Jeans on Major SALE!

I love a good deal! 

I was reading one of my favorite bloggers and she was doing an instagram roundup. She posted about some seriously distressed jeans and I loved them. I decided to click on the link since she said they were under $60. When I clicked I saw they were an additional 40% off. I knew I needed to have them! I had a little extra time before going to get the DeetDee, so I ran into Nordstrom quick to try on the jeans. They were on the sale rack and a cute little sales clerk assisted me in finding my size. I am usually a 31 because I love bread, so I asked her to give me that size and a 30 just in case they ran big. I ended up with a 29. YES! 

STS Jeans 

On major sale right now!

They fit great. I love how they don't feel too constricting like other jeans I have. I love when jeans have some spandex in them. I am curvy and have a tummy. I like control in the thighs and waist but to still be able to walk around and not look like Gumby. 

I also picked up these...

Saltwater Sandals

I love these sandals on DeetDee. We bought her the brown ones a year ago and she can still fit them. I bought her the white ones for Easter and for a couple of dresses I picked up on major sale at Janie and Jack. These sandals fit so nice. They come with special instructions on how to shape them to your child's foot. We didn't have to do it though since they fit just right on her. 

The hubby picked her up some new tennis shoes for school. She was in a 6 and really could use a 

6-1/2 but the sales associate told us that children don't have half sizes. We went up to a size 7 and they fit perfectly. Most 7's are too big for her. I will try to blog about the new shoes this week along with the dresses I picked up for her. 

Oreo Dessert/MUD

My baby brother loves this dessert. We used to go to my grandmother's house for the summer. She would always make this dessert and we referred to it as MUD. We loved MUD and would eat an entire bowl of it in 2 days. It was the best.

I had a craving for MUD this past weekend, so I decided to make it for my family. While my metabolism will no longer allow me to enjoy MUD in 2 days without repercussions to the thighs and waist line, I was able to share it with the family and get in a few bowls. I mean do calories count on the weekends? Oh to be young again......

This dessert is super rich, so a little is all you need. But if you have kids or just want to indulge, then this dessert is for you.

MUD

1 pkg. Oreo Cookies

1 stick of butter (melted)

1-8oz. cream cheese

2-12 oz Cool Whip

1 small instant french vanilla pudding

1 small instant chocolate pudding

3 c. whole milk

2 tbsp. whole milk

1/4 c. sugar

Crush Oreo cookies to a fine crumble. Combine 3/4 cookie crumble with butter. Put into a 9x10 dish, patting down to make a crust layer. In a mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add in sugar and 2 tbsp. milk. Once combined, fold in 1-12 oz. Cool Whip. Place mixture over the crust layer. Whisk both puddings with 3 c. milk. Once combined and with a pudding texture, spread over the cool whip and cream cheese layer. Top pudding layer with 1 -12 oz cool whip. Sprinkle rest of cookie crumble over the top cool whip layer. Cover and Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

NOLA Shrimp and Rice

I woke up, looked in my pantry, and saw two things....Shrimp and Rice.

 I wanted something easy to make with those items, but it needed to be delicious and flavorful. I contemplated going to the grocery store but after typing in shrimp and rice in Google.....I found a Yummy dish!

This dish did not disappoint. I followed Martha Stewart's recipe for her New Orleans Shrimp and Rice. Of course I had to stop and taste through each step and make sure that it was seasoned the way my family likes it. I suggest you do the same. I didn't have to deter much from her recipe though. I omitted the hot sauce and added a few different colored bell peppers. I wanted the colors of the peppers to shine through. It worked!

This makes enough to feed 3 people...2 big, 1 little, for 2 nights.

I served this dish over Jasmine rice for the hubby and little. For me, I sautéed a zucchini I spiraled and put the shrimp over that. I added a few drops of Tabasco to give mine a little kick.

NOLA Shrimp and Rice

1 stick of butter
1 tbsp. flour
1 orange bell pepper, seeded and stem removed. Diced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and stem removed. Diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and stem removed. Diced
1 yellow onion, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
1-28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1- 14 oz. can of chicken stock
2 lbs. Shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 1/1 tsp. Cajun Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 c. Jasmine Rice (or any other rice you like)

In a large Dutch Oven, melt the stick of butter. Add flour and stir until lightly brown, about 3 minutes. Add bell peppers, onions, and celery. Sauté until veggies are tender. Add tomatoes, parsley, and chicken stock. Stir and bring to a boil. Add shrimp and stir so sauce covers the shrimp. Simmer for 15 minutes or until all shrimp are pink. Serve over rice or spiraled zucchini like me!

Creamy Crock pot Chicken

This super yummy chicken was invented by yours truly this past weekend. I am so sure that there are many variations of this Crock pot meal, but I assure you that mine is the best! Ha!

Creamy Crock Pot Chicken

4 chicken breasts (bone in our out, your choice)

1 can cream of chicken

1-8oz. package of cream cheese

1/2 c. chicken broth (low sodium)

1 package ranch dressing packet 

1 tsp. turmeric

Place chicken breast in crock pot. Pour cream of chicken and chicken broth over the chicken. Sprinkle turmeric and ranch dressing packet over mixture. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Once chicken is cooked through, remove to a plate and reserve. Cut up cream cheese into bite size pieces and place in the broth inside of the crock pot. Stir to combine all ingredients. Once combined, put chicken back in the mixture and cover. Set to low and let cook for another 30 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles. 

