March Foodie Pen Pal

Spring is HERE!!! Sun, warmer weather and rain!!  So excited to spend more time outside and open the windows and air the house out!

This post is a little late, sharing my March Foodie Pen Pal Treats!! Deborah was my Foodie Pen Pal this month and she sent me some awesome goodies. Have a look below to see what I got.

This tea is great! I have a tea obsession and a giant cupboard dedicated just to tea!  

I think I was meant to share these with the kids, but I ate them all. Loved the different flavours. 

I have no used this yet, but I have been wanting to try out different salts

Smoked Paprika!! soo good on chicken!!

I bought Deborah the same gum!! The Pomegranate Mint is my Favourite!!

These awesome Dehydrated fruit and nut cookies!! Delicious and lots of healthy stuff. Click HERE for the recipe on her Blog.

This is really good! I haven't had chocolate with chili in it before. I really like the kick!

Thanks again Deborah for the awesome treats!!! I enjoyed them all. 

If anyone is interested in joining Foodie Pen Pals visit The Lean Green Bean. It's so fun to get to know others and to get mail! Especially since it is not a bill!!  

The Best Pizza Sauce Ever!!!

I really wish this weather would make up it's mind. I mean I love the snow and I love Spring, but I would like it to be one or the other. Although I am not looking forward to cleaning up our backyard once everything melts. The damage from the ice storm before Christmas has left a huge mess.

I am enjoying the warm sun though and the flower starting to emerge from the garden.

So I was making pizza last week and realized after I started the pizza dough that I had no pizza sauce or pasta sauce. So I ventured to make my own pizza sauce! Not sure why I have never thought to do this before because it was so easy and way better!!

Pizza Sauce
1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1.5 Tbsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tbsp balsamic glaze

Place all ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to low. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes until sauce thickens.

Extra can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. This also freezes well.

Crockpot Moscow Chicken and Potatoes

Good Snowy Day! Mother Nature teased us the last few days with warmer weather and sun and now it's like a blizzard outside. Although I don't mind, cause I love snow; looking at it and playing outside but not driving in it.

The kids aren't happy, as it's March Break and they don't get a snow day from school! I know when I was in school I was always disappointed when it snowed during the holidays or March Break; Why can't it snow when there is school?

Well this Moscow Chicken and Potatoes is perfect for those days when you're outside playing with the kids (or at work all day) and want to come home to a nice warm meal that's ready to eat!

Moscow Chicken and Potatoes

(adapted from Slow Cooker Moscow Chicken)

20 chicken thighs (or 2 per person) I prefer boneless, skinless

20 bacon strips (or enough for 1 per piece of chicken)

4-5 large potatoes

1-2 tsp ginger, minced 

3-4 tsp garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp seasoning salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 10oz bottle Russian Dressing

Cut potatoes into 1 inch pieces and place in crock pot, sprinkle with seasoning salt and add 1/3 Russian Dressing and toss to coat. Spread potatoes evenly.

Season Chicken with pepper. In a large frying pan, brown on both side. Side aside on a plate to cool a bit.

Wrap each piece of chicken in a slice of bacon and place in a single layer on top of potatoes.

                                   

Rub ginger and garlic over top. Then pour remaining dressing on top of the chicken and spread evenly.

Cook on high for 4-5 hours. Skim fat off the top before serving.

 And serve with steamed vegetables or a salad

Oreo Pudding Cookies

I'm BACK!!! It's been a long time.... WAY too long... I cannot believe that I haven't posted in almost a year. I've been busy and really need to just make time in my schedule to post regularly and take pictures... that is one thing I need to get on top of. I've made some amazing meals and goodies, and don't have pictures to show for them. 

I made these Oreo Pudding Cookies a while back, and have made them a few times. They are a favourite around here. Check out the recipe and go make them! You

Oreo Pudding Cookies

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg 

1 egg yolk

2 cups flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 pkg Oreo pudding (or Vanilla if you can't find it)

1 cup chopped Oreos

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl or mixer bowl Cream butter and sugars until smooth. 

Beat in eggs. Add Vanilla and stir to combine.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and pudding mix. 

