Preparations

Today is the day...I am making these kabobs today.  The sausage is cut, and waiting to be marinated.  I cut up a delicious cantaloupe, and fresh pineapple.  Talk about yummy!  I can not wait to get to my mom's and assemble these suckers.  They are going to be amazing! ( I hope)

Red Baron Pizza By The Slice

Here's a pretty good deal you might want to take advantage of:

"like" Red Baron Pizza on Facebook and print a coupon for $2 off their pizza by the slice.  I was able to print 2 coupons (one in my name and one in Ryan's...they wouldn't let me do Kasi or Brandi), so I checked out the price at Walmart.  My Walmart has them for $3, so using the coupon makes it $1 each.  I will check the grocery stores before I use the coupons, just to make sure I get the best price, but Walmart is usually the cheapest.

Kasi's (Last) Birthday Cake

My mom made this cake for Kasi's party last Sunday.  It's a giant cupcake surrounded by regular cupcakes and Hershey's Kisses.  It was delicious!

Thanks mom!

Polynesian Sausage Kabobs

The other day, while standing in line at Walmart, Junior was thumbing through a Taste Of Home cookbook.  He found the following recipe, and I can not wait to try it:
(I found this recipe on the Taste Of Home website)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 pounds smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 small cantaloupe, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 medium green peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Set aside half of the marinade for basting; cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add sausage. Seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Drain and discard the marinade from sausage. On metal or soaked wooded skewers, alternate the sausage, pineapple, cantaloupe and green peppers. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 10 minutes or until sausage is browned, turning and basting frequently with reserved marinade. Yield: 5 servings

Sounds delicious, right?

Free Apples Are The Best Apples

Last week, I bought a pack of Chiquita apples with caramel to take with me to Tennessee.  The package I bought had four individual packs of apples, and on the wrapping it had a code for a free pack.  All I had to do was go online, put in the code, and I could download a coupon.

When I went to print the coupon, my computer asked me how many copies I wanted.  Usually, it will let me do two copies before it says I've reached my limit.  I was shocked when this site let me print ten coupons!  The only problem I am having is finding the fruit...only Walmart carries them.  I was able to find the apples and caramel there, and also a five pack of apples and grapes. 

I have used all ten coupons.  It's a good thing the kids (and Junior and I) love them.

Chicken Salad From Scratch

I made chicken salad for Kasi's sleepover, and I impressed myself by making it from scratch.  First I boiled a bunch of chicken breasts until they were cooked.  I added a bunch of spices, and salt and pepper to the water, which added flavor to the chicken.  When the chicken was fully cooked, I threw it in my little Tupperware food processor thingy (yes, that is the technical name for it! lol!) and shredded it up.  Then I added some sweet salad cubes, mayo, a little more salt and pepper, and then just a touch of ranch dressing.  Everyone loved it, so I guess it was a success.

Party Food

Chips, all kinds...check. 

French onion dip...check. 

White salsa con queso...check.

Deviled eggs...check.

Ham and cheese sandwiches...check.

Chicken salad sandwiches...check.

Olive and pickle tray...check.

Fruit salad (not pictured)...check.

Yummy, yummy food...check!

Rachael Ray Ramekin Set

A few months ago, my friend Stacey shared a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie with me.  My family loved it!  The next time I make it I will share the recipe with you guys, giving her all the credit, of course.  The other day, she mentioned in a blog post that she made a Shepherds Pie. I asked for the recipe, and she was nice enough to share once again.  I haven't tried it yet, but plan to very soon.  When she makes it, she uses ramekins.  I don't have any, so I asked if I could do it in a big pan, and she said it would work, but really, it would be more fun her way.

This led me on a search for ramekins.  I found these really cute yellow ones at CSNStores, and they are less than $20 for all four.  If I won the giveaway that Anna is hosting for a $60 gift certificate to CSNStores, (you can enter for yourself here) I could get three sets.  Then I could make the Shepherds Pie exactly like Stacey does.

I am pretty sure my family will love it as much as they did the Chicken Pot Pie.

The Finished Product

My writing is crooked, but I'm not a professional.  Aside from that, I think it looks pretty good.

Cookie Cake

Last week, I bought a cookie cake for Kasi for her birthday.  She didn't want a "real" cake, she wanted a cookie cake.  It hurt me to pay $9 for it, but that was what she wanted.

