Cooking with Grandma...

Some of my favorite memories from childhood revolve around spending time in the kitchen with my mom. She always encouraged us to help her in the kitchen. Even when we (my brother and I) made stupid mistakes, like leaving plastic wrap on meatloaf and burning soup due to not stirring it, she still wanted us to help her. I don't know if wanted is the correct word or allowed is regardless she was amazing at helping us learn to cook. I seriously credit my love of the kitchen to those nights spent in the kitchen with her. I still love to help my mom in the kitchen, even though now we kind of get in each others way, oops! The best thing is that she is passing this tradition down to my kiddo. Charlot loves to help both my mom and I in the kitchen. I snapped this pictures over the weekend of her and my mom making cinnamon rolls. They both were a complete mess and so was the kitchen when it was done but that didn't really matter because they both were smiling ear to ear.

This may be reason number 4062 that I am so glad that the hubs and I decided to live near and raise our kiddo close to our parents. She will have so many happy memories with them it just fills my heart. Thanks Momma Linda for taking the time when I was little and for continuing to take the time with Charlot. I don't say it near enough!

One Pot Wednesday...Quinoa Taco Bowls

Not exactly one pot more like one pan but still one piece to clean up! Can I get an AMEN! We love and I mean LOVE Mexican style food in our house. Tacos especially! In an effort to expand our food horizons and continue on my journey towards a healthier me I decided that we needed to check out this whole Quinoa thing! I know it has been around and popular forever but as usual I am last to jump on the cool train! So my thought was why not make one of our favorite foods into a healthy hearty simple supper?

This is the kind I bought just for reference

Quinoa Taco Bowls

(serves 6)

1 lb Hamburger

1/2 Onion (diced)

1/2 Bell Pepper (dices)

1 TBSP Cumin

1 TBSP Chile Powder

1/4 TSP Red Pepper

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 can Black Beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can Diced Tomatoes ( I used fire roasted)

1 Pkg Roasted Garlic Quinoa 

1 1/2 Cup Chicken Stock

Taco Toppings-

Lettuce

Tomato

Cheese

Avocado

Sour Cream 

Brown Hamburger with onion and bell pepper, cook until no longer brown, and drain. Return hamburger to the same skillet turn heat to medium add seasonings, stir to coat the meat. Add in beans, tomatoes, quinoa, and stock bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with taco toppings, serve how you would like just serve and enjoy!

Banana Bread Pancakes...

Do you ever have a fierce craving for warm banana bread with butter but you don’t have enough ripe bananas in your house. So again that is just me? I can think of a much better treat that hot fresh banana bread right out of the oven slather with butter, yum! But I always seem to only have two super ripe bananas at once and I mean two isn't enough to make my recipe for banana bread. So to combat this I came up with this recipe over the weekend. Man oh man these were good. They received rave reviews by both Hubs and child.

If you are looking to spice up your typical weekend pancakes or you want to surprise your family with a special breakfast for supper. This is for you! I think you could add some peanut butter or some extra nuts to the batter or oh even some chocolate chips. But I tend to like to overdo it on the add-ins, you just make them to suit your fancy and I’ll be happy!

Banana Bread Pancakes

2 cups Bisquick Baking Mix

1 TBSP Cinnamon

Pinch of Salt

2 Ripe Bananas (Mashed)

1 Cup Milk

2 Eggs

1 TSP Vanilla

2 TBSP Sugar

1 TBSP Maple Syrup

In a large bowl mix Bisquick, Cinnamon and Salt, sit aside. In a different bowl combine bananas, milk, eggs, vanilla, sugar and syrup, whisk until sort of smooth. I know not a real term but you don’t want large pieces of banana. Pour wet mixture into dry stir until combined don’t over mix. Heat a griddle and spray with pam or melt a bit of butter. Pour ¼ cup of batter out on to hot griddle, allow cake to cook until there are bubbles forming around the edges flip and allow other side to cook for a few minutes until a nice golden brown. Serve with butter, syrup and pecans. ENJOY! 

The Miracle of Life…

Love at first sight. The Hubs has a cold hence the mask.

