a Stefani Hood Blog

Wine and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast casseroles are something you think about for holidays, brunches or funerals and they are perfect for those occasions, but they are also perfect to make on a Sunday afternoon to have in your fridge for the week ahead. I just cut out a piece, re-heat it in the microwave and serve it to the kids for a busy weekday breakfast-it makes breakfasts so easy, but still delicious and so much better than a bowl of cereal.

I have been making this casserole for YEARS! It is so good! It needs a little bit of planning, but it is worth it. If I am making this for the week ahead I will make it on Sunday morning and let it sit in the fridge all day then bake it Sunday night because I don’t have an hour on Monday morning to let it bake or rather I don’t want to get up an hour earlier to let this thing bake. But, if you have the time or get up early then make the […]

Stefani Hood2020-04-04T19:49:01+00:00September 20th, 2019|Breakfast & Brunch|2 Comments

Spinach Artichoke Melts

It’s Monday and if you are like me you are exhausted from the weekend. I don’t know what it is about holiday weeks, but last week with having only 4 days because of Labor Day made this weekend extra crazy! So, I am really phoning it in tonight for dinner:). I am doing a LAZY meal-Spinach and Artichoke Melts. They are so delicious and decadent and SO easy to get on the table. Serve with a simple mixed green salad and dinner is done in about 20 minutes!

I am trying to squeeze in a few meatless dinners, but if your family will have nothing of the sort then this is so easy to add in some rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, sautéed ground turkey…. and make this even more hearty.

You can use any bread that you have on hand, but if you have the ability to buy a crusty loaf of French bread it makes this even more delicious. There is just something about a slice of French bread!

Enjoy and don’t worry I will get […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-09T17:03:56+00:00September 9th, 2019|Starters, Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Baked Chicken Fajitas

Being from Texas we love our fajitas! They are kind of a Friday night staple along with a margarita. And grilling them at home is not hard, but sometimes the weather is bad (read 120 degrees with mosquitos) or you don’t have a grill or you only have a charcoal grill and don’t want to fuss with it. These Baked Chicken Fajitas are perfect for those nights! They are SO easy and your family will love them! Plus you can make them ahead of time and keep them in a warm oven until you can sit down. I serve the with a side of homemade Quick Refried Beans, chips and salsa and cold beers for the adults.

These fajitas are packed with flavor! Chicken, peppers, onions seasoned with fajita seasoning topped with cheese and baked. YUM! I wrap these in flour tortillas, but you can use corn or none at all. They are delicious any way you serve them.

Hope you enjoy!

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Stefani Hood2019-08-26T17:24:03+00:00August 26th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Family Dinner

Dinner Table 5

So, people assume that because I like to cook that I love to cook EVERY night and plan meals EVERY week. That is not true! I do like to cook, but yes it does become monotonous and sometimes a chore and I have to remind myself why I cook dinner for my family. I cook so that we have “Family Dinner” -a special time for us to just sit down, breathe, take a break from electronics and connect for a few minutes. And, yes sometimes it is for just a few minutes and yes sometimes it is at 5:30pm and sometimes it is at 8:30pm, depending on sports, and sometimes Dad is home and sometimes he’s out of town, but we still have family dinner on most weeknights. And, yes on occasion I say screw it and we hit Chic Fil-A!

So why do I care so much about cooking, besides the fact that I really like it? I want my family to eat healthy meals, sit and talk around our kitchen table and most importantly, I […]

Stefani Hood2020-09-30T13:22:19+00:00August 25th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Well the school year has started and that means crazy! Although this summer was absolutely insane! I feel like we didn’t have one day of just “nothing to do” and it was gone so quickly. I still have one more week with my older two before they go back to school and I am savoring every minute! One way I do that is by having family dinner and making really good food! This recipe for Baked Chicken Parmesan was a huge hit with all my boys. It is quick, easy and healthy-all requirements for a week night meal.

One way I make this healthy is by baking the chicken and not frying it like traditional chicken Parmesan. Don’t worry it is still crunchy and juicy, but with just less calories. Another way I make this healthy is to serve it over zucchini noodles or Banza pasta that is made from chickpeas and has a TON of protein in each serving. My boys shockingly like both options! But, if I don’t have either in my house […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-22T17:42:13+00:00August 22nd, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna

Ok I am not going to try and spin this recipe into something healthy because its not! It is not healthy AT ALL, but it is delicious and sometimes we just need delicious to the damn family will eat it! And I promise your family will love this. I did another test run last night with this Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna with 7 teenage boys and my husband and they all loved it and asked for seconds. That is a win in my book!

