Minnie Mie's Milk

Miss Mia loves our Cuisinart Coffee Maker almost as much as her Mommy does.  When we get ready for work, she 'makes' my tea by replacing the coffee filter with my KCup insert, pressing rinse and then, pressing the hot water button.  She especially likes making hot cocoa for herself.  Unfortunately, I won't permit her to have cocoa after noon because there is just enough caffeine in.the chocolate to mess with her sleep patterns.  So, i had been feeling like bad Mommy until I found this recipe on a Christmas craft suggestion.  Yes, this has sugar in it, but for a special treat in the evening, this works well.  Miss Mia is able to make her hot drink just like her Poppa and Grandma when they come up for a visit.

Aisey is now starting to enjoy this drink as much as her older Sissy!

Minnie Mie's Milk
~ adapted from Craftaholics Anonymous

1 c powdered milk
1/2 c french vanilla creamer
1/2 c sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon

Mix 3 teaspoons with hot water.

Enjoy!

If you can't find french vanilla creamer, about a teaspoon of good vanilla extract mixed in with regular creamer can be substituted.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Bundles or Chinese Take Out in a Cupcake

Chinese Take Out in a Cupcake

"It's a Keeper!" My Mom exclaimed on the phone minutes after she and my Dad tasted these "cupcakes".  I had mentioned to her earlier in the day that we were making these tonight . . . and that I was concerned we wouldn't like them.  I am NOT a Chinese Food Fan by any means - but the Hubster enjoys it and has whined lamented marrying someone who does not enjoy Chinese Take Out.  Due to this, I agreed to make these "cupcakes" so the Hubster could have his Chinese Food and the girls could try something new.

Although the picture isn't the greatest, these were actually really good!  I agree with My Mom - this recipe IS a keeper!  The Hubster could have eaten all of these himself!

This is from February's Family Fun Magazine.  I am typing the recipe with the ingredients we used.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Bundles
~ adapted from Family Fun ~ February 2013

1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 T red wine vinegar
1 T low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 T sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1 T plus 2 tsp canola oil
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, sliced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp ginger
1 cup chopped pineapple
24 won ton wrappers

Whisk together the first 7 ingredients and then set aside.

In a large skillet, heat 1 T of the canola oil and cook the chicken until it's no longer pink.  Add the veggies, garlic and ginger.  Cook until the peppers are slightly tender - 3- 5 minutes.

Pour the source that was previously set aside over the cooked chicken and veggies and bring it to a boil. Let the sauce thicken and then stir in the chopped pineapple.

Remove the skillet from heat.

Heat the oven to 375 and spray a cupcake pay with cooking spray.  Place a won ton wrapper in each well.  Fill 12 wells with the chicken sauce mixture.  Tuck a won ton wrapper over each cupcake well.  Brush with the last 2 tsp canola oil.

Bake about 15 minutes - until the cupcakes are golden and crisp.  Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes before removing from cupcake pan and serving.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Please excuse the picture . . . the soup is so much better than the photo.  I swear!

I've had a bad week with my MS . . . not the symptoms, but trying to figure out just how I can afford to stay on the meds when I'm being billed $4035 a month.  Needless to say . . . that stress along with the cold and snowy weather had me seeking comfort food.

So, we decided on Potato Soup.

Again, this was one where the Hubster "took charge" by tossing all of the ingredients in the slow cooker.  He even chose the right bowl size and heat settings!  Color me amazed ;)

We had my parents up for our usual Friday Dinner and everyone enjoyed this.  Even Miss Mia finished her bowl.

We will certainly be keeping this one in the Winter Month Meals Rotation!

Slow Cooker Potato Soup
8 cups red potatoes, cut into cubes
2 onions, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 package turkey bacon . . . cooked and crumbled
1 8oz package low fat cream cheese (cut into cubes)
6 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade "cream" soup)

In 4 qt slow cooker, combine all ingredients.  Cook on low 7 - 8 hours.  Remove 1/4 - 1/3 of soup to a blender and puree - the amount you remove depends entirely on your preference as to how "thick" you want your soup.  Add back to slow cooker and stir until well blended.  Spoon into bowls and enjoy!

Notes:
~ the 4 qt bowl for the slow cooker was the perfect size . . .
~ this makes approx 10 servings as the four adults all had seconds, the kids had some and there was enough for leftovers at lunch today for the four of us!

Self-Crusting Quiche

It's insane how quickly kids grow up.  One minute, she was Terrible, Tiny Tia . . . and now, she's almost done with her teens!  Unfortunately, this means Miss Tia also has very firm ideas of what she likes and does not like to eat.  This is one reason I almost fell over in shock when I jokingly said we could have quiche for dinner and she said yes in NON-SARCASTIC excitement.

So, we grabbed all of the ingredients for this easy quiche and Miss Tia and Miss Mia partnered up to make us dinner!

Self Crusting Quiche

3 eggs
1/3 c biscuit mix (like bisquick)
1 1/2 c milk
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 c shredded cheese (we used cheddar)
8 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained

Preheat oven to 325.  Spray 9" deep dish pie plate with cooking spray.  Toss meat and cheese on bottom of pan.

Combine rest of ingredients in bowl.  Mix.  Pour mixture over meat and cheese in pie pan.  Bake 35 - 40 minutes until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.  Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

This is also great cold.

Instead of spinach, use broccoli.