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Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tips & Tricks: Super Bowl Foods

Can you believe that January is already half over? It has really flown by!

We are on the 3rd Tips & Tricks Linky Party of the year and this weeks theme is Super Bowl Foods! 

Last week's most pinned links were:

Emily at My Love For Words has some great ideas for getting your kitchen organized.

Yummy looking Paleo Chicken Noodle Soup from Kathy's Cluttered Mind


This week, share with us you ideas for your favorite football food and what goes over big with a large crowd.

Also, if you need an idea or two, here are a few amazing Pinterest boards to check out. They are loaded with some tasty looking recipes.




Follow Real Simple's board Super Bowl Party Snacks & Recipes on Pinterest.


Also, don't forget to check out your fellow partiers, they may have that perfect recipe that you've been looking for!

Look ahead to upcoming parties and plan your link-ups accordingly.  Of course, if you don't have a project for a particular category, no worries, link to the Anything Goes section.


As always, be sure to follow each of your hosts on your platform of choice! 










Friday, January 17, 2014

#GameTimeGoodies from WalMart and Nestle



What's your favorite sport? I enjoy football, but I am not a total nut about it.  My husband and boys, on the other hand, are fanatics.  Football is serious business people.  Since football is serious business, game time food is serious business.  You have to have sustained energy to watch game after game.

This weekend the games are BIG. We will find out who goes to the BIG GAME, ya know? So, we can't be stuck in the kitchen preparing a difficult meal.  We need quick, easy, and tasty.

That's where DiGiorno comes in.



I shop at WalMart all the time.  It's where I do my weekly grocery shopping, so when they have a good deal on any items that I purchase regularly, I snatch them up.  And, they have a great deal on DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizzas. You can get two pizzas for $9.00.  That's right, I said $9.00! They are $4.50 each, right now! Just in time for the big football gathering at your house. Hurry and stock up!


#gametimegoodies #shop #cbias #digiorno #walmart

My little guy isn't always that keen on any kind of shopping, but it's a different story when he gets to pick out something that HE likes. The pizzas are right within his reach and he can choose the ones he likes easily. He and I are pepperoni people, and the rest of the family enjoys Supreme.  So, we were nice to them and got one of each. At $4.50 each we can afford to be nice.

#gametimegoodies #shop #cbias #digiorno #walmart

We had a just a few other items to pick up, as well.  We all like to dip our pizza, and I am copycatting a dipping sauce from one of our favorite restaurants, so I had to grab some ingredients. 

#gametimegoodies #shop #cbias #digiorno #walmart


This Dill Ranch Pizza Dipping Sauce is the perfect pairing with your DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizzas.  It is tangy and salty and oh so dill-icious! (See what I did there? Cute, huh?) I found this recipe on Food.com and I was so exited! 

{For readers in my area, this is really close to the Dill dressing at Pizza King on Hiway 80.  Believe me, I've been trying for a while!}

Dill Ranch Dipping Sauce #gametimegoodies #shop #cbias #digiorno #walmart

After you mix up your dip, cover it and let the flavors blend in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.  Then prepare your taste buds for a flavor explosion!

The saltiness of the cheese and the spiciness of the pepperoni go so well with the tangy taste of the dill. My husband loves it with the Supreme Pizza, too.  We added some sparkling tropical punch from our soda maker, and had the perfect (and easy) meal for watching the big game!

What are you favorite toppings for your pizza? I bet you could dress up a DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizza to beat any delivery. But, really, why bother? The Supreme is already loaded with tasty toppings!

#gametimegoodies #shop #cbias #digiorno #walmart

Hurry and stock up while this awesome rollback from WalMart lasts!

Which team will  you be cheering on this weekend while you enjoy your Digiorno?





Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Tips & Tricks: Favorite 2013 Posts

Are you ready for a brand new line up of Tips & Tricks Linky Parties?

We have some great ones lined up and I know you won't want to miss out on a single one. 



With 13 blogs participating, you'll get plenty of exposure.  Tell your friends and please share your links on your preferred social media platform.

This week, we are looking for your Favorite Posts of 2013! Isn't that fun! Any post you had that got you a lot of traffic, or one that you loved but maybe needs a little lovin', link it up below.  But, no worries, if you want to link up anything else, there is always the Anything Goes section, too. 

Last week’s most pinned post was:

Every link is pinned to Pinterest (you can see last week’s board, here) and shared on a random social media site by one or several of our cohosts.  Rest easy – you’re getting lots of attention from linking to Tips & Tricks!
So, be sure to follow your cohosts, so that you don’t miss your shout out!








Anything Goes:



Thursday, December 19, 2013

Christmas Morning Goodies!

There are a few things that I only eat at certain time of the year. {Like, Chicken and Dressing.  Here in the south we have dressing, not stuffing. And, it's made with cornbread. Oh my lordy it's good.}

Chicken and Dressing at Thanksgiving.

