Apricot Chicken Thighs

I have seen this recipe floating around different sites for several years now. Every time I saw it, it received raving reviews about how good it is. I finally broke down and got all the stuff to make it. The original recipe served it over rice. We just had rice last night, so I opted for meeting the demands of my youngest child and made mashed potatoes instead. It was VERY good. I really liked the sauce and best of all... it was SUPER easy to whip up and throw in the oven. I saw a couple reviewers, on other sites, saying they would make 1/2 the sauce recipe, since it makes so much sauce... I think that is perfectly doable and would not leave the chicken dry or anything.

Enjoy!

Apricot Chicken Thighs

8 oz. Russian salad dressing
8 oz. apricot preserves
1 pkt. dry onion soup mix
6-8 chicken thighs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken thighs in casserole dish. In bowl, mix together remaining ingredients, pour over chicken. Make sure all pieces of chicken are coated well with sauce mixture. Bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is done. I also turned on the broiler for about 3-5 minutes to get the sauce boiling good, to help thicken it up. Serve over rice or with mashed potatoes. I
Original recipe: Bombshellbling

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Burgers!!

Ok, so tonight's supper is ABSOLUTELY amazing!! This recipe came from Pinterest. One of my Stinky Pete girls found it on there and was nice enough to share. Boy am I glad that she did! Wow!! These burgers are SOOOO good! You HAVE to make these... A.MAZ.ING!

Enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Burgers
2 lb. ground beef
1/2 C. bbq sauce
1 can sliced pineapple, drained
sliced bacon, enough for 2 pieces per burger

Prepare grill for cooking. In a large bowl, mix together ground beef and barbecue sauce. (I used a combination of ground beef and ground pork). Season with salt and pepper.
Shape mixture into patties. Lay two pieces of bacon in a X shape. Place a patty in the middle, then place a slice of pineapple on top of each. Fold bacon up and around the patty and pineapple slice, and secure with toothpicks. Place burgers on grill over medium low heat. Cook, covered, until the burger is cooked through. Turn as needed.
Original recipe: Allrecipes

Gluten Free Cowboy Pasta

Well, after taking the oldest to a birthday party, and wasting two hours of time... in glorious silence by myself... I had to come home and decide on something to feed the peoples that seem to inhabit my house. The cupboards are almost bare and nobody was giving very useful ideas on what I should make... So, where do I go to find a recipe, the heavenly world of Pinterest, of course. After browsing around for a short while, I found a recipe that I could adapt and make work. It turned out great!

Enjoy!

Cowboy Pasta

1 lb. hamburger meat
1 can chili beans
12 oz. gluten free pasta, cooked

8 oz. Velveeta, cubed
1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
salt and pepper for taste

Brown hamburger in large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, drain. While hamburger is browning, cook pasta in separate pot. Drain pasta, when done cooking. Add chili beans and diced tomatoes with chilies to hamburger in skillet. Add cooked pasta to skillet. Turn heat to low and stir in Velveeta. Stir periodically, until Velveeta is melted. Salt and pepper to taste.
Original recipe: Danisrecipecreations 

Fresh Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cake Gluten Free

So, I was browsing Pinterest the other day... A couple minutes quickly turned into a couple hours! I can easily get lost within the world of Pinterest. Anyway... I came across this most delicious looking cake! It has two of my most favoritest things EVER! Strawberries... and... chocolate! I mean, how could you go wrong?! And, since I am being the meanest mom ever and making my children eat leftovers for supper... I thought this might sweeten the deal a bit, lessen the torture. We shall see!

In order to try to "behave," I wanted this to be gluten free. Also, I was being too lazy to try to make a gluten free cake from scratch, so I called on my good friend, Betty... Betty Crocker! I love her! 

Enjoy!

Fresh Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cake (gluten free)

1 gluten free white or yellow cake mix

All the ingredients called for on the box mix

Fresh strawberries, sliced

Mini-chocolate chips

Powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix up cake mix, as directed on the box. Fold in 1/2 C. mini-chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Lay sliced strawberries, cut side down, on top of cake batter. You can use as many as you want. Sprinkle additional mini-chocolate chips around strawberries. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Original recipe: Juliasalbum

Creamy Taco Soup

So, yesterday was cold and it snowed almost all day. The snow was beautiful while it was falling. I am just glad that I didn't have to get out in it though. So, what would be nice and warm and soothing, when it is cold and snowy outside... SOUP! I love taco soup... It is one of my favorites, but I thought that this creamy taco soup sounded even more amazing, and... well.. IT WAS!! 

Enjoy!

Creamy Taco Soup

2 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (8-oz) pkg. cream cheese, cut into small pieces and softened
1 (10-oz) can tomatoes and green chilis

1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes with onions
1 (32-oz) carton beef broth
1⁄2 C. heavy cream

Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic in a stock pot over medium-high heat until meat is crumbly, drain. Add cumin and chili powder, cook 1 minute. Add cream cheese, cook until well combined, stirring constantly. Stir in tomatoes, broth, and cream. Add water until soup is desired consistency. Cook until soup is thoroughly heated.

NOTE: Original recipe called for 2 cants of tomatoes with green chilis, I used one can of Rotel and one can of diced tomatoes. I didn't want it to be too hot for the girls.

Original recipe: emeals