Kitchen and Kids

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of May 13th

Posted on May 15, 2012 by kitchenandkids

Happy Mother’s Day (a little late)!

I actually had a lot of fun planning the menu this week thanks to Pinterest. I have been on Pinterest for awhile, but I just got addicted to it. I love to peruse recipes and then pin them to my pretty boards. If you want to see my boards I would love for you to check them out here.

Last week we didn’t do a whole lot of cooking. Some shredded beef tacos and grilled pork chops about sums it up with a few meals eaten out. I would love to recommend menu planning to anyone who wants to eat healthy and stay on a budget. If you don’t menu plan you are more likely to eat out and for my family that means unnecessary spending and unhealthy choices. Also, no matter what the food is not as good as what we can get at home, and trust me I know this. My husband is a self-proclaimed food critic; sometimes I feel like I am eating with a judge from Chopped.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: Pioneer Woman’s Pot Roast, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and Aunt Norma’s Dill Bread

Monday: Roast Beef Quesadillas with Spicy Tomato Soup

Tuesday: Bacon Blue Cheese Burgers with oven roasted fries

Wednesday: Cajun Oven Fried Chicken, potato cakes and scalloped corn

Thursday: Texas Two Step Pork Chops (to be blogged), Dill Potato Salad and Grilled Corn with Chipotle Butter

Friday: Grilled Honey Lime Chicken, grilled yellow squash, and Bacon Cheddar Pull Apart Bread

Saturday: Leftovers

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

StoneGable

Bon Apetit and please check back for recipes and other dinner ideas.

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, meal planning, menu plan monday, menu planning | Leave a comment

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of April 29th

Posted on April 29, 2012 by kitchenandkids

So I might still be struggling a bit to get into writing again, but that is because I want to write more than just recipes and posting pictures. I want to add some depth to Kitchen and Kids. God blessed me with the ability to write and I want to honor this gift. But, I don’t want to deviate too far from the topics of the kitchen either, so it will be an experiment to say the least. This past week I did plan a menu, but I never did get it posted which is fine since I still have half of it to cook this week.

I just recovered from an amazing women’s conference at my church, which if you are ever on the look out for a good conference this is one of them. I would say if you are in the Dallas/Forth Worth area you might want to check it out next year, but since people came all the way from India, Australia, Canada, etc… to participate I don’t want to eliminate anyone because of region. You can find information for next years conference here.

Last week I cooked for the first 1/2 of the week, but the second half was leftovers and eating out. We really enjoyed the grilled chicken with Parma Rosa sauce and angel hair pasta. I LOVE the Parma Rosa sauce, it is highly addicting and I am not above simply dipping toast in it. However, if I do not get this addiction under wraps I will not lose the baby weight, and I must lose the baby weight. I hope you give the Parma Rosa sauce a try, it is worth it.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: Easy Peasy Mexican Casserole

Monday: Grilled Mozzarella, Tomato and Pesto sandwiches with creamy tomato soup (I’ll try to remember to blog about this. The key to that is getting some good pictures of the food as it is being prepared. As of late just getting it on the table has been a challenge with an 8 week old and 3 year old.)

Tuesday: Shredded Beef Tacos, refried beans and guacamole.

Wednesday: Santa Fe Chicken and Rice (I have tentatively put this on the menu for nostalgia sake. When I first got married I made this often. We will see if I really am going to make it after I review the recipe.)

Thursday: Crockpot Italian Chicken, Bowtie pasta, garlic bread and salad

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and fried okra

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

StoneGable

Bon Apetit and please check back for recipes and other dinner ideas.

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, meal plan, menu plan | 1 Comment

Happy Birthday, Princess

Posted on April 16, 2012 by kitchenandkids

I can’t believe that three years could go by so fast, but it was three years ago today that God blessed our family with a very precious little girl. Little did we know that our family was not complete, but God did! He gave my husband, my then 9 1/2 year old son and myself a bundle of pink joy!