Add to butter and sugar and mix until combined. 

Fold in chopped Oreos.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. 

Bake 10-12 minutes.

Sundays with Joy! Chamomile Cupcakes with Honey Frosting!

Well today's recipe reminds me of Spring! Unlike the weather we have been having this week! It has snowed  twice! It's April!! Like really! Thankfully we have only gotten a little bit, but most of my family live in Thunder Bay and they have gotten dumped with snow twice! It would be really nice if Spring showed up sometime soon! 

This week our Sundays with Joy recipe is Mini Chamomile Cakes with Honey Frosting. Which Joy has posted on her Blog, so click on the link above to get her recipe or you can buy her book Joy the Baker Cookbook and get all her awesome recipes there. I am currently enjoying one with a cup of tea while I write this post for you all.

So if anyone knows me they know I LOVE tea! Some have even said I have an obsession! I have a huge cupboard which I purchased specifically with my tea collection in mind. I have probably close to 50 different types of tea. Anything from orange pekoe to chai to green tea with pineapple and everything in between. Some one at work bought me a teapot cookie cutter this week! I can't wait to make some cookies with it. 

But of course I ran out of chamomile tea. I really wanted to make these as they were and did not feel like experimenting until I at least tried them as they were meant to be. These little beauties are light and not too sweet! The frosting is gooey and delicious! Just see for your self!

I think I will experiment with the flavours in this recipe! Some thoughts are Green tea and citrus or earl grey and lavender(such a good combo) or orange pekoe and maple. I have so many idea running through my head. I will have to wait for an occasion to bake them, so I am not tempted to eat them all. I am trying to cut back on the sweets. I am going to also experiment and see if I can make these healthier and still taste just as good! 

But for anyone interested here is the nutritional information for 1 cupcake

Calories 246
Fat          7.3g
Sat Fat    4.3g
Cholesterol 37mg
Sodium    100mg
Carbs     43.4g
Sugars    33.8g
Protein    2.5g

Hamburger Soup

It has been a while! I apologize for the lack of posts over the last 2 months. Life has been busy, however, I am back.

Today's recipe comes inspired by my future mother in law! She has made this a few times and it is so quick, easy and adaptable. It's hearty and just perfect for a cool day! Although I do also enjoy this on a summer day too.

Hamburger Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 onion diced
3 cloves garlic
2 stalks celery diced
3 carrots sliced
2-4 potatoes (depending in the size) cubed
1 cup corn
3 cups tomato juice
4 cups water
3 bouillon cubes
4 tbsp rice or barley
salt and pepper to taste
** can add any other vegetables you would like (broccoli, cauliflower, peas, peppers, etc..)

In a large pot over medium heat; cook ground beef. Drain beef and set aside.
Add onions, celery and garlic, saute until soft and translucent. Add remaining ingredients and ground beef and stir well. Simmer for 2 hours.

He asked... I said YES!!!

I have been MIA for a while and I do apologize! Things have been very crazy over here. The kids are keeping me busy for sure! But I am back and have lots of good recipes to share! Last post I shared about my trip to Mexico in January, this time I will share a little about Easter weekend. We went up to Manitoulin Island as usual to visit the bf's family. Which I always look forward to, it is so beautiful and quiet... well not in the house with 16+ people. Usually the lake has started to melt and the ice has drifted out when we get there. This year it was different, it was still frozen! So the bf asked if I wanted to go for a walk on the lake. 

As you can see in the picture below it was a beautiful sunny day! This picture was at the beginning of our walk, shortly after the jackets came off.

He reminded me to bring my camera along to take pictures cause I usually forget when we go for walks and always miss something cool. His mom told us to take the girls with us but he didn't want to. Shortly after we started out, his mom and the girls came out for a walk to. That's how we got the nice picture above! They continued on their way while we took more pictures and enjoyed our time alone. Further into our walk I was facing the other direction and when I turned around he was on his knee!!! Up he asked me to marry him!!! and of course I said YES!!! and for all of you who are going to ask to see a picture of the ring!! I have added one for you!

Now begins the fun of planning the wedding!! So excited for that!!! and now I have to remember to call him my FIANCE!! which I keep forgetting...