Hello Fresh

Of the four meal programs I tried, Hello Fresh was in my top two (enter code J8M7HX
for $40 off your first box). I have to say they had the best packaging and organization of all the programs! Everything came well labeled and in neat little boxes separated by meal. It made cooking SO much easier!

Here are a few quick pointers, some pro and some cons, of Hello Fresh

Absolutely  LOVE the packaging and organization! 

• Good variety of menu choice, however not as many as Home Chef (Click here for $35 off a Home Chef Box!)
• Great packaging and organization
• Meals were delicious and fairly easy - like Home Chef I'd like to see more difficulty range
• Recipes could have been a little better, I noticed a few areas where steps could have been changed to make the process faster. 
• Amazing portion size! Ordered the two person program, and we still had enough for our toddler to have dinner! 

I would order from here again - the price is about the same as other programs - and the food was worth the money spent. Food was good, the choices all for you to try new items but within a comfort zone. Nothing "too" weird or complicated! 

If you only want to try Hello Fresh once, it's very easy. You can cancel at any time, or skip weeks to fit your needs. 

If you're interested in trying Hello Fresh (and you should!) enter this code to receive $40 off your first box! J8M7HX

A note to all of the dinner subscription box programs: ENOUGH with the kale and roasted veggies! Change things up a bit! 

Great Eggs - Not Just for Breakfast!

I've recently been on an "egg" kick! Here are some of my favorites, these can be for any meal, not just breakfast. Here are some great ideas. Personally, for omelettes and fritattas I prefer two egg whites and one whole egg - but you can use whatever you'd like.

1. BLT Omelette - Bacon (or sub turkey bacon) chopped, tomato, arugula, and fontina cheese. Chop the bacon, cook until almost crisp, then add the tomato and arugula. The bacon grease is used instead of oil. Cook until arugula is wilted - and eggs. Cook, add cheese, and fold. Volia!

Zucchini Omelette

2. Zucchini Omelette - Roasted red peppers, shredded zucchini, and mozzarella. In heated olive oil, sautee peppers - add fine shredded zucchini. This is burn quickly so just cook until heated. Add eggs. Cook, and cheese, and fold! YUM!

3. Chicken and Spinach Fritatta - Fritatta is basically an open face omelette, but you toast it under the broiler and dont fold the eggs. Chicken, spinach, red pepper - sautee chicken and red pepper, and spinach until wilted. Add eggs - just before cooked place under broiler. When cooked, top with cheese and put back under broiler until cheese is bubbly! Bon Appetite!


4. Gluten Free or Low Carb Eggs Benedict - Instead of an English muffin make extra crispy hash browns! Poach egg(s) (this is really easy, here's a YouTube Video I like to add apple cider vinegar to my water, organic unpasteurized ACV is also high in probiotics!) Saute ham or Canadian Bacon, place ontop of hash browns. Place poached eggs on top of ham/hash browns and top with Holandaise. the Holandaise will be the most difficult part, here's a recipe on YouTube.

Gluten Free/Low Carb Eggs Benedict

5. Last, have you ever had a basted egg? You'll LOVE these if you like over easy eggs - and these are not healthy but so good! Add about 3Tbs butter to pan and melt, add egg(s) once whites are almost cooked (about where you would flip an over easy egg) begin to spoon the hot butter over top of the yolk/whites until it's cooked to your desired doneness. If you tun out of butter you can always add more! Basted eggs are great on a sandwich or burger.

So there you have it - some great egg ideas! YUM!!!

Country Crock #MakeItYours

Recently I received one of my awesome VoxBoxes from Influenster! This was a smaller campaign with only one item - a coupon for a free tub of Country Crock! I was super excited, as I already use this brand. I love their varieties - from original, to extra calcium, and honey butter (great for biscuits). Country Crock original is my personal favorite as it's more versatile. I used it in everything, from bread, to veggies, to cookies, to toast!

Here's a link to my PINTREST where I have added some great recipe ideas, including my favorite "Mix In Cookies". This is a base cookie recipe (NOT A COOKIE MIX! 100% Homemade cookies!!!!!) you can add whatever you want into the cookie batter to make any flavor you can think of, and don't forget to follow my Pintrest for other great ideas.

Go buy a tub of Country Crock and try one of the recipes!

Cheddar Ranch Tater Tot Casserole - an origional "Ore Ida Totchos" recipe!

A while back I received a coupon from Influenster for a free bag of Ore Ida tater tots. I had always heard about tater tot casserole, but never made (or ate!) one before. So, I created my own! Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

1 regular sized bag of tater tots
1/2 yellow onion
1/2 green pepper,
1lb cheddar cheese (shredded or a black to shred yourself)
2lb ground beef
1pkt ranch dressing seasoning mix

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 425

Dice onion and green pepper. In saute pan, cook ground beef. When beef is about 2/3 cooked, add onion, pepper, and 1/2 of the ranch packet. Cook until beef is just about cooked thoroughly (it will cook more in the oven!). Remove from heat, drain, and add 3/4 of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well  so it's not too clumpy.

Spray a casserole pan with non-stick spray. Spread beef mix evenly in pan.

Open bag of tater tots, pour in remained ranch seasoning to bag. Seal the bag and shake so the seasoning reaches the tots at the bottom of the bag. Top beef with the tots followed by remaining cheese. Bake in pre-heated oven for 35-45min, tots should be golden and crunch. Let set for 3 min before serving, if desired top with ketchup!

