Omelets in a bag

This was a recipe I learned when took a cooking class in jr high. I have used it quite a bit since then. Works great if your feeding quite a few people. And great for picky eatters.

Ingredients
- quart zipper zip lock bag
- permanent marker
- water
- eggs
- chopped veggies of choice
- precooked diced meats of choice
- spices of choice
- shredded cheese
- salsa or ect.. you want to add. (Remember it is your omelet)

Instructions
1. Bring a pot a water to boil
2. Write name on zip lock bag to know it is yours
3. Crack 2 to 3 eggs into the bag (doesn't work with more)
4. Add veggies, meats, cheese, and spices of choice.
5. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible
6. Shake and squeeze the contents of the bag. Beating the eggs and mixing the ingredients.
7. Once everyone has done 2 to 6 add to boiling water. (Only 8 at a time)
8. Cook for 13 min for 2 eggs and 15 min for 3 eggs. Don't go over the time.
9. Have plate ready. Open bag and it will slide out quite easy. Don't throw away baggy just yet. (Until you know you don't want another one. Will have a little liquid don't worry egg is done it's from the veggies and steam.)
10. Enjoy and make another if want :)

Perfect mashed potatoes

This is my perfect mashed potatoes. Cooked the same way my family does. Sadly there isn't a lot  of measurements. So I can't just be like you need 3 cups of milk. It all depends on your potatoes. I'll try to measure the best I can while I'm doing this. Might need less or more depending on serving size and taste. Rule of thumb from my dad "if your serving others don't over do it. They can add more butter or seasoning." 

What you will need
*Bowl you are serving your potatoes in
*potatoes (I used 15 this time)
*milk (1 1/2 c. it's what I put in. Probably should have done less)
*butter (about 6 Tbs)
*sour cream (about 3 Tbs)
*chives ( 3 )
*garlic salt ( about 5 tsp)
* regular salt
* big pot
* cutting board and knife
* peeler
* potato masher

Instructions
* rinse the potatoes and peel them
* cut them in quarters
*place in bowl. bowl will be your measurement so you know when you have enough potatoes
* repet as many times as needed
* fill big pot will 2/3 the amount of water
* add salt
* boil water
* carefully add potatoes
* cover and reduce heat
* cook 15 to 17 min
* add potatoes back into bowl
* mash potatoes
* add milk and butter
* chop chives and add to potatoes
* add garlic salt
* stir
* taste check
* add more ingredients if necessary and repet step above as needed
* serve
* enjoy :)

Stuffed bell peppers

I had 2 different recipes for stuffed bell peppers. One is my dad's recipe and other is my ex mother in laws recipe. So i combined the 2 and this is what I made.

Ingredients
1 lb of hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
1 garlic or use garlic powder
4 to 6 bell peppers
1 c cooked rice
1 6oz can of hunts tomato paste
1 1/4 c water
2 teaspoon of Worcester sauce
salt or garlic salt to taste
1/2 c  shredded cheese

Instructions
Preheat oven for 375
1. Remove the top and seeds from peppers
2. Cook the hamburger, garlic and onion in a frying pan. Drain grease.
3. Place peppers in an ungreesed pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 3 to 3 1/2 min.
4. Mix the remaining ingredients besides the cheese in a bowl. Add the hamburger mixture.
5. Spoon into peppers. And pour remaining sauce over peppers.
6. Bake for 30 min.
7. Min or two before done sprinkle the cheese on top.
8. Enjoy

Everyone was to hungry to wait until after I took a picture.

Before getting a cat.

There was only a year where I didn't have a cat growing up. But my grandparents still did. So I wanted to make a list of what people need to either plan or get during the process of becoming cat owners.

* First off you need to find out if you can afford a cat. I'm not talking the actual buying of the cat. I'm talking about the litter, food, vet expenses, toys, ect. Once you can say yes to expenses then you can move on.

* Secondly you gotta figure out where everything is going. Like litter box and food. If you have little kids or dogs you got to make sure it is out of reach. You also should figure out if the cat is going to be a pure inside cat or not.

* Third is who is taking responsibility. Someone needs to make sure that the cat is fed, water refilled, and litter is cleaned. If the cat has hairballs who is cleaning it up. If the cat not declawed who trimming the nails and teaching cat not to claw on furniture. Who is brushing the cat. Who is willing to give it a bath at least twice a year for ticks and flees. That last one is debatible. Some owners just do a collar others don't even worry about it.

Once you figured out all 3 then we can move on to items. Keep in mind all cats are different. But the main items stay the same.

