by Macki on Dec 11th, 2011 // Swell Suppers, Uncategorized
It’s time for our annual How The Grinch Stole Christmas viewing and this year we are stepping it up by creating a feast inspired by the holiday classic. We are serving up some Grinchy, Christmas ball-y, colorful and fun whoville inspirations: Veggie Macaroni Bake, Turnkey Turkey Meatballs, Beets with Orange Vinaigrette, and Peanut Butter Brownie Whoopie Pies for dessert.
Begin your feast by baking the peanut butter brownie whoopie pies and allow them to cool while prepping the rest of your meal. Next start the veggie macaroni bake, prep the veggies and pasta and place in the oven to cook.
Meanwhile make the turnkey turkey meatballs according to the recipe. While the meatballs are simmering toss together the ingredients for the beets with orange vinaigrette and place in a bowl on the table, ready to serve. This leaves just enough time to whip up the peanut butter filling for the whoopie pies and get them assembled.
Time to sit down with your family for a Whoville inspired feast. Now doesn’t that sound swell?
by Macki on Dec 8th, 2011 // Desserts, Holiday
It’s that time of year when we make delicious homemade goodies for our friends and loved ones. Our family has taken to sampling every kind of treat we can get our hands on and the one we keep coming back to is the candy cane white chocolate pretzel. These little salty-sweet-minty treats are such a hit we decided to skip our traditional cookie baking and try our hand at some candy cane crushing, white chocolate dipping pretzels. Turns out they are so easy and addicting and so much fun to make that these are our new family tradition. Get your new tradition over at the Family Kitchen.
by Macki on Dec 3rd, 2011 // Swell Suppers, Uncategorized
This time of year gets so crazy with holiday activities and parties and school functions. It sure doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for the warm home cooked me we all want at the end of a cold, busy day. That’s where my friend the crock pot comes to the rescue. We are not making the typical stew, we are mixing things up with our slow cooker and making Fajitas, with some Homemade Tortillas (they are so easy, I swear!), Guacamole, and easy Happy Brownies for dessert.
Start early in the day, between shopping and parties and all the other things going on today and begin the crock pot fajitas. Now go about your day and return home to make the happy brownies. While the brownies are baking prepare the guacamole. Kids love mushing up the avocado.
Time to make the tortillas. Prepare them according to the recipe and let your kids pound and roll to their hearts content. Cook the peppers and get everything set and ready for fajita building.
After dinner move on to the brownies. We saved the face decorating for after dinner. We all sat around creating silly faces to see who come come up with the one that made us all laugh the most. My daughter won with hair that extended all the way down the plate with a matching beard. They were indeed happy brownies. Now doesn’t that sound swell?
by Macki on Dec 1st, 2011 // Dinner, Kid-tastic, Lunch, Snacks, Uncategorized
We don’t eat a lot of corn dogs around here, but my daughter has recently become quite the fan. I just can’t feed my kid a hot dog covered in fried cornbread, but I want to satisfy her craving. So we came up with healthier version in a cute little mini muffin form. Get the recipe over at the family kitchen…
by Macki on Nov 27th, 2011 // Swell Suppers
I CAN’T eat another Thanksgiving leftover. No more turkey, stuffing, cranberry and gravy sandwiches. I can’t even stomach the turkey enchiladas (though they were delish). It’s time for something completely different that won’t make me feel like I just ate a ton of bricks and the wheelbarrow too. For tonight’s swell supper we’re keeping things clean; no sweets, no pie crust, no fudge, just a simple Pan Seared Salmon with Stuffed Acorn Squash.
Start with the stuffed acorn squash, seed it and place it on a baking dish and cook according to the recipe. After the squash is in the oven begin cooking the quinoa. Now get the salmon out and season, let it sit for 20 minutes. Meanwhile saute the veggies for the quinoa. While the veggies are cooking place the salmon skin side down in a skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes. Follow the recipe for the salmon and put water in the pan and cover. Combine the veggies and quinoa and scoop into the acorn squash. By the time the squash is stuffed the salmon should be done. Time to serve you detox supper. Now doesn’t that sound swell?
