Fruit Parfait

Best thing I've made in a long time. You can eat it for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. It's amazing!

What you'll need:
Fresh blackberries or raspberries
Peeled and sliced bananas
Vanilla yogurt
Granola

Directions:
In a small bowl or glass (I used a short glass), layer the ingredients in whichever order you like. Serve immediately (the granola gets soggy fast). Enjoy!

Main Entree: Chicken Sliders

What you'll need:

Chicken breasts

Swiss cheese 

Avocado

Whole wheat hamburger buns 

Directions:

1. Grill chicken until done

2. Heat buns with cheese in toaster

3. Cut up slides of avocado

4. Combine! 

It was super healthy and delicious! The wheat bun added a little extra sweetness. It was fabulous. I made these and served tomato caprese on the side. 

Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

Erin: You know how long I have searched for the perfect spaghetti and meatball recipe. I think I've tried about 100 different recipes. But alas! Sam bought me a new cookbook, "100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know" and there was a spaghetti recipe that I knew I had to try. It was simple and delicious.

Ingredients;
Meatballs:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 large egg, slightly beaten
5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon olive oil
Mariana Sauce:
3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 28oz can whole tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter
5 basil leaves, torn into pieces

1 8oz package spaghetti 

Make the meatballs:
1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the olive oil, mixing gently with your hands
2. Rinse your hands with cold water then lightly shape the meatball mixture into balls the size of grapes
3. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over moderately high heat
4. Working in batches, arrange the meatballs in the skillet in single layer and cook, turning a few times until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to a place and set aside
Make the Marinana Sauce:
1. In a large saucepan, saute the garlic in the olive oil over medium heat until golden
2. Turn the heat to high; add tomatoes and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer, then turn heat down to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick (about 15-20 minutes)
3.Add butter and basil to the saucepan, stirring to melt the butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add meatballs to the saucepan, stirring to combine. Simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain. Add spaghetti to the saucepan with marinara and meatballs and toss to coat.

Main Entree: Shepherd's Pie

What you'll need:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion chopped
1-2 cups of vegetables (I used carrots, corn, and peas)
3-4 large potatoes
1 stick of butter, divided
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tbs worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper for seasoning

Directions:
1. Peel and quarter potatoes; boil in salted water until tender
2. While potatoes are cooking, melt half a stick of butter in a LARGE frying pan
3. Saute onions in butter over medium heat (about 10 minutes)
4. Add ground beef and saute until no longer pink
5. Add vegetables, salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce, beef broth
6. When potatoes are done, mash in separate bowl with remainder of butter
7. Place beef and onions in a baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Rough up with fork so there are peaks (the peaks will brown)
8. Cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. (Broil the last few minutes, if needed).

Dessert: Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

What you'll need: 

1 1/2 cup softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl combine butter, sugar, vanilla and beat until creamy. Blend in flour and salt. Shape dough into balls about 1 inch for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with bottom of a measuring cup (or a glass, spoon, whatever you have lying around) dipped in sugar. Bake about 10 minutes until lightly browned on edge. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely. Make sure that the cookies are relatively small (the bigger they are, the easier they break). 

Dipping sauce:

1 (12 oz.) bag semi sweet chocolate morsels

1 tbsp. solid shortening

Melt over hot (not boiling) water the chocolate morsels and shortening. Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes on waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Yields about 5 dozen.

Main Entree: Chicken Stir Fry with Cashews

Erin: You know I have made this a few times, but I have yet to actually write the recipe down. You need to make this, its so good and its not hard.

Ingredients 
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4c low sodium chicken broth
4 tsps cornstarch 
3 tbs peanut oil
4 cups of broccoli flowerets and pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 medium size onion, cut into chunks
1/3 cups of cashew halves


What to do:
Cut chicken into 1 inch strips
In a medium size bowl, combine soy sauce, sugar and garlic. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat with the mixture
In a separate bowl, whisk the chicken broth into the cornstarch and set aside
In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil until hot. Then add the red pepper and broccoli and saute (tossing and stirring constantly) for 3 minutes
Add the onion and stir fry for 3 minutes
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of peanut oil, chicken and soy sauce mixture, stir fry for 7 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. 
Stir broth and cornstarch mixture until it dissolves, add to skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cashews and serve. 