These last three years have been an amazing journey and I am so grateful to have my Little Miss. She is funny, intelligent, inquisitive, mischievous, dare-devilish, athletic, kind, gentle, a little mother, and beautiful. I have found so much joy in my little girl, and I know her daddy and I are truly blessed. I know she brings laughter to her big brother and is a mother hen to her baby brother. Our lives are complete with her in them. Happy Birthday Baby Girl may you have a blessed year. I am looking forward to seeing all of the new things you will discover this year.

Little Miss at 8 months old.

Little Miss’ 1st Birthday

Little Miss’ 2nd Birthday

Little Miss just a couple of days ago.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl. We love you very much! Mama, Daddy, Bubber and Baby Bubber.

Posted in From Amy, The Kids | 2 Comments

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of April 15th

Posted on April 16, 2012 by kitchenandkids

Happy Tax Day! Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet Little Miss! Happy 6 weeks to my Little Man!

It has been way too long since I posted last, approximately two months. I will be honest and say that since the new year I haven’t cooked often, much less planned my menu. However, I finally feel like life is back to normal, or as normal as it can be with an additional family member. It is an adjustment from being a mother of two to a mother of three but it is so worth it, and so rewarding.

This last week was the first time since I had my son that I took the time to create a wonderful dinner. Since his birth some wonderful friends have brought over some meals and my fabulous husband has been instrumental in feeding us. I am very grateful for him or we might have starved. The favored dinner this last week was a new recipe and one that I will blog about the next time I make it. I made a totally divine Chicken Piccata with a tangy sauce flavored nicely with white wine and lemon, served over a very simple side dish of angel hair pasta with a garlic butter sauce, accompanied by a Ceaser salad and some garlic bread.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: Chicken Salad (from Costco)

Monday: Pizza for Little Miss’ 3rd Birthday with and antipasto salad (However all she cares about is cake. She said she didn’t want pizza for her birthday, just cake.)

Tuesday: Grilled Italian Chicken with Parma Rosa Sauce, ravioli, Ceaser salad and garlic bread

Wednesday: Fish and Chips (This was requested for my husband for his birthday dinner. Happy Birthday, Dear.)

Thursday: Dinner out with my in-laws for my husband and his brother’s birthdays. They are not twins, but close enough.

Friday: Pioneer Woman’s Sour Cream Noodle Bake (with modification)

Saturday: Creamy Chipotle Chicken and Black Bean Burritos

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

StoneGable

Bon Apetit and please check back for recipes and other dinner ideas.

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, meal plan monday, meal planning, weekly menu plan | 2 Comments

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of February 12th

Posted on February 12, 2012 by kitchenandkids

Long time no see, Friends. I did not disappear and I did not have a baby, I just have not been cooking or writing. You may wonder how we are surviving? My husband. It is a good thing he likes to cook and is good at it or we would be having Honey Nut Cheerios, Peanut Butter, Honey and Banana sandwiches, and scrambled eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sounds appealing, huh? Well, maybe if you are a few short weeks from delivering a baby, otherwise maybe not so much so.

Once again I would love for you to stop by Destiny In Bloom and check out some soup recipes I shared with our readers there, as well as checking out the other articles written by some amazing women.

We have not really had foods blog worthy, so I will spare you the details. My husband did grill up a bunch of different kinds of meat, and I finally made some dill potato salad to go with it, yummm!!!

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: Jesika’s Chili and cornbread (My friend Jesika gave me this recipe and I need to see if she will let me blog about it. It is so good. Loaded with veggies, beef and beans.)

Monday: Kitchen and Kids Meatloaf, Garlic Scalloped Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus (I am going to bake these in muffin tins so I can freeze some for after the baby gets here.)