* litter box ( rule of thumb one box for every cat)
* water bowl
* food bowl
* treats
* cat tower (Optional. I've done both. I say don't go long without one)
* scratching post (if clawed)
* nail clippers (again if clawed I like using actual nail clippers)
* soft paws (optional if clawed)
* cat brush
* toys (lazers, cat nip toys, birds that make sounds, fake mice, ect. There's so many toys for cats it's really a touch and go if they like it. Younger cats love more toys.)

Remember to spay and neuter your cats. So many cats are without homes. Also remember cats are a life long companions. They need to choose you as much as you choose them. They do grow up. Enjoy and love them. 

Grandpa casserole

So I know this isn't technically the right name for this meal. It is what I know it by. This became one of my grandpa's favorite meals before his passed away. Grandma even made this the day he passed. So to me this will always be grandpa's casserole. Note didn't have pasta shells when made this or green peppers.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 c chopped green peppers
1 Tbs chilly powder
2 1/2 c small shells uncooked
1 c sliced onion
1 1/2 c tomato juice
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions
Brown ground beef, onions, and green peppers in a skillet; until onions are tender. Drain grease. Add tomato juice, chili powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Simmer uncovered 10 min. Cook small shells in boiling water until tender. Combine with meat mixture.
Enjoy!

Tatertot casserole

This is something I love to cook. My family loves it. Anyone I've cooked this for loves it. I've cooked it enough I have it memorized. It's also easy and cheep. So works on tight budget.  But I do say if feeding more then 4 make sure you have sides or make 2.

Ingredients
-1lb of hamburger
- 1 can of corn drained
- 1 can of sloppy joe sauce
- tater tots
- favorite shredded cheese

Instructions
1. Pre heat the oven according to directions for tater tots
2. Fry up the hamburger and drain the greese
3. Mix in the sloppy joe and follow the directions on the can
4. Mix in the corn
5. Put it in a 9x13 casserole dish
6. Put the tater tots on top
7. Sprinkle the desire amount of shredded cheese on top
8. Cook for how long the directions say for the tater tots
9. Enjoy :)

Cinnamon Oatmeal

Everytime I stay at my grandmother house my grandmother makes this oatmeal every morning. Last time I was there I got the recipe.

Recipe makes 2 servings

Ingredients
- 1 c water
- 1/4 c raisins
-1/2 c oats
- 1/4 t vanilla
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 2 T sunflower or sesame seeds
- 1 T soy grits (optional)

In a 1 qt saucepan combined: water, and raisins. Bring to a boil and add slowly: oats, vanilla, cinnamon, sunflower or sesame seeds, and soy grits.

Cook 8 to 10 min

Also can add butter before eatting and more cinnamon. I personally love coconut butter with it.

Boy cartoons

As there is a lot of movies around for little girls. People with little boys have a hard time finding movies that are not so girly. So I wanted to make a list of all the cartoons I know of that little boys would love. I know new ones come out and I may have missed some but this is a good start. Enjoy movie hunting.

[ ] Aladdin
[ ] American tail
[ ] Angry birds
[ ] Ants
[ ] Area 51
[ ] Arthur and the invisibles
[ ] ASTRO boy
[ ] Atlantis
[ ] Balto
[ ] Bambie
[ ] Big hero 6
[ ] Box trolls
[ ] Brave little toaster
[ ] Brother bear
[ ] Bugs life
[ ] Cars
[ ] Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
[ ] Chicken little
[ ] Despicable Me
[ ] Dumbo
[ ] Emperor's New Groove
[ ] Everyone's hero
[ ] Finding nemo
[ ] Flushed away
[ ] Fox and the Hound
[ ] The good dinosaur
[ ] Goofy movie
[ ] Happy feet
[ ] Hercules
[ ] Horton Hears a Who
[ ] How to train your dragon
[ ] Ice age
[ ] Incredibles
[ ] iron giant
[ ] Jimmy neutron
[ ] Jungle book
[ ] Kung Fu Panda
[ ] Land before time
[ ] Lego movie
[ ] Lion king
[ ] Lorax
[ ] Madagascar
[ ] Meet the Robinsons
[ ] Megamind
[ ] Minions
[ ] Monster inc
[ ] Monsters vs aliens
[ ] Mr Peabody and Sherman
[ ] Oliver & Company
[ ] Plains
[ ] Prince of Egypt
[ ] Puss in boots
[ ] Ratatouille
[ ] Road to El Dorado
[ ] Rise of the Guardians
[ ] Robots
[ ] Secret life of pets
[ ] Scooby doo
[ ] Shark tale
[ ] Shrek
[ ] Space chimps
[ ] Spirit
[ ] Sword in the stone
[ ] Tarzan
[ ] Toy story
[ ] Treasure planet
[ ] Turbo
[ ] We're back
[ ] Wreck it Ralph
[ ] Up

Lasagna

So this is something I seem to always get reviews about when I make it. It's a great dinner when having company. It does take a little bit more effort then most of the meals I post. The picture is of the first time I did gluten-free noodles. So it's a little different then I'm used to. This also has the recipe for non oven ready pasta. It does work either way.

