Peanut Butter & Banana Grilled Sandwich

 What you'll need

4 Tbsp. Peanut butter

1 Banana

4 slices Bread

2 Tbsp. Butter

 (Serving size 2)

Preheat your skillet to 350 degrees.

Spread the butter on the bottom of each slice of bread.

And spread peanut butter on the top of the slices...

Then put two slices on the skillet buttered side down.

 Divide and add the banana...

And then you can put the top slices on.

There you have it. A nice and yummy peanut butter and banana grilled sandwich!!!

Hope you enjoy!!! :)





Avocado Chicken Salad

Avocado Chicken Salad

I am not really sure why avocado sounds so good to me these days, but I just love it!  Then to put chicken with it....

what more can I say? These are two of my favorite foods! 

(Yes, out of many....I do love food!) ☺

This is a quick and yummy way to make a healthy meal. 

You can eat it alone, on crackers, tortillas, on bread.....the list goes on!

You will need:

2-3 large chicken breasts

2 avocados

3 TBLS. lime juice

2 TBLS. cilantro, chopped

1/4 - 1/2 onion, chopped

salt

pepper

That's it!

I apologize. My pictures wouldn't upload, so I am hoping to put them on later when my computer isn't being so stubborn.  : (

1. Boil chicken to keep it moist.  I covered it in water and seasoned the water with salt, pepper and garlic.  Cook until done and then cool.

2.  Cut the avocados in two, remove the pit and scrape it out into a bowl.  I use the Pampered Chef Mix and Chop utensil to chop it until it is a soft paste.

3.  Add lime juice.

4.  Chop cilantro and onion.  Add to avocado mixture.

5.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

6.  Shred your chicken once it has cooled and add to the avocado mixture.

7.  Mix together.  You may serve immediately or refrigerate to cool.  Either way, it is delicious!



Enjoy!  This was so simple and easy to put together.....

I absolutely LOVE recipes like this.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Have a GREAT day!

 



Crock Pot Buffalo Dip

Can you believe next week is already the beginning of April?! That's crazy. It feels like the new year was just a few weeks ago. It's already almost Easter!

I don't know about you, but around here there are usually a few gatherings with family or potlucks at work this time of year. It must be the changing seasons...everyone's been stuck in the house for too long and they all want to get out and party when the sun starts melting the snow. Ahh...what a wonderful thought.

This is a great dish to bring to a potluck! It's quick and easy, and you can prepare it early, then toss in the slow cooker on warm until ready to serve. A woman my husband used to work with told me about this recipe, and it's definitely a keeper!

Ingredients

1 c. ranch dressing

8 oz. cream cheese

2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

3 c. cooked chicken breast, shredded

1 c. Frank's buffalo sauce

Directions

Cook chicken thoroughly, then shred it.

Place it in the crock pot.

Add remaining ingredients.

Stir well.

Place on low for 2-4 hours, or until cheese is melted, stirring if needed.

May serve warm, or remove from heat, transfer to a covered dish, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

****************************************************************

(Directions with Photos)

Cook chicken thoroughly, then shred it.

Place it in the crock pot.

Add remaining ingredients.

Stir well.

(TIP: If making this dip ahead of time, just mix it up to this point, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to start heating.)

Place on low for 2-4 hours, or until cheese is melted, stirring if needed.

May serve warm, or remove from heat, transfer to a covered dish, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Believe me, it's awesome hot AND cold!

This dip is great served with tortilla chips, or a crusty loaf of bread!

Use leftovers for a cheesy buffalo chicken wrap! :)

Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

Summer is fast approaching.  Possibly not fast enough for most.  I have a feeling I had some heads nodding on that comment. :)  With shorts and swimsuit season right around the corner, my husband and I have been trying to cut out carbs and increase our vegetables.  We may not have "beach bods" by the time the 80 degree weather arrives but at least we will feel a little better.  Here is a recipe we tried the other night so we wouldn't have green beans again. :)

 Things you will need:

Baking sheet

Aluminum foil

Washed Asparagus

Olive oil

Salt 

Pepper

Lemon

Butter

Grated Parmesan Cheese

I love this recipe because there isn't any measuring.  The recipe would be great using a bunch of each ingredient or using a little.  As I said before, my husband and I are trying to watch it so I used little butter and cheese and it was great!

*Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil.*

1. Snap asparagus.  While holding each end, bend and allow to break wherever it wants.  You won't have chewy asparagus. 

2. Drizzle with olive oil. 

3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

4.  Cut lemon in half.  Squeeze half of lemon on asparagus. 

5. Using other half, slice a few thin pieces of lemon.  Place on asparagus.  I saved the last bit of the lemon to squeeze it on before eating it because I love lemon.  

6. Place small chunks of butter on asparagus. 

7. In the 400 degree oven, bake for approximately 12 minutes or until cooked to the tenderness you like. 

8. As your vegetable is baking, get parmesan cheese around.  After your asparagus is done to your liking, sprinkle parmesan cheese over butter.  Broil until golden brown.  As you can see, I was too impatient to wait until it was golden brown but it was still delicious. 

I decided to take a picture of the two veggies I did together.  This worked great!  I carefully lifted the asparagus off and allowed the cauliflower to cook a little first.  When the cauliflower was part way done, I carefully put the asparagus on the pan and cooked both of them.  It was great paired with grilled chicken.  To learn how to make the yummy Roasted Cauliflower, click HERE.

