Stuffed Zucchini

These are not only super easy to make but they are also very quick.  I actually found a recipe online that I thought sounded so yummy but, then couldn't find it again.  So, I made this one up with things I already had at home.

All you need:

• Zucchinis
• 1 roma tomato (diced)
• 1/4 cup diced onions (diced)
• 1 cup of croutons (crumbled)
• 2-3 tablespoons of caeser dressing
• shredded cheese

Directions:

Slice the zucchini down the middle long ways.  With a spoon scoop out the inside of them leaving enough around the edges so that it doesn't become flimsy.  Chop the zucchini filling pretty fine.  Dice the tomato using only the outside of the tomato; the juice and seeds of the tomato will make the stuffing mixture too liquidy.  Combine the diced onion, tomato, crumbled croutons, caeser dressing, and zucchini in a bowl and mix.  Spoon the mixture into the zucchini "boats" and top with shredded cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until heated through.

I put my zucchini boats over a plate of pasta to make a more filling meal out of it.

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

I love making things that look fancy but were actually super easy to make and these def fall into that category!!

All you need:

• Bell peppers 
• your choice of meat (I used ground turkey)
• 1 package of taco seasoning
• 1 jar of salsa
• 1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 cup of frozen corn
• shredded cheese (I used the mexican blend)
• sour cream
• fresh cilantro

Directions:

Literally the hardest part of this is cutting the peppers in half.  You can cut the stems off if you want and it would probably be easier but, I think the stem makes them look fancier :))  After you cut the peppers rub a little olive oil on them and bake them at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.

While the peppers are in the oven, brown your meat and add taco seasoning according to package.  Next, add the salsa, beans, and corn to the meat.

When the peppers are done, let them cool to touch so you can fill them easily.  Stuff the mixture into the peppers and bake at 400 degrees for another 15 minutes.  

After the 15 minutes, take the peppers out and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of each pepper.  Place them back in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Remove peppers from the oven and top each one with sour cream and fresh cilantro.

Easter Snacks

I wanted to make something fun for Kody to take to the kids in her preschool class for Easter this year.  Instead of doing the same ole candy in a plastic egg I made birds nests!

All you need...

• Rice crispy cereal
• Marshmellow creme
• coconut
• green food coloring
• frosting
• M&Ms (or any other candy for the eggs)

1. Make the rice crispy treats as normal.
2. I put them in a mini muffin pan to get the shape
3. Add a little green food coloring to the coconut for the grass
4. Spread a little frosting on the top of the treats and sprinkle the colored coconut over it.
5. Add a dab of frosting to the bottom of the candy so they will stay put in the "nest"

I individually wrapped each one and put a little Happy Easter note in them.  

The kids LOVED them!

How to clean a glass cooktop

So, when I got my glass top stove I thought that it would be way easier to clean because it was smooth.  Boy was I wrong!  I feel like I scrub and scrub and nothing happens.  

Well, finally I've found the trick!  

All you need:

-bowl of hot water and soap

-dish rag

-baking soda

Fill your bowl with hot water and soap then submerge your dish rag in the bowl.

Sprinkle the baking soda over the effected areas.

(which in my case is the entire thing!)

Pull the rags out of the soapy water and ring out about half of the water.  You don't want them to be super soggy.  Then, lay the rags out flat over the baking soda.

Let that sit for  15-20 minutes...

Scrub the surface with the rags...

(wear gloves...the baking soda might be harsh on the skin)

rinse with water...

shine it up with some windex...

and tada!  you have a clean stove top!!

Ear Ring Holder

I bought this picture frame at Michaels in the "damaged" 

bin for $4...the back was broken.  Well guess what...I have no need for a back to make this ear ring holder.  Seriously, glue a few strips of lace ribbon to the back and there you go...a super easy, decorative ear ring holder.  You can add some to the top and hang it or simple prop it up on the counter.

Present Name Tags

So, this year for Christmas, instead of putting traditional ole sticker tags on the presents we made our own.  Literally, we made tags for all of the presents for $3.  I got a pack of multi colored foam paper sheets and 2 packs of different colored glitter from the dollar store.  Instead of writing everyones names, we just did the letter their name starts with.  I cut the letters out and kody spread the glue and sprinkled the glitter.  

Hand Prints

Kody and I both love doing crafts, painting, etc.  So this time we did a project together.  I love this idea so much!  I was so simple, and could even work for daddy, mommy, and baby hands...if daddys hands are significantly larger than mommys of course.