Tomorrow night she is having a slumber party, so I decided to make a cookie cake for that.  All I did was buy a tube of refrigerated dough, spread it thin on a pizza pan, and bake for 20 minutes.  It was really easy, and a whole lot cheaper.

Now I just need to decorate it...

Great New Price On Brownie Mix

I did a post recently about how to jazz up a boxed brownie mix, and I stated that my local Walmart has the family style mix (for a 9X13 pan) for $1.25.  I always like to have a few in my pantry, and I was running low, so when we food shopped last week, I picked up a few boxes.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that Walmart has lowered the price, to $.75 a box. 

I consider this a great price!

Disco Fries

I was laying with Brandi last night while she was falling asleep, and I was flipping through the channels, trying to find something to watch.  (for some reason, House has not held my attention this season)  I stumbled on this show called Jerseylicious just as two women were eating Disco Fries.  They looked so disgusting!  It's french fries topped with mozzarella cheese and chicken gravy.  They don't even sound kind of good. I googled them, of course, and found out that they are only served in, surprise, New Jersey.  Have you ever heard of, or tried, Disco fries?  If so, are they as gross as they sound?

Dark Chocolate Cheesecake

Whoever looked at plain cheesecake and thought, "wow, I think chocolate will make this even yummier" is my freakin' hero.

That's all I'm saying.

Breakfast In Bed On Mother's Day

Water, cherry yogurt, and oatmeal cookies.

The best breakfast ever!

Thank you Brandi Rose!  Love you!

Edamame

I love edamame.  I could eat this as a meal, or as a snack.  They come in the pod or just the bean (is it called a bean?), but I prefer them in the pod.

I heat them in the microwave, and then cover them is a course ground salt.  Then I use my teeth to pry them out of the pod.

Delicious!  This is one vegetable I do not have to beg my kids to eat.  In fact, when I first started buying them, my youngest daughter used to pray at night that we would have them for supper the next day.  Yup, she loves them that much. :)

Mother's Day Cupcakes

My (almost) 13 year old daughter made these cupcakes for Mother's Day.  I think she did a great job, and they were delicious.  I appreciated all the hard work she put into them.  Thanks Kasi!  Love you!

A Super Quick, Super Easy Side Dish

This is the easiest side dish, and it can be thrown together in about five minutes.  I used three cucumbers I got at the flea market (I love this time of year when all the fresh produce is starting to become available) and just peeled and sliced them thin.  I know there are recipes floating around about using oil and vinegar, and maybe some dill, but I can't be bothered with all that.  I just use whatever dressing I have available in my fridge.  For this time, I used a fat free Italian, a balsamic vinaigrette, and a Romano Italian.  (all three only had a little left, so I mixed them together)  Brandi, Ryan and I are the only ones who eat this, and Brandi loves taking it in her lunch box for school.  You can also add some cut up tomatoes, or peppers, or any other crunchy vegetable you like.  Be creative!

Peanut Butter Chip Covered Brownies

I always keep a couple of boxes of brownie mix ( I get the family sized mixes at Walmart for $1.25) in my pantry for those days when the kids have been extra good (or I need a chocolate fix).  Brownies from a box are great, but I usually add a little something special to them.  I know, there are mixes that come with stuff added, like the turtle brownies, or walnut brownies.  But let's be honest.  There are never enough nuts or caramel or peanut butter in the flavored mixes.  Adding peanut butter or chocolate chips that you already have on hand, or your favorite nut makes these boxed mix brownies extra special. 

So the next time you make brownies, see what you have laying around in your pantry that can make them yummier.

Sweet Barbecue Chicken With Pineapple

This recipe is a variation of a kabob I cook on the grill that I am kinda famous for.  Okay, so maybe "famous" is overstating it, but everyone in my family loves them, and they are a big hit at parties.  I promise to do a post on them the next time I make them.  For now, I'll give you the "indoor" version.

Doesn't this look good?

First thing I do is make my barbecue sauce, though not from scratch.  I always have a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ sauce on hand.  In fact, I usually have a couple in the pantry, because I (we) love BBQ sauce.  Anyway, I put some in a small saucepan, and add brown sugar and honey. (I don't know how much...I just eyeball it)  I whisk it until combined, and then it simmer over medium heat until it is nice and bubbly. I then turn it to low, and make sure to whisk it around ever few minutes so it doesn't burn.