Cinnamon Role Casserole on Christmas morning.

I can't eat those things the rest of the year because I would pack on quite a bit of poundage.

It is ridiculously delicious.

And, here is the absolute best recipe that I have used. It's from the Dishy Decorator.

Cinnamon Role Casserole via The Dishy Decorator

Don't you just want to lick the screen?

Really, I could go on and on about this recipe, but you just have to try it.  It is easy to make and if you like cinnamon, pecans, butter, icing and syrup, it's got ya covered.

It is front and center on my Christmas Morning Menu.

It can't be all sweet and ooey gooey, though.  We will be having Crock Pot Sausage Breakfast Casserole to balance out the menu.

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

This one, from Six Sister's Stuff, is yumtastic.  I would not have thought to put the mozzarella cheese in {I usually just use cheddar}, but it makes it so cheesy wonderful.  

That is the extent of my Christmas Morning menu! Woohoo! 

Really what else do you need after a whirlwind of gift opening? Coffee, perhaps.

I will be making a few other items to have throughout the day, but we will not eat breakfast until around 9:30 or 10.  Munchies will fill in the rest of the day.  

I've created printable menu that you can download for free and fill in with your own choices.

Free Christmas Morning Printable

What do you serve to your hungry crowd on Christmas morning?

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Holiday Preparations: Recipes for Gifts and Parties

As I'm preparing for Christmas, I am gathering recipes all in one place so that they will be easy to locate when I need them.  Where am I gathering them? Pinterest, of course!

There are lots of recipes that I have used in years past and some new ones that I can't wait to try.

Follow this board to see what recipes I will be using for parties, gifts, and family gatherings:

Follow Amy @ Life Is A Trip Christmas: Recipes for Gifts, Parties, Christmas morning, and Snacks on Pinterest


Gift ideas for Teachers:

Chocolate Covered Pretzels with Sprinkles
Boozy Caramel Fudge
Tex-Mex Brownies
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix

Combine one or more of these yummies and your gift to the teacher will get an A+!

I have made the Candy Cane Hot Chocolate and the Chocolate Covered Pretzels many times in the past few years and they are always a huge hit.

When you combine the words caramel and fudge, you know you've got something good happening!

For the Hostess with the Mostest:

Homemade Caramel Sauce
Carolina Mustard
Fresh Herb Mayonnaise
Spicy Cheddar Straws

Carolina Mustard is a delicious dipping sauce that goes well with sweet potato fries, spread on a burger, or paired with fresh veggies.

Any self respecting Southerner has a good recipe for Cheddar Straws.  This one has a little bit of heat.  Whip them up and present them in a cute jar with baker's twine and you'll be a star!

Party Starters:

Cherry Pecan Brie
Bacon Cheese Dip
Colby Pepper Jack Dip

Your party will be off to a great start and your friends will think you're a certified chef with any of these tasty treats.

Do you need a few more printable Christmas tags to add to your stash? Click on the image to download.

Christmas Tags from TripWorthTaking
Created with PicMonkey Courtesy of Amy@TripWorthTaking
Add your own flair to these tags using some of the precious Christmas Fonts that I shared last month, and print out on cardstock. A perfect homemade gift to make someone feel special!

*The tags print at 8.5" x 11".

Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Tip & Tricks: Fall Kids Crafts

It's that time, again, and this time we would love for you to link up your fabulous kids crafts!

With the kids being out of school this week, they may have a tendency to get a little bored while everyone else is cooking. With your help and your kids craft tip and tricks, boredom will be busted!



Don't forget to follow all of your hosts.  We all work hard to put this party together and want to be able to stay connected!


Heather - Stringtown HomeFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jessica - Prairie Girl to Southern BelleFacebook/Followgram/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jonell - Like Gramma's HouseFacebook/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Kathleen & Samantha - Fearlessly Creative MammasFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Ursula - Kraft MintPinterest
Denise - Stl MotherhoodFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Followgram
Karissa - A Fresh Start on a BudgetFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Gina - Gina's Craft Corner
Christa - Controlling CrazinessFacebook/Pinterest
Leslie Monroe - Be Simply BetterFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/LinkedIn
Amy - Trip Worth TakingFacebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram/Bloglovin'
Wendy - A Daily Dose of Del SignoreFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Bloglovin'/Instagram
Krysta - Krysta Steen.comFacebook/Pinterest/Instagram/Twitter

Get ready to show off your handmade gifts next week!















Monday, November 25, 2013

Thanksgiving: Cooking, Eating, and Shopping; Oh My!



Oh. Em. Gee.

I love Thanksgiving so much. And, not just because of the amazing food. Partly because of the amazing food, not completely.  

