Valentine's Day 2014

Happy Valentine's Day 2014!

I used to hate this holiday, until I realized it wasn't about ME.  So many times we get so self-absorbed and sad that we are alone, when we are truly rich in so many things.  Love is everywhere!  It's not just about finding a "true love."  It's about family, friends, and time together!

That being said check out our awesome Valentine's Day!

Isaac as Darth Maul, "I like you will Maul my heart!"

PJ as Darth Vader, "You light up my life."

Breakfast of Valentine Champions!

Our elf on a shelf returned for a surprise visit!

Evelyn was very interested in Scoob!

Sweet gift delivered to me at work from Gary! 

Feeling the LOVE at school!!!

Family Selfie

The White Family!

                               

Super Food Meatballs

As we continue our journey of high protein, high fiber meals, we have to be sure to keep the kiddos happy in their meals, too.  One thing they have always loved to eat is meatballs.  Whether on a sandwich, on spaghetti, or just plain, it is an easy go to!

So, in an effort to keep the meatballs healthy, I found a recipe that was easily tweaked to include some of my favorite Tastefully Simple Spices and used one of my favorite super foods, quinoa!

to order: www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cwhite6

Baked Super Food Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1 cup of quinoa (use left overs!)
1 capful Onion Onion
1 capful Garlic Garlic
1/4 cup of chopped spinach leaves
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Capful Italian Garlic Bread Seasoning
1 Tablespoon Flaxseed

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 and spray a cookie sheet.  In a medium bowl mix all ingredients until they are well combined.  Form meatball with your hands or cookie baller.  Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.  Rotate halfway through.

The best response was from my pickiest eater, PJ, who exclaimed as soon as he took one bite, "MMMM, these are good!"

Quick tip! 
I made extra and put them in the freezer.  Anytime we need a quick supper or easy meatball sandwich, they are ready to go!!

Olympics in the Kitchen

I was doing a Tastefully Simple party early in January and we were discussing the up-coming Olympics.  This women fondly recalled throwing all rules related to the dinner table out the window and setting up TV trays to eat dinner and watch the games.
As I listened to her recall these precious family memories, I thought, I can help!  I love how food can bring people together; whether it is through cooking, baking, or eating!  Food creates conversation, comfort, and creativity!
I set a goal for myself to create a fun food menu for the Olympics that families can engage in cooking/baking together and enjoying on their coffee tables or TV trays.

I wanted to be sure to include themes of general Olympics, Sochi, Russia, and the United States.  These foods can spark great discussions related to the vocabulary of nationalism, diversity, pride, and unity.

Watching the games may even ignite excitement in a little one's dream of working towards a goal.  Whether that goal be the next Super Star Snowboarder or a future Figure Skating Champion, teaching our children about dreaming and hard work can all start in the kitchen!

Below find my calendar of "events" and all the recipes to match!  I would love to hear how you were able to incorporate the Olympics in your Kitchen!

				6 Olympic Ring  Fruit Pizza TS Product: Key Lime Cheeseball	7 OPENING CEREMONIES Olympic Ring Pepperoni Pizza TS Product: Mama Mia Marinara	8 America Flag Taco Dip TS Product: Fiesta Party Dip Mix
9 Cabbage Rolls: Sochi Russian Recipe TS Product: Onion Onion	10 Red, White, & Blue Potatoes TS product: Bacon Bacon	11 Russian Katleti (Turkey Burger) TS Product: Onion Onion, Seasoned Salt, Everyday Grilling	12 American Apple Pie TS Product: Nana’s Apple Cake Mix	13 Olympic Ring Veggies & Dip TS Product: Your Favorite Dip Mix!	14 Olympic Torch Appetizer TS Product: Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip	15 Absolutely American Trifle TS Product: Absolutely Almond Pound Cake
16 Russian Turkey Cherbureki (Turkey Turnover) TS Product: Seasoned Salt	17 Olympic Onion Rings & Dip TS Product: Fiesta Party Dips Mix	18 Olympic Fruit Ring Buffet & Fruit Dip TS Product: Key Lime Cheeseball	19 Patriotic Taco Dip TS Product: Fiesta Party Dip Mix	20 Bagel Ring White Pizza Bites TS Product: Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip	21 Olympic Torch Popcorn Cups TS Product: Your Favorite TS Seasoning!

