@ Kroger...is this TOO PC?

So I was in the cheese area of Kroger looking for some cheese and happened upon this:

It is Authentic HISPANIC Blend cheese.  Formerly, MEXICAN.  I know quite a few people of the Hispanic heritage, and I can safely say that I have never heard a one say , 'Did you see that racist Kroger cheese?'  This is just weird to me. 

Fabulous Frito Pie

One of Hubby's favorite dinners is Frito Pie.  You'll need a bag of Fritos and some good chili.  After some trial and error, I have perfected my chili recipe.  It seems like a lot of ingredients, but putting it all together is quick!

Chili

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs ground hamburger or turkey meat
• 4-5 ribs celery, chopped (optional-I stick veggies in for the little ones)
• 2-3 chopped carrots (optional-just for extra veggies)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cups water (or less depending on how soupy you like your chili)
• 14 oz diced tomatoes
• can of Rotel
• 6 oz can of tomato paste
• can of kidney beans, drained, rinsed, and smashed
• 1 Tbl minced garlic
• 2 Tbl chili powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp dry oregano
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (this is what makes the chili hot-add more or less to your taste)
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

 Cook the meat and veggies

After the meat is browned, throw all the ingredients into a crock pot

Leave it in the crock pot on low for about 3-4 hours.  You can also speed things up and simmer it for 30 minutes on the stove.

Put the chili over a bed of Fritos and in a bowl and top with cheddar cheese.

Green Mountain Coffee - Golden French Toast

So I was shopping at Target yesterday looking for some coffee for a recipe I am planning on making.  I have a Keurig, so I'm looking at all the boxes and flavors and what do I find?

That's right!  Golden. French. Toast.  I snatched up a box and Hubby had a cup with me as soon as I got home.  This coffee tastes like sweet maple syrup with a bit of cinnamon.  It is amazing!

The Amazing Cozi

I have an OCD.  I am a constant list maker. I schedule most everything.  If my day isn't nicely scheduled hour by hour, I am just not productive and I have no focus.  I like writing things down and forgetting about them until I need to think about it.  I also make lists for family members.  Getting ready for school?  There's a list for that.  Need a reminder that you need to change a filter monthly?  That's on my Outlook calender.  Or was --  until Cozi came into our lives.

From the website:

'Cozi is a FREE online organizer and mobile app that helps you manage the family schedule, organize shopping lists and to do lists, and capture favorite memories—all in one place. Especially designed for busy families, Cozi is accessible from any computer, mobile phone or tablet. All you need to get started is a FREE account and because Cozi is shared, you only need one account for the whole family.'

Em and Ethan both have activities that we have to shuttle them to.  Cozi keeps track of when we need to be somewhere.  I can email Ethan his 'ToDo List' each day.  Hubby doesn't get mad at me when he didn't know about the Boy Scout meeting on Thursday.  Cozi automatically emails him about it the day before.  Its more than a calendar too.  You can make recipe plans, shopping lists, to do lists.  We can access Cozi from our computer or our phone app and see whats going on any old time.  I love Cozi. 

Homemade Gourmet - Simply Simmer Cacciatore

I am still trying to use all this Homemade Gourmet stuff I have in the pantry.  This mix came with a steamer bag, but I didn't use it.  I threw everything into the crock pot. Ingredients:

1 Homemade Gourmet® Simply Simmer Cacciatore Mix 1 15-ounce can stewed tomatoes 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts cut into strips (fresh or frozen) Pasta of choice, prepared according to package instructions Shredded Parmesan cheese, optional I add in an onion and a bell pepper

1. Place mix and tomatoes into crock pot; stir to combine.
2. Add chicken and stir until all pieces are coated.
3. Cook on high 4 hours or low 6 hours.
4. Pour chicken over pasta and serve warm. Garnish with shredded Parmesan as desired.




I also added about 2 cups of leftover cooked broccoli and carrots right before serving.


This is my favorite Homemade Gourmet dinner.  I am often put off by the saltiness of these mixes, but this one is just right. 





Em loved it!

Dinner and a Movie - The Perfect Combo

Today we went to Star Cinema Grill in Missouri City, TX.  We love that place.  Every time we get a groupon for them we snatch up as many as we can.  Usually, the Groupon is $5 for a movie and a medium popcorn.  Their medium popcorn is in a tub too.

Seriously, it's huge!  I highly suggest getting that groupon deal.

From the outside, it doesn't look all that great.  Just a normal place in a strip mall...  Then you walk in and there is marble everywhere and it is worlds apart from walking into an AMC or Cinemark.  You buy your movie tickets and pass the bar on the way...

Then off you go to the theatre.  They have leather seats to sit in with tables in front of them.

Inside the tables are menus, paper, and pencils.

You write down your order and then push the button located on your table.

This summons your waitress and you order just like at any old restaurant.  They have pitchers of beer, mixed drinks, and sodas to drink.  Then they have everything from bruscetta and pasta to nachos and burgers to eat.  The food is awesome too! Everything there just tastes out of this world-even the popcorn and Dr. Pepper is tastier.  Not sure how they do it.

15-20 minutes before the end of the movie they have what is called 'Last Call', and that's when you can order something else or just get your bill.  You pay your bill via the waitress, and off you go after the movie is over.

Star Cinema Grill.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Let's Make Some Monkey Bread

I was flipping through the recent People Magazine and see what looks to be a yummy cake pictured.  This of course piqued my interest.  It is called Monkey Bread.  I have heard of monkey bread, but I don't think I have had it before and I wasn't sure what it was.  Apparently, a celebrity named Hillary Scott makes it.  I have no idea who she is (upon further reading I see she is the singer for Lady Antebellum), but she makes a delicious cake!

Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

• 4 (7.5 oz) cans refrigerated biscuits
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 3 tbsp cinnamon, divided
• 1 1/2 sticks butter

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine 1 cup sugar and 2 tbsp cinnamon in a Ziploc bag. Then cut the biscuits into quarters, put them in the bag and shake until all they are all coated.  (I threw in 4 mini boxes of raisins.  Walnuts or pecans would probably be good too, but Hubby doesn't care for them.)

 Transfer biscuits to greased 12 inch bundt pan.

 Melt the butter and one cup sugar and one tbsp cinnamon.

Bring it to boiling then pour it over the biscuits.  Bake until the biscuits are puffed and the liquid is caramelized, 35-40 minutes.

Cool it completely then invert onto a plate, allowing people to pull apart.