Not your average cupcake

Hello!  So I just got back from vacation and feeling a little guilty that I left my daughter at home with my mom.  I know every parent needs time to themselves, but I really missed her.  So I am trying to make up for it. 

First, I made cupcake pancakes.

Sorry for the picture quality. 

These are super simple.  Just make pancakes how you usually make them (I just use pancake mix), but you add your syrup in there.  1/4c. of maple syrup in your pancake mix.  Pour into sprayed cupcake liners and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Easy peasy!  My daughter really enjoyed them and ate them up!

Next I made meatloaf cupcakes....

quick and easy!

for the meatloaf all I use is 1 lb ground turkey, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 BBQ sauce, 1 box stuffing ( I use cornbread stuffing) and one egg.  mix together form little balls and plop in a muffin tin! (don't forget to spray!) Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. (if using turkey, make sure temp is 165 degrees)

I made homemade mashed potatoes, stuck it in zip lock back, snipped off the corner and pipped it on.  They came out super cute and super yummy!  Good for portion control as well.

yeah these werent a big hit with the kiddo.  She wasnt buying the whole cupcake thing! haha.  She'd rather regular frosting, not mashed potato frosting!

Anyone have any not your average cupcake recipes?

 *allie 



A little bit of latelys.....

Latelys.....

I figured since I haven't posted in awhile that I would do some latelys....

reading: Well a friend lent me a book on nook that I am gonna start reading tonight!  Cant wait!

obsessing: trying to organize our lives....trying new fun recipes.  I'm on the hunt for new stuff all the time!

listening to: I just downloaded a bunch of old songs on to my ipod.  Ive been having a lot of nostalgic feelings lately!  like early mid 90's.  I miss the music of those days!

baking/making: Lets see.  Blueberries were cheap the week before I left for vacay so we froze a bunch of them.  Made yummy lemon blueberry donuts. On the agenda is blueberry muffins, I am into cupcakes...but that I'll save for another post :)

looking forward to: spending lazy summer days with my baby!

want to accomplish: OPERATION ORGANIZATION!  I have only put a little chip in the iceberg of that one!!!

watching: well its summer time, so that means True Blood is back on!  I went a little crazy there for a hot minute and bought season 1 and 2, then read the 1st two books of the series again......just because the latest book sucked so bad!  I'm also watching pretty little liars and drop dead diva!!

missing: having no bills. I don't mind the normal ones, but these medical bills are killing me!!  I want my co-pay back!!!

 

What have you all been up to lately???

 

 

*Allie

New Recipes

Its been awhile, since I last posted and I just noticed that my last post was my 100th!  How exciting.  Well, its exciting to me, haha. 

The past few weeks I have been hanging at home trying to start operation organization.  Its not as easy as it looks.  I'm weeding out a lot of junk, but with my three year old at my heels, things just seem to get messier.  But that's OK, there is nothing I can do about that! 

I did just recently host a couponing class.  There is this awesome group around the Orlando area called couponers united (fb link) that give you links to printable coupons, as well as deals in local grocery stores/drug stores so you can save money.  Also they are big on giving back to the community.  Which I think is awesome.  We all need to save money now a days and you can give away the items you spent so little on and really help a person in need and save money while doing it.  I never understand some of those extreme couponers who seem to hoard all the things they buy.  Maybe they give it away, but it dosen't look like it to me.  But that's just my view on it. 

Any who, I am way off topic now.  So whenever I have a get together at my place I have to make some yummy food.  Where do I go to find this yummy food??  Pinterest of course!  I made some goodies, that will definitely be made again!

 Pizza Stuffed mushrooms via how sweet it is

These were yummy and tasted like pizza.  Many variations you could do with it.  I did not add the onion and parm.  I used black olives, five cheese Italian cheese blend, pepperoni and green pepper.  I wonder how pineapple and ham would taste for a Hawaiian pizza mushroom!

Strawberry yogurt cake via a spicy perspective

I think the cake came out yummy!  I used betty crockers bottled glaze for the top, b/c when I make my own it comes out too translucent.  Try it for the summer, who doesn't love strawberries!?

Has anyone tried any new recipes I need to try out??

*Allie



Yummy Pot Roast

This is my absolute favorite pot roast recipe.  I have been using it for years, so I don't remember the source.  Some magazine.  I use the crock pot, so all I had to do was make my sides and dinner was done! 

Allie's Favorite Pot Roast

bottom roast (I used a roast a little over 2 lbs.)

2 cans of cream of whatever soup (I used celery and mushroom)

packet of Lipton's onion soup

carrots

potatoes

onions

salt and pepper

Throw the soup and Lipton's soup mix in the crock pot and mix.  Add potatoes, onions, carrots (chop however you like).  Now I also salt my roast on both sides and then throw it it.  I turn it around so it gets covered in the "gravy".  Put on low for 6-8 hours.  After its done its so tender you can just shred it and then your gravy is already done. 

For dinner I made buttered noodles for it.  Or you could make mashed potatoes, whatever you like!

Now for my side, this I found on pinterest and it smelled delicious!  It tasted delicious!  This one is def. a keeper!

Found over at kalyns kitchen.

Cheesy Zucchini and Squash

2 zucchini

2 yellow squash

2 T. fresh basil, chopped.

1 t. fresh thyme

2 green onion stalks, chopped

salt and pepper

garlic powder

1/2 c. white cheese + 1/2 c. white cheese (for topping)

1/2 c. parm cheese

Mix all together, except 1/2 c. cheese for topping.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  After the 25-30 minutes add the rest of the cheese and pop back in the oven for another 10 minutes, or until browned. 

