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Philly Cheesesteak Crunch Wraps
If you have ever eaten at a Taco Bell since 2005 then you most definitely know about the crunch wraps. The crunch wrap is like a tostada incased in a flour tortilla which makes the tostada portable and easy to consume with your hands. The crunch wrap is a food we have on regular rotation because it is just as easy to make as tacos or burritos, but gives a twist on Mexican food. Make-your-own crunch wrap bars are a great go-to food for parties and potlucks. However the traditional Mexican food flavors can be challenged for other equally tasty flavors in the crunch wrap. This last week I decided…
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Huli Huli Ramen Chicken
I have come a long way since the packaged ramen noodles days. At one point, in Junior High, my friends and I would eat ramen raw right out of the bag. I don’t know if that is something y’all have done before, but I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread at the time. I’ve since learned how hillbilly that is. Now though, I only have the prepackaged ramen for when a stomach bug tears through the household and kiddos refuse to eat anything. As soon as I realized I could purchase ramen noodles by itself without the packaging and seasoning, my life was changed. Huli Huli chicken…
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Chicken Stroganoff
Typically stroganoff is made with beef, but that isn’t the culinary rule. Stroganoff is just a cream sauce with meat, onions, and mushrooms. Knowing this, when I meal planned to make beef stroganoff and then did not in fact get beef for the said stroganoff…I improvised and made it with chicken. As much as I love the beef stroganoff, the chicken version was just as tasty and my children ended up loving it more. If you are not a mushroom lover, but want the true flavors of stroganoff, instead of using fresh mushrooms you can substitute cream of mushroom soup. Additionally, I love making stroganoff with pappardelle pasta, which is…
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Instapot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
I have a child who is very vocal about his likes and dislikes when it comes to food. I decided I was tired of hearing out of his mouth ‘Ewww, I don’t like that.’ So he now helps me meal plan, as well as is my sous chef most nights. If you have a super picky child, let them help in the meal planning, grocery shopping, and then meal preparing. Sometimes the child resists, but most often they really get into helping out and seeing the start to finish. They are also more likely to at least try what they prepared because there aren’t any surprises for them. On this…
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Instapot Funeral Potatoes-Cajun Style
GUYS!!! I upgraded my pressure cooker! My old one was falling apart, and I had definitely used it to it’s fullest potential. So this last Christmas, I decided to ask for a new Instapot with wi-fi potential. Several years ago, I received a wi-fi slow cooker and it changed the game of slow cooking! So when I knew I would be in need of a new pressure cooker, I decided to see if there was one with wi-fi… AND…there is! I have the Chef iQ pressure cooker and I don’t think I could love any appliance more. This baby not only does what my old pressure cooker did: steam, saute,…
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Meatless Monday: Mushroom Stroganoff
I’ve really been on a roll with making meatless meals. I decided to take a stab at mushroom stroganoff and see what the boys thought. Even Matthew decided it was just as tasty as beef stroganoff. Stroganoff is typically made with large pasta, like egg noodles. I prefer pappardelle pasta. They are still egg noodles, but on steriods. It makes for more fun eating the meal. An added benefit with this meal is that it is cheap to create. Cutting out the beef causes the price per serving to be below $1.25. Using the beef consommé instead of beef stock also gives it the beefy flavor without the meat. Plus…
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Copy Cat: Pei Wei Chicken Wraps
I don’t eat at Pei Wei’s often, but when I do, I always have to have their chicken wraps. They are SO tasty, but since I don’t get to go to Pei Wei’s as much as I’d like, I decided I needed to figure out how to recreate them at home. I’ve also been on a kick lately of tricking my family into trying new things. I had some left over cremini mushrooms in the fridge and decided to add them into this recipe instead of only having ground chicken. If you are most decidedly not a fan of mushrooms, just exchange the mushrooms for another pound of ground chicken.…
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Meatless Meal: Veggie Lo Mein
I’ve been on a no meat meal kick as of late. While I know this is a rather unpopular statement, some might even say controversial…I LOVE MUSHROOMS. And…of course, I married a man who loathes them, or at least the texture of them. Mushrooms are very much a hated vegetable. Typically it is a texture thing because most mushrooms take on the flavor of whatever you add them to. So I have made it my mission to sneak mushrooms in as many meals as I can and see which of my boys’ notices. When I am adding mushrooms to something, I prefer cremini or the white button mushrooms as opposed…
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Beef Barley Stew
We had a few days last week that were chilly, for Vegas. Autumn is a finicky season in the Southwest. We will dip down into the 50s for a few days and then temperatures will rise back up to the high 70s and low 80s. On the sporadic days of lower temperatures, I embrace the cold and plan for a cozy meal. The cooler days seem slower and more at ease. It gives me time to prepare a meal that may take longer than 30 minutes, and beef barley stew is a perfect meal for those kind of days. Actual prep doesn’t take too much time at all, but there…
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Oven-Baked Nachos
Contains affiliate links I’ve always loved nachos, but could never figure out how to make them and keep the toppings warm while at the same time not also destroying the kitchen and running around like a crazy person. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that oven-baked nachos was the way to go. Oven-baked nachos are seriously the easiest thing ever. And you can cater them to your tastes as well as if you have any dietary restrictions, it is super easy to add or take away ingredients. Another aspect is how easy oven-baked nachos feeds a large crowd. I typically make a large half-sheet cake…