To order any of the Tastefully Simple Products, go to www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cwhite6

Key Lime Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

Crust

4 cups Bisquick

1 cup Water

Mix the above ingredients together and then roll out to 5 1/4 inch thick circles. Use parchment paper or a Silpat on your cookie sheet to avoid sticking to the pan.  If it is too sticky add extra Bisquick. It will rise during baking. 

Bake at: 350 for 15 minutes

This makes 2 large crusts

Cool completely

Topping:

2  8 oz  Cream Cheese or Light Cream Cheese (Fat Free Cream cheese doesn't work well)

Key Lime Cheeseball Packet 1

Blend the above 2 ingredients together.  Spread evenly on the cooled crust.

Sprinkle 2 Packet 2

Fruit Layer:

Arrange Fruit around circles into rings - Grapes, Strawberries, Blueberries, Pineapple, Blackberries,

Adapted from nateandchristine.blogspot.com

Olympic Ring Pepperoni Pizza
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. Mama Mia Marinara Sauce
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 Pilsbury Pizza Dough Can
3.5 oz. sliced pepperoni
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions: Combine first 2 ingredients; stir to blend. Preheat oven as directed on pizza packaging. Stretch dough to fit in a cookie sheet.  Spread Mama Mia Marinara Sauce mixture over crusts; top with pepperoni, olives if desired and cheese. Bake as directed on pizza packaging.

Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
10-12 Cabbage Leaves (Depending on their size.)
1/2 Cup No Salt Added Tomato Sauce
1 Capful Onion Onion
¾ Teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 Pound Lean Ground Turkey
1 Cup Cooked Brown Rice
2 (16 Ounce) Cans Tomato Sauce
1 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 1/2 Tablespoons Worcestershire
Directions: In a large pot, boil cabbage leaves until soft (about 3-5 minutes). Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup tomato sauce, Onion Onion, Seasoned Salt, pepper, turkey, and rice. Lay cabbage leaves out flat and place around 1/4 cup turkey mixture into each leaf. Roll the cabbage leaves around the turkey mixture, being careful to seal all sides so that the mixture doesn’t fall out. Once assembled, place the cabbage rolls into your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir well. Pour sauce mixture evenly over cabbage rolls. Cook on low 7-8 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Adapted from food.com

Red, White & Blue Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 bag of red potatoes, cubed
½ -3/4 Cup Blue Cheese Dressing
1 Tablespoon Bacon Bacon (or more!)
Crumbly Blue Cheese
Directions: Boil potatoes until soft.  Smash potatoes to desired thickness.  Add Blue Cheese Dressing and Bacon Bacon.  Garnish with Crumbly Blue Cheese.

Katleti  Turkey Burgers
2 pound ground turkey
1 capful Onion Onion
1 carrot, grated
1/2 cup white bread crumbs
2 eggs
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon Everyday Grilling Seasoning (optional)
Olive Oil
Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.   Fry the onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil until lightly browned and soft (7 to 8 minutes). Set aside.  Fry the carrots in 2 tablespoons olive oil for about 5 minutes until lightly browned and soft.  Mix all of the ingredients together until evenly combined.  Form patties with your hands about 1/4″ thick (don’t try to flatten them once they are on the skillet or juices will seep out).  Heat about 4 tablespoons olive oil over medium/high heat. Saute the patties (adding more oil if necessary) until browned on both sides, flipping twice so they don’t burn.  Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for 10 minutes.
Adapted from famousfashionista.com

American Apple Pie
Nana's Mock Apple Pie
Tastefully Simple recipe submitted by Michelle Lasure (NY) 
Ingredients
Nana's Apple Cake Mix^®
1 can apple pie filling
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1
Directions Combine first 3 ingredients. Spread into greased 8 x 8 baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. 
Combine cinnamon and brown sugar; mix well. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mix over cake and bake additional 10 minutes. Let cool completely

Olympic Ring Veggies & Dip

Arrange colorful veggies in bowls to form the 5 Olympic Rings.  Provide your favorite Tastefully Simple dip for the veggies!

Absolutely American Trifle
Tastefully Simple recipe submitted by Rebecca Truex (OH) 
Ingredients
Absolutely Almond Pound Cake Mix^™
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) melted butter
1 cup water
2 lbs strawberries, sliced
2 pints blueberries
2 bananas, sliced
3.5 oz. cheesecake-flavored instant pudding
8 oz. non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup milk
Directions: Prepare Absolutely Almond Pound Cake as directed with butter and water; cool and cut into 1 inch cubes. Meanwhile, mix pudding with milk; stir until creamy. Fold in non-dairy whipped topping. In a glass trifle dish layer ingredients starting with strawberries, sliced bananas, pound cake, cheesecake filling, and blueberries. Continue layers until you reach the top. Top with an outer circle of blueberries, then strawberries and banana in the center. Makes 10-12 servings.

