Texas Red Sauce....

I found this economical tasty way to make your own red sauce awhile back and have been wanting to share it with you! I finally got the chance! I don't have a picture right now but we are having these for supper tomorrow night so I will try to get one posted! Hope you enjoy! These are GOOD!!! :)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

 5 teaspoons red chili powder

 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

 2 teaspoons garlic powder

 6 ounces tomato paste

 2 1/4 cups water or half chicken broth

 salt and pepper

Directions

1. Melt butter/margarine in a sauce pan.

2. Make a roux by browning flour in melted butter/margarine.

3. Add spices and tomato paste; stir until well blended into roux.

4. Add water gradually, stirring constantly.

5. Heat until boiling.

6. Continue simmering and stirring until desired thickness is achieved.

7. Taste every so often and adjust spices as needed.

8. Once desired consistency and taste is reached, coat the bottom of a pan with the sauce, add freshly rolled enchiladas, then pour the remainder of the red sauce over enchiladas.

9. Place pan in oven and cook until enchiladas are done.

my favorite Christmas present!!!!!!....

order here!!! I love you, baby. Thank you SOOO much!!! :)

Cooking 3 meals out of 1......

Last night for supper we had red beans & rice. I fixed some oven fried potatoes w/onions (just slice them and sprinkle with sea salt, pepper & drizzle fairly well with olive oil). I fixed enough potatoes and brown rice for 3 meals had some whole wheat tortillas on hand so last night before bed I scrambled a dozen eggs and I threw the eggs, potatoes, brown rice and some shredded cheddar/jack cheese on the tortillas, wrapped them up and this morning microwaved them for about 30 seconds and added ketchup or salsa! They were seriously yummy and I love the fact that they are full of fiber, protein and healthy!!

Also, I saved the beans and remaining brown rice and cheese and today I am going to assemble burritos for lunch with these!!!!

Cheap & good!!

Mexican Cornbread...

1 lb ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1 small can diced green chillis,drained
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder

Cornbread Mixture:

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 can creamed corn
2-3 cups shredded colby/jack cheese

Directions
1Brown together the ground beef,seasonings, onion and chilis; drain well.

2In a bowl mix together the cornbread ingredients.

3Lightly spray a 13 x9 in baking dish with Pam.

4Pour 1/2 of the cornbread mixture into prepared dish.

5Top with the meat mixture then sprinkle on the cheese to cover.

6Pour the remaining cornbread mixture on top.

7Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45 mins or until the top is lightly browned.

*This is so good as a complete meal! We fix it with beans & fried potatoes because that's how my hubby likes (LOVES) it! It's so good and really easy.

You can find this recipe and lots more of our family favorites here!

Have a blessed week!

Love,
Julie

show LOVE to your family; bake for them!! (Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel muffins)

*I have some posts scheduled to publish throughout the week. I sat down last night and worked on some recipes I have promised a few people. That's probably all I will get to post this week but there are quite a few so I had to get them out of the way sometime!

I made these last night for Charlie & the girls (me, too) lol. We had Darcy's Chai tea along with them and all I can say is, "Who needs Starbucks?" :) I didn't have the same kind of green tea as Darcy used but we made it work. It's delicious and the whipped cream and cinnamon with it; heavenly! Anyway, here's the recipe for the muffins. I think I may have shared them before but they are so good, I will share them again!

filling:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons brown sugar

streusel:

4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

5 tablespoons white sugar (used half Splenda)

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons chopped pecans or walnuts

muffins:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar (used half Splenda)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin

1/3 cup olive oil (I used Smart Balance)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners.

To make the filling:
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar.
Beat until smooth, then set aside.

For the streusel topping:
In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans.
Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

For the muffin batter:
In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla.
Beat together until smooth.
Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full.
Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter.
Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping.Bake at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

*I used Valentine's cupcake papers to make it special; all muffins this week will be baked in these! Hope you enjoy these yummy muffins!! :)

Supper Menus.....

