Roast Many Ways

What is better than homemade roast?  Making awesome meals with the leftovers.  I told Cliff that I think I like the leftovers better.  My favorite way to use the roast was for breakfast burritos.  Thursday afternoon I made Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos.  If you do not have a lot of time for breakfast in the morning or want a no-fuss weekend breakfast, you have to try these.  Actually, you don't need a reason, just try them!

 If only you could taste this.  Cliff ate two and then had another one for lunch

 Eggs, potato, roast, bell pepper

 First I cooked the potato cubes in a hot skillet with oil.  I put them on a plate and added shredded roast and a few bell peppers.  I just let that brown a little and then put it on a plate so I could cook my eggs

 When the eggs are almost cooked through, add everything to the skillet

 Turn off the heat and stir.

 When you are ready to use your mix you can just heat it in the microwave while you put tortillas on a hot skillet.  Put it all together with cheese.  They were so yummy.  Hope you try these.  Also, you could use different types of meat if you don't have roast.  Another great way to eat leftover roast is nachos!

 Layer chips, cheese, shredded roast and refried beans

 Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes

Nice melty cheese!

 We topped them with lettuce, tomato and salsa

 I made some awesome cookies for dessert and we had a game night.  We played Pictionary and it was really funny

  These were made from a cookie mix that Danielle gave us at Christmas.  They were amazing.  I topped some of them with Reese's eggs and Rolos.  I ate 3 because they were so good.  My favorite were the ones topped with Reese's:)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I have another busy week coming up but I plan on blogging a little more than last week.

I'm Back!

Okay the past few days have been a little insane...in a good way.  I started a new job and am happy to say I love it!  It is going to be a day job so I will no longer have to work nights.  In the transition I will be working both jobs, so it has been crazy.  My new job is faux painting and it is wonderful.  I am so excited for all the things I am going to learn.  I have still been taking pictures for the blog, so I will try to give you a brief update on all the goods that I have been eating. 
First of all, this weekend I house sat for my Aunt.  I also went to a women's retreat at our church, so I did not cook much.  One night at my Aunt's I raided her pantry and found the stuff to make delicious tortellini.

 It was herb chicken tort and it was delicious with this sauce.

 I also took her 3 dogs for a walk which they loved.  Two golden retrievers and a shih tzu.

 This one gets depressed when you don't feed her extra treats.

 Simple breakfast of pb, nutella, raisin toast with chocolate milk and ice blended

 When I got home I wanted ice cream so bad...in a huge way.  So I kept my dinner very light with a veggie patty and cheese so I could indulge in this sucker.

 Chocolate and cookie dough custard with:  reese's, pecans, pb, butterfinger, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup and bananas!  So flippin delicious.

 I have been having "My Favorite Smoothie" every day before I head to work.

 Delicious!

 My first wall!  It is hard to see...this is one of the simple things we do.

 Ordered some awesome Papa John's

 Made a roast.  First I browned it in a hot skillet with oil.  Then added an onion, 1 envelope of onion soup mix, 1 cup water and carrots and potatoes.

 Crock-pot on low for about 9 hours

 Dinner on our patio with cran-grape juice!

 Dark chocolate chips.

Hope everyone is off to a great week so far.  Can't believe it is Wednesday.  Tonight we are eating leftovers and I am going to try and come up with something inventive for our roast leftovers so stay tuned!  I want to leave you with this verse which is so beautiful and true.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Busy Busy

Happy Friday everyone!  This week has flown by.  I have had the chance to cook a few good meals between all my running around.  One day we had baked black bean nachos! 

 So good.  Cliff had corn, beans and chicken and I had beef and beans.  I love them baked but don't always have the time.  I did these at 400 for about 10 minutes

 Topped with lettuce, tomato, avocado and salsa

Last night I made a really good vegetable alfredo pasta.

 I had opened a jar of alfredo for our pinky pizza, so I had been brainstorming how I wanted to use the remaining sauce.  I decided to sautee some zucchini and mixed frozen bell peppers in a little olive oil.  I added crushed garlic and a lot of Italian seasoning and poured my sauce in.

 I also added some diced ham and brought this to a simmer.  I boiled fettuccine noodles and added them to this pan.  It made about 4 servings so I am going to have this for lunch!

 Served with a little Cran-Grape juice (random I know, but it was leftover from when Cliff's parents came and I am kind of hooked on it).

This morning I woke up early so I could go to Body Pump early and get lots done before work.  I made a pumkin chocolate pb banana smoothie (still trying to use up my pumpkin).  It was not delicious but at least it was nutritious! 

My Dunkin Donuts french vanilla coffee was amazing:)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Pinky Pizza

If you remember about a month ago we went to this awesome pizza place and we got a pizza called The Pinky.  Basically it has pink sauce instead of normal pizza sauce (alfredo and marinara mixed).  Last night I re-created this pizza using Boboli and it was delish!

 Start with marinara and alfredo sauce mix, onto the crust with a little mozz.

 Then layer grilled chicken, ham (or bacon), caramelized onion and cheddar cheese.

 Top with fresh tomatoes and bake at 450 for about 10 minutes.

 It was so yummy!

 We ate dinner on our back porch, check out the view.

The Pinky

Pre-made pizza crust such as Boboli (or you could make some)

1/2 cup alfredo sauce

1/4 cup marinara sauce

1/3 cup mozz cheese

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1/2 pound chicken (3 raw boneless skinless chicken tenders for us)

1/3 cup chopped ham or bacon

1 onion, caramelized

1 roma tomato

Layer your toppings as seen above and bake at 450 for about 10 minutes.

