Mommy's sick and doesn't feel like cooking Taco Salad

Today has been quite a day! I have been sick the past two days, but today hit me like a ton of bricks. I spent most of the day in bed while Luk and Logan tore apart my room, but Luk did a great job keeping Logan company. However, dinner quickly approached as nap time came to an end, and there are three hungry boys living in this house... SO!!! Here we go:

- 1lb of extra lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion (optional)
- Nacho Chips
- Shredded Lettuce
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Chives
- Hot Sauce (For the "Hot" lovers)
- 1 box of Zatarain's Red Beans & Rice

Oh yea, one 17 month old little boy to help (this of course is optional)

So, this is easy, basic because when momma is sick simple is best. So, brown the meat and add onion if you want to add some great flavor, while also preparing your Red Beans & Rice (follow the box directions).

I know I mentioned in an earlier post I loved my paring knife, but this tool you see on the right is the best! It is The Pampered Chef Mix 'N Chop, this is one of the best cooking tools you can purchase.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (to melt the cheese on the chips and beef)

We use the bite size for our little hands that we feed.

Spread the Cheese (usually I grate fresh cheese which is better, 

but sick mom prepackaged shredded cheese)

Beef on top

Yes, another layer of cheese. We like cheese.

Case in point, they see cheese, they say, "please!"

We also had a guest that wanted the shredded cheese,

Hiccup (otherwise known as Luk)

Yea, they love cheese.

Rice, Done. (It was drier when eaten)

melted cheesy beefy nachos

Red Beans & Rice, Lettuce, Sour Cream, Chives on top.

Husband likes to add hot sauce and tomatoes, here. 

Boys are fed, mommy's quick meal, and we are good to go!

Easy Peasy Apple Tart

So, there is this easy peasy recipe that I have for an Apple Tart from Campbell's Collection 3 Cookbooks in 1. I have change a few things on it.
- 3 large green apples
- 6 TBS sugar (I used Splenda)
- 1 TBS ground cinnamon
- 1/2 TBS ground ginger
- 1 package Pepperidge Farm Frozen Pastry Sheets

Apples cut in small chunks

All the spices getting ready to be mixed

mix spices

Spices mixed with apples

my best friend (sprayed on flat sheet)

I usually cut the sheets into 9 squares, but I decided that I wanted to save on time and just make it a sheet.

press edges

Sprinkle top with cinnamon

 

I had extra apple/spice mix so I added a cereal to it for a nice apple crunch:

Oh wait, that's not right...

There! That's alot better!

Bake this and the Apple Tart


350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Serve with Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce if you have it:

Chicken Orzo Soup

There is this restaurant in our small town that best one of the best soups I've ever had. When I feel crummy, the sinuses acting up, I usually ask Reson to go by and pick up a cup before he heads home. Well, today was one of those day, and really I was wasting money on this. So, I decided today that I would make it myself. I looked up different renditions, but ultimately made my own recipe for it. The one here at home has a soft tomato base to it, and I couldn't quite find that in the recipes. So, here is Aislynn's Chicken Orzo Soup for when you feel crummy!

- 60 fl oz of Chicken Broth
- (4) Italian Style canned tomatoes (puree in blender)
- (3) Skinless Chicken Breast
- (1/2) medium onion (chopped small)
- chopped baby carrots of equal amount of onion
- Italian herb seasoning*
- Basil seasoning (chopped)*
- salt/garlic *
- (3/4c) Orzo Pasta
* to taste

Add Chicken broth, tomato puree, onions, carrots, seasonings* (to taste)

bring to a boil

cook Chicken in chunks with seasoning of choice (I use Adobo- look at the other post for link)

once to a boil add the (3/4c) of orzo pasta

then add chicken and broth from the cooking into the pot

(the orzo will be about 3/4 done)

watch as the pasta gets finished and closer to serving time

There it is about 20 minutes after the chicken went in.

This is really tasty! Yes, I've already sneaked and ate some. Our family (including the boys) LOVE soup. I don't think we will be making unexpected trips to the restaurant anymore!

Roasted Skinless Chicken with Potatos and Carrots and Desert Tres Leche

It's simple: this was the dinner that I made for Manafest while they were in concert here in our town, and I was nervous because I had never done a skinless roast. So, why not try it on a guest (yea, I was nervous!).
The above is, of course, the chicken with the skin using a The Pampered Chef Paring Knife (I love it, had to share) I skinned this bird.

- (2) 5lb Chicken
- (1) half a small onion
- (1c) baby carrots cut in fourth (to pick up flavor)
- (1) half half bag of potatoes (I poked wholes in them with a tooth pick - brings in the flavor)
- (1) bottle of Mojo Criollo
- Rub Adobo Seasoning over bird

Once you have skinned the bird, rub the Adobo on it, place veggies in pan, then pour Mojo all over the roast. I do this the day before I make it. The Mojo and Adobo is a nice mix of herbs and you will still have a great mixture of the seasoning and natural flavor of the Chicken. It was cooked on 350 degrees for roughly 2.5 hours. Baste as needed. Yes, with the commotion of the concert I didn't get a photo of the finished product, but I can tell you it was delicious. We will be doing this for holidays for now on. I think skinless is better having now tried it.

Here are the boys as I was making this.

Also, done the night before was the Tres Leche Cake.

- (1) box of yellow cake with holes poked all over it
- (1) can of evaporated milk
- (1) can of condensed milk
- (1c) heavy cream
- (1c) Sugar (I used Splenda)
- (1) Whipped Cream

Cake is cooked, cooled, then poke holes.

Mix the three milks and cup of sugar together

Pour the milk/sugar mixture over the cooled holey cake

allow the cake to soak this mixture

Add the whipped cream on top

Add as much fruit as you want. Refrigerate over night. I was unsure how much they would like so I had a platter of fruit next to this. They ended up throwing tons of blueberries, strawberries, pineapples, and green grapes in their bowls. It was wonderful and refreshing.