Friday, August 30, 2013

Creamy Taco Soup


Here is my Pinterest Challenge post for the week. Well its more of two pins that I mashed together to make it my own version, so would this be a pin challenge or not? Might as well! I liked different parts of each but not the entire thing. Its a creamy taco soup made in the slow cooker. You use chicken breast instead of beef which makes it healthier. It was delicious! Since I was cooking this meal for my sister and her family as well to enjoy, I did not add any hot peppers as the kids would be eating it too. This recipe is a winner in my book as well as with everyone else!

Here it is! Creamy Taco Soup
(pins I combined are found here and here)

2 cups pre-cooked chicken, shredded
1 can white beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can kidney beans
2 small cans kernel corn, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tbs lime juice
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 package of taco seasoning
1/2 tbs cumin
500 mL tub of sour cream
shredded cheese
tortilla chips, crushed in medium size bits

1. Combine everything in the slow cooker other than the sour cream, cheese and chips.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
3. Mix the sour cream into the soup, then serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips on top.

Since my husband and I like spicy food, we added hot sauce to our own. If you like it hot, try adding some chili peppers and hot sauce with the rest of the ingredients to kick it up a notch.

By Mommy Melissa

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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Make Dinner Fun with Pizza Faces!

This post idea cam from Jen. This is a great idea to get your kids involved in cooking- show them how much fun it can be creating there own masterpiece! (and how delicious it can be eating it!)

Just get some pre-made pizza dough- or make your own! Then, let your children get creative and make whatever their heart desires!


A Big Thanks again to Jennifer P for posting this great idea in 3 mommies!

We would love to here your ideas, recipes, and tips! Visit us at 3mommies and let your creativity bloom!




Friday, August 23, 2013

Thunder Thighs! Marinated Chicken Thighs.

I took out some skinless chicken thighs for dinner tonight not knowing what to do with them. James is not a fan of chicken legs or thighs but I was on a mission to make some good ones!
And let me say! Oh my goodness! They were amazing and my husbands opinion? He loved them! One of the best he's had. My sister and I came up with the name, Thunder Thighs because they are so good,  they will go right to your thighs!

Here is what I did to make it.
What you need.

8 skinless chicken thighs, bone in
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbs minced garlic
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup soy sauce
Pepper to taste

1. Place all ingredients in Ziploc bag and seal tightly with air removed. Place in fridge for at least 6 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350.

3. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  This is a sticky sauce so it makes for an easy clean up. Place chicken then put in oven.

4. Pour remaining marinade in a small pot. Bring to a rolling boil for at least 30 seconds. We don't want any bacteria to transfer when we baste it.

5. Bake chicken for 30-40 minutes, basting twice during cooking.

6. Baste one final time, serve then eat it, and wish you made more!

Honestly, I will have to make this again and again.

Try this out for yourself and let me know what you think. Hopefully you like it as much as we did!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Squares

I love Rice Krispies Squares! They are one of my favourite desserts. When I found this Pin I knew that I just had to try it out. The only change I made was in place of using yellow cake mix, I used confetti cake mix. Also, I did not use the sprinkles. James hates sprinkles. Don't get me started on that... Well at least the confetti cake mix has a little bit of a sprinkle to it.
These tasty little treats are just like regular ones but they have an extra little sweetness from the mix. It is a great combination, that's for sure! Almost like a cake covered with marshmallow fondant.
How can someone not like sprinkles....


Click here for the original pin. Feel free to use as many sprinkles as you like!!

By Mommy Melissa (sprinkle lover)

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Turkey Veggie Burgers With Creamy Garlic Mayo

So, still being on a diet I've been trying to come up with tasty ways to clean eating. This recipe was and inspiration from some yum veggies burgers I've seen, so why not combine them  with turkey?


What you will need:
- 1 pkg of ground Turkey
- 3 cups of fresh spinach (washed)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 can of corn (strained)
- 1-2 eggs
- a tsp of onion salt
- salt and pepper
- 4tbsp olive oil

In a medium pan on med-low heat, add in 1 tbsp of olive oil, all of the fresh spinach and the garlic.Cook spinach until 3/4 cooked through then take off heat. In a large bowl throw in all ingredients including the spinach- mix with hands until combined. I used 1 egg and my burgers seemed to have fallen apart slightly on the grill so you may want to use 2 eggs.

