Wednesday, July 30, 2014

cheesey grilled potatoes!!!!

Ingredients

4
cups frozen potatoes O'Brien with onions and peppers (from 24-oz bag)
1
tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2
teaspoon seasoned salt
3/4
cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz)

Directions

  • 1Heat gas or charcoal grill. Spray 1 (18x13-inch) sheet of heavy-duty foil with cooking spray. Place potatoes on center of foil. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with seasoned salt.
  • 2Bring up 2 sides of foil over potatoes so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
  • 3Place packet on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 30 minutes, turning once. Carefully open packet; sprinkle cheese over potatoes. Cover loosely; let stand 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

hockey camp




I'm super proud of this amazing 7 year old! Twice a week, by his choice, he's going to a hockey camp for an hour on the ice and an hour of agility and strength! He wants to be ready for his first real hockey season. I'm also proud of josh for participating with him--he is a GREAT dad!!!!!













butter

i know i'll laugh later but irritated today :D

dog licked the butter. not the dish. the actual ENTIRE stick of butter. it was on the table. sigh. dumb dog!

too cute

"Luke what did you think was the hardest exercise we did today?"-Dad
"The Selfies were super hard....."
"You mean the Burpees........"-Dad
"Oh yeah!!!!"
LOL

sandy bottom berries

pure michigan :) who doesn't love local berries--i love shopping local!!!! jack fusses and pouted the entire time..... but i still had a great time :) 











new shrimp recipe

i must be hungry :) i found another new recipe to try..... i do love food :D 

2 pounds large shrimp, shell on
2 T seafood seasoning (preferably Zatarain's crab boil in a bag, it is not a boil bag but a bag of seasoning. I can send a picture if you need me to)
1/2 t Cajun seasoning ( I used Tony Cachere's)
1 t kosher salt
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 small onion roughly chopped
1 stalk celery roughly chopped
1 bay leaf
1 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 cloves of garlic smashed
4 T butter slices into the pan
1 lemon halved

In a large, heavy bottomed pot, combine the shrimp, seafood and cajun seasonings, salt, apple cider vinegar, onion, celery, bay leaf, thyme, and garlic cloves. Top with the butter slices, squeeze in the lemon juice, and toss the lemon peels right into the pot as well.  Cover with a lid, turn the heat to medium and cook for 12 minutes, removing the lid and stirring every few minutes.  Turn off the heat and let the shrimp rest for just 3 minutes.


Another one to try :)

Not-Quite CopyCat Penne Rustica from Macaroni Grill

Yield – 8 servings
Preparation Time – 30 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes

Ingredients

Gratinata Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon butter ($.03)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic ($.10)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard ($.02)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dill ($.05)
  • 1/2 cup marsala cooking wine ($.75)
  • 4 cups heavy cream ($1)
Penne
  • 9 raw shrimp, peeled and deveined ($2)
  • 2 small grilled chicken breasts, diced ($2)
  • 1/4 cup butter ($.40)
  • 1 small white onion, chopped ($.20)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 12-16 ounces penne pasta, cooked ($.50)
  • 2 red bell peppers, chopped ($.66)
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese ($.75)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese ($1)
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika ($.02)

Directions

  • To make the gratinata sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan or skillet with a rim. Whisk in the chopped garlic, mustard and dill. Pour in the marsala cooking wine and then whisk in the cream. Let simmer over low heat and let reduce by half.
  • Cook the pasta and chicken if needed.
  • In another saucepan or skillet, saute the shrimp and chicken with the butter and onion. Add a little salt and pepper. Once the gratinata sauce has reduced, add it into the skillet or saucepan with the chicken and shrimp. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing flavors to mingle.
  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • In a 9×13 inch baking dish, toss the cooked penne pasta and red bell peppers. Pour in the saucyt chicken-shrimp mixture and toss gently. Top with the Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated for 20 minutes, or until bubbling and cheese has melted and begun to brown.
  • Sprinkle paprika on top before serving.
  • Serve Not-Quite CopyCat Penne Rustica.


Read more: http://www.5dollardinners.com/copycat-penne-rustica/#ixzz38rhl0WQB

Monday, July 28, 2014

mashed sweet potatoes

Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 5 minutes
Cooking Time - 8 hours in slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 5-6  medium sweet potatoes
  • 2-3 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 2-3 Tbsp brown sugar, optional
  • 1/2  cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions

  • Cut a slit in each of the sweet potatoes, lengthwise down the middle. Add the sweet potatoes to the base of the slow cooker and add about 1 cup of water. Enough to cover the bottom with 1/4 inch. Set on low and cook for 8 hours.
  • Carefully remove the sweet potatoes and let cool for a few minutes before removing the skin. Scoop out all the soft flesh into a mixing bowl. Add butter (you don’t need a ton because they are already very soft) and cinnamon and mix together.
  • Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top. Sprinkle the pecans over the top. (Both of these are optional! I generally don’t serve ‘fancy sweet potatoes’ for regular weeknight dinners. I would add them to a holiday side dish, however!)
  • Serve Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes as side dish.


Read more: http://www.5dollardinners.com/slow-cooker-mashed-sweet-potatoes/#ixzz38ovCCSFO

Thursday, July 24, 2014

beautiful challenge

there is a facebook challenge right now to share photos that make the person feel beautiful. i've been struggling with self-esteem lately again (in the weight dept) so i wanted to share a few on here as well.











time

every summer i struggle. i struggle with school ending and me becoming a full time mom and then i struggle with the transition back to work. this summer has been no different. even though my summer was shortened due to my increased responsibilities...... and now i am due to be back at work sooner than later.... much sooner....and josh will be gone to europe for work and my anxiety is just ramping up :( oh i wish i was better at transitioning :(

luke turns 7

if i posted this already........ SORRY! :D



special time

photo bombed!
jack and luke playing with gunnar

we got special time with BEN! on a whim i texted jan and asked if we could visit with ben while we were all in town--and she said yes. ben and jan met at kenwood park. it had been a few years. tough to see him but exciting at the same time.















the boys have friends over to play

jordan, ian, kaden, jack and luke.............oh my :D 

floating luke.....