Pinterest Challenge: Pot Roast Noodles

Since it's Father's Day weekend I let Phil go through all my favourite recipes on Pinterest and pick whatever one he wanted for dinner. So he chose these Pot Roast Noodles. A lot of work, but very delicious! For the original recipe click HERE.

What you will need:

1 can of sliced mushrooms (drained)
2 1/2 pound chuck roast
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 each, chopped: carrot, onion, rib celery
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups beef broth
1 cup red wine
6 ounces tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1 sprig fresh thyme
8 ounces pappardelle egg noodles

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees, Season meat generously with salt and pepper.

2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown meat, about 2 minutes per side. Lift out; set aside. Add carrot, onion, celery and garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add broth, wine, tomato paste, mushrooms, bay leaves and thyme. Heat to a boil. Return meat to the pot. Liquid should come about two thirds the way up the sides of the roast. Cover.

3. Place in oven; cook, turning roast once and basting occasionally, until very tender when prodded with a fork, 2-2 1/2 hours.

4. Set pot on stovetop. Remove meat from pot. Shred. Discard any fat. Discard bay leaves and thyme sprig. Stir shredded meat into sauce; keep warm over low heat.

5. Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until tender but firm. Drain. Add noodles to meat and sauce. Toss gently.

Enjoy!

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

Rolled Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing.

Since Easter is this weekend, I wanted to share with you a wonder sugar cookie recipe.

 It is perfect to use when making shaped cookies to decorate. It holds its shape when baked which is at times hard to find with some sugar cookies. 

I just love making a batch of cute little bunny shaped cookies and have them come out of the oven looking like scary blobs of terror!

I also wanted to give a try at making Royal Icing for the first time! 

It sounds scarier then it is to make it. I was quite surprised at how easy it actually was to make!

Before they are baked

Right out of the oven!
See how they hold their shape!

I have to say thank you to Mommy Jenn for suggesting this cookie recipe to me. 

Thank you!

The sugar cookie recipe is by Alton Brown. I love that guy! 

You will need:

 Flour, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg, milk, and some icing sugar.

If you have all these ingredients, head on over to this link for the full recipe on The Cooking Channel! 

Now for the Royal Icing, like I said, sounds scarier than it really is. 

You do need to have a mixer though. Having to whisk it by hand would be a heck of a job!

The hardest part was finding meringue powder for a decent price! 

I ended up finding a local bulk shop that sold it by the tablespoon!

Royal icing is a type of frosting that hardens as it dries. 

It is perfect for shaped sugar cookies, especially if you will be moving them or packaging them.

Check out the steps here  at A Spoonful of Flavor, for full details and recipe for royal icing.

From this 

To this!!

    

Here is another picture of my beautiful carrot cookies!!

Are you making any special Easter-y treats this week? Share them with us on our Facebook Group!

By Mommy Melissa

Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros

This recipe came from Pinterest. I did alter it because I did not have all the ingredients and the one I omitted seemed strange adding to the Gyro anyways. The recipe did turn out well, I left me chicken in the slow cooker a bit to long, but it was good just the same.



What you will need:
2 skinless chicken breasts
3 garlic cloves minced
the juice from 1 lemon (1/4 cup)
1 onion
1/4 cup of water
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp lemon pepper

Turn you slow cooker on low heat, add in your chicken breasts, then, in a small bowl mix everything but the onion and then pour it on top of the chicken. Slice the onion in half and add to crockpot. cook for about 6 hours, until chicken is cooked. Shred with a fork.

Pile the chicken on top of a warm pita or Naan bread, top with tzatziki sauce, red onion, lettuce, and tomato.

Get the recipe for our homemade tzatziki sauce HERE.

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

Vegan Chopped Taco Salad

This recipe is from Pinterest (you can get the original recipe from HERE), and I would definitely say this is a pin win! The flavours came together nicely, it was simple enough to make, and it's healthy!

What you will need:

Taco “meat”

• ½ white onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix

Guacamole

• ½ avocado flesh, mashed
• 1 tablespoon finely diced white onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
• Juice from ½ lime
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Salad Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 tablespoons salsa

Add onions and water to a pan on medium-high heat for about 2-3 mins until the onions are softened. Then add chickpeas and taco seasoning and reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through.

 

Meanwhile, add guacamole ingredients to a small bowl and mash with a fork to combine. Set aside.

 

Pile all of the salad ingredients in a bowl. Top with guacamole and taco “meat”.

 

Variations: The original recipe also called for corn chips, I did not add those, but feel free for that crunchy texture! Also, this recipe only makes for one (A big serving however).

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA



 

 

 

 

Homemade Oreos - Pinterest Challenge

Here is a perfect cookie to make loved ones this Valentines day! 

They are quite easy and incredibly tasty. This was a pin from the great website MyKitchenAddiction. This lady is insanely talented! 