Now, like I said this is rich and filling so I serve a big side salad with a very vinegary dressing. I did try to cut the calories as much as I could by using 2% milk and 1/3 fat cream cheese, but lets face it its still not a kale salad, but oh well every now and then we just want delicious!

This recipe is not hard or complicated but it does take a little bit of time so just know going in that it is not going to be on the table in […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-21T21:15:17+00:00August 21st, 2019|Pasta|1 Comment

Breakfast Cookies

Weekday breakfasts are hard! Everyone is grumpy, tired and not ready to go to school or work. But, everyone needs a good breakfast! I try to make a healthy breakfast-I notice that if they do not eat well in the morning they come home from school in the WORST mood. If I have time (it only takes about 10 minutes) I will make eggs, bacon (pre-cooked from Costco), fruit and milk. I try to limit the sugar which pretty much knocks out all cereal or waffles or protein bars. As much as I try to get a good breakfast on the table somedays its just crazy-especially if they have to be at school before dawn for football practice so I will rely on something that I have made over the weekend that I can just heat in the microwave. A few of my favorite pre-made breakfasts are linked here: Coconut Cream Pie Overnight Oats, Green Chili Breakfast Casserole, Mini Sausage and Cheese Burrito Bowls, Breakfast Burritos. They an all be made on Sunday […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-19T14:34:14+00:00August 19th, 2019|Breakfast & Brunch|0 Comments

Shrimp Rolls-New England Style

We all want summer to last just a little bit longer. The warm nights, the longer days, no guilt for sitting down and reading a book, having a glass of wine at 3 o’clock… But, all good things must come to an end and the kiddos go back to school-that could be a good thing- and the days get shorter and the nights get colder, but we can keep the summer feeling alive with delicious summer recipes. This recipe for New England Style Shrimp Rolls is the perfect thing to make on a weeknight to bring back those summer feelings. I use shrimp instead of lobster only because it is easier to find, for most of us, and its cheaper! But, by all means use lobster if you have it!

There really aren’t many variations on the classic lobster roll so the ingredients are simple and easy to find. The way you make it your own is by adjusting the amounts. This is my favorite version, but play with it and find what your family likes.

Hope […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-18T19:13:07+00:00August 18th, 2019|Meats & Fish|4 Comments

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

Is there anything better than a warm buttermilk biscuit with melted butter or honey? I don’t think so! They are so decadent and have ZERO nutritional value, but they just make a Sunday morning so special. My husband goes and picks up biscuits and gravy every single Sunday morning at a local fried chicken place and it takes everything I have to have not indulge and have one. So my boys eat them and love them and it has become a tradition in our family.

But, I started thinking how hard can making biscuits be?? So I started researching and found they are SUPER easy and they don’t even take that long to make. I mean lets face it, if I have to get up at 6:30am to make something for breakfast that takes an hour or two, I’m out! I want quick and easy, but it has to be delicious! So I promise these biscuits are easy! Serve them with some homemade gravy, honey, a slice of ham or just butter along with some bacon […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-18T18:13:27+00:00August 18th, 2019|Breakfast & Brunch|0 Comments

Boozy Grapes

It’s Friday! For a lot of you that have already started back to school I’m sure you are so excited for Friday-no yelling at kids to do homework or get up! And for those of us that haven’t started back to school it just means another night at yelling at kids to be home by curfew, lol!

So, either way you might as well celebrate that we made it to the weekend by making these EASY Boozy Grapes. They are so refreshing and fun to munch on during happy hour and make any cheese plate look fancy! I remember asking my wedding cake baker to drape sugared grapes on the grooms cake thinking they were so complicated to make, but they are SO easy. I should get a refund for that mark-up!

There are only a few ingredients required to make these delicious little balls of happiness. Green Grapes, Prosecco and sugar. Thats it! Send me your pictures or thoughts on this recipe.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Stefani Hood2019-08-16T21:28:26+00:00August 16th, 2019|Starters, Wine|0 Comments

Summer Lentil Salad

This is one of those “mom salads” as my kids call it. It is healthy and not too appealing for kids, however my son had some friends over for dinner the other night and they all seemed to really like it, so…go figure! Summer Lentil Salad is liked by 14 year olds!

