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Beef Stroganoff
I have always loved homemade noodles, but I have never loved the prep to making them. When I found Reames homemade egg noodles in the freezer section several years ago, my life was forever changed. Now these noodles are a staple in my deep freezer. I always have a few bags of them so I can whip up a quick batch of homemade chicken noodle soup. Or I can use them in brown noodles or beef stroganoff. Have you tried Reames homemade egg noodles yet? When I did my bi-yearly inventory of my freezers, I saw I had a couple of pounds of beef round chunks that needed to be…
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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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Baked Love Donuts
Donuts are arguably one of the best breakfast foods ever! I am always in the mood for a donut. I especially love a donut that is on the healthier side, and this one is definitely one of those. No added sodium, low fat, and real strawberries. Additionally, the base recipe for the donuts can be used for just about any flavor. Change the icing flavors and you have a whole new type of donut. Switch the extract flavors and the dough has a completely different flavor. Baking donuts for my family for Valentine’s Day breakfast has become a tradition over the last couple of years. I knew this year I…
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Vodka-Less Penne
I am not someone who drinks…for many reasons. Other than personal values, I am SO easily affected by medication. I take Sudafed and I become loopy. I take hydrocodone and I can’t remember my own name. I can’t remember my own name if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep consecutively on a regular basis. I just don’t possess the mental capacity to add anything to my body. So when my younger brother came to me and asked if I’d take a look at his vodka-less penne recipe, I jumped in. Honestly, my first reaction to his request was ‘just buy the vodka and the alcohol cooks out’.…
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Holiday Baking: Christmas Crack
Before moving to Las Vegas, I had never in my life heard about Christmas Crack…and to be completely honest the name makes me cringe. Several years ago, I was on a mission to try to change the name to Christmas Chex Mix, but to no avail. Whatever you call this yummy goodness, it is definitely a crowd pleaser. It can easily make a lot for a crowd and it takes less than 30 minutes to make, start to finish. Be careful though, it is addicting…which is probably why it is called Christmas Crack. Have you ever tried this recipe before? Have you already been woke to what Christmas Crack is…or…
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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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Southwest Spaghetti Squash Casserole
My children have all gone through picky eater stages. Some lasted longer than others, but inevitably, I’ve pretty much forced them out of the pickiness. I decided a long, LONG time ago I would not be a tall-order chef (unless I had a child who had food intolerances or some sort of chronic illness that required a special diet). Believe me, my twins were SO terrible with trying new foods they would throw up just looking at a new food they thought they wouldn’t like. I KNOW the picky factor. In fact my twins ended up going through occupational therapy to help them overcome their food aversion. Keegs gag reflex…
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Sweet Chipotle Adobo Pork Tacos
Tacos are one of my most favorite foods, so I am constantly attempting new ways to reinvent the taco…and I am definitely not an inventor. Let’s be honest, none of my taco recipes are world-changing, but they are extremely tasty! Individuals who create fusion foods such as the ramen burger, or the sushi burrito have changed the food world. I’m just on the hunt for food that makes my taste buds sing and keeps my kiddos from complaining. AND…my boys did not complain about these tacos. In fact, even though I made enough for 12 people, the leftovers did not last long at all. The flavors are impactful being sweet…
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Mexican Corn Chowder
Right now, the weather has decided to warm up enough to feel like spring…but in the 8 years I’ve lived in Las Vegas, that is rather typical. Winter lasts for approximately a month, or what we natives (or transplanted natives-2 of my kids were born here) call winter. Then usually toward the end of January, we hit 50°F-60°F weather. It is glorious and at the same time depressing…knowing that just around the corner is triple-digit weather. Even though it is the perfect park-playing weather, we are still savoring every moment it is cool enough to consume soup. My kiddos especially love corn chowder, but this time I decided to put…
