Seriously- I Could Eat This All Day

and I probably will......

I mainly use this recipe. I use can chicken (because lets be serious for a second- touching slimy chicken makes me gag) and I throw in some scrambled egg. I make a huge batch to chip away at for a few days....... but its usually gone in like a day.

Yeah I'm totally going to help myself to another bowl now- please excuse me.

A Wanna-Be Italian Mama

My husband spent his mission for our church in northern part of Italy. While he was there he learned how to cook many authentic Italian dishes from the people he met. One of his friends owned his own pizza restaurant! Over our 3 years of marriage I have tried to learn from my husband and have created the most authentic Italian pizza I can with out breaking the bank. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients

1 Can plain tomato sauce

dried oregano, basil,

garlic salt

fresh basil

mozzarella (make sure it is stored in LIQUID! I found mine for an affordable price at Sam's Club)

5 or 6 links of plain breakfast sausage

I make my dough (see this recipe) before hand. You can use whatever dough recipe you want but make sure its a thin crust one. Italians like their pizza as thin as possible. I accidentally forgot to split my dough so thats why this one looks thicker. Spread your dough on a greased cookie sheet with cornmeal sprinkled on it. Bake it for about 5-8 minutes. In a small sauce pan bring tomato sauce to a boil. Add dried seasonings and garlic to your own taste. Let it simmer- no real time, just at least 5 min but longer is better. Italians simmer their sauces for hours, and sometimes all day! You will want to cook the sausage at this same time. When the links are done cut them into bit size pieces. Take crust out after the time previously indicated and spread about 1/2 to 3/4 of the sauce on the crust. Tear up some basil leaves and spread over sauce.

Cut your mozzarella up and spread over pizza. Do the same with the sausage. Italians put salami on their pizzas, not pepperoni. Sausage is a cheaper substitute and it is usually already on hand in your kitchen.

Place back in your oven. Bake at the temperature that your dough recipe suggests until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is brown. Enjoy!

Jack's Balloon Party

Mr. Jack is turning 1! The Well's family will be moving in a couple of weeks for Seattle so I drove down to the beehive state this weekend for my last hurrah and to celebrate Jack's Birthday. I helped my sister put on a low-key Balloon (Jack's favorite) themed party.

{Rice Crispy treats made from Fruity Pebbles}

I thought it turned out great! Unfortunately I was having too much fun during the actual party to take pictures of the guests and the birthday boy haha. So, What do you think?

Nutella Frosting

Happy Friday! I made these bad boys for my good friend Shey. Not only is her birthday coming up but she is also moving AND she had a coupon for a free plate of treats from me (I gave out the coupon at a church service auction recently). I wanted these mini cupcakes to be a little bit more fancy then just yellow cake and chocolate frosting when I remembered the neglected jar of Nutella in my pantry! genius! I never really make my frosting with exactness, I just throw it all in and it all seems to work out. This is the closest I can guess on my measurements:

Nutella Frosting

1/4 c. butter (soft)

2 c powder sugar

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

3 heaping spoonfuls of Nutella

Blend all ingredients in a medium size bowl. The amount of Nutella that goes in really depends on your taste- I wanted more of the hazelnut flavor to come out and a darker color but others might not be so inclined so just blend in a spoonful at a time and try it. Enjoy!

I made these cupcakes mini size- bad idea- I can't help but pop one in my mouth every time I enter the kitchen.... I think I have eaten about 15 today haha

Lightened* Creme Brulee French Toast

My husband was gone this last weekend for his birthday so yesterday morning I decided to make a special breakfast for him. I tried this new recipe by SkinnyTaste.com- Lightened Up Creme Brulee French Toast. It was delicious! And I was surprised at how easy it was! I substituted the Challah bread for french bread (I couldn't find any where in our small Idaho town....). I thought it would be a great breakfast for Conference weekend coming up this weekend- for all of you Mormons out there =)

Valentines Breakfast

If you haven't heard Jesse is managing TWO H&R block stores this tax season and is VERY busy! So Since he has to work tonight I decided to get up super early and give him a special Valentines Day breakfast (it doesn't hurt that Breakfast is his favorite meal of the day). I like how it turned out don't you?

Panda Express Orange Chicken- At Home

I love my asian food and I love Panda Express! Here in Idaho good asian food is real hard to come by! So ever since I got married I have tried to find ways to satisfy my asian cravings when I can't just go out and get some. This recipe can be really long and hard but if you get a good system down it can go easy and smoothly.

Ingredients

Boneless, skinless, Chicken breast cut into bit size pieces

Flour

Cornstartch

Canola oil

Orange Chicken sauce

Mix about 2 parts flour, 1 part cornstarch in a bowl. Toss Chicken in flour mix. I use a metal wire strainer to shake the mix and rid all excess flour leaving nicely floured chicken.

Heat enough oil in a deep sauce pan so that the chicken pieces will be barely floating or that they are practically submerged. (about a half inch)

Place chicken in the pan so that they are spaced evenly though-out the pan. Then- LEAVE IT ALONE! I have a hard time with this part (I always want to stir it). Let it sit for a while boiling until you notice most of the pieces are floating, then stir a little bit until all of the pieces are golden brown. Then remove from oil.

When I first started developing this I had to make my own sauce from scratch! It sucked.... But lucky you! Panda Express now sells their line of sauces at the grocery store! Toss the chicken with however much sauce you like!

Yum Yum!

Tilapia

For about a year now I have been trying to get our little family to eat healthier. I try to meal plan, buy more organic, go brown (brown rice, noodles, whole wheat bread etc) and now my newest venture- experimenting with healthier meats! *side note- I am not a fish person! I have trouble eating shrimp! so if I can do this- other no-fish-lovers can too!

Last night I made this amazing recipe for Garlic Lemon Tilapia from SkinnyTaste.com. I was surprised at how easy it was to make! it took like 10 min start to finish! Jesse LOVED it- he kept saying "this is REALLY good!" -which doesn't happen that often =) I might of had to squeeze a little extra lemon on mine (and sprinkle some garlic salt on... shhh!) but I found it quite delectable too.

P.S. did I tell you I have a little spice garden growing on my kitchen window sill? Its just starting to get big enough that I could use it on my fish too!

My cilantro is growing like a weed! =D