Vegetable Soup

I always say I am not Betty Crocker...but I do have recipes that I love to make...and here is one!  Well, this is not really a soup...at least the way I make it, it is more of a chili.  One of my friends gave me this recipe a few years ago...and I love it.  I like to make it in the summer because of all the fresh seasonal veggies, but it is also great when it is cold outside!

Ingredients:

1 T Olive Oil

1 small onion diced (I actually only use half an onion)

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1 tsp Sea Salt (optional)

1 tsp pepper

2 zucchini squash (halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise)

2 carrots (thinly sliced)

1 T chili powder (I normally don't add...to hot for the girls)

1 t ground cumin

2 cans low sodium black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can crushed tomato (or you can chop up fresh tomatoes...it is really good)

1 pkg. frozen corn (I use fresh in the summer and frozen in the winter)

In 5 qt. heavy pot, heat oil over med. high, add onion and garlic, salt and pepper.  My favorite smell is onion and garlic cooking together.  Cook about 3-4 min, then add Zucchini, carrots, chili powder and cumin.  Cook 6-8 min. Add beans, tomatoes, corn and 1 cup of water (you can add more or less depending on how thick or thin you would like it).  Cook for about 8-10 minutes.

We eat this with tortilla chips and top with any of the following:

Avocado, cherry tomatoes, cheese, ect.

Enjoy

Treats

I have said before that I am not crafty...I just like to copy! So, copy I did...making a few little treats for the girls birthday parties, valentines day treats, and letter treats!

Marshmallow pops! So easy and really yummy. Just take a big marshmallow, put it on a lollipop stick, roll the top in melted white chocolate and roll it in sprinkles. (tip it is much easier and less messy if you don't let a 2 year old help you...but maybe not as much fun)

Oreo pops! Again...easy...but messy...but good! Take a double stuff Oreo (truth be told this is the first time I have ever bought these..and now I know why...because I would eat them all), put it on a lollipop stick...dip in white chocolate and then sprinkle with sprinkles!

Ok...my favorite treat we have made recently! In Reese's class each week they work on a different letter and they have a letter leader for each week. Last week was "R" week and Reese was the leader! So for the "R" week snack we made rainbow cupcakes!

Once again...they are not really perfect looking...but they are cute!

The fun surprise when you peel off the cupcake liner you see the rainbow layers!

There you go...now I am sure I just made you hungry!

Hamburger Cupcakes!

Don't worry they are really good...and Reese had that same reaction when I told her we were going to make them! But, once she saw the ingredients she was sold!

Don't judge my hands...I was trying to hide my chipped nail polish...and on this one the lettuce may be a little drippy!I know you are all dying to do this and to see the finished product...so what you need...
A very willing assistant

One that is very hardworking... A Taste Tester...

(don't worry that spatula was not used after this picture was taken!)While I wish I was one of those people who takes pictures of every step of the process...this is about as far as I got. The hamburger buns are actually just mini cupcakes...Betty Crocker yellow cake mix and mini muffin tins...cut them in half and there you go!

See...told you I did not take pictures of the steps...so viola...the final product! Aren't they so cute! I mean I am no Martha Stewart but I was pretty proud that I tried something and it actually worked (I have had a few failures...ok more than a few on things like this)

So why? Well, Reese's class is working on writing their letters and early reading...so this week they were on the letter "H" and so Reese was in charge of an "H" snack! I was trying to be creative and not so plain...I may have been that mom who sent carrot sticks...trying to be healthy! So, I found this on one of my favorite blogs, Bakerella, (please note it is one of those blogs that 99.9% of the stuff I can't do and don't even attempt...but if I did these...anyone can!)

You can find the exact recipe on Bakerella, mine was not an exact copy of hers.

I used

1 box Betty Crocker yellow cake mix (used egg beaters instead of eggs)

1 box Betty crocker fudge brownies (used applesauce instead of oil and eggbeaters for eggs)

I did not use cupcake liners...just baked them straight in the pan

I did not have the "handy" circle cutter that she has...so I improvised..I tried any and every little round plastic thing until I found a new bubble bottle top that worked!

1 container of Betty Crocker cream cheese icing

Yellow, Green and Red food coloring that I had

Sesame seeds..(these are key...it makes them look so real!)

They were a HUGE hit with the kiddos...and they are really tasty!

You have to make this...

Pepper and Chicken Nachos
Seriously...they are good! I wish I had thought to take a picture of mine when I made them...alas, I did not so I am using the one from Southern Living...where I got the recipe! Southern Living is one magazine that I love! It always has great recipes!

They are a variation of the old nacho...which to be honest...I would really never make! I am not a nacho fan...but I am a fan of nachos like these! Like I have mentioned before...I AM NOT A COOK...I mean, I can copy a recipe and I like to try new things...but I am not one of those who can come up with something just by tasting it!

Anyway...so the other night we had our friends, The Morrows, over for dinner and I decided to go out on a limb and try something I had never made before! I am pretty sure it was a big hit!

Here is the recipe...I thought about typing it here...but, they have it all on the my recipes site...sooo much easier! I will say that I made a few changes...I used less olive oil, salt and cheese. I mixed the cilantro into the bean mix instead of adding it at the end (honestly I did not mean to do that) and I did not grill the peppers before hand...I just broiled them before and once I added the mixture!

I made this for a meal...so to "beef" it up I used the mixture and did some on peppers and then I did two variations on blue corn tortillas...one with the chicken and one with shrimp! (Jason was a little nervous that the peppers would not be enough...but once we ate...he said he was wrong...hehe)

We had a great time with the Morrows and the kids had a great time playing...

Ellie, Hadley, Graham and Reese...I think Bryn was in her swing

Graham pulling Reese around the room by her feet...so fun

Reese pulling Graham...it was fun to watch!

A little twist on salsa

It's a first..I know. I don't really post recipes because...well, I don't ever feel like I am the best judge of good food. Seriously, my taste buds are pretty bland...so there you go.

But, I made this for Hadley's party and everyone loved it and ate every last bite...I really enjoyed it too! So here goes...

Avocado-Feta Salsa

2 plum tomatoes
2 avocados (seeded, peeled and chopped)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (I only used about half)
1 fresh garlic clove minced (I am sure you could used refrigerated...but I love fresh garlic)
1 T parsley/ 1 T oregano..I CHANGED THESE TO CILANTRO...MY OWN TASTE!
1 T olive oil
1 T red or white wine vinegar
4 oz. feta cheese chopped finely (this is totally optional if you don't want cheese in it)

Mix everything (except feta) together in a large bowl...then gently add in feta. Cover and refrigerate for 2-6 hours. Serve with pita chips and/or tortilla chips.

Enjoy!