 Russian Turkey Cherbureki (Turkey Turnover)

Ingredients for the Easiest Chebureki you’ll ever make: 
2 lb ground turkey
2 lb yellow onion
2 tsp Seasoned Salt
1/2 tsp pepper
38-40 raw tortillas, depending on how much you fill them.
Directions: Peel and chop your onion into large pieces, then puree the onion in a food processor until it has an applesauce consistency.   Add 2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper to the turkey and stir. Add the pureed onion. The amount of onion will frighten you and you might start crying. It will disappear into the meat.   Spread a heaping tablespoon of your meat filling over 1/2 of your raw tortilla, leaving about a 1″ border at the edges to seal.  Brush all the way around the edges of your tortilla with cold water. Fold the tortilla in half and seal the edges by pushing down around the edges with a fork.  Heat a large skillet with enough oil to just coat the bottom of the pan. Heat over medium/high heat. Once the oil is hot (the chebureki should sizzle when you put them in), add chebureki to the skillet 2 at a time and sautee 3 min per side. Adjust the temp if you notice it’s browning too quickly. You need to saute 3 minutes per side for the meat to cook through.  Transfer cooked turnovers onto papertowels to soak up excess oil.
adapted from Natashaskitchen.com

Onion Rings & Fiesta Dip
Simple Wing Dip
Submitted by Kim Rozen (IL) 
Ingredients
1 cup ranch dressing
1 - 2 tsp. Fiesta Party Dip Mix™

Directions
Combine ingredients; chill 1 hour. Use as dip for chicken wings or onion rings. Makes about 1 cup dip.

Olympic Fruit Ring Buffet & Fruit Dip

Arrange bowls filled with colorful fruits in the shape of the Olympic Rings.  Dip into Key Lime Fruit Dip
Key Lime Fruit Dip
Tastefully Simple recipe submitted by Misti Rierson (IA) 
Ingredients
Key Lime Cheese Ball Mix
8 oz. softened cream cheese
7 oz. jar marshmallow crème
Assorted fresh fruit
Directions: Combine Packet 1 of cheese ball mix and cream cheese; blend well. Fold in marshmallow creme; chill 2 hours. Sprinkle top with Packet 2 of cheese ball mix. Serve with fruit. Makes 8-10 servings.

Taco Flag Dip

Ingredients

3 cups sour cream

1 Capful Fiesa Party Dip Mix

1 cup black beans, washed and rinsed

4 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup sliced olives

Directions: In the bottom of a 9x13 pan, spread the sour cream. Then sprinkle the taco seasoning and black beans on top of the sour cream. Spread the lettuce over top of the beans. Lay out the halved tomatoes in lines to form a flag. Put cheese between the tomato stripes, and then put the sliced olives in the top left corner to look like stars.  .Serve with tortilla chips!

Adapted from tasteoflizzyt.com

Bagel White Pizza Bites

Ingredients:
1 packet Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip Mix
1 8 oz package of cream Cheese
1 cup Swiss cheese (or mozzarella cheese)
Olives (optional)
Bag of Mini Bagels, sliced
Directions: Combine dip mix, cream cheese, and swiss cheese.  Chill 2 hours.  Spread dip mixtures on top of bagel halves.  Add any other toppings.  Toast in oven at 350 until the cheese bubbles. 

I love my Rice Cooker

For Christmas I received a Rice Cooker from my husband.  I know, nothing says, "Merry Christmas, I love you" than a rice cooker!  But in his defense, I did ask for one after a friend at work mentioned how much she loved hers.  I had always been the classic minute rice person - quite frankly because I had never cooked real rice before since my mom always did minute rice!  Then I also heard that burning rice happened a lot of the stove, so I really didn't want to go down that road.

