Super Simple Supper (Recipe: Walking Tacos)

by Kristen on July 27, 2010

Sometimes it is the most simple of ideas that makes you slap your forehead and say, “Duh… why didn’t I think of that?” That is how I feel about this recipe for Walking Tacos. Such a simple idea, inspired by a day at the county fair.

School will be starting again in just a short few weeks, which means that our schedules go from just slightly hectic to crazy always rushing around and hurrying out the door hectic. This holds true for dinnertime during the school year too, which usually has to be eaten around the table really late at night or snatched to eat on the go in the car. I will be 100% honest when I say I value family meal time more than just about any other ritual in our home, but as my kids get older and more involved in extracurricular activities, I recognize that a sit down dinner with all 6 of us together just isn’t going to happen every night. The next best thing is a home cooked meal that can be eaten on the go.

No, these walking tacos aren’t the healthiest of options, but I bet they are better than what you can get when you make a visit to your friendly neighborhood drive through. Plus, you can add beans, corn, veggies… you can add all kids of things to sneak some healthy into your bag.

The next time you are tempted to just give your kid another sandwich as you walk out the door to the next event, think again and think inside the bag… Walking Tacos. A delicious and hearty dinner that is about as super simple as you can get!

Recipe: Walking Tacos

Directions:

  • With your browned grown beef still in the skillet, add the Bush’s black beans, 3 Tbs of water and your taco seasoning. Heat through.
  • Gently take each individual bag of chips and crush the chips. Once the chips are crushed, cut open the top of the bag.
  • Scoop your taco meat/bean mixture into the bag. Top with your favorite toppings…tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, avocados, sour cream…whatever your heart desires.
  • Take a spoon and stir your chips / taco meat creation together
  • Head out the door with your walking taco bag  in your hand and a spoon and enjoy a hearty dinner on the run!




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In Memory of Ann (Recipe for Life)

by Kristen on July 23, 2010

Photo courtesy of my friend, Heather Morrow, from Hocus Focus Photo.

You’ll have to excuse me for this one post, as there is nothing food related involved.

You may remember a post I wrote last September about my friend Ann and her heart touching vow renewal ceremony with her husband, Hal, of 10 years. Ann, if you will recall, had been facing a brave battle with cancer for the past 9 years. This past Saturday, July 17th, Ann was taken from our world and is now in heaven, I am sure relieved to be rid of the illness that has been inflicting her body for the past 9 years.

This past Wednesday evening was her visitation. Instead of getting a babysitter, my husband and I decided to split up. He’d go first, come back home to watch the kids, and then I would go. As I was standing in the long line, a true testament to how much Ann was loved, I started to get frustrated with myself. “I should have just gotten a babysitter. I want my husband with me. This is not the kind of thing anyone should have to do alone.” Even though I was surrounded by friends, I wanted Nick, my rock, with me more than anything.

As I got closer to the front of the line where Hal was standing, I looked up and noticed him, standing all by himself, accepting the condolences of friends and loved ones. “This is not the kind of thing anyone should have to do alone.” His plus one, his shoulder to lean on, his best friend, his parenting ally… his person who should be doing this type of thing with him is gone. It just isn’t right.

Watching Hal and Ann over the past nine years, as they have faced cancer head on, has been one of the most incredible things I have ever witnessed. As I reflect back on what Ann and Hal have taught me through their example of faith and love, there are a few key things that I will take away from having the honor of knowing Ann.