Once the mixture is combined you can grill your burgers on the BBQ, or I used a George Foreman grill to cook them (only takes about 7 mins each burger) if you do this spread a light layer of olive oil on each side of the burger to prevent from sticking- or spray the grill with Pam. I ate mine with a lightly toasted pita and topped with some Creamy Garlic Mayo (Recipe below).

Creamy Garlic Mayo Recipe

What you will need:
- 3 tbsp of light mayo
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
- 1 tsp of basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp of Parmesan cheese or grated Asiago

Mix all ingredients together and spread on you burger!!!! Soooo good :)

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

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Monday, August 12, 2013

Uses for Temporary Tattoos! - By Mommy Melissa

A few months back, I was contacted by the lovely Hannah from Tattoo Manufacturing, an American made tattoo manufacturing company. She asked if we would do a blog collaboration with her using their tattoos. I was so excited when the package arrived and wanted to get started right away! Here are my favourites!

When people think of temporary tattoos, they think they have one use. A temporary tattoo! Well I am going to show you that the uses for them are actually endless. With a little imagination and some creative thinking you can decorate and personalize many things. 

My first thought was to decorate some fruits. I know it sounds a little odd but think of your child's reaction when they open their lunch bag at school and find a banana decorated with their favourite characters! It makes lunch time fun! Its super easy to do and takes no time at all. You simply have to wipe the fruit clean and dry then place your tattoo on it, hold it down in place with a wet cloth for around 30 seconds, peel it off and voila! a banana rocking some new ink! I suggest only using fruits such as oranges and bananas as the peels will be removed and discarded. 

Another project I came up with was to decorate my cell phone case. I chose my favourite tattoos out of a pack of sparkly ones (sparkle is always better!). Make sure your work surface is clean and dry. Cut the tattoo as close to the picture as possible so there is not too much glue visible once the backing is removed. Then hold a wet cloth on for a good 40 seconds. Peel the backing off very carefully. Then pat dry with a paper towel. Let it dry completely then cover with Mod Podge. Be sure to let it dry over night before using it. I have had the tattoos on my case now for over a week and there has been no visible ware. Its pretty cool actually!! If you are not completely happy with the design, you can remove it by washing it with warm water and soap. If that does not work, nail polish remover takes it off perfectly. I know this for a fact because my first attempt looked a little odd, so I redid it. 
Another project I came up with was to decorate my cell phone case. I chose my favourite tattoos out of a pack of sparkly ones (sparkle is always better!). Make sure your work surface is clean and dry. Cut the tattoo as close to the picture as possible so there is not too much glue visible once the backing is removed. Then hold a wet cloth on for a good 40 seconds. Peel the backing off very carefully. Then pat dry with a paper towel. Let it dry completely then cover with Mod Podge. Be sure to let it dry over night before using it. I have had the tattoos on my case now for over a week and there has been no visible ware. Its pretty cool actually!! If you are not completely happy with the design, you can remove it by washing it with warm water and soap. If that does not work, nail polish remover takes it off perfectly. I know this for a fact because my first attempt looked a little odd, so I redid it. 

                                   
Test layout
Cover with mod podge


Final Product! Super happy with it!
Since I have a toddler and a nearly one year old, there are always baby food jars kicking around. I keep them thinking that I could make something with them. But really they just pile up until I decide no I'm never going to use them, then just throw them away. Well, I found a use! You will need baby food jars with lids (clean and labels removed), muffin liners, ribbon, and of course, your temporary tattoos. First make sure the tattoos will fit on the jar. Cut them close as you can to the image then place them on the jar with a damp cloth. Make sure when you peel the back to be very careful. These were the hardest to place, as the glass is very smooth. Once the image is on, dab with a damp cloth to make sure there are no bubbles. Then pat dry very softly. I covered the lids with a muffin liner, tucking it in as I went around. Now you can fill it with candy or what ever you would like. I filled mine with jelly beans and jubjubes! Finally, close the lid and tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar. I also used double sided tape to place a tattoo on top of the lid to add an extra little bonus. Now you have a cute little party favour perfect for birthdays and showers! 




This idea was actually my husbands and I admit, it turned out pretty sweet! Cover your light switch plate with them! Use the same steps as the others, being sure to peel it off slow. Now I think he regrets telling me this as our bedroom light switch is all decked out in hearts, stars and rainbows! 