This morning I made My Favorite Smoothie and drank lots of coffee.  I have a really busy day!  Hope everyone has a great day

New Smoothie

I have been meaning to try this smoothie recipe for a long time.  I love pumpkin but I didn't seem to make any pumpkin stuff last fall which is sad.  I guess I am getting a late start because I finally had a pumpkin smoothie yesterday.  I have to admit I was pretty scared it would be awful (because if you don't use pumpkin right, it can make you gag!).  I guess this recipe is a keeper because I liked it so much I am about to make another one.

 I will post the recipe below, it kind of reminded me of the flavors you have in Chai tea.

I had this and some of the quiche for lunch and a chicken salad sandwich for dinner.  I decided to make apple cinnamon oatmeal at work for my late night snack, and it was so good...I need to do that more often!

I fueled up for my cardio class this morning with a granola pancake.  I added pb, pears, cinnamon maple yogurt and it was delicious.

Pumpkin Smoothie

2/3 cup milk

1/3 cup vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup pumpkin

1 frozen banana

2 tsp. almond butter

5 ice cubes

a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy

Happy Monday

We had a pretty productive weekend and can't believe it is over.  We went to church and lunch yesterday and then I had a class so I was not home much.  Last night I made a quiche using more of the ham we have leftover (I put some in the freezer and already pulled it out!).  It is a simple recipe and you could change some of the add-ins if you wanted.

 Vegetable Ham Quiche

 While the hash brown crust was in the oven I skilleted some squash and bell peppers.  I added ham when I turned off the heat and set that aside to cool

 While my mixture was cooling, I made an egg and milk mixture and then combined it all.  Pour that into the hash brown crust and bake for about 20 minutes

 It was delish!

 Ha, while I was cooking, Cliff was finding me a bike helmet online since we got mountain bikes!

 We sat out on our back patio for dinner

Vegetable Ham Quiche

1 egg lightly beaten

3 cups shredded hashbrowns

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

A little salt and pepper

Filling:

1 large squash or zucchini

1 cup chopped bell peppers

1 Tbsp. butter or olive oil

2 cups diced, cooked ham

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil (optional)

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

5 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 cup shredded colby-monterey jack cheese

In a large bowl combine the egg, hashbrowns, and parm. cheese.   Press into the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish (mine was an 11x8).  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.  Once that is in the oven you can start on your filling.  In a large skillet sautee zucchini and bell pepper in butter until just tender, 5-10 minutes.  Stir in the ham, basil, dry mustard, salt and pepper and remove from the heat.  While that is cooling beat your remaining eggs and milk.  Add that to your zucchini mixture and stir in cheese.  Pour into crust and bake for about 20 minutes or until eggs are set.  Cool 5 minutes before cutting.

*Modified from Taste of Homes Dinner on a Dime

 We watched a movie after dinner and I was still a little hungry so I made a more filling dessert.  Oat nut bread with a little peanut butter, nutella, and lots of toppings!  Plus I may have had a few bites of Cliff's Oreo cheesecake!

I made Cliff and me waffles with peanut butter and apple butter for breakfast.

Hope everyone is off to a great start this morning.  I know I had a hard time getting up:)  I went to Body Pump and they finally came out with a new release so it was fun.  I plan to work on cards and go in to work early today.  My friend text me this verse this morning and it was just what I needed.  Maybe you do too

 Turn to me and have mercy on me,
   as you always do to those who love your name.
 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
   let no sin rule over me.
 Redeem me from human oppression,
   that I may obey your precepts.
 Make your face shine on your servant
   and teach me your decrees.
 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
   for your law is not obeyed.

Psalm 119:132-136

Sugar Coma

I let my chocolate cravings get the best of me.  I indulged in some pretty major ice cream creations-two nights in a row.  I am really craving chocolate, so in a way it is good because I fixed that craving...in a slightly bad way, I may have eaten a little too much of it if you know what I mean.  It happens from time to time!  Let me just say the creations were delicious.

 Last night I had blue bell butter crunch with 2 warm brownie cookies on bottom and some butterfinger chocolate shavings...plus one more scoop than seen here. 

Tonight I didn't take a picture because Cliff and me were relaxing, but we bought chocolate and cookie dough custard in pint form from Culvers and added reese's and peanut butter to it (oh man it was delicious).  I am all about eating chocolate and ice cream, but I won't lie, I had some pretty huge portions.  Like I said, at least my craving is fixed-for a little while;)

 Made an egg and grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for dinner last night....boring!

 I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning so I ate breakfast and read while Cliff was sound asleep.  I kept it simple because Cliff and me had lots to do today.

 Highly delicious and indulgent as far as breakfast goes-peanut butter, butter, cinnamon sugar, syrup and chocolate chips (hey, at least my waffles were whole wheat)!

Cliff and me bought mountain bikes today, so we were out shopping for a while...and I got way too hungry.  I had one thing on the brain when we got home:  MAKE LUNCH NOW!!  I whipped up a tuna pita melt for myself and mac and cheese for Cliff.  I had to work for a little while and then we went to Culver's with Ben and Danielle.  We got pints to bring home so we could have dinner and then dessert.  Dinner was leftover shepherd's pie which was awesome.  Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far.