Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Wow, these are easy and absolutely wonderful!!  

Spearate seeds from pumpkin goo.

I tried a couple of methods. Put everything on a baking sheet and pressed down and the seeds would surface to the top, then I gently scrape top to separate. 

 Don't worry if there are a few pieces of membrane left, once you boil for 10 mins everything will loosen. 

After boiling for 10 mins, I drained into colander. And rinsed. Use a colander that has hole big enough for loose membrane to pass, but not seeds. 

 

 After rinsing, I place on a towel to dry a little, at this point the seeds look grey and wet, which is perfect. 

 

Place seeds into bowl, add enough olive oil to coat, then salt and pepper to taste. You can flavor with other spices if you like!! 

Once all seasoning is stired in, place on a foil lined and cooking sprayed pan, single layer. 

Place in a 400* degree oven. I did mine in 5-7 minute intervals, turning and moving around. 

Eventually ALL seeds will be white and a little golden brown!! 

ENJOY!! 

  

Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

These turned out awesome!!

Preheat oven to 400, flip your cupcake pan over and place tortillas, bake 10 mins

I made a beer batter for the two fish fillets, you can bake the fish if you want. Salt, paper, garlic, and cilantro to taste.

Once fish is done chop it. 

Cilantro sour cream- 1 cup sour cream, 1.5 tbs of fresh cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. And 1 tsp of lime juice. And zest if you an actual lime. ( I used lemon, either will do) 

I chopped up lettuce and tomatoes, shredded some cheese to go with everything 

Now just layer together!! And place sour cream mix on top!! 

Enjoy!! 

Fit PIZZA!!

Fit PIZZA!!

Ok, so I went to the store the other day and my kids started begging me for "frozen" pizza.

1.) My husband and I have made an agreement that if I can't make it, probably not worth eating.
2.) ALL frozen pizza taste horrible to me and Lord only knows what's really in there, just saying.

So after the melt down from the kids, I just so happen to find some hand stretched flatbread that was on sale for $1.00 a package, two came in a package.

*Note this recipe is written for four individual pizzas. You could easily make this into a large pizza.

Ingredients

1 stick of butter, melted
garlic-salt to taste
4oz of flavored feta cheese, separated into 4-1oz. I buy a variety flavor pack from a local farmer, but any savory flavored from the store will work.
1 avacodo, sliced
4oz of mushrooms, sliced.
1/2 can olives, chopped.
4 pieces of flatbread, You can buy prepackaged or make your own.
4oz of plain cream cheese, separated into 4-1oz.
1/2 large tomatoe, sliced.

Directions

This was my set up, organized chaos. :)

I brushed the butter of both sides and seared the bread, also could be done in a skillet pan on stove,

I mixed 1oz of feta and 1oz of cream cheese together for each pizza, smeared onto each flatbread.

Added the veggies.

Now at the point, I wasn't happy that my veggies hadn't cooked, so I placed all four pizzas on a baking dish, sprinkled remaining butter mix all over and placed into the broiler for 5-7.

And As you see perfect.

As I said earlier, you could do this on the stove then transfer to oven.

Cannellini Bean Soup

Cannellini Bean Soup

1.5-2 boxes of chicken broth or homemade chicken stock

3 turkey Italian sausage links- cut or sliced up into small pieces

1/2 white onion- chopped

1.5 tsp minced garlic

1/2 package of shell noodles

2 tsp olive oil

2 cans of cannellini beans

Salt, pepper, Apple cider vinegar to taste. 

Cooked sauage ans set aside. 

Brown onion and garlic. 

Add stock

Bring to low boil

Add sauage, even scrap the pan and juices

Add beans 

Bring to boil

Add shells

Salt, pepper, and apple cider ginger to taste. 

Baked Tomatoes with Feta Cheese and Basil

.  These would be amazing with some bacon, spinach, or arugula. On sliced bread!! 

Slices tomatoes, not too thin.

Pack in feta, I used a spoon and filled in the gaps of the tomatoe. 

Salt, pepper to taste.

Add a dash of basil on top. 

Bake at 350- 5 to 7 minutes

Sprinkle with part cheese if you wish! 

Enjoy

Greek Salad

Amazing and refreshing!! 

Leaf lettuce- spinach, arugula, spring mix, etc.

1 tomatoe- diced

10-15 black olives

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/2 red onion

1/4 sunflower seeds

1 chicken breast, sliced- optional

Toss all together.