Now lets talk cookies. Oeros are one of my favourite cookies, ever! So when this popped up, I knew it would be in the works soon. James even helped me make them (thats a big deal!)

The original recipe called for dutch cocoa powder. what the heck? there are more than one kind?! After a little research online, it turns out the difference between dutch and regular cocoa powder is the acidity between the two. Regular is more acidic and dutch is more alkaline. Dutch also has a more mellow taste and darker colour. I used regular and threw in a little baking soda to neutralize the acidity. Worked out fine.

Homemade Oreos 

(original pin here)

The Cookies!

Gather it up!

1 cup of unsalted butter, softened (I used margarine)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla 

2 cups flour

3/4 cup of Dutch cocoa powder (or regular and a little baking soda)

1.5 tsp baking power

1 tsp salt

Work it!

Beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until its nice and fluffy. Then add the egg and vanilla until its all getting along together. 

In a separate bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder (baking soda if using), baking powder and salt. Using a whisk, mix it all together to make sure there are no more lumps (especially the cocoa powder) 

Cup by cup, add the flour mix to the wet ingredients and mix on lowest speed until there is no longer any flour mix left. 

Divide the dough into two and wrap in plastic wrap. Throw it in the fridge for at least an hour. This step is very important not to skip. The dough is very soft and needs to firm up a little. 

Line you cookie sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350.

Once the dough has been cooled. Roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. I found it very sticky and needed to use more flour than usual. To make them look more like real Oreos, use a circle cutter but that is boring! I used a heart for Valentines day aww sweet eh!? 

Place cookies on a cookie sheet. Since the cookies do not spread much you can put many on at one time just not too close. 

Bake them for about 12 minutes if you want them softer, 14 for a more crisp one. 

Cool them before icing. 

The Icing

Gather it up again!

1/2 cup butter, softened (margarine worked fine)

2 tbs half and half (who even has this? I used milk!)

1 tsp vanilla 

3-3.5 cups icing sugar 

Work it...again!

Mix the first three ingredients together until mixed. Then add the icing sugar about a half cup at a time (or you will be wearing more then you have in the bowl!)

Put in a piping bag, or if you are classy like me, a zipper seal bag with a hole cut in the corner, and pipe the icing onto a cookie. Place a second cookie on top and repeat with the rest of them.

Get a nice glass of milk and eat one, or four! Enjoy!

I loved these cookies and so did the kids and James too. These are added to my cookie recipe book and will be making them again soon with a new idea in mind. 

What if the filling was skipped. Add a little mint extract to the dough and dipped them in chocolate? Sounds like a Girl Guide Mint Cookie to me!

Do you have a favourite cookie recipe for us to try and feature on the blog? 

let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page or even the group! 

By Mommy Melissa

Country Apple Dumpling - Pinterest Challenge

I am on an apple roll again! Here is a Pin that needs to be shared with everyone you know! This has come to be one of my favourite desserts. It is THAT good! Crisp and gooey all packed into a perfect little dumpling.

Here it is! Or check out the Pin I used here 
1 can crescent rolls
1 large peeled apple, cut into 8 wedges with the core removed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup Sprite (or Mountain Dew)

1. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll, starting at the smaller end. Be sure to close up the ends. Place in bake dish.
2. Melt the butter and sugar in a small pot. Add the cinnamon.
3. Pour the butter mixture over the apple dumplings covering them all over.
4. Pour the Sprite in. I sprinkled some extra cinnamon on top too.
5. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
6. Serve as is or with some ice cream.

Start with the pointed end of the crescent roll.

Line 'em up in a baking dish.

Pour the butter mixture over top.

Pour in the Sprite (or Mountain Dew)

Bake them till they are golden masterpieces!

By Mommy Melissa

Pinterest Challenge - Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

After going apple picking a few weeks back, I am still looking for ideas to use my never ending crisper drawer full of apples. Since baking is quite stressful with the kids pulling at me, breaking things, spilling things, fighting, etc. I loved the idea of just throwing everything into a crock-pot and letting that do the work for me! I substituted pumpkin pie spice for the nutmeg in hopes that it would give it more of a fall taste.
After about an hour of it cooking, my home smelled wonderful! Like fresh apple pies had been baking in my house all day!

Here is how it is done. 

(full recipe at bottom)

You prepare a flour/oat mixture as well as an apple/sugar mix.

Apples go in, then flour mix, then butter on top.

Bake for 3-4 hours on high.

There are a few things that I would change the next time I make this. One being to not use my little slow cooker. The crisp part on top ended up being too thick. Using the larger slow cooker would thin it out, giving it a better crisp. The other would be to lower the cooking time to about 2-3 hours. Other than those minor things, it tasted wonderful! This was a Pin Win! 

