Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

20 Recipes I REALLY Want to Try: 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes

· by · 3 Comments

I don’t know about you guys, but this 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes is making me want to forget about my current pants size and just EAT. ALL. THE. THINGS. Nom nom nom! So much yummy…so little time.

Speaking of which, today I wanted to showcase some of the delicious finds that are simply languishing on my Pinterest boards (you are following me on Pinterest, right? The application process for being Pinterest besties is still wide open, so come on over!). What I have listed below is at the very top of my list of recipes I want to try in the near future (or at least it was before this series started…now that list is about 15 times as long!). Maybe some of you can beat me to trying out these recipes and let me know how they turned out!

recipes I want to try

Beverages

Orange Push Up Smoothie, Averie Cooks

Vodka Root Beer Floats, Minimalist Baker

Crazy Awesome Sangria, Mochachocolata Rita

 Appetizers

Asian Corn & Avocado Salsa, Scaling Back Blog

Mediterranean Layer Dip, Have Recipes Will Cook

Baked Butternut Squash Chips, A Couple Cooks

Pizza Dip, Closet Cooking

Sides

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries with Sriracha Dip, The Art of Doing Stuff

Black Bean, Corn and Edamame Salad with Cilantro and Lime Dressing, Tastefully Julie

Pineapple Fried Quinoa, Lunchbox Bunch

Main Dish

Steamed Pork and Summer Squash Dumplings, Adventures in Cooking

Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter, Food and Wine

Chorizo and Sweet Potato Enchiladas, Budget Bytes

Slow Cooker Pork Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa, 365 Days of Slow Cooking

Balsamic Glazed Steak Rolls, Picture the Recipe

Squash and Sweet Potato Pancakes, Big Girl Small Kitchen

Dessert

Slow Cooker Moist Chocolate & Caramel Cake

S’mores Shake, Bombshell Bling

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cake, Buns in My Oven

Pecan Pie Cake, Sweet Jeanette

Anything on your “must try” list? Send me a link! 

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

Delicious Mexican Dishes to Please One and All! (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

· by · 3 Comments

Special thanks to Mary for gathering up some AWESOME Mexican food recipes for us to enjoy! Be sure to check out her blog (info at the bottom of the post) for more terrific recipes and other fun musings!

mexican food roundup collage

I love Mexican food. No, really. I mean I super-duper, mild-or-spicy, everything’s-better-in-a-tortilla LOVE IT.

When I was pregnant with our first child, I ate so much Mexican food my husband was convinced our baby would be born looking for the chips and queso. (He wasn’t totally wrong, given the fact that we celebrated her first birthday by eating at our favorite Mexican restaurant – and treating her to tiny bits of chips and mild salsa!)

And while I have my favorites, I’m not really discriminating when it comes to Mexican restaurants. Fast food, national chains, authentic local restaurants and holes in the wall – I love them all.

But of course I can’t eat out every night, can I?

Luckily, between the internet and my imagination, I can make a new Mexican dish every night if I want to. (And you know I want to!) Today I’m honored to share a few of my favorite recipes for Mexican food with you. Thank you to Tiffany for the invitation!

mexican food and mexican recipes chicken photo

Tortilla Chicken with Salsa Verde
Originally published at Giving Up on Perfect

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 egg
1/2 cup tortilla chips, crushed
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup pico de gallo
4 slices or 8 tbsp shredded white cheese

For cilantro sauce:
Bunch of cilantro
2 tbsp oil
Ripe avocado, chopped
1/4 cup salsa verde

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine panko and chips. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then coat with egg. Dip chicken into panko mixture until well-coated. Fry the chicken in a couple tablespoons of oil over medium heat (just a couple minutes on each side, until browned). After chicken is fried, place in baking dish and bake for 15-25 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on chicken and bake for a few more minutes until it melts.

While chicken is baking, combine cilantro, oil, avocado and salsa. Mix with food processor (or, sadly, with electric beaters if you are currently without a food processor. I do not recommend this, as it may result in avocado being sprayed all over your kitchen. Beware.).

Pour a couple tablespoons of salsa verde onto each plate, and place chicken on top. Spoon cilantro sauce and pico de gallo over the top, and enjoy!

A few notes: The original recipe was for just two pieces of chicken, but I found that I had plenty of ingredients for four. Also, the original recipe suggests Mexican cheese or provolone; I used Monterey jack because it’s my favorite. Finally, I don’t love avocado and might forgo the cilantro sauce next time. But all the flavors mixed together really was delicious!

