A new favorite {Vegetarian Enchilada Pizza}

Today, I woke up with hardly a voice.  It's hard sounding horrible but feeling pretty good.  I blame it on Spring.  It get's me every time!  Good thing it doesn't take a voice (except the ones in my head) to write a blog post. . . or this would never get done!  There's not a ton of really anything going on in my kitchen this week except looking for it.  I found the counters and tomorrow, I hope to find the sink.  It's good to take a beak every now and then!  I really, REALLY need to declare spring cleaning on my pantry!  I can hardly open and shut the doors. . . it's bad!  

So, on to the delicious yumminess that awaits you with this post.  And there is really good news:  this might be WAYYYY healthier than anything else I usually bring you.  Your Welcome.   This recipe was inspired by this post over at Two Peas & their Pod.  It looked delicious when I saw it, but I new right away it was missing protein, which for me is super important, especially on our Meatless Meal nights.  

 Gather all your ingredients:  tortillas, sliced olives, sliced onions, chopped red peppers, drained and rinsed black beans, corn, red enchilada sauce, and cheese (we have a variety from regular cheddar to soy and dairy free!).

 In your favorite skillet (I love my cast iron!), heat some olive oil up and then drop your sliced onions in for some sweating.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

 When they start getting soft, go ahead and drop your chopped red peppers in.  Continue sauteing until soft. It's going to smell sooo good!  Yo may even want to eat from the pan. . . go head, I won't tell!

 In your favorite raised baking sheet, lay out your tortillas and spray with baking spray.

 Go ahead and work out your frustrations, irritations, or joy by stabbing a fork all over your tortillas.  This will allow air to go through them as they heat. . . I think. . .  Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.

 Spread red enchilada sauce all over.  Add extra. . . again, I won't tell.

 Add your sauteed ingredients, corn and black beans. Cilantro too.  I love cilantro. . . it goes in almost everything.  Really!  At this point, half of them are missing the onions because the hubs is very anti onions, but the beauty of the recipe is that it's easy to adapt for the likes of your family! You could probably get the kids involved.  In fact, next time I think I am going to.

 Top with cheese.  Because cheese is wonderful.  Rice cheese. . . well, it's almost wonderful!  Bake for another 5 minutes, or until your cheese is melty delicious.

At this point your house is going to be smelling amazing and your stomach is going to be begging for food.  (trust me. . . it is!).  And guess, what dinner was so easy and it's time to eat!  Top with a dollop of sour cream and dig in!

My husband fell in love with this recipe and we've now eaten it several times!  So yummy and I don't think it's all that bad for you.

Enjoy!  I am off to go catch up on some Psych.

Monday Meanderings {favorite things}

Happy Monday!  Maybe I should rephrase that:  Happy Day after Daylight Savings Day!  Yuck, right?  Sometimes I wish I lived in Arizona where they don't have to worry about those things. . . then I think.  Nope.  I am happy where I am.  But, I could do without the whole loosing an hour of sleep.  My kids don't seem phased.  I, on the other hand, could use any extra sleep I can find.  Perhaps, maybe I should go to sleep earlier than I do instead of crafting, playing tetris blitz, or hanging with the hubs.

So, because I am pooped and I am sitting here motivating myself to get up and make some cookies and make dinner, I am going to share some of my favorite things.

1 .  Move over Matching with friends. . . Tetris Blitz has taken over!  It is now the one and only game on my phone.  I've always been a huge fan of Tetris, and this one is just as fun!  Perfect for laying in bed trying to fall asleep.  You can find it in the iTunes store for free.  (Free is good. . . it's pretty much the only way I tend to buy games).

2.  This morning I had to go to the doctor to check my thyroid (fun times) and purposely made an early appointment so I didn't have to wait.  I even was able to fit in Starbucks on my way home.  Best way to start a Monday (post daylight savings) in my book!  I tried the Cinnamon Dolce Latte out today and it was a fabulous decision.  I may be hooked!  Have you tried it?  What's your favorite coffee?

3.  Dee Henderson.  She is one of my favorite authors. ever.  I am currently reading one of her newest books, Unspoken and am loving it.  I don't get to sit down and read often, but today I enjoyed a little outdoor reading time while the little guy blew bubbles and drove his car around the back yard.  Her books give some great suspense and adventure as well as creatively weaving Christ's love into the picture.  Her books are great in so many ways!

