We tried this one tonight and it was incredibly yummy! The recipe makes a lot so if you have a small family, I recommend cutting it in half. This is a very inexpensive meal so it would be a great for a crowd when you have a small budget.
You will need:
1 lb ground beef
2 cans Grands Biscuits (8 biscuits in each can)
8 slices American Cheese
Preheat oven according to biscuit package directions. Brown meat and season as desired. I used seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder and dried thyme. Roll out biscuits. Spoon a few tablespoons of meat onto one half of the biscuit. Top with 1/2 slice of cheese. Fold over the remaining half of the biscuit and seal with a fork. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips/Suggestions:
Chopped onion is an option to add while browning the meat
I used sliced cheddar cheese instead of American. It's your preference.
I used homestyle biscuits instead of flaky. They may not hold the pocket together as well.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Spontaneous Pneumothorax
What a mouthful! That's the term told to me by husband's doctor when he phoned to explain why he was admitting Blake into the hospital - a collapsed lung. Here I am cleaning the house, fully aware that Blake is at the doctor's office for some chest pain. He had begun to feel the pain the night before, along with a cough and headache. We both thought he might be coming down with pneumonia. Wrong. I couldn't believe it when Blake told me the diagnosis. I immediately freaked out and got upset, not knowing what this meant. This is why the doctor called me to further explain. Basically, there was a "pocket" of air outside of the lung which causes it to collapse. It is termed "spontaneous" if there is no underlying problem to cause the collapse (i.e. injury or lung disease). The doctor assured me the problem could be corrected but Blake would need to be admitted for observation to be sure nothing got worse. I don't care what anyone says, when I'm told my husband is being hospitalized for an illness that affects his breathing, I'm going to be scared and upset. God is so good though. As soon we I hung up the phone, I prayed for Blake and for peace of mind to get us through this situation. I felt so helpless but God reminded me that he is in control and would get us through this.
Blake spent a day and full night in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask. The goal of the oxygen was to help the escaped air around the lungs be reabsorbed more quickly. Thankfully, this worked for Blake. Otherwise, they would have placed a needle in the lung to try and remove some of the air. Blake's X-ray the next morning confirmed it was getting better. The doctors told Blake there is no timeline for full recovery. They said as long as the pain did not get worse, he may expect to feel pain and discomfort for a while. It's also possible for this to happen again, though there is nothing specific he can avoid to prevent it. However, Blake was instructed to take the rest of this week off from work and no work-outs for a month. The latter was the toughest blow for Blake. He and I have been doing the P90X program for the past two months and besides the benefits of the exercise, we really enjoy doing it together. He has lost 30 pounds in the last four months and I'm so proud of how hard he has worked for it. But the most important thing is keeping Blake healthy so a month is not that much time in the long run.
So the three of us have been laying low this week and getting Blake to rest as much as possible. I love taking care of my two boys :) Side note: I really felt I needed to be with Blake in the hospital so we experienced our first night away from Preston. My parents graciously spent the night at our house while we were gone. I was afraid Preston would not do so well away from his crib so having them at our house gave me more peace of mind. And he did great! I'm so glad he was such a good boy for his grandparents. We sure missed him though!!!
We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers received for Blake. We have such wonderful family and friends!
Stay tuned for Preston's 9 month update!
Blake spent a day and full night in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask. The goal of the oxygen was to help the escaped air around the lungs be reabsorbed more quickly. Thankfully, this worked for Blake. Otherwise, they would have placed a needle in the lung to try and remove some of the air. Blake's X-ray the next morning confirmed it was getting better. The doctors told Blake there is no timeline for full recovery. They said as long as the pain did not get worse, he may expect to feel pain and discomfort for a while. It's also possible for this to happen again, though there is nothing specific he can avoid to prevent it. However, Blake was instructed to take the rest of this week off from work and no work-outs for a month. The latter was the toughest blow for Blake. He and I have been doing the P90X program for the past two months and besides the benefits of the exercise, we really enjoy doing it together. He has lost 30 pounds in the last four months and I'm so proud of how hard he has worked for it. But the most important thing is keeping Blake healthy so a month is not that much time in the long run.
So the three of us have been laying low this week and getting Blake to rest as much as possible. I love taking care of my two boys :) Side note: I really felt I needed to be with Blake in the hospital so we experienced our first night away from Preston. My parents graciously spent the night at our house while we were gone. I was afraid Preston would not do so well away from his crib so having them at our house gave me more peace of mind. And he did great! I'm so glad he was such a good boy for his grandparents. We sure missed him though!!!
We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers received for Blake. We have such wonderful family and friends!
Stay tuned for Preston's 9 month update!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Taco Pasta Salad
I found this recipe on the KitchenMonki website. It's a great site that has a huge inventory of recipes as well as a meal planning guide and grocery shopping tips. This recipe sounded delicious and that's exactly how it turned out. It's a twist on your typical taco salad, using noodles instead of chips. I definitely recommend this one!
