Must try recipes {Part 2}

I don't know about you but I'm a little crock pot obsessed these days!  There is something about cold weather and a crock pot that go oh so well together.  Using the crock pot allows me to complete the clean up before dinner is ready (extra bonus, if you ask me).  Here are a few recipe successes I have had, easy, tasty & loved by my family.  

It's so great to help in the kitchen!

Slow Cooker Loaded Bake Potato Soup
This is soup was amazing!  Cutting all the potatoes wasn't fun but so very worth it.  Matt and I ate the leftovers for days and we even shared some with our neighbors.  Top the soup off with cheese and some bacon and not only is the soup tasty but filling.

Crock Pot Ranch Chicken Tacos
Wow, was this easy! I am planning on keeping the chicken broth, ranch mix pack and taco seasoning on hand; with no prep this is a great go to meal for when the baby gets here.  The chicken is so juicy and is loaded with flavor, yet not spicy.  Mason even asked for seconds!

Crock Pot Southwestern Corn & Potato Chowder
If you are looking for a little something different this chowder fits the bill!  It has tons of flavor and again can be eaten as a main dish.  The coconut milk adds a different element to the soup that I really enjoyed.  Next time I would add a little extra bacon....mainly because you can never have enough.

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup
This recipe makes a ton of soup but again it was one loved by all the Murrays.  This is an easy, hearty recipe that pairs well with garlic bread or a fancy grill cheese.  We will have leftovers for days so the next serving will be accompanied by grill cheese for sure.

Let me know if you try any of these dishes or if there is a recipe I should try!  Figuring out what to make for dinner every night can sometimes be daunting; plus simple and easy is key these days. I love checking out Pintrest for new ideas.  Want to see what else I've cooked up....click here.

Must Try Recipes!

I've been working my way through some recipes on Pintrest/Bloglovin; and although I had a few busts I must say I found a few recipes that are fabulous.  I know you are going to enjoy them as much as my family and I have.

First and foremost, you have to try CKT White Bean, Kale & Sausage Soup!  I have made this soup 3 times already and my parents have made it twice. It is a hearty, tasty and easy to make recipe that my entire family enjoys.  There are no words to describe this soup, just trust me and try it.  I know Caroline personally and she is a great chef with great recipes; you might want to think about following her blog.  

Next,  Fish Bowl Tacos; we love tilapia so I substituted it for the cod.  This dish is great because it includes a starch, veggies and a protein.  Plus, I was able to sure the rice and veggies with Mason.   Next time I make this dish I would play around with the seasoning or maybe add some black bean/corn salsa (my new obsession) to add some different flavors to the dish.   Oh, and black bean/corn salsa works great as a salad dressing or on top of eggs.  

Last but not least the Ultimate Grilled Cheese! This sandwich is AMAZING it is bursting with flavor and is super yummy.  The ingredients are a little surprising but they work so well together.  Just thinking about the sandwich makes me hungry and I will without a doubt be making it again.  

Happy Cooking and Happy Eating!

{CooKin'}

Mason and I have spent the better part of this week cookin' (he puts the emphases on the co & kin part, really cute if you ask me). It took me a week to get back in the swing of things after coming back home; pretty sure I had to adjust to the -18 temps.  In this weather there is little Mason and I can do; we are spending a lot of time at home. I needed a project, so I started gathering recipes I wanted to try. Surprisingly Mason got really into it. He would stand by my side with his hands reaching up to me saying, "I see." Holding Mase makes chopping a little difficult; I tried pulling up a chair so we could work together but that didn't work either. I love his enthusiasm and interest; it helped pass the time for both of us. I'm thinking of buying a toddler step stool. They are pricey but safe; any mom out there invest in this? If so, was it worth the investment?

Here is what we made this week!

Spicy Black Bean Stuffed Peppers.  This is my second time making these; they are quick, easy and tasty....my favorite kind of recipe.  I skipped out on the cayenne pepper this time so that Mason could eat the inside mixture for dinner.  I sprinkled some cheese on top of the bean/corn mixture and he loved it (an extra bonus in my eyes). 

Sticky & Sweet Brussel Sprouts  & The Ultimate Grill Cheese.  The brussel sprouts turned out great even though I didn't have all the ingredients it called for. Now, for this sandwich; AMAZING.  I can't a wait to have this fabulous mixture of flavors again soon.

Sweet Potato Soup This is soup is quick and tasty.  I used chicken broth even though the recipe called for vegetable broth.  I also made the soup in the morning and served it for dinner; it really let the flavors settle.  I added cilantro because I had some.  This soup does have a kick to it but you can totally skip the hot spices if you need/want to. 

With the left over sweet potato I made these Sweet Potato Bites.  I'm pretty sure Greek yogurt is my new favorite ingredient. If you need an app to serve during the Super Bowl this would be a good option. 

I told you we spent the week cookin!

Pintrest in Action

I've been "pinning" things to my "boards" for a couple of years now! I have tried some recipes along the way but recently I'm making my way through my recipe board and attempting some DIY holiday projects.  Pintrest is a great place to search for great ideas; food, style, home decor etc.  As a mom with a 1 year old running around I am looking for quick, easy and yummy dinner options. I love to cook but I don't have the time I used to; so making labor intense meals isn't a great option at this time in my life.  For other moms wondering what is for dinner; here are a few of my favorite Pintrest successes.  Follow my Cooked it Up board going forward so you can see what we are eating and what is a flop and what is not.

Seal peppers, potatoes, zucchini and sausage in an aluminum foil pouch and grill for a quick dinner (I baked mine, way too cold to grill right now). Would highly recommend this for a quick easy and mess free meal. 

Broccoli Cheese Bites: I've made these once a week for the last few weeks! I have altered the recipe along the way to our liking.  I always have panko on hand so I substitute that for the breadcrumbs. 

Mini Frittatas: I make these at night and we all enjoy them in the morning!  I wasn't sure how they would warm up but honestly they are great.  I have made them three times in the last week; putting whatever we have on hand in the frittata.  







Getting Organized on Pintrest: As I started trying out more recipes on Pintrest I had a need to get organized.  I have a recipe board (recipes I want to try) & a cooked  it up board (recipes I have tried).  I simply edited my pin once I have tried a new recipe and add a comment when I move it to my cooked it up board. This allows me to keep tract of what recipes we liked and those we won't be making again.  Happy Pinning!

Not into Pintrest; not to worry our family blog will remain family focused!