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.

DELICIOUS!

Apparently, we at Wearing Gackey's Apron are "delicious" and were recently awarded THIS award from The Tran Clan! Thanks! It's always fun to get an award!!!...

In accepting this award, I must pass this on to 5 other blogs that I find “delicious!”...

From Our Kitchen to Yours

Out on a Whim

Fun Snacks 4 Kids

Abundant Life: Tasty Tuesdays

The Pioneer Woman

Omnomicon

Enjoy! And, tell me which recipe blogs I'm missing out on!?!?

Pass the A1, please!

This is something I grew up eating, so I love it. And, I love that it only dirties one dish. (Especially since our dish washer is broken...blech!!!) I served it with a tossed salad...and, of course, A1!

Pork Chop Casserole

4 pork chops

5+ new potatoes (depending on the size)

1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup

Milk

Yellow Onion

Salt

Pepper

Brown both sides of pork chops in oil. Slice potatoes and onion. Mix can of soup with a can full of milk. In greased casserole, place slicked potatoes and onions on bottom. Pour soup mixture over the potatoes and onions. Place pork chops on top. Season with Salt & Pepper. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour. (or until potatoes are done)

Bless Their Hearts!

...they're so ugly, aren't they!? I got the idea from Arrested Development.

Matt and I have been LOVING this hilarious show (we borrowed all of the seasons from a friend!), and tonight after dinner, I surprised him with our own "Bluth's Frozen Bananas!"

I thought they were yummy...and so did Quinn. Matt didn't love them...but appreciated the effort! :)

Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas

bananas
chocolate almond bark (or chocolate chips)
butter (optional)
Popsicle sticks

Cut the bananas in half and add popsicle stick. Melt chocolate with 2 TBS butter. Dip bananas in chocolate and freeze.

Who Wouldn't Love This?...

...it's quick!
...it's easy!
...it's cheap!
And, it's SUPER yummy!

Red Beans & Rice with Sausage

1 package of Beef Smoked Sausage
1 can of red beans
white rice
Tony Chachere's seasoning
salt
pepper

Grill smoked sausage. (I use my trusty George Forman.) Cook rice. Heat beans with Tony Chacere's. Serve rice topped with beans and cut up sausage. Salt and Pepper to taste!

A HIT for the Whole Family

I made these last night and they were a HIT all around. Matt wondered why I hadn't made them before and Q ate it while saying, "that's good chicken!" They'll be made again, FOR SURE! Thanks, Meredith, for sharing another of your recipes!


Baked Chicken Tenders
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
dash of Tony Chachere's seasoning, paprika, & lemon pepper
6 TBS butter, melted
chicken tenders, or chicken breasts cut into nuggets

Melt butter in pie dish. Stir dry ingredients in another pie dish. Dip chicken into butter, then dry ingredients. Arrange on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes. (flip halfway through)

Who is Jeff Davis anyway?

All I can figure is that this pie was named after Jefferson Davis...who was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. ... And, I only know that thanks to Google. ...I can't really find why or when the pie was named after him. Not that it matters, but I was curious! ...Anyway, on to the pie! It's one of my dad's favorites. A drive-up restaurant in Abilene used to make this pie and my mom & dad were huge fans as young 'ens!

Jeff Davis Pie
3 c. sugar
1 c. butter
1 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. milk
2 unbaked pie shells (9 in.)

Cream butter and sugar. Blend in flour, salt, vanilla and beat. Add eggs and milk. Stir well. Pour into pie shells. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, then at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until firm.

Great for Little Kitchen Helpers...

I got this super easy recipe from Meredith's recipe blog and I loved that I didn't even have to get out my mixer! And, I loved how involved Quinn got to be in the process. I think that the time and effort it took to make it, and then watching it cook, made the finished product even yummier! :)

Banana Bread

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Here are pictures of the fun we had making this treat this morning...

Homemade?

This is my own chicken salad recipe...but, I totally cheat. It's not completely homemade. I use canned chicken and think it is SO yummy! Also, I am not a fan of mayo, so I use other things! It's one of Matt's favorites. Here's what to do...

Easy Chicken Salad

1 can of white chicken breast
Dill pickle relish
Sweet pickle relish
Chopped celery
Finely chopped pecans
Sliced grapes
aprox. 1/4 cup Ranch dressing
aprox. 1 T. Spicy mustard
Salt
Pepper

Drain chicken and shred. Place in bowl and add celery, relishes, grapes and pecans. Add dressing and mustard. (don't add too much, you don't want it to be runny!) Season with salt and pepper. Stir well. Serve on a sandwich, on crackers or with pretzel chips.

You Can't Go Wrong...

...with homemade mashed potatoes! Seriously, who could pass them up. Here's the way that I have always made them...and I think they're delish! ...


Gold Mashed Potatoes

1 bag of Yucatan Gold potatoes (usually 8-10 medium potatoes)
sour cream
Shredded cheese
milk
salt
pepper

Scrub potatoes with potato brush. Cut into small pieces. Boil until done. Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Mash slightly with potato masher. Add sour cream, milk, cheese, salt and pepper(as much as you would like to reach your desired consistency). Mash with potato masher until they are to your liking! ...I like mine a little lumpy! :)

A Surprise Inside

Check out this fun and SUPER easy dessert! You won't believe what's inside!...
Candy Bar Crescent Puffs
1 8-ounce quick crescent roll tube
8 fun sized Milky Way or Snickers candy bars
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Glaze (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons cocoa
3 teaspoons milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Separate dough into 8 triangle pieces. Place one candy piece on shortest side of each traingle. Roll up; start at shortest side of each triangle and roll to opposite point. Pinch edges of dough to seal. Spread butter on top. Place rolls on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. Cool slightly. In small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients until smooth, drizzle over warm rolls. If desired, omit glaze, sprinkle rolls lighty with powdered sugar.

Worth the Stains!

I recently found this recipe in one of the millions of city magazines that I get in the mail! Seriously, how does our community afford so many publications? ...Anyway, I made these for Remy's birthday party and they were a hit. After one of our friends took his first bite, he even said that he was going to pack up and move in! So, they MUST be good! And, it was totally worth the red stained fingers! :)

Red Velvet Cupcakes
Batter:

1 German chocolate cake mix

5 eggs

½ cup oil
1 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into 24 lined cupcake tins and bake for 19-23 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting:

2 -8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened

1 stick of butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine butter and cream cheese and vanilla in a bowl and beat until smooth. Slowly add sugar until all is incorporated. Frost cupcakes and garnish with a dusting of cocoa if desired.

(I added LOTS more vanilla than called for...I always do!...And, I put the frosting in a freezer baggie and cut the tip so that I could swirl on the frosting! Made me feel professional!...Ha!)

Coleslaw with a Kick

I love coleslaw. I can remember my friends making fun of me because I would get the coleslaw at Chick-fil-a. I still love it. When I saw this recipe, I was so excited to try it...and it did not disappoint! YUMMMY! And, not anything like the Chick-fil-a kind! :)

Crunchy Asian Broccoli Coleslaw
3/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 pkg. (3 oz. each) ramen noodle soup mix
2 pkg. (12 oz. each) broccoli slaw
1/2 cup Dry Roasted Sunflower Kernels
1/2 cup Sliced Almonds

Mix dressing with Seasoning Packet from one of the soup mix packages. Discard remaining seasoning packet or reserve for another use. Break apart Noodles; place in large bowl. Add slaw, sunflower kernels and almonds; mix lightly. Add dressing mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.