Mmm Turkey Chili

Well yesterday we were at the park, wearing shorts and today it's cold windy and 40 degrees cooler!

Laugh out loud! That's Texas for ya!
To go along with this cold and not have to leave I used stuff I had on hand. We had gone camping this past weekend and I had bell pepper and onions that needed to be used when it occurred to me chili!

Super quick, easy, healthy and delicious!

1lb ground turkey
1 bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1 cup chicken broth or 14 oz can
1 large can tomato sauce
2 tsp chili powder or more ;)
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp paprika
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tsp cider vinegar

Put a little oil into skillet, brown turkey with onion and bell peppers, break up and cook until no longer pink.

Combine all ingredients into slow cooker or just add to skillet for super quick dinner.
Simmer till done 4-5 hours on low or
Cover skillet let cook 30 to 45 minutes.
The longer the better for the flavors to really infuse. Enjoy!

May this dish bring SunShineSmilesamdJoy to you and your family :)

Pizza Cheese Toast

We all love pizza but don't like the frozen ones and it occurred to me I needed to use some bread before our camping trip this weekend and pizza toast just popped into my mind.

I had everything to make it so I did and my 11 year old daughter said "it's the best!" So easy here it is:

Bread
Pepperoni
Pepper Jack Cheese or Mozzarella, shredded
Tomato paste
Itialian Seasoning
Granulated Garlic

Put some tomato paste on your bread
Sprinkle with spices
Top with pepperoni
Then shredded cheese

I put my toaster oven on medium and just perfect timing, just till cheese melts!

Pizza Toast = quick, delicious lunch

A Meal in One - Favorite Pepperoni Pasta Salad

I always love pasta salads and they are sometimes so expensive. I have discovered instead of paying 4$ for a small container I can make enough for a party but t feed my family two times, understanding that we all have 2nd and 3rds! Super quick, easy and a family favorite!

1pkg Pepperoni, I use 1/2 a pack and slice in 1/2 (so I can make again or use for pizza cheese toast )
1 box or pkg Veggie Pasta
1 or 2 cans black olives, drained
1 pkg grape tomatoes, rinsed
1 pkg Feta cheese, crumbled
1 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 bottle Italian Dressing

I use extra spices and we like a lot I don't measure it's for your taste of:

Granulated Garlic
Italian Seasoning

Boil the pasta, while its cooking according to package directions grab a colander and rinse your tomatoes, dump in your black olives ( I do not rinse these just put right into colander ) chop your bell pepper & slice the pepperoni and separate after.

Transfer Pepperoni, Tomatoes, black olives and bell pepper in a large serving dish or container and add your Feta cheese.

Use the colander again to strain pasta, rinse with cold water and add to container.

Add your Italian Dressing and spices if you choose, chill and enjoy!

That simple and delicious :)

Super Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Bars

I must admit I am a Pintrest addict!  I am trying my best not to be but I had broke my arm back in April, which is another story, and was on the couch for seriously 2 full weeks with only 1 hand working right and Pintrest became my relaxing, get my mind off the pain, fun way to plan all the things I want to do!  

I have over 8,000 pins and with each one it is something I find wonderful, beautiful, special, heart-warming, funny or something that I want to do, make, create, sew, craft, bake, cook or do!  So, with that said I went on my To Do board which has a ridiculous amount of pins and trying to accomplish at least 2 a day to whittle it down!  

I have to admit, I also have a board of Things I have Tried some are from Pins and others just from myself.  I move my To Do and Delete when done to the the Tried Board and then post a comment.  

Some of them, well, leave something to be desired.  :0  While, others are excellent, fun or easy.  

I'm going to share the one I did tonight and believe I have figured out how to link it so here goes!

I made the Super Easy Chocolate Chip Cake Bars tonight and here's how I did it and my take on it. Hope it helps and will post the link for the wonderful recipe at the end.

 Okay, Ingredients:  Yellow Cake Mix or White ( I used yellow ) 1 package = 2 cups Milk Chocolate Chips, 5 TBS butter and 2 eggs.    Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Pre-heat your oven.

 I then greased my 13 x 9 pan with some Crisco.  ( Every since I saw The Help I have used Crisco more than ever! ) No more Pam, fumes or paper towels wasted using to spread my oil.  I use my $ store rubber brush dip in Crisco and rub away and stick that sucker in the dishwasher!

Next, melt your 5 TBS butter.

 I have a Kitchen-Aid Mixer thanks to my wonderful husband on Mother's Day several years ago after I blew up 3 hand held mixers making home made Dog Treats for my Pampered Pets recipe!  :)   You will need a little muscle if you don't have a paddle attachment.

Beat your 2 eggs, then add the package of Cake mix, melted butter and chips.  It gets really stiff; think about it, like a cookie .... dough, literally!


 Scrape it off into your greased pan and pat it down till it covers the bottom of your dish..

 Then put it into the oven and bake it for 20 minutes:

 The result:  is delicious and to me tasted like a cake with chocolate frosting!  Love it and so did my husband and daughter!  Woo Hoo!

Super easy, shared with friends and it is a hit!  Hope you enjoy and here's the link to where I got to try this fun, yummy and easy Cookie Cake Bar!    
http://www.imalazymom.com/2011/02/lazy-cake-cookies.html

"Under the Sea" happy dinner

With Finding Nemo 3D coming out this Friday, September 14, 20120  I was inspired to do a fun dinner from my childhood that my Grandmother and Mom used to make for me. If you want a quick, easy and yummy dinner that brings smiles just looking at it this is the one!!

I made this and our daughter asked me to please make this again and again, even my husband went back for seconds. Here it is and the tutorial to guide you too! Enjoy!!

Just look how cute these Octopus Hot Dogs on Mac-n-Cheese and Green Beans is!  We love their smiles and they make us smile!  Looks like these guys are holding hands!  :)

30 minutes start to finish for a dinner that will give you joy serving as your family smiles at these cuties!

Hot Dogs
Mac-n-Cheese ( I use Kraft) 
Frozen Green Beans

I open the bag of green beans and put into a microwave safe bowl and steam them for 20 minutes

2 pots filled with water on stove to boil. 
 I get all the things ready for the Mac-N-Cheese to be made.

While the water is coming to a boil I put 2 slits into top of hot dog for the eyes

Then I make another slit under the eye for their smiles 

Then about 1 inch under the smiles I make a slit down the middle to start their legs

Then lift the hot dog up put onto cutting board and carefully cut more legs I make 8 legs

By the time you've gotten through slicing your hot dogs ( I make 6 for the 3 of us) your water should be boiling!

Now add the hot dogs to the boiling water one at a time!  Easy!  Just plop them in doesn't matter how!  This is also when I add my macaroni for the Mac-N-Cheese, they cook about the same time 10 minutes... I prepare the Mac-N-Cheese right before I take the hot dogs out.  I add Dill Weed to our Mac-N-Cheese for taste...

When the Octopus look like star fish they are ready!  Now use tongs get them out and put them onto your plate and be ready for your family to be pleasantly surprised!