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Product Reviews

Potato Sausage Broccoli Soup & Menu Planning

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Potato Sausage Broccoli soupPotato Sausage Soup no milk.   I love making soup I make it all the time.  it is my go to meal if there is the slights but of rain or cold on the horizon pair it with some homemade bread,  check out my favorite recipes here.  I finds soups to stretch the budget when pay check are lean and they can make any meal go far.   This week I had Polana Polish fresh sausage left so I decided to make a lets see what we have in the fridge soups.

Potato Sausage soup with no milk

Prep Cook Time 1 hour Serves 12

  • 5 large potatoes pealed and diced
  • 1-2 lb of sausage (beef, pork I used Polana Fresh Sausage)
  • 1 lb of carrots pealed and diced
  • 6 celery stalks  cleaned and diced (no tops)
  • 2 cups of broccoli crowns fresh
  • 1 -2 med sized onions
  • 1 gallon of water
  • 1 tablespoon for Better Than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1/4 cup of rice flour (for gluten free) or 1/4 reg flour (this is optional)
  • 1/8 cup of hot sauce
  1. Start to cooking your Mirepoix (aka onions, carrots, celery) season with salt.
  2. Add your sausage on top of Mirepoix,  Cook till cooked and slightly brown, ( don’t burn Mirepoix)
  3. Removed link allow to cook sausage to cool, cut into bite size pieces and reserved to side
  4. Add water, potatoes, spices, bullion  allow to cook- till potatoes are fork tender
  5. To thicken the soup,  you can allow the potatoes to cook,  till they start to break down they will make a thick soup (longer cook time 1 hour)
  6. OR Remove a cup or 2 of the broth and add the flour ,  stir till it becomes a water paste.. then slowly add it back to the soup (cook for another 20 minutes)
  7. Once the soup is almost done  5 minutes add Broccoli  and sausage back in.  (add hot sauce if you like heat)

Printable version of the recipe here Potato_Sausage_Broccoli_soup_001

Monday: Potato sausage soup Leftovers with fresh bread

Tuesday: Chicken Enchladas

Wednesday:  Blue Ribbon Chilli

Thursday: Fried Rices (via my husband)

Friday: BBQ Pizza with Gouda and Apples

 

What to learn to freeze you Mirepoix  so it speeds up your cooking time  check out my post Freezing Mirepoix

Check out my review of The New Artisan Bread  in 5 minutes a day recipe cookbook

 Liking up with Organizing junkie Menu Plan Monday

disclosure affiliate
Go to KitchenAid.com Outlet Center for the best buys in kitchen countertop appliances. Get 10% off with the code “CJOUTLET”Potato Sausage Broccoli soup

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Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing #FreshTake sponsored

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disclousure statementtaco salad Every night I am always looking for a new Fresh Take on dinner  that is healthy and a crowd pleaser for my family.  When #CollectiveBias asked me to try Kraft Fresh Take Meal Kit and create a family meal that we would enjoy. I was excited create a Chicken Taco Salad with creamy Avocado Dressing using Kraft Fresh Take Southwest Three Cheese.   This meal was a favorite with my whole tribe,  great tasting chicken with veggies and homemade baked tortilla chips.    I was pleased dinner took a 1/2 hour from start to finish to make. Another plus is the kids could build the salad themselves, so were little chefs also.   All left satisfied and happy.

Chicken Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing

  • 1 package of Kraft Southwest Three Cheese
  • 1 1/2 lb of chicken(4-5) breasts  thawed or fresh
  • 1 head lettuce or your choice of mixed greens in a bag
  • 1 can of sliced olives drained
  • 1 can of corn drained
  • 1 can black beans drain and rinsed
  • 1 pepper (green, yellow, orange or red the color of your choice)
  • 2 cups of cooked rice optional
  • 4 tortilla  (or a bag of chips)
  • oilingrediants
  1. Open the package of Fresh Takes,  the breadcrumb side and cheese sides are separated so they stay fresh.  When you open and pull apart  the bag separator  then blending the 2 sides.fresh takes
  2. Take your chicken moisten (with water or egg) and place in bag, seal shake to coat.fresh takes
  3. Place on baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. fresh take on chicken
  4. Cook as directed on package. Discard leftover coating. cooked fresh take
  5. While the Fresh Take Southwest Chicken is cooking,  Make the taco chips.  Cut the tortilla chips into strips.
  6. Brush with oil, season with salt and pepper, bake in oven for 10 minutes. tortilla chipsTo make the avocado dressing

Avocado Dressing

  • 1/4 cup of mayo
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 ripe avocado peeled
  • 2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice
  • salt / pepper
  • Milk 1/2 cup of more depending on how thin you want your dressing

Blend in a food processor until smooth .. or mush the avocado into the other ingredients.avocado dressing

  1. Now it is time to build your salad  with the amazing Fresh Take Southwest Three Cheese Chicken.
  2. Stack the tortillas, lettuce, rice, black beans, olives, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and chicken.
  3. Add dressing and enjoy.

