Show Us Your Life - favorite main dishes

~ Linking to Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life - Favorite Main Dishes ~

I try really hard to menu plan in advance, but that doesn't always happen.  With the help of Pinterest, I usually manage to throw something together every night, even if it is last minute.  Here are some of my favorite go-to main dish dinners.  You may notice a trend...each one is easy to make and serve, because that's how I roll.

Nothing says comfort food like good ole American Shepherd's Pie.  I. Love. This.

I love these lasagna roll-ups because they are so easy to make and even easier to serve.  I recently had a guest who couldn't eat dairy, so I made a separate pan of these without cheese...so much easier than trying to leave part of a whole lasagna cheese-free.

These little meatloaf muffins are wonderful.  I use the meatloaf recipe I've always used, but this it is so much easier to ensure all of the meat is cooked the whole way through...and they are perfect servings.

What are some of your go-to main dish recipes?

photo challenge: {my sweet tooth}

April 22~ {my sweet tooth}

I love this peanut butter pie!

Tasty Tuesday: easy peanut butter pie

This peanut butter pie recipe is a favorite in our house.  It's sooooo tasty & easy to make! 

Peanut Butter Pie
1 c. white sugar
1 c. peanut butter
8 oz. softened cream cheese
(2) 8 oz. tubs Cool Whip
Chocolate syrup
1 Graham cracker pie crust

Crust: Combine 1 sleeve graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 c. white sugar, 1/2 c. melted butter.  Press into 9-inch pie plate.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Filling: Mix peanut butter, sugar, and cream cheese with mixer.  Fold in one tub of Cool Whip until well blended Pour into pie crust.  Cover with another 8 oz of Cool Whip.  Drizzle with chocolate syrup.  Refrigerate until time to serve.  Enjoy!

Linking to Tasty Tuesday at The New Modern Momma and Beauty and Bedlam

our favorite boneless buffalo wings

I first had these wings at my uncle's house for a birthday party a couple years ago.  I was never a fan of wings, but these are seriously out of this world!  He used regular wings, but our family like boneless, so that is how we make them in our house.  They are delicious and super easy!

You will need:
10 boneless chicken tenders
1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
dash of salt
1/4 c melted butter
1/4 c hot sauce
dash of black pepper
dash of garlic powder

Mix flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt in a bowl.  Toss chicken in mixture to coat each one evenly.  Bake on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil {I spray my foil w/ cooking spray}. Bake 40 minutes at 400*...Remove chicken from oven and place in a greased baking dish.  Mix melted butter, hot sauce, pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl.  Pour over chicken and bake for 30-45 min at 350*.  Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.  Enjoy!
*I always make these for the Super Bowl...I wish I had a picture to share, but by the time I thought of taking one they were GONE!  

Linking to Tasty Tuesday at Beauty & Bedlam  
and Tasty Tuesday at The New Modern Momma

I heart you.

Happy Valentine's Day!  We don't go all out, but we always try to do a few things to make it extra special.

Over the weekend, we made this...

 and these... 

We added our own twist to each, so they are not the same as the originals...but yummy anyway :)

Joel is getting these little color crayon books from the dollar spot at Target...

I got this light saber for Daniel...

Since we don't like to leave the kids on weekends, Dan & I are both taking a day off next week and taking a road trip while Daniel is in school and Joel is at the babysitter.  I'm not sure where we'll end up, but spending the day together will be fun, no matter what we do.  In the meantime, I stuck a lottery ticket in his card & woke up to these...sweet :)

Every year, I stop at Rutter's to get Daniel a red slush on my way home from work...that won't happen today, because he was up sick through the night and couldn't go to school.  I'm home with the kids, and hoping the rest of us stay healthy.  

I think I will try my hand at a variation of Giada's calzone recipe for dinner tonight.  As for Daniel, he will be on the BRAT diet until further notice. 

I hope you and your family are having a lovely day together, no matter how you choose to celebrate.  Even though we're stuck inside, we're making the best of cuddling under thick quilts, and I'm catching up on lots of laundry!

Hugs!! :)

Linking to Tasty Tuesday

best brownies ever.

