Meatballs & White Sauce

I would say sweedish meatballs but these aren't exactly that, so I will say white sauce. My favorite part about this meal is that the meatballs are made in the oven. No need to stand by the stove frying them up.

Meatballs

2lbs Ground Beef

2 Eggs

1/4 Cup Chopped Onions

1 Cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 Cup Milk

White Sauce

1 Cup Beef Stock

1 Cup Milk or Heavy Cream

1 Tsp Soy Sauce

2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Sprinkle of Garlic Powder

3 Tbsp Flour

Salt & Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

While waiting for the oven to heat combine all ingredients in a large bowl & mix together. 

Shape into balls & place on a cookie sheet.

Once heated, put meatballs into the oven for 15-20 mins.

While waiting for the meatballs to cook you can start the sauce.

Whisk together the stock & milk in a sauce pan on Medium-High heat.

Once boiling add the rest of the ingredients & continue to whisk until thick, 10 mins.

By now the meatballs should be done. Remove from oven & add to sauce (after it thickens).

Remove from heat & serve over noodles!

Quick Chicken & Broccoli With Rice

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Oil

4 Large Chicken Thighs, cooked and chopped

1 Bag of Frozen Broccoli

1 Bag of Frozen Snap Peas

LaChoy Stir Fry Sauce

Cooked Rice

Directions

Heat oil in a large pan.

When ready add broccoli and snap peas, toss to coat. 

Place lid on pan and let the veggies steam cook for about 5-10mins. 

Once cooked, add the chopped chicken & the stir fry sauce. 

Stir & allow the chicken to warm up. (about 3-4mins). 

Remove from heat and serve over cooked rice. 

This recipe makes enough food for 2 adults and 2 toddlers to have seconds plus left overs. Peter says this is one of his favorite meals. I think it's so quick and so easy to make. The kids eat more than one serving! If you enjoy chinese food you will love this dish. 

Creamy Garlic Shells

So delicious, these shells taste just like the store bought packets (minus the nasty additives)! Whenever I go to the food store I find myself turning away from the noodle and rice packets. They're so tempting. Always on sale, quick in a pinch, & tasty....well now I can have the same taste & ease with this recipe.

8oz Medium Pasta Shells

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 Tbsp Flour

3/4 C Chicken Broth

3/4 C Milk

salt & pepper

1/4 C Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

2 Tsp Parsley

                                                      Cook noodles like normal & drain. 

 Return pot to medium heat on the stove then melt butter. Add garlic & saute until brown. 

 Sprinkle in flour then whisk & cook for 1 min.

 Slowly add chicken brother and milk, continuing to whisk until smooth. 

 Season with salt & pepper then switch to a wooden spoon to mix until thick & bubbly. 

 Take pot off heat. Stir in parmesan cheese, garlic powder, & parsley until combined. 

Add cooked pasta & stir until covered. 

Serve!

Recovering From a C-Section

(guest post from Rachelle)

Hey, I'm Rachelle. I had a natural birth with my son in 2010 and a scheduled c-section with my daughter in October 2013. Although it was planned I still went into labor the day before (seems my daughter didn't want to wait another day!), so lucky me I got to experience the joys of labor. My daughters stomach was measuring larger than it should have been which is why I had a scheduled c-section, they didn't want her to get stuck on the way out. So from my experience, here are some tips for recovering from a c-section.

Walking

You won't be able to get up and walk until hours (maybe even the next day). So when you are able to get up, take it slow! A nurse will be there to assist you the first few times. 

Pillow

Bring a pillow from home, maybe even a blanket (I did both). It's comforting to have since you will be in the hospital for about 3-4 days. I also recommend using a pillow to hold against your belly if you have to cough or sneeze within the first week, to help with the pain.

Shower Supplies

This may be a given, but bring your own shower supplies to use. It'll do wonders with how you feel!

Feeding Tip

If you breastfeed (or maybe even bottle feed), it will be more comfortable to hold baby football style so there's no pressure on your incision. 

Rest

Let the nurses take the baby to the nursery at nights, you need your rest. Either way you give birth it is tiring, but speaking from experience having a c-section is a way more painful recovery. If you decided to breastfeed make sure to tell the nurses to bring baby back when he/she gets hungry. 

