fizz Punch

I made this drink for my Bunko night last week and it is seriously so dang delicious.  Everyone wanted the recipe.  It is very cold and refreshing for those warm summer days.  Just trust me on this one and try it!

You will need:

•2 liters Sprite, Sierra Mist, Or 7-up


•2 liters Pink Lemonade

•1 1/2 Quarts Raspberry Sorbet

•6 ounces, weight Fresh Raspberries

•1 whole Lime, Sliced, Optional
 
Mix the soda and the pink lemonade in a large punch bowl. Drop tablespoonfuls of the raspberry sorbet right on top of the punch. The carbonation will make the sorbet fizz as it melts. Sprinkle the fresh raspberries across the top. You can garnish with  lime wedges on the rim of your glass.

Laundry Detergent

You may think this is a little over the top... BUT keep reading and let me tell you about my first experience making my very own laundry soap.  I am going to keep this post simple.

Pros:

• Ingredients are very easy to find.
• There are only 3 ingredients.
• It cost less than $5 to buy everything to make a batch of soap.
• It is okay to use in high efficiency machines.
• Takes about five minutes to make.
• Washes strong odors like 2 days worth of campfire smoke completely away in the first wash.
• There is not really a smell to your clothes once dried.
• IF you want your clothes to have a nice fragrance you can add some essential oils to your soap.
• IT COST A PENNY OR LESS FOR EACH LOAD!!!!!!!!!

Cons:

• ?
• ?
• :-}
• ?
• ?
• I really can't think of any... If I ever do I will be sure to let you know.

I have to tell you, I am not a person that can use just any detergent for my laundry.  I have two man cubs that know how to soil their clothes pretty thoroughly and one man that is an expert at dirt, grease, blood... you name it he's had it on his jeans.
This stuff works!!!  It really does get our clothes clean.

While searching for a recipe I read hundreds of recipes that were pretty much the same but with slight variations.  This is the one I decided would be best for me.

It is a powder.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (1 bar) Fels Naptha Soap, finely grated
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1 cup Borax

■Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.


■Use 2-3 tablespoons per full load.
 
 
Look at Tipnut for very helpful sight if you would rather try liquid soap.  The only reason I did powder is for storage reasons.
 
Please leave me your input or questions....
 
THANKS!!!

Shepherd's Pie

This Shepherd's Pie is very normal... I just searched through other recipes for Shepherd's Pie and all of them that I saw was... I'm not gonna lie... a bit weird.  This is a recipe my mother in law has made for years and years and I have never heard anyone complain about anything she has ever made.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 cups mashed potatoes (about 10-12 medium sized potatoes) skinned or not its up to you
• 1 lbs ground beef
• onion (optional)
• about 3 cups frozen green beans
• about 2 cups frozen corn
• 2 cans tomato sauce or soup (I like the sauce)
• 2 cups grated cheese (I always keep Colby Jack cheese in my house so that's what I use)

Here are my mashed potatoes...  kinda a wierd picture, sorry, but that is my masher if you were wondering.

Now brown the ground beef in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.  If you are choosing to use onions, chop them and put them in with the hamburger to cook while browning.  At this point I also like to season the burger with salt, pepper, & garlic powder.

In a medium sized pot fill it with hot water about 1/2 full. Bring to boil.  Once boiling add beans & corn, cover, and bring to boil again stirring a few times.  Once the water begins to boil let cook for about 1 minute and remove from heat. Drain. And cover again to keep warm.

In a dutch oven or a 9x13 baking dish you will add all the ingredients in layers in this order...
First the ground beef then the green beans and corn.  Now you will pour the tomato over the mixture.

 Now spoon the mashed taters on top of that.  The first time I made this I spread them over the top but quickly learned that you DO NOT SPREAD the taters... the correct way would be to spoon globs of taters over the top of the beans and corn.  There is no scientific 'nor logical reason to spoon globs instead spread.  But if you ask my husband life would never be the same, it would knock the earth off it's axis.

