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I made these Cream Cheese Squares for a stamping workshop at my house last night. The ladies seemed to like them. They are super easy to make, and I needed something quick and easy this week!
I did substitute low-fat crescent rolls and Neufchatel cheese to make them a little less sinful, and they were still very good. I also changed the topping. I didn't sprinkle them with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. I made a simple confectioner's sugar icing and drizzled it over them instead.
Have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
Our family has officially taken the foray into organized sports with our oldest son. He's in kindergarten this year, and we have registered him to play soccer with a local youth league. We had our first practice one evening last week. We all went as a family just to watch him at his first practice. He did great! They split their team up and played a little scrimmage against each other, and he scored a goal! Yay! I am anxious for our first game in a few weeks.
I tell you all this, because once you start having practices and things in the evenings, it's hard to plan good meals for your family. I pulled out this Easy Italian Stew recipe when I was making up my menu for the week, because we had gotten some Italian sausage on sale. I wanted to use it, and this seemed like a good recipe for these cooler end-of-summer, preview-to-fall days we've been having. It was quick and easy to make once we got home from our first soccer practice. My husband raved over it, and he doesn't rave very often! Thanks for stopping by!
I got this recipe from a Pampered Chef consultant about two years ago at a holiday shopping open house. She had made these as little snacks for all the customers going through the place. She shared with everyone that she had snagged the recipe for Black Bean Pinwheels from Kraft Foods, and even had a printout of the recipe that people could take with them.
I was craving something different for lunch the other day, so I made some of these for myself. Yum! Thanks for stopping by!
A few weeks ago, I was looking for watermelon recipes. I wanted something watermelon-themed for a stamping workshop snack. I came across this recipe for Watermelon Pops on the Kraft Foods website. I didn't make them for the workshop, but I saved the recipe for the boys and I to try someday.
We made them this week--sort of. We didn't add the mini chocolate chips, and we didn't use lime jello for the top layer, so ours don't look like watermelons at all, but they're still tasty. We used orange on the top layer instead, so they're a strawberry/orange fruity frozen snack. They're not bad, but I don't know that we'll make them again. The boys just don't have a sweet tooth or big appetite for ice cream and/or frozen novelties, so it's hard to tell how long these will remain in my freezer. Thanks for stopping by!
I needed something quick and easy for dinner last night, so I made these BBQ Cheddar Chicken Roll-Ups. My boys are very picky eaters, and they weren't terribly fond of them, but Jim and I liked them. Have them with a side salad, and it's a great meal filled with healthy vegetables! Thanks for stopping by!
Don't immediately wrinkle your nose and say, "Yuk!" when you read this recipe. It's actually pretty good. I had a sweet craving the other day and some bananas that were starting to get overripe, so I made some Warm Caramel Bananas. I made them once or twice a long time ago, so I made some to use up my bananas and feed my sweet tooth. I don't put the peanuts in this recipe, and I don't add the chocolate or whipped topping at the end either. I just make the sauce/syrup with the bananas. That takes some of the calories out and makes it not quite so sinfully rich, right? Thanks for stopping by!
These Steamwhistle Hot Dogs were a quick lunch after church Sunday afternoon. No, I don't need a recipe to make hot dogs, but these made something a little more special and tasty than just plain old hot dogs. Give them a try! Thanks for stopping by!
We've been back from vacation for a week now. I made us breakfast and lunch while we were on vacation, but for the most part, we went out for dinner. Now I'm having a little trouble getting back into the routine of cooking dinner every evening! I picked some quick and easy recipes for the menu this week.
The new Kraft Foods magazine was in the mailbox when we got home, so I picked a few recipes out of it to try. This evening, I made Sausage with Peppers and Pasta, and it was pretty good--filling, but not heavy. I couldn't find Italian sausage at the grocery store, so I just used some smoked turkey sausage. I didn't have the exact blend of shredded cheese either, so I just used what I had. It turned out just fine. Thanks for stopping by!