(Not that my family would know, since they both turned up their noses at the thought of green salsa, avocado anything or fresh pico de gallo. I loved it, though. And both my husband and daughter thought the crispy chicken with cheese on top was good!)

Here are a few more of my favorite Mexican recipes:

  • Baked Chicken Taquitos
  • Jalapeno Popper Dip
  • Chicken Enchilada Soup
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Restaurant-Style Salsa
  • Shredded Beef Tacos & Pico de Gallo
  • White Chicken Enchiladas

Of course, I won’t stop there! (And you can find lots more at my blog, Giving Up on Perfect {hint, hint!}.) I can’t wait to try these new recipes for Mexican food that I found on Pinterest!

(Pssst! Do you pin? Let’s swap ideas, then! Follow me here.)

Recipes for Mexican food I’m trying next:

What’s YOUR favorite Mexican dish or appetizer?

Mary Carver is a writer, blogger, church planter, wife and mom. A recovering perfectionist, Mary writes with honesty and humor about her imperfect life at www.givinguponperfect.com. Her posts about everything from dieting and housekeeping to parenting and faith encourage other women to give up on perfect and get on with life. She also writes for (in)courage and is the author of Plan a Fabulous Party {without losing your mind}. You can connect with Mary on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

15 Chicken Recipes You Should Try!

· by · 2 Comments

Did you know that chicken is the most popular meat in the United States? It is certainly what I purchase the most! But I get really bored with my chicken recipes, especially those using chicken breast, because it is really easy to dry it out and have the flavor just not be there. And that’s why I’ve got a list of fresh, new ideas for me to try out with my family, and for you to try out as well. There are a few on the list that I’ve already tried and love, and some that I’ll be trying in the next few weeks. Let me know what you try so we can swap notes!

chicken recipes

  1. Grilled Chicken with Strawberries, Feta and Pecans by Crumbs & Chaos
  2. How to Cook a Whole Chicken by Stuff Parents Need
  3. Chicken Enchilada Casserole by Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles
  4. Italian Chicken Strips by Love Bakes Good Cakes
  5. Garlic Chicken Tacos with Corn Salsa by Mom’s Test Kitchen
  6. Chicken Cakes with Easy Ramoulade by Call Me PMC
  7. Curried Chicken Thighs Over Jasmine Rice by Stuff Parents Need
  8. Curry Broccoli Chicken Casserole by A Pinch of Glitter
  9. Mini Chicken Pot Pies- A Quick & Easy Dinner Idea by Second Chance to Dream
  10. Poppy Seed Chicken by Julie’s Eats & Treats
  11. Italian Chicken Meatballs by Covered in Mod Podge
  12. Roasted Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Potatoes by Hot Eats & Cool Reads
  13. Crunchy Sweet and Salty Chicken by A Family Feast
  14. Kung Pao Chicken by Stuff Parents Need
  15. Baked Chicken Parmesan by What’s Cooking, Love?

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

Easy Crock Pot Recipes: 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes

· by · 8 Comments

With eight people to feed, I’m all about easy. Nothing’s easier than dumping ingredients into my Crock-Pot in the morning and having dinner done. The bonus is we get to smell it all day! Make it even easier on yourself by using a Crock-Pot liner so clean-up will be a breeze. These are six crazy easy recipes my family loves. I hope yours will, too.

easy-crock-pot-recipes

#1 Beef or chicken tacos

This is so easy, it’s really not a recipe. But that’s what we need, right? A quick, healthy dinner that everyone loves.

For my family of 8, I add three pounds of round steak or one bag of rinsed frozen chicken breasts and two regular-sized cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles to the crock-pot on low for 8-10 hours. I end up with taco meat for one dinner and one lunch. If you don’t have tomatoes with green chiles, you can add salsa or plain tomatoes with a packet of taco seasoning. It’s impossible to mess this up.

Serve with taco shells, tortillas, or with lettuce for a salad. Add your favorite Mexican garnishes.

Note: Adding a cup of warm water to frozen meat prevents food safety problems when Crock-Pot cooking. A can refers to the standard size (i.e., 10.5 oz. soup can).

#2 BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Staying with the ridiculously easy theme, BBQ chicken sandwiches are what I serve when I’ve already had tacos and I don’t know what else to make. It’s a fabulous option for entertaining as well.

For 8 servings, just add a bag of rinsed, frozen chicken breasts with a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred with two forks or use the paddle attachment on your mixer. Serve with the bread of your choice. This would make a great salad, too.

#3 Chicken and Dumplings

Few meals are as comforting as this dish! And what’s even more comforting is that you can prepare it in no time.

