Sloppy Joe Taters

It's no secret I love (almost) anything stuffed into a potato. I enjoy taking my favorite sandwiches and turning them into instant, filling meals that my little family will enjoy. So Hello Joe!

I just bake a few potatoes (either in the oven or crockpot), brown ground beef or turkey with a chopped half of an onion, then simmer in the sloppy joe sauce. Top the potato with the sloppy joe mix and cheddar cheese. Yum! You can also simmer the meat and onion with barbecue sauce instead of the sloppy joe sauce, or a mix of ketchup and mustard with makes is really sweet and tangy. Quick, easy and a pleaser.

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Home renovations update

It has been a busy few weeks since the Christmas. In old married couple fashion, we spent NYE demoing and laying down new hardwood floors. It was quite the task, especially considering I decided to get a bad cold part way through - rendering me completely useless for almost a week. 

But we are finally finished and they look amazing. 

Next up, new baseboards. We had plain-jane 1994 builder grade baseboards that were a little beat up, plus we never loved them. We figured it was the perfect time to upgrade those downstairs since we were ripping off the old ones. We are looking at getting taller ones, maybe around 4". This is the look we are going for:

More photos to come as we keep on trucking with our DIY!

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Christmas Recap and Renovations

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I know that we really enjoyed ours.   We baked cookies

We looked at lights

We decorated cookies at home and with friends

I maintained my sanity

 

We remembered the birds

 

Santa came

 

...and then, when the tree came down we started ripping up our floors! Yes, we are insane. I've been wanting wood floors since we bought this house 6 years ago and we are finally getting around to doing it. It's a TON of work but I know it will be worth it in the end.

 I wonder if this beautiful linoleum is original to our 1994 house?

We are doing the whole downstairs, which includes the foyer, kitchen, dining room, living room and a half bath. We chose a darker pecan wood in varying widths. I'm totally ready to not be living in a construction site with 2 dogs and a 2 year old. More pics to come as we keep rolling on!

Happy New Floors Year!






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8 More Days till Christmas!

Slow down December! I still have 8,000 things on my holiday bucket list!! Per what is becoming a yearly tradition, we went to Opryland hotel in Nashville to visit with Santa. Let me tell you, middle of the week is the time to go. There were not crowds of people, and no line for Santa. Let me repeat, NO LINE FOR SANTA.

 

 

 

He was a really good Santa. They took another good photo of her looking up at him, telling him what she wants for Christmas but I couldn't pass up choosing this sweet smile.

 

 There was no way we were leaving without getting some delicious gelato. She chose peppermint and was a sweetie to share it with mama. Daddy got peppermint mocha and it was insane as well.

There were tons of little scenes set up all over. Lots of different snowmen figures. This set was see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Love that they let the kids touch and interact with the set ups. 

And of course we had to take our mommy / daughter photo in front of the magnificent poinsettia "tree". I have always been amazed by these huge displays since I was a child and my parents brought me to Opryland for the holidays. 

 

Here's last years:

Please slow down growing little one... Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Traditions

Growing up (and let's face it, now), if it's a Christmas activity I want in on the fun. I have always crammed as much baking and yuletide crafts as one possibly can in a short month. (The shortest month of the year if you ask me). 

 

When I was little, I always made a gingerbread house. But back in the day, you couldn't find all these perfect little gingerbread house kits that include everything you need. My mom, bless her, isn't so crafty. She never baked me up walls and a roof for my little houses. So, I used what we had around the kitchen. Usually graham crackers, sometimes saltines and squeeze cheese. My parents always told me how beautiful they were, but now that I'm a parent I know they were tossing back eggnog and laughing till they cried.  

 

I'm pretty sure those windows are made out of cheese...

This year was Mally's first time to do a gingerbread house with me. Needless to say, she love it as much as I do.

We got this tiny house kit at Target for like $2.50. It came with the house pieces, some small candies and the frosting! I added in some extra candy and sprinkles from our stash. (Yes, we have a massive stash of sprinkles for every occasion.)

Turned out adorable! I am so excited to start this tradition with my little one and hope she looks forward to doing it each year as I do!

Happy Holidays!

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Our Family Advent Calendar

We had such a nice holiday weekend. Full of too much turkey, a trip to the movies to see The Good Dinosaur (bring tissues...), and some Christmas decorating.

She loved, loved, LOVED adding ornaments to the tree. She brought in her little stool from the bathroom and hung every ornament I would give her on the same branch. I had to keep coming behind her and moving them. She also wants every tree and ornament to all be in HER room. She already has a nice little artificial tree but she needs MORE CHRISTMAS! I hear you little one, me too...

We also have started a new tradition in the house. The advent calendar! I never did these growing up. My husband's mom would get the little cardboard ones where there is a chocolate behind each door. Downside? Had to share with his 2 sisters. So that's only like 8 pieces of candy! I purchased an advent calendar from Pottery Barn Kids. For some reason, in my head, it was like poster sized.. Nope, it's enormous. And I love it.

I've filled it with little goodies like socks, gloves, candy, small ornaments for her tree and some fun activities for us to do together or as a family. Like making and delivering goodies or dropping off little secret gifts to friends. Of course we are going to also incorporate the true meaning of Christmas along with the fun.

     
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Thanksgiving Planning

We have two Thanksgivings each year. That's right, two turkeys, multiple pies, cranberry sauce you name it. The first Thanksgiving is at my mother's house each year. It takes place on actual Thanksgiving. We typically have shrimp bisque for the first course and fried turkey with dressing and sides. 

 

Our second thanksgiving is at my in-laws. It always takes place a day or two after actual thanksgiving (which is good news for us!). They always oven roast their turkey and stuff it with stuffing and serve it with traditional sides. 

I love to cook, but I am always delegated to appetizers, small sides or dessert. I make a pretty mean apple pie, but it's SUPER time consuming. I haven't made it since I had my daughter, but I'm sure I will get it going again soon enough. This year, I am making homemade rolls for T1, and THIS pumpkin cream cheese pie for T2. I may make some cinnamon butter to go with the rolls, or try and sneak in an appetizer to one of the gatherings. 

For those with a bread machine (one of my favorite appliances), here's my easy go-to dinner roll recipe:

Easy Dinner Rolls, makes 12

 

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, room temp and enough hot water to equal 3/4 cup when placed together in a measuring cup
• 2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 Cups All purpose flour
• 1 tsp Dry Active Yeast

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to bread machine in order shown. Set machine on "dough" setting
2. Place dough on a floured surface and divide into 12 pieces and shape.
3. Let rise on a greased baking sheet for 30 minutes or until double in size (you can cut time in half if your oven has a proofing setting)
4. Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

 

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