Tuesday: Grilled Steaks, Twice Baked Potatoes, Garden Salad and Sauteed Mushrooms

Wednesday: Texas Two Steps Pork Chops, Roasted Red Potatoes and Chipotle Grilled Corn

Thursday: Memaw’s Lasagna, Ceaser Salad and Garlic Bread (I am going to make a triple batch; one to eat, one to give to a friend, and one to freeze for after the baby.)

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: Beef Enchiladas (and hopefully Cheese Enchiladas for me!), Refried Beans and Spanish Rice

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, dinner menu, menu planning | 4 Comments

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of January 15th

Posted on January 16, 2012 by kitchenandkids

Well, we are half way through January and I am still not in the swing of things. I feel like I have been on a very long vacation and quite honestly I’m not ready to stop. However, reality calls – my son is back to school after two wonderful months (I love home schooling), so I must get back into the swing of things. Also, in a few short weeks baby #3 will be joining us and I haven’t done a whole lot to get ready for him. I guess after two kids you kind of figure you can wing it, it will all work out; and …. I know I will not have him until they get him. We waited oh so patiently for baby #1 to decide to get here and at 42 weeks they decided he was going to be a permanent fixture unless they did something (he IS a permanent fixture – in my heart!) With that being said let’s dive into what we have eaten and will be eating.

Once again I would love for you to stop by Destiny In Bloom and check out some soup recipes I shared with our readers there, as well as checking out the other articles written by some amazing women.

We had a great week of great foods. Since I received the Pioneer Woman Cooks for Christmas I have been enthralled with her recipes, so this last week I made quite a few of her foods and we were not disappointed in the least. I think everything I made is a “do again” recipe, which always speaks of a successful week, so I will not be highlighting one single dinner this week.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: TLTC (too lazy to cook)

Monday: Spicy Pulled Pork, Twice Baked Potatoes and Cilantro Slaw

Tuesday: Beef and Cheese Enchiladas (I think – or maybe pork tacos – or maybe …)

Wednesday: Cajun Oven Fried Chicken, Potatoes Au Gratin, and Creamed Corn

Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: Steakhouse Shepherd’s Pie and dill green beans

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, meal plan monday, meal planning, menu planning | 3 Comments

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of January 8th

Posted on January 9, 2012 by kitchenandkids

Happy New Year! I know I am a bit late, but I just had to take last week off and recuperate. I am finding myself a bit tired these days in my last trimester so I am trying to take it easy. I think I am finally rested and ready to continue on. I am not entirely sure of my menu plan this week but at least I have a jumping off point.

With the cold weather of December, January and February I am planning a series on soups, stews and chilis, so you will probably see a few soups, stews and chilis on my menu over the next few weeks with the recipes coming in January and February. You will also be able to see a few of my soup recipes on Destiny In Bloom that went up yesterday, so please make sure to go take a look. You will find Sausage and Black Bean Soup, Peasant Soup, and Loaded Baked Potato Soup. If you have any soup, stew or chili recipes you think I should try please leave it in the comments below.

This last week I didn’t post a menu, nor did I make one. I went to my mom’s for some R and R for a few days, and when I got home I just pulled food from the freezer to warm up. By the weekend I was feeling much better, so I finally made my son his long awaited Fish and Chips, and I must say it was really good. The only thing I would suggest is whipping up some cole slaw to go with it, which didn’t cross my mind until I was done frying the fish. Oh well, next time.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Sunday: Eating at in-laws

Monday: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Mustard Greens, and Yeast Rolls

Tuesday: Sour Cream Noodle Bake (This seems like a variation of my Cheesy Lasagna so I thought I’d give it a try.)

Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup

Thursday: BBQ Meatballs, Fried Smashed Potatoes, and veggies

Friday: Texas Two Step Pork Chops, Dill Potato Salad and Chipotle Corn on the Cob (I will be adding the Texas Two Step Pork Chops to my blog later this week.)