To serve 8, add 4 chicken breasts (frozen are ok), 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, 2 T butter, and one finely diced onion. I love my onion chopper for this purpose. Cover with water.

Cook for 4.5 hours on high if using fresh chicken or 5.5 if using frozen. Add two 10-ounce cans of refrigerated biscuit dough torn in pieces to the top and continue to cook about 30 minutes or until dough is cooked through.

#4 Lemon or Lime Garlic Chicken

I found the recipe pictured above on Pinterest and it was easy enough that my husband could make it. That makes it a winner right there! The chicken is moist and delicious. And did I mention it was easy?

crock pot recipe, french dip

#5 French Dip Sandwiches

I made this recipe the first time for company (I know, dumb), and fortunately, it was a hit. I’ve since purchased the little dishes for the au jus for my family and I feel all ooh-la-la even though the cooking was effortless.

For my family of 8, I add a 3-pound beef roast trimmed of fat, 1 can condensed French onion soup, 1 can condensed beef consumme, 1 can beef broth, and 1 tsp. beef bullion (or one cube). If you can’t find the consumme, another can of beef broth works fine. Cook on low 8 hours. Shred with fork or using mixer with paddle attachment. Serve on French rolls with a side of au jus.

#6 Award-Winning Chili

Most of the time I prefer easy, but I’m a competitive person, too. So when my neighbor and I were vying for the title of champion chili maker, I pulled out all the ingredients. There are times when you just have to do that!

I used the Boilermaker Tailgate Chili recipe from AllRecipes.com and subbed turkey sausage and made it in the crock-pot. I won’t lie to you. This recipe isn’t hard to make, but it took a long time. The result? A blue ribbon for me! Save this recipe for the times you want to impress.

Dr. Melanie Wilson is a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. She blogs at Psychowith6 where she shares her crazy easy Once-and-for-All Meal Plan ebook with subscribers.

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list! Don’t miss the slow cooker soups round up in the list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 


Comfort Food Recipes: 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes

· by · 1 Comment

Please welcome fellow Reynolds Real Mom and comfort food EXPERT (trust me…she makes all kinds of delicious things on her blog that will bring a smile to your face and tummy!), Emily. She certainly didn’t disappoint with this comfort food round-up! 

I am on the verge of begging Fall to hurry up and get here already! I am so over the hot summer days, and ready for a little rain, falling leaves, pumpkin and apple treats, an the list goes on. I have even been breaking out some of my favorite comfort foods that just beg for Fall weather. Of course, when one needs cheering up, comfort food can be eaten anytime of year, but I often think of warm casseroles, soups, homemade breads, and foods that just warm the belly and the soul. I thought I’d share a roundup of some of my favorite comfort foods, and others that I’m dying to try!

Comfort Foods

1. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

2. Turkey Potpie

3. Company Chicken Casserole

4. Creamy White Bean Stew

5. Roasted Sweet Corn and Tomato Soup

6. Chicken and Dumplings

7. Chili Tortellini

8. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

9. Homemade Cinnamon Bread

10. Grandmother’s Buttermilk Cornbread

 

Emily is a blogger over at Cleverhousewife.com. She is a college graduate and is a mother of 4 little redheads. She loves to cook, bake, travel, and laugh with her family.

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

 

Cupcake Decorating Ideas: 16 EASY Ideas to Try!

· by · 5 Comments

I always find myself looking for cupcake decorating ideas a few times each year (usually for birthdays and special school events for the kids). Pinterest has no shortage of photos and tutorials of beautifully decorated cupcakes, to be sure. But here’s the thing: I need ideas that look cute and that require very minimal time, skills and special equipment. So that knocks out about 95% of the options I see! For my future reference, and for yours, I have come up with a list of 16 EASY cupcake decorating ideas. I hope these help you out when you are looking for some practical ideas!

cupcake decorating ideas

Amanda Krueger via photopin cc

Cute and Clever Toppings:

DIY Mikey Mouse Silhouettes, MomDot

Rootbeer Float Cupcakes, My Sweet Sanity

Monkey Cupcakes, Simply Budgeted

Fruit toppings:

Strawberry Mimosa Cupcakes, Oh My Veggies

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Icing, She’s Got Flavor

Red, White and Blue Cupcakes, About.com

Candy Toppings

WHOPPERS Chocolate Malt Cupcakes, Food, Family & Finds

OREO Stuffed Cupcakes, Food, Family & Finds

Icing Made Easy

Make Your Own Icing Bag, Sensibly Sara

Surprises Inside

Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes, A Hen’s Nest

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes, Clever Housewife

Pineapple Cheesecake Cupcakes, She’s Got Flavor

Different Baking Cup Ideas

Themed Cupcake Wrappers, Stuff Parents Need

Making Cupcakes in a Heart Shape, Clever Housewife

Parchment Paper Turned Into Baking Cups, Stuff Parents Need

Square Cupcakes, Food, Family & Finds

 