Ingredients
- 13 lasagna noodles
- 2 lbs spaghetti sauce
- 1lb or one cube of shredded cheese
- 1 onion
- 2 lbs cottage cheese
- 2 lbs ground beef

Instructions
- preheat oven to 350°
- fry up hamburger and onion together
- boil lasagna noodles if using non oven ready
- in a bowl mix most of the cheese with the cottage cheese
- once hamburger is cooked drain the greese
- mix the speghitti sauce with the hamburger
- sprinkle a little cheese on the bottom of the pan
- layer noddles, hamburger sauce mix and cheese mix
- repeat until reach the top of the pan (if using oven ready do not put noodles near the top. It will not cook probably.
- sprinkle some cheese on top
- cook for 30 min basically until cheese is melted
- enjoy!

Easter ideas for year old

Lot of mom's wonder at easter time what to get there little ones on there 1st or 2nd Easter. This is what I did. Plus some other ideas. 

-puzzles-

No matter how young the kid is they will grow to play and learn with puzzles. It's good to do wood so not have to worry about choking. 

-books-

Books are always great for kids of every age. Even if it's just something for them to feel or to look at pictures. Around holidays the stores always have books around to help kids learn about the holiday or just have a story for that time of year.

-basket-

To me baskets are a tradition. If it's just the first I would do something a little cheeper. My first kid I did one that would fit everything inside. This kid I just did a one small enough to hold 12 small plastic eggs. And he loved the basket.

-plastic eggs-

The eggs don't really work if they are only a few months old. But for someone close or over a year old to me is a must. Besides just being tradition they work for learning colors, making a game to find them, working with hand coronation, and just something fun. I did plastic cars instead of eggs because they work the same and it brought more fun after easter.

-stuffed animal-

Who doesn't love a stuff animal? As long as you remove the tag it is safe around young babies for the most part. If they are really young just get one that has the year on it or one that says first easter. It's great to look back on. Also great for pictures.

-chalk-

Okay I'm going to admit this is the first time I did this one. I figure it's getting warmer and if old enough it's a good way to start coloring. 

-clothes-

All kids need clothes and having easter clothes is just nice. Yes I went with nice. It's also useful. You can do anything from full outfits to just parts. Like a hat. It also works with any age.

-odds and ends-

This is stuff like washcloth, plates, cups, and utensils. Stuff that is useful but basically filler items seeing as to young for sweets. 

- memorials-

Like the wooden egg to put a first easter foot print, stuff to do a wall foot print, first easter picure frame. Ect.

First easter craft

This is something I did for my son's first easter about a year ago. It's not expensive and works as cute decor.

Materials
- wooden egg little bigger then baby foot
- water paint
- permanent marker

Instructions
- paint the egg and let it dry
- once dry paint the baby foot and press it on the egg
- carefully remove the foot
- repeat with other foot on other side if want
- write first easter and the year ect.
- optional take pictures with baby next to the egg

Mexican casserole

Mexican cassorle

This is a quick easy meal. That can be changed to preference. 

Ingredients

Oil

Chicken

Taco seasoning

Black beans

Corn

Salsa

Water

Cheese

Crushed chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°

Cook chicken with a little oil on the bottom.

Make the taco seasoning with the chicken according to package.

Shred the chicken.

Mix in the black beans, corn, and salsa.

Put into casserole dish.

Crush up chips and put on top.

Sprinkle with cheese and cook for 15 min.

Once done sprinkle more cheese on top.

Enjoy !

Pizza fries

So this is something I saw a picture of on Facebook and instantly wanted to try it. It's great for a cheep dinner. The picture is when my husband and I tried it with tater tots. Hubby didn't like it because became too salty.

Ingredients
- frozen fries
- cheese
- toppings. (I prefer pepperoni)
- (Optional) pizza sauce

Instructions
- preheat oven to what the frozen fries says to cook for
- pour fries on a cookie sheet like your going to cook them
- top with cheese and toppings
- cook for how ever long the fries need
- (Optional) pour sauce over it or use sauce as dip.
- Enjoy!

Dinner/ groceries planning

Sorry it's been awhile. I keep forgetting to take pictures or just been busy with life.
I want to give someone out there some advice on how I been figuring out dinners/ groceries.