So quick and easy and yummy!

Anyone making anything new for dinner??





Creamy Bacon and Potato Soup

I know weather is crazy lately.  We actually woke up to 46 degree weather, here in Florida.  I got a little excited and planned the menu, while it was 46 degrees and found a yummy soup recipe.  I should have known better, because by the time I made it, it was not cool anymore.  There was a nice breeze, but that was about it!  The soup was still yummy.  I had everything I needed for it except bacon.  I love bacon, every once in awhile, but bacon is freaking expensive!  So we never get it.  But I splurged, ha ha.  I found the recipe over at tidy mom.

I just made a few adjustments.

Bacon and Potato Soup

5 medium potatoes, cubed.  ( I baked mine in the oven before hand)

8 slices bacon, crumbled. (I made mine in the oven for 25 minutes)

2-3 or 4 depending on what you like of bacon grease ( I mixed it with oil)

1 onion. chopped.

1 celery stalk, chopped.

1 clove garlic, minced.

2/3 c. flour

6 c. chicken broth.

2 c. half and half.

1 t. salt

1 1/2 t. dried basil (this is a must)

1/4 t. black pepper

1/4 c. parsley (I did not use)

1/2 t. hot sauce

garnishes:  I used cheddar cheese/Colby mix, chopped green onions and left over bacon. 

Take your bacon grease and put it in a big sauce pot.  I used a mix of bacon grease and oil.  add onion.  Now I don't like crunchy celery so I added mine with the onion.  After the onion is translucent add your garlic and cook for a minute.  Add flour.  Now at this point, I added a little more bacon grease.  Cook that for a couple of minutes.  This is your roux, you don't want a flour taste.  Add your chicken broth and let it thicken, or get slightly bubbly.

Add half and half and rest of ingredients.  Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. 

I cut my potatoes really big, so I mashed it a little bit in the soup. 

I thought the soup was yummy!  The dried basil really gave it that good taste!  Enjoy! 

Since I'm in the soup mode, I will be making a cream of mushroom soup today! 

*Allie 



Projects for May

While I should be studying for my algebra final, or writing my last paper for humanities, I am on here thinking and documenting my projects for May!  School is done next week, and while I should be solving algebraic equations, I am dreaming of starting OPERATION ORGANIZATION!  Yeah, that's right.  I am super excited for it.  I don't see it as a chore, I see it as a light at the end of the tunnel!  So I wanted to come on here and make a list of the projects I have lined up.  First thing come May, you better believe I will be getting these things done! 

via cornflower blue studio

What I like about this, is you can change it up every week.  When you have completed a goal you take it off and feel accomplished.  If you haven't completed a goal then you feel like  slacker and get it done!

Why label it a task?  Label it a goal, it has a nicer ring to it, don't ya think?  

via a bowl full of lemons

This I have been wanting to do for a long time, she has an awesome organized binder on her site.  I'm going to change mine up tho.  You know that junk drawer in your kitchen?  Manuals, to go menus, coupons.....you know what I'm sayin!  They get lost in that big mess.  So I want to organize mine.  So instead of taking everything out of that junk drawer, you have it all in one spot.  New bills that just come in the mail will also have a place in there.  Receipts that need to be shredded will find a home in this binder, as well as upcoming appointments!  I am super excited about this one!

I believe this can be found at downtownn.tumbler.com

I want to get into shape, not only to lose weight, but to keep it off and really incorporate exercise into my life.  My daughter and I joined the YMCA and so far we love it! I set up 6 months of life coach sessions, so I will come up with a workout plan and get started!  Cant wait to shed some of this weight!

So far this is what I am really excited for!  Does anyone have anything planned this summer?

*Allie 



Latelys.....

I figured since I haven't posted in awhile that I would do some latelys....

reading: So last lately I said I just bought the 2nd book of the unearthly series.  I just started reading like a week ago.  I started reading it because I am so over my algebra class that I sit in the back and read on my nook.  Well it got really good last night and I finished it a little after midnight!  Cried thru about half of it.  First book of a series that I have read that doesn't leave you with a horrible cliff hanger.  It left me with a peaceful mind.  and I dreamt of angel-bloods all night, haha.  I highly recommend the series, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and then Hallowed

obsessing: I am not going to summer school again this summer, so I have labeled this summer OPERATION ORGANIZATION!  Yep, I am on an organization binge, I am decluttering our lives, I am reorganizing it and making our lives easier.  Well I am hoping too, at least.  I also want to do fun things with the family. 

listening to: bon iver.  I just got tickets to his concert here in Orlando, so I want to purchase his cd's so I can know all his songs and sing along, at the top of my lungs.  ok, well not the top of my lungs.  something tells me it wont be a loud show. lol

baking/making: I made a delicious pizza casserole late week, as well as a yummy chicken stew made in the crock pot.  The chicken stew is a weight watchers recipe and it was yummy, full of veggies and finished it with some greek yogurt.  a nice tangy taste.  I also doctored up some hashbrown casserole, I was eating that thing for two days, it was so yummy, even cold!  for Easter I made a jello/pretzel dessert.  It was yummy, but we were all so full no one really ate it.  so it was wasted, I will def. make it again, but cut it in half next time.

looking forward to: summer, our vacation, hopefully meeting Marianne finally!  lol.  Joining the ymca for Zoe and I, and getting organized!

 

want to accomplish: OPERATION ORGANIZATION!

 

watching: once upon a time and ringer.  Both are getting really good!  oh and June Pretty Little Liars starts up again!  yay!

missing: being bill free! :)

So what are you all up to?

 

 

*Allie