Stuffed Pepper Meatballs

I love, love, love stuffed peppers. However, I am the ONLY one in my house that feels that way. Richie will eat the stuffing with raw peppers on the side but, Donnie and the boys won't touch either. Last night however...they didn't know what they were getting into. I made meatballs and as far as they know, they were just you ordinary meatballs...or were they?

3 Lbs ground beef
2 small bell peppers
1/4 cup uncooked rice
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
3 eggs
2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce

In a small saucepan, cook rice by package instructions. Chop bell peppers finely. In a large bowl combine beef, peppers, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and eggs. When rice is cooked add rice to meat mixture. Mix by hand completely. In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Roll spoonfuls of meat mixture into balls and set in skillet to brown. Brown meatballs on all sides before removing from skillet. Pour one jar of spaghetti sauce into a crockpot. Place browned meatballs into crockpot and pour remaining jar of sauce over them. Set crockpot on warm and allow to simmer for 4 hours.

The meatballs come out tender and juicy without being burned on the outside. We ate them in meatball subs and no one seemed to have any idea what exactly they had eaten...score one for mom!!

Apple Pie Pancakes

I know it's been a while. I'm trying to watch what I eat among the holidays, a wedding and being sick. Now that things are sorting out a little, I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things. This morning I thought, what better way than with more dessert for breakfast? This is a short and simple recipe but it sure makes for some yumminess!!

Pancake Mix
Water
Apple Butter
Vanilla Extract

Mix Pancake batter with water as directed on the box. Add 1 tsp Vanilla and 2 Tbsp Apple Butter to batter. Mix through and make pancakes as usual.


These were just right, I didn't even need syrup. I just put a little butter on the pancake and ate them up!!

Banana Berry Oatmeal

As you've all probably seen, lots of things come in the strawberry banana flavor. However, oatmeal is not one of them. They make bananas and cream and strawberries and cream but never a combination of the two. So, I decided, why not give it a try? The worst that could happen is that no one likes it. I cooked up a batch and the kids ate it up...strawberry banana is always a good combination!

1 3/4 Cup water
1 Cup quick oats
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 mashed banana
1/2 Cup frozen strawberries
1/4 Cup sugar

In a medium sized saucepan, boil water. Add quick oats and return to a rolling boil. Add sugar and vanilla, mixing until all sugar is dissolved. Stir in banana and strawberries. Continue mixing until oatmeal is fully cooked.


Now, as I've listed, I used the frozen strawberries because they were easier to get my hands on. While the kids loved the pink color the strawberries added to the oatmeal, there was a definite watered down tast. Next time I will most likely go for fresh berries. You can try whichever you'd like. If you find another banana berry combination you like, let me know, I'd love to try it!

PB & J Pancakes

This is a fairly simple recipe and I'm not sure why it took me until now to try this. I mean, who doesn't love PB&J? I don't know many kids that don't eat it either. This, to me atleast, seems like a much healthier version of pancakes.

Your favorite pancake mix
Water
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
cooking spray
your favorite jelly or jam


In a medium bowl mix pancake batter and water as directed on the box. Add peanut butter and honey with a wisk. Mix until peanut butter is thoroughly mixed into the batter. Spray cooking spray onto a skillet or griddle. Cook pancakes until golden brown on both sides. Spread your favorite jam or jelly on your pancake. Fold it in half and eat it up!

Let me tell you, this was a much cleaner breakfast than any I've had in a while. The kids loved it and there was less sugary mess.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

In keeping with my last post, I wanted to have dessert for breakfast again this morning. I'm not a fan of dessert but if I'm going to have it, I want pie. Apple pie is one of my very favorites. Here I've added applesauce and pie spices to make oatmeal a dessert for breakfast. The kids were a little unsure because, it was oatmeal, but they all seemed to like it once they tasted it. Carrasa on the other hand loved it. Thank goodness someone likes my cooking!


1 3/4 cup water
1 cup quick oats
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp butter

In a medium saucepan boil water. Add oats and reduce heat. Stir in vanilla, applesauce, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Return to a simmer. Add sugar and stir well until melted. Melt butter into oatmeal right before serving. Makes 4 cups.

Banana Split Pancakes

Well, Ms. Emmy asked me for some pancake recipes. I've always been one to doctor my pancake batter, as I'm not much for the syrup. I don't like really sweet stuff in the morning so, I alter the batter to avoid needing a lot of syrup. Emily's challenge got me thinking of other ways to make pancakes. I had a few bananas sitting out that either needed to be used for baking or thrown out. They'd gotten far too soft to just eat. The thought hit me that banana split pancakes might be really good. Some mashed banana, chocolate chips and strawberry gel for a topping. Who doesn't want dessert for breakfast sometimes?

1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water


In a medium bowl mix together the pancake mix, almond extract and water. Add mashed banana, mix completely. Add chocolate chips. You can add more water if you need a thinner consistency. Scoop out pancake batter with ice cream scoop onto hot griddle.

Strawberry Topping

1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp corn starch

In a medium saucepan boil water and strawberries until berries are completely thawed. Add sugar and continue to boil until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch. Reduce heat, simmer until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and dish over pancakes.


Now obviously, you could make it simple by using pre-made strawberry topping or strawberry preserves. Either way, it tops off the pancake nicely. Another option, if you'd prefer not to use chocolate chips would be the addition of a tablespoon or so of bakers cocoa. Whatever other toppings you might prefer would be up to you. Just like a banana split there are lots of flavors you can mix. If you try something that you like, let me know. I'd love to try it too!

Taco Pasta

As I've mentioned once or twice before, my boys will eat just about anything on a tortilla. Tacos are a constant favorite that we generally have once a week. My kids at the daycare however, are not tortilla fans. They unroll the taco or burrito and dump everything out of it, wherever it may land. They are though, pasta eaters. I can mix just about anything with noodles and they'll eat to their hearts content, not realizing it may be something they wouldn't otherwise eat. So, being as we had tacos for dinner and I'm a fan of using leftovers, I needed a way to use the taco meat that my girls would want to eat. Below is the recipe for taco pasta. You can of course add any of your favorite toppings. I kept it simple because my kids, at home and at daycare, prefer it simple.


1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup taco sauce or salsa
1 small tomato, diced
2 cups penne (or whatever you favorite pasta is)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Drain. Return meat to pan and add water and taco seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring to mix seasoning thoroughly. In a medium sauce pan boil water for pasta. Cook pasta to your preferred softness. Drain. Dish pasta into bowls. Mix Taco sauce/salsa and diced tomato into seasoned meat. Scoop spoonfuls of meat mixture on top of pasta. Top with shredded cheese and any other topping you'd like. Enjoy!


I've found this to be an easier and less messy way to enjoy tacos. I hope you all try this and let me know what you think.