"Out like a Lamb" Cupcakes

"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."

Last year my children and I bid farewell to March with these super cute cupcakes from Martha Stewart. Aren't they just adorable?

Here's what we used:

• 1 box white cake mix + ingredients listed on box
• 1 can fluffy white or butter cream frosting
• 48 mini M&M's
• 1 piece of bubblegum cut in half lengthwise and then into triangles
• 12 large marshmallows cut into half lengthwise and then again diagonally
• 1/2 bag miniature marshmallow cut into half

Bake cupcakes according to directions on package, cool and then frost.

Martha says to "arrange the halved mini marshmallows around the perimeter of each plain-butter cream cupcake, in two concentric circles. Leave room for ears on the edges, and an empty circle in the center for the face. Place halved full-sized marshmallows in reserved spots for the ears. Place two mini chocolate candies in upper half of each empty circle to make the eyes, and a bubble gum triangle for the nose."

Personally, I just let my children decorate their own. They had so much fun and have been asking me all week if they can make them again this year. Isn't it amazing how they remember these things? =)

Baja Fish Tacos

 

A couple months ago I ran across a recipe for Baja Fish Taco from Ortega.  They were very easy to make and turned out absolutely delicious!  

BAJA FISH TACOS

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 package (1 1/4-oz)ORTEGA Taco Seasoning Mix - divided
• 1 pound (4 total) cod or white fish fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tbls. vegetable oil
• 2 tbls. lemon juice
• 1 package ORTEGA Taco Shells (12 ct), warmed (I will probably fry my own corn tortillas)

DIRECTIONS:

COMBINE sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro and 2 tablespoons seasoning mix in small bowl.

COMBINE cod, vegetable oil, lemon juice and remaining seasoning mix in medium bowl; pour into large skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until cod flakes easily when tested with a fork.

FILL taco shells with fish mixture. Optional: Top with cabbage, tomato, sour cream mixture, lime juice and taco sauce.

ENJOY!!

Fresh Plum Cobbler

We recently picked a whole bunch of plums, so today we made a very yummy plum cobbler, and I thought I would take a second and share the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 cups sliced fresh unpeeled plums
• 6 tablespoons butter or shortening
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk Whipping (heavy) cream, if desired

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 400ºF.


2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the cornstarch and cinnamon in saucepan. Stir in plums. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Pour into ungreased 13x9 casserole; keep plum mixture hot in oven.


3. Cut butter/shortening into flour, 2 tablespoon sugar, the baking powder and salt in medium bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until particles are size of fine crumbs. Mix in milk until mixture forms soft dough. Drop by 12 spoonfuls onto hot plum mixture.


4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm with whipping cream.

(Modified recipe from Betty Crocker)

Skillet Lasagna

We tried this recipe last week and it is so quick, only 29 minutes, and so delicious! We love lasagna, but I hate how long it usually takes to make. This is a fabulous alternative!


Skillet Lasagna

from The Pampered Chef's 29 Minutes to Dinner cookbook

1 jar (24 - 26 oz) marinara sauce
3 cups water
8 oz lasagna noodles
1 lb hot Italian turkey sausage (casings removed)
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 oz Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Additional grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Combine sauce and water in 12" Skillet. Cover; bring to a boil.

2. Meanwhile, wrap noodles in clean kitchen towel and break crosswise into quarters. Stir noodles into sauce. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 16 - 18 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.

3. As noodles cook, place sausage into 10" skillet; cook and stir over medium-high heat 6 - 8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles. Add pressed garlic; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir sausage into noodles and sauce.

4. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese. Chop parsley; set aside about 1 Tbsp parsley for garnish. Combine cheeses, remaining parsley and black pepper in bowl. Scoop cheese mixture over noodles. Cover skillet and simmer gently 3 - 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and ricotta mixture is heated through.

5. To serve, sprinkle lasagna with reserved parsley and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

The first time I made it I was out of lasagna noodles, so I made it with bow tie pasta, which was very yummy too! Also, if you use no-boil lasagna noodles reduce cooking time to 10 - 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Minestrone

1 ½ pounds Ground Beef – pre-cooked
1 can Kidney Beans
1 can Black Beans
1 can Garbanzo Beans
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 can Stewed Tomatoes
¼ cup Dry Lentils
2 cloves Pressed Garlic
1 Onion, diced
2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
8 cups Vegetable or Beef Broth
¾ cup Barley
1 cup celery diced
1 cup carrots, diced
8 oz small pasta shells

Combine everything but pasta. Simmer on stove for 1 hour. Add Pasta and continue simmering till cooked. Top with grated cheese and croûtons. Serves 10+

I usually serve it with croûtons, but we were out this past week, so I made rolls instead. This soup makes ALOT. It was enough for 2 meals for my family, and I have big eaters (2 bowls each easily.) Since it makes so much, it's great for company as well!

I'd love to hear if you give it a try, and what you think. Enjoy!

Honey-Curry Chicken

This past summer, right after I delivered our last baby, a number of friends brought us dinners. This was one of our favorites, from my friend Lisa! It is so yummy, and VERY easy to make!

HONEY-CURRY CHICKEN

In a 9x13 pan, mix the following:

4 TBSP butter (optional)
1/2 Cup honey
1/2 tsp curry
1/4 cup mustard
1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic
Soy sauce to taste (about 1-2 TBSP)

Now throw some chicken breasts, or chicken tenders (boneless is best), into the pan and mix it all around and bake it for about an hour. I cover it for the first 45 min. Then usually uncover for the last 15 min. Best served over rice, as the sauce is VERY tasty and tastes good over rice with some veggies!! Yum!

Let me know if you try it!