January 2015 Water Challenge!!

Being a Tone It up girl member I know the importance of drinking water, but having the flu show up at our house this week made me realize we are not drinking the amount of water we need.  This is inspired the January 2015 Water Challenge!   
Use any type of water bottle, I'm showing a visual of 4 ThirtyOne Tervis Tumblers equaling 64oz a day or filling up your Tone It Up water bottle  4x a day. Mine is a Christmas present from the Hubs(I took it out real quick to snatch this pic!)  Whatever water bottle you choose, be sure and log your water daily!  If you are running or working out you will need to up your water intake, this is the base line for your daily needs.  I've added a cute free calendar you can print to mark off your daily water intake.  Use hashtag #tiuwaterchallenge so I can see your results on instagram!!  I'm excited that 2015 will be the healthiest, fittest year for our family!

When my girls were 6months old I started introducing water in a sippy cup they could hold onto and I offered it at every meal.  Now it's their number one drink, and even though they love Sprite or Juice as a treat, they always ask for water and they both have a favorite Disney Princess Thermos water bottles and we fill it up all during the day.  My girls know if they are sick or have been playing outside they have to take water breaks often.  I believe starting them young on water starts an early love of water and healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of water: 
*Increased energy
*Relieves fatigue
*Improves mood
*Treats headaches and migraines
*Increased metabolism
*Helps build and repair muscle
*Great for the skin and keeps you looking young
*Flushes toxins
*Boost your immune system
*Great for your joints, aches and pains
*Maintains pH balance in the body
*Promotes regularity and helps digestion



Comment below if you are participating in our 31 days of Water Challenge!!!!  I can't wait to hear and see the results!!

***This post is in no way affiliated with Tervis or Tone it Up and I am in no way receiving any kick back, but if they see this and want to send me something I won't be opposed!!!! HAHAHA  :)***

Easy Chicken Soup!!

Ingredients:
3 Chicken Breast
4 Cups of Water
1 Can of Garlic Fire Roasted Diced Tomato's
2 frozen cubes of Garlic(equal to two garlic cloves)
2 frozen cubes of Basil(or basil spice)
Salt and Pepper 
1 Frozen bag of Diced Green and Red Peppers, Onions and Celery
1 Frozen bag of green peas and carrots 
4 Chicken Bouillon cubes
2 cups of Egg Noodles
Parmesan to sprinkle


Prepare:
Put frozen Chicken in medium/large pot and cover with water a little more than half of the soup pot, salt water and boil until chicken is cooked thoroughly, roughly 15-20min. Just keep an eye on it.  Using tongs pull out chicken onto cutting board, add the 4 cups of water let water come to a boil and drop in both frozen bags of veggies, add 4 bouillon cubes, and boil for 4min. or as directed on bag, add diced tomato's and noodles and let them cook for 5 minutes.  While veggies are cooking, slice chicken in bite size pieces or shred, whichever you prefer and add back to pot, cook for a few more minutes and you're done!!!   

I pour into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread and sweet tea!  Enjoy!!

*Tips*

You can buy the frozen garlic and basil and other herbs in the frozen aisle.  They come in small cubes!  Perfect for the busy mom like me who don't always have fresh herbs on hand.

I love Birds Eye Recipe Ready frozen veggies, they are perfect for soups and stews!

Minestrone Soup

My husband's Italian roots come out when I'm asking him about our weekly menu.  So this week he chose Minestrone soup and Meatball subs.
I found this recipe on Pinterest but had to adjust the recipe to fit our liking.  This is my version of

Minestrone soup:

2 cans Chicken Broth
2 cups of water
2 cans Diced Italian Tomatos
1 can Red Kidney beans
1 can chopped green beans
2 small zucchini or frozen bag
1 frozen bag of onions/red peppers/celery mix
2 Cups chopped Carrots(or bag of frozen to make it easy)
1 cup of Medium Pasta shells
Salt/Pepper to taste
1tsp Oregano
1tsp Basil
1tsp Onion Powder
1tsp Garlic Powder
Shredded Parmesan for topping

Mix all ingredients, minus the Parm and bring to boil; then let simmer for 20-25min.
Top with Parmesan cheese and serve with bread.

*Serve with Grilled Cheese or crackers.