I love going back to my hometown and spending time with my family.  That is totally the best part.  
The wonderful dressing that my mother makes is the second best part.

Here are the recipes for the dishes that I will be preparing:



I've use this recipe for Broccoli Bacon Salad before and it is just perfect. It is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.


This Squash Casserole is originally from Southern Living Magazine, so you know it's good.  No doubt about it.  And, it's not really Squash Casserole if it doesn't have Ritz cracker, now is it?

I've already purchased my ingredients and will take them all to my mother's house to make the dishes.  

So, yes, my kitchen will stay clean! ;)

Every year we all say that we don't need to have so much food, but we always have sooo much. It's all so good, too.  I will eat way more than I should, but I will enjoy it.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you bring to the Thanksgiving meal, or that someone else brings? You know there are those dishes that really MAKE the meal, and it wouldn't be complete without it. What is that dish for you? Please share! We all love new recipes to try!

Here is a new one that I will be trying out. 




I have had Pecan Pie Muffins many times, so using the batter to top off a delicious apple pie mixture sounds like a no brainer!

We will have so many desserts it will be ridiculous.  I'm sure it's the same in many homes across the country.

Will you be going out shopping on Thursday or Friday? I considered it, but now that I have been able to get quite a few early Black Friday deals, I don't really have a need to. Thank goodness!

If you're looking for great deals early, I recommend signing up for daily updates through Passion For Savings. You will be able to stay current on what deals are available each day, and which sales have gone live in stores and online.



I was able to find out that Target had Skylanders Swap Force available online at their Black Friday price yesterday.  You couldn't actually order it, though.  So, I went to the store where they had it at a "sale" price of $49.99. I took it to the checkout and told the lady that it was $37.00 online.  She scanned it and said, "well, it's $49.99 here".  I asked her to call someone and got a Customer Service Manager to look it up and got the deal.  That was a 51% savings off the original price people! Woot!

And, I didn't have to fight the Black Friday crowd to get it.

Several Black Friday sales are going live today, so be sure to check them out.  Also,  you can see in the sidebar all the items that I am shopping for this year!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie



I used to hate Chicken Pot Pie. Now, it is one of my favorite cold weather meals-even though it wasn't cold here this weekend. 

I have a super quick and easy version that turns out great every single time. 

Here is what you will need:

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 small can carrots
1 small can green peas
1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp. melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder (optional)
Poultry seasoning (optional)
ready made pie crust dough

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Ready made pie crust dough

Prepare your bottom crust according the directions on the package.  Make sure there isn't any air trapped beneath, but don't prick the crust to let it out. Simply readjust the dough to remove the air.

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Combine the canned veggies (don't drain them), chopped onion cubed chicken, melted butter, and canned soup in a bowl and mix.

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Next, add your spices to your own personal taste.  I use about 1/2 tsp of salt and pepper, each; 1/4 tsp of garlic powder; and, a couple of shakes of poultry seasoning.

Mix those together and pour into the pie crust.

Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Top with the other crust, pinch off the edges and trim the excess.

Bake in the oven according to the directions on the pie crust package.  Mine said to bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes, but it only took about 30 minutes, so be sure to watch and keep your nose in the air for the delicious aroma.  

This is what you should get. Flaky crust and juicy yumminess inside. 


Want a fork full?



The juices from the veggies combine with the juices from the chicken and soup to create a lovely flavor that the whole family will love! 

Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tips and Tricks: Thanksgiving Recipes

We're back for another Tips & Tricks and this week the theme is all about the upcoming holiday-Thanksgiving Recipes!

We want to see your best and yummiest recipe creations!

But, first-the most pinned link from last week was:


A cute handmade ornament from STL Motherhood! She, also, has a printable available for download on her site.  Thanks so much for sharing, Denise!


Remember to follow each of your hosts on the social media channel of your choice. There are 13 of co-hosts and your link will appear on all 13 blogs and every single link will be pinned to the featured Pinterest Board! Sweet deal, huh?

So, let's get on with it, shall we?

Heather - Stringtown HomeFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jessica - Prairie Girl to Southern BelleFacebook/Followgram/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Jonell - Like Gramma's HouseFacebook/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Kathleen & Samantha - Fearlessly Creative MammasFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Ursula - Kraft MintPinterest
Denise - Stl MotherhoodFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Followgram
Karissa - A Fresh Start on a BudgetFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin'
Gina - Gina's Craft Corner
Christa - Controlling CrazinessFacebook/Pinterest
Leslie Monroe - Be Simply BetterFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/LinkedIn
Amy - Trip Worth TakingFacebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram/Bloglovin'
Wendy - A Daily Dose of Del SignoreFacebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Bloglovin'/Instagram
Krysta - Krysta Steen.comFacebook/Pinterest/Instagram/Twitter






Anything Goes Section:




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