The last project didn't turn out how I pictured it but it was still really fun. My aunt hosts a 'Fairy Tale Ball' camping party nearly every year out in the country. This year I decided to do a Royal Tattoo Parlour. Well, it rained and rained all week end. I moved the parlour into the trailer and did it there instead the next day to stay out of the rain. The girls had a riot picking out there tattoos and putting them on. One of them nearly had a tattoo sleeve of princesses and Lala Loopsies! I also gave them an envelope to fill with extra tattoos to take home for a later day.





One of the best experience with the temporary tattoos had to be with my son and nephew. They both love to show them off to everyone! They both even try to say tattoo, its so cute sounds like 'toooos"! 


I would like to take the time now and thank Hannah once again. Thank you so much for this opportunity and sending the tattoos. It was so much fun! Not just for me, but my kids, nieces and cousins as well! Thank you!

I invite everyone to go to their website and check it out! There are so many designs to choose from and all at a great price! Click here to take you there! 

By Mommy Melissa 

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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Grilled chicken and sauteed veggies

So I've been hardcore dieting lately, and eating plain old chicken is just getting boring... so why not have every bite combined with the delicious taste of fresh veggies... mmmmm!


What you will need: 
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast (fileted)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 red pepper (sliced into thin strips)
- 1/2 spanish onion (chopped)
- 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil + 1tbsp for the chicken
- salt & pepper

Since I'm not familiar with the BBQ, I grilled my chicken on our George foreman grill (yes, these are super handy!) So take you chicken and rub with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then throw on the grill! Takes about 7 mins, or until cooked all the way through. In the meantime, heat a pan on medium high heat with your olive oil and throw in the veggies! Turn down the heat to low and just let those babies get nice and tender, you will want to cook until translucent- oh and season veggies with some S&P... you can use any other herbs or sauces you want, like fresh herbs, hot sauce, soy sauce- the choices are endless!

So once everything's all cooked up, put your chicken on a plate and just pile the veggies sky high right on top!!! every bit will be better than the last :)

Clean eating :)

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

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Friday, August 9, 2013

Buncha Farmers All Natural Stain Remover - Product Review


Awhile back while I was visiting with my mom, I purchased Buncha Farmers all natural 100% biodegradable stain remover stick. It claims to remove grass, grease, blood, red wine, ink, berry juice, ketchup and so much more. For $2.95 plus tax and that claim, I bought two!
So about the stick itself. It smells very nice. Its a nice fresh and clean smell with a little hint of beeswax. You need to wet it first then rub it directly onto the stain. It gets fairly slimy so it needs to be held tight! I found that after the first use, the paper its wrapped in is no longer needed. It gets all ripped up if you left it on like I did! or you will need to let the bar fully dry before putting it back on (but who has time for that?). Then toss it right into the washing machine and was as per usual. 

I decided to first use it on a couple little stains here and there and it worked wonders. Took them off no problem! Even red Popsicles came out in one wash. 

Red popsicle drippings on Logan's jammies
Fresh out of the dryer with no stain!
So then came the real test. Will it take out set in stains?
No, the answer is no. It does however, lighten them. I used it on one of Amelia's sleepers that was not washed right away. It had a (big) stain made from feeding her carrots. I used the stick, washed it, checked it, used the stick again. Washed it, checked it, used the stick again. Washed it, checked it, gave up and dried it. The stain is not as prominent now but its still there.

The carrot stain! 
After wash one
After wash two
After three, I gave up.
As you can see, the stain did fade quite a bit but its not gone. Still better than it started, thats for sure!

I have not tried it on red wine, but my neighbor has and it did not work either. It was used right after the spill happened but it did not work. Her shirt was ruined and to make it worse, it was brand new! 

I give Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Stick a B+ for new stains and a C+ on set in ones. It works great if the stain is new and not red wine. I think it would be a great review to do over again with all seven of the stains causers listed on the paper. Maybe I will just have to try it out. Well, maybe not the blood... I don't want to have to cut myself for a review!! 

Have you used this item before? Let us know how it worked for you.

By Mommy Melissa

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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Monthly Feature: Mexican Stuff Shells By Sarah


What you will need:
1 lb. ground beef
1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
4 oz. cream cheese

14-16 jumbo pasta shells
1.5 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce ( I forgot to get taco sauce so I just used more salsa)
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup monterey jack cheese
3 green onions
Sour cream

Preheat oven to 350°. In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely. While ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.
Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.


Thank you Sarah for this recipe, it looks delicious!!! 

POST BY SARAH