Apr 14, 2014

Parmesan Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Peas--My Weekly Menu Plan with All You Magazine

‘This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and All You Magazine, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #lifeforless http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.”



As a busy mom of four always hungry Little Men and one regular Hubby Man, I am always on the look out for super yummy meals that I can make for a good price and that I can whip up really quickly.

Recently I went to a great source for family and budget friendly recipes, my latest issue of All You Magazine. After running to the oh-so-lovely and forever-my-favorite-store Target to grab the April edition, I poured over all the recipes.


I found a TON of recipes that I instantly wanted to try. One of my favorite set of recipes was the Feed Your Family: 1 Week, 5 Easy Meals.

I picked a few and put them into my Weekly Menu Plan.

The first recipe I tried was this awesome Parmesan Bow-Tie Pasta with Ham, Leeks, and Peas.


 Instant crowd pleaser for my hungry rowdy crowd.

The meal came together SO easy. I mean like WAY easy. I put it all together quick enough that the villagers didn't have hardly any time to raise a famished riot. Then once the villagers were happily devouring their food there was not a single word to be heard. Okay, maybe there were a couple of muffled sounds between bites. After all they are rowdy boys.


I didn't alter the recipe at all. This pasta dish turned out perfectly and it will make it on to the Weekly Menu Plan again. We also made the Baked Chicken Spring Rolls.

Man those were tasty as well.

I love that they have family friendly recipes with a grocery list that went with it.

Not only was I inspired by these yummy recipes from All You Magazine, but I was also inspired to put together a Weekly Menu Plan printable. One I can print out and hang on my fridge.

I typed up my weekly menu onto a blank form.

Blank Weekly Menu Plan download

I know this Parmesan Bow-Tie  Pasta with Ham, Leeks, and Peas will make it back in our menu rotation very soon.

Parmesan Bow-Tie with Ham, Leeks, and Peas
All You Magazine

salt and pepper
12 oz bow-tie pasta
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 leek, white and light green parts, chopped
2 cups frozen peas
1 cup half and half
4 oz deli ham, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leek and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add in the peas and half and half and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in ham. Season with salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water. Add the pasta into the skillet along with the cheese and toss to coat. Add some of the reserved pasta water if the pasta seems dry.

Serve immediately with  more Parmesan.

I am telling you, you need to try this recipe out. You should also try the Baked Chicken Spring Rolls. Heck, all the recipes in the April All You Magazine look amazing.

Run to Target, like I have to really tell you to do that. So go to Target, like I know you want to anyway, and pick up the April issue of All You Magazine. Print off your $1 off coupon HERE (while supplies last).

Also, since we all love Target how about a little giveaway. You know like a $50 gift card to Target giveaway. Feel free to jump up and down. I won't judge. I mean $50 gift card to Target...that is awesome. AWESOME!

Enter to win below.


Entry-Form

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Apr 10, 2014

Lemon Cheesecake Pie


Oh Lemon Cheesecake Pie, you had me at Lemon AND Cheesecake AND Pie.

Oh,  AND again at lemons, just so you know how much I love lemons.

The lemons have come out to play!! Can you sense that Spring is in the air and that Summer is nipping at its heels?

 I am pretty excited about this pie. I am excited that I made it. I am excited that it was pretty. I am ecstatic that I got to eat it...well not the whole pie...just a piece...or two...

When I was growing up I would pick a piece of pie over a piece of cake any day. My pie of choice was Marie Callender's Sour Cream Lemon Pie. We didn't have it often, which made it that much more special.

This isn't a knock off recipe for that pie. While I sure loved that Sour Cream Lemon Pie, it was missing two of my favorite things. That would be a good graham cracker crust and some cheesecake.

Well, don't worry (cause I know you were) this Lemon Cheesecake Pie takes care of that. Bam graham cracker crust and cheesecake meet yourselves some lemon.

Go ahead and fall in love.


I won't judge you if you lick the screen right now.

Now after you lick the screen, you probably should make the pie because the screen might look as pretty as the real thing, but it won't actually taste like pie. Just in case you didn't know that. Hehehe.

Now go get your lemon on and start enjoying nicer weather!

Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
adapted from Top Secret Recipes

crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 Tablespoons sugar

cheesecake filling:
1-8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

lemon filling:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
pinch salt
1 cup water
2 egg yolks
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl. Then press the mixture into a pie pan. Set aside.

Prepare the cheesecake filling mix by combining the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg with a mixer. Mix well until smooth. Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes until center is set and cooked.

Let the pie cool while preparing the lemon filling.

For the lemon filling start by combining the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and water in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer over low heat, stirring frequently.