Sunday: creamed chicken & biscuits (no pimentos), broccoli & cauliflower with butter, sweet tea

Monday: Grilled Pork Chops, Mashed Cauliflower & steamed broccoli, strawberries , sweet tea


Tuesday: Mexican cornbread, fried potatoes w/onion, Pinto Beans w/bacon, Julie's sheet cake, sweet tea(making double; taking food to a church member)


Wednesday:Party sandwiches, chips,pickles, olives, sweet tea


Thursday: Chicken & rice soup; homemade bread, salad, sweet tea


Friday: 7 layer Mexican Dip with chips, fruit tray, sweet tea


Saturday: Charlie's Homemade Pizza, salad, tea


Sunday: Claire's birthday; her choice! tba

dessert this week: Julie's Sheet Cake (sharing with friends) & Birthday/Valentine cupcakes(Red Velvet)

*If there is not a link to a menu item listed; I will be back to post the recipe in the evenings so check back & see! Thanks! :)

For more menu ideas visit Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Supper Menus for December 22nd-26th....

Monday- chicken fajitas, beans & rice, sweet tea

Tuesday- Fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken breast, salad, sweet tea

Wednesday- Christmas Eve (chicken & dressing, ham, sweet potatoes, candy, cookies, cake, pies at my Mom's & shrimp, baked potatoes, salad, desserts of all kinds at the other Mom's) Yum-o!!! :)

Thursday- Christmas day (probably New England Boiled Dinner (ham, carrots, onions & cabbage cooked in crockpot all morning & serve the gravy (juices) over mashed potatoes, crescent rolls fixed by Charlie, sweet tea & desserts)

Friday- Ravioli soup, french bread,salad, sweet tea

*Family favorites are:

Julie's Fettuccine alfredo

Chicken and Dressing

New England Boiled Dinner

Commodity Cheese Fudge

Basic Cookies

Old Timey Sugar Cookies

*Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!

Love,

Julie

Julie's Fettuccine Alfredo....

I used this recipe as a base to make Fettuccine Alfredo the other night and made some adjustments. This is what I came up with. Charlie said it was so good that I had to share it so here it is:

1/2 cup butter

1 & 1/2 cups heavy cream (I used half and half; you could also use reg.milk)

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (or you can use 1/4 tsp. garlic powder)

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup fresh grated Romano, Asiago, Parmesan blend cheeses (can also use just romano or just parmesan)

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

8 ounces fettuccine noodles

Start pasta water to boiling. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain when done; keep warm. Meanwhile, melt butter with garlic. Add cream and pepper and salt; stir and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in cheese. Add nutmeg. Toss cooked noodles with sauce, serve with bread and salad and your choice of wine or sweet tea! :)

And, the best part, HELLO, this is CHEAP!!! :)

Ciao...

Julie

Supper Menus for December 16th-19th..

Monday- crackers & soup; still sick

Tuesday- Baked potato bar (broccoli, bacon, cheese, sour cream) & salad

Wednesday- tortilla soup

Thursday- Baked Mac & Cheese, Broccoli & cauliflower

Friday- Roast in crockpot, mashed potatoes with roast gravy, green beans

*all meals served with sweet tea

*Roast recipe:

chuck or rump roast
worchestire sauce
seasoned salt & pepper
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk
1 can water

Rub roast with salt and pepper. Poke holes in roast with fork. Place in hot oil in skillet or dutch oven. Brown lightly (sear) on both sides. Put in crockpot with 5 or 6 shakes of Worchestire sauce and onion soup mix. Add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of milk, 1 can water. Stir. Add more water if you feel necessary but not too much; it will be too thin for gravy. Cook on low all day or until done.

recipe links (yum!)

Links to recipes I used to make cupcakes, sugar cookies & pumpkin muffins:



vanilla cupcakes



chocolate fudge cupcakes (did not use the cream cheese icing; cheated & bought icing!)



Martha Stewart sugar cookies (did not use this icing; bought icing!)



pumpkin chocolate chip muffins



pumpkin cream cheese muffins



*If you would like to make your own frosting, and need a good recipe, just email me & I will send you mine. I don't have time to type it out right now. My computer time is up for the morning. So, have a great week, everyone!