But what I found was that although minute rice was simple and quick, it was hard to find brown minute rice and I always wondered if i was losing some nutrients...
So, enter the Rice Cooker!  I have been so pleasantly surprised how awesome this little baby is!  My husband bought me a Oster Rice Cooker that has the additional vegetable steaming tray to it.  What a bonus!
I have made my rice and steamed my asparagus all at the same time!  The rice is a little sticky, but I have found if you rinse the rice first, it washes off the starchiness from the rice.
Who knew this little baby was missing in my life!?
I have also started to Pin Rice Cooker Recipes on Pinterest!  Did you know you can even cook mac and cheese and pasta in your Rice Cooker? Check out this link for other surprising things you can cook in your rice cooker, too.

So, have I convinced you?  Is it time to run out to your local store and purchase one?  Make sure to tell the salesperson I sent you! ;-)

Side Dish Excitement

Gary and I have been trying to eat better and increase the protein in our meals.  I was already set to make chicken for dinner tonight, but wanted a side dish that was a little more exciting than plain brown rice.

I found a recipe on allrecipes.com for "Nutty Brown Rice Salad" and realized how easy it would be to tweak with a Tastefully Simple spin and for my family's tastes, too!

Loaded up my ingredients...great for leftovers from a veggie tray, too!

Cook rice in Rice Cooker - Super fast and easy!

Add ingredients to brown rice...Gary's favorite was the crunch of the almonds

Toss the salad with the Roasted Garlic Infused Oil and season with Seasoned Salt & Pepper

Our completed meal...added grilled marinaded chicken and steamed asparagus (that steamed in my rice cooker!)

To order Tastefully Simple, click here!

Dick Vitale

Do you know who Dick Vitale is?  He is a basketball announcer for college basketball.  He is one of my heroes.  He has more passion about that game then anyone I know.  But not only does he have passion, but he also uses his powers for good; he is one of the most encouraging and positive men I have ever listened to.

Each year during March Maddness, I do language lessons related to basketball.  One thing we do is watch a video about Dick Vitale and think of adjectives to describe him.  Check out the video:

Can you think of a bunch of adjectives to describe him?  Energetic. Positive. Boisterous. Passionate.  I just adore him!

The other night while watching the SU vs. Duke game (go SU!), Dick Vitale said something that made me pause.  He was describing a Duke player who was lighting up the boards and baskets on Saturday, but had fought hard to get his place and make a name for himself on the team.  He didn't even play in many of the earlier games in the season.  But as Dick continued to describe this young man, he said,

 "Don't hang your head when times get tough."  

This is such an important philosophy to live by!  I reflected on this and realized there are many avenues that this quote can support.  Perhaps you have a family and you are struggling to financially make it or just can't seem to catch up on sleep.  Or maybe you have a business and have set goals.  You are working towards those goals, but for some reason "times are tough."  We all go through "tough times" in our lives, but the way I see it, is that we all have a choice.

 We have a choice to get bitter or get better.  

We can waste our time complaining about the problem or we can choose to take our time and solve the problem.  This Duke player, made the choice, with the support of his family, to keep working hard.  To look adversity in the eye and beat it.  Thank you, Dick Vitale, for highlighting this young man and supporting him!

Left Over Ingredients

Over Christmas, I made my sister's favorite chocolate dessert - chocolate stuffed croissants.  This recipe (which perhaps I should post, too!) calls for Heavy Whipping Cream.  The awesome thing about whipping cream is that it lasts in the fridge for awhile, so when my kids wanted whipped cream and berries on their pancakes this morning, I was able to make a fresh batch!  I used the recipe on the back of the carton:

Heavy Whipping Cream

Homemade Whipped Cream:
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
3-4 Tablespoons Confectioners Sugar
1-2 teaspoons Vanilla
Beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form on medium speed.  Add the sugar and vanilla until desired consistency.

Naked pancakes just waiting for their toppings!

Talk about super simple!  And frankly, indulging & delicious!!

Isaac, PJ, and Mommy with Berries, Whipped Cream and Pancakes!

But after the clean up of breakfast, I had 1/2 a bowl of whipped cream left!  I resisted my urge to sit in front of the television, watching the Today show, and finish the bowl with a spoon.  I remembered an idea I had found in my old Betty Crocker Cookbook.  You can dollop scoops of whipped cream on a lined cookie sheet and freeze them.  

dollops of whipped cream

Once frozen, throw them in a freezer bag and you have the perfect addition to your coffee or hot cocoa!!  Pull it out each morning and they are already portion-sized ready to go!  Using left over ingredients can be so awesome!  

Place dollops in freezer bag and keep in freezer!