Who doesn't love a good taco salad?

Tangy Taco Salad

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn, thawed
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix
torn romaine lettuce
1 can black beans
tomatoes, chopped
Mexican Style Shredded Cheese (I forgot to use this!)
Thousand Island Dressing
Salsa
Tortilla Chips

Brown meat in large skillet with seasoning mix; drain, if necessary. Stir in corn and black beans. (or prepare separately and serve buffet style.) Place chips on bottom of plate. Add lettuce, meat, beans, corn, salsa, and Thousand Island Dressing. Top with cheese.

Go Cowboys!

In an attempt to get excited about football season, I made some football themed rice krispy treats for some friends that came over for the first game in the new stadium. Sadly, they did not turn out as cute as I envisioned (the outcome was about as good as the game), but they tasted EVEN better...and we had a great time! :) ...I totally forgot about the yumminess of these little treats! They're definitely under-rated! ...
Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats

1 stick of margarine
1 bag of marshmallows
1/2 cup of peanut butter
Rice Krispy cereal

Melt butter in large pan on stove top. Add marshmallows and peanut butter. Stir constantly until melted. Take off heat and stir in cereal until reach desired consistency. Spread into 9x13 pan. Let cool and cut into shapes. Decorate with gel icing...or let your husband do it! :)

Matt's masterpiece with the "scraps!"...
The offical taste tester approved...

Better than a candle!

On our Apple Fun Day, Quinn and I made homemade applesauce. I always loved making this when I was a "real" teacher and loved making it with my littlest student as well. Sadly, he had more fun making it than eating it, but I think it is SUPER good! I served it over vanilla ice cream. And, I loved the way it made my house smell! :) ... So Fall! ...

No, that's not mashed potatoes with gravy! :) ...

Homemade Applesauce

5-7 apples, sliced and peeled
1 cup of water
Apple Pie Spice
1 cup (or more) of sugar

Slice and peel 5 to 7 apples. (I used mainly granny smith but threw in a gala and a golden delicious!) Pour 1 cup of water into bottom of crock pot. Add apples. Pour in sugar and Apple Pie Spice. Stir and let cook for a few hours on low heat. Stir again. After apples have softened, mash with potato masher. Add more sugar and Apple Pie Spice if needed. Eat plain or serve over ice cream!

Apple Day Breakfast

Here's what I served Q and I for breakfast on "Apple Day!" It was REALLY good, and I'll for sure be making it again!
Apple Pizza

bagels
apples
cream cheese
apple butter
cinnamon

Toast bagels. Spread on cinnamon & brown sugar cream cheese. (or whatever kind you prefer) Spread on apple butter. Top with very thin sliced apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Comfort Foods, Here We Come!!!

Even though Fall is DEFINITELY not here yet (I'm still crazy sweating in this Texas heat), school being back in session has made me ready for Fall foods! And, this new recipe was quick and easy...and YUM! Matt said he'd eat it again for sure!
Super Stuffed Potatoes

4 small potatoes (2-¼ lb.)
1 lb. ground beef
¼ lb. (4 oz.) Velveeta, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 small tomato, chopped
2 green onions, sliced
½ cup Sour Cream

PRICK potatoes in several places with fork. Microwave on HIGH 14 min. or just until tender, turning after 7 min. MEANWHILE, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Add VELVEETA, tomatoes and onions; cook until VELVEETA is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. SPLIT potatoes; mash insides with fork. Top with meat mixture and sour cream.

Add it to the list...

I got this out of the new Kraft magazine and LOVED it! It's one I'll make again, FOR SURE!

Almond Chicken & Rice

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade, divided
1-1/4 cups fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup Sliced Almonds, toasted, divided

COOK chicken in 2 Tbsp. dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 4 min. on each side or until evenly browned. STIR in broth, garlic powder and remaining dressing; bring to boil. Cover; simmer 5 min or until chicken is done (165ºF). Remove chicken; cover to keep warm.
ADD broccoli to skillet; cook, uncovered, 3 min. Stir in rice and 3 Tbsp. nuts. Remove from heat; cover. Let stand 7 min. Serve chicken over rice; top with remaining nuts.

Is it BAD that I fed this to my TWO year old?

I guess if you ate enough, you COULD get a little drunk? Doesn't the alcohol cook out of things? Who knows? Who cares!!! It's quite possibly the best bread I've ever had! And, seriously easy! Thanks, Rachel, for sharing!!!
Beer Bread
3 C self rising flour
3 T sugar (or more if you like your bread sweet)
1 bottle of beer (I used Michelob Ultra)
1/2 stick of butter

Mix all ingredients together. Pour in greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Melt 1/2 stick of butter and pour over the top. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. EAT and ENJOY! I promise, you will!

Surprise Ingredient

I really liked this! Different and easy...and I already had everything to make it!
Coca Cola Chicken

boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup ketchup
1 cup diet coke
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Place chicken in glass dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix ketchup, coke, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over chicken. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.