Lentils are high in fiber, and complex carbohydrates, while low in fat and calories. They are high in protein making lentils a perfect way to boost protein intake. They are naturally gluten-free, making them a delicious staple in a gluten-free kitchen. Plus, you can put lentils in almost anything- oatmeal, bolognese, soups, salads…

This salad is perfect for a side dish served with a piece of salmon or chicken. It can be served hot, warm or cold so it is great to make the night before and take to work the next day-you don’t even need a protein served with it. You can add a handful of arugula or spinach and make this a true “salad”.

I used the vegetables I had on hand, but you […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-15T15:37:00+00:00August 15th, 2019|Soups & Salads, Sides|0 Comments

Corn Chowder

Summer is the peak season for corn and right now in August it is at its sweetest. I have been putting corn on the table every night! Boiled and brushed with a little bit of butter, cut off the cob and put into salads and of course made into Corn Chowder. Yes, I know its a 100 degrees outside but corn chowder just screams summer. It is rich, creamy, sweet and DELICIOUS!

So what is the difference between a chowder and a soup? A chowder is a thickened cream based soup that is generally chunky. A smooth cream based soup is a bisque. And a soup is broth based. Chowder gets it name from the French word chaudiere which is a type of cooking vessel, such as a pot that the French fishermen used to put over an open flame to boil their catch with veggies and potatoes. However, chowder is an American creation which is given its rich creamy texture by using flour and pork fat […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-14T19:49:09+00:00August 14th, 2019|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Black Beans and Rice

When I was in college there was a restaurant on my way to class that served rice, black beans with cheese, salsa and sour cream. I loved it and ate it all the time!! It was filling, quick and cheap. I still make it for myself for lunch if there is nothing in the house to eat-so good! But most of the time I make this (a bit more fancy than college but not much) as a side dish. Black Beans and Rice is an easy and delicious side dish for almost anything, but especially for Tequila Lime Chicken, Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas, or Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas. Many times I will add Trader Joe’s Frozen Roasted Corn or if I am lazy and need to get dinner on the table I will make this and add in shredded rotisserie chicken and dinner is served! Everyone loves it!

This recipe calls for uncooked rice, but there are many times that I […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-08T17:51:54+00:00August 8th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Tequila Lime Chicken

This is what they call the dog days of summer here in Texas. It is 150 degrees here in August and honestly the last thing I want to do is cook, but these little (I guess 6’3″ not so little anymore) people always want to eat. So, I cook in August. We have about 2 weeks left until school starts and that is when I will kick it into high gear. But, in the mean time I am trying to get a few family dinners in during the week just to get my kids off the damn x-box! It is so nice to just have a few minutes to see their beautiful faces without head phones on and to talk to them while they are looking me in the eye and not side-eye while they are looking at the screen. Plus they need actual food in their growing bodies-Flaming Cheetos, gummy bears, yogurt, goldfish and Dr. Pepper aren’t exactly healthy:). But, we go back to the issue of its hot and I don’t want […]

Stefani Hood2019-08-07T17:25:42+00:00August 7th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Hugo Cocktail

We were recently in Salzburg-one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been to! If you ever have a chance to visit I highly recommend. The town is just breathtaking! The people are so friendly and the food is to die for!! We met up with our niece, Bettina, who is from there and we were lucky enough to have her show us around and take us to some amazing spots. One of the spots was the It was just gorgeous!! And the one thing that my niece insisted on me ordering was the Hugo Cocktail. I was very skeptical because it looks so “cocktaily”, but it was DELICIOUS!!! I ordered it about 5 more times on our trip. It is SO refreshing and gorgeous! It is the PERFECT drink for summer. My husband even loved it and he does not like cocktails other than a dry martini or a Meyers and Tonic so for him to order it, it must be good:)

One of the staple ingredients in the cocktail is […]

Stefani Hood2019-07-16T18:14:23+00:00July 16th, 2019|Starters, Wine|0 Comments

Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas

Ah the Instant Pot-the new kitchen appliance that is taking the cooking world by storm. Is it worth it? Well, yes and no. If you like to play with new kitchen tools and like “crock-pot” dinners then this is for you! It is very easy to use and does move the cooking process along, but it does not go without some hands on time so if you are looking for a dump and walk appliance then this is probably not for you. It’s not a set it and forget it type appliance. You do have to “cook”. You have to sear and reduce liquid….But, with that being said I do use mine fairly often-I would say a few times a month and everything that I have tried has come out great. I plan on trying homemade yogurt and I will post my results.