The Result:  The chicken is a little spicy,  the dressing added a cooling and dipping factor.    My children loved the build your own aspect of this dinner.  My daughter version on the chicken taco salad .. a taco man .. then he had a brother,  she ate 2 helpings.  I consider that a winning meal, thanks Kraft Fresh Takes Meal kit. kids taco salad

Kraft Fresh takes was very easy to use and all the instruction were located right on the package. You can also use the #FreshTake with other proteins like pork or fish.   The Kraft Fresh Take was so easy to find at my local Walmart it was located in with the shredded cheese in the dairy area. Kraft Fresh takes location at walmartWant a Deal ? Also Kraft and Walmart are offering a coupon so you could save and try $1 off the purchase of fresh chicken and Fresh Take at Walmartkraft fresh take couponChicken Taco saladHave a great week.

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10 Egg Muffin Recipes #Pinspiration

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egg muffinsSo Last the week of PSSA the Pennsylvanian  standard testing for the kids the school stress the importance of a great breakfast  meal for the kids.  So I have been making a more elaborate meal than normal  for my kids.  So at 6:15 am while my husband was prying my 13 year old out of bed.  I was looking at Pinterest.   I cam across the Egg in muffin tins recipes,  so at 6:30 I got up to make these great breakfast treats.

 

10 Egg Muffin Recipes

  1. My pinspiration came from As a Verb Toast, Cheddar and Bacon
  2. Spinach Bacon Egg Muffins from Country Spoon
  3. Egg Muffin with Taco Seasoning ham  and Veggies  from Rachel Schultz
  4. Egg Muffins with Broccoli and Pepper Paleo friendly from Primal Plate
  5. Egg Muffins with Spinach, Roasted Red peppers, from fortmillscliving.
  6. Tomato and spinich muffin tops
  7. Blue Berry Banana Egg Muffin from LiveRightBeHealthy
  8. Muffuletta Egg from Sonoma Farms
  9. Spice Kale and Egg cups from Green Little Bites
  10. Egg Muffins with Peppers, egg whites and cottage cheese under 80 calories  from muscleandfitnesshers.com

 

What is also great about egg muffins is they are great on the go.  You can Individually package in a plastic bag or wax paper. Remove from Fridge or Freeze and a quick affordable breakfast for you family.

I find paying upwards of  $6.00 for 4 frozen sandwiches is crazy when I can make them at home for pennies. Eggs cost as low as $1.00,  bacon on sale is $3.89-  and you can get 12  muffins for under $5 in 30 minutes.

 

I am linking up to #Pinspiration this week at All things Chic .

Follow me Sherry Aikens on Pinterest for other great Pins I find.
Visit Sherry’s profile on Pinterest.
egg muffins

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Roasted Cauliflower and Meal Planning

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Roasted CauliflowerRoasted Cauliflower :  as my family eats healthier do to our change in diet.  For my husbands healthy I have been trying new ways to prepare many of our favorites foods with more flavor.  Since my Husband Jeff is Gluten, Dairy, Red meat, Night shade vegetable free.  I can’t use many of our standard seasoning to flavor our meals and I have to find new ways to create depth.

Roasted Cauliflower:

  • 1 head of Cauliflower
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 1 tablespoon of mince garlic
  • salt pepper
  • cumin
  1. Wash Cauliflower head dry  cut away leaves
  2. Place in an oven safe bowlCauliflower
  3. Place onion in bottom and full head of cauliflower on top off onions
  4. Season head with salt pepper cumin and garlic
  5. Cover with tin foil cook 375 for 45 minutes .. remove cover and roast another 20 minutes  till golden.
  6. Eat as roasted or mash for a cauliflower puree..
  7. Note you might want to make more then one at a time,  Roasted_Cauliflower_013_001-31

Also I recommend while roasting also roast garlic bulb at the same time-  Just cut off the the top drizzle with oil wrap in tin foil.. If you have the oven on might as well do a garlic.  They keep well in he fridge for future use. roasted_garlic_001

Weekly meal Plan:

Monday: Polenta and shrimp

Tuesday : spaghetti squash Alfredo

Wednesday: stirfry  and rice

Thursday: pork tenderloin with spinach

Friday: Tacos bake, homemade re-fried beans, corn tortillas

Linking up to Menu plan Monday at Organizing Junkie

 