**Please let me know if you ever make my recipes and if you like them!  I love feedback!!

Quiche

Quiche Recipe(Broccoli and Ham version)

2 9in. Deep Dish Frozen Pie Shells(let thaw while preparing other ingredients)
8 Eggs
1 Can of Evaporated Milk, or 1 1/2 cup of Half and Half
Salt & Pepper to taste
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
4 Cups of Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 container of sliced Ham
1 frozen bag of Broccoli(I use the microwavable kind to make it fast)

Preheat oven to 350

I poke holes with a fork all around the sides  of Pie Crust and in the bottom of crust to prevent pie crust puffing up with air bubbles, then I bake for about 10-14minutes and let cool on rack.

Microwave Broccoli as directed on bag.

I beat all 8 eggs with salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder and set to side, add evaporated milk and beat a little more until mixed.

After Pie Crust has baked and cooled down, I layer as follows in both Pie Crust, handful of grated cheese, sliced ham(I pull apart in bite size pieces), broccoli, and some egg mixture, then more cheese, ham, broccoli and more mixture to cover the top, then I add grated cheese on the top of both Pie Crust.

Bake at 350 for 40-45minutes until knife comes out clean.



***Alternative mix-ins, add chopped green pepper, onion and tomato for a veggie quiche.  A lot of times I just do a Ham and Cheese Quiche or mix it all together for a ton of flavor.

*Add home-made soup or crusty bread or muffins and you have a lovely meal.

Enjoy!!!  Please comment if you try my recipes!  Thanks for reading!

Summer Salad

Today I'm sharing a recipe from my Mother-in-law Linda!!  It's an amazing, easy-to prepare salad.  

Ingredients: 2 Cucumbers

2 Large Tomatoes

2 Ripe Avocados

1 Bar of Sharp White Cheddar Cheese

1/2 Small Onion(optional)

Peel your Cucumber first, then slice and chop into small pieces, chop Tomatoes in small square pieces, chop Avocado in small square slices(as much as possible) and chop Sharp White Cheddar Cheese in small pieces.  Toss together with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Basalmic Vinegar.  

*Tip: If you are not eating the entire salad, I suggest making single servings and toss with Oil and Vinegar, otherwise the next day it gets soggy and the avocado turns black.  You can buy the fruit sprinkle for the avocado to keep it fresher looking.

Enjoy!!  I make this salad at least every two weeks.  

Home-Made Apple Crisp

You cannot have Beef Stew in the Crock Pot without having a yummy dessert to follow.

This is another first time recipe.  I cook all the time, I'm just surprised how much has never grazed our stove.  I feel like the movie "Julia & Julia" except easier recipes and I'm not on a time crunch.  This one is not original, all the thanks goes to Betty Crocker, unless it's noted, all my bloggin' recipes are copy-written and original Christina creations.  I have so much fun just trying new things and adding new flavors.


Apple Crisp

4 Cups of Tart Apples
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
1/3 Cup Butter softened
3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
3/4 tsp Nutmeg

*Vanilla IceCream if desired

Heat Oven to 375, grease bottom and sides of 8x8 in pan with shortening.

Spread apples in pan, in medium bowl stir remaining ingredients together(except ice cream) until well mixed, sprinkle over apples.

Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with ice-cream.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

My hubby has been begging for a Beef Stew lately, so I decided to try it out.  This was actually my first time making Beef Stew.  I do Roast in the Crock pot all the time among other yummy dinners.

1 Top Roast(it was $10.80 at Walmart)
1 Packet of Onion Soup Mix
5 Carrots, sliced length wise
12 Small Golden Potatoes(these were so small, I just cut them in half)
3 Stalks of Celery chopped
2 Bouillon Cubes
1 Onion
1 Clove of Garlic chopped
1 tsp Salt and 1 tsp Pepper
1/4 C. Flour
1 tsp Garlic Powder

Place Roast in Crock Pot on High with Onion Soup Mix.  Whisk flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder in small bowl, sprinkle on Roast and cover.

While Roast is heating, cut up all veggies(carrots, potatoes, celery & onion) and I put them each in a bowl and season Garlic powder, then throw into Crock Pot.  Add Clove of Garlic chopped!(Garlic is my favorite part)

Cook for 4-6hours on High or 8-10 on Low.

