Carrot/Potato Mash

I love mashed potatoes, but having plain potatoes can get boring after a while, so I am always looking for ways to make my mashed potatoes more interesting. This is one of my favorite ways to make them. It adds more nutrition and more of those yummy flavor!
I dont have an exact recipe for this, usually I just guess at it and taste it through out making it to see how the flavours are working out.

Peel and cut potatoes and carrots, Boil together in the same pot until both are tender enough to mash. 
Drain.
Add butter, usually I add about 2-3 Tablespoons. 
Add salt to taste
A sprinkle of brown sugar about 1 Teaspoon
1/4 cup of sour cream and a splash of milk.
Then mash until combined.

These just look so much prettier then regular potatoes! 

 

Creamed Kale

Yes, I jumped on the Kale band wagon, I know not many are a fan of kale, but after trying this I would be surprised if you didn't LOVE it! Even my toddlers liked this recipe, and that's saying something! So please enjoy this lovely indulgent but healthy kale recipe.
I paired mine with a BBQ chicken Thigh and White bean Mashed potato substitute. Recipe coming soon for those!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 small shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces cream cheese
18 ounces frozen kale, lightly steamed
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 - 1/2 cup whole milk
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
 In a large skillet add butter and olive oil and set over medium heat.
Once melted add in shallots and garlic. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add in cream cheese, break up with spatula and let melt into the pan. If it starts to burn turn down the heat.
Once it's mostly melted add in steamed kale and stir.
Stir in Parmesan cheese.
Pour in 1/3 cup whole milk, stir and add more milk if needed for creaminess and moisture.
Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
*Recipe From--> http://www.nutmegnanny.com/2014/11/12/creamed-kale/

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

I don't really need to explain much in regards to these cookies. They are awesome. My whole family loves them, they don't last long that is for sure!! Please give them a try!

 

 

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Whole Milk
4 Tbsp Cocoa
1/2 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter
3 1/2 Cups Quick cooking Oats
2 tsp. Vanilla

 

Directions:
Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 1 minute. Stir in the next 3 ingredients and drop onto wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool until set.

*Recipe Courtesy Of* -->http://www.bubblews.com/news/1149225-the-best-ever-chocolate-oatmeal-no-bake-cookies

Old Fashioned Butter Milk White Bread

I love Homemade bread, it is so much better tasting then store bought bread. Bread can be a bit time consuming to make, So I searched and searched for a recipe that took a bit less time then your typical Bread recipe. 

Eventually I found this recipe and I knew it was a winner. In the first part of this recipe all the hard work is done by the bread machine! Honestly, you hardly have to do anything other then wait for it to rise again after it comes out which is only an hour! 

Now please believe me when I say this recipe is super easy! I have three boys under 3 and a house to take care of and even I find time to make this recipe!
Give it a try! You wont be disappointed!

Old Fashioned Butter Milk White Bread

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Water
1 cup buttermilk
2 tbl of butter or vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 tbl brown sugar
3 cups flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 tbl gluten (optional)

Directions:
 Put all ingredients in your bread machine, according to your manufacturers settings. Mine go in the exact order listed above.

Select dough setting. Mine takes about 1 hr 30mins

Once your dough cycle is finished, punch down the dough and place it in a greased loaf pan. I like to use Pam. I spray it all over the loaf pan, place in my bread dough and then spray the top with more Pam. I then put plastic wrap over the top and wait for it to rise. It should rise up and above the edges of the pan.

Once doubled in size, bake at 350' for 30 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

Take out of the oven and immediately rub a cold stick of butter over the top.

I do enough, so that my bread has a light coating of butter on top.

Let cool a few minutes and then remove from pan and onto a plate, 

where it will completely cool.
**Recipe courtesy of**-->http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2011/05/old-fashioned-buttermilk-white-bread.html

Hearty Coconut Curry with chicken, chickpeas, and green peas

I will admit, I was a bit intimidated at first to try this dish. I had never made a curry before, Now keep in mind this is just a VERY basic curry, but I think it is a great starting point if you are just learning the wonders of Indian cooking. So please give it a try it is wonderfully flavorful!!

 

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons curry powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon paprika

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root

1/2 teaspoon white sugar

salt to taste

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast

halves - cut into bite-size pieces

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 cup plain yogurt

3/4 cup coconut milk

1/2 lemon, juiced

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

 

Directions:

1)Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until lightly browned. Stir in garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar and salt. Continue stirring for 2 minutes. Add chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.

2) Remove bay leaf, and stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Simmer 5 more minutes.

 

Im Back! New outlook, And New food!

Long time no see! Man I have missed this blog! Im super happy to be back at it. 
So where did I go you ask?
Well since I started this We have moved, from wonderful Montana and are now Located in Oklahoma. It has been quite a change but everyday I am learning to enjoy this state and all the new experiences (and food of course) that it has to offer. I added two new little boys to our family and we are now a happy family of 5! I have tried so many new recipes lately that I am super excited to share with you all. So bare with me and I will get them posted asap! 
Looking forward to restarting this journey with you all again :)
Stay tuned! 

 

Smoked Sausage Harvest Casserole

I love this recipe! It combines so many Ingredients that I love, Cabbage, cheese, beans yum! This dish is hearty and will fill you up without sitting to heavy in your stomach. I have changed some of the ingredients from the original recipe . It calls for the use of Parmesan cheese, but I like to switch it up and use a sharp cheddar instead, I find it really makes this wonderful dish taste even better!















Ingredients 

2 Tablespoons of Butter
5 Cups chopped Green Cabbage
1 Medium Onion cut in to halves and Sliced 
1 Cup of carrots sliced
1 Can ( 15 1/2 ounces) Drained Red or White beans
1 Can( 14 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar 
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese or 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons of flour
Dash of ground pepper
Salt to taste'
1 Pound Smoked sausage 

Directions

Heat Oven to 350 Degrees. Melt butter in a large Deep skillet over med-high heat. Add cabbage onions and carrots; saute for 5 minutes. Stir in beans, tomatoes, and vinegar. Sprinkle cheese, flour pepper and salt over Cabbage mixture and stir in. Spoon in to Greased shallow 2qt casserole dish. Cut sausage in to serving size pieces. Arrange on top of cabbage mixture pushing down partially. Cover and bake for 40 minutes or until hot. Makes 6 Servings.
* I made it salt to taste because originally the recipe calls for no salt, and it tastes ok with out it but I found it tasted even better with salt . So please do taste it and try it without first, then if you think it needs salt feel free to add it, I think it Greatly improves it !