You will need:
1 lb ground chuck
8 oz. rotini noodles
1 pkg taco seasoning
3/4 c. water
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
Shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa
Sour Cream
Boil noodles according to package instructions. Meanwhile, brown the ground chuck until cooked through. Drain excess grease and add chopped onion and bell pepper. Saute for a few minutes and then add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer until sauce thickens. The original recipe says to layer your plate, noodles, meat mixture and then a mix of the salsa and sour cream. I decided to add my noodles into the skillet with the meat mixture to coat them all evenly. We topped our bowls individually with cheese, salsa and sour cream. Very good!
Two more recipes below!
You will need:
1 lb ground chuck
8 oz. rotini noodles
1 pkg taco seasoning
3/4 c. water
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
Shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa
Sour Cream
Boil noodles according to package instructions. Meanwhile, brown the ground chuck until cooked through. Drain excess grease and add chopped onion and bell pepper. Saute for a few minutes and then add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer until sauce thickens. The original recipe says to layer your plate, noodles, meat mixture and then a mix of the salsa and sour cream. I decided to add my noodles into the skillet with the meat mixture to coat them all evenly. We topped our bowls individually with cheese, salsa and sour cream. Very good!
Two more recipes below!
Rice Bowl
This is a new one we tried out this week. Blake loves rice bowls and he gave me some ideas as to what to add to ours. It turned out very tasty. These ingredients can be changed depending on your likes/dislikes.
You will need:
1 lb. boneless/skinless chicken tenderloins (I use pre-trimmed ones)
Brown or White Rice (enough for six servings). I use Uncle Ben's brown rice. It takes 30 minutes to cook but it's better than instant.
1 small onion or 1/2 of a large onion
1/2 bell pepper
1 can yellow corn, drained
1 tsp minced garlic
Olive oil and seasonings for chicken
Salsa (optional)
Prepare rice according to the package instructions. While rice is cooking, begin cooking the chicken tenders in a large skillet, along with 2 tbsp olive oil and garlic. In addition, I added some seasoning salt, garlic powder, black pepper, dried basil and about 1/4 c. fat-free Italian dressing. It was incredibly flavorful! Once the chicken is done, remove and set aside. Using the same pan, add 2 more tbsp olive oil and saute the onion and bell pepper until tender. Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Return the chicken to the pan of sauted veggies and add cooked rice and corn. Mix well and heat through. You may want to add a little more salt and pepper during this process. My husband likes to add salsa to his but I preferred mine without. The picture is without salsa. I apologize for the bad picture. I took it when I packed up the leftovers.
This recipe is about 4 servings.
You will need:
1 lb. boneless/skinless chicken tenderloins (I use pre-trimmed ones)
Brown or White Rice (enough for six servings). I use Uncle Ben's brown rice. It takes 30 minutes to cook but it's better than instant.
1 small onion or 1/2 of a large onion
1/2 bell pepper
1 can yellow corn, drained
1 tsp minced garlic
Olive oil and seasonings for chicken
Salsa (optional)
Prepare rice according to the package instructions. While rice is cooking, begin cooking the chicken tenders in a large skillet, along with 2 tbsp olive oil and garlic. In addition, I added some seasoning salt, garlic powder, black pepper, dried basil and about 1/4 c. fat-free Italian dressing. It was incredibly flavorful! Once the chicken is done, remove and set aside. Using the same pan, add 2 more tbsp olive oil and saute the onion and bell pepper until tender. Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Return the chicken to the pan of sauted veggies and add cooked rice and corn. Mix well and heat through. You may want to add a little more salt and pepper during this process. My husband likes to add salsa to his but I preferred mine without. The picture is without salsa. I apologize for the bad picture. I took it when I packed up the leftovers.
This recipe is about 4 servings.
Trail Mix
Blake and I have been trying to eat healthier in addition to exercising daily (we're doing the P90X program and whew...it's tough but rewarding). We had some store-bought trail mix the other day and I thought it would be nice to have some home-made. That way it would have everything we like instead of picking through the pre-packaged stuff. Not to mention you get a ton more for the same price. And while this recipe is not completely non-fatty, it is a lot healthier than grabbing some chips or cookies. It's very versatile so feel free to substitute with one of your favorites.
4 c. Corn Chex cereal (you can also use Rice Chex or Wheat Chex)
4 c. Cheerios
2 c. raisins
2 c. peanuts
2 c. M&M's
Mix together and enjoy!
I think next time I may add some pretzel sticks and maybe Cheez-Its. If you don't want chocolate, mini marshmallows would be a nice sweet contrast instead. There are endless combinations to this yummy snack!
4 c. Corn Chex cereal (you can also use Rice Chex or Wheat Chex)
4 c. Cheerios
2 c. raisins
2 c. peanuts
2 c. M&M's
Mix together and enjoy!