Main Entree: Chicken Cobbler Casserole

Erin:
I made this casserole dish for Sam a few weeks ago and it was amazing! We were able to eat off of it for a few days and he really enjoyed it. 
What you'll need:
6 tablespoons melted butter, divided
4 cups cubed sourdough rolls (I bought a loaf of sourdough bread from HEB and cut it into squares)
1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 (8oz) can of sliced mushrooms (Honestly, I used a 6oz can and it was too much, so next time I'll only use half)
1 cup of white wine
1 (10 3/4oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers (I found a jar of roasted red peppers in the salsa aisle, next to the rotel, and chopped them myself. It was really easy)
3 1/2 cups of shredded cooked chicken (I bought an already made chicken from HEB because it was cheaper and a lot faster and because the chicken was so moist, it made the dish delicious)!


What to do:
In a large mixing bowl, toss 4 tablespoons of melted butter with the breadcrumbs, cheese and parsley and set aside
Saute onions in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat for 15 minutes
Add mushrooms and saute 5 more minutes
Stir in the wine, cream of mushroom soup, red bell peppers and chicken and cook while stiring constantly, around 5 minutes
Spoon the mixture into a greased dish and top evenly with the bread mixture
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes
Enjoy!

Main Entree: Fish Tacos

Okay, okay, Ashley, before you quickly write off fish tacos, you need to try these! I never thought I was a fan of them before but these are amazing! Promise me you'll try these. I'm not giving you specific amounts of ingredients; just use to your discretion. Here ya go! (And let me know what you think).

What you'll need:
Butter
Fish Filets (any type of white fish works. I used trout, but tilapia is good too)
Corn Tortillas (so much better than flour for this recipe!)
Fish fry
Mustard
1 Avocado (sliced into chunks)
Pico de gallo
1 Lime
Shredded cheese
Roumalade sauce (I bought a pint at a fish market for very cheap!)

Directions:
1. Dip filets into mustard and then coat with fish fry
2. Fry them in a deep fryer until they are golden brown
3. Put tortillas on a skillet with some butter to warm them
4. Add fish, sauce, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado on tortilla 
5. Squeeze lime juice over it
6. Enjoy!

Dessert: S'more on a stick

Ashley: Check this out. I was bored on a random Thursday night and stumbled upon this recipe. It's fairly simple to make and extremely creative! Give it a try. 

What you'll need:

1 bag of large marshmallows

1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

9 long graham crackers

Lollipop sticks (I found mine at Hobby Lobby for 2 bucks)

Instructions:

1. Stick the lollipop sticks into the fat side of the marshmellow (not the flat part)

2. Put graham crackers into a large plastic bag and crumble them with a rolling pin

3. Put the crushed crackers into a shallow bowl and put aside 

4. Heat the chocolate; it's best if a double-boiler, but the microwave works just as well

5. Dip the marshmallow stick into the melted chocolate and coat the entire thing

6. Then dip it into the graham cracker mixture 

7. Place on wax paper or foil

Happy Graduation!

Appetizer - Cheese Ball :)

Our little brother, Austen, graduated from high school on Friday and he had a graduation party a few days later. I wanted to make an appetizer that was simple and cheap and kid-friendly. I found a recipe for a cheese ball online that was amazing! It was so easy and everyone really enjoyed it. I put the cheese ball on a platter with wheat thins and it was completely gone by the end of the party. I will definitely make it again.

What you'll need:
2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
*make sure it is softened because it will be easier to mix with
1 (1 oz) package of ranch dressing mix
2  cups cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans

Serves 8

First, mash the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. (I put the cream cheese in the microwave for 10 seconds so it was soft enough to mix with). Then, mix the ranch dressing mix and cheddar cheese with the cream cheese and form into a ball.  Next, roll the ball in the chopped pecans. It is best to cover and refrigerate overnight so the cheese ball has time to harden but it can be served anytime. Enjoy!