St. Patrick's Day 2015

March has always been a month to look forward to: SPD, March Madness and Spring break. In a past life there was many hours of beer drinking and basketball watch clocked in. In 2015 wearing green and trying my hand at making corn beef was the extent of out celebration. However, this corn beef recipe is fabulous and I may be making it prior to next SPD. If you like corn beef it is a must try!!!

Ava's first St. Patrick's Day

Mase wanted nothing to do with SPD pictures....not even for 2 m&ms 

With SPD behind us we will be filling out our brackets for a little friendly at home competition. And with Ava going to bed slightly I might enjoy a beer or two while watching some games with the hubs....we are a house divided (KU and ISU). 

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.

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!