Saturday: TBD

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe. On a side note, I received the cookbook – The Pioneer Woman Cooks, which is why so many of her recipes are posted this week. If I am ever at a loss for something to cook I just go and browse her cookbook and her site and I always find something delicious.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged dinner ideas, menu plan monday, recipes, weekly menu | 5 Comments

This Week In Our Kitchen: Week of December 25th

Posted on December 24, 2011 by kitchenandkids

Merry Christmas! I hope you guys are having a fantastic day tomorrow celebrating the birth of Christ. I know we will be all snuggly warm and enjoying each others company at my house. I hope you find some great ideas for dinners to wind up 2011. Have a blessed week.

Here is what we will be eating at our house this week.

Christmas Breakfast: PW Coffee Cake and kolaches.

Christmas Dinner: Prime Rib using the seasonings from the Pioneer Woman, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, Ceaser Salad, and rolls.

Christmas Dessert: Cherry Pie, Sugar-Free Peach Pie (because of gestational diabetes), and tons of fudge.

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: Beef Enchiladas and Cheese Enchiladas, Spanish rice, and refried beans

Thursday: Chicken Noodle Soup

Friday: Fish and Chips

Saturday: Texas Two Step Pork Chops, Dill Potato Salad and Chipotle Corn on the Cob (I will be adding the Texas Two Step Pork Chops to my blog later this week.)

As recipes are posted on Kitchen and Kids, I will link them up to my menu plans, so if something interests you check back and see if I’ve posted a recipe.

You can find other wonderful ideas at the links below.

This Week For Dinner

Organizing Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Posted in This Week In Our Kitchen | Tagged Christmas Dinner, meal planning, menu plans | Leave a comment

12 Days of Fudge: Day 12 – Other Great Fudge Recipes

Posted on December 24, 2011 by kitchenandkids

I am all fudged out, and so is my family. With that in mind I thought I’d provide you some links to some fudges I wanted to try but didn’t get around to. Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas.

Butterfinger Fudge by Shugary Sweets

Orange Creamsicle Fudge Bites by Shugary Sweets

Nutella Fudge with Sea Salt by The Crunchy Mamacita

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge by Melissa’s Cuisine

Red Velvet Fudge by I Am Baker

Pumpkin Pie Fudge by Adventures In All Things Food

Peanut Butter Fudge by From Which Things Grow

Irish Cream and Pistachio Fudge by I Was Born To Cook

Bailey’s Vanilla Bean Fudge by Carolynn’s Recipe Box

Raspberry Truffle Fudge by SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl

If you get the opportunity to try these fudges I would love to know what you think. Also, you have my fudges I’ve made during the 12 Days of Fudge to try. They are all easy and quite yummy. Have a blessed year!

12 Days of Fudge:
Day 1: Root Beer Float Fudge
Day 2: Mint Oreo Fudge
Day 3: Oatmeal Fudge
Day 4: Key Lime Fudge
Day 5: Eggnog Fudge
Day 6: Heath Bar Fudge
Day 7: Rocky Road Fudge
Day 8: Jalapeño Fudge
Day 9: Candy Cane Fudge
Day 10: S’mores Candy
Day 11: Salted Caramel Fudge
Day 12: Other Great Fudge Recipes

Posted in Holidays, In the Kitchen | Tagged bailey's vanilla bean fudge, butterfinger fudge, chocolate chip cookie dough fudge, gourmet fudge, irish cream and pistachio fudge, nutella fudge, orange creamsicle fudge, peanut butter fudge, pumpkin pie fudge, raspberry truffle fudge, red velvet fudge | 1 Comment

12 Days of Fudge: Day 11 – Salted Caramel Fudge

Posted on December 23, 2011 by kitchenandkids

If you’ve noticed posts in the past I do have an affinity for salted caramel anything, so how could I turn down the challenge of salted caramel fudge, and let me tell you – IT WAS A CHALLENGE.

If you have ever done anything that entails making your own caramel then you understand that it is a daunting and sometimes unsuccessful task. This Salted Caramel Fudge barely made it out alive and it was all simply because of user error. On the upside it was a very tasty fudge.