After it is almost cooked, I add the Beef Bouillon to 2 Cups of water and boil, then pour the Beef Stock over the Roast and Veggies, I let it cook another hour.  After the meat is super tender, I just shred it a bit in the crock pot, then stir and serve with some delicious crusty bread!

*Tip: you can add the Beef bouillon sooner if you like, I just don't want to boil my meat at first, I find it cooks more tender when all the seasonings are cooking into it and its more flavorful.

Teddy Bites

Teddy Bites

4 Cups of Air Popped Popcorn
2 Cups Teddy Grahams
2 Cups Corn Cereal
1 1/2 cups of dried pineapple wedges
1 Package(6oz) dried fruit bits
1 Tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup yogurt-covered raisins

1. Preheat Oven to 350F.  Combine popcorn, teddy grahams, cereal, pineapple and fruit bits in large bowl; mix lightly.  Transfer to Jelly Roll pan spray mixture generously with cooking spray.

2. Combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in small bowl.  Sprinkle 1/2 of the sugar mixture over popcorn mixture; toss lightly to coat.  Spray mixture again with additional cooking spray.  Add remaining sugar mixture; mix lightly.

3. Bake snack mix 10 minutes, stirring after 5minutes.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Add raisins mix lightly

Tip: I'm wrapping each serving of snack mix in a small cellophane treat bag with ribbon so the kids can take them home at their Fall Party at school.

Cupcake Cones!

I made these for my daughter's 3rd birthday!  They were so easy and a huge hit at her birthday party.
I put them in loaf bread pan and covered it with foil, then cut small slits to fit the cones down in to hold them steady, I left one space open so you can see.  Pour cake mix and bake as directed on box.

 Here they are baked.

This is what it looks like from the beginning.  So EASY!

Easy Crockpot Pork BBQ

This is my grandmothers recipe who was so gracious to pass it down.  It's super easy and very tasty!

I made this Saturday night for my brothers 26th Birthday party.

Ingredients:

5-10lb Pork Shoulder Butt
2 Kraft regular BBQ Sauce
Salt and Pepper
Garlic Powder

Prepare:

Place Pork Shoulder in Crockpot and turn on low, season liberally with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Let cook at least 8hours or more.  I put mine in the night before I need it and let it cook all night and all morning.  Then let cool and place in large bowl and shred with two forks. Remove all fat and bones and discard.

Remove water and fat from crockpot, I let mine cool in a large pot then I discard(not down the sink.) I either throw mine in the woods, or place in a large jar and put in trash.  After water/fat is out of crockpot, clean quickly then you can place shredded pork back in on low.  Add both Kraft BBQ sauces, mix a little, don't stir too much, or it kind of turns a little mushy and I like mine more shredded.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
Serve with Sesame Seed buns
BBQ Baked Beans
Deviled Eggs
Favorite Chips
Sweet Tea

Easy Chicken Soup

The cold weather makes me crave warm meals like soups, stews and chili's. This is a recipe that was given to me by my mom, but it's one of those easy soup's that you can't ever mess it up. I'm always adding new things and trying new flavors.  Tonight, I just made a very simple version.  Warmed us up on this freezing 28degree weather we are having down here.

Ingredients:
3 Chicken Breast
1 Can of Diced Tomato's
Salt and Pepper 
1 Frozen bag of green peas and carrots 
4 Chicken Bouillon cubes
1 Cup of instant white rice
Parmesan to sprinkle




Prepare:
Put frozen Chicken in medium/large pot and cover with water a little more than half of the soup pot, salt water and add 2 bouillon cubes, boil until chicken is cooked thoroughly, roughly 15-20min. Just keep an eye on it.  Using tongs pull out chicken onto cutting board, let water come to a boil and drop in frozen peas and carrots, add last 2 bouillon cubes, and boil for 4min. or as directed on bag, add diced tomato's, add 1 cup of rice, then turn off stove.  The rice will soak up some of the water, so you made need to add more after you cook the chicken.  While veggies are cooking, slice chicken in bite size pieces or shred, whichever you prefer and add back to pot after the rice is added.


I pour into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread and sweet tea!  Enjoy!!

