Homemade Waffles

I bought my waffle maker about a year ago now and I don't know how I got through breakfast without it! 

When I first brought it home, my husband was skeptical.  He believed it was another kitchen appliance I would use once or twice and be done with it.  Not that I have that problem or anything....*cough, cough*.

But, he was WRONG!  The first time I made waffles, not only were they a huge hit in the house, my husband actually ate crow and decided that this waffle maker was a fantastic idea and "honey, when are you going to make waffles again?" 

This recipe is a basic waffle recipe but,  you can certainly add things, like blueberries, chocolate chips, strawberries, nuts, etc.  Try this out today and you will never have to purchase frozen waffles(these freeze very well!) again!

Ingredients:

- 2 cups Flour
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 4 tsp. Baking Powder
- 3 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/2 cups Milk, warmed
- 1/3 cup Butter, melted
- 1 tsp. Vanilla

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, add in your flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar and whisk together.  Make a well in the middle of the bowl so it's ready for when you add your wed ingredients.

2.  In a separate bowl, add your milk and your butter.  Nuke it in the microwave until the butter has melted and the milk is a touch warm, but not hot.  Do not scald the milk!

3.  In the same bowl as the milk and butter, add in your vanilla and then your eggs.  If you feel you got the mixture a bit too warm, temper the eggs.  Usually though, you should be fine.  I've made this numerous times and have never had scrambled eggs! ;-)  Beat this together until the eggs and vanilla are well combined.

4.  Now combine the wet and dry ingredients and whisk together until you have the entire mixture well combined.  Heat your waffle maker and add your mixture 2 cups at a time.  Be careful not to over fill your maker as it will overflow onto your counter top.  This may or may not have happened to me.  Based on your waffle maker, you will know they're done when the light comes on indicating such.  You can also decide how dark or light you want your waffles.  This is based on preference obviously!

Here's the final product....

I served ours for dinner that night with some sausage and fruit salad.  Everyone was happy and plates were cleaned!  Also, I apologize for the lack of photos...dinner was rushed!  Enjoy!

Carne Asada Marinade

This is a great, fresh marinade for carne asada, or even to be used for pork or chicken.  It's citrusy and light and it takes no time to prepare. 

Ingredients:

- Juice of 2 large oranges
- Juice of 4 limes (keep the shells of at least one lime for the marinade)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 jalapeno peppers, sliced w/seeds for spice (or you can de-seed if you don't enjoy spice)
- 6 teaspoons of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tsp. each of:  Parsley, Oregano, Red Pepper Flakes, Onion powder, garlic powder, cumin,  pepper, and salt.
- Thin sliced steak for carne asada

Directions:

1.  Slice up your steak and place in a large storage bag.

2.  Juice all your citrus, add your onion, peppers, garlic, honey, and all your seasonings.  Stir well and pour over your steak.

3.  Allow the meat to marinate for AT LEAST 1 hour, but no longer than 4 hours.

4.  Cook and serve!  This is what is looked like when I placed it into the pan.  I didn't grill the meat because it's winter time here and too cold.  I also kept the veggies from the marinade and cooked it and ate it in the tacos.  You can do what you wish.

This was pretty good served in flour tortillas and with some salsa and sour cream.  Try it out and see what you think!  Enjoy! 

Chocolate Peanut Clusters

I made this recipe yesterday and wow!  It was so simple and delicious and I loved that I could make it in my slow cooker!

I had planned on doing this recipe around Xmas time, but since the surgery and everything, that didn't happen.  No bother because ANYTIME is a good time for these easy candies!  Try them out today!

Ingredients:

- 2lbs Dry Roasted Salted Peanuts
- 1 4oz bar of German Sweet Chocolate
- 1 1/2 pkgs of Almond Bark (40oz)
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips
- Mini cupcake liners

Directions:

1.  Toss the peanuts into your slow cooker, evening them out on the bottom.

2.  Break up your German chocolate bar and place over the peanuts.

3.  Now pour the chocolate chips over the German bar and nuts.

4.  Add your Almond bark.  I broke mine up to melt it easier and so it fit better into my slow cooker.

5.  Once everything is added, DO NOT STIR IT!  Place your slow cooker on WARM and let the chocolate melt for 3 hours.  I checked it every once in a while just so nothing burned.  After the time is up, using a WOODEN SPOON stir up your chocolate and peanuts.

6.  Line a tray with your mini cupcake liners and fill each liner with a good amount of the melted chocolate/peanut mixture.  Allow the chocolate candies to set well before enjoying.

Here's the final product....

This made just over 100 pieces of candy.  Note I had to use Halloween cupcake liners, lol, because that is what I had on hand!  These were so delicious I can't say enough!  I gifted some out to family and kept the rest.  My girls ever requested one in their lunches!  Try these out soon, and you will not be disappointed!  