Here is the full recipe (or click here to go to the original pin)

6 cups of apples. Peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbs cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg (I used pumpkin pie spice)

1 1/4 cup flour

1 cup oats

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnut pieces (I had none)

1 stick of butter, sliced.

1. Grease your slow cooker.

2. Mix apples with sugar and spices. Put into crock pot.

3. In another bowl, combine the flour, oats brown sugar and nuts if you are using them. Pour onto apples.

4. Place the slices of butter on top of the flour and oat mixture.

5. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Remove lid for the last 15-20 minutes to let the top crisp.

What is your best fall recipe to use apples in? We would love to hear. 

By Mommy Melissa 

Guest Post by Andrea: Cauliflower Calzones

This post comes from my sister Andrea. The other day she made a delicious dish that she said she found on Pinterest....I hear a Pinterest Challenge!!!! So she put the recipe to the test and they indeed came out delicious!! This recipe came from The Iron You blog.

The recipe below came from HERE

What you will need:

For the Crust:
1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets (should yield about 3 cups once processed)
½ cup / 1.7 oz / 50 gr mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 free range egg, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Filling:
6 tablespoons thick tomato sauce
½ cup / 1.7 oz / 50 gr mozzarella cheese
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 450°F (220°C) and place a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease liberally with olive oil.

In a food processor rice the cauliflower florets in batches (process until evenly chopped but not pulverized). Transfer cauliflower rice to a microwave dish and microwave on high for 8 minutes, until cooked.

Place the cauliflower rice in a tea towel and twist it to squeeze out as much moisture as you can (I squeezed out more than 1 cup of liquid). This is very important. The cauliflower rice needs to be dry. Otherwise you’ll end up with a mushy dough, not a crusty one. Transfer the cauliflower rice to a mixing bowl and add egg, mozzarella, oregano, sea salt and pepper. Mix well. Using your hands, press the mixture onto the baking sheet and shape into three discs (diameter should be about 5 inches).

Place in the oven and bake for 10 (no more no less, 10 minutes). Remove from the oven and, working quickly, top the half of each disc with tomato sauce and mozzarella. Using a large spatula carefully lift the half of the disc without filling and fold it over the other part (that’s ok if the disc brakes a bit).
Use your fingers to push the edges of each calzone together and seal in the filling.

Bake in the oven for an additional 12 minutes.

Serve hot!

Thank you Andrea for this recipe!

Pinterest Challege: S'more Cookies

This Pin I will keep forever! I've already made these cookies a few times, they are delicious and have turned out every time! They are definitely a lot bigger than the pin actually looked, but hey who doesn't want more cookie? You can find the original pin here.

First Step: Make your cookie dough

It can be any chocolate cookie dough recipe you like, this is the one I used:

What you will need: 
- 2 cups all purpose flour

- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

- 1 cup packed brown sugar

-1/2 cup white sugar

- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

- 1 egg

- 1 egg yolk

- 1 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Whatever recipe you use, add half the amount of chocolate chips it's calling for.  

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.  

Second Step: Make a S'more
What you will need:
- 2 Hershey's milk chocolate (or hazelnut) chocolate bars
- 1 cup of marshmallows (I used giant marshmallows cut into 4's, use whatever you have on hand)
- 6 Graham crackers

1. Take 1 tsp of your cookie dough and lay it flat, pile on some graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow, then put another tsp of cookie dough on top. Carefully push both sides of the dough together so none of the middle is showing. (You may need to add a bit more flour to your cookie dough, because if it's really sticky it will be hard to work with). Place on a baking sheet. (NOTE: These cookies expand, spread them out generously, I only put 5-6 cookies per sheet. Cook for 17-20 mins (check after 15 mins).

Recipe makes approx. 12 cookies.

 

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creamy Taco Soup

Here is my Pinterest Challenge post for the week. Well its more of two pins that I mashed together to make it my own version, so would this be a pin challenge or not? Might as well! I liked different parts of each but not the entire thing. Its a creamy taco soup made in the slow cooker. You use chicken breast instead of beef which makes it healthier. It was delicious! Since I was cooking this meal for my sister and her family as well to enjoy, I did not add any hot peppers as the kids would be eating it too. This recipe is a winner in my book as well as with everyone else!

Here it is! Creamy Taco Soup
(pins I combined are found here and here)

2 cups pre-cooked chicken, shredded
1 can white beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can kidney beans
2 small cans kernel corn, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tbs lime juice
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 package of taco seasoning
1/2 tbs cumin
500 mL tub of sour cream
shredded cheese
tortilla chips, crushed in medium size bits

1. Combine everything in the slow cooker other than the sour cream, cheese and chips.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
3. Mix the sour cream into the soup, then serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips on top.

Since my husband and I like spicy food, we added hot sauce to our own. If you like it hot, try adding some chili peppers and hot sauce with the rest of the ingredients to kick it up a notch.

