Turkey is not only for Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone,

In my house, we like to cook turkey all year long. I wanted to post this for those of you who like to add spices to your turkey.

Here is how I like to spice up the turkey:

Ingredients:

• One Turkey
• One large onion
• Three cloves of garlic
• One lemon
• A pinch of salt and pepper
• One package of onion soup mix

Directions:

1. Cut up the onion and line the bottom of a slow cooker with it.
2. Add in the cloves of garlic.
3. Squeeze the lemon juice over the onion and garlic.
4. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over top.
5. Before placing the turkey in the slow cooker, coat it with the package of onion soup mix.
6. Sprinkle a small amount of salt and pepper on the turkey.
7. Place the turkey in the slow cooker.
8. Cook on high for one hour, then turn the slower cooker down to low and continue to cook for an additional six hours.

The finished product. Doesn't that look good?

You may be thinking that all of those ingredients are too different to go together. The reason for not putting the onion and garlic directly on the turkey is so the natural flavor is not lost, just enhanced. The onion, garlic and lemon will not be overpowering.

I was doubtful of doing this at first, but now I will not cook my turkey any other way. The flavors worked well with each other and the turkey was so tender.

Now let's talk side dishes.

Stove Top stuffing and Bob Evans mac & cheese and mashed potatoes

I served the turkey with a few sides that are so easy to prepare. I used the Bob Evans mac & cheese and mashed potatoes, and Stove Top stuffing.

I personally like boxed stuffing more than home made stuffing, but if you like home made better check out the following link:

• Home Made Stuffing

If you noticed that I used the Bob Evans mac & cheese in my last post, that is because it really is amazing. These are must try items!

I also used gravy from a jar that I heated up on the stove. 

Want to make your own gravy and mashed potatoes? No problem! Check out the links below:

• Make your own gravy
• Make your own mashed potatoes

Don't forget to refer to my last blog for a link on how to make your own mac & cheese.

Enjoy!

Dinner for the Busy BBQ-Loving Couple

Hello everyone,

Don't let the title fool you, this meal can be made for anyone. I chose the title because this is what I make for my boyfriend and myself when we are both planning to get home late.

With that being said, tonight I am going to show you how to make BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches and Mac & cheese, fast.

I tried a pulled pork recipe in the past, but was left disappointed. The pulled pork took too long to cook, and I did not think the taste was worth it.

Below is a picture of the pulled pork and mac & cheese I used:

Jack Daniel's BBQ Pulled Pork and Bob Evan's Mac & Cheese

This pulled pork can be put in the microwave or the oven. I like to remove it from the packaging and heat it up in the oven. The directions are on the back, but I will tell you that it only takes 12 to 15 minutes in the oven.

The mac & cheese can also be heated up in the microwave or in a skillet, and the container is more than enough for two people. I personally chose to heat this up in the microwave because it only takes about five minutes.

Both of these items can be bought at your local grocery store. I ran to the store at the last minute to get these products, meaning I had to get them from Giant Eagle. I paid $8.99 for the pulled pork and $5.99 for the mac & cheese. You may be able to find these items at a lower price if you shop around first.

The taste is so good. It is nice to know that I don't have to worry about eating something that tastes bad because it takes such little time to throw together.

Below is a picture of the final product:

Pulled Pork and Mac & Cheese in less than 20 minutes

I like both of these products so much and I hope everyone gets the chance to try them.

If you would rather make your own pulled pork or mac & cheese, check out the following links.

1. Three Ingredient Pulled Pork
2. Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I want to try both of these recipes in the future. The baked macaroni and cheese could be a great side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner.

What do you think about this simple meal idea?

Enjoy!

Nothing Sloppy About This Sandwich

Hello Everyone,

I love Sloppy Joe sandwiches, but I never knew how easy they were to make. Before moving to PA to attend Penn State Beaver, I always used the can of Sloppy Joe sauce that you can find in the grocery store.