You can see in the picture below I use a whiteboard. I've divided it into sections. Top area I use to put meals I've already bought food for. So I can have a list to pick from. The bottom right I use to put dinners I crave during the week. Also when it comes to  the deadline to figure out groceries for the next two weeks. I put the dinners that I'm going to be shopping for. The bottom left I use to put things we need to pick up that's not a meal. Also when I need room for more meals. Then normally I make a check list on my phone and put down the ingredients I need to pick up and the items that also need to be picked up or priced. Then when I get home from shopping I move my dinners to the top part of the whiteboard. Once a dinner has been cooked I erase it.

Hope this helps. I know it not exactly finding dinners but hey.

Bagle pizzas

So I been doing these for awhile now. They are great for little kids. They are cheep and easy. Kids can help. Great for parties and adults even like them.  Oh and hubby and I are drinking sparkling apple peach. So no alcohol.
Ingredients
- bagles
- pizza sauce
- cheese
- pepperoni (or any kind of toppings)

Instructions
- set the oven to 350° F
- separate bagles in half
- place bagles on cookie sheet
- spread pizza sauce on each bagle. Be a little generous expecially with gluten free bagles.
- you can either do the cheese first or the toppings. I've done both. But decorate the bagles
- cook until cheese is melted I usually do about 25 min
- if want can dip done pizzas in sauce or preferred dip.

Enjoy!

Baby cookies

This is an amazing recipe that my son can't get enough of and I think it's pretty good. If your like me you have a lot of baby cereal. I have some lying around from baby shower and some I bought to try. My son didn't like the baby cereal so I still have a tone. They are healthy for babies. Best when babies have teeth or used to some pieces.

Ingredients
-1 banana or 1/4 cup of applesauce or jar of baby food
- 1/4 cup of butter softened or coconut oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup dry infant cereal
- 1/4 cup flour (Any that's your favorite. Keep in mind that coconut flour absorbs the moisture.)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- (Optional) cinnamon

Directions
- preheat oven to 375°F
- grease cookie sheet
- combine fruit, butter, and egg yolks until well mixed
- add dry ingredients mix
- roll into small small balls there going to be for little kid hands
- place on greased cookie sheet
- flatten with fingers
- bake for 10 min for fluffy cake like or 15 for more crunchy

Enjoy!!

Sheppards Pie

I keep wanting to do a recipe but I keep forgetting to take pictures until after I'm done eatting lol. So this is my grandmother's sheppards pie. The nice thing is you can change it up. For what works your needs.

Ingredients
-1lb hamburger
- 1 can of tomato soup (last time I just used a can of tomato sauce)
- 1 can of green beans (I used a can of mixed veggies)
- mashed potatoes or done instant potatos
- shredded cheese

Updated version for more flavor add garlic salt, paprika, Rosemary, basil, oregano, worcestershire sauce, and Montreal stake seasoning.

Prep
Set oven to 350°
Pull out ingredients
Make mashed potatoes

Instructions
Fry hamburger. Make sure it crumbs all brown. Drain fat. You can either put hamburger in a bowl or I just put it in a casserole dish. Add the soup or sauce. Drain the can veggies. Add the veggies. Mix. Smooth the top. Put the potatoes on top. Spread it around. Then putt the shredded cheese on top. Bake at 350° F. Until cheese is melted. I usually just do 20- 25 min.

Enjoy.

Ugly sweater cookies

When your stuck indoors because of the cold. This is an idea. This is something my friends did. I wanted to share this with all of you cuz it's amazing. One of her kids even said that "it was the best day ever"!. I for one think this is a win. This is called ugly sweaters cookies.
They actually used sweater cookie cutters. But I think if you need too just use ginger bread man and it works just as well. Also for the parents sanity make sure you make the table easy clean up.

What you need
1. Ingredients for sugar cookies
2. Frosting of different colors (mini tubes work the best)
3. Sprinkles (completely optional)
4. Cookie cutters
5. Imagination

Steps.
1. Make the dough
2. Cut out the cookies
3. Cook cookies
4. Wait tell cookies cool
5. Make sure table is easy clean up
6. Decorate
7. Have fun
8. Eat

New years idea

For the past few years, I been answering questions about the year before. I don't know where I originally found the list of questions but it's great. And it's something that's nice to look at at the end of the year.  What's nice is that it works for all ages. Yes you may need to help a younger kid write but that's about it. So here it is. Just remember to change the year each year. I did space it out a little so there's room to write. And remember to have fun!

             Little about me:
1. Age...
2. Favorite color....
3. Favorite 2015 book...

            Highlights of 2015:

1. Greatest lessons learned...

2. Hardest thing this year...

3. Favorite memory...

4. What I loved about 2015...

    
              Looking forward to in 2016

1. Want to learn...

2. Want to get better at...

3. Goals for 2015...