By Mommy Melissa

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Squares

I love Rice Krispies Squares! They are one of my favourite desserts. When I found this Pin I knew that I just had to try it out. The only change I made was in place of using yellow cake mix, I used confetti cake mix. Also, I did not use the sprinkles. James hates sprinkles. Don't get me started on that... Well at least the confetti cake mix has a little bit of a sprinkle to it.
These tasty little treats are just like regular ones but they have an extra little sweetness from the mix. It is a great combination, that's for sure! Almost like a cake covered with marshmallow fondant.
How can someone not like sprinkles....

Click here for the original pin. Feel free to use as many sprinkles as you like!!

By Mommy Melissa (sprinkle lover)

Pinterest Challenge: Spicy Tortilla Soup

This is one of my favourite recipes and one of the first recipes from Pinterest I've tried. I am a huge soup fan and this tortilla soup has got to be the best soup I've ever made... (and I make some damn good soups) Tons of flavour in every bite, goes perfect just as a meal alone! You MUST try this soup! You can find the original recipe here.

What you will need: 
2 tablespoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons light colored oil
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (4 ounce) can diced mild green chiles, drained
1 can of Diced Tomatoes with Lime & Cilantro 

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (32 ounce) containers Swanson Organic Vegetable Broth (or chicken broth will do)

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1/2 a lime

1. In a small bowl mix together cumin, sweet paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, coriander, salt and black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large pot heat the oil over medium high. Add the onions and bell peppers. Sauté until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the spices and garlic; cook for 2 minutes.

3. Add the green chile peppers, diced tomatoes, corn and vegetable broth. Cook until warmed through. Add the black beans and cook for 2 minutes before serving. Squeeze in lime juice. Serve in bowls and garnish as desired.

Topping suggestions: Tortillas, avocado, shredded cheese (this is a must, it gets all gooey and delicious with every bite!)

Let us know how this recipe turned out for you!

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

Pinterest Challenge: Frosted Corn Flake Cereal Clusters aka Scotchies

A few weeks back, I received a box of amazingly tasty clusters. They were so crisp and peanut-buttery with full peanuts in them. My husband thought that it was fried chicken at first glance, then was sad when he found out there were not! Anyways, they were so good that I did some Pinterest searching for the recipe for them. I came across a few but this one was the most simple and all the ingredients were in my pantry all ready. What makes it even better? They are a No Bake cookie!
You can find the link to the recipe I followed here.

I ended up making a few changes along the way that I believe needed to be done without causing my teeth to fall out!

What you will need:
1 cup of butterscotch chips
1 cup of peanut butter
3-4 cups of corn flakes (original used 1 cup of frosted flakes)

What you do:
Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter over low heat in a pot.
Mix cornflakes into pot and stir until it is all covered with the peanut butter mixture.
Spoon onto wax paper covered cookie sheet then chill in the fridge until firm. About 1 hour.

I cannot stress about how good these things are! Once you make them, you will make them over and over again they are that good. Adding some other extras would make them even better, like peanuts, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, the possibilities are endless. James even made up his own name for them, 'cluster f**ks'! That man, I tell you!

Simple, Fast and Tasty!

By Mommy Melissa

Pinterest Challenge: Almond Joy Cupcakes

 I have made quite a few recipes from Pinterest and as you all know from your own experience some come out as a complete flop, and others come out as a complete masterpiece... this one was definitely a complete masterpiece! It was so easy too! I thought i was going to be tricky and not turn out like the pictures at all, but I'm glad I took the risk. I made them for my Dad's birthday everyone loved them, and I brought the leftovers to my work everyone said they were the best cupcakes they've ever had. Don't believe me? Try for yourself!

This recipe came from Your Cup of Cake blog. 

What you will need: 

Cake Ingredients: 

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix

4 eggs

2/3 cup oil

1 small pkg. chocolate instant pudding

1 cup milk

1/2 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Coconut Topping:

3/4 cup butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3-4 cups powdered sugar 

You will also need: 

1/2 cup almonds (whole or sliced- your choice)

3-4 cups chocolate melts

Cupcakes: 

Preheat over to 350 degrees. In a large bowl blend together all wet ingredients, once thoroughly combined add in the cake mix and the instant pudding. Line your muffin tins with cupcake liners, fill 3/4 of the way. bake for about 20 mins or until toothpick comes clean. Let cool. 

Coconut Topping:

blend together all ingredients except the sugar and the coconut. Once smooth add in the coconut- mix again. Add in the icing sugar 1 cup at a time until it reaches a thick icing. 

Pile a generous amount of the coconut topping on each cupcake, then smooth down. Melt your chocolate until smooth, then dip each cupcake in the chocolate- top with a couple almonds. Let the chocolate harden, then enjoy! 

Click HERE for step  by step pictures from original recipe. 

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

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