New Years Day 2012 Truffles

The best way to start off any New Year is with Chocolate.  So the girls and I celebrated with some Oreo Truffles.  These things are sinfully delicious.  Its my first time to make them and I'm in chocolate Heaven.

Here is the recipe and a picture of my finished product!  These are so yummy, I'm adding them to the Cookie Swap Recipes this Christmas.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• 1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Crush entire bag of Oreos to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl.(Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.)  Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2. Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Add Sprinkles, I chose white for these.  
3. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Footnotes:

• How to Easily Dip Truffles:
• Place truffle ball in melted chocolate to coat; roll if necessary. Lift truffle from chocolate using 2 forks (this will allow excess chocolate to run off) before placing on wax paper.

Creamy Chicken Florentine

This is my version of Kraft's Creamy Chicken Florentine:

1lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup halved red pepper strips

1 pkg.(6 oz.)baby spinach leaves

1 tub(10 oz.)PHILADELPHIA Savory Garlic Cooking Creme

1 tub(10 oz.) Philadelphia Original Cooking Cream

1 box hot cooked penne pasta(add salt to water)

Spices: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper

Directions:  Cut Chicken in bite sized pieces, lavishly coat with all spices listed, Cook chicken and peppers in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 to 6 min. or until chicken is done. Add spinach; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until wilted. Drain all but 1 Tbsp. liquid. Add cooking creme; cook and stir 3 min. Stir in pasta, let warm a few minutes.  Ready to serve and eat immediately.

The Kraft recipe calls for pine nuts, but I didn't put them in.  I also didn't have any peppers tonight, but it was still delicious.  I also added the plain cooking cream to the recipe to, because I made a double batch of this and cooked a whole box of noodles instead of 2cups. :)

Party food time! :) Queso Dip and Taco Bites

At our most recent Soiree these were the party recipes I made and shared!
Queso Dip:

Queso Dip Recipe:

1/2 Pound Ground Beef

1 Packet of Taco Seasoning

3/4 Cup of Water

1 14oz Velveeta Block

1 Rotel with Cilantro and Lime

1 Cup Sour Cream

Slice Velveeta in small cubes and place in slow cooker, add Rotel.  Cook on low for an hour, while that has started warming, brown Ground Beef, add Taco Seasoning and water(follow directions on Taco packet).

When Velveeta has melted add in Ground beef mix and Sour Cream.  Cook on low for another hour.  

My slow cooker works pretty fast, so it was melted and warm super fast.  Set on "warm" when queso is mixed and melted thoroughly during party to keep it thin.

Here's a picture of the yummy Taco Bites last night:

Taco Bites
2 Packages of Athens Mini Fillo(Phyllo) shells(15 count in each)
1 lb Ground Lean Hamburger
1 Package of Taco Seasoning mix (I use Publix Brand)
1/4 Cup of Water(use a little more if the hamburger is too dry or a little more than a pound)
1 Cup of Guacamole
1-2 Cups Kraft Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese
1 Cup of Sour Cream
1 Cup of Salsa

Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees
Ground Hamburger meat, drain grease, add back to skillet
Add water and Taco Seasoning mix heat thoroughly
Add Fillo cups with Ground beef mix
Add Kraft Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top of Ground beef

Place in oven and heat until cheese is melted
Place Salsa and Sour cream in dip cups and serve!
I also made some of my White Sangria, but I forgot to take a picture of it.  I made this one in a glass pitcher.  Looked fruity and tasted so yummy! :)


You can always find more of my recipes and ideas in my categories section under "Busy Mom Recipes and Fun Recipes"  Happy cooking! :)

Italian Chicken and Pasta Dish

I came up with a new recipe I think you all will enjoy! And its super fast and so easy. This is so similar to my Chicken Pesto, but it has an Italian flavor instead. I added my Chicken Pesto link from ehow as well at the bottom of this recipe if you are interested.