For more Ore-Ida Totchos recipies, go here: Kraft Recipes Totchos Hub

#OreIdaTotchos #Contest

To Join Influenster, click HERE!!

Easiest Crockpot Taco Chicken EVER!

This was SO easy - great for tacos or nachos!


Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breast - thawed
1 14oz Can Chicken Broth
2 pkts Taco Seasoning
1 15oz Jar of Thick and Chunky Salsa (yes - it need to be to thick and chunky! I would avoid fruit salsas - just use a nice normal everyday salsa)

The nice thing about this recipe is you can adjust the heat - buy hot taco seasoning and hot salsa if you like it spicy! Or keep it mild - you can always add diced jalapenos later or another spicy pepper of your choice.

Directions: 

Pour can of chicken broth into crock pot - add both packets of taco seasoning. Mix well - place chicken in pot, top with salsa. Cook on high for 5-6 hours. Once chicken is tender use a fork to shred. Voila! That's it!

TIP: If your sauce is getting too thick, add a little water while it cooks.

The BEST Bruschetta!!

Fail-proof recipe! I absolutely love this, I serve with fresh sliced mozzarella and crustinis.  My little girl loves the tomatoes and fresh cheese and will eat them as a snack.

RECIPE:

3 Diced Roma Tomatoes
1 Diced Small Red Onion
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
3 TBS Shaved Parmesan Cheese
2 TBS Olive Oil
1/4 Cups Balsamic Vinegar
Chopped Fresh Basil (to taste)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Mix all together and enjoy! It's best if you make and let it sit for an hour or two.

Broccoli Cheese Bites

These were an experiment that turn out FABULOUS! It makes about 8 patties. I will say the patties are hard to make and it can be frustrating. Just take your time, they bake really well and end up delicious! You can also add other veggies, such as diced carrots. Chicken or turkey would be delicious too! I haven't tried it, but substituting cooked rice for part of the bread crumbs might be a delicious addition . If you try the rice, let me know how it turns out!

This would make a great meal for toddlers and kids. Adults, too! To make it more adult friendly, spice it up by adding Tobasco or cayenne pepper! Top with a little siracha aioli.

Here's the recipe, enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

Delicious!

16 oz. Package of frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained of liquid
1 cup Grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
3 eggs
1 cup of seasoned Italian bread crumbs
salt & pepper




DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients in bowl

Preheat oven to 375. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray pan with nonstick spray. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. In 1/4 to 1/2 cup portions, make into balls/patties. They will not be 100% flat.

Ball into 1/4 to 1/2 cup portions

Bake for 15 minutes. Turn over and bake an additional 10 minutes. 

Dutch Oven Rosemary Herb Bread

Hands down, this is one of the most delicious breads I have ever made. I found a recipe and tweaked it, as the recipe I found didn't quite work. Tomorrow, I plan on using this bread for a grilled cheese sandwich, but it's wonderful on it's own with a shmear of butter!

Delicious with a shmear of butter or for a sandwich!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup Warm Water
1pkg Active Dry Yeast (about 1 & 1/4tsp)
1/4 cup Scalded Milk
1/2 cup Butter, Melted
1Tbs Minced Fresh Rosemary
1/4 Cup Minced Onion
2 Cloves Minced Garlic
1/2tsp Thyme
2tsp Salt
1tsp Sugar
4 Cups Flour
Olive Oil

Knead until dough passes "window pane" test

DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion and garlic in a little oil, add rosemary and thyme. Continue to saute until onion is translucent. Add to melted butter and cool completely.

In bowl, pour warm water, sprinkle yeast on top. Gently stir until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients except olive oil.

If using a Kitchenaid or similar mixer with dough hook attachments - continue to mix and knead until dough reaches and passes the "window pane" test. If mixing by hand, once all ingredients are combined remove from bowl and knead by hand until the dough reaches and passes the "window pane" test.

Lightly oil a bowl, cover and  allow dough to rise until double in a warm area. About 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Once double, punch down and knead to redistribute yeast.

Cut an "X" in the top of the dough

Using olive oil, lightly oil a Dutch Oven. Place dough in center and oil the top of the dough. Cut and "X" in the top of the dough to allow the bread to 'bloom' while cooking. Cover and bake at 450 for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes uncover and cook an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until done.

Allow to cool and enjoy!

Bake at 450 cover for 30min and uncovered 15-20min

Enjoy!

Loaded Potato Soup...in the Crock Pot?

Yes! It's true! Look no further, I have found and perfected the ultimate loaded potato soup recipe. For the crock pot! YUM!


INGREDIENTS:

3 large potatoes, skins on, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can water (use the chicken soup can)
1 slice bacon (cut)
1 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes, or 1/2 cup potato flakes
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
4 ounces sour cream

4 ounces cream cheese

DIRECTIONS


Put potatoes, onion, garlic, broth, cream of chicken soup, water, bacon, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper into crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.



Add mashed potatoes (or flakes). Stir. Cook additional 1 hour on low or 1/2 hour on high.

Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. Stir well. At this point either serve or 'keep warm' until ready to serve.

Top with cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon bit, chive, and/or with whatever creative ideas you have in mind.