Those cans are simple. All you do is brown the hamburger meat, add in the can of sauce, and let it thicken for the desired time on the back of the can.

What if I told you that making the sauce from scratch can be done quickly, and taste even better than that canned sauce?

Well, It's true! My boyfriend's grandma taught me to use a recipe from one of her cook books and I am going to share it with you.

Ingredients:

• One and a half pounds of hamburger meat
• One small onion
• One cup of Ketchup
• Two tablespoons of brown sugar
• One tablespoon of vinegar 
• One tablespoon of mustard 
• Half of a cup of water
• A pinch of salt and pepper

Hint: I use apple cider vinegar and sweet yellow onions.

Directions:

1. Brown the hamburger in a large skillet,
2. Add in all of the ingredients listed above.
3. Cook for a half hour.
4. Serve. 

This is so easy to make. If you have never tried this before, I know you will be thanking me once you finally do. 

I like to serve mine with french fries that I cook in a deep fryer and Velveeta mac & cheese.

Check out a picture from when I made this for dinner:

Sloppy Joe, Mac & Cheese, and French Fries

What do you serve with your Sloppy Joe sandwiches?

Enjoy!

Is it a Cake or is it a Cookie?

Hello everyone,

Today I wanted to share a recipe that I believe is good for many occasions. Many of you have probably heard of a cookie cake before, but how many of you have ever made your own?

Well, it is super easy and inexpensive to make. It is also very easy to personalize your homemade cookie cake.

I made one for a friend who loves cookie cake. I decided to make a traditional chocolate chip cookie cake.

Here is how I did it:

I started with a roll of chocolate chip cookie dough. I lined a greased cookie sheet with the cookie dough. Next, I baked the cookie cake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees, as the package of cookie dough had directed. I waited for the cookie cake to cool before adding toppings. Then, I melted peanut butter in the microwave and drizzled it on top. I also melted some chocolate chips and drizzled them on top. You can never have too much chocolate! Finally, I added some chopped up Reese cups and m&m's to the top and gently pressed them in. I also wrote "Big Fun" on the cookie cake as a joke, because my friend said she wanted her cookie cake to say Big Fun.

Here is a picture of the cookie cake I made:

You could change the kind of candy used as toppings. You could also use a different kind of cookie dough for the cake. I decided to stick to what my friend liked. 

This cookie cake doesn't have to be for a birthday. It is perfect for any occasion.

I want to make another cookie cake using KitKat and Reese cups. Doesn't that sound amazing?

Check out some of these other simple cake recipes listed below:

1. Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake
2. Chocolate Cake

My challenge for each of you is to make your own cake next time, rather than purchasing one from a store. 

Happy Cake Making! I hope you enjoy this recipe. 

No Bake Reese's Cup Fudge

Hello everyone,

I recently came across a recipe on Pinterest that I had to try out. I love desserts, especially chocolate.

Most importantly, I like to cook and bake recipes that are simple and cheap. I don't think this recipe could be any easier.

Take a look for yourself and feel free to print your own copy of the recipe here: Recipe found on Pinterest

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of milk chocolate chips
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 24 individual Reese cups

Directions:

1. Line an 8x8 pan with tinfoil, then spray the foil with baking spray so the fudge does not stick.
2. Line the tinfoil with 16 of the Reese cups. Chop up the rest of the Reese cups and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, add the chocolate chips and milk. Microwave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted and smooth. 
4. Pour the chocolate over the Reese Cups in the pan. Add the chopped up candy to the top, pressing in slightly. 
5. Allow the dish to cool to room temperature for about an hour. Once cooled, place in the refrigerator until solid. Cut into squares and enjoy.

This dessert cost me less than $10.00 to make and it is very good. I will warn you that is is very chocolaty, but that is why I love it.

So next time you need a delicious dessert, don't panic, just make this fudge and everyone will be happy. 

Below are a few pictures from when I made this:

The ingredients

Reese's on the bottom

Before the microwave

After the microwave

Chopped up Reese cups

Before the refrigerator 

All ready to eat!

