Simple Apple Crisp

I love apple crisp; however, I'm all about making recipes easier.  It's not that I don't like cooking, but sometimes those extra steps make it seem like too much work.  So this is my short cut recipe and it’s delicious.

Don't look at my ugly stove- I'm hoping to redo my kitchen this summer :)

Ingredients:

6 apples- peeled, cored, and sliced or canned apple pie filling

                I don’t always peel mine because I’m lazy

1 cup water

1 package white cake mix

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

In a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish arrange apples in an even(ish) layer.

Pour water over apples.

In a bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and cake mix.  

Stir in melted butter. Mixture will be crumbly.

              Tip: You can use your hands to mix it together- I find it way easier

Sprinkle mixture over apples.

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes.

It's A......

We're going to Hawaii!

Time to brag for just a minute... lately my mom has rocked.  For Christmas she got us a crib, well she gave me money and told me to go buy baby#2's crib since she knows I'm a bit picky.  Since we got married (July) she's been trying to find the perfect wedding gift.  Since we weren't starting from scratch like some newlyweds she was having a really hard.  So today she got all 3 of us plane tickets to Hawaii!  We will be soaking up the sun for 9 days and I'm beyond excited!  Thank goodness for maxi dresses- there's no way my pregnant belly could fit into anything else.  

18 weeks

How far along? 18 weeks
Baby’s size? A pint of Ben & Jerry’s (5.6 inches long and weighs 6.7oz)
Stretch marks? No.  I didn’t get any with Lovey so I’m hoping I don’t get any with this baby either.
Maternity Clothes?  Bottoms only, my bump just won’t fit into normal pants
Sleep: This past week I’ve had the worst insomnia =(  I miss sleep
Movement: Mostly at night when I’m trying to sleep
Food cravings: Not often, last night I was craving fried foods- gross I know!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Raw meat and seeing blood.
Symptoms: Same ol’ same ol'
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time: A bit moody due to lack of sleep

I’m beyond exhausted and the baby isn’t even born!  I’ve had a bout of insomnia and each night it’s getting worse.  Last night Lovey woke up 5 times because of the super strong wind outside, which meant I got up an additional 5 times.  I’m also still getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.  I feel like a zombie.  

Today I had planned on making a cinnaberry cheesecake, but the thought of venturing out into the snow just to get cream cheese sounds like too much.  I’d rather take a nap. I thought during the 2^nd trimester I’d have some energy?  HA!

Steak Tacos

We love tacos in our house.  Lovey will sometimes stuff herself with 3 tacos while Hubby and I will eat a gross amount-that will never be publicly disclosed.  I’m trying to find a healthier alternative to our fatty delicious tacos and this is what I came up with. 

 

Lovey's taco with very little cilantro

Ingredients:

Flank steak (or any steak that is thinly sliced like stir fry)

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

Salt

Pepper

*Steak rub (optional- I like Emeril’s steak rub)

Cilantro, chopped

Salsa

Shredded Cheese

Corn tortillas

*Vegetable oil (if frying corn tortilla shells)

Directions:

Season steak with salt, pepper, garlic and *steak rub.

Cook steak in skillet to desired temperature.

                If frying shells:

                Cover bottom of small skillet with vegetable oil

                When oil is to temperature add single corn tortilla

                Flip when shell is starting to firm

                Cook other side until shell is firm

                Blot with paper towels

Top taco shell with meat, cilantro, salsa, and pinch of cheese.

Baked Spaghetti

Baked Spaghetti (variation of the famous Paula Dean’s recipe)

According to Hubby this is amazing and if he could he'd eat the entire pan, so this is something that needs to be rotated into our dinner menu more often.  Lovey enjoyed it and asked if she could eat leftovers for lunch tomorrow :) 

 

I hate having black plates, when I try to wipe the smudges off it just looks worse

Ingredients:

1/2 lb ground beef

1/2 lb Italian sausage

3/4 lb spaghetti, cooked and drained

1 jar of favorite red sauce or 2 cups of homemade sauce

2 cups Mozzarella, shredded

Non-stick cooking spray

Directions:

In a large pan cook meat.

When meat is cooked add sauce.

Toss the cooked noodles in the sauce and meat mixture.

Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

I normally use a glass casserole dish but couldn't find mine for some reason...

Pour in half the noodle-meat mixture into the dish.

Add 1 cup of Mozzarella

Add other half of noodle-meat mixture

Top with rest of cheese.

It's never exactly half of the mixture or cheese but it doesn't matter

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted

17 Weeks

How far along? 17 weeks
Baby’s size? The size of a turnip (5 inches long and weighs 5oz)
Stretch marks? No
Maternity Clothes?  I love my maternity yoga pants
Sleep: I’m finally waking up only 3 times a night!  Woohoo!!
Movement: Some but they aren’t super strong yet
Food cravings: None
Anything making you queasy or sick: Raw meat and seeing blood.
Symptoms: Same ol’ same ol'
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time: Tired but happy

I’m spotting pretty much every other day, so things have been very uneventful around here.  I’ve found out that daytime television is awful and it stinks not doing anything all day.  I’ve let Lovey’s toys take over the living room, but watching her play is more entertaining than laying down watching lame shows.

Amazing Fried Rice

Fried Rice

Despite being raised by a Midwestern mother, I’m not always up for meat and potatoes.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great combination but every night?  No thanks.  So this is an easy side dish that goes great with steak.  Seriously, there is nothing better than a juicy steak with fried rice.  Don’t believe me?  Try it.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rice, uncooked
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, chopped
1/3 cup green onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 1/2 eggs
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 to taste salt
1/2 to taste pepper

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions.
In a large skillet melt butter.
Add onions, carrots and scallions.
Saute until carrots are translucent.
Set aside.

 
Place sesame seeds in a shallow pan.
Bake at 375 until golden brown (10 to 15 minutes), shaking pan occasionally for even color.
In a light greased hot skillet pour beaten eggs in
Cook as you would scrambled eggs.
Combine rice, vegetables, sesame seeds and eggs.
Add soy sauce and stir.
Add salt and pepper to taste.