Here's an easy recipe from the Kraft Food & Family magazine I got a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, it's no longer free. That's irritating. I wonder if I'll soon be getting a bill to renew my subscription? It's filled with quick and easy recipes for all sorts of things: main dishes, snacks, beverages, desserts, etc. but I'm not sure I like it so much that I'll pay to receive it. I can always just use the website, right?
Anyway, back to the Spinach Pasta Toss recipe... I made this the other evening with some grilled chicken breasts. It was a quick, easy, and healthy dinner. The boys weren't thrilled with the spinach. (Mom, do I have to eat the leaves?) I thought it was ok though. Jim did too.
Also, have you seen that mini pasta that Barilla makes? It was on sale at Meijer a few weeks ago, so I bought a few boxes. My youngest is a messy eater. Jim says eating is a full-body contact sport for him. I bought some, and I have to say it's easier for the kiddos to eat. I made this recipe with some of the mini penne pasta. It wasn't whole wheat, but oh well. I also used plain old shredded mozzarella instead of the Italian Blend too. My theory is that you use what you have if it's close enough. Thanks for stopping by!
One evening last week, our plans changed and instead of having dinner out, we were going to be eating at home. I had nothing planned, but had printed out this recipe to try sometime soon. I had already bought all the ingredients to make this at some point, although none are really anything out of the ordinary.
This Creamy Chicken, Bacon & Tomato Pasta recipe from Kraft Foods is so easy, and very good! We all really liked it, even the boys! The only adjustments I made to the recipe were that I added a little more bacon, used regular cream cheese, and I used some mini bowtie pasta (non whole-wheat) that I found at the grocery store. The little ones were easier for my boys to eat. This is a great quick recipe that turns out really well! Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!
I like to make nice, hot breakfasts for us on Saturday mornings when we're all home together. A few months ago, I first tried this Breakfast Bake recipe from Kraft Foods, and it was a keeper! The boys eat it, which is proof positive that it's good, because my oldest is a very picky eater. I've made it a few times since then, and it's been great every time. It's very easy, so I hope you try it the next time you'd like breakfast together with your family. Thanks for stopping by! 
I was in a mood for Tex Mex food, so I tried this easy Mexican Chicken Casserole from Kraft Foods. If you've never been to their website, you should try it. You can sign up for a free magazine they publish about four times each year with lots of easy and quick recipes in it. You can also sign up for emails with recipe and meal ideas in them.
As usual, I made a few adjustments to the recipe.
- We're not fond of green bell peppers. Although they're more expensive, we prefer yellow, orange, or red bell peppers. They have a milder flavor. So I used an orange bell pepper instead of a green one.
- I rarely use name brand products, so any time you see the name brand of an item used, I probably didn't use it. In fact, I used some homemade salsa that I canned a few summers ago.
- I used regular cream cheese too, because that's what I already had open in my fridge.
- Who has good fresh tomatoes this time of year? I used a can of petite diced tomatoes instead.
- Finally, I didn't use whole wheat tortillas, and I used more of them. I used three in each layer, and I cut two of the three in each layer in half. I arranged them in the square baking dish by putting the four flat cut sides against the four sides of the pan with the one whole one on top in the middle.
I guess I didn't follow the recipe very much at all, did I? I wasn't sure if we would like it or not, but we did! It was very good, and it hit the spot for my Tex Mex craving! We added some fat free sour cream on the side too. Thanks for stopping by!
Yesterday I mentioned that I have a recipe box full of my "staples", recipes I make over and over again, because they're the best I've found for that particular dish. Here's a recipe I use to make meatloaf. I used to use a different one from the Better Homes & Gardens big binder cookbook, but after I tried this one, I never made the old one again.
This recipe for Easy Pleasing Meatloaf only has five simple ingredients. You can't beat that for simplicity, and it's pretty cheap too! Let me tell you how I tweak the recipe. When we got our first microwave when I was a kid, my mom tried a recipe for meatloaf where you cooked it in the microwave. This is how my mom has made meatloaf ever since.