Here are some great other Posts to check out:

All Meatloafs should be served as a muffin

This Pea Salad will make you crave it .. (Bacon)

Easy Beginner Chicken in 3 Steps that will make you MIL ask for the recipe

How to Fix Fitted sheets to stay in place DIY

DYI Raised Pallet Garden


 

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Ninja Cooker Recipe Ham and Meal Planning

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Ninja cooker disclosure affiliateNinja Cooker Recipe: Ham an easy recipe that fits my family’s dietary restrictions and a summary of how is it going with my family changing our diet. Our changed include making  family friendly Gluten, red meat, dairy, and night shade vegetable free.   Our Food Progress: I am doing better at making meals that please all of us in cluding my husband with his restricted diet.   Last week it was better,   I am asking my husband to help with cooking more because of my schedule and his dietary need.

My Ninja Cooker a Year Later: It has been a year since I 1st review my Ninja Cooker.  I really must say this in one appliance that has never left my counter.  I use it at least once a week,  it make life easy and is a great size for my family of 4 (note one is a teenage boy, and both my kids are competitive swimmers.)   I really do recommend it often to friends and family.  So if you are looking for a new crock pot but want more function them just a crock pot.  Look in to a Ninja cooker.

Sunday night was a case in point where I need an easy meal,  my daughter had a concert at church at 4pm.   I quickly came home after dropping her off at 2 for rehersals  and put dinner in the Ninja cooker and used the timer on the stove for my sides.  I made a smoked ham that was not not overly salty.  My husband did eat ham so I was happy,  because I wanted him to enjoy the Sunday night meal as well.  Why did I choose the Ninja instead of putting the ham in the oven. Was because I want the ham to cook longer and not dry out. So with the side cooking an hour the oven would shut off and the Ninja would cook the ham for the full 3-4 hours until we returned.

Ninja Cooker Recipe : Crock pot ham

  • Bone in ham 7-14 lb (I used a 8lb to feed my family of 4 with enough left over for soup)
  • 1 can crushed Pineapple
  • 1 cup from brown sugar
  • 1 can of coke or soda full sugar
  1. Trim the fat , Score the ham or ham skin in a crisscross pattern
  2. Place ham in your Ninja Cooker I took a bone in ham placing the largest size down  so the bone was
  3. Rub ,packing,pushing brown sugar in score
  4. Pour the can of pineapple
  5. Cook on high for 3-4 hours in a Ninja cooker on crock pot setting using
  • Side Spaghetti Squash sliced 1/2 clean out seeds and place face done in glass dish add 2-3 water cover with tin foil and bake in over for 400 degress for 1 hour
  • Side baked sweet potato  1 hour 400 degrees 1 hour

This weeks meal plan:

Monday: Split Pea soup (soup bone from ham)

Tuesday:Chicken: Chicken Pot Pie-  Making a gluten Free crust with rice flour

Wednesday : Ash Wednesday I am make Easy Seafood chowder at church and Fresh Bread in a Bag 10 loaves

easy seafood chowderbread in a bag

Thursday: Veg Pizza for my husband and Pizza for the kids

Friday: Tacos corn tortillas, rice and homemade re-fried beans

Linking up to

Linking up to Menu plan monday at Organizing Junkie

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Meal Plan Monday

mushroomsSo late night Sunday watching the Grammys.  I think that Taylor Swifts dress was awesome.  I loved Phrells performance with Stevie Wonder.   I loved this years prefromances because of the mix of music and the respect for thoes who trail blazed before them.   I always love the glitz of  Grammys makes me want to get a fancy dress and go out.

Meal Menu Plan  Monday:

Monday: Taco LasagnaTaco Lasagna

Tuesday : Pork chops and Apple sauce

Wednesday: Mini Picadillo Empanadas

Thursday: Broccoli Cheese soup Broccoli_Cheese_Soup_3309

Friday: Grill Cheese and Egg recipe form I am Food Blog .. talk about mouth watering

Be sure to check out my post on Healthy Snacks Salt and Sweet

I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning Monday

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Meal Planning Monday

mushroomsAn week and other Meal Plan.  This plan is different this week because I am only cooking for me and the kids.  My husband is doing a juice fast,  but that is another blog post for a different day. So when meal planing this week I took a few things into account.  1- I can make thing my husband does not enjoy like tomato sauce.  2. I can do sandwiches  where my husband does not request I make more complex meal I do when he is eating,  so simple is my thing this week.