Whisk in egg yolk. Then add in the lemon juice and butter. Keep stirring. Once the mixture simmers immediately remove it from the heat. Pour the lemon filling over the cream cheese filling. Let the pie cool.

Once the pie is cool, chill the pie for at least 3 hours.

Serve with whipped cream.

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Apr 8, 2014

Green and Orang Hoppy Easter Mantel


Happy Easter...or should I say HOPPY Easter?!

I went a little cray with the HOPPY theme for my Easter decorations.

After I made the Easter Teacher Appreciation gifts for this year, I fell in love with the whole bunny thing. I also happened to become obsessed with using green and orange for my Easter colors.

With my bunny love and green and orange obsession in mind I went to brain storming.

In the middle of that storm my brain settled on something that I was rather giddy about.

I am in love, love I tell you, with the oh-so-popular song by Pharrell Williams "Happy".

My love of this song sparked me to make a printable to go along with my Green and Orange Hoppy Easter Mantel.

Drumroll...

Ta-Duh!


Oh heavens! I really love these clipboard signs. It was one of those moments when I actually felt a bit clever. Just a bit mind you.

A funny little Easter homage to my current favorite song.







Download HERE

I paired my happy...er...uh...hoppy signs with a lot more green and orange, including some tissue pom poms. I do love my tissue pom poms.


I also am a big fan of decorating with candy, because well, duh I LOVE candy.


Another thing I love, giant kelly green bunny art. Now I haven't always been in love with giant green bunnies. That is new.

Thanks to this.


He sits there rather jollily.

I also added in these ceramic bunny garden stakes to some IKEA fake grass. I found these sweet little bunnies at Target. I simply spray painted them orange to fit into my green and orange theme.


Then it seemed best to throw a carrot printable in. Ya know the whole bunnies like carrots and carrots are orange and green thing seemed to fit.

So I created these simple carrot prints using PicMonkey. Then I put them up with some green washi tape next to my giant green bunny.


Download HERE

There ya have it. My whole green and orange obsession right there in one Springy and festive place.


I hope you enjoy my bit of spring and Easter.
I hope you enjoy these printables...especially my little ode to Pharrell Williams' HAPPY. 

Thanks for reading!

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Apr 5, 2014

Barbacoa Tacos: Slow Cooker Saturday


We really like tacos at our house. Like really, really, REALLY.

While I love a good traditional taco along with the next gal, I grow a little weary of having them every time we want tacos.

That means a little variety is in order.

So far some of the varieties we have loved are Shredded Chicken Tacos and Shredded Beef Tacos. Yum!

This new variety, Barbacoa Tacos, is equally delightful.

I will be truthful that they are a wee bit on the spicy side. That is due to the delightful chipotle peppers that go into it. So you can either adjust it to make it less spicy, you can slather them in sour cream and guac, or you can make the kiddos some quesadillas while the adults scarf down on the Barbacoa Tacos.

Anyway you choose to serve them up, you should. Every one needs a little fiesta once in awhile.


Just add pico, some guac, and an indulgent helping of tortilla chips. Oh, and if you want, open up a yummy Mexican soda. After all, it is a fiesta, even if it is just a fiesta at the dinner table.


Seriously. Yum.

I insist you make these. I mean, I don't want to be pushy, but really I am just looking out for your taste buds. They should really get to experience these.

Ole'.

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Taco
adapted from Top Secret Recipes

4 pound chuck roast
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tablespoons lime juice
2-3 canned chipotle chiles (or less for less spice)
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon  ground cloves
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 bay leaves

tortillas
cheese
lettuce
pico de gallo
guacamole
sour cream

Make an adobe sauce by combining the vinegar, lime juice, chipotles, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cloves in a blender until smooth. Set aside.

Trim excess fat off of the roast. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat. Sear the roast on each side until browned, about 3-4 minutes a side. Transfer the roast to a slow cooker. Pour the adobo sauce over the meat. Next pour in the chicken broth and add in the bay leaves.

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Take out and shred. Skim the fat off of the liquid. Add the meat back into the liquid. Cook another 30 minutes with the lid off.

Serve over tortillas with the toppings of your choice.

Enjoy!

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Apr 3, 2014

Easter Teacher Appreciation Tags: Thirty Handmade Days


 My April project for Thirty Handmade Days include these really magical and ridiculously cute Marshmallow Peep Bunnies. Could you die?

I did. Then I pulled myself together. Then I may have bought a whole bunch so I could give them away as an Easter Teacher Appreciation. I made a cute little tag using PicMonkey with an appropriately cheesy saying on it. I also made a non-teacher tag in case you want to just let a special someone know that some bunny (that would be you) thinks they are special.

Both tags are available to download over at Thirty Handmade Days.
Head over and download these tags and say hi!


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