*If you want to buy frosting, I bought Duncan Hines Whipped Fluffy White Frosting in 16.2 oz size. You can buy them 2 for $3.00 at Wal-Mart and it is SUPER easy to spread! =)

Julie

life this week...

scarecrow cupcakes (super easy)

candy corn cupcakes

BOO cupcakes

Drew's pumpkin costume

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies & Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Cupcake toppers

Wilton BOO bags

Wilton baking cups

Wilton cookie cutters (grip)

Claire's Tinkerbell Costume

We have been SUPER busy around here this week! First of all, I have to share that I found Claire's tinkerbell costume at Goodwill for $1.99!!!! The VERY SAME one that is $29 through Disney!!! So, I am VERY excited about that!!! (more on the Goodwill trip at a later date!) I also found Drew's pumpkin costume at Goodwill for $1.99!!! =)

We are making BOO bags to take to family and friends this weekend and some cupcakes to take to Papaw & MeMe Fogg's Fall Festival at their home(a church activity) Saturday night!! They are having a cake walk and Claire is so excited!! =) That girl LOVES cake!! =)

So, to go in the BOO bags are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (these are GREAT cold!!), Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins, Cupcakes & Frosted Sugar Cookies (Martha Stewart's recipe)!! We are having SO much FUN!!

Pictured above are some of the creations and some of the products we are using that I love!! =)

* I will come back later tonight and post links to the recipes and the Wilton cupcake items. I need to feed the baby and enjoy my family for awhile!

*Hopefully, I will be able to post more pictures soon!! Pictures to come of Drew and how fast he is growing (he weighed 12 lbs at his 6 week check-up!!) and he is sleeping at least 6 -7 hrs. every night!! YAY!!

Love,

Julie

Menu Plan....

Supper:

Red Beans & Rice

Crockpot Potato Chowder (added 1stalk celery, diced, 1 tbsp. minced garlic, some black pepper & substituted cream of mushroom; YUM!!!)

Quick Lasagna(I am not a fan of H.H. however, because someone gave me 2 boxes I need to use them up; I'm not a cooking snob, I just don't care for it much, but it's really good in this recipe!), homemade bread & steamed squash with butter

Omelets w/onions,spinach, mushrooms, ham & cheese, homemade french bread

Homemade Pizza (didn't have last week)

Breakfast:

Amish oatmeal & fruit

Pumpkin muffins (I will post this recipe later with pictures; they are SO good!)

Blackberry Bread

Breakfast Burritos

Peanut Butter toast w/homemade bread, fruit

lunch:

leftovers
pb&j
grilled cheese
Ravioli with spaghetti sauce & cheese, bread
pig in the blanket, broccoli & cauliflower

*Have a wonderful week! =)

Julie

Menu Plan Monday...updated with Homemade Pizza recipe!

These are in no particular order because I don't know what I will be fixing on what days. Things change around here a lot lately and that is why I love my crock pots!! =) Have a wonderful week!

Breakfast:

Banana Bread

Blackberry Muffins with Cream Cheese Spread

Pancakes w/Fruit & Whipped Cream

Pumpkin Chocolate chip muffins

Oatmeal w/Fruit

Pumpkin Bread w/cream cheese spread

Lunch:

leftovers

PB&J

Hot Dogs, corn on the cob

Pig in blanket, tator tots, broccoli

French Bread Pizza

Breakfast Burritos, Baked Potatoes cubed & fried w/onion in olive oil

Supper:

Baked Ravioli(didn't have last week), French Bread with butter, Salad

Julie's easy beef stew, buttermilk cornbread

Crockpot Potato Chowder, Buttermilk cornbread

Tortilla Soup (recipe at the bottom)with sliced avacados, sour cream, colby/jack cheese, green onions

Homemade Pizza, Salad (I will share this recipe later; my sister requested it as well, so I will just post the recipe as soon as I can find it! lol )

*Wednesday night- eat out or eat at church

*Friday morning-may eat breakfast at church (Mom(Barbara) is cooking; YUM!)