  • Always have faith. Always. Ann’s faith in God through her battle with cancer has been unrelenting. With every dose of suffering, she accepted it and gave it all up to God. If you want to be touched forever by her incredible faith, all you have to do is go to the final blog post she was able to write on July 4th, 2010.
  • Value your friendships. Ann was always one of those people who truly made time for her friends. Even though she was feeling crappy. Even though she may not have been up for it. Ann knew the value of friendship and made her friends a priority in her life. It was witnessed yesterday in the rows and rows and rows of pews filled with people mourning her death at the funeral. From her closest of friends in the front row, to those of us who were lucky enough to call her a friend scattered throughout the church, there is not a single person who knew Ann who won’t say that watching what unfolded over the past 9 years was not a true testament to the value of friendship.
  • Be real. Ann was about as real and authentic as it gets. She didn’t try to be someone else. She didn’t mince her feelings. She was real, honest and raw.
  • Be courageous. In the face of death, she showed an incredible amount of courage. In the face of cancer, she showed an incredible amount of courage. Many times, we’d all wonder, “how can she be so strong?”, but she was. She was one of the most courageous women I have ever met and I will forever be reminded of her strength, especially when I am feeling whiny and pathetic.
  • Have fun. Ann turned shaving her head into a big party and then transformed herself into “Foxy Roxy” with her pink wig. Her laugh was infectious. There is no doubt that Ann knew how to have fun. Sometimes, attitude is everything, and Ann proved that to be true each and every day.

I hope that, even though many of you didn’t know Ann, you will take a look through her blog and be touched by her faith, courage and love. She will be deeply missed but always remembered.

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When you are a mom, especially with a curious and very busy toddler on your hands, turning your back for just a few minutes can lead to lots of extra work for you. This is a picture of Leah after she decided to eat a Red Crayola Marker (thankfully non-toxic) for dinner while I was on the phone with my friend, Amy from She Wears Many Hats. Doesn’t she look so pleased with her little self? Mmmmm….markers. Little stinker.

As much as I love to cook, making dinner with this little one constantly under my feet or into something has become a bit of a challenge. I have to either make the decision to 1) let her get into anything and everything, which will make her quiet and happy but triple my cleanup work or 2) hold her and entertain her while I also stir, sautee, slice, boil, steam, etc. Since she is the fourth kid, I’ll admit that I probably let her get into things just to keep her quiet more often than the alternative (and now that I have the joy of older kids, they get to come and clean up after her! Parenthood is paying off!)

Instead of spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately, I’ve been going for those dinners that are quick and easy to put on the table, simply so I don’t have to do the dinner disco with Leah under my feet. The crockpot has been taken out of the cupboards and dusted off for use more often. “Fast Foods” (like shrimp, polish turkey sausage, pasta) are making a regular appearance on our weekly menus. Anything I can do to get dinner on the table without a lot of time devoted by me is pretty much what is happening anymore.

This recipe from the May / June 2010 issue of Cooking with Paula Deen magazine caught my eye for just that reason. It is quick, easy, hearty and since I was going to be cleaning red marker off of Leah’s face, I might as well let her get all down and dirty with the red sauce from this dish.

What are your tips for keeping the kiddos out from under your feet while you cook dinner?

Skillet Ravioli (adapted from the May / June 2010 issue of Cooking with Paula Deen)

1 (20-oz) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli, cooked according to package directions and kept warm
1 lb. ground beef
2 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
2 T. Italian-style tomato paste
1 t. dries parsley (I used fresh)
1 t. dried basil (I used fresh)
1/2 t. garlic salt
1 c. shredded parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat for 8 to10 minutes or until browned and crumbly; drain. Return beef to pan, and add tomato sauce, paste, parsley, basil, and garlic salt; cook 6 minutes or until heated through.
Add cooked ravioli to tomato sauce. Sprinkle with cheese, and serve immediately.




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Let’s face it everyone… chicken legs are ugly. Really, there is nothing at all picturesque about a chicken leg sitting on a plate. In fact, I almost nixed sharing this recipe with you for two main reasons.

  1. This is a delicious recipe, however it comes no where close to the amazing Oven Baked Chicken Legs I posted awhile back from Chaos in the Kitchen. Don’t blame this Garlic Chicken Leg recipe though… nothing I ever bake that has to do with chicken legs will EVER come close to those oven baked chicken drumsticks from Chaos in the Kitchen. It’s a fact. I know this before I even try any other chicken leg recipe. Trust me. That is one delicious recipe.
  2. Chicken Legs / Chicken Drumsticks are just plain ugly. Trying to take a pretty picture of ugly food is not at all easy. Try it sometime. It’s hard, I say…really hard. My picture above is proof.

