Its finally Friday!

It's finally Friday! I'm free again. I got my motor running for a wild weekend!

Ha! Who am I trying to kid? Working mom of two... By the time I got home tonight, I just wanted to put on my sweatpants, a comfy t-shirt, and call it a day. A nap would have been nice too, but that isn't happening. So, I am now lounging on the couch, blogging, eating supper, and watching some train-wreck of a show on tv. Even my 9 year-old is sitting at the table, eating, telling me, "Really, Mom? This show is very inappropriate..." Eeehhh... you gotta do, what you gotta do to make it through the day!

On to supper... Creamy Beef Stew served over Cheesy Grits. I am not going to say that it is the most appetizing looking meal that I have ever made, but it is nice and warm and on cold days/nights like we have been having, a bowl of this warms you from the inside.

Creamy Beef Stew
2 lb. stew meat
1 bag country style mixed veggies, or any other kind
1-2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 c. beef broth
1/2 c. to 1 c. water
1/2 c. heavy cream
gluten free flour (all purpose flour could be used)

Add all ingredients to crock pot, EXCEPT heavy cream and gluten free flour. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until meat is tender. Take lid off for 10-15 min. add in cream and flour. Allow to thicken for 15-20 min. 

Cheesy Grits
4-1/2 c. water
1 c. grits
1 c. shredded cheese of choice
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Boil water in sauce pan. Slowly stir grits in to boiling water. Cover and let simmer on low for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When grits are done, stir in cheese and garlic powder. Add salt and/or pepper to taste. 

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday... So glad to see you!

Luckily, it is finally Thursday. Unfortunately, it is ONLY Thursday! This week seems to be dragging. 

So, tonight's supper is a great way to fix chicken and a bonus... it is SUPER EASY! I have used this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and also chicken thighs (boneless/skinless and regular). Tonight, I used chicken thighs. The side tonight is Cream Cheese Corn! I really like to serve it with smoked pork butt or bbq chicken. It truly is heaven on a plate. I think I could eat just a pan of that, and nothing else! Mmmm...

Brown Sugar Bacon Chili Chicken
6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, etc.1 package bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
Cooking Spray

Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray 9x13 or sided pan with cooking spray. Combine the brown sugar and chili powder in a bowl.  Wrap each piece of chicken with one piece of bacon. Repeat for all the chicken.  Roll each piece of chicken and bacon in the brown sugar and chili powder mixture.
Cook for 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

The original recipe that I tweaked for this recipe, was for Chicken Bacon Bites.


Cream Cheese Corn
2 c. frozen corn
small amount of water
4 oz. cream cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Put 1/2 inch to 1 inch of water in a sauce pan, bring to a boil. Add in frozen corn. Once it returns to a boil, simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the corn is cooked. Remove from heat, drain off any excess liquid. Stir in cream cheese, until melted. Salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy!!

The end is near... and Taco Pasta!

Well, I had an appointment today with my new doc of integrative medicine. She is AWESOME, by the way! If you noticed that I titled this post, "The end is near..." there is a reason for that. See, the man I am married to really only wants beef, in some random form, for supper EVERY night. Well, on one of my previous food allergy blood screenings, my beef marker was rather high. It was not QUITE high enough to be labeled an actual "food sensitivity/allergy," but, it was VERY close. The words out of her mouth were, "I am very concerned about this beef level." So... if I end up having to cut that down, well, for him, the end very much is near. (I can already hear him groaning and complaining.)

So, now that you have heard the highlight of my day, on to supper! Oh, wait... she also really wants me to cut out my 1st thing in the morning Dr. Pepper! Uuummm.... I.MIGHT.DIE!! That will be all!!

Oh! Here is tonight's Taco Pasta! VERY yummy, FYI! You will also notice that we have a lot of salad, as a side. But, in my defense, when I get home after working with children all day (other than my own) and have an hour (or usually less) to get a meal ready... well, salad is EASY!

Taco Pasta
1 lb. ground beef 
8 oz. dry pasta of your choice (I use gluten free)
1 small onion, chopped (or 1 Tbsp minced dried onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
3 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. sour cream
Shredded Cheese for topping (optional, but not an option in this house!)

Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set to the side.

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion, over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Once the meat is cooked through, drain off excess fat and stir in the garlic. Let cook for about 30 seconds or so. Mix in the salsa and taco seasoning, simmer for approximately 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream, and reserved pasta water. Continue stirring until, the cream cheese is melted and everything is all mixed together well. Top with shredded cheese and more sour cream and salsa, if desired.

Sooo... What's for supper tonight?

Tonight's supper is what I call Hamburger French Onion Casserole.

This is a recipe that my sister had told me about. I had only asked her for the recipe, and she had given it to me 423 times, before I finally got the stuff at the store to make it.  By the way, this really is a "dump" recipe for me. So, the amounts are flexible. 

Ok, so enough rambling... here is the good stuff (food porn)!!

Hamburger French Onion Casserole

1 lb. hamburger browned (make sure you actually turn the burner on to cook the meat, don't ask!)

1 jar prepared cheese dip (plain)

1 c. frozen corn

1 bag French fried onions

1 pkg. Loaded Instant Potatoes or make up some mashed potatoes (about 4 potatoes) and add some sour cream, bacon bits, etc.

Preheat oven to 350*. Brown hamburger, drain and put in casserole dish. Add in about 1/2 c. - 3/4 c. cheese sauce. You want enough to coat the hamburger good. Stir in about 2/3 c. of the French fried onions. Spread that all out evenly, in the dish. Top with the frozen corn. Next, spread mashed potatoes over the top of the corn layer. Add an additional 1/2 c. or so of the cheese sauce on top of that layer, and top with more French fried onions.  Bake for 30-45 min.

Welcome!!

Welcome!! 

Take a look around (there really isn't much to look at right now...), make yourself comfortable!

Well, I should start off by letting you know how this whole blog was born. It all started, just the other day, actually! My friend, we will call her Adrienne ;) was nagging and harping (ok, so she only mentioned it once, no over dramatization here!) at me to start a blog, to keep her updated with all of the recipes that I make. 

So! There you have the exciting (or not) story of the birth of Musings and Mischief of a Desperate Wife, Mother, and Stinky Pete Lover!

Later, I will share more with you on what or exactly Stinky Pete is.