Tator Tot Taco Bake

Don't you love those recipes, that no matter what you do, you really can't mess it up??  Well, this is one of those! And to make it even better, it is topped with tator tots....now you really can't go wrong! :)

Tator Tot Taco Bake

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 cup water

16 oz frozen corn

7 oz can green chiles

1 can black beans

8 oz shredded Mexican cheese

1 package taco seasoning or 3 Tablespoons homemade mix

1 small can enchilada sauce

1-2  pounds tator tots

sour cream, optional

  

* This easily feeds my husband and I, and our six small children.  If you have a smaller family, divide into smaller pans and cover with aluminum foil and freeze.  

Nothing better than freezer meals that actually taste good!

A meal that is both kid and adult friendly!! :)

First you will need to brown the pound of ground beef on medium-high heat in a large skillet.

As soon as the ground beef is browned, add the chopped onion and minced garlic.  

Add 1/2 cup water. Turn down to medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes.

You may place a lid on the pan for the first couple minutes.  This will help the onions and garlic cook a little faster.  Remove the lid and cook for a few minutes until the onion is soft and the water is absorbed. Turn down to low heat.

While the hamburger, onions, and garlic are cooking, rinse and strain a can of black beans.

Now you will need to add the black beans, corn, green chiles, 

shredded cheese, and taco seasoning to the pan. 

  Mix well. Turn off heat.

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Pour 1/3 of the can of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan.  

This will be just enough sauce to lightly coat the bottom.

Now spoon the meat and bean mixture from the skillet into the 9x13 pan. 

Top with the remaining enchilada sauce.

Top with tator tots. Place in a 375 degree oven for about an hour. If you like extra crispy tator tots, 

you might want to allow an extra 15 minutes for baking.

Remove from oven when tator tots are baked to perfection! :)

Serve with a dollop of sour cream.  I have a couple children that prefer to top it with ranch dressing...

either way, it is delicious.  

*Note:  A great way to use leftovers is to just heat it up and serve in a burrito with some 

sour cream and cheese...a meat and potato burrito! :)

Hope you enjoy!

Crown Of Thorns

My Mom thought it would be a good idea to share this wonderful idea with you all. We found it on the "Holy Heroes" website, which we visit often during the Liturgical seasons.

This (not edible) 'Crown of Thorns' represents Jesus Christ's pain during His Passion. Every time you, or a family member, do a good deed, you're able to pull a tooth pick out. The goal is to have them all gone by the end of Lent!!! The idea is to take Jesus' pain away as you do these good deeds. I think it's fun for kids (and grown ups) to see how well they did, and what they accomplished during Lent!!! :)

INGREDIENTS

4 c. flour

1 c. salt

Water (however much you need to make it like a soft clay)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat to 350 degrees.

STEP 1: Mix salt and flour together...

STEP 2: Add water to dry ingredients.

STEP 3: Lay it out on the counter and separate it into three pieces, and roll them to get ready to make a braid.

STEP 4: Braid it as best you can... and make into a circle!!!

(as you can see it's not very easy to make it look nice) :)

STEP 5: Put about 40 tooth picks into the braid...

 and bake for an hour, or until golden brown.

Then you can put it in the center of your table for the rest of Lent!!! :)

Saint Patrick's Day Rolo Message

My sister and I were having a conversation the other day.  We were talking about all the cute little crafts they have on Pinterest for the holidays.  We concluded that until God blesses us with children, our dear husbands are going to be the beneficiaries of these adorable gifts. 

Although they are grown men, I think they enjoy the little surprises they receive.  Who wouldn't?!  To me, it would be like getting a letter in the mail...someone took a little time to do something for you.  How can one not like that. :)

I thought this idea was adorable.  Taking a ROLO, you wrap it with a homemade wrapper that says, "You're the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow!"  After completing the little package, I hung it in his car so he will see it in the morning. :)  Hopefully it will put a smile on his face and it will also remind him that he better be wearing green. ;)

THINGS NEEDED:

Rolos

Blank paper/Picture you want to color

Crayons/Markers

Tape

Ziploc

String

Scissors

Carefully remove paper from Rolo package.  Using the printed picture or blank paper, trace the Rolo paper. Cut it out.  

Color and write your message. 

Tape one end.  Tightly wrap paper around candy and tape again.

Using the scissors, cut little holes in the top of the Ziploc and insert string.  As you can see, I put another little picture in too.  Have fun with it and do whatever you would like. 

Here are two ideas where to hang it.  You can put it anywhere.  Hang it in the fridge if he grabs his lunch in the morning, hang it on the main door so he sees it when he is leaving, tape it to the bathroom mirror.... You get the picture.  :)

                                        Hope everyone has a blessed Saint Patrick's Day!!

Rainbow in a Jar!

As a little child you dream of a pot of gold being at the end of the rainbow and leprechauns being right there protecting their pot o' gold. Since St. Patrick's Day is coming just around the corner, I figured I'd make this easy treat for the kids to help celebrate this holiday!

What you will need:

A glass jar

Rolos

Skittles (Original Flavor)

First, set the rolos at the bottom of the jar to represent the gold!

(In place of the rolos, you could use chocolate nuggets or gold coins)

Next, layer the skittles...red, orange, yellow, green and, lastly, purple!

And there you have it! Your own pot of gold!