1lb Chicken Breast
1 box Penne Pasta
1 tub of Kraft Philadelphia Cooking Cream, Italian Cheese and Herb flavor
Handful of Mozzarella Cheese
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper
4 Tbsp EVOO(extra virgin olive oil)
1/2 Bag of fresh Organic Spinach
Spritz of "I Can't Believe its Not Butter" Spray


Lay chicken on firm cutting board, cover with saran wrap, tuck under the cutting board and beat with a wooden mallet. Remove saran wrap and cut into square bite size pieces. Flattening it makes the pieces more even.
(If you're short on time like I was tonight, place chicken breast into skillet then pull from skillet and cut it up into bite size pieces after its cooked, the pieces won't be as even, and they made shred a little, but its faster.)

Pour EVOO into skillet on med./medium-high, place Chicken in skillet lavish with salt and pepper, onion and garlic powder on all sides and cook thoroughly. Let the EVOO cook out and it will glaze the chicken a little bit with the spices to give it a sort of grilled taste.

Cook pasta as directed on box, spray with "I can't believe Its not Butter" spray to keep from sticking and set to the side.

Place 1/2 bag of spinach into skillet, cook until wilted along with chicken, approx. 3minutes. Add Kraft cooking cream and pasta, mix together for about 5min. until warm. Sprinkle a handful of Mozzarella Cheese on top for extra cheesy flavoring.

Enjoy! :)

Chicken Pesto link from ehow: http://www.ehow.com/how_5193998_make-easy-chicken-pesto-dinner.html?ref=fuel

Low Fat Lasagna

Low Fat Lasagna 

(use low fat or reg. ingredients for a delicious, easy dish.)

2 lb ground chuck

1 - 10 oz pkg wide egg noodles

2 cans of no or low fat spaghetti sauce

1 - 16 oz carton no fat sour cream

1 - 24 oz carton no fat cottage cheese

Parmesan cheese to taste

1 - 8 oz pkg part skim granted mozzarella cheese

Cook noodles as directed.  Brown ground beef and drain.  Add spaghetti sauce to ground beef and heat.  Mix cottage cheese and sour cream together.  layer ingredients as follows in a 9X13 pan:  2-3 tablespoons of meat sauce (to keep noodles from sticking), noodles, cottage cheese and sour cream mixture, mozzarella, to with meat sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 350 deg. for 20-30 min.  Allow to cool slightly so cheese will firm. 

 I'm only showing half of it because we devoured the other half last night! :)  lol

Busy Mom Pantry

There are a few items that every “Busy Mama” pantry should have on hand. These foods are perfect when you find yourself saying “There’s nothing for dinner!” or find yourself not feeling well and needing something good and comforting to fill the tummy, or you need a meal in a pinch.
Canned diced tomatoes
Canned tomato sauce
Rice
Potato flakes
Frozen beef and also chicken
Canned meats
Frozen vegetable mixes (the large California style or soup mix)
Egg noodles
Garlic salt
Various Mix packets like McCormick’s for stews, soups, crock pot recipes
These food items are shelf ready for a good long time.
On a day when Mom isn’t feeling too well, you can whip up either a comforting pot of chicken soup or beef stew to simmer in the crock pot all during the day. The smell of good food cooking whets the appetite but also takes you back to days when you were a little girl. I love my crock pots, matter of fact, I have two and I use them both.
The next crock pot I invest in, though, will be digital that allows me to set the time, then when the cook time is complete, the crock pot automatically converts to a “warm” mode. That way I can truly get my meal done early in the day and not have to worry about it till serving time.
If you have any particular recipes you’d like to share, feel free.

Superbowl Taco Bites!

I won the hubby over with my Taco Bites I made for Superbowl Sunday!  I thought I would share this easy recipe.  I'm all about the fewest ingredients, shortest prep time and the most flavor.


Taco Bites
2 Packages of Athens Mini Fillo(Phyllo) shells(15 count in each)
1 lb Ground Lean Hamburger
1 Package of Taco Seasoning mix (I use Publix Brand)
1/4 Cup of Water(use a little more if the hamburger is too dry or a little more than a pound)
1 Cup of Guacamole
1-2 Cups Kraft Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese
1 Cup of Sour Cream
1 Cup of Salsa

Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees
Ground Hamburger meat, drain grease, add back to skillet
Add water and Taco Seasoning mix heat thoroughly
Add Fillo cups with Ground beef mix
Add Kraft Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top of Ground beef

Place in oven and heat until cheese is melted
Place Salsa and Sour cream in dip cups and serve!