Butterscotch Pecan Delite

Sweet - smooth - flaky and DELICIOUS! This is an old recipe from my childhood. This is a great "make ahead" dessert for company or parties! Keep in the fridge until ready to serve. Not a butterscotch fan? Try it with Chocolate pudding instead!

Butterscotch Pecan Delite

Layer 1:

1 c. flour

1/2 c. butter (real butter melted)

1/2 c. chopped pecans

Mix together then press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. 

Bake at 350 for 13 minutes

Layer 2:

1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese (room temperature)

1 c. sugar

1 c. cool whip

Whip together. Dollop the thick cream on top of the crust and spread softly to keep crust from "peeling up."

Layer 3:

2 large pkg. Butterscotch instant Jello pudding mix

3 c. Milk

Whip together and pour over the cream cheese layer.

Layer 4:

Cool whip and chopped pecans.

Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Refrigerate any leftovers.

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*This is GREAT to make a head of time for company or parties! DELISH!

*This is also great with Chocolate pudding instead of Butterscotch! Try it out!

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Crock Pot Pork Stew

I have been craving soups like none other! They're so warm and inviting. With fall here and winter knocking on our door I've been stocking up on soup recipes. This one is definitely a keeper! I have a feeling I will be making this often.

Crock Pot Pork Stew

(Everyone likes some things more than others, so make the quantities to your liking!)

4 pork chops cubed - browned with onion salt, salt and pepper

4-5 russet potatoes - peeled and cubed

1 stalk celery - diced

2 carrots - peeled and cut

1 onion - chopped

2 cans stewed tomatoes - not drained

2-3 cans water (using the stewed tomato cans, add water until all ingredients are covered)

3 T. White Vinegar

1 tsp. Italian Seasonings

2 T. Salt

Combine all ingredients in the crock pot. Cover and cook on Low for 8-10 hours. Salt and pepper to taste.

DELISH!

Need more Soup ideas?

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Are you going Crock Pot Crazy?

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Root Beer Pulled Pork

Prepare it in under 5 minutes then forget about it until dinner! This Root Beer Pulled Pork is DELISH! It's a fun twist on a classic! Top it with our favorite Cole Slaw and this is definitely hard to beat! Make in the morning for those busy days you won't have time to cook. This is AWESOME! Check it out!

Root Beer Pulled Pork

1 Pork Roast or Pork Loin

1/3 c. Brown Sugar

1 (16 oz) bottle OR (2 c.) Root Beer soda pop

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1 c. BBQ Sauce

Place pork in a greased crock pot. Sprinkle the brown sugar over top then add in the Root Beer. Cook on Low for 10 hours. 

Shred the pork in the "soda juice" then drain excess liquid.  

Add your favorite BBQ sauce. Stir- Stir then serve!

Serve with our most favorite Crazy Good Cole Slaw (it's better than KFC!)

And some homemade Sweet Potato Fries! YUMM!

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Copy Cat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

We recently went to Olive Garden for a family gathering and had their unlimited soup and salad. I've never tried their Zuppa Toscana but had heard it was wonderful- so I gave it a go. DELICIOUS! I just had to recreate it! Talk about easy and wonderful. Done in 30 minutes! Dinner is served.

Copy Cat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

1 T. Olive Oil

4 slices of Bacon - cut into small pieces

1 lb. Mild Italian Sausage

1 Yellow Onion - chopped

4 Garlic Cloves - minced

32 oz. (4 c.) Chicken Stock

2 c. Water

5 small/medium (2 large) Russet Potatoes cut and sliced to about 1/4 in thick

1 c. Milk (+1T. flour)

4 c. Chopped Kale

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In a large pot place the olive oil and bacon. Cook until crispy. 

Add the sausage, yellow onion and garlic. Cook until sausage is browned and onion is transparent.

Drain the fat. 

Add chicken stock, water and chopped potatoes.

Boil for about 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. 

Add milk and kale. Simmer for 3 minutes then serve. 

(Don't add kale and milk until you're ready to serve.)

DELISH!

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Crock Pot Ranch Pork Loin

I have a love hate relationship with the word "dinner." I love when we eat together as a family, but I HATE thinking about what to cook all day! It seems like right after lunch I start thinking about dinner - it constantly goes through my mind- dinner - dinner - Dinner - DINNER ! 