For today we are talking about Crispy Pork Carnitas! YUM! This recipe turned out so delicious that I have made it several times in the last few weeks and all my sons […]

Stefani Hood2019-07-15T17:03:51+00:00July 15th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Margarita Watermelon Slices

It is July and it is HOT in Texas! When I think of summer I think of pools, fresh cut grass and walking barefoot. But, the heat brings juicy, sweet Texas watermelon! Yes its hot, but the heat does not stop us from having outdoor get togethers and nothing says summer like a pool party! My kids are too old now and too cool to hang around the pool with the parents, but when they were little (and when I was little) the families would all gather at the house with the pool and let the kids swim and the parents would eat, drink, talk, laugh… so much fun! So if you are in that stage enjoy every minute of it. It passes quickly! Now we just sit around and eat, drink, talk and laugh but we don’t have to watch little ones-still fun!

If you are headed to one of these summer get togethers or you are hosting one bring/serve these fabulous little adult treats-Margarita Watermelon Slices. This is the time of the year […]

Stefani Hood2019-07-13T16:26:09+00:00July 13th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Pickled Jalapeños

Growing up in Texas a staple in your weekly diet is Tex-Mex-I’m not kidding! There are a million Mexican restaurants to choose from and the first thing everyone does when they get back from vacation is hit one of these to get their fix. The week before school starts you cannot get into a Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas without a 2 hour wait and yes people wait 2 hours to get a table. The trick is to get a seat in the bar and a BIG margarita and WAIT. But, oh its so good and after a week away at the beach or in the mountains a big ole plate of enchiladas or fajitas is just the thing. And the one condiment that is served is pickled jalapeños.

In my house we eat pickled jalapeños on EVERYTHING! For breakfast on Green Chili Breakfast Casserole , Mini Sausage and Cheese Burrito Bowls , Weekday Migas … For lunch in Tortilla Soup , on a BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, ….For Dinner on Mexican Lime Chicken , on […]

Stefani Hood2019-07-10T22:39:30+00:00July 10th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Summer Dip

So on Sunday a massive shitstorm hit Dallas and we have all been without power for 3 days. And let me tell you not having power with 3 teenage boys that love Wi-fi it was a struggle. And not having AC for this mamma was a struggle! We are back up and running, but I did have to empty out my ENTIRE fridge and freezer-you have no idea how heartbreaking that was especially after I had just gone to the grocery to stock up for out of town guests.

Last night as we were sitting in the living room enjoying the cool air one of the boys stated he was hungry, shocking! I had NOTHING! We were going out to dinner, but they wanted a snack so I threw together this dip with items I had in my pantry. This dip has a lot of memories associated with it. Our very good friend and my childhood neighbor, Jan, used to make this dip all the time and serve it by the pool. We would swim all day […]

Stefani Hood2019-06-12T16:03:57+00:00June 12th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Blackberry and Basil Fizz Cocktail

I don’t drink a lot, but when I do I always go for the same ole, same ole-dirty martini, old fashioned or wine. And I am kinda tired of those drinks so I have tried to come up with a few new summer cocktails that are EASY and do not require you to go buy the entire liquor store. I mean what am I going to do with a whole bottle of blue curaçao? So this Blackberry and Basil Fizz Cocktail is simple, delicious and uses all the bounties of summer-basil and blackberries! I made it with both Gin and Whiskey and they both are fabulous!

The only tools you really need are a cocktail shaker and muddler and if you are an adult and have a bar you should have those tools! They are cheap and you will use them all the time!

Enjoy!

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Stefani Hood2019-06-09T16:56:17+00:00June 9th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Grilled Tuscan Tuna Steaks

It is grill season! Living in Texas we can pretty much grill all year, but something about summer just screams it’s time for easy, light, quick grilled dinners. There is usually very little or no clean up with grilled dinners and everything tends to be rather light and healthy with the exception of ribs. Last night we had two of our three boys home for dinner-during the summer I let night family dinners slide and only require Wednesdays and Sundays for full family sit down dinners. I found some beautiful tuna steaks at Central Market and decided to use a bright flavorful summery Tuscan rub on them and throw them on the grill. I served them with Trader Joe’s mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Easy summer dinner!

If you don’t have a grill you need to get one, but if you aren’t able to have a grill you can absolutely place the tuna steaks in a cast iron skillet or baking sheet and bake in oven at 450 degrees for about 8-12 minutes depending on […]

Stefani Hood2019-06-08T20:29:07+00:00June 8th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Watermelon Martini

Its Summer!!! I have been MIA for a couple weeks, but I am back! Getting kids home from school, finishing finals, which by the way I feel like I took 7th grade finals-good lord, it has just been a busy couple of weeks. But I am going to get back at it and my first post for you guys is a summery and REALLY refreshing Watermelon Martini. This thing is DELICIOUS and DANGEROUS!

It is SO easy to make and even easier if you can find pre-made watermelon juice like I can at Central Market. I bet you could find it at Wegmans (East Coast), Draegers (West Coast) or any high end grocery store. But if you can’t find watermelon juice you can make it very easily. All you do it take 5-6 cups of cut up seedless watermelon and put in a blender and puree. Then strain through a fine mesh strainer and voila you have watermelon juice.

Another ingredient you need is Simple Syrup. And as the name suggests it is very simple. You can […]

Stefani Hood2019-06-07T23:07:44+00:00June 7th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Oven Fried Pickles

Bring an appetizer! I know you hear that all the time when you are invited to a party or get together, but, what can you bring that is fun, different and healthy? Well, not kale healthy, but semi healthy? Make these Oven Fried Pickles, they are DELICIOUS! They are easy and your guests or family will devour them. I made these this weekend while the boys, and I, were watching the National Lacrosse semi-finals and they ate the whole batch in 5 minutes. Yes, lax is a HUGE sport in our family! My husband and his 3 brothers all played in college and my 3 boys have played since they were in 1st grade and I love watching it! A quick shout out to my friend Megan‘s son, Cade who plays for UVA and who made it to the final four!! (BTW she has an AWESOME lifestyle blog, Truly Megan-check it out! ) My husband was super bummed that his alma mater, Penn, lost but we will root for the other […]

Stefani Hood2019-05-21T21:15:51+00:00May 21st, 2019|Starters|1 Comment

Balsamic Roasted Grapes on Blue Cheese Crostini

A couple weeks ago I asked you guys what you wanted to see more of on the blog and the overwhelming response was APPETIZERS! I get it appetizers are hard! You want to serve something special and delicious but you do not want to spend all day in the kitchen making individual mini tacos-that for the caterers! And you are also tired of serving a bowl of salsa and chips. So I have come up with several easy-to-make appetizers for parties or just happy hour get togethers. This one, Balsamic Roasted Grapes on Blue Cheese Crostini is very easy, even though it is individual pieces. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and that is the oven time included. I have to admit that I did not create this amazing little bites-I got the recipe from Southern Living, but I have no idea what issue I pulled it out of. I do that, I tear recipes out of magazines then they sit only desk for years. You should see my desk!!!

Ok, back […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-31T20:57:58+00:00May 18th, 2019|Starters|1 Comment

Whipped Avocado Dip

It’s that time of year when the sun starts to come out, the weather is warmer and the mosquitos are not in full rage mode, so that means patio parties, happy hours, spring outdoor birthday parties and that means APPETIZERS! I hear all the time when invited to a party, “just bring an app”. What does that mean? Chips and salsa? Yes, but let’s be a bit more creative-you host or guests will appreciate it. Over the next few weeks I am going to be posting delicious appetizers. I have collected these recipes over the years from God knows where, but I have a ton. And you know I like easy so they are going to be easy, delicious and perfect for spring and summer get togethers.

The first one is a Whipped Avocado Dip-creamy, cool, spicy, delicious! This is inspired by a local restaurant’s avocado dip and it is no doubt the first thing people order when they sit down at a table at this restaurant. They serve it with house-made potato chips or […]

Stefani Hood2019-05-13T16:21:10+00:00May 13th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Creamy Sun-dried Tomato and Shrimp Pasta

Being the end of the school year means that EVERYONE is done! We are all tired of school, even Mom! And I am so tempted to order in dinner every night until summer break, but I just can’t find enough healthy places to order from and I cannot feed my family pizza for the next three weeks, or can I??? hummm… No, I can do this! I can make dinner for just a few more weeks. Not that I don’t cook in the summer , but it just seems more relaxed and we only get about 2-3 nights a week that we have family dinner in the summer so the pressure is off.

So…dinner recipes that are quick, tasty, easy and the whole family will eat. That is a tall order, but I have a recipe that I know you will love. Creamy Sun-dried Tomato and Shrimp Pasta. It is not low fat or vegan, but it is so good and will be eaten and in my book that is a successful […]

Stefani Hood2019-05-09T00:50:11+00:00May 9th, 2019|Meats & Fish, Pasta|0 Comments

Mexican Lime Chicken

Being a Texan means we eat A LOT of Tex-Mex food! Its just in our blood to crave a margarita, chips, hot sauce (that’s what we call salsa), fajitas on a Friday evening… And we like it spicy, but not Cajun spicy! It has to have a tang of lime along with the heat of the jalapeños. To give you an example of what I mean when I say “in our blood”, my oldest son would sit in his high chair starting when he was about 9 months old and eat, with a spoon, a bowl of “hot sauce” at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Mi Cocina. It was the damnedest thing! He still to this day LOVES spicy- I ship him jars and jars of his favorite salsa, chips and pickled jalapeños to school. Thank God for Amazon!

So what does this have to do with the following recipe?? Well, when we have a busy weeknight and don’t have time to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant I make Mexican Lime Chicken with warm tortillas (we […]

Stefani Hood2019-04-29T18:41:19+00:00April 29th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

I know, I know its Spring and we are wanting light, fresh recipes, but the weather has been so rainy and yucky that I have been wanting comfort food, especially soup. Not a heavy chili or stew but soup-warm and comforting. We love Chicken Pot Pie so I thought about how good would a Chicken Pot Pie Soup be?? Well..its pretty damn good! And really easy! You can make this more complicated by making your own biscuits but why? Just use the store bought biscuits in a can or the frozen biscuits. They are just as good in a recipe like this and are super easy to make-preheat oven and bake 12 minutes. Can’t get much easier than that!

I used heavy cream in this recipe but only because I had it in the fridge. You can absolutely use milk in place of the cream and lighten this up even more.

I know I say all the time that this or that recipe is easy, but this one is really easy. On the night I […]

Stefani Hood2019-04-23T16:40:48+00:00April 23rd, 2019|Soups & Salads|1 Comment

Healthy Cajun Jambalaya

Happy Monday! The sun is finally shining here in Texas! And when the sun is shining in Texas in the Spring that means pollen, ugh!!! I don’t know about you but I am dying! My car is green and I cannot stop sneezing, but the sun is shining!! So let’s get cooking!

I am back in the kitchen after a lot of travel and I have a fantastic healthy, quick weeknight dinner for you, Healthy Cajun Jambalaya! YUM! It is a little spicy and very flavorful and I serve it over Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice. Now, you can definitely serve this over traditional rice, but I thought I would give this a try and you know what the family LOVED it! My youngest son did ask, “What is this kind of rice is this?”, but I just said its rice that I toasted in the oven and he said “oh, ok I like it!” Who said you are not supposed to lie to your kids? Had I told him it was cauliflower I can guarantee he would have […]

Stefani Hood2019-04-15T19:29:53+00:00April 15th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Sloppy Joes

This recipe is what I call a cheat dinner! It is SUPER easy and very comforting and takes about 20 minutes to get on the table. And it can sit on the stove until everyone is ready or you can serve it in shifts for those busy sports nights. I remember my mom making this when I was a child and I always loved Sloppy Joe nights (and chip beef on toast, but that is another topic). It just meant it was a casual, easy, quick dinner night. It didn’t mean we didn’t have placemats and napkins, but it was just a casual night. Not many dishes to clean up and it was yummy and filling. And as a mom now yummy and filling are what I am needing for 3 teenage boys!

My mom always used the canned sloppy joe sauce and it was delicious, but I thought I would try to recreate it without using the can. It turned out pretty darn good! And it really was just as easy. This is one of those […]

Stefani Hood2020-10-30T20:46:52+00:00April 9th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

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