Quick and Easy Beans and Rice

October 27, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

I love easy meals. Anyone who has been reading for long knows a quick and easy meal is definitely the way to my heart! When I was fixing dinner the other night, I took a look and… oh no. No sides. I had nothing to pair with the chicken I had already started boiling! So, I took to the pantry to see just what I had inside… and out of my pantry findings, this very flavorful, very easy beans and rice came to be!

You’re going to start with 4 cups of minute rice, a bag of frozen corn, a can of kidney beans (drained), a can of diced tomatoes (also drained), a finely diced bell pepper, a can of chicken broth, and a package of ranch dressing mix. But here’s the best part: if you don’t have one or more of those ingredients, sub them out! These beans and rice are totally flexible!

Applewood-Style Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork with Homemade Apple Cider Barbecue Sauce

October 6, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

I have to say, I’m a Kansas City girl at heart. So if there’s one thing that gets my heart beating a little bit faster, it’s good quality barbecue. You see, barbecue is such a part of my city that our soccer team even has a chant that revolves around barbecue. It’s a staple here in KC. You know what else is a staple? Louisburg Apple Cider. Ask anyone who knows what they’re talking about, and they’ll say that, when it comes time for cooler weather, you can’t beat hot apple cider doughnuts and a cup of warm Louisburg apple cider. I had to combine the best of both worlds and create a delicious applewood-style slow cooked pulled pork. And what does that need? Apple Cider Barbecue Sauce.

Best-Ever Slowcooker Mac and Cheese with Crystal Farms

October 1, 2014January 13, 2017 - Mama 43 Comments

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from Crystal Farms, but all opinions are my own.

I love macaroni and cheese. It seems like the ultimate comfort food, especially in the winter. The best mac and cheese is creamy, with just the right amount of good, wholesome cheese.

So, when I teamed up with Crystal Farms and saw their mac and cheese blend, I knew exactly what I needed to do. And, you’re going to want to stick around to the very end for this one, because you could win this Crock Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker and some Crystal Farms coupons so you can make Mac and Cheese just like this at home (plus a ton of other great cheesy slow cooker recipes!)

Meat Lovers Pasta Bake

August 26, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

Do you like meat? And easy recipes? And recipes that can be made with leftovers and ingredients you have on hand?

If you answered yes, then you’re going to absolutely love this meat lovers pasta bake. If you answered no to the meat question, stick around… you can make this dish with veggies instead. But the meat part? Oh-so-good.

If you have pasta, cheese, diced tomatoes, and some leftover meat (pretty much any kind will work), then you’ve got dinner. Bonus points if you have pasta-friendly veggies like mushrooms and onions.

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

August 12, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

In our area, back to school is coming up fast. Today, we took our exchange student school supply shopping and just days ago, the last of Zach’s curriculum arrived for the year. There’s no shortage of planning and preparing for the school year, and that means a whole lot of busy days ahead, both as we soak up the last days of summer and prepare for the school year, and in the days ahead where we’re going to be teaching, working, and keeping the house clean.

Luckily, I have a crock pot. And trust me, I use it and use it often. I love being able to use my crock pot to keep meals easy, and starting a meal early means I get to work on other things and not worry about dinner.

Peach Walnut Salad

July 29, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

I love salad. It’s seriously one of the best foods in the world. My mom and I always bug the living daylights out of my dad because on a nice summer day, we’re content to just eat salad. No meat, no grilled whatever, just a nice salad. But when the grill is already heated and prepped, why not grill some delicious fruit for a salad? This easy summer salad is a sure-fire stunner with it’s grilled peaches, candied walnuts, and delicious greens and feta.

Oriental Ramen Slaw

July 25, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 8 Comments

Ramen. It’s delicious. It’s cheap. I practically lived on it in college. Sometimes, I still do. Oddly enough, between all of my baking, it’s still one of my favorite comfort foods. But sometimes warm noodles get boring… but there’s another way to eat ramen that is way more exciting! Hello, Oriental Ramen Slaw. Read more

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake

July 21, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

If y’all have been around the blog a day or two, you know I love the chicken, bacon, and ranch combo. They’re flavors that were just made for each other! So, when it came time to make dinner the other night and I had no idea what to make, I needed to see what I had in my pantry and fridge. I came up with a few items that made a big impact, and it all started with the chicken, bacon, and ranch I had on hand.

Campfire Favorites: Beef and Veggie Hobo Packs

July 7, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 4 Comments

Not too long ago, a rule was made that my brother had to pitch in with dinner sometimes. Now, my brother is a pretty good cook, but like all of us, he likes easy, and a lot of times, he sticks to the tried-and-true. So much so that we quickly realized that any nights where it was Jeffrey’s turn to cook, we either got waffles, or we got hobo packs. I started watching him making the hobo packs (as we affectionately call them, but apparently foil packet meal or foil packet dinner also works), and realized why he loved making them so much. They were easy. They were delicious. And most of all, they were versatile. With a family full of picky people, versatile is important.

Enchilada-Style Ham and Cheese

June 30, 2014January 21, 2017 - Mama 4 Comments

Everyone loves comfort food, right? From dumplings to chicken and noodle soup, comfort foods keep us happy and make us feel… well, comforted. One of my favorite comfort foods growing up was grilled cheese with tomato soup for dipping. Who doesn’t love rich, hearty tomato soup with a hot, gooey, melty grilled cheese sandwich?

I remember the first time that it occurred to me in my first apartment that, while making a grilled cheese on my George Foreman, I could add ham to make it better. Obviously, that’s nothing new. Hot ham and cheese sandwiches are pretty standard, but it blew my mind at the time.

The other day, I picked up a can of tomato soup at the store and realized I could combine a few of my favorite things for something unique, and that’s how this recipe sort of came about… it’s the best of comfort foods with a special twist.

Mama Plus One

Making Life Easy So You Can Get Back to What Matters Most

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