I hope that you all find this recipe as easy and enjoyable as I did!

Enjoy!

The College Student's Pizza Recipe

Hello Everyone,

As most of you already know, I am a college student. I will be graduating soon, but until then I am a server. When I am looking for a meal for myself, I try to keep the cost low. I would rather spend money to feed more people than just one.

I will usually just eat grilled cheese, bologna, or chipped ham sandwiches for lunch when I am home alone. I wanted something different today.

I decided to make pizzas out of Italian bread. These could be great for so many occasions.

Here are some ideal situations in which to make these pizzas:

• Lunch for a college student on a budget
• Lunch for a picky eater or child
• Make it yourself meal for kids at a birthday party

These are also great because each person can pick what goes on their pizza. 

I only put pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese on mine, but that is because I prefer cheese pizza. 

I baked them on a cookie sheet, lined with foil. The oven was preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and they baked for 8-10 minutes. 

Other toppings that would be good:

• Banana peppers
• Pepperoni
• Multiple types of cheese
• Olives
• Bacon
• Anything you typically prefer on your pizza

So, Like I said above, I only used cheese and sauce. The total cost to make these was under five dollars. 

Below are pictures of the ingredients I used and how the pizzas turned out:

The ingredients I used

Right before the oven

Ready to eat

Cheap does not always mean that it will taste bad. I hope you all keep that in mind and try these out soon.

Not Your Traditional Cookie

Hello Everyone,

This week I am going to review a recipe I found on Pinterest and tried out. There should be no surprise that this is a dessert because I don't have a sweet tooth, all of my teeth are sweet.

This dessert is not a traditional dish. It is for Monster Cookie Dough Dip.

I know what you are thinking, is it a cookie or is it a dip? Well, it is both.

As I said, I got the recipe from Pinterest so this is not my recipe. Get your recipe here: Monster Cookie Dough Dip

This is a no-bake dessert. It is perfect to throw together the night before you need it. You can also change up the ingredients if you do not like m&m's.

Here is a picture from when I made it:

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

I took my dip to work and it did not even last 15 minutes. That is saying a lot because I am a server. We are always running around and sometimes can't stop to eat. 

I served it with pretzels and graham cracker sticks. I loved it with the graham crackers. 

I think next time I will add in some Reese's pieces. 

If you need a quick, delicious dessert and want to try something unique, I highly suggest trying this out.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Everything

Hello again and welcome back to my blog.

This week I am going to show you how easy it is to make chocolate covered treats. Who doesn't love chocolate?

I recently found myself obsessed with dipping things in chocolate. My favorite things to cover in chocolate are Oreo's, pretzels, marshmallows, bananas, and strawberries for my boyfriend (Because I may be the only human who doesn't like strawberries).

The first thing you need is the items you want to dip into chocolate. You also need either chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts. Wax paper is also a good idea because it really is so easy to remove the dried chocolate from. I use a spoon and toothpicks to help cover the food items better.

Now, how to melt the chocolate, you will need a heat source. I have always used a pan over the stove, filled with boiling water, with another pan on top that the chocolate will go directly in. I never had a double broiler, so I made my own. Recently I have been using a Wilton's Deluxe Melting Pot. This is nice for small jobs, but it is not necessary. I also learned a new way to melt chocolate from a friend recently. Her mom uses a stove top griddle. The heat from the burners get the griddle hot, then she places a bowl on top of the griddle for the chocolate. I think this is cleaver because it would allow you to melt more chocolate at a time.

I'm not going to post a recipe because all you do is melt the chocolate and dip the items in. The reason I like doing it so much is because it is so easy, inexpensive, and I can decorate them for special holidays and occasions. I actually volunteered to make chocolate covered treats for a co-workers daughters birthday party next month.

Here are a few pictures of some of my chocolate covered treats.

