Byerly's Schmeyerlys

There is nothing I love more than the Byerly's salad bar. Seriously. It's everything I ever wanted in a salad. A few years ago by the time I got done with toppings it was like finding a needle in a haystack to find the lettuce. Whoops!

But I'm so over $10 salads. My latest was delicious and I got it under $5. VERY impressive. Until I really thought about the fact that I could make my own salad bar at home and get 5 times the meals for my money.

So here's what I finally did today:

I totally forgot the cherry tomatoes. 
fail.
But look at all that green gloriousness.
Yes there's cheese, yes there's bacon.
get over it.
:-)
*Cucumbers
*Shredded Rotisserie Chicken
*Green Peas
*Colby Jack cheese
*Hard Boiled eggs
*Sunflower Seeds 
*Bacon bits

The possibilities are endless but these things are always my must haves. So go get your salad bar on ladies and gents, in the comfort of your very own fridge.

Happy Prepping!! :-)

Homemade, Scratch, Generation Passed Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake or a Box of Bisquick....Shhhhh....

The First time I had Strawberry Shortcake at Trevor's mom's house I said uhhhh why are you making biscuits and wheres the little round yummy pre-made angel food cake?!

I think the Hamilton's about died. Ummmm you've never had REAL strawberry shortcake?? 

apparently not.

I was like zero percent interested in eating a dry biscuit topped with strawberries, like negative even. Then I ate it. I could never go back. No way, now how, you can't make me. So of course my little baker had to find a way to scratch make them gluten free. 

We went to Target to get all the ingredients and sweet baby Jesus we saw it...
GLUTEN FREE BISQUICK.

They've been approved by both mom's who couldn't believe it was A) so light and B) better than the original, Dad's and even all the critters. So while I'm sure now you're waiting on edge, like, okay so get on with the recipe I will leave you with the following.

1) Go to Target
2) Pick up GF Bisquick
3) Turn over the Box
4) Follow the directions baby!

Phew. That was easy.

Happy Baking!! :-)

Dorito Taco Bake: The Glorified Nacho

I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and up popped a recipe for Dorito Taco Bake. It looked simple, it looked yummy and it looked like it just needed to be in my belly. Plus- gluten free.
So I picture texted Trev and said plllllllease....?

I got to work the next day and I had more people come up to me and ask for the recipe than ever before. My first thought was sure Trevor makes it and it's the most wanted recipe, seriously?! I sent a message to him letting him know everyone was dying for it to which he responded:

"really? it's like the dumbest recipe ever, it's glorified nachos!"

Well these glorified Nachos were delicious!

I had a few questions from people though:

Trevor HATES lettuce warmed up in any capacity...did it taste weird??
-No crispy!
Did the chips get all soggy from the tomatoes??
-Nope Crunchety!
Did you eat the whole pan?
-Close! ;-)

So here it is, in all it's glory:

Glorified Nachos

1 7oz. bag Nacho cheese Doritios, crushed
1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 8oz package Cheddar
1 8oz. package Mozzarella
Shredded Lettuce
Sliced Tomato

Layer Ingredients in 9x13 pan. crushed chips, meat, seasonings, 2/3 cheese, lettuce, tomato and remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Annnnnnnd SCENE.

Happy Cooking!! :-)

Gettin' Preppy With it

I know, I know...what do I, the unmarried, non-mommy know about time management and organization? 
If you consider jobs, like babies, then, I'm like octo-mom. So if I have time, YOU have time. 

I cannot stress the importance of prepping. It may LOOK impossible, but it sets you up for at least a week, of breakfast, snacks, lunches and sometimes even dinner. I spend about an hour on Sundays prepping (when I'm on point). I prep for the two of us. I created a "snack station" a little over a year ago that is filled primarily with healthy under 100 calorie snacks. There's no excuse for not having time to grab something when that's there and why waste money on expensive, unhealthy gas station snacks when you're on the go. 

While we're using the MyFitnessPal app I also try and figure out the calories in each snack pack and post it on each container. Yes, this takes more time, but if you know what calories you have to work with for the day, more or less, it's a lot easier to input and stay on track for the day. 

VARIETY IS KEY.

Here are some examples of things i've put in our Snack Packs:

*Hummus 
*Veggies
*fruits (fresh and canned)
* pretzel thins
*hard boiled eggs
*caprese salad
*sandwich thin sandwiches
*salami cuts
*cheese cuts
*cashews
*cinnamon almonds
*mini quesadillas
*string cheese

Happy Prepping!! :-)
 

Rise and Shine it's crock-pot breakfast time!

Ever wake up hungry but have like ZERO interest or time to cook and just wish breakfast would wake you up?? 
Well have no fear because crock-pot breakfast is here!

I've got two recipes for you this evening that could help start your day off right tomorrow! 

I've never been a fan of oatmeal. ever. the texture has to be the most disgusting thing in the world, besides mushrooms of course. But why on earth would someone enjoy eating MUSH for breakfast?! Trev was the first one to introduce me to steel cut oats. He told me it was thicker than oatmeal so that I should give it a try. The first time I ate it, meh, okay, BETTER than oatmeal but no yummy big deal. Then one day I was browsing through Pinterest and I found a recipe, for Apple Pie Breakfast. oats. cinnamon. apples. How could you go wrong waking up to the smell of that deliciousness?? Not only did it take two seconds to put in the crock pot the night before but the intoxicating smell when I woke up was enough to make me think I died and went to Heaven. When I ate it I realized, yep, Heaven.
Hot, Chunky, cinnamon applesauce Heaven.

Here's that recipe...

Apple Pie Breakfast

3 cups steel cut oats
3 cups light apple juice (cider might kick it up a notch)
3 apples of your choice, I used gala
2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Set crockpot on low for 8 hours. Wake up to the gloriousness and enjoy!