Enjoy!

French Toast Bake

 

This is insanely delicious. I used to believe that there should be a law that does not allow you to mess with cinnamon rolls in a can. They come already seasoned. You pop the can open with a spoon or smash it against the side of the counter, because let's be real you can never pull the paper off and it pops. Kind of like the macaroni and cheese box that tells you to push that triangle at the top of the box in and pull back. If you have ever been able to do that successfully without using a knife or scissors please comment below. I have NEVER been able to do that and I used to go hard core on some macaroni and cheese after school. Give me some spiral with butter and a splash of milk mixed with that yummy powder. Call me gross if you want..That stuff was great!

I Digress.....

Oh and Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rolls....Yeah I can eat 3 in one sitting. It's madness! If you haven't tried them yet you are missing out on life. They need to be eaten at night, in front of the TV, in your pajamas or yoga pants. And you cannot feel guilty about eating them. Because moderation people...mod-er-a-tion.

Luckily you can use this recipe and also eat them in the morning because you need to buy two packs..Why?? Because you will hate your life if you just buy one. My Trader Joes is far. Like get in the car and drive 20 minutes far. At least that's far to me. 

Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls knock my socks off too, don't get me wrong. I will go hard with those too. But to me those are breakfast only Rolls. They both work so pick your poison favorite.

This French Toast bake adds the richness of butter, eggs, and milk to the mix. Then topped with the yummy frosting right when it comes out of the oven. 

I've tried this recipe with Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rolls and Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls. Trader Joe's are a bit bigger and have a more cinnamon taste. Either one will work. 

 French Toast Bake

1 can cinnamon rolls 

1/2 C. milk

1 egg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

3 tbsp. butter (I used Land O Lakes) 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and put in an 8x8 Pyrex dish or whatever dish (similar size) you have with sides. Mix milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and egg together. Open can of cinnamon rolls and slice each roll into 8 individual pieces. Place all the pieces in the egg and milk mixture and stir to combine. Put into the 8x8 dish and bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until brown on top and done in the middle. Heat frosting that came in the cinnamon roll pack for a few seconds in the microwave. Pour over the French Toast. Serve warm. 

You can top with roasted pecans or walnuts and/or add some hot maple syrup if you really feel naughty. 

Enjoy!

Best Brisket Ever!

I've been trying to meal plan lately. Life with a toddler means I don't have much time to cook during the week. Especially with an hour commute every morning to work/daycare....followed by another hour in the afternoon. YEP!!!

So I've been trying to plan meals early in the week, and then working with the homie at work (shout out AB!) to plan out easy meals that don't require me to be in front of the stove for 3 hours every night.
She told me about some really good and healthy nachos she made using skirt steak. I thought it might be good with brisket, so that Sunday I meal prepped my brisket in the crockpot. It was AMAZING!

I added a few liquids to a small brisket, cooked it in the oven on a low temp, and 7 hours later, it was perfect!

On Sunday we ate it with roasted herb potatoes and green beans. On Monday we ate leftovers, and then on Wednesday, I made nachos with what was left. I'll post that recipe later......but first......

Brisket

1/2 lb Brisket

1 c. of Red Wine ( I used Trader Joe's Brand)

3/4 c. Chicken Broth

1/4 c. Liquid Smoke Mesquite Flavor

3/4 c. Soy Sauce

1/4 c. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp. Meat Tenderizer

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place Brisket in a large dutch oven, fat side up. Mix all liquid ingredients together. Sprinkle meat tenderizer over brisket (fat side). Pour all liquid ingredients over the brisket and cover with dutch oven lid. Place in oven and cook for 6-8 hours. I cooked mine for 7 and it was perfect. Once you take it out let it rest on top of the stove for 30 minutes. Remove fat layer and cut. Place back in the liquid to let the meat absorb more liquid. Enjoy.

* If you can't find the brisket in 1/2 lb, you can double the recipe, or have your butcher cut it for you.

Blue Apron Meals -2

I received my Blue Apron meal again a few weeks ago. This time it was Mexican-Style Tortas, Crispy Catfish, and Steaks and Roasted Potatoes. All of the food was super delicious and definitely something that I could make on my own if I was not the cook that I am! HA!!

I have to say that my favorite was the tortas. They were so delicious and paired with avocado made it even more yummy. The bread was super fresh and soft, I had to make a panini press using two pans.....note to self, get a panini maker......but it was still super good. 

The steaks and potatoes were very well seasoned. My husband loved the steaks. He even raved about them the next day to some friends. When he does this I know it had to be good. 

The catfish was good, but not my favorite. I am not a big fan of catfish. It tastes a little too fishy to me. I don't even really like fried catfish. I know I love my southern food and catfish it pretty high up there on the southern food list, but it's just not my favorite fish. The dish overall was pretty good. 

Will I keep doing Blue Apron? 

-Maybe. Maybe not. It's not a bad price for the amount of food you get. The ingredients are fresh and it keeps me from going to the grocery store and spending a fortune every week on fresh produce and meat. I like how everything is prepackaged and all I have to do is wash off a few veggies and chop. I might try doing this on a Sunday food prep day instead of after work. Then on the days I work, everything is done for me. We shall see. 

*not a sponsored post, just sharing what I love.