And just like that nap time is over and I need to get some work done!  I hope to be back later this week with something fun. . . and tasty!  Happy Week!

for your Saturday {Peanut Butter Donuts}

Okay.  I am just going to be honest.  My week has pretty much sucked.  It's just one of those weeks that I really don't want to repeat.  Especially since in the first hours of the day it went from being a fairly decent day to have the garage door completely falling off it's hinge (not kidding!) and my oldest being sent home sick for a red eye (possibly pink eye) and picking him up and seeing no sign of pink eye.  The car was stuck in the garage until just a few minutes ago.  Seriously.  I am ready for Monday, just so a new week can begin and maybe. . . just maybe things can get back to normal. 

 So, if your week was like mine or if you just have a sweet tooth.  Then you should make these.  If you haven't gone out at bought a doughnut pan. . . go now.  Use your 40 percent off at JoAnn's and you can get it cheaper than at Sur la table.  Really. . . just do it.  You will thank me later.  

 Look at these.  Your mouth is watering already.  I know it is.  You don't have to hide it.  You don't have to wait until morning.  Why not make them now?  If my kitchen wasn't such a mess, I would go do that now.  But, oh, I am definitely making donuts in the morning!

You can find this yummy recipe over here.  And now, I am going to go and try to have a better day.  It needs to be done.  It has to be done. . . or I am just going to stay in bed tomorrow.

A birthday card

Wowzers!  It's almost the end of Wednesday and I am pooped!  I seem to be pooped a lot lately.  Oh well.  Today, my kids spent the majority of their time outside playing.  It's spring here in Sunny {overcast} California.  It was a very peaceful dinner making experience, watching my sweet boys play together from the kitchen window.  I have a horrible hankering to go to the beach. . . it's my happy place!  But, in the meantime, I will get stuff done. . . including this blog post.  

So, it is super hard to make a handmade card masculine.  I found an idea very similar to this on Pinterest and quickly dug out some coordinating scraps and started cutting.  Then I looked for some fun embellishments to finish off the effect!  I am loving the way it came out!

My mom did just buy me a set that will work perfect for creating a bit more man-friendly cards. . . although my husband lives in doubt.  We will see!

Monday Meanderings.

It's Monday.  I don't know about you guys, but I don't feel like doing a whole lot of anything on Mondays . . . especially THIS Monday!  Man, I am such a slacker!  I should be sewing right now, but I am sitting here blogging and watching While you were sleeping on Netflix.

I am exhausted, but that's probably because I waited til the last minute to prep some art projects for my son's TK class.  Last night, (after the Oscars, of course), I was so thankful for my Cricut.  Seriously, it makes prep time go so much quicker!  And, when I picked up Ethan from school, they were hanging up and they looked so cute!  I've mentioned ways to bless your child's teacher (if you have school-aged children) before, and here's another one:  offer to prep things at home.  It will truly bless the teacher, because that opens doors to more creative things in the classroom and more time your child's teacher can spend with their family.  Seriously.  It didn't take too long, either!

We've been spending a lot of time coloring at our new table.  I love it!  It makes me not want to cook though. . . Sometimes I would just rather color!

I also started the the lengthy process of painting our cupboards in the kitchen.  There are a lot of them!  It's going to take forever!  Good thing we aren't' doing the floors until the summer!  I'm doing Annie Sloan in Graphite. This picture is after first or second coat.  I'm only doing it in sections, but it's going to take forever!!!  I will try to keep you posted!

I finally sewed up my sister's project bag.  She is an amazing knitter and was wanting something to carry some projects when she goes to have coffee of sit and wait for her son to get out of school.  I am really loving how this came out!

And my garden is sprouting like crazy!  It has really enjoyed our sunny weather and last week's rain storms.  I have snap peas, lettuce, spinach, green onions, carrots, peppers, and tomatoes growing.  Oh, and some beets.  I love watching the progress!  

Pinterest is getting me in trouble with all sorts of yummy recipes and projects on my wish list!  I can't wait to show you some new things!!!  What have you been up to?  

Mini Lemon Rolls

Yesterday, my son asked me if tomorrow was Friday.  My answer was yes.  A good, honest yes.  Good thing that I very quickly reminded myself, and him, that it was only Wednesday.  I think we both may have been momentarily sad for a quick minute.  While, it seems hard to believe that it is only Wednesday, I am thankful for my "extra" day.  I am being way too ambitious for the hours in a day!  

If you are in a hurry to get to your weekend, here's a wonderfully, easy breakfast treat!  And since, I am going grocery shopping after I drop off Ethan at school. . .and we are nearly out of groceries (don't worry, I am going tomorrow!), I might just make these.  I am pretty sure I saw a can in our nearly empty refrigerator.

