Amaretto Slush

It is truly been a crazy week and I needed a sip of my favorite adult beverage.  I keep it frozen and dip it up when I need to unwind.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)

Amaretto Slush
2 frozen containers of OJ
1 frozen container of lemonade
1 cup sugar
6 cups of water
1 cup of Amaretto

Mix it all together in a freezer safe container and freeze.  Dip up with an ice cream scoop into a glass and add 7up or white soda to thin.  Enjoy!!

Mushroom Meatballs

I took my mother's tried and true recipe for Mushroom Meatballs and I adapted it to my weeknight life.  She made the meatballs from scratch growing up and they were yummy but I just don't have time for that during our crazy evening schedule these days.  I guess I could make them up on Sunday and freeze them until I am ready to make them, but I can't imagine that happening.

I have been trying to cook a meal on Sunday that makes 2 and put one in the freezer for the next week.  I think we are going to have to break down and buy a deep freeze and I am all for it.  I would love to truly try the one of the "Once A Month" freezer cooking I keep seeing on Pinterest.  But I can't now because the Market Day in the freezer is taking over :)

Here's the recipe and photo!  Hope you enjoy!

Mushroom Meatballs
1/2 to 3/4 of a bag of home style frozen meatballs
1 can of mushrooms
1/4 cup of water
2 beef bouillon cubes

Brown the meatballs on both sides in a large skillet.  Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring every so often.  If you don't they will burn.  Add more water to make a sauce for them as needed. 

Serve with mash potato's, rice or butter noodles.  We had butter noodles (1/2 a bag of wide egg noodles cooked according to directions; drain and add 4 or 5 pats of butter to the noodles in the serving bowl)  My kids LOVE butter noodles.  We have been taking them to their "Thanksgiving Feasts" at daycare for years!!

Mid-Week Pasta Bake

I needed something quick and super easy for supper last night.  My kids love pasta and I found this recipe at http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-timin-pasta.html.  It was super easy and yummy.  Plus, there was some left over for lunch today :)

Mid-Week Pasta Bake
1 box Penne Pasta
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 jar Alfredo sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions.  Meanwhile, mix spaghetti and Alfredo sauces.  Add mozzarella cheese to the sauce.  Drain pasta and mix in sauce mixture.  Pour into a greased 13x9 inch pan and cook for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  After 25 minutes, cover with Parmesan cheese and bake another 5 minutes. 

We served it with a big salad and garlic bread.  It was a hit at my house.  Hope it was at yours.

Ham Sammies

I made these for Super Bowl Sunday and they were gone in no time.  My kids and hubby inhaled them.  I found them on pinterest and of course "tweaked" them for what was in my pantry.  We LOVE Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and they are always in my pantry!!!!

Ham Sammies
1 Package of 12 Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
1 onion, minced or grated
1 stick of butter
3 tablespoons honey mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 teaspoons of poppy seeds
1/2 pound sliced ham
8 slices of Swiss cheese

Melt the butter in a skillet and add onions.  Saute until no longer white.  Add mustard, Worcestershire sauce and poppy seeds.  Simmer for several minutes.  Slice Rolls like it's a loaf lengthwise and place the bottom 1/2 in an aluminum foil lined 13x9 pan.  Spread 3/4 of the onion mix on top of the rolls.  Top with ham and then cheese.  Replace the roll top and then spread the remaining onion mix over the top.  Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

It has the best flavor and you can't eat just one!!!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Here is a variation on a recipe that I have made lots of times and forget about.  Which not sure why that is.  I found this variation on Pinterest (of course) and had to try it out.  Super easy and they were gobbled up in no time.  I had a harder time "drizzling" the chocolate than anything else.  I am not a neat baker/cook.

Peanut Butter Blossoms
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 jar (18oz) smooth peanut butter
6 cups corn flakes
3 oz chocolate chips

Combine sugar and syrup in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir until mixture comes to a full rolling bowl.  Remove from heat and stir in the jar of peanut butter.  Mix well.  Add corn flakes to a large bowl and pour the peanut butter mix over the corn flakes.  Mix well and make sure you cover all the flakes.  Scoop out with a tablespoon and form into 1-2 inch balls and drop on wax paper lined cookie sheets.  Melt chocolate for 30 seconds and then another 10 if needed. Then "drizzle" over the cookies. 

My other recipe calls for a bag of Hershey Kisses.  You drop the balls on the wax paper and press a kiss into the center of each one.  They are harder to store this way but a bigger bit of chocolate never hurts.  We store ours in an air tight container in the fridge and set them out right before serving.  That way they are not all gooey.

White Trash Dip

I made this dip to take to "Casual Girls Night" and it was a huge hit.  The guys that crashed our evening inhaled the remains.  (Not to mention the teenagers that were in the house).  I found it on Pinterest here and had to try it.  Loved it and am adding it to my list of new favorites.  It was super easy and I had all the ingredients in my pantry/fridge (which I love).  ENJOY!!

White Trash Dip
1 can chili (15oz) - I only use "no bean chili" ;)
2 packages cream cheese (8oz each), softened
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb bacon
4 green onions, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook bacon and crumble.  Mix together chili, cheeses, bacon, and green onions in a large bowl.  Spread mixture in a pie pan. Cook for 20 minutes.  Serve with Tortilla chips.

Crockpot Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Tonight I tried to make one of my families favorites using the crockpot.  My oldest ate 3 helpings and my other two each cleared their plates.  My son was thrilled it didn't have mushrooms; his usual first question.  Next time I won't use the entire seasoning packet and it only needs to cook 4 hours.  The chicken just fell apart when I mixed it all together.  It was a great way to start my supper over my lunch hour. 

Crockpot Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
3 lb. chicken pieces
1 (2/3 oz.) pkg. Italian salad dressing mix
4 tbsp. melted butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 lb. of spaghetti

Directions: Place chicken pieces in crock pot and sprinkle Italian seasoning over chicken. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp. melted butter. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Melt 2 tbsp. butter in a saucepan and sauté onion and garlic. Add Cream of Chicken Soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth. Stir until smooth. Add this mixture to crockpot and cook on low for an additional hour. Prepare fettuccine according to package directions.  Mix all together and serve. 

Try it out and let me know what you think :)