I usually make a big dinner and bake dessert on Sundays.  When we got home from church {after I fed and changed Joel and put him down for his nap}, I put a round steak in the roaster oven and peeled potatoes.  Then I opened the pantry to pull out a brownie mix.  No brownies, just cake and muffin mixes.  I was bummed, but then thought, I'll just bake a cake.   But...Daniel told me to make my own.  Truth be told, I had never even thought of baking brownies that didn't come in a box {I know there are recipes & I've eaten my fair share of from scratch brownies, but it's just something that didn't really occur to me}.  I grabbed a cook book from my collection {gasp!  I didn't hop online}, and found a recipe right away.  The ingredients were simple and it looked easy enough, so...we got busy measuring and mixing.  45 minutes later we had a fresh pan of from scratch brownies that looked, smelled, and tasted way better than a mix.  I will probably never make brownies from a box again.   Kudos to Daniel for suggesting that I make my own {I think he was just kidding, not sure he actually knew there was any other way to make a brownie besides the box mix}.

Best Brownies Ever

12oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. butter

3/4 c/ sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/8 tsp. salt

1tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. plus 2 T chopped walnuts {optional - I didn't use nuts}

 

I had to sample them right out of the oven...yum-o!

Combine one cup chocolate chips and butter in a small microwave- safe bowl.  Microwave on high for one minute. Stir until smooth; whisk in sugar and eggs. Stir in flour and salt until smooth.  Fold in vanilla and 1/2 cup walnuts. Transfer to a greased 8"x8" glass baking pan.  Bake at  350* for 23-25 minutes.  Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over top in an even thin layer; bake an additional two minutes.  Remove from oven and gently spread melted chips until smooth to form a frosting.  Top with remaining nuts.  Chill for 20 minutes until chocolate is firm; cut into squares.  Enjoy...we did! :)

Linking to Tasty Tuesday

all-time family favorite...

~ Link up over at Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life: Favorite Holiday Recipes ~ and Tasty Tuesday ~
Hopefully I will have a picture to share after next week, but as of right now, I haven't bought the ingredients for this family favorite yet. Ingredients have been purchased & I'm ready to make these...just imagine that the picture is facing the right direction - I have uploaded it at least six times, and cannot get it to rotate!!!   :/

Yes, it's that simple :)

Canapes
1 loaf cocktail bread {found in the supermarket deli near the bagel chips & pita bread...we use pumpernickel or rye}
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 T mayo
1/2 c. chopped green olives (I use my Black & Decker Handy Chopper)
Bacon bits {we like Betty Crocker Bacos}

Combine cheese, mayo, and olives in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.  Spread on mini slices & place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with bacon bits.  Bake for 5-7 minutes at 350* {or until golden brown & cheese melts}.

I remember helping bake tray after tray of these at my grandma's house when we were growing up.  My sister & I carry on the tradition with our families.  The best part?  Delicious and super easy!   One batch makes enough for several nights of Christmas appetizers.  My mouth is already watering...I. Can. Not. Wait.

Pizza Dip Recipe

~ Find other recipes and link your favorite at (in)courage. ~ 
Pizza Dip

8 oz. brick of cream cheese

½ c. sour cream

1 tsp. oregano or basil

⅛ tsp. red pepper flakes

½ c. pizza sauce (I use a whole jar of Ragu)

¼ c. chopped red or green pepper

½ c. chopped pepperoni

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Blend first four ingredients with electric mixer.  Spread mixture into a quiche dish.  Pour pizza sauce over mixture.  Spread red or green pepper and pepperoni over sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top (Sometimes I put some pepperoni slices & shake some extra basil & red pepper flakes on top).  Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes or until everything is melted together.  Stir dip & serve with tortilla chips.

Instead of a quiche dish, I layer all ingredients in my mini crock pot on low for a couple of hours & stir when the cheeses melt – so quick, easy & yummy!

This is a family favorite & I'm always asked to make it for our gatherings.   In fact, I'm making it for a family reunion this weekend.  It's also a great appetizer or Super Bowl party snack.