Clothing

Bring a loose dress, maternity clothing, or big fitted sweatpants to wear home. You want anything that isn't tight around your belly.

Don't Get Upset

Try not to get upset at yourself for not doing anything around the house when you get home. I did because being a SAHM I do everything in the house, so for me not to do anything made me feel unaccomplished, which only drained me more. Don't feel that way! You just made a little human!

Ask for Help

You're going to need help, with basically everything. So ask some family and friends to come over not only to meet your new bundle of joy but to help with the laundry, dishes, cooking, and whatever else needs to be done.  If you have a church family, ask for meals! Our church family was a HUGE blessing.

If you have any thing to add please feel free to do so in the comments below! 

Grilled Cajun Shrimp

The weather has been wonderful the past couple days, sunny and above 30 degrees! Which to Peter and I means, GRILLING SEASON! Ever since he received his grill/smoker for his birthday last year he has been loving it...and so has our family. The food tastes amazing, seriously amazing coming off the grill. 

Since it's Friday and also Lent it means no meat today. Last year we just stuck with the McDonald's fish sandwiches and fries or tuna from a can in different ways. This year I'm being more adventurous and since the weather is so nice we have decided to do shrimp on the barbie! 

Cajun Seasoning 

5 Tbsp Kosher Salt

2 Tbsp Cayenne Pepper

2 Tbsp Garlic Powder

2 Tbsp Sweet Paprika

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 Tbsp Cumin

1 Tbsp Oregano

1 Tbsp Thyme

1 Tbsp Black Pepper

1 Tbsp Onion Powder

Put all the ingredients into a small zip lock baggie and shake to mix. 

Grilled Cajun Shrimp

2 lbs medium shrimp, peeled with tail intact

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp Cajun season

1 tbsp chipolte peppers in adobo sauce, chopped

1 tsp brown sugar

salt and pepper

In a large bowl toss together the shrimp, olive oil, Cajun seasoning, brown sugar, and chopped chipoltes.

Mix well to coat the shrimp.

Cover & refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat your grill to medium.

Skewer the shrimp and place them on the grill.

Cook until they turn pink and the tails curl up.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Ingredients

3 Large Chicken Breasts (cooked and chopped)

1/2 lb Honey Ham (chopped)

1/2 lb Swiss Cheese (sliced thin)

Sauce

4 Tbsp Butter

4 Tbsp Flour

3 Cups Milk

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Spicy Brown Mustard (I added a little more)

1 Tsp Paprika

Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Topping

4 Tbsp Melted Butter

1 1/2 Cups Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Spray a 9x13in casserole dish with cooking spray.

Spread the chicken evenly on the bottom of the pan.

Top with the ham.

Evenly add the swiss cheese on top of the ham.

Melt 4Tbsp on butter in a sauce pan.

Once melted, whisk in the flour and continue whisking for about a minute.

Slowly add the milk to avoid clumps, continue whisking.

Turn the heat on to high.

Constantly whisk until the sauce thickens and boils.

Remove from heat.

Add lemon juice, mustard, pepper, salt, and paprika.

Mix and pour over the cheese in the casserole dish. 

In a bowl mix together the melted butter and bread crumbs.

Stir together until the crumbs are moist. 

Sprinkle over the casserole dish. 

Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes.

Once done, take out of oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Korean Beef

Is it one of those days where you waited last minute to pull something out for dinner? Or perhaps you just don't feel like cooking but aren't able to get take out? This recipe is simple, delicious, and quick to make! 

The ingredients below are for a family with two adults and two toddlers, it leaves a little left over for my husbands lunch. So please feel free to change the amounts of each according to the size of your family.

Ingredients

2 Pounds Ground Beef

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons Oil

6 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Peppers

Salt and Pepper

1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped

1 Orange Bell Pepper, Chopped (optional)

Rice, Cooked

Roman Lettuce, Whole Leaf

Directions

Heat a large pan over medium heat and brown the beef with the garlic and bell peppers in your oil. 