My second recipe is an egg bake, but cooks overnight in your crock. I'm not a big breakfast eater, but when I eat it I want the good stuff. I want eggs, I want bacon, I want hot sauce, I want. IT. ALL.

 Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

30 oz. shredded hashbrowns
3/4 lb crumbled breakfast sausage, browned
1/2 jar Hormel Real Bacon Pieces (I always sub bacon with these as they are WAY lower on the fat and don't have to cook it!)
2 cups cheese of your choice
12 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt 
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups spinach
1 small can green chillies

I layered the ingredients about three times. The first time I ever attempted to make a egg bake in the crock, I found it to be dry and not enough salt and pepper. I'm not someone who likes a lot of salt either, so for me to think it was bland well...so you might even add more than the salt it calls for. I also think it was dry because you just layered one ingredient on top of the other without mixing, so mix well. plus who doesn't want all the yummy ingredients in each bite? helllllo! 

Spray the crock with non-stick spray. layer 1/3 the hasbrowns at the bottom. sprinkle 1/3 sausage/bacon bits, then 1/3 of the cheese. In between each of these layers I snuck in the spinach and green chillies. repeat with two more layers. 
In large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper, then pour that mixture over the casserole in the pot. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. This recipe made enough for the two of us to have breakfast for about a week and a half. Perfect for brunch, bridal showers orrrrr a week and a half of breakfast each day ;-)

Happy Cooking!! :-)
 

Not gluten free, Not healthy but they make me 'APPY!

If there's one thing I can't get enough of in food land, besides pizza and tacos, it's appetizers.

They're generally easy,   mostly crock-pot adaptable and they make EVERYONE'S bellies happy. Unless of course there's something seriously wrong with you...
I know it's so much more exciting when there are photos and you'd think given how often I make them there would be photographic evidence, however, today there are none. You're just going to have to suck it up and trust me! (You've seen what I can do so this part should be easy...)

So here we go on my tour of my all-time favorite go-to, must-have apps!


You just can't go wrong with anything buffalo chicken, and if you think it's wrong, baby, I don't wanna be right. Dips, Egg Rolls, Sandwiches, meatballs, pizza, the possibilities are endless. But my first ever, is my best ever and so here it is

#1 Requested:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 large cans shredded chicken(if you're an elitist and you just can't do the can, rotisserie is always a great sub)
2 blocks cream cheese (I use nefcheutel)
1 cup ranch or bleu cheese dressing
1 cup Frank's hot sauce
1 cup sharp shredded cheddar

Crock pot low all day and if you don't have enough time, on high for at least 3 hours.
Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

#2 Requested:

Reuben Dip

1 can sauerkraut 
4 packages Carl Buddig Corned Beef
1/2 Thousand Island Dressing
8 oz. swiss cheese
1 block Cream Cheese (again I use nefcheutel, if I can spare the calories and not the taste, I always will)

Throw all ingredients in crock pot, 4 hours high or low all day. The longer you cook this one the better it gets. This recipe IS GLUTEN FREE, however you'll just have to dip with gluten free pretzels. My favorite thing to dip with is the flat pretzels or top the mini rye breads from the bakery section.

*another cooks tip: I never liked sauerkraut until this recipe, I cook the kraut in a frying pan for 10- minutes or so to brown and take out the extra sour and it's TOTALLY worth the additional time!

#3 Requested:

The always simple

Corned Beef Pickle Dip
*Everyone always loves those roll-ups, who doesn't? but I love this dip even more!

2 packages cream cheese softened (nefcheutel)
1 8 oz. light sour cream
4 packages Carl Buddig Corned Beef, sliced and diced
1 small jar pickle relish

Mix all ingredients together and cool for at least an hour.
The easiest way i've found to do the beef is just grab a pair of scissors and cut into strips and then into little squares. this is probably the hardest part of the recipe, so if you can't do that, I fear for whomever you cook for...Let's be honest.

Serve with crackers.

#4 Requested:

Hot and Cheesy Bruschetta Dip

anything with cheese sells itself, lets get real. Not only is this a favorite but it's also a Pampered Chef recipe! Which I love of course, because well, I'm a consultant and any shameless plug I can throw in is good ;-)


I've made this several ways. as a dip, as a topper, served with bread, on top of puff pastry. This recipe is so versatile!

The recipe can be found on my website!

 http://new.pamperedchef.com/pws/pearlgrl/recipe/Appetizers+%26+Snacks/Hot+%26+Cheesy+Bruschetta+Dip/452005

And I guess, while you're there, if you wannnnted, you could check out our new products for Spring/Summer too! :-)

 Last but certainly not least 

#5 Requested:

Okay, it may not seem shameless anymore because it's another Pampered Chef recipe, but this one's a serious party fave...and it's my job so, ya know, get over it.

Tangy Pepper Pecan Brie

I think people think brie and they think difficult and hoity toity, but it's easy and it'll make people THINK you're a fancy pants super star! That recipe can also be found on my website.

 http://new.pamperedchef.com/pws/pearlgrl/recipe/Appetizers+%26+Snacks/Tangy+Pepper-Pecan+Brie/75013

I hope you've thoroughly enjoyed Appy Hour with me and if you have any questions about cooking, adaptations I may have etc. please feel free to ask!

'Appy Cooking! :-)

*side note Gavroche, from Les Miserables, is my favorite character so as I typed, Appy over and over, I was 'appily sayin it in my best Gavroche accent.
You're Welcome. 




 
 
 

 

Coffee Talk

But seriously.
I know you're looking.
I know you're checking out the recipes....
What do you want more of?
What's missing?
What kind of recipe ideas are you looking for?
Are you looking for things other than food advice?
Now here's where I wait and listen....
Your turn, ask away!