Now just sprinkle the cheese over the potatoes and bake for about 15 (if all the ingredients were still good and hot) and until the cheese is ooy gooy and looks delicious...

Serve and be very cautious this stuff is HOT!

This is what I have been doing lately... Yep I've been sewing.

And, I've really been enjoying it.  These back packs are so mch fun to make but even funner to see the kids wearing.  I customize each of them and they are all diferent.

I'm enjoying it so much I have decided to create my own Etsy Shop

Please check it out and let me know what you think and if you have a birthday, special event, or just want to give someone you love a sturdy, flashy, unique gift that they will l-o-v-e let me know and we can create one heck of an amazing looking back pack for a special person.

***Free shipping for one week only... you must LIKE my Facebook page.  The coupon code will be posted on my wall.

Moms

I hope all of you moms out there have amazing days filled with love and appreciation for all that you do. For always putting your family first and for all the never ending work you do daily.
I am so blessed with my family! They couldn't be any more fun! I love my husband and three kids, what a blessing they are.

It's May!

It's May and it even feels like spring!!!  Yeah!!! Shout Horray, HIP HIP HORRAY... okay I'm just a little excited.
Today is a good day :-)  Why, you ask?

1. My little man is freakin' cute with his chaps on!
2. We had a very good weekend!  Despite a late night (okay early morning) trip to the ER to get Jed's forehead stitched up after he walked into a flying beer bottle being thrown across the room by a very angry person in the middle of a bar fight. (We had just walked into the room and bam!)
3. I'm looking at a beautiful blue sky!
4. I caught my 4 year old niece peeing in my front flower bed.  When I asked her what the heck she was doin' she said, "Steele pee's outside".  And yes he deffinetly does... all of the time!  He has his own little pee spots. And no, I do not care one bit.  But I told her that maybe she should come inside to pee since she is a girl.
5. While Steele was a preschool we went to Walmart for some ingridients to make my own laundry detergent.  I've done some research on recipes and I finally just decided on one and we will see how it goes (I've been super excited to try it)... If I like it, it will only cost ONE PENNY per load!  Amazing!  It was way fast to make too.  I'll let you know what I think.
6. While in the laundry isle I saw startch.  Jed has been throwing out some pretty obvious hints like, "I wish my Wranglers looked crisp like that with the lines going up the legs" and "I would love it if you startched my jeans"  so I bought some and am in the process right this second of startching his sexy Wranglers ;-)
7. I am going to make this for dinner.  It should be great!
8. I get to go get Kylie from school in one hour!
9. Jed started his new job today!  Due to his outstanding work ethic and brilliant mind he is now the Infrastructure Superintendent for Hunt Electric.  Just gotta tell ya'll he is SO good at what he does!  He's been very excited since he was offered this job and gave his two week notice.
10. May means that this is the last month of school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love when the kids are out of school!

Here is a few pics of the Chicken Tacos I am making tonight... I am borrowing this recipe and picture from The Pioneer Woman 

PW's Brother's Chicken Tacos

Hope you liked my list...

And I hope you all have an amazing Monday too!



Cheerio Chocolate Maddness

If you like Rice Krispies Treats and you like Cheerios and you have leftover Easter chocolate candy you will like no love this here treat... and it's so quick and simple to make.

.....................
.............................
..................................................... I know you're drooling now.............


You will need:
6 tablespoons butter
2 (10.5 oz) packages mini marshmallows
12 cups Cheerios
Remaining chocolate Easter candy
*Optional Milk Chocolate Chips


First of all gather up the kids' Easter treats.  If they haven't eaten them yet, they got entirely too much candy during the Easter egg hunt and they must have a grandmother like my wonderful mother in law.  No joke my kiddos had GALLON buckets FULL to the brim of candy and there were ten kids doing the hunt that got the same amount...
So anyway, steal no borrow all or some of the chocolate treats...  Oooo now that I am looking at this picture all those Sixlets would have been great to use.