Dad's Tuna Bumsteads

Growing up, my dad made Tuna Bumsteads all the time.  It was a nice variety away from your typical tuna salad and I always enjoyed the crispy bun and the gooey cheese.  Plus, they're quick and easy to make and very cheap as well.  Try them out today!

Ingredients:

- 3 to 4 cans of Tuna, drained (this will easily give you 8 sandwiches)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups mayo (depending on how you enjoy your tuna salad)
- 1 1/2 cup relish (or more if you like)**
- Sliced American cheese, such as Kraft singles
- Burger buns
- Salt and Pepper to taste

**Just a note on the relish:  When doing these again, I will probably use sweet relish as the dill, though delicious, just didn't give it the "kick" I was looking for.  However, again, this is totally based on taste.**

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, add in your drained tuna and your chopped onion.

2.  Toss in your relish and mix well.  Add more relish if you feel you need to do so.

3.  Add your mayo and salt/pepper.  Mix well and taste.  Add more of any ingredient to meet your taste.

4.  Heat your oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheet with your burger buns.  Add heaping spoonfuls to your buns, top with cheese, place your top bun on top and bake until the bun is crispy and the cheese is beginning to melt.

Here's the final product....

I served ours with potato chips and leftover chili from the day before.  Delicious and it brought back happy childhood memories!  What more could you ask for?  Enjoy!

Italian Chicken Sandwiches

These Italian chicken sandwiches are perfect for a busy day!  You can quickly get everything into the slow cooker and go about your business.  Then come home and load up your sub roll! 

Try this one out soon!

Ingredients:

- 3 or 4 chicken breasts (I used frozen)
- 1 bag frozen onions, green peppers, red pepper mix (or you can use fresh...either is fine!)
- Garlic to taste
- Italian seasoning to taste
- 1 jar (26oz) Pasta sauce (I used half of the larger one pictured)
- Sub rolls and provolone cheese if desired *not pictured*

Directions:

1.  Place your chicken breasts into your slow cooker and cover with the veggies.

2.  Toss in your garlic and your seasoning and top with your sauce.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

Here's the final product....

I served ours on wheat sub rolls topped with some provolone cheese and a side of potato chips.  It was a perfect, hearty, and quick weekday meal!  Enjoy! 

Spicy Sausage Queso

This recipe would be fantastic to serve on New Years Eve if you're planning on hosting a party!  It's also great if you're home all alone and don't want to share a drop ;-)  Either way, give this a shot!  The sausage REALLY makes this dip pop!

Ingredients:

- 1lb. hot ground sausage
- 1 box melting cheese (like Velveeta)
- 1 can Ro-tel Tomatoes, undrained
- 2 small cans of green chilis
- 1 onion, diced
- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  In a large saucepan, begin browning your sausage and onion together until brown.

2.  Meanwhile, cut your cheese into large cubes so it will be ready to toss in.

3.  Once your sausage is cooked, put your cheese in and begin stirring it around.  You will want to adjust your heat on your stove as to not burn the cheese.

4.  Once your cheese is completely melted in, toss in your Ro-tel and your green chilis and stir in well, bringing everything up to temp.

Here's the final product.....

I served this with tortilla chips, but you could definitely do so much more with this dip!  We have a bit leftover so we are planning on scrambling up some eggs and doing a breakfast burrito type thing for brunch later.  Try this one out soon!  Enjoy! 

Puppy Chow

Puppy chow is a tradition around this time of the year!  Everyone enjoys it, it's perfect for gifts, and it's cheap and easy to make. 

Being that this year, I'm still recovering from my gallbladder disaster/surgery, it was something I could do that didn't require a lot of work, but it still made me feel good to be creating a treat for my little girls. 

If you've never tried puppy chow (otherwise known as muddy buddies, or people chow) I suggest you do so as soon as possible.  But, take it from me...it's ADDICTING so try it at your own risk ;-)

Ingredients:

- 9 cups Chex cereal (you will see that I used Quaker Life cereal, which is slightly similar to Chex.  I did this b/c, for one, I had it on hand, and two, it was an oops on my part, lol)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
- 3 cups (or so) powdered sugar

Directions:

1.  In a very large bowl, toss in your cereal.

2.  In a separate bowl, measure out your chocolate, peanut butter, and butter.  Melt this mixture until smooth and pourable.  After melting, add in your vanilla and stir.

3.  Once your vanilla is incorporated, pour your chocolate mixture over your cereal and stir well, making sure to coat all the dry cereal with the chocolate mixture.

4.  Once coated, transfer your cereal to a large plastic bag.  This may take more than one transfer depending on how large your plastic bags are.  It almost always takes two for me.  After transferring your cereal, pour in the cups of powdered sugar and toss well to coat the cereal

Here's the final product....

This batch was eaten by the next day.  I ended up having to make another which is almost gone as well.  Like I said....addicting! ;-)  Enjoy!