Strawberries for Valentines Day

Marshmallows for Valentines Day

Pretzels for Valentines Day

Pretzels made for a storybook themed baby shower

Oreo's - not decorated because they were for
 a quick snack at home

You really can have fun decorating your chocolate covered treats. I like sprinkles and colored candy melts for a drizzle,

I told my family to put me down for bringing the chocolate covered assortments to any occasion that requires a covered dish,

Just think about all of the creative ways you could decorate these items for the holidays.

Check out these holiday treats I found on Pinterest:

Halloween

1. Strawberries that look like pumpkins
2. Halloween character strawberries
3. Oreo's that look like pumpkins
4. Pretzel Bones

Christmas

1. Strawberry and Oreo Trees
2. Pretzels striped like candy canes
3. Reindeer Marshmallows
4. Snowman Marshmallows

As mentioned above, the links are all from Pinterest. You can find many more options, as well as many more ideas for different holidays, depending on what you want to dip in chocolate.

I hope you all try this out, either for yourself of the chocolate lover in your life.

Thanks for reading. Happy dipping!

Themed Parties

Hello again everyone!

This week I wanted to share with you a fun party idea for the holidays. I know some of you may not be ready to talk about Christmas, but it will be here before we know it.

On my way to work a few days ago, I drove past a house that was already decorated for Christmas. This got me thinking about the Christmas Eve party my family always has.

Lately, we have been doing a Chinese gift exchange for the adults because my family is so big.

This is so much fun.

Chinese Gift Exchange Rules:

• Everyone participating brings a gift of equal value (We limit the amount to $20)
• Everyone draws a number
• The person with number one picks a gift from the pile and opens it.
• The person with number two can either pick a gift from the pile or take the gift off of the person before them. 
• If the gift is taken from you, you simply get to pick again. 

Here is a link that explains this game in more detail: Chinese Gift Exchange Rules

This year, my family wants to do the Chinese gift exchange with ornaments. Too many family members bring alcohol-related gifts, causing the non-drinkers to be left with something they won't use. 

We have also separated it by gender in the past. I don't recommend this. I think it is more fun to have a large number of people and gifts that are not gender-specific.

Every year, someone brings a bottle of vodka that is disguised in a box for a product that does not exist. These boxes can be bought at Walmart. It is so funny to see the look on someone's face who just thinks they received cleaning mitts for their dog's paws, but then realizes that there is actually vodka inside. 

Here is a link to the gag-gift boxes: Fake Gift Boxes

You might be wondering what this post has to do with food. 

The truth is, I want my family to have a Pinterest Christmas Eve Party this year.

The idea of everyone bringing an ornament is nice, however, we seem to be a very crafty family. It would be fun for everyone to bring a gift that they saw on Pinterest and decided to make. This would also allow everyone to find the time to make all of those awesome crafts we pin, but never actually make.

The covered dish each person brings would also be Pinterest-inspired. Not only does everyone pin, but never make crafts, we do it with recipes too. 

Last year we had an ugly Christmas sweater party. 

Take a look: 

This could also be incorporated into the Pinterest party because we found the ideas for our sweaters on Pinterest. 

Here are a few ideas of gifts that I found on Pinterest that I would consider making for the Chinese gift exchange:

1. Snowman Christmas Tree
2. Snowman Ice Block
3. Christmas Count Down

Here are a few ideas of covered dishes that I found on Pinterest. Each of these I have pinned but never attempted to make:

1. S'more's Cupcakes 
2. Twice Baked Cheesy Potatoes
3. Cheddar and Bacon Loaf

We could have someone make an ugly Christmas sweater cake if we decide to wear them again this year. Ugly Christmas sweater cake - Pinterest

As you can see, my family has a lot of fun when we are together. This themed party can also be done with your friends, or condensed into a smaller party to have at the office.

I am going to try my hardest to get everyone on board with the Pinterest Christmas party idea.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this blog and that some of you will adopt these fun traditions into your Holiday gatherings.

As always, thanks for reading my blog!