*Desserts of the week (bible study): Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies,

Apple Caramel Cake

Go to Laura's for more menu ideas!

Charlie & Julie's Chicken Tortilla Soup (a knock-off of Papa Pablano's)

6 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded (or whole chicken; cooked, deboned & shredded)(reserve all broth)

3 stalks celery, minced

1/2 c. chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chillies)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. pepper

1 c. sliced zucchini, optional

water to make soup consistency that you want

1/2 c. shredded cheese

sour cream

tortilla chips

Cook chicken breasts or whole chicken. Reserve broth. In dutch oven, saute onion, garlic and celery in 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Add rest of ing. except cheese, tortilla chips and sour cream. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hr. In bowls, place chips, sprinkle with cheese. Ladle soup over chips and cheese. Top each with sour cream and avacado and more cheese if desired.

Enjoy!!

Charlie's Homemade Pizza

3/4 c. water (110-115 degrees)

1 tsp. sugar

2 TBSP. butter (melted or very soft)

2 & 1/2 c. flour (ap)

1 TBSP. yeast or 1 packet

1 Tablespoon cornmeal (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup pizza sauce

12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

sliced onions, optional

chopped bell peppers, optional

pepperoni, fried hamburger, fried sausage, canadian bacon,optional

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/8 teaspoon basil

2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese

Instructions:
1. If using a bread machine to make pizza dough, put ingredients in bread machine in order listed and set to dough setting.

If making dough by hand, mix water, butter, and sugar in mixing bowl. Add part of the flour and stir. Add the rest of the flour and the yeast, and stir into a dough. Knead for 6-8 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Set dough in bowl and grease the top. Cover with a towel and set in a warm place to rise for about 45 minutes.*(I use my Kitchen Aid Mixer and knead for only a couple of minutes or so. 6-8 is too long if using a stand mixer).

2. After dough has risen the first time, punch down and knead until air bubbles are removed.

3. Liberally butter a 16-inch round pizza pan, and press dough onto pan. Carefully lift one-half of the crust and fold over (to expose half of the pizza pan). Sprinkle 1/2 Tablespoon cornmeal over pan. Lay crust back in place and repeat on other half, so that there is cornmeal sprinkled between entire layer of crust and pan.

4. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt over top of crust and then spread with 1 cup pizza sauce. Sprinkle on cheese and any optional toppings desired. Sprinkle on oregano, basil, and parmesan cheese last.

5.** Place pizza in oven and turn heat to 400 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes; rotate crust and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until top is browned. (Be sure to watch so it doesn't burn; every oven is different!)

6. When pizza is browned, turn off heat and open oven door. Leave pizza in oven until ready to serve. Then remove from oven, cut, and serve. If there is leftover pizza, we often put the pieces directly on a cooling rack to cool, which prevents condensation forming between the crust and pan.

Ummm....Brownies!!

I made these tonight and just wanted to share my favorite (so far) brownie recipe! It's really easy, too! I think next time I will experiment with some peanut butter or cream cheese or both; that sounds heavenly! =)

The girls are enjoying right now with a glass of cold milk; YUM!!!!

*Edited to add: It's 7:30 pm and bedtime here! It is not 10:46 pm like my computer says!! I don't know what is wrong with the clock on my computer; just wanted you to know that we are not up that late! =)

Menu Plan Monday

We are on the countdown to getting ready for the baby so I am trying to be very disciplined and stay on budget with everything! Menu planning will help SO much! Here's the game plan for this week:

Monday-

Breakfast: Monkey Bread with pecans

Lunch: PB&J or Cheese & crackers

Supper: Julie's 15 minute Beef Stroganoff ; Steamed broccoli & cauliflower with Smart Balance; iced tea

Tuesday-

Breakfast: Homemade Granola, milk, fruit

Lunch: PB&J or Grilled Cheese

Supper: Loaded Baked Potatoes (bacon bits, sour cream, butter, leftover steamed broccoli & cauliflower, cheese, salt & pepper)

