Zucchini fritters!

Corn. Green beans. Broccoli. Potatoes. I feel like we do the same veggie sides all the time. Mostly because those are the few we like and are easy.

But I recently saw this pin from Just a Taste for 5 ingredient zucchini fritters. I’ve recently developed a liking for zucchini, although I’m the only one in the family to do so.

After a small eye roll from the hubby I started grating my zucchini while he cooked us up some steaks. Click here for the instructions by Just a Taste, keep reading for mine.

What you’ll need:
4 cups shredded zucchini
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs slightly beaten
1/3 cup scallions
Vegetable oil
Sour cream (optional)

Grate your zucchini, and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Lightly salt it and add it to a bowl. Just a Taste suggests putting it in a colander and letting it sit for 10 minutes also.

Then add your flour, eggs, scallions, salt and pepper. Mix. Mix. Mix.

Line a plate with paper towels to set your fritters on. Coat the bottom of a pan with oil and heat over a medium-high heat.
When hot, scoop your zucchini mixture(about 3 tablespoons each) into the hot oil. Cook for about 3 minutes each side or until golden brown.

Place on the plate and sprinkle with salt. Continue the steps until you’ve used all the mix.

To be honest, I forgot to buy scallions so they aren’t added to mine. Let me say, I think these would have been excellent with them. While my eye rolling husband loved them anyway, I thought they needed a bit more (thus the scallions). Maybe a spicy aioli? But not bad for a first attempt. This may not be in full rotation yet, but it’s definitely something I’m going to work on.

Give it a try and let me know what you think. How would you change it?

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Ham on biscuits. This is one of my main go to lunches. Hubby is hungry, I don’t really feel like cooking, so voila! Lunch!

But my ham and biscuits took a turn toward amazing when I came across a post by South Your Mouth.

She calls it a Honey Butter Dipping Sauce, but whatever the name, you can just call it scrumptious! Plus, it’s easy to make with just 3 ingredients:

3 tablespoons Honey
3 tablespoons softened butter
3 tablespoons yellow mustard

I usually add the butter to a bowl and microwave for about 20 seconds then add the honey and mustard.

I then whisk it all together and do a quick pop in the microwave again if it’s not quite smooth. I like to put it in the fridge until the biscuits are ready. The sauce thickens and there is just something I like about a warm sandwich dipped in cold sauce.

For my ham and biscuits, I “pop” open a can of Grands Biscuits and peel apart from the center to make 2 halves. Then add your fillings! Pictured is our usual ham and cheddar, but you can do so many variations. Pepper jack, turkey, pork, you name it! Bbq pork is out of this world with this dipping sauce!!

Bake at 350° for about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Dip. Bite. Repeat.
Dip. Bite. Repeat.
Dip. Bite. Repeat.

Also check out:

Pork and Ham Sandwiches

Honey Butter Pork

Monogram on Glass

This is a craft I’ve been holding onto the components for but I just took forever to put together. I actually moved it to a new state before assembling!

I think this was so intimidating because there was no fixing it if I messed it up. But you can do this!

So happy I finally did because it looks great in the kitchen. Not to mention the great idea from Seasons of Joy to add colorful paper behind it for different holidays. Duh! Of course! Wish I had thought of that!

The frame I picked up at Walmart. Just a simple black frame but I wanted to make sure it had a space in the frame where the backing would usually fit in so I could hang it flush to the wall. (More on that at the end)

The vinyl I got from Lacy Bella Designs, where I get all of my vinyl art. They have great quality product, a huge selection, and can also do custom designs!

Give the frame a good cleaning and set the vinyl down how you plan on adhering it. You really need to plan this out particularly if you need to measure and space it. I did not do this well. There was actually a second scroll design that was to be above the “D” that I completely ruined because I didn’t plan.

Seriously though, take your time with this. You’ll be happy you did.
One you get it measured and ready, you just peel the backing and stick it down to the glass. Next you’ll use the side of a credit card or similar tool and lightly but firmly rub over the decal.

Again, take your time as you peel the backing off making sure the decal stays on the glass.
Finally finished, hang on the wall!

Different pins had different ideas of adding the back of the frame or not and adding patterned or solid paper behind the letter. I hung mine right against the wall.

I used the groove on the frame where the backing would usually fit in and wedged the hanging screw there. This appears to be pretty secure. I do plan to go back and glue the glass to the frame, just in case.
But it turned out really cute. Not sure why I waited so long to finish it!