Why am I sharing this recipe with you then? Three reasons.

  1. I kind of felt sorry for this picture, sitting alone in my food photography folder, looking at all of the other photos being chosen and wondering “why not me?” Lesson learned…ugly photos need love too.
  2. This recipe is so simple. Like most Crockpot chicken recipes, you can just throw it in the crockpot and run away, leaving the flavors and seasonings to party with the chicken all day and then at dinnertime, you have a tasty and delicious meal.
  3. Last but not least, even though this slow cooker chicken leg recipe is not as good as the baked chicken leg recipe from Chaos in the Kitchen, it is nice to have another recipe for chicken legs to fall back to on those days where we want something different than our current standby. (Although my kids would probably disagree that we ever would need to digress away from the baked chicken legs. That is one recipe that everyone in my family will eat 2nd and 3rds on!)

If you love your Crockpot and you love chicken legs, even though they are kind of ugly, I think you would love this recipe. The chicken legs may not be pretty, but they sure are tasty!

Super Garlic Chicken Legs for the Crockpot / Slow Cooker (Adapted from Food.com – and yes… this die hard Recipezaar user is having a hard time adjusting to the site change, in case you are wondering!)

  • 6 chicken legs (more or less as needed)
  • 20 garlic cloves (papery skins left on)
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  1. Place garlic cloves in crock pot.
  2. Mix spices together in med bowl.
  3. Pour oil into separate med bowl.
  4. Dip chicken legs in oil, then roll around in spice bowl, until chicken is nicely coated in spices.
  5. Place chicken legs in crock pot with garlic cloves surrounding it.
  6. Pour chicken broth over all ingredients.
  7. Cook on Low for 8 hours.
  8. After removing the chicken legs from the Crock Pot, I placed them on a cookie sheet brushed with olive oil and put them under the broiler on high for 5 minutes. This helped to crispy up the outsides some.




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Guest Post – New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Mallery

July 17, 2010

Susan Mallery is the New York Times bestselling author of romance and women’s fiction novels. Her funny, sexy romances explore the idea that we’re all looking for family, a place to belong. Her most recent series, Fool’s Gold romances, has been a big hit with readers around the world. Read free excerpts of the first [...]

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A Little Know It All (Recipe: Epicurious Vodka and Watermelon Cooler)

July 15, 2010

Earlier this week, my husband walked in the door from a long day at work and I immediately handed him a drink. “What’s this for?”, he asked. “I needed a drink and I felt guilty drinking alone, so I’ve been waiting anxiously for you to come home so I can have my drink.” I don’t [...]

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An Old Favorite (Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Garlic Lime Sauce)

July 13, 2010

One of the difficult things about being a food blogger, and when I say difficult I mean that in the loosest of terms, is remembering that not all things you cook have to be new and exciting. It is okay to revisit some old favorites every now and then. Don’t you find that to be [...]

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Getting Steamy with Thermador (Recipe: Buttermilk Syrup for Pancakes)

July 11, 2010

Hang tight through the length of this post because at the very end is a recipe from Thermador’s very own, Chef Brad, for the most delicious pancake syrup I have ever tried. What do you get when you combine 20 bloggers with a passion for food, one incredible company who is known for their quality [...]

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The Monster at the End of this Blog Post (Recipe: Monster Cookies)

July 6, 2010

Warning…there is a monster at the end of this blog post… One of my favorite books as a child was The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone and illustrated by Mike Smollin. Do any of you remember that book? Furry, lovable, Grover from Sesame Street reads the front cover of the [...]

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Why Bother Blogging? (Recipe – Italian Style Rice & Beans)

June 28, 2010

I just returned from the beautiful Canyons Resort in Park City, UT where I was fortunate enough to attend the first annual Evo ’10 Conference (Foodies – I know you want to think that Evo has something to do with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but it is really The Evolution of Women in Social Media). [...]

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