Spring is in the air and on the door!

I love those deco mesh wreaths everyone is making. But my goodness there is nothing cheap about this craft! This wreath cost me $34. Now I know why they are so expensive to purchase. I got the idea off, of course, Pinterest!!

We love mexican food in our house! I try not to buy processed foods. All the chemicals they add to the cans and you never know they could have roaches flies etc grounded up with the beans....gross! Heres my recipe for refried beans.

HOMEMADE REFRIED BEANS

Boil beans till soft. This took a couple hours on the stove top. You could use pressure cooker or put them in a crockpot all day. When beans are soft drain off water. Grab a skillet (I used iron) and pour some vegetable oil just to coat bottom. Add some beans and start mashing. Your beans will not be mushy like the cans. Some will still be whole. I added some cumin powder for a little mexi taste.

Family comments:

My 17 yr old thought the beans werent mushy enough. So next time Im going to put them in the processer. But they were tastier more bean like flavor. We ate them as burritos tacos and I made a mexican lasagna Yummo!

Adnans Beef Stew

I don't know the official name of this stew or if it even has one. My ex mother in law (wow that's confusing) used to make this when she came to visit. I just got the recipe from her the other day. It has a sweet but tangy taste. I eat mine served over rice but it is really a stew. Make it a day ahead of time so much better the next day! You will need a pressure cooker and a large skillet. Sorry, I don't know exact measurements for the ingredients. But the recipes with a little of this and a splash of that make the best meals! Don't they?

Ingredients
Cauliflower
 Turmeric
 Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Beef stew pieces ( I bought a sirloin and cut it into pieces)
lemon juice
 large can of tomato sauce
 oregano
 salt and pepper (S&P)
 onion
First brown your beef, S&P, and onion in the pressure cooker (lid off). In the large skillet, heat your EVOO. Cut cauliflower into chunks do not cut in little pieces. Brown the cauliflower in the lg skillet on med heat. Keep flipping to prevent burning. Sprinkle enough turmeric to cover the pieces of cauliflower, about a tablespoon. Then pour some lemon juice over cauliflower probably about 1/4 cup. Use more if you want it real tangy. When beef is brown sprinkle on about a teaspoon of turmeric and about 1 tablespoon of oregano. Pour tomato paste in cooker. Fill tomato can with water and pour into cooker. Cover with lid and pressure cook it for about 25 min. When cauliflower is brown and soft, almost squishy, remove and place on paper towel lined plate to drain off oil. After cooker is done allow to cool, remove lid and add cauliflower. You can boil this if cauliflower is not as soft as you would like.
The family reviews: The teenager no (she only likes nuggets and mexican) Everyone else loved it even the 2 yr old!

Indian Fry Bread

WOW this is so delish! And I will say easy! I'm ALL about the easy recipes with this 2 yr old keeping me hoppin'! We went to Cherokee NC for a weekend getaway last year. I love attending Indian Powwows and watching the children dance, listening to the music and the native foods! The smell of turkey legs frying and pinto beans....yummo. Jason had to try an Indian taco. Sometimes you know when you eat something, it was good but you forget about it. Well, that's what I did until I saw this recipe and remembered, Oh yea that was good! So here is the recipe...

3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup milk
Water as needed about 1/4 -1/2 cup

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a fork as you pour in milk. Keep stirring for a little bit then add just enough water to get it to come tegther into a ball. ( I used 1/2 cups) Cover the bowl with a dish towle and let sit for 35 min. When you are ready to fry the bread heat about 1-2 inches of shortening in a large skillet over med heat. Grab about an orange sized piece of dough. Place on a clean surface. Press and stretch it into a flat circle approx 4- 7 inches. Carefully place it in the pan. Fry on one side until golden brown about 1 min, then turn with tongs and fry for another min. Remove and place on a paper towel to drain. Serve warm!

We put taco meat, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and green onions on top. Dont try to fold it like a taco from the Bell....Doesnt work! Eat it flat like a tostada.

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

 I never attempted to make bread before because I thought "Thats to complicated"! But this is so easy! AND the FAMILY looooves it!

1 cup warm water
2 tbsp soft butter

1 egg
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons yeast

Let yeast soften in the warm water. Mix butter, egg, and salt together. Add the yeast mixture. Then add flour a little at a time until it is a soft dough. Cover bowl and let dough rise usually about 1 1/2 hours. Flour your hands and remove dough, place on a lightly floured surface. While dough is "resting" grease a 9X13 pan (I used 2 cake pans) and divide dough into equal 15 pieces. Shape each dough into a ball, place in pans. Let dough rise in a warm place until double in size. Heat oven to 375. Bake for 12-15min or until golden brown.
Enjoy!!
One batch I added about 1 tablespoon of honey when I was mixing the flour....yummy!

New Year!!

Oh WOW I havent been on here since Sept 2011! So time to get my behind in gear and start sharing my new adventures. The last few months of 2011 was the worst time of my life. So heres to a new year, new hope and new dreams!
Our first craft of the year was "A Jar of Hearts". Kate loved making this :)

Take one of those mason jars you have collecting dust and wash it! Cut some hearts out of red or pink construction paper. Take some string or thread (I used clear thread I had from another project I never finished lol) Tape the string to the hearts and the other end to the underside of the mason jar lid. Cut the threads in various lengths. Add some loose hearts to the bottom of the jar. Screw the lid on. I added some lace to the lid.