Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

As promised I have a new recipe, Stuffed Bell Peppers. I decided to use turkey meat again instead of sausage or beef. The whole family loved them. So super easy to make and pretty quick I might add. I think we will be making these again in the near future so Yummy!


6 medium to small bell peppers
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound of lean ground turkey
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 cups of your favorite salsa
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup shredded cheese
avocados
sour cream



Heat oven to 350
Cut bell peppers in half and remove the seeds.
In a large skillet over a medium heat, brown turkey with onions.
Add minced garlic, chili powder & cumin, stir and cook for 5 mins.
Stir in salsa & rice, cook for 10 mins.
Place cut peppers in casserole dish and divide the turkey mixture up evenly among them.
Top with cheese.
Bake for 10 mins.
Serve with sliced avocados & sour cream.


Enjoy
Tara

*Original recipe from:
Heat Oven to 350




















Tuesday, November 13, 2012

ThanksGiving food...

What is your favorite thing that you look forward to on Thanksgiving?
I personally Love sweet potatoes!! & then of course all the sweets!

Please comment with your favorite I would love to know!

Thanks
Tara

9 days till Black Friday!! Crazy!

Here are a few ads you may wanna check out :0


Kohls

Little Tikes

Shopko

HomeMade Sloppy Joes




1 pound ground turkey
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 small onion, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
3 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp yellow mustard
salt to taste (about 1 tsp)
black pepper to taste (about 1 tbsp- yes I love pepper)


Brown your meat in a large skillet. 
Once browned add, onion, bell pepper, garlic. cook for a few minutes to let the onion & bell pepper soften.
add ketchup, stir until combined.
add salt & pepper, mix well.
add water, mix well.
Next add, brown sugar, chili powder & mustard. Combine well.
cover & let simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Toast up your buns & your ready to eat! 


Enjoy!
Tara

*adapted from

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Turkey Shepard's pie

This is partly my mom's recipe with my own twist. I like to use healthy request tomato basil soup instead of tomato soup & I cook turkey meat instead of hamburger
is a family favorite

1-2 pounds turkey meat ( or hamburger)
2 cans heathy request tomato basil soup
2 cans green beans
2 tsp worcestershire
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
potatoes ( I use instant, they are much easier & taste just as great)
shredded cheese

Brown the meat in a large skillet.
Add your worcestershire & garlic to the meat.
When it is fully cooked add the tomato soup, green beans, salt and pepper. stir well. cover.
In the meantime make your instant potatoes by following the directions. I have found that using the betty crocker ones it takes 2. I like the loaded mashed potato ones they carry.
Once the potatoes are done add evenly on top of the meat mixture then cover with cheese. turn your burner to low and cover for 5 mins.
Enjoy!
Tara








Veterans Day..

On this Veterans Day, let us take time to remember all those who have fought for this country! As a proud US Navy wife I believe that the men & women who have fought for this country should be recognized every day for the service that they have given so that we can have our freedoms.
I am so proud and thankful to my husband for the sacrifices that he gives for us. I know how hard it is on me & the kids when he leaves to go on long deployments and I cant begin to imagine what he goes threw being so far away from us!
I am lucky in that my husband is not a soldier that goes into the battles on foot, my husband goes out on huge carriers, this thing carries a whole city. Even with him not on the ground they still go into dangerous waters. While serving on the USS Carl Vinson he was with one of the groups to give the first strikes after 911 happened. At the time I was very very young, not married to my husband but part of his family (his sister is my best friend), I remember not being able to have any communications with him and how worried everyone was. 
Those guys who are on the front lines see some things that us as americans can't imagine. I have some family who has been on the ground and came home much different than when they left. They will never get the things that they witnessed out of the their minds. 
Us at the Military Ball last night
Last night I was able to have the honor of attending the 17th annual Military Ball sponsored by the Ventura California Navy League. What a wonderful night.
You cant have any more pride as an american than when you are sitting in a room full of past and current military. There were as far back as WW2 veterans to our current Veterans serving. We were able to listen to some great war stories. One of the speakers was Colonel John Fer, he was held captive for 6 years with senator John McCain. It was amazing listening to him. I felt so honored, just such an amazing night. Great way to start off the Veterans Day weekend.

I hope you were able to thank a Veteran today for their service and remember that you should continue to remember them all year long for the freedoms that you have because of them.

This is me with my Handsome Sailor in 2007, he had just gotten off the ship from a 6 month deployment

Friday, November 9, 2012

Mommy-hood calls...