 My kids gobble these up very quickly. . . and there's not a bit of cinnamon in them.  Sugar. . . yes. Cinnamon. . . nope!  These are great for broadening my children's palate (you know, beyond their love of cinnamon rolls).  And they are so easy!  All you need is a mini muffin pan, crescent rolls, lemon, sugar, powdered sugar, and a bit of milk.  Seriously, sooo easy!

Easy Lemon Rolls

Ingredients:
1 can Crescent Rolls
3/4 cup sugar (maybe even less. . . I don't measure on this recipe)
Lemon zest from one lemon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk  or lemon juice (once again, just wing it)

Directions:
Preheat oven according to the package directions (possibly 375, but you should double check, just to be sure).

Layout your dough flat, laying the two rectangles side by side.  Pinch the seams together and run a roller over it, just a little (it's okay to skip this part, but not the pinching. . . you will have a mess if you don't.).

In your favorite cereal bowl (yes, I said cereal bowl), pour some sugar and zest your lemon.  Then stick your fingers in and mush them all together, so that you can release the lemon oils and spread that lemon-y goodness all over your rolls.

Spread sugar/zest mixture over crescent roll dough.  Roll it up.  Cut into slices.  Place slices into greased mini muffin tin.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until they are nice golden brown.

While they are baking, get out your second favorite cereal bowl.  Pour some powdered sugar in it and then stir in a couple tbsp milk (or lemon juice).  I start with one and then slowly add more.  Stir until you get a perfect texture.  I sometimes even throw in a bit of Karo syrup to give it a bit of a glossy sheen.

When your timer buzzes, and your crescent rolls look perfect, take them out of the oven and spread some of that yummy glaze.  Let a cool for a few minutes and then start eating.. . if you can wait for them to cool!

Happy Eating!

Monday Meanderings. . .

It's Monday!  Welcome to the week!  Where I am looking, it's beautiful!  I won't lie, the fact that is is 77 degrees, sunny, and my windows are open makes it a great day!  I am looking forward to the possibility to rain. . . because that would be just awesome!  We may have played in the dirt today.

I'm trying super hard to get back into the groove today.  The kiddos spent the weekend with the grandparents doing all the things we tell not to do and having a blast.  The hubby and I went on our own little (dare I say, quiet?) adventure to IKEA and then to Davis to enjoy some Crepes.  Seriously, 2 hours is probably enough to walk around the Davis downtown, but I would need a few days to eat at all the amazing looking/smelling eateries that were there.

New furniture has been built and our operation kitchen redo is well on it's way.  I won't lie. . . I can't wait to get rid of the ugly linoleum that currently resides on our kitchen floor.  But, that is a few months away and I must focus.  Focus on the can of Annie Sloan chalk paint that waits for me to start painting the cabinets.  Focus on accessorizing.

However, new furniture brought on rearranging a few things (our old buffet allowed me to hide things. . . this one leaves it all out for all to see).  So, I need to start organizing the storage side of our pantry, get rid of some things, and make room for it all. It's a project that has been on my mental list, it just hasn't happened yet.

There isn't going to be a ton of baking this week, because it is the end of the month and I am out of food money.  I think I have enough sugar to make this banana bread with the bananas that are just about ready to bite the dust.  I have dough rising to make some bagels for lunches because we are out of lunch meat, most veggies, and crackers, but we have cream cheese.  It's all about creativity, this week!  But, don't worry, we won't starve. . . I get to refill our food supply on Wednesday. . . 2 more days!

My garden started sprouting this week!  I am so excited!  Last year, I struggled with things growing.  This year, we are trying it a different way and have installed sprinklers in each box.  I have high hopes.

I still have lemons on the tree and I made some simple syrup last week.  I think I will make some lemonade for dinner (see, I promise, we aren't starving!).  I also really want to make this. I want to make it really bad.  It's been on my list at least 3 weeks!

I started playing with vinyl with my cricut and I am sooo excited to do the rest.  I had to run and get a new blade, because after 3 years of cutting, it was getting a tad dull.





























Nap time for the littlest little is coming to an end, so I am going to go and find my kitchen in order to make that banana bread and dinner (I'm hungry!).

And, lastly please help me grow my blog by sharing my FB page.  I am hoping to increase my readership by 50 over the next few months.  If I can get up to 100 FB likes, I am going to give a giveaway!  Thanks so much!!!