My New Blog!

My sisters have been bugging me for a cookbook, and because I love them, I've decided to start this blog.  I hope they enjoy this, as well as all those who are to busy to think about dinner!

What's for Dinner? The question we all ask ourselves, or get asked, daily. I'm sick of walking back and forth between the fridge/freezer and my pantry wondering what to make that night for dinner. I look through cook books, look on line, ask my husband and kids, then when I finally decide half the time I'm missing some major ingredient. Then here we are at 7:00 pm back to square one.

When I’m working, I'll ask clients what they are going to have for dinner and it seems like most of us have the same response, "I haven't even thought about it yet." Then one evening I was doing my cousin, Monica's hair and she told me she makes a menu correlating with sales...BRILLIANT! So, I’ve decided to do the same, however I’ve found we have lots of leftovers. Well great, leftover night right…wrong! Anyone who knows my husband, knows he hates leftovers, and because I love him, I try not to have leftover night. Therefore I’ve learned to make meals from meals and he never knows that he’s eating Monday’s chili on Wednesday. Ha ha ha, our little secrete!

This blog is mainly for the meals I create; to help my sisters, and anyone else, go from leftover to gourmet! I will also put my menu, which correlates with the grocery sales, on this blog. I only plan five meals, because everyone needs a night off from cooking right and Sundays we usually eat with family. I hope this helps you as much as it helps me!

Bow & Head Band Holders

I took an old picture frame and spray painted it white.  Then stapled ribbon onto the back.  This was great to clip all the flowers and bows to, but what about all the little head bands?  I saved a large Country Time Lemonade can thinking I could use it for something...then I had this great idea!  I took it and mod podged cute paper around the outside and glued a huge flower on top.  I then placed all the cute head bands around the outside and the plain ones, that I clip flowers and bows to, in the inside.  Now I'm not searching all over Taysha's room looking for headbands!

Little Girl Name Board

Made this for my little girls room.  I got a canvas board, wooden letters, flowers, butterflies, & ribbon from Hobby Lobby.  Stapled some fabric on the board.  I painted the letters and hot glued flowers around.  I stapled the ribbon around the edge.  It looks so cute over her crib!

Fajita Quesadilla

I make these when I have leftover grilled steak or chicken.  This is so fast and easy, yet very good!

• Steak or chicken breast, marinated
• minced garlic                                
• 1 lime, juiced
• 3 tsp  Worcestershire sauce
• 3  tsp liquid smoke (mesquite flavor is great)
• 1 white onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• olive oil
• 2 cups grated cheese
• flour tortillas

Cut steak or chicken into strips and marinate in garlic, juice from lime, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke (or use already cooked meat).  Slice onion and bell pepper into strips.  Saute onion and pepper in oil until crispy tender.  Remove to plate to drain.  Drain your meat and cook in same skillet until done (if using already cooked meat, just warm it back up in skillet).  Wipe our skillet and reheat to medium-high.  Place butter on one side of tortilla, putting that side on skillet, then top with cheese, meat, veggies, and a little more cheese.  Place another tortilla, with butter on one side, that side facing up, on top.  Cook a few minutes, until golden brown and flip until other side is golden brown and cheese is melted.  Serve with salsa. 

Grilled Asparagus

 

My family loves asparagus!  Lucky for us, it grows wild on our farm so we get sacks full every year.  This is one of our favorite ways to eat it.

• 1 lb fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat grill on high.  Lightly cot the asparagus with olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Place on foil then put on grill.  Grill over high heat for 2-3 min tossing half way, cook to desired tenderness. 

Also can be put under high broiler in oven on baking sheet.

 

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Herb Garlic Butter

We love corn on the cob and our favorite is when it's grilled!

• 5 ears of corn
• Herb garlic butter

Pull the outer husks down the ear to the base. Strip away the silk from each ear of corn by hand. Fold husks back into place, and place the ears of corn in a large bowl of cold water for 10 minutes. Remove corn from water and shake off excess. Place the corn on the grill, close the cover and grill over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, or until kernels are tender when pierced with a paring knife. Remove the husks and eat.

Herb Garlic Butter

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup chopped fresh chives 

2 TBSP minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Combine butter, chives and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. Stir in salt and pepper. Brush on corn

Ground Beef and Rice

Nice crock pot meal!

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup rice
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 2 TBSP soy sauce
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• canned French-fried onions

Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet; drain well.  Place in crock pot.  Mix in uncooked rice (not minute rice),  soups, water, & soy sauce.  Top with the french-fried onions.  Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until rice is done. 

I like to cook extra ground beef and store in the freezer for a quick meal in the future...from leftover to gourmet!