I think next time I may add some pretzel sticks and maybe Cheez-Its. If you don't want chocolate, mini marshmallows would be a nice sweet contrast instead. There are endless combinations to this yummy snack!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Fruit Pizza
This recipe is from one of my awesome bunko girls and it's too yummy not to share. It's a great summer treat. I geared mine towards the 4th of July theme but you can use any fruit you like. Enjoy!
You will need:
20 oz pkg sugar cookie dough
8 oz. block cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Fruit of your choice (Favorites are strawberries, pineapple, kiwi and blueberries)
1/3 c. orange marmalade plus 2 tsp water (You could also use peach or apricot preserves)
Freeze cookie dough for one hour. Cut package open and slice the cookie dough into 1/8 inch slices. Lay slices on a round pizza pan, slightly overlapping each other. Bake at 375 for 12-13 minutes or until golden brown. While the cookie cools, blend the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture on the cooled cookie. Arrange the fruit as you like. Mix the marmalade with 2 tsp. water to make a glaze and spread over the fruit and cookie. Cut into wedges and chill.
Keeping with the 4th of July theme, I only used strawberries and blueberries. I also used a square pan and cut into squares instead of pizza slices.
You will need:
20 oz pkg sugar cookie dough
8 oz. block cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Fruit of your choice (Favorites are strawberries, pineapple, kiwi and blueberries)
1/3 c. orange marmalade plus 2 tsp water (You could also use peach or apricot preserves)
Freeze cookie dough for one hour. Cut package open and slice the cookie dough into 1/8 inch slices. Lay slices on a round pizza pan, slightly overlapping each other. Bake at 375 for 12-13 minutes or until golden brown. While the cookie cools, blend the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture on the cooled cookie. Arrange the fruit as you like. Mix the marmalade with 2 tsp. water to make a glaze and spread over the fruit and cookie. Cut into wedges and chill.
Keeping with the 4th of July theme, I only used strawberries and blueberries. I also used a square pan and cut into squares instead of pizza slices.
8 Months Old
Yep, here we are, another month old. Who knew time would fly so fast once you become a parent. I'm already getting birthday plans together. Preston is going to have one big shin-dig of a party :) Here goes this month's milestones, "firsts" and a few fun facts:
- Preston can now sit unassisted for a small amount of time. He still gets excited and ends up falling backwards so we have to be nearby to catch him.
- He is now taking one long nap a day, usually for 2-3 hours. I am so proud of him!
- We went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a rash and he weighed 21 pounds.
- He is now in his big boy carseat and loves it. He looks so grown up :)
- He now eats baby food 3 times a day and nurses 4-5 times.
- He says what we consider his first word, DaDa. He doesn't necessarily know that Blake is "DaDa" but it's still adorable to hear. Maybe MaMa will be coming soon :)
- He still loves to be walked around and see EVERYTHING. He will look around you if he's not interested in you to see what else is going on, ha ha.
- He sits straight up in his stroller so he can look out and inspect everything. He yells if I stop the stroller for more than 20 seconds.
- He still does the see-saw motion with everything he holds. It's so cute
- Whenever I break out the camera and call his name, he gives me this big "cheese!" grin. So funny.
- Preston has discovered that he can yell...and loudly. He loves to hear himself so he just does it for fun. I can't help but smile
- He loves to splash whether he's in the bathtub or the swimming pool. He loves the water.
- I'm adding a picture of Preston's first taste of watermelon. He loved it! There's also a collage of these pics on the 4th of July post. It's so cute I had to add a big one.
I think that's about it. Blake and I just think the world of our little boy and we are loving every moment of parenthood. We couldn't ask for more. I love my life!
Several new posts below!
- Preston can now sit unassisted for a small amount of time. He still gets excited and ends up falling backwards so we have to be nearby to catch him.
- He is now taking one long nap a day, usually for 2-3 hours. I am so proud of him!
- We went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a rash and he weighed 21 pounds.
- He is now in his big boy carseat and loves it. He looks so grown up :)
- He now eats baby food 3 times a day and nurses 4-5 times.
- He says what we consider his first word, DaDa. He doesn't necessarily know that Blake is "DaDa" but it's still adorable to hear. Maybe MaMa will be coming soon :)
- He still loves to be walked around and see EVERYTHING. He will look around you if he's not interested in you to see what else is going on, ha ha.
- He sits straight up in his stroller so he can look out and inspect everything. He yells if I stop the stroller for more than 20 seconds.
- He still does the see-saw motion with everything he holds. It's so cute
- Whenever I break out the camera and call his name, he gives me this big "cheese!" grin. So funny.
- Preston has discovered that he can yell...and loudly. He loves to hear himself so he just does it for fun. I can't help but smile
- He loves to splash whether he's in the bathtub or the swimming pool. He loves the water.
- I'm adding a picture of Preston's first taste of watermelon. He loved it! There's also a collage of these pics on the 4th of July post. It's so cute I had to add a big one.
I think that's about it. Blake and I just think the world of our little boy and we are loving every moment of parenthood. We couldn't ask for more. I love my life!
Several new posts below!
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