Wednesday-

Breakfast: Starbuck's Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Lunch: Bacon Egg & Cheese Toaster Sandwiches

Supper: Baked Mac & Cheese, Steamed Veggies

Thursday- dr.'s appointment

Breakfast: Cereal, milk, juice, bananas

Lunch: will probably eat lunch in town

Supper: Asian Beef Wraps(I couldn't get the link to work right so the recipe is listed at the bottom); Salad; jello with fruit

Friday-

Breakfast: Cereal, milk, juice, bananas

Lunch: leftovers

Supper: Ham, Cheesy Potaoes (crockpot), green beans, jello with fruit

Saturday-

Breakfast: Pancakes & Bacon & eggs

Lunch: leftovers

Supper: Chicken & Dressing,(I have the cooked chicken, the broth and bread in the freezer), mashed potatoes, green beans,sweet potatoes, jello with fruit

Sunday-

Breakfast: Bacon Egg & Cheese Toasters

Lunch: Charlie's idea; it's Sunday! =)

Supper: Baked Potato Soup, Sweet Onion Muffins

Dessert of the week: Blackberry Cheese Pie (We LOVE this & have SO many blackberries to use up!)

Asian Beef Wraps

6 spinach tortillas
roast beef thinly sliced
cucumber, thinly sliced into sticks
mayonnaise
1 bag instant rice, cooked
soy sauce
green onions, thinly sliced

Cook the instant rice according to package. Add some soy sauce, about 1 or 2 tbsps, depending on your taste. Add the green onions and mix well.Spread mayonnaise on a tortilla.Top with some of the rice mixture. What I do is score the rice into equal sections so that every wrap has the same amount.Layer 3 slices of roast beef and then some cucumber sticks. Fold burrito style. Repeat with remaining tortillas!

Head over to OrgJunkie for more menu ideas!!

Have a great week!!

Yummy, Buttermilk pancakes!

Claire helped me make these pancakes for breakfast this morning! (not my picture because I still don't have a new digital but that's okay because we are trying to follow Dave Ramsey's plan and that definitely does not qualify as an emergency! So, maybe I will get it soon.) Anyway, these are so yummy and easy! I make the whole batch and freeze the rest for the rest of the week! Easy! So, try these and tell me what you think. They are incredibly fluffy and yummy!

Blessings on your Wednesday,

Julie

Happy Birthday, Baby! And News....

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLIE!!!!! I am making an awesome meal tonight with his favorite Blackberry Cheese Pie for dessert(seriously, you have to try this pie, SO good!) I can't wait until he gets home so we can eat it and it's super great for these crazy hot days! :o) Sarah has some yummy looking pictures here. (We use frozen blackberries, they are cheaper!)

For those of you who don't already know, we are having a BOY!!!! I will try to get the ultrasound picture up sometime this week but it may take a while. I am officially back on blogging break after this post! I had to break my blogging fast to tell you the great news and to wish my hubby Happy Birthday! :o)

So, Happy Birthday, Baby and Welcome to the family, Baby Drew! Can't wait to meet you!!!!

Love and Prayers to all of you,
Julie

Make it yourself...

I have been trying to save us money and cut corners in a lot of areas. Trying to be the best wife and mother I can be. I found this link and I wanted to share it with all of you! It has so many recipes and substitutions for many things that we buy that we consider essentials! A lot of ways to substitute or just make it yourself and save SO much money!!! :o) Check it out when you have the time. You can subscribe to their weekly newsletter, as well. Very helpful!

Have a great week!!!!

How to make Powdered Sugar & Cool Whip, From Scratch!

Powdered Sugar:

1 c. sugar
1 t. cornstarch

Blend in a blender until fine & powdery! Yes, it's that EASY! :o)

Cool Whip:

1 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. powdered sugar
splash (small bit) of vanilla

Beat for 5 minutes? until peaks form. Helps if bowl and beater are metal and chilled. A stand mixer works perfectly for this! :o)

EASY, EASY!!! Never buy powdered sugar or cool whip again! Now, get in the kitchen and whip up something yummy! :o)

Love,
Julie