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

 

7 Grill Recipes You Will LOVE! (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

· by · 1 Comment

Hello! My name is Sarah and I blog over at Bombshell Bling. I post about a little bit of everything—recipes, holidays, jewelry, baby headbands, home decor, and more! Please come visit me and say hi! I am so excited to be posting here today all about great grilling recipes, the first of which is my family’s favorite chicken recipe. It is so simple and so yummy! Mamas-Sweet-Marinade-Chicken-from-Craft-QuickiesMama’s Sweet Marinade Chicken from Bombshell Bling (formerly Craft Quickies)

Korean-Grilled-flanken-ribs-these-are-cut-across-the-bone-so-you-can-grill-them-in-minutes-not-hours-This-is-the-BEST-marinade-for-a-delicious-rib-dinner-at-sweetcsdesigns-com-ribs-koreanribsKorean Grilled Flanken Ribs from Sweet C’s Designs

grilled pizzaGrilled Summertime Pizza from White House Black Shutters

Easy-Grilled-Salmon-RecipeE asy Grilled Salmon from No. 2 Pencil
Copycat Recipe for the Red Robin California Chicken Sandwich. So simple. YUM!Red Robin Copycat California Chicken Sandwich from Bombshell Bling (formerly Craft Quickies)

Didn’t Sarah do an awesome job? I’m definitely feeling tempted to do some fall grilling, now! And I just wanted to add in a few of my own favorites for the grill, including a surprisingly delicious farmer’s market pesto, and a latin-indian fusion taco recipe that includes a killer marinade for chicken. Perfect for grilling! Enjoy! 

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

15 Slow Cooker Soup Recipes You Must Try! (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

· by · 9 Comments

My friend and fellow Reynolds Real Mom Karen Peterson has outdone herslef with these slow cooker soup recipes. They all look so flavorful and delicious. And they use one of my favorite secret weapons for EASY cooking: the slow cooker! Dig in and enjoy!
Soup for dinner in the winter is one of my very favorite things to make!  I love how it is an all-in-one dinner and how it warms me up.  I especially love to make soups in the slow cooker since I can make it early in the day and forget about it until dinner time!  Here are 15 delicious and easy slow cooker soups that will have you warmed up in no time!

Hi, I’m Karen.  My blog, 365 Days of Slow Cooking, started out as an experiment to see if I could cook 365 different slow cooker recipes in one year.  Since I’ve finished that *little* project I’ve continued to use my slow cooker and create new and better recipes.  I love food and thinking about it, planning it and of course eating it.  I love nutella, avocados, muddy buddies, mushrooms, tomatoes, peaches, berries, beans and rice, dark chocolate, cilantro, peanut butter and fried eggs…and the list goes on and on.  My first cookbook was published in March 2012 and I have new cookbook that will be out in March 2014.  Make sure to visit my site for all things slow cooking!

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list! Don’t miss the easy crock-pot recipes roundup in the mix! 

31 days of unforgettable recipes

Fish Recipes: Get Your Omega-3’s (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

· by · 2 Comments

Am I the only one totally confused by whether or not fish is something to avoid eating, on account of all the pollution in our water, or if it is something that I definitely SHOULD be eating, on account of the Omega-3 oils found in fish that have been shown to be super awesome for the heart and brain?

Ultimately, I’ve reached this conclusion: I should be taking Omega-3 supplements at least a few times each week, and I should aim to prepare a dish with fish in it at least once a week. Here’s my own list of my top 10 “go-to” fish recipes. We enjoy these dishes, and I hope you will, too!

fish recipes

Walnut-Crusted Salmon, SheKnows.com

Light and Healthy Herbed Fish and Ratatouille, Shortbreadbakery.com

Salmon Kebabs with Sweet Bourbon Glaze, Feastie.com

Honey/Dijon Crunchy Fish, Mom Its a Keeper

Idiot-Proof Fishsticks, StuffParentsNeed.com

Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia, CheeriosandLattes.com

Salmon, Asparagus and Brie Quiche, SheKnows.com

Asian-Style Fish Cakes, MyRecipes.com

Blackened Tilapia, TheHubofOurHome.com

Salmon Tacos with Jalapeno Cream, LemonsforLulu.com

That’s what is cooking at our house (once a week, at least!). What fish recipes do you love? 

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes