New Year, New Menu! Pinterest Recipes Tried at Home!

Here are some of the dinners I've made this new year! Mostly from PINTEREST! If I got the recipe from Pinterest I will be sure to link them with the picture so you can try it out at home!!

Now we all know that things look more appetizing on Pinterest rather then when you make it your self at home, but these are pictures of ACTUAL renditions of those yummy looking photos! Also I included 2 of the deserts I made at the end!

Enjoy!!

 

This first dish is, brown rice with teriyaki chicken and veggies! This is AMAZING, and super easy to make! I use store bought teriyaki sauce, but you can make your own. I absolutely LOVE the SunLuck Teriyaki. Its amazing and I don't have to add anything to it to give that sweet flavor! 

Here is the recipe!:

 http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18155204723576392/ 

 

This is Sizzler's Malibu Chicken! This is my FAVORITE dish! So easy and yummy! I always server broccoli when we are in need of a side, just because I know my boyfriend really loves it!

Here is the recipe!: 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/202591683210355546/ 

 

Spaghetti and Meatballs! This is my own recipe, so I just use Whole Grain Linguini, Garden Sauce, and store bought meatballs! It's so easy and quick!! 

 

 

This one does not look appetizing at all, lol, but it was delicious! This is a Teriyaki Steak Roll stuffed with carrots and zucchini, and potato wedges!! The recipe I used was actually a Balsamic Glaze, but I substituted Teriyaki instead.

Here's the recipe!:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18155204723576395/ 

 

This is my take on a Chipotle burrito rice bowl! This is really easy to make! I use brown rice, black beans, chicken, cheese, salsa and sour cream! 

Here's a similar recipe!:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/234398355581023019/ 

 

 This was one of my favorites! It is chicken stuffed with Black Forrest ham and Cheese! So yummy and easy! severed with mashed potatoes and broccoli!

Here's the recipe!:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18155204723136286/ 

 

My homemade Apple Sauce! So easy and better for you than store bought! I use about 10 large apples, cored, peeled and cut into large chunks. I just fill my crockpot all the way to the very top with apples! Sometimes I need more than 10 sometimes I need less, depending on the size of the apples. Then add about 1 1/2 cups of sugar, and a table spoon of cinnamon. Cook on high for about 5 hours, stirring only twice in that time. Cook until the apples are tender and get mashed up while mixing!

 

 Chocolate Pretzel Bark!! This is SOO addicting! Only 4 ingredients to make this! And they are things your probably already have in your house! I used white chocolate instead of milk chocolate, but I think next time I will use just plain milk chocolate, because the white chips didn't melt very well.. 

Here's the recipe!:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18155204721401718/ 

 

How To: Cut Grapefruit so it's easy to eat!

Grapefruit is so incredibly good for you, filled with antioxidants, and so much more. Eating 1 grapefruit a day was proven to reduce LDL Cholesterol by 15%! Grapefruit also helps improve your skin and heart health! But we all know it can be a pain to eat!

 

It's difficult to scoop out the meat with a spoon or fork, squirting juice all over the place, all for something that has a bitter flavor. This really used to make me not want to eat it, but then I discovered an easy way to cut and prepare my grapefruit that makes it easy! And no mess!!

 

Start by cutting BOTH ends off your grapefruit, then using a knife, simply carve away the outer skin. This leaves you with a big ball of grapefruit meat! Cut into small bite size pieces and your done!

I like to store my grapefruit in a container, sprinkled with a little sugar!

Enjoy!

 

 

Ultimate Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings

So, I've made this quite a few times, and I have discovered the Ultimate Recipe. As I've made this recipe I've tweaked things little by little to make the end result the best! Of course you can just add all the ingredients into the crockpot at the same time, "set it and forget it" but if you're looking to make the best soup possible this is the recipe for you!! It does take a little more effort than the original recipe but its so worth it!!This is such an easy way to make your home smell like you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day working on this classic meal, even though it only took you about 20 minutes of being in the kitchen. Chicken & Dumplings is the ideal comfort food, perfect for the changing weather.

ENJOY!

What you need:

• 3-5 Thawed Chicken Breasts (can also use tenders, just use more)
• 2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Can Chicken Broth
• 1 Bag of frozen veggies of your choice (or fresh veggies if you prefer)
• Pepper
• Garlic Salt
• 1 Canned Flaky Biscuits

Directions:  

1. Add thawed chicken, pepper, garlic salt into the bottom of your Crockpot.

2. On top add Chicken Broth & Cream of Chicken, Stir 

3. Cook on High for 2 hours or until Chicken is almost completely cooked.

4. After the first 2-3 hours, add in frozen veggies.

5. Continue cooking for 3 more hours. (if leaving it all day you can add everything all at once)

6. When chicken is completely cooked, shred with fork and knife.

7. Cut 3-4 biscuits into very small pieces and stir into soup.

8. Continue cooking for 1-2 hours

Serve and Enjoy! 

Tips:

Don't add salt!! Between the Garlic salt, and the broth there is MORE than enough salt. If you are worried about sodium, you can use no sodium added broth/cream of chicken.

I add my frozen vegetables later on in the cooking process, just because I don't want them to turn to mush, but if you are cooking your soup on Low or if you are not around to add them in later, adding it all in at the same time is perfectly fine.

Stir if you can! I know some people like crockpot meals because you don't have to stir or check on it, but I personally like to stir the soup every once in a while. Other wise you get a brown crust around the edges, which turns burnt. Stirring also helps everything cook more evenly. 

Cut your Biscuits SMALL! As they cook they expand, so keep that in mind when cutting them! A lot of these recipes I've seen say to just cut them in quarters and that is WAY WAY TOO BIG! 

 

 

Quick Tinfoil Fiesta Chicken

This recipe is SO simple and quick! Great for a busy weeknight! The ingredients are simple and you most likely have everything you need in your kitchen already! The salsa and tinfoil keeps the chicken moist and the flavors are amazing! This recipe is definitely a staple in my house!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 Chicken Breasts or Chicken Tenders Thawed (or as much needed for your family)
• 1 Cup Salsa
• 1 Can Mexican Corn (regular corn works too)
• 1 Cup Grated Cheese
• Seasoning to taste
• Tinfoil
• Cookie Sheet

 

Instructions:

PREP:

• Preheat oven to 450
• Cut a rectangle piece of tinfoil for each piece of chicken (large enough to make a pocket for chicken to sit in)

CONSTRUCT:

• Lay each piece of chicken on individual tinfoil squares and season with salt, pepper & garlic salt.
• Top chicken with Salsa & Corn making sure to cover the entire chicken.

 

FOLD:

This part can be a little confusing until you get down the folding techniques*

• Make sure chicken is centered in the middle of the foil.
• Take the two sides that are longer and pull to the top making a triangle (Picture 1)
• Fold the Ends of the of the tinfoil, making a pocket.(Picture 2)
• You should be left with an opening in the middle where you later open and add cheese. 
• Place all the individual pockets of chicken on a cookie sheet.(Picture 3)

 

BAKE:

• Bake for 18-22 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked
• Open Tinfoil and add cheese to the tops of each chicken breast.
• Reseal the top of the tinfoil and put back into the oven until cheese is melted (about 5 minutes)

 
SERVE:

I love serving this dish with mashed potatoes. Its quick and easy and very filling! You can make your own mashed potatoes or use store bought instant potatoes!

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed today's post!

 
 

Spooner Farms Harvest Festival Puyallup, Wa

 "Spooner Farms Harvest Festival" located in Puyallup, WA was the absolute BEST Pumpkin Patch/Harvest Festival I've ever been to. The atmosphere was perfect for all ages! We had such an amazing time and I wanted to share our experience with you! If you live in Western Washington I HIGHLY recommend visiting this destination, especially if you have children! I've included the "2014 Fall Harvest Festival Flyer" so you can see just how much stuff Spooner Farms has to offer! Not only is this a great place during Fall time but all year round!This was our first visit to the Farm, but definitely not our last! Here are some photos of our adventure! Also I added the photos of our pumpkins we got there and how we decorated them. As well as a Yummy Baked Pumpkin Seeds Recipe! All photos were taken with my new iPhone6!

Enjoy!

 

"Carmel Apple Reflection"

 

 "Corn Maze Selfies"

 

"Silly Toothed Pumpkin"

 "Free Hand Monogrammed Decorative Pumpkins"

 

"Yummy Baked Pumpkin Seeds"

After carving your pumpkin and separating out the seeds from the meat, rinse the seeds; removing all pumpkin meat from the seeds. Pat the seeds dry with paper towels and put into a mixing bowl. Preheat oven to 325. Into your mixing bowl add 2 Tablespoons of Butter(or olive oil) Salt, Garlic Salt(optional) Spicy Seasoning(optional) Give it a good stir, making sure to coat all the seeds, then spread onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 40 minutes stirring half way through!

Hope you enjoyed today's post!