Enchiladas and Ice Cream Cake

I've just about quit going to Goggle to find recipes.  I just always head on over to Pinterest to find whatever it is that I need rather it be for an office party or a gathering of friends or family.  I thoroughly enjoy making fun, new dishes for everyone to try and as long as they are happy, I'm happy! 

We recently had a tailgate party at the office where we bring our favorite tailgate food and wear our favorite team colors (Roll Tide) and we pretty much graze all day.  It's fantastic. 

I have been wanting to make this ice cream sandwich cake I've seen on Pinterest and this was the perfect time!  I actually bought the stuff and made it when I got to the office so it wouldn't melt on the way.  It was a huge hit and everyone loved it and was even still asking about it on Monday!  Thank you, thank you very much! 

On Sunday, my friend Kristi came over and I've been wanting to make some of those white chicken enchiladas that I've made before that have great reviews from Pinterest lovers!  Of course it was delicious, but I did burn part of the bread....ooppss!!!! 

Got the computer out so I can read the directions, something I'm not really good at.  I mean, I can read, reading isn't the problem.  It's the following directions part I haven't quite mastered.  I start mixing ingredients then I've messed up.   

I bought a rotisserie chicken so the chicken I was using had a great flavor AND Publix had them on sale! 

It really kind of grosses me out to pull all of that chicken off the bone, but somebody's gotta do it!  Then I got to mix monterey jack cheese in the chicken and I could have just eaten it by itself!   

Then I rolled them up in flour tortillas and made the white sauce for it.

This is what it looked like when I got it out of the oven.  It was a little more liquidy than I liked, but once it set for a bit, it firmed up some, but it was still DELICIOUS and Maggie had two helpings which is huge!  She used to be so picky.  Sarah on the other hand had chicken noodle soup for dinner.  Sometimes I just can't fight and argue.  Ya know?  My mom always tells me to pick my battles.

So those are my latest favorite finds on Pinterest.  What are some of your favorite recipes you found on Pinterest that you could make over and over again and never ever ever get tired of?  

Menu Planning

I like to try to plan my dinners.  I hate to go home from work and stand in front of the fridge or pantry trying to figure out what's for dinner while the kids are raiding the snack box looking for something to eat.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge planner and I haven't always done it, but I'm trying to do better.  I need make some things in my life a lot easier than they are now, if that is even possible.  Darn it, I should get an A for trying!

At the end of 2011, I came across a good deal on Groupon for E-Mealz. I can't remember who introduced me to E-Mealz so I can't give them credit for it, but I knew about the website and what it was about and knew it was run by a couple of ladies in the area where I live.  E-Mealz is a great website.  You pick the store, lots of dietary plans, small family meal plans, etc.  Each Wednesday, in my Gmail inbox, I get a plan for 7 meals and attached to it is a complete grocery list for the 7 meals. It's done for you. How easy is that?  I still have 6 months left and I will probably renew for another year!

So, I chose some of my favorites from E-Mealz and Pinterest and this is what I came up with for 2 weeks of dinners for my family:

Saturday, June 23 - BLT wraps  and oven baked fries - I tweeked the wraps a bit.  I added ham to ours and the kids only had ham, bacon and cheese.  Also, instead of using dried tomatoes, I used the tomatoes on the vine and I cut them up and chopped some onion and mixed that with the mayonnaise.

Sunday, June 24 - sandwiches for lunch and for dinner, Mike was working so I treated the kids to cheese dip and flour tortillas at a local Mexican restaurant.  That's our favorite meal!

Monday, June 25 - we went to dinner with Anna and Mark, Norm and JoAnne and Kristi and Jared for Anna's birthday.  We celebrated at PF Changs!  YUMMO!!!

Tuesday, June 26 - Chicken Roll Ups, green beans and mashed potatoes

Wednesday, June 27 - Kristi and Jared had us over for dinner and it was so yummy!  We had grilled chicken, fried okra, homemade mac and cheese, salad with homemade topping and a mango key lime pie!

Thursday, June 28 - Italian sandwiches and baked chips - I got this recipe from one of my Aldi meal plans from E-Mealz.

Friday, June 29 - loaded baked potatoes

Saturday, June 30 - Sour Cream Chicken, black eyes peas and a salad

Sunday, July 1 - Beef Mexi-Bowl and chips - I also got this recipe from one of my Aldi meal plans.

Monday, July 2 -Crock pot Zesty Italian Chicken, au gratin potatoes and green beans

Tuesday, July 3 - Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday, July 4 - Happy 4th of July !!!

Thursday, July 5 - Beef Tips and Rice, veggies

Friday, July 6 - Crock Pot ranch pork chops, corn and a salad

I was real excited when I did the shopping for 2 weeks, minus a handful of things Aldi did not have, I only spent $95!  Whoop Whoop!!!

I can't link back to my E-Mealz recipes because it's a paid for service, but if want the recipe to something that sounds good, let me know and I will be glad to share it.  They are sent to me in PDF and I save them for future use!

Until next time.....

Friday Fun

Friday night was a fun night with the family.  We really didn't do anything, but it was nice just hanging out at the house.  This is what our night consisted of....

I FINALLY made mother's day gifts for 2 of our mothers, my mom and Mike's step-mom.  I was out of town on Mother's Day and we were getting together for Maggie's birthday.  I had some 8x10 canvases, covered them with scrapbook paper, attached their picture with photo corners and attached ribbon so they can hang it up.  

Made some cupcakes.  I've, just recently, discovered that I like foil cupcake liners more than anything!  I don't have to spray them or anything.  Paper ones are awful!  That's just my opinion!

A while back, I had a Duncan Hines Frosting Party that I was chosen to host through House Party.  I had some icing and a packet of cotton candy flavoring so our cupcakes had cotton candy icing.

You just pour the powder in the icing and stir it up.  There are so many flavors to choose from.

BUT before the cupcakes came the port ribs!  Oh my, Mike is definitely the grill master around our house and they were so yummy!  

Then came the margarita....I didn't drink this one.  This was one Mike started finished off.  He recently acquired a Margaritaville brand blender and loves it!  

The kids went to bed around 11 and we went to bed around 1.  It was a fun Friday night with my crazy family.