cheesy ham and tater casserole

**Warning**

While this is super tasty and freezes really well, it is by NO means a low fat healthy choice :)

Whatcha Need:

1 bag of frozen hash browns

OR

6 medium taters, boiled, skinned and shredded :)

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 16oz container of sour cream

2 TB melted butter

1/4 C onions (or if you're lazy like me 2 tb dehydrated onions)

2 C shredded cheese

ham, cubed (i use leftovers)

Whatcha Do:

Preheat your oven to 375. Now, I'm cheap. I hate buying frozen hash browns when I can just make my own at home. I have a wonderful food processor that I can easily shred my taters with. Thanks Hubby :) So, i just scrub 6 or so taters, place them in some water with salt and cook until not quite done. You want them almost done. Then let them cool. Peel and shred :) While you're waiting for the taters to cool, you can cut up your ham. This is the great time to mix up your soup, sour cream, butter, onions, and cheese in a separate bowl. Spray your casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the taters and the ham with the soup mixture. Spread into casserole dish. Cover with foil. Bake for roughly 30 mins. Take off foil and then cook an additional 10 mins.

And you're done :)

Easy Breakfast Burritos! great for freezin'

And we start our freezin' quest! Tonight we made tasty apple cinnamon waffles and breakfast burritos to freeze!

Whatcha need for the burritos
1 pound breakfast sausage-you can use turkey sausage or bacon bits
10 eggs
1/4 C Milk
1 cup of shredded cheese
**optional chopped green onions, black beans**
12 flour tortillas

Whatcha do:
I like to keep it simple and easy. And depending on what "optional" ingredients you use, there's only like 15-20 carbs per burrito :) Happy diabetic :) Brown the sausage and drain. Beat the eggs with roughly 1/4 C milk and salt and pepper to taste. Add to the sausage. Cook until the eggs are done :) Now would be the time to add your optionals :) Top with cheese, turn off the heat and cover the mixture with a lid to melt the cheese. Heat up your tortillas before you make your burritos :) Once the mixture is cool..roll up :) Then wrap in plastic wrap TIGHTLY :) Freeze :)

To heat them up later, unwrap and then wrap in paper towel. Defrost for 2 minutes and then full strength for 1 minute :) Sooooooooooooooo good :)

This week, yours truly is going to try some fun stuff :) I'm a freezin' fool. I looked at our bank records from the past year and we eat out WAY too much. I added up all the $$ we spent on fast food, and lets just say YIKES! My recent visit to my doctor also has me pausin' and reflectin'. Sooooooo....

We are cutting out fast food all together from the "B" House diet.

Yes, I know it will be hard. We're a cheeseburger lovin' family, BUT it must be done! This week, I'm going to make some tasty breakfast burritos and freeze 'em. I'm looking for some other ideas that I can freeze and take out as needed. Is there anything else you lovely people would like to see?

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

Thank you Pinterest! On my heavens!! I found this recipe on there and made a few changes to suit my family :) I'm in L O V E!! I hate having to share :) We used our leftover rice from our fave Chinese place here in Bountiful (Ho Ho Gourmet) And tada! Dinner is served :

Whatcha Need:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

3/4 C cornstarch

Salt & Pepper

3 eggs, beaten like they stole something

1/4 C canola oil

Sauce:

3/4 C white sugar

4 TB ketchup

1/2 C vinegar

1 TB soy sauce

1 tsp garlic salt or minced garlic

Whatcha Do:

1. Preheat your oven at CCCXXV degrees (325). Rinse your chicken tatas with water and then cut into 1" cubes. Season with salt and pepper. Wash your hands. Pour the oil into a skillet and turn it on to medium heat. Now, according the the recipe you "Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs." I am lazy. So, into a plastic baggie goes the chicken with the cornstarch. :) Then I put the chicken in the eggie shiz and toss it to cover it. THEN I put in oil and brown. Not enough for it to be done, but enough to look purty! Oh! Don't forget to wash your manos again. While the chicken is doing it's cookin' thang, make your sauce :) Once the chicken is done, scoop it into a 9*13 pan and drizzle the sauce evenly over the chicken. Bake for an hour! Make sure you turn the chicken about every 15 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn with the sauce.

Harry Potter Goodies

Pumpkin Juice

Whatcha Need:
2 T. Stephens Gourmet Hot Cocoa Pumpkin Spice p0wdered mix
4 T. warm water
4 C. apple juice


Whatcha Do
Mix the powdered mix and water together and whisk until smooth. Mix with apple juice. This
was more milky than theirs so I poured it through several layers of cheesecloth to remove the milk solids. Serve over ice.

Cockroach Clusters

Whatcha need:
dark chocolate (you can use milk choc. too)
dry chow mein noodles

Whatcha Do:
Melt your chocolate until smooth. Stir in noodles until the mixture is thick enough to hold together. Spoon bite-sized clusters onto wax paper and let harden in the refrigerator. If
you want longer-lasting candy, melt 1 stick cooking paraffin per 12 oz of chocolate before adding the noodles. But if you're just doing it for a party or for short time, you can skip the paraffin. These can be frozen, just thaw before serving.

ACID POPS
Whatcha Need:
Way-Sour Charms Blow Pop lollipops
Pop Rocks (whatever flavor you choose)
Whatcha Do
Unwrapped the lollipops and rolled them in the Pop Rocks. Then wrapped them in plain wax
paper squares. My only warning is that the Pop Rocks immediately start losing
their "pop" when in contact with the moisture in the lollipops, so assemble
these as close to serving as possible for the best effect

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTER beer :)

I don't know why, but all of the sudden I wanted butterbeer. For those of you that have been living in a rock and know nothing of Harry Potter, SHAME ON YOU! Now, go get the books and read THEN watch the movies. Books are much better :) So, here is a recipe for butterbeer. I will share more recipes for you crazy kids :) And hey, this is a super easy version. If you want a tasty, more involved version, let me know!