-Stephanie

Easy and Delicious Dinner

Hello All,

Welcome back to my blog. I hope that you had a great week. Sunday is supposed to be a day for relaxation. With that being said, I am going to share a recipe that I make for dinner weekly. It is so easy to put together. This recipe is inexpensive to make, because it requires very few ingredients.

What I've been babbling on about is called Apricot Chicken. 

If that does not sound appealing to you, please bear with me. 

Trust me, I am the pickiest eater ever but I love apricot chicken. It tastes like baked chicken in a sweet sauce. I make it with oven-roasted potatoes all of the time. 

Let me show you what I'm talking about...

Pictured above is the apricot chicken and oven roasted potatoes.

I'm going to show you just how easy this is to make. Here is the recipe:

Apricot Chicken

Ingredients: 

• Boneless Chicken Breast (about 4-5, depending on size)
• One package of dry onion soup mix
• One cup of Wishbone Russian dressing
• One 10 ounce jar of apricot preserves

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and place the chicken in a baking dish.
2. Smear the apricot preserves over the chicken. Pour the dressing over it and sprinkle with the dry onion soup mix.
3. Bake in preheated oven for one hour.

That's all! No mixing, cutting, or preparing ahead of time involved. All you have to do is pour the ingredients over the chicken and let it bake for an hour. Think of all the laundry, dishes, and cleaning you can get done while this bakes. 

I am also going to include the recipe to the oven roasted potatoes. These are pictured above with the chicken. 

These potatoes are also very easy to make and can bake along with the chicken. 

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

• About 6- 8 medium potatoes, diced
• One pouch of dry onion soup mix
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Spread the diced potatoes in the bottom of a greased baking pan.
2. Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes, coating them so the onion soup mix sticks to them. Sprinkle the pouch of onion soup mix on top. 
3. Bake in a separate pan from the chicken.

I leave my potatoes in for the full hour. Once again, the oven is set to 325 degrees. 

Below is a link to a different potato recipe, just in case you would rather have garlic roasted potatoes:

• Garlic Roasted Potatoes - Courtesy of Food Network

I hope that you enjoy these recipes and are soon making them for you and your family.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

The Perfect Recipe for Snacking

My favorite time of year is Christmas. I love the decorations, snow, family time, and all of the delicious foods. My recipe for these cinnamon sugar pecans reminds me of Christmas every time I make them because of their delicious smell. It relaxes me and makes me happy. Of course, they never last long in my house. I can never seem to keep myself from only eating a few. For this reason, I make them many times throughout the year. They are great to throw in a baggie, in your purse, and eat on the go. They can also be put in decorative jars and given as gifts.

I thought it would be a good idea to bring these pecans along in the car to eat while driving to the beach. They didn't last long because no one could stop eating them.

The recipe is super easy. Since I make them so much, I don't even have to look at a recipe anymore.

Here it is:

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

In case the name isn't enough to make your mouth water, here is a picture I took after making these cinnamon sugar pecans.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 pound pecan halves
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. Combine the egg white and water in a large bowl. Beat until fluffy. Fold in the pecan halves and evenly coat with the egg and water mixture.
3. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a large baggie or bowl. Dust the pecans evenly with the sugar mixture. Spread the pecans in a single layer on the cookie sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool on pan and store them in a clean large baggie or airtight container.

That is it! So easy, right? They are well worth the effort.

I hope you enjoy these pecans as much as I do.

Keep in mind that you can do this for any type of nuts.

Thanks for reading my blog. Stop back soon for more delicious recipes.

About This Blog

Hello All,

Welcome to my blog page and thank you for stopping by. Through this blog, I will post recipes and reviews from the experiences I have had with them. This blog will be a great place to turn to for ideas on what covered dish to bring to a party, what dessert to bring to the office, and what to make for dinner. I will also share my favorite holiday recipes.

I hope that you enjoy these recipes and find them good enough to make yourself.

Enjoy!

-Stephanie