Tuesday, May 29, 2012

{Recipes} Cheesesteak Pie


For the longest time, my hubby and I would either go out to eat on the weekends or order out to give me a break from cooking. But...we realized quickly that not only was this habit not the healthiest of options, but it also was becoming quite expensive. So, rather than ordering pizza out on Friday nights or ordering take-out on Saturday nights, I have been making my own pizza/other meals. That's not to say we never order out ;-}

Here's a recipe I tried recently {my mom made it first and liked it, so I tried it and liked it as well}. We love cheesesteaks, and this was similiar, but a slightly different take.

::Cheesesteak Pie::

Ingredients:
~ 1 package Old Neighbor shaved meat {Shoprite carries this brand}
~ 1-2 bell peppers {red/green}, diced
~ 1 onion, diced
~ 1 package shredded mozzarella cheese
~ 2 tubes Pillsbury crescent rolls

Directions:
1. Line a greased cookie sheet or pie plate with 1 tube of crescent rolls, pressing seams together.
2. In a frying pan, cook meat, and add peppers and onions.
3. Once mixture is cooked thoroughly, add as much or little cheese as you'd like.
4. Then, pour entire mixture into pie plate.
5. Cover top with the second tube of crescent rolls and press seams around perimeter of pie plate.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until crescent roll crust is lightly browned.
7. Serve with ketchup & enjoy!

**I served this meal with homemade potato wedges {dip in ketchup and you get a steak fry feel!}.
**You can also buy reduced fat crescent rolls and cheese for a healthier version of this meal.
**You could also forgo the crescent rolls and just add your meat to rolls for a traditional cheesesteak {they sell shaved pork and chicken as well}.
**12 more days of school but who's counting?!

Monday, May 14, 2012

{Random} Life at the Shore...


My little family has been on overload for the last month. In addition to finding out that we are expecting our second little sweetie this fall {!!!!}, my husband has been traveling a ton for his job, and his free time on weekends has been completely consumed with the renovation of our little shore house in North Wildwood. Phew -- it's been a tad overwhelming to say the least...


You can see from the above pics that the "Pink House" is in desperate need of a major re-do. We love spending our weekends here with my hubby's family in the summer, but ever since we had Dean two years ago, we haven't even been staying in the Pink House b/c it's just not that comfortable and/or safe with a little one {we stay in Bo's parent's house next door}.

I think everyone finally had had enough of it and decided to bite the bullet. Last fall the process started. It's been a slow process because my husband, his father, and brother-in-law are doing all the work themselves. The house sits at the end of a looooong boardwalk, so you can imagine how much time is spent just hauling all the debris and trash up the boardwalk to the dumpster and then back down the boardwalk with the new materials. Then all the work to actually build the house back up again has to take place. UGH...I'm exhausted even thinking about it! It'll be so worth the trouble when the house is completely finished but right now....it kinda stinks!


Here is a progress pic from a few days ago: still lots and lots to do but the guys are definitely making some good progress. The whole front of the house has been ripped off and framed, and the new roof is also beginning to be framed {my hubby said as of yesterday afternoon the entire old roof is gone and the new frames are up!}. The county laws only allow for the new house to be as big as the existing footprint, so unfortunately, we can't make it bigger or put on a second floor, but we are squeezing in a little loft area for when our babies get a little older...they will have fun sleeping up there. The guys are tearing down parts of the house at a time, rebuilding, and then moving on to the next area. My father-in-law drew all the plans, and he's been very creative at making the best use of the space. The inside layout has changed completely, and it's going to be so much more conducive to life at the shore with a family.


My in-laws house is next door and was renovated about ten years ago. Grassy is the most peaceful little place ever in the summer. The homes are not big & fancy, but the location is prime...private, situated right on bay, boat slips right off our deck, a ten minute boat ride to and from Champagne Island, a great view, and the BEST ocean breeze you could ever imagine. Even on the hottest of summer days, air conditioning is rarely needed because of the air we get. Although the new house won't be ready for this summer, I CANNOT wait for my son {and future babe} to spend their summer days there. We are so thankful to have this little peace of heaven as a summer escape!

**I hope all my mommy friends & family had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day. Although my hubby was working on the shore house all weekend {definitely not ideal}, he was so sweet to make me dinner on Saturday night when he returned home. We put the baby to bed and then relaxed on the couch with salmon, baked potatoes and roasted asparagus....strawberry shortcake for dessert. And I'm thrilled to have also gotten a gift certificate to get a mani/pedi {my favorite form of relaxation!} from my boys. I'm a lucky girl!

**Just started the LAST graduate class I will ever have to take {one week down, six more to go}. The end is so near I can taste it, and I will be forever finished just in time for summer vaca! YYYYAAAAYYYY!!!!

Monday, May 7, 2012

{News} Baby #2


We are very excited and feeling incredibly blessed to be expecting another sweet baby this November. I am 12 weeks today {and already showing -- AHHH!}. This weekend my sis and family took the kids to Red Bank Battlefield for a picnic and playtime, so she helped me take some quick pics to share on my blog. My hubby is in Chicago on business, otherwise, I'd have worked him into the pic, too.


Sleep has been taking priority over all else for the last few months, which means that many of my daily tasks have taken a back seat. That includes blogging, cleaning and getting anything done around the house, etc, etc, etc. There was no way around it....I couldn't even sit down on the couch for 5 minutes without my eyes slamming shut for the night {still can't really -- ha}. Looking forward to my second trimester and hopefully the return of my energy!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

{Recipes} Chicken Fajitas



Hi! Here's a simple recipe for ya'll. It's one of my quick & easy go-to meals after a busy day of work and always a crowd pleaser {well, if you'd call my two boys a crowd that is}. These may not technically be "fajitas", but I've never claimed to be a food expert, so that means I'm off the hook, right? Ha.

Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:
~ Flour tortillas {I use whole wheat}
~ Chicken short-cuts {I like Perdue}
~ 1 green bell pepper, sliced in strips
~ 1 red bell pepper, sliced in strips
~ 1/2 large onion, sliced
~ Grape tomatoes
~ Cheddar cheese
~ EVOO
~ Sour cream & salsa {and any other toppings you might like}

Directions:
1. Place your red & green pepper (sliced in strips) and onion in a large frying pan on medium heat and add about a tablespoon of EVOO.
2. Let your veggies soften a little and then add your chicken. Keep your chicken and veggies over medium heat until veggies are soft and chicken is heated all the way through {I break chicken strips up a little into smaller strips/pieces}.
3. Add grape tomatoes and let those cook for a minute or two.
4. Once your veggie/chicken mixture is ready, turn off heat and sprinkle the entire mixture with cheddar cheese {how much depends on how cheesey you like your fajitas ;-}. Turn mixture over with spoon or spatula and allow cheese to melt all the way through.
5. Place tortilla in heated oven for approximately 2 minutes {or until warm}. Scoop some of your chicken/veggie/cheese mixture into tortilla, top with a little sour cream and salsa.
6. ENJOY!


**This meal took about 20 minutes to prepare -- gotta love that!
**I served my fajitas with Uncle Ben's 90 minute rice {love those packets -- so simple & yummy} and roasted zucchini & squash.