While this is simmering away, I cut up my chicken into small pieces.  I only buy boneless, skinless breasts, and I usually have about 10 or 12 packs in my freezer at the beginning of every month.  This recipe is great, because I only use three breasts to feed my family of five.  Anyway, while I am cutting up the chicken I am pre-heating my skillet.  I am not sure if I have mentioned this before, but my mom gave me a big, thick Rachael Ray type skillet, and I love, love, love cooking in it.  In fact, I use it almost every day.  It's also what my food is in for most of my pictures on here.

Okay, I'm getting off track.  Once the skillet is hot, I open a can of pineapple chunks and throw them in there with a little olive oil.  Once they are a little brown I move them to the sides of the skillet and add the chicken pieces to the middle of the pan.  I let them cook until they are white throughout, then I add the barbecue sauce.  I mix all of it together, and it looks like the above picture. 

I usually serve baked beans with this, and I make sure and add some of the barbecue sauce to them, too.

Yellow Squash And Onions

I really am the queen of easy side dishes, and this is Junior's favorite.  All I do is slice up some yellow squash thinly, and throw it into the pan with some onions and olive oil.  (I use olive oil a lot, because it is the best oil for you, and you are supposed to have a little oil in your diet every day...I learned that from Weight Watchers)  Let them get all soft and brown, and serve hot.  The girls and I won't eat it (we don't like squash or onions), but Ryan and Junior love it.

Parsley Potatoes

Remember these potatoes that I got the other day?  Tonight I made a delicious, simple side dish with them.

All I did was cut up the potatoes into bite sized pieces and toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley. 

 

Then I slapped them on a cookies sheet, and baked them at 450 until they were nice and brown, about 45 minutes.  Make sure you watch them, though, because they can burn quickly.

 

Don't they look yummy?

We love eating them with ranch dressing, but they are really good on their own, too.  When we finished supper, there wasn't a potato to be found!

Pizza Bagels

This is a very simple, throw together at the last minute kind of meal.  There are only three basic ingredients, and then you can add whatever extras you happen to have in the house.

The three "must have" ingredients are foods I usually have on hand every day: bagels, sauce, and mozzarella cheese.  Most of the time I do have pepperoni, because a local grocery store puts small packs on sale often, and I usually stock up.

All you do is slap some sauce and cheese on the bagel, and bake in the oven on 350 until the cheese melts.  That's it.  You can add whatever other toppings you like, too.

These are great for parties, too, especially if you use the mini bagels.

Enjoy!

Top Droppers ~ April

I just started doing entrecard with this blog, so this list of top droppers are the blogs who dropped here the most in the past week.  Thanks for coming by and checking out my newest blog!

Ask Ms Recipe ~ A food blog like no other where I will answer your recipe questions and include your website with the answers.

Winesworld The Amateurs Wine Guide ~  WinesWorld is a friendly wine guide for amateurs, by amateurs.

Space In Pictures ~ Pictures of the latest discoveries in space, space launch shuttle missions, and various Hubble pictures.

 My Beautiful Creations ~ (one of my other blogs) This blog is all about the things I make. I love to crochet, and work with wood. I also love doing crafty things with my kids.

Seek No More ~ Seek No More is an online community whose main purpose is to provide a place where both experts and newbies can learn, interact and discuss business, career and entrepreneurial opportunities.

 My Kids Are My World ~ (my main blog) This is a blog about my life as a wife and mother of three kids, who are, obviously, my world. 

SmartShopIt ~ This is the blog to our free site (www.SmartShopIt.com) where our Members can access coupons, nutrition facts, product comparison, shopping lists and more. Our members can also promote their shopping knowledge with tips, articles and reviews. 

 Sweets Foods Blog ~ You'll satisfy your sweet tooth at this foodblog with food reviews, thoughts, news, great images like - desserts, chocolates, cakes, ice creams, bakery, pastries, beverages and…better, experience by yourself! Come on, join it! 

Doing Business ~ all about online business,make money online,or something like that.

 Just a boy's mind ~ personal blog that contains something interesting me

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