Pepper Jack Chicken Stuffing

Every time I make this I always think about the movie Steel Magnolias. Annelle wants to make something that “freezes beautifully.” While I think she had something else in mind, this is my beautiful.
Not only is this delightful and fulfilling like comfort food, but it freezes beautifully! I usually make two at a time, one for dinner and one to freeze.
Plus, it fits all my other requirements like, easy and fast. It’s a win win.
I found this pin from Or So She Says for the Swiss Cheese Chicken. (Click there for their recipe) below is my variation that we really enjoy. Did I say this was easy?

All you need: (just double for 2)
1lb chicken breast
1 can Cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup milk
Stove Top Stuffing of choice (one box is enough for two since you only use half)
1/4 cup of butter
Pepper Jack cheese slices, the original uses swiss cheese slices (both are yummy)

I spray both my freezer pan and glass dish with cooking spray first. Then put my chicken down.

Next you want to layer the cheese slices on the chicken. Four slices work for me in my 8×8 pan, but I sometimes add one or two more.

Now you want to combine the milk and can of Cream of Chicken. I do one at a time just to make it easier. Combine one, add it on top of the cheese, combine one and to the other. It looks like yummy cake batter pouring out over the cheese. Just spread it around to fully cover the pan.

Here is where you split. If making two, cover your dish you’re freezing, label, and add directions of how to finish.

To the other you now add half of a package of stuffing and then pour 1/4 cup melted butter on that. Pop it into the oven for 45-60 minutes at 350°.

I usually let it cook for the full hour.
Serve it over rice and voila, wonderful dinner that you made 2 of, in about 10 minutes of prep time!
I have also made this with a small bag of frozen broccoli under the cream of chicken mix. It’s a good way to get your veggies in!

Lollypop Bouquets

I have seen these all over pinterest. I’ve always wanted to do one and after finding the cutest owl valentine’s for my son to give his class, I decided to make them for his teachers!

This was my owl inspiration! They hold a fun size pack of skittles. I got them from Oriental Trading. If you haven’t shopped there for party supplies, you’re missing out!

The bouquets were really quite easy and turned out really cute.
All you need is a green foam ball, you can find them in the floral dept of Hobby Lobby, a terra cotta pot that fits the ball, paint (if you choose), and lots of Dum Dum suckers.
I really just guessed on making these and after some trial and error completed them!

***Mother’s Day printable at the bottom***

I would normally hot glue the foam ball to the pot, but I wanted them to be reusable. I also figured out that I needed to break off half of the sucker stick before inserting then into the foam ball so they would all fit.
I then painted the pots with acrylic paint.
Next, I started in the top middle of the ball, with the ball on top of the pot, and made an X going down both sides then just filled it in putting the dum dums as close together as I could. I wanted to vary the colors but there are not even numbers of any flavor so I just tried to space it out as best as I could. My son “helped” me with the suckers by taste testing several. (Don’t worry, those didn’t make it into the bouquets!)
My adorable labels I made using PicMonkey. This website is so user friendly. I have made cards, party invites, and party decor with this site. Most of it is free, but there is also a subscription option so you get even more options, fonts, and styles.
I googled owl images, found one similar to my valentines and uploaded it to Picmonkey. Then just added my text and printed them on cardstock.
The pink hearts and mini clothes pins I found at Target.

So what do you think? I’m in love with them.

If you are making these for Mother’s Day gifts, here is a free printable you can use to top your bouquet!

Crowd Pleaser Donuts!

I’ve never been much of a fan of Valentine’s day, I mean, we should love each other every day, right? (Har har har) This was always a plus for my hubby too. No gifts, no flowers (even though I usually get some), no special night out. All of that is pretty much the same but now I have two kids to do fun crafts and food with!
My son has developed my same love for themed foods so i wanted to do something heart shaped for Valentine’s day. While looking through Pinterest, I found donuts and I thought they would be a “sweet” way to start the day.
Hot oil and I don’t really get along but these were so easy to make! Not to mention, delicious!
Head on over to Little Bit Funky to get her full instruction that I followed.

So all you need are a can of biscuits, oil, a cinnamon and sugar mix, butter, and something to cut holes or like I did, a heart shape!
I laid all the biscuits out and used my awesome Dollar Store find, (5 heart shape cookie cutters for $1!) to cut out the centers.

Once the oil was heated up, med heat, in went my dough. Just a couple minutes on each side until they are brown.

You could stop there but why? After you pull the wonderful fried dough from their oil bath place them on a paper towel lined plate. Then place one side down in melted butter, flip, then swirl your buttery donut in the cinnamon and sugar mix.

Take a moment to pat yourself on the back then dig in! These are so good and there are so many toppings you could do.

I’ve got another Valentine’s day goodie coming up! Stay tuned!

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I came. I saw. I tried it!

Monthly Archives: February 2016