Once you have the meatloaf mixture all ready, instead of putting it in a loaf pan to bake in the oven, you form the meatloaf mixture into a big donut in a microwave-safe baking dish. I use a Pyrex pie plate. Depending on the power of your microwave, you'll have to adjust your cook times. I cover the meatloaf with waxed paper and cook it on full power for 5-6 minutes. Then I put another Pyrex pie plate on top of the meatloaf and flip the whole thing over. I drizzle barbecue sauce or ketchup over the top (which was the bottom in the first cooking cycle), replace the waxed paper and cook for another 5-6 minutes on full power.
I didn't used to flip it half way through like this, but Mom showed me this trick when she was staying with us after I had one of the boys. So now I've done this ever since too. It keeps the top side from getting over-cooked and dry.
One more thing on this recipe. It calls for 2 lbs. of ground beef. The whole recipe is too much for our little family of four right now, so when I make this, I put half in a zipper freezer bag and put it in the freezer till the next time I want to make meatloaf. Then I just pull it out of the freezer, thaw it, and cook it in the microwave. It's great for an evening when you need a quick meal. I hope you'll try this one, because it's super easy! Thanks for stopping by!
Today my son came home from preschool with a snack in a sandwich baggy. He nicely shared it with his little brother, and both of them enjoyed it immensely. It was a peanut butter Rice Krispy Treat with a chocolate topping on it. I have never made them, so I set out to find a recipe so that I could make the boys some more. The Kraft Foods website is full of easy recipes such as this, so that's where I looked first. I found this recipe for Frosted Peanut Marshmallow Crispy Squares. I don't know if they're exactly the same as the preschool treat, but they're pretty darn close! Thanks for stopping by! 
Once again, I'm going to sing the praises of the Kraft Foods website. I had a late afternoon appointment and wanted dinner to be ready when I got home. So I decided to try this crock pot recipe. I've tried some slow-cooker recipes in the past that did not turn out well at all, so now I'm skeptical of new ones. I have a select few that I use regularly. This recipe for Slow-Cooker Chunky Chicken Chili was better than I expected and a great dinner on a cold blustery day! Thanks for stopping by! 
I tried this side dish one evening, and I really liked them. I want to incorporate more vegetables in our meals, and this was one of my first tries at a new veggie side dish. So many sides like pasta, rice, potatoes, corn and peas are starches. If you have a great veggie side dish recipe to share, please do! Just post a comment telling me about it.
The recipe I used came from the Kraft Foods website, which is terrific for easy, basic recipes. Here's the recipe for Maple-Glazed Baby Carrots. Thanks for stopping by!
I made the ladies this soup for lunch on Saturday during our cd calendar stamp camp. It's from a past Kraft Foods magazine. Do you get it? If not, go to http://www.kraftfoods.com to sign up for it. I love it, and it's FREE! Thanks for stopping by!
Bacon, Cheese & Potato Chowder
3 c. milk
1 can (10.75 oz.) condensed cream of potato soup
2 c. frozen Southern-style hash browns (the cubed ones, not shredded)
shredded cheddar cheese
crumbled bacon (We like the Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits in the
yellow bag in the salad dressings and croutons aisle.)
thinly sliced green onions
My Notes: I always substitute 2 c. milk and 1 c. sour cream for the 3 c. milk. I like the extra flavor that the sour cream gives. Also, I never garnish with the green onions. I'm just not a fan.
Mix milk and soup in large saucepan. Stir in hash browns. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 min., stirring frequently.
Ladle into soup bowls. Top evenly with the cheese, bacon and onions. Serve with a crusty whole grain roll or bread.
More of My Notes: I've also put this in a crock pot to cook. If I need it quicker, I'll cook it till finished on the stove, and then put it in a crock pot on low to stay warm if we're eating on the go or munching on it all day on a college football Saturday!
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