 We had lots of Reese's Eggs and Mini Milky Ways.  If you have Reese's eggs cut them up into bite sized pieces. 

Now in a large pot on low heat let the butter melt and add the mallows.  Be sure to stir often and don't leave the room if you burn these mallows it will be gross.  Once the marshmallows are melted and mixed well with the butter remove from heat and stir in the Cheerios. 



 Doncha just wanna eat these right now?  This looks sooooo good.

Now that the mixture has cooled some and wont burn you if you were to touch it --not that you should touch it or anything, it's completely up to you.  I don't want to see any comments blaming me for a burn! -- Gently stir in the chocolate candy.

Yes, it will more than likely still melt a bit but it will be okay ;-)

Spread it out into a greased baking sheet.  For a thicker treat press into a 9x13 for a thinner treat use a larger rectangle baking sheet.  And now if your feeling the need for a bit more chocolate to the madness sprinkle some chocolate chips on top and softly press them down.

Family Sized Baked Burrito

Oh how I love this...

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

3/4 cup salsa, thick & chunky

1 clove garlic, pressed
1 1/2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded & divided
4 burrito-sized flour tortillas (11-11 1/2 inches)
3/4 can refried beans
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
Optional: Lettuce, Avacodo, salsa, Sour Cream...

Preheat oven to 425. In medium sized microwaveable bowl mix chicken, onion, lime juice, salsa & garlic together.

 Microwave this mixture for about 3 minutes.
Start heating the beans in a small sauce pan.

Arrange tortillas like a plus sign. Starting with the left one, work in a clockwise fashion.  I don't know how else to describe it.  I hope this picture help you.  Be sure to over lap them!

Take your chicken mixture out of the microwave and mix in about a 1/2 cup cheese.

Spread your hot beans over the tortillas in a square shape. Then your chicken mixture over that.

Now close up your burrito starting with the first on the left and work clockwise as well.

 *** Be sure your wee little one is helping!  It makes it taste that much better.



Top it with your sliced tomatoes and the rest of the cheese.

Place it in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the edges of the tortilla starts to brown and the cheese is melted.

Cut with a pizza cutter and serve.

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies

I've officially gotten on the Nutella band wagon.  I had never had Nutella until this past weekend I finally decided to buy some and hope it would be as good as all the hype makes it out to be.  And... IT IS!!!  I LOVE the stuff.  I first tried it on a fresh strawberry. Oh, I fell in love at that very first moment it touched my deprived taste buds. I then searched one of my favorite recipe sites Tasty Kitchen for a cookie recipe.  And found this one from The Goddess of Baking, which eventually led me to this perfect recipe.  Okay they are both the same recipe but I wanted to give credit where credit is due and I really like how she created this recipe and used "3 giant spoon fulls" of Nutella.

If you look at the original recipe you will notice that I have doubled the recipe here.  With it doubled it probably made about 36 or so cookies.  I also used less flour and more Nutella on baked it for 2 minutes less in hope of a really soft cookie.  They weren't quite as soft as I was hoping for but they are chewy so I'm happy with my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup flour

2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter creamy or chunky

2 egg

2 tsp vanilla

4 giant spoonfuls of Nutella (My guess is about 1 1/2 cups?)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside. Mix butter, sugars and peanut butter. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Add flour mixture and stir. Slowly stir Nutella into the mixture.  Place large tablespoon sized balls on lined cookie sheet, smash down a bit, and bake for 8 minutes.

So... you really need try Nutella if you've never had it.  Try it with a strawberry or a banana or toast or a Ritz cracker or a cookie or ANYTHING.  And then make these amazingly incredible cookies.

Awesome Give Away...

Check out this amazing give away I came upon this morning.  I want it so bad!  I'm sure ya'll do too.  Check it out.

These are some of the things you can do with it...

Positively Splendid - Letter Press GiveAway