Whatcha Need for ONE Serving:

2 TB caramel ice cream topping

1/4 C "whipped" topping (coolwhip)

1 C Cream Soda

2-3 ice cubes if you want it cold :)

Whatcha do:

Microwave the caramel for about 10 secs. Add the whipped topping and mix well. Now, we like to heat up our butterbeer. If you're down, then heat up your cream soda:) Pour your cream soda over your whipped topping. It will fizzle and make you happy :)

**Now, as far as ingredients are concerned, you can get everything you need for less than $5 at WAL-mart for plenty of servings! If you're doing it for a party, it's all fine and dandy to just do the cheap Sam's Choice/Great Value version. HOWEVER :) If you're going to just do it for fun with a few peeps, then I would suggest getting the super tasty Cream Soda :)

easy peasy peach crisp

this is the easiest crisp you will EVER make :) We needed something fun for dessert and so wa la! :)

Whatcha need:

1 qt peaches (or BIG can LOL)drained

1/2 tsp cinnamon (i use 1 tsp, but i likes me some cinnamon)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 C butter, melted

1/3 C flour

1/2 C brown sugar, packed

1 C oatmeal

1/2 tsp cinnamon *optional

Whatcha do:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place your peaches in a 7"casserole dish or and 8*8" pan. I slice my peaches after I put them in the pan/dish. Makes less mess for you! Just hold 'em with a fork and slice away :) Now, you can add more peaches. I like to use 2 cans or 1 1/2 qts. Sprinkle the nutmeg and cinnamon over the peaches. In separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over peaches. Bake for about 30 mins. It's super duper tasty when you serve it with vanilla ice cream. Stevey LOVED it!

Yummy YUMMY Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins :)

Now, please keep in mind, this is not for the healthy folks :) :) But it's super tasty!! So bake and be happy :)

Whatcha Need:

Cream Cheese Filling

1 8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brown sugar

Streusel Topping
4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped pecans *optional

Muffin Mixture
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whatcha Gotta Do:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line your muffin pan with super cute paper liners :) Makes 18

To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, then set aside.

For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.

Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.

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Quinoa is a nice healthier alternative to rice. Some people aren't likin' it (said in my best Sinjia voice) It's really pretty easy to make. First I shall share the basic way to cook it and then I'll let you know the way I do it for our stir-fry :)

Basic Quinoa Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups cold water

Optional: 1/4 tsp salt

This part is optional: Soak the quinoa for 5 min in the cooking pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly, and loosens up any residue of saponin (usually removed in processing), which can give a bitter taste. Most quinoa sold nowadays has been cleaned, and steamed to remove the saponin, so don't worry about that overly much. To Rinse: Stir the quinoa with your hand, and carefully pour off the rinsing water, using a fine mesh strainer at the last.

Drain quinoa well in the strainer, transfer to the cooking pot, add 1 1/2 cups water & 1/2 tsp salt if desired. Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove quinoa from heat and allow to sit five minutes with the lid on
Fluff quinoa gently with a fork and serve (like you do with stovetop stuffing lol)

**for our stir-fry i used garlic salt! :) instead of regular salt. I also add one beef bullion cube to the water. ** oh adventurous, i know :)

Friday Din Din

This shall be our dinner tomorrow. I'm doing two separate posts. This here is the beefiness for din-din. We will be serving this over quinoa :) It's a much better alternative to rice. I get mine at Winco-HOLY CHEAP batman :)

Let me know whatcha think :)

Whatcha need:

1 pound top sirloin or chuck steaks (about 1/2 inch thick), trimmed (or if you're cheap like me, just some stewing meat will do)
1 large garlic clove, minced (of 2 tbps of the minced stuff from Costco)
Olive oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil *take your pick*
2 medium bell peppers, one red, one green, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced lengthwise (root to top)
A dozen cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or one large tomato, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Whatcha do:
Season the steaks with salt and pepper and rub minced garlic over them, both sides. Place the steaks between two sheets of plastic wrap. With a meat pounder, pound the steaks to a 1/4 inch thickness. Let the steaks sit for 10 minutes to absorb the flavor of the garlic. Then cut them across the grain in 1/2-inch wide strips. *Cheap method-put the stewing beef, salt, pepper, and garlic in plastic baggie. "Rub" the garlic into the beef and let set for 10 mins.* While the steak is sitting, heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok on medium high to high heat. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers, cook, stirring, until just barely tender, about 1-2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute. Remove the vegetables from the pan to a bowl and keep warm. Heat an additional 2 Tbsp of oil in the skillet on medium high to high heat, until the oil is shimmering, but not smoking. Add the strips of beef let the beef brown initially, without stirring, but as soon as it is brown on at least one side, then stir. Cook for no more than a minute (for rare). I do it for like 3-4 mins. I hate raw meat. Add the vegetables and Worcestershire and cook for a half minute longer, stirring. Remove from heat.

Serve alone (low carb), or with steamed rice OR Quinoa

Thick and Hearty Cheesy Chicken Soup :)

Whatcha do:

1 C shredded carrots

1/4 C sliced green onions
3 TB butter

1/4 C flour
2 C milk

1 can chicken broth (11 oz)
1 can chunk chicken breast

1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp black pepper

Whatcha do:
In a medium saucepan, cook carrots and green onion in hot butter for about 10 mins or until tender but not browned. Stir in flour. Slowly add milk, chicken borth, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken and cheese. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese melts. Serve hot.

nice and tasty for that cold weather we know is coming sometime :)