Dressing

3/4 olive oil

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tbs oregano 

2 tsp basil

1.5 tsp pepper

1.5 tsp salt

1.5 tsp onion powder

1.5 tsp ground mustard 

Mix together well 

Refreshing Tomatoe, Avocado, and Mozzarella Salad

Easy quick summer salad!!

2 tomatoes- cubed

2 avocado- cubed

4oz of mozzarella cheese- cubed

Drizzle with olive oil

Sprinkle Salt, pepper, garlic.

Stir all together, and you're done!!

Quick light meal, packed with veggies!!

1 zucchini- 1/4 and chopped 

2 bell peppers- thinly sliced

1 onion- thinly sliced

1 squash- 1/4 and chopped 

1 smaller package of pasta

1 pack of shrimp peeled ( cooked or uncooked) 

Start cooking pasta before cutting you veggies. 

Once all veggies are cut, add olive oil, salt pepper garlic. 

Shrimp seasoned the same way! 

You can cook inside or out on grill. 

If shrimp are cooked just add at the end. 

If uncooked add to veggies about 5 mins before done. 

Whole meal takes about 20 mins!! 

And of course if you wanna add any other veggies or switch out meat, it'll still be a wonderful meal !! 

3 Delicious Ways to Cook Summer Corn

3 Delicious Ways to Cook Summer Corn

Basil, salt and butter wrapped in foil.
Take foil squares and place corn cob in center, and a basil leaf, or a few sprinkles of basil, slice of butter wrap in up and grill! Best flavor ever!

8 minute boil
Put a pot of water on, once brought to boil, add corn. Once corn starts to boil set timer for 8 mins. Promptly drain, and place in dish with butter and salt. I do this often, never over cooked

Soak corn with husks, and GRILL!!
Soak corn husks in all in water, ideally for about 20 mins, I usually do this when I'm prepping dinner.
Add corn to grill. This way steams the corn, tastes amazing!!

Stuffed Turkey Breast Filets

Stuffed Turkey Breast Filets

3-4 turkey breast filets- flattened with meat mallet

4 oz of feta cheese
6 oz of ricotta
1 egg

4 oz chopped mushrooms
1 tsp chives
1/2 onion chopped
1 tbs garlic
8-9 oz package of spinach

2 tbs olive oil
Seasoning- I use Spike, (it's amazing), but you can use whatever you like.
   Salt, pepper, garlic, Italian, etc.

Preheat oven @ 350
Flatten out you filets, fairly thin.
Season both sides
In a pan sauté mushrooms, garlic, onions, chives. Once translucent add spinach, cook until limp.

Cheese mixture-
Mix together feta, ricotta, and egg.
Season- your choice
Add in veggie mix

Once you ready, smear cheese mixture over the filets.
Starting with the smallest end roll up. (I didn't need a tooth pick to hold, but you might)
Place in oveb dish with cooking spay for about 20-25 mins, r until turkey is done, depends on how thick the filets are.

Raised Garden Beds.

2014 Garden

Last year I started my own garden. I approached my husband with the idea and he made me promise that I would do it from start to finish. (lets just say I  may or may not finish all of my projects. :))

So I goggled everything that I thought I needed to know. 90 % of it was crap. Best advice I can give that is to find out what region/zone you're  in and plant accordingly.

2013 Garden

So when I got the time I went to home depot and started looking for wood to build my raised beds. Whoa, the stuff I wanted ranged from $13-$23 a 8 foot piece. Uh NO! I'm not made of money.

So I went to find someone who worker lumber, and low and behold, I ran across the discounted wood section! JACKPOT!! TWO 4X8 pieces for $2.15.
Granted some where slightly broken, bent, etc. But for what I was using them for, I really didn't care. And honestly they worked perfect. And in case you didn't know, Home depot will cut the wood for you.
Dirt: A lot of local folks recommended a brand called "Black Cow.(yellow bag)" And then just plain top soil to mix in. The black cow is $5 a bag, and store brand top soil is $1.50 a bag. 2013 total, $55, wood, dirt and seeds. Which was  well worth it, because I got my moneys worth. Oh and I just used wood screws to secure everything.

2103

Here's my first photo for 2013, I was so proud of myself. Besides a few cuts from the hubby I did it.


In the end I learn a lot! I actually had an amazing garden.
Cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, green beans, banana peppers, jalapenos, snap peas, Japanese eggplant, squash, and strawberries. And I only had 3 beds. I quickly figured out I needed more room, but, I was so far in, I had to do with what I had.