Monday: Spaghetti and meat sauce and salad

Tuesday: Grill Cheese and Tomato Soup

Wednesday: Frozen Lasagna with cucumber side

Thursday: Homemade chicken fingers, tater tots and salad

Friday: Homemade Pizzas

Be sure to check out my post on Healthy Snacks Salt and Sweet

I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning Monday

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Menu planning Monday

mushroomsMenu Planning Monday: This week I am with out a car.  So I have to walk for a grocery store  or try to eat through some of my pantry.  I feel like a new year so I want a new start to my kichen.  So I am going to eat through my pantry.

Monday: Goulash  ground beef, cans of beans, carrots and potatoes

Tuesday: Eggs quiche with ham and spinach

Wednesday : My Easy Seafood Soup

Thursday:  Pulled Pork

Friday:  Meatball Hoagies

I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning Monday

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Have a great week.

 

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Menu Plan Monday

mushrooms

So this week is a very busy week,  with  Christmas around the corner BabyPop Superhero capes my company,  I am very busy sewing non stop.  I found that last week me not recipe planning it was almost impossible to get dinner on the table.  So this week I am back doing my weekly recipe meal Planning.  So my family does not starve.

I have to tell you I am on an easy recipe kick.. One Pot or casserole creation are my thing for the next 2 weeks. For easy and quickness.  Check out the Casserole Pinterest boards for some Ideas.

I found this Pork Chop Casserole from Kraft.Canada recipe this weekend and made it last night.  I did add Sweet Potatoes,  because I had them and it was Yummy.  I would use thick cut Pork chops if you will cook it for the 1 1/2 .. I only cooked it for 1 hour,   My pork chops were thin.

Menu Plan:

Monday:  Hearty Homestyle Chicken Casserole  From Moms Who think   I like it because to pan fry the hashbrown 1st

Tuesday:  My Pulled Pork

Wednesday: My Husband Night

Thursday: Chilli Night  My award winning blue Ribbon Holiday  Chilli

Friday: My Chipolte  knock off night,  Use left over Pulled pork, add Rice, Beans on Tortillas.

What are you planning?Linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning Monday

 

Cooking, Product Reviews

The Best Bread Cook Book Review and Meal Planning

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breadreview disclosureI love fresh bread,  but who doesn’t.  Even Gluten free people are on the constant search for bread options.  In past blog post I have talked about how much I love the The Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day by Jeff Hetzberg, MD and Zoe Francois.  Guess what!  They have a new book out  The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.  This is my go to bread making book and in my opinion  the only bread making book you should own.

Hetzberg and Francois  teach you easy basics to make your bread successful.  Also it is so simple even a 4 year old could make it.. check You Tube there is 4 years making their recipes.   In the book the authors break artisan down, teaching you the simple mix it and forget it that makes some of the beast bread you will ever make.  The book starts with a basic yeast dough,  that is the “Master Dough” which is the basis for many of the breads.  Then later you learn about other doughs like:

  • ·Gluten-free Cheesy Breadsticks, Pizza, Baguette and Sweet Brioche
  •  Beer-Cheese and Crock-Pot Bread
  • Pretzel Buns
  •  Apple-Stuffed French Toast
  • Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread

I started making bread from the 1st book over the last year for my family and they now expects to have homemade bread with soups and stews.

I know sounds labor intense.. it is no not like the title says – 5 minutes.  I will set the dough up as I am running out the door in the morning and leave it.  Then upon returning after several hours shape(no kneading), give it a little more time and bake.    Also when you make the Master dough it is enough to make 3 loves.  The authors explain freezing the dough and how to make great use of the dough with a different varieties.   In this new book I learned how to make a Couronne Loaf-  Shown above for a different shape.   Later this week I will take the remaining dough making cheese loaf and pizza.

The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day  also contains gluten free recipes.   I am not gluten free but if the authors took the same care with the gluten free as they did with the gluten breads.  They are a must try.

The Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day  book is 379 pages of bread , complete with color page inserts of what the bread should look like.  Als0 Hetzberg and Francois  teach you how to know your idea oven temp and what to do with the wedding gift pizza stone, you have in you closet collecting dust. They explain types salt,  flour and the differences.. which I am always at a loss on what to use.

I have not used my bread machine since I discovered the  The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day,  it is meal changing experience.

For more info, please visit: www.artisanbreadinfive.com.

This book is a must have reference recipe book for any cook.  I know a few people who will be receiving it this holiday season. bread

Meal Planning Week Nov 4th:

Monday: Chicken and Rice Soup  with Fresh Bread  from The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day

Tuesday: Pierogi with kielbasa

Wednesday; Chicken Marsala over egg noodles

Thursday: Flat Bread Pizza  with pancetta (Italian bacon) and smoked Gouda

Friday: Taco Friday with rice and re-fried beans

This week as always I am linking up with Organizing Junkies Menu Planning Monday:

MPM-Fall