Philly Steak Grilled Cheese

Another Pinterest winner!!!

PHILLY STEAK GRILLED CHEESE

White bread (2 slices per sandwich)
butter
mayo or Miracle Whip
2 T. butter
1 large onion, sliced fine
1 red bell pepper, sliced fine
2 cheddar cheese slices per sandwich
slices of roast beef  (whether using thick or thin slices - just multiply what you want per sandwich)

Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.  On half of the bread slices - also spread with mayo/Miracle Whip.  Spread this evenly on top of the butter.

Melt the 2 T. of butter in a small skillet and saute the onion and red pepper just until soft.  Set this aside.

Now, begin to stack your sandwich - On top of the mayo/butter slice add 1 slice of cheese, next add the roast beef, spoon some onion/red pepper mixture on top of the roast beef, add another slice of cheese, finally top it with  a butter-only slice of bread but with this one having the butter-side facing up/out.

Melt some butter in a skillet.  Then, place the sandwich in the skillet with the plain side of bread facing down.    Now, you treat it just like a regular grilled cheese sandwich and flip it when done to your likeness of golden brown.  I made 2 at a time in a larger skillet.

Yum!!!  I originally found this recipe on Pinterest at this blog - With a Blast Blog.

I'm sure you could use a different cheese if you prefer your Philly cheese steaks a different way.  I heated up a leftover one in the microwave for a little bit and it was pretty good for lunch.  Not as great as right from the stove - but not too bad.

Here is the onion and pepper sauteing -

The bread is all buttered and the lower 2 have mayo on them -

The stacking has begun - doing the roast beef now -

More cheese -

Butter melted in skillet -

Cooking -

Yummy -

I have started decorating for Easter.  If you just want to do something simple or don't plan to decorate much but want to do a little something -- try what I did to one of the shelves in our Master Bathroom.

Just take some containers you currently use to decorate and fill with Easter grass and plastic eggs.

Lucy is always curious when I am doing holiday decorating.  She loves to look/spy as to what is in these totes -

This is when she spotted something moving among all the decorations -- it was her tail!!!!

I am linking to Designs By Gollum's Foodie Friday.  Just click here to see some amazing recipes!

Mod Podging Letters

Isn't this cute?

It all started with a request on Facebook from my daughter's friend from college.  She is expecting her third child and wanted to do his nursery with the alphabet on the wall.  She showed a photo how she would like it - all the letters were different in color, pattern and sizes.  She put the request out there if any family or friends would be interested in doing a letter.  I think she was down to the final 5 letters when a lightbulb went on -- of course, I could do a letter.  I picked the letter 'H' as it was the only letter left that had any significance - my mother's first name began with an H.

I knew what I was going to do as I already had some red bandana tissue paper.  I just needed to get the letter.  I found a paper mache one that is probably about 12" high.

You just need the letter, tissue paper, brush, and some mod podge (I used the glossy) -

Cut the tissue paper in smaller pieces - no set rule - maybe 2" x 2" for what I was doing.  I only used 1 sheet and I covered both sides of this letter so it doesn't take much -

I began to cover areas of the letter with mod podge - about the area a little  bigger than one piece of paper -

Press the paper onto the letter - trying to smooth it out with the brush - then go over the paper with more mod podge -

Keep brushing - you don't want to leave a thick amount still on - but you can leave some as it does dry clear -

With this particular letter - I did it in 2 sittings not very far apart - so it could stand on one end to begin to dry.  You will definitely want the finished letter to dry overnight.  Before that - make sure all the edges are sealed - I did some little touch-ups here and there before I let it sit overnight.  

I am anxious to see the alphabet wall when she is finished.  I sent it to her without a hanger in the back because I wasn't sure how she wanted to do it.  Whether at the top of each side or in the middle bar.  With paper mache she can have many options to hang it - using ribbon stapled to the back - putting some holes in the back and sliding a nail thru, etc.  

This is a cute idea if you are having a baby shower.  You could have the guests bring an assigned decorated letter.  Also, this is a great way to decorate your walls.  Can you imagine a large EAT in your dining room?  Or you could do initials in your children's rooms.  The possibilities are endless.  Just think what you could do for the holidays - any holiday!!!

Be on the lookout at craft stores in the tissue paper area to add interesting patterns to your stash!!

Now, Lucy on the other hand is enjoying napping on the top of the couch - making sure that area sinks further and further - but the big window is right behind her so she can also enjoy the birds and the trash truck came today!!