Tantrums...!
As a mom of a 3 year old I ask you, When will the tantrums stop!
Every one said that the terrible 2's were terrible. But I really believe it is the 3's. Our son did great at the 2's. Then seriously about 3 weeks after turning 3 he turned a page.
Now, I must also state that a week before his 3rd birthday I gave birth to his baby sister and I expected him to have a hard time and not like her, but he loves her. will always be a big helper if I need him to. But my problem is he has decided that no is the greatest word ever, but its not only that it is, "don't look at me mommy!" and followed within seconds with "look at me mommy!" lol I cant win. Lets just say he is getting a great view of his room lately.
Now I must say that these luckily are not every day all day. but possibly 3 times a week. and usually I am to blame with it. He is a schedule kid. He runs best on one. and if we throw him off at all, we pay for it. like if I am busy and we miss nap time. My little boy needs his naps... Its fuel for a sweet little boy.
Anyone else have a 3 year old with this same tantrums? I feel like I am probably not the only one.
Just remember that when your kid is uncontrollable in public places and you are trying to get them to calm down and you feel like everyone is staring at you....the moms who have been in your same place look at you and think "I feel your pain." Try to just breathe and hope this stage ends quickly... I mean thats what I am trying to do :)

Look at this sweet face..how he ever have tantrums??
I sure think he is so handsome & a little love despite the tantrums. :)


<3 Tara




Also look for my posts on sunday.
We are going to a Navy League dinner tomorrow night, I will be snapping a few photos for memory sake...
and also...
Don't forget that Sunday is Veterans day!! Remember to thank a service member for all that they do..maybe buy them a drink or something :)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Sweet n Sour Chicken & Rice cooker Fried Rice

Where do I even begin... this is such a yummy meal! We ended up with left overs but my Hubby took them for lunch today, he was so excited to get to have this again.

Here are the 2 recipes you will need to make this yummy meal.
Enjoy!

Sweet n Sour Chicken:
the breading:
3-5 chicken breast
salt & pepper
2 cups corn starch
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 oil

Rinse the chicken. trim off the fat and cut into 1 inch cubes. season with salt & pepper. dip chicken into corn starch and coat all the way with the eggs.
Heat oil in a large skillet. cook until golden brown. place in a 9x12 pan.

sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

whisk until smooth. then pour evenly over the chicken. Turn the chicken as to coat all sides.
bake in the oven at 350 for 15 mins, then stir and cook for 15 more minutes.

I like my food with a little Kick! so I sprinkled red pepper flakes over my chicken.

Recipe found at:
Made it, Ate it, Loved it



Rice Cooker Fried Rice:
2 cups beef stalk
2 cups rice
1 Tbsp oil
2-3 slices of the thick cut ham, cubed
1 onion, sliced
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup frozen mixed veggies, peas & carrots
2 Tbsp soy sauce

Turn on the rice cooker and let it get hot, about 10 mins. the add oil, onion, meat & garlic. stir until the onion starts to soften. Add rice stir well. add frozen veggies & beef stalk, mix well. turn in the rice cooker to cook the normal way that you use it & let it do its magic! after all done you can add a tiny bit of soy sauce.

Recipe found at:
The Recipe Critic


Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankful Tree

My son is getting old enough that this year I wanted to start something new for the month of November and the thankful season.

I decided to craft together a tree with leaves that our whole family could write every day what they are thankful for. My husband informed me that if we all did a leaf every day that it would almost be 100 leaves! I told him that the space is big enough to hold as many leaves as needed :)
My family says our prayers every night and states what we are thankful for, but I wanted everyone to have an opportunity to list what makes them happy & thankful.
For my son's first leaf he stated that he was thankful for Cars.
(he is 3 and thats all he ever wants to play with )

My son "helped" in drawing out the tree and cutting. Then I found This free template online of a leaf and printed out a bunch.

The paper I used is just brown wrapping paper & then construction paper for the leaves.
I hope this idea can help you to remember to give thanks during this holiday season

Tara





Crockpot Country Style Pork Ribs

I decided it had been quite a few months since I had made ribs, actually probably been a Year.
I decided that since I could not for the life of me find the recipe I once had used that I would experiment with something on my own. ( you will find that I do this a lot)

Here is what you will need:

Crockpot
6 pounds boneless country style pork ribs
2 1/2 cups BBQ sauce ( I used Kraft)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 coke

Add all of your ribs in your crockpot ( I know that 6 pounds is a lot, but we like to have plenty of left overs), then just start adding all of the ingredients. I added the Coke first and then everything else. Cover and cook for 6 hrs on High.

Enjoy
Tara

Welcome


Getting to know a  little about me.
My name is Tara.
I am a wife & SAHM to 2 beautiful children, Mr curls & Baby Mack :)
I am a proud US Navy Wife.
Been married to my best friend since 2005.
I am originally from Salt Lake City, Utah.
While being married we have lived in Point Mugu, CA & Twin Falls, Idaho.

I love to dabble in a bunch of things, like photography, cooking & crafts.

I started this blog to share my recipes, photos & ideas.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions and/or recipes that you want me to try out.

Thank You for stopping by.

Tara