Once browned, drain the fat and add your brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper.

Simmer for a few minutes so the flavors can mix.

Serve over your cooked rice or spoon into a lettuce leaf to eat like a taco. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So I've been in a baking mood, a side affect of pregnancy. Lucky you and lucky husband of mine(: 

Suggestions are more then welcome, I love trying new things!

Ingredients

2 1/4 Cup Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Cup Butter, Room Temperature

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Large Eggs

2 Cups Chocolate Chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl whisk together the flour & baking soda, set aside.

In a mixer combine the butter and both sugars until fluffy.

Add your salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed. 

Add the chocolate chips and then the flour mixture until combined.

Scoop into balls and place about 2 inches apart of your baking sheet.

Bake until edges are brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Remove and cool!

Pretzel Bites (bread machine style)

Not sure about you but every time I am at the mall I always end up at Auntie Anne's Pretzel Shop. The amazing butter flavor that the pretzels have is so delicious, not to mention the smell of them baking! My pregnancy cravings have been driving me insane and today I caved for one of them, soft pretzels. Here is how I ended my craving and made soft pretzel bites at home using my bread machine (that taste just as good as Auntie Anne's!)

Ingredients:

1 1/8 Cup Water
3 Cups Flour
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp Yeast

2 Quarts Water
1/2 Cup Baking Soda

Melted Butter
Kosher Salt OR
Cinnamon & Sugar


Directions:

In a bread machine combine the first group of ingredients (water, flour, b.sugar, and yeast). Select the dough setting and watch dough for the first couple mins adding flour or water, if needed, a tablespoon at a time.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and tear it into balls.

In a sauce pan bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop the dough balls into the water, waiting 10-15sec, then remove to paper towels to drain. Place the already boiled and drained balls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10mins or until brown (it happens fast so keep an eye on them) in a 425 degree oven.

Brush with melted butter and top with salt or roll in cinnamon and sugar. ENJOY!

Fresh Tomato Sauce & Canning It.

This summer my husband & I have decided to can and freeze as much as we can so come winter we have a stockpile of fresh veggies and more. Home canning and freezing is much healthier & a lot more delicious then the store bought vegetables.

So far I have frozen green beans & onions, today it was time to can tomatoes and my homemade sauce. I picked up my tomatoes from the local produce stand, came home, and started preparing. 

NOTE: There is NO meat in this recipe. If you would like to add meat you will need to either eat it immediately, freeze it, or use a pressure canner.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients                                                        

Oil

Chopped Onion

Minced Garlic

*Tomatoes; peeled and halved (see Canning Tomatoes post on how to do that)

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Oregano

Parsley

Lemon Juice

Step 1

Add enough oil to a large pot to lightly cover the bottom. Once it is hot, add garlic and onions. Saute until onions are clear. Stirring often. 

Step 2

Add tomatoes to the onions and garlic. Stir to blend. 

Step 3

Add spices & a dash of lemon juice. Stir once more.

You can add as little or as much spices as you'd like.

Set a timer for 40 mins and relax! Stir occasionally.

*After cutting the tomatoes in half use either a spoon or your fingers to scoop out all the seeds. Add the tomatoes to a food processor or blender to break them down.

Once the 40 mins is up you can begin the canning process.

Canning Tomato Sauce

Supplies

Hot Water Bath

Wide Mouth Funnel

Ladle

New Lids

Rings

Quart Jars

Step 1

Fill clean, sterile jars leaving 1/2" head space.

Step 2

Wipe tops of jars to make sure they are clean after filling. Place and screw on lids & rings.

Step 3

Place in the hot water bath (which should be boiling). Set your timer for 40mins, lower the jars, and place the lid on the bath.

When the jars are finished remove them from the water bath and place on a towel somewhere with minimum exposure to drafts. Let them sit for 12-24 hours to make sure they seal properly. 

Don't mind the jars labeled "salsa. That post will be coming soon. 

Once the 12-24 hrs is up you will want to check your can lid.
-If the lid is dipped down in the middle, it is sealed.
-If you press down on the lid & it doesn't give, it is sealed.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at shamburger411@gmail.com or post a comment!