Hence, the best invention ever - the crock pot. I love that after lunch and before my mid day slump kicks in, I can put that sneaky word that starts with a "din" and ends with a "ner" to rest. I throw something in a crock pot and when dinner time rolls around - I've already prepared it! DINNER IS SERVED - no hassle - no fuss! SCORE!

Crock Pot Ranch Pork Loin

1 packet Dry Ranch Seasoning
1 Pork Loin
1/2 c. water

Place your pork loin in a greased crock pot. Add your 1/2 c. water. Sprinkle your ranch seasoning over top. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5.

*If you don't have dry ranch seasoning on hand - you can make your own "copy cat" version. If I ever run out I use this...

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Copy Cat Dry Ranch Seasoning:

2 tsp. Dry Parsley
1 tsp. Dill Weed
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
1 T. Minced Onion
2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Pepper

Mix all together and use 2 T. of the mix for the Pork Loin.
Save the rest for another recipe!


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Gluten Free Dutch Pancake

Delicious! If you have a gluten allergy or not this Dutch Pancake is scrumptious! Topped with simple blueberry sauce this breakfast is fit for a fancy restaurant. Take a look!

Gluten Free Dutch Pancake

In a medium bowl whisk together:

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Olive Oil

1/2 c. Milk

Add:

1/2 c. Rice Flour

1/4 c. Sugar

1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

Whisk together until smooth

Pour into a greased 9 in. round pan.

Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown. 

While the Dutch Pancake is cooking, prepare the Blueberry Sauce.

*This Dutch Pancake makes about 4-5 servings (When I have company, I  make two)

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Blueberry Sauce

1 1/2 c. Frozen blueberries (you can also use fresh blueberries)

1 T. Butter

2 T. Sugar

Place all ingredients in a small sauce pan and cook on medium high heat until nice and bubbly. 

Scoop and place the sauce over each individual slice of Dutch Pancake.

DELISH!

Try some other Dutch Pancake Toppings! 

Buttered Apples

Apple Berry Sauce

Peach Sauce

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5 fun "Boredom Busters"

Are your kids bored today? With weather getting colder and not as much play time outside, it gets harder and harder to entertain your kids. Well, here are 5 kid tested activities to help you wipe the boredom blues away. 

1

Play with snack time food! I bring out the pretzels and animal crackers and we make a "Snack Zoo!" We've also made a pretzel alphabet, shapes and rainbows with our snacks! Make snack time fun! 

2

My kids LOVE - LOVE - LOVE to play in the sink! Get out a few bowls, measuring cups, spoons etc. and fill up the sinks with water and bubbles! If the water gets all over the floors and counters - even better! Simply wipe down the counters and floor that were probably on your "to do list" any way! Good CLEAN fun! 

3

Play "Left Over Cafe!" My kids LOVE this! I put a funny apron on and we play restaurant! I take an inventory of what leftovers we have in the fridge - along with easy pantry food - (PB&J's breakfast cereal etc. things that don't require cooking) The kids feel like they're going out to eat, and mom doesn't have to cook! Win - Win!

4

Table tent day a.k.a. "fort day" is always a favorite in our house. I get table cloths and drape them over our dinning room table then let their imaginations go wild. Our Table Tent has been a castle, cave, house and more. Easy and fun!

5

Mattress slide/ trampoline is probably the boredom buster we do most often. We don't have an outdoor trampoline so this is the next best thing! We upgraded our mattresses a few months ago and have been keeping these in a storage room to grab out for fun! We lay them on the floor like a trampoline or prop them on the couch for a slide! SO FUN!

We hope you enjoyed these 5 boredom busters and hope you got a few ideas for your own family! Kid's are AWESOME!

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Basic Buttery Cornbread

Seriously DELICIOUS! We love cornbread and this recipe is great! 

Cornbread is the perfect addition to just about any meal. Cornbread is our favorite when paired with some of our favorite soups. Soups like Creamy Chicken Chili, 4 Bean & Rice Soup, or Beyond Basic Beef Stew. Yumm.... I'm so making some soup and corn bread for dinner tonight!

Basic Buttery Cornbread

In a mixing bowl combine:

3/4 c. Corn Meal

1 1/4 c. Flour

2 T. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

Add:

1/2 c. Butter (room temperature)

Mix until it resembles course crumbs then add:

2 eggs

2 T. Honey

1 c. Buttermilk

Mix together until smooth.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350' for 20 minutes

Let the corn bread cool for about 15 minutes before cutting.

Serve with butter and honey! DELISH!

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