I will never forget the first time I saw a baby lamb being born; it was completely gross, slimy, exciting and scary all at the same time. Pretty much from then on I knew that when I had children I wanted them to be able to experience this as well.

She was so gentle

A little head rubbing

When the hubs and I decided long before we were married that raising livestock was going to be a part of our lives, I couldn’t have been happier. Then when I found a job that allowed be to basically move home so I could not only raise livestock but do it with my family I seriously was ecstatic. I saw the things I had dreamed of falling into place for our family. (I do know I had some weird dreams)

Daisy and Charlot in August. 

Daddy I need to hold one.

So last summer I introduced all of you to Daisy, Charlot’s Berkshire gilt. Charlot showed her last summer and had a great experience with her. We then decided to bring her home to add to our sow heard. She was bred this fall and last Sunday I felt so sorry for the poor dear. She looked like she was so ready to go, and as a mom, I have experienced those last few days before the baby comes. Those days when all you do is pray the baby comes and kind of hope it stays right where it’s at. Anyway that is how she looked; she had the miserable motherly glow!

Whoa little guy 

She's in love

Well this Saturday morning Daisy became a momma! I was picking my momma up to go grocery shopping/picking Charlot up from her other grandma, when momma Linda said Daisy has started and the Hubs was in the farrowing house with her. Hooray! Charlot was going to be so excited. And that she was! As soon as I told her that Daisy was having her babies, she was ready to go home and help. Well we got done in town as quick as possible and as soon as we pulled in the drive Charlot was ready to be in that farrowing house with her dad and Daisy. I made her wait just a minute to be certain everything was ok for her to come in. I got the go ahead from the Hubs and grabbed Charlot. From the moment we walked in there she was grinning ear to ear.

Little bitty hadn't even opened his eyes.

Then she saw something and Daisy started to strain, we told her that another baby was getting ready to come. She got as close and we would let her and with her eyes and big as saucers she watched a baby being born. She helped the Hubs dry it off and get it in with its momma. She just kept saying how cool it was. Charlot and I decided to give Daisy some space after a bit, plus Charlot needed to get in the house to tell Pap what she had seen.

She kept telling the hubs thank you daddy thank you!

As soon as we walked in the house she announced that Daisy “POOPED out a baby.” Oh boy I can’t wait to see what she tells the other kids at the babysitters today! I am happy to say that Daisy and all 9 of her babies are doing well, and Charlot is so in love with them. She has requested to keep all of them; we are going to have to work on that with her.

Hot Ham and Cheese Roll-ups

I do enjoy the Super Bowl each year, not really due to the game, I mean sometimes but I love the food oh and the commercials. Is there anything wrong with amazing food that you graze on all night, the and the Budweiser Clydesdales? Hum NO! The only thing that could make it better is if it were declared that the Monday following the Super Bowl was a National Holiday…no work please! Ok on to today’s recipe!

These are the most perfect football party food! And if you are having party to watch the big game this weekend, give these little jewels a try. Even if you are not having a party make them, make them on a Tuesday, make them for lunch, make them for brunch, make them so so much! Ha! I could help it! My point here is these are really tasty little treats that require little to know work, you could even make them up ahead of time stick them in the fridge, then make the sauce when ready to bake and you have a delicious treat on your hands. On your hands? In your hands...YES! Most importantly get them in your mouth! Enjoy!

Hot Ham and Cheese Rollups

1 can Pillsbury™ refrigerated Classic Pizza Crust
3/4 lb deli ham
12 slices Provolone Cheese

Glaze
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.  Unroll the pizza dough onto a cutting board and press into approximately a 13×18-inch rectangle. Top with ham and cheese slices. Starting on the longer side of the rectangle, roll up the edge tightly. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. Cut into 12 slices, approximately 1-inch wide. Arrange in prepared baking dish.

 Next combine the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and poppy seeds in a sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk until the butter is melted and the glaze is smooth and combined. Pour evenly over the rolls. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours or bake, uncovered for 25 minutes until golden and browned. Enjoy!