I am linking to Stone Gable's Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits.  Just click here to see the fabulous ideas!!

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

Crust

1/2 C. butter, softened

1/4 C. conf. sugar

1 C. flour

dash of salt

Lemon Filling

Zest of 1 large lemon

1 C. sugar

3 T. lemon juice

3 T. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Use an 8 x 8 baking dish or a similar size.  I spray with Pam.

Using a Kitchenaid Mixer - cream the butter and conf. sugar on medium speed.  Then, add the flour and salt using low speed.  Just mix until combined.  Press the dough into the baking dish evenly.  Bake for 10 minutes and take out of oven.

In a separate bowl - rub the lemon zest and sugar together using your fingers.  Then, using a spoon - add the lemon juice, flour, baking powder & eggs.  Mix until combined.  Pour over the baked crust.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the lemon filling is set and a golden brown.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with conf. sugar.   Serve when cooled.

I originally found this recipe at Two Peas And Their Pod blog.

Here is the crust prior to baking -

Zesting the lemon -

Juicing -

Lemon zest & sugar -

All ready to bake -

Just waiting to cut and eat -

Lucy just loves to stretch out while napping -

I am linking to Under The Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party.  You can click here to see all the amazing projects and ideas.

Jambalaya in Crockpot

Jambalaya in Crockpot

1 lb. chicken tenders, cut in 1" cubes
8-12 oz. smoked sausage, sliced
1/2 C. chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, chopped
28 oz. can crushed or diced tomatoes
1 1/2 C. chicken broth
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. dried parsley
2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 lb. shrimp, cooked
2 C. raw rice, cooked

Combine chicken, sausage, bell pepper, and onion in crockpot.  Add tomatoes, chicken broth, and spices.  Stir gently.  Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours.  About 30-45 minutes before eating - add the cooked shrimp and the hot cooked rice.  Heat thoroughly.

This is absolutely delicious!!!!!

Here are most of the ingredients cooking on low -

Shrimp and rice just added -

After about a half hour you will notice that the rice has really absorbed a lot of the liquid so you will want to serve it -

I made this for Mr. Cardigan for Mardi Gras and he raved about it and told me to make it anytime.  What he liked about it was that each bite had either chicken, sausage or shrimp.  Leftovers were great, too!!!

Lucy can't wait to watch the birds.  She hasn't been wedging herself around the blinds much in the winter, but I caught her watching something.  I didn't realize until after I took the photo that she had turned her head and was now watching me!!

I am linking to Designs By Gollum's Foodie Friday.  Just click here to see sooooo many recipes!!  You will really enjoy!!

Oven Tacos -- So Good!!

 So delicious!

I originally saw this on Pinterest and it is from this blog post - at Mommy? I'm Hungry Blog.

Oven Tacos

2 lbs. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 sm. can chopped green chilies
Homemade Taco Seasoning (below)
8 oz. tomato sauce
16 oz. can refried beans
2 C. shredded Colby-Jack cheese
20 or so hard taco shells

Add any toppings you might want to add to the taco before serving.

Homemade Taco Seasoning -
1 T. chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
In a separate bowl - mix this all together.  Add a little water (maybe half to full tsp.) to it when ready to use.

In a skillet brown the ground beef and onion.  Drain.  Then, add green chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, & the taco seasoning (mixed with a little water).  Mix well and cook for a little bit just until it isn't too liquidy.

Spoon this mixture in the taco shells - about half full.  Place upright in a large baking dish.  Sprinkle some cheese on top of each meat mixture.  Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

All set to serve.  Have handy any of your toppings for everyone to add their favorites.  We like lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and taco sauce.   Add whatever you like!

First I got the taco seasoning ready.  This is the dry ingredients -

Then, a little water added and set aside -

Meat and onion already browned and drained.  The other ingredients added -

Mix it up -

Heated and cooked down a little -

Filling up the taco shells -

I filled them a little full so I suggest doing it just half way.  I don't add much to my tacos, but Mr. Cardigan likes to add a LOT and needed more room!!  Now the cheese added -

While baking I got the toppings ready -

Ready!!

This is how I like mine - a little tomato and some sour cream on the side -

I also served some taco rice as a side dish - just a package that you add a few things and microwave.  That was in the microwave while the tacos were in the oven.

Lucy really gets comfy during her naps.  I had to do a double-take to figure out where was her head!!


I am linking to Sunflower Supper Club's Weekend Potluck.  Just click here to see all the great recipes.