2013

2013

Onward to 2014 I decided to buy seedlings this year. We had a very strong winter, I wasn't able to let seeds grow in the sun much.
So I did spend a little more money this year compared to last year.
6 bags of black cow($30), 6 bags of top soil($9).
Wood was $10, I built 5 more beds onto what I had already.
Plants/seedlings $25.
Yes I spent a little more this year this year; one I didn't sow my own seeds, two I have more to fill!

2014 total $74.

3 different tomatoes, 2 snap peas, 4 edamame, 2 squash, 2 zucinnhi, 4 spinach, bell pepper, jalapeño, banana pepper, cucumbers, chives, small onions,  and strawberries! 

It's a great investment! And I have neighbors who are excited also because I always had enough other families too!!
So wrote this to encourage others to do it!!
It was really awesome to let my kiddos pick their dinner!!

If anyone has any questions, please ask!

2014

2014

Avocado and Goat Cheese Grill Cheese

Avocado and Goat Cheese Grill Cheese

Ingredients
8oz Goat cheese or feta cheese (It's the same, label my say different though)
I bought a 4 pack variety(flavors) from my local farmers market.
8 pieces of bread, your choice.
Soften butter, enough for each side of bread.
1 avocado, sliced and peeled
Salt pepper to taste

I literally grilled these, and OMG, Really amazing!!

Place avocado on grill, I used top rack.
Butter bread on both sides, grill one side , flip.
Add goat/feta cheese. I let the cheese soften a bit, then I spread it around.
Add avocado, place pieces together, and let sit on low until cheese is nice and warm.

Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn and Potatoes

Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn and Potatoes

Oh my goodness!! Dinner was amazing and easy.

3 lbs of crab legs
2 lbs of shrimp (I bought 26-30, with skin on, you can use whatever you like.)
2-3 potatoes- cubed (2-3inches)
2-3 ears of corn
Old Bay Seasoning
Salt
Olive oil

Crab Legs- In a large pot bring water to boil add about 2 tb of old bay seasoning and crab legs. Boil for about15-

20 mins. (Most crab legs you but are pre-cooked, here you're only heating them up to eat.)

Potatoes and corn- In a large pot bring water to boil add about 2 tb of old bay seasoning add potatoes and corn. Cook until potatoes are tender.

Shrimp- In a Large pot bring water to boil, season with salt and olive oil, add shrimp, cook for about 5 mins.
(I personally don't like my shrimp seasoned, but you can if you wish.)

Dying Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid

Dying Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid

Super easy, fun, cheap for the kiddos!!
And since I don't care for the smell of vinegar, great alternative!
Conventional egg dying requires vinegar, but since Kool-aid has citric acid, it works just as well.
Step 1: Pick your colors of Kool-aid.
*notes, dark colors work extremely better and even though the package shows blue it may not really be blue. And Grape comes out close to a black color.
Step 2: pour Kool-Aid packets into a cup of sorts.
Step 3: Add water. I added enough so the cup wouldn't over fill when I placed the egg.
Step 4: Place a spoon in each cup, stir a little. And allows for easy moving of the egg.
Step 5: Place eggs in the colored water, leave for as long as you like for the color you want!!

Hope you'll have as much fun as we did!!

Happy Easter!!

Homemade Alfredo

Thanks Kristy!!

Homemade Alfredo with Pasta Shells

Ingredients- (for pasta water)
2tb fresh garlic, minced
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in 1/2
1 tb sun dried tomatoes, chopped
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
2 tb of Italian seasoning
or
1tsp each of basil, thyme, oregano, sage
salt and pepper to taste.
1 package of pasta shells-add once water boils
Throw all ingredients in water together, bring to boil, add shells.
This gives your pasta an amazing flavor.

1 lb meat (1 lb of meatballs, chicken, sausage links, steak,  tofu, whatever you'd like. I personally use sweet Italian links, cut 3/4 inch pieces, it becomes 1/2 inch little meatballs once cooked.)
 Ingredients Sauce
2-  8oz packages of white cheeses, different kinds, shredded  (examples: parmesan, asiago, smoked gouda) I buy the wedges and shred in food processor.
1 stick of butter
16oz of whipping cream or plain half and half.
2 tb of Italian seasoning
or
1tsp each of basil, thyme, oregano, sage
salt and pepper to taste.

Sauce- cooked on med-med high temp.
 Melt stick of butter in large skillet.
Add cream.
Add seasoning.
Stir until blended well.
Add your cheese mix 1/3 at a time. Melt all the way before adding
 the next batch.
Continue to stir often.
Once your cheese has been blended and is melted, add your cooked meat.
Once your pasta is cooked, drain into colander, pasta and veggies.
Combine all together in a large bowl.