::taco soup::

okay...so I was honestly skeptical when I first head about this recipe! But, truth be told, it is de-lish! Even hubby agrees!!

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1 medium onion
1 lb ground beef
2-3 tsp cumin
some oregano and/or basil...if you like
S&P
1 carton stock
additional water (approx. 1/2 a carton)
1 - 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
a couple handfuls of frozen corn
(you can totally throw in a huge amount of spinach
OR kale at the end for the "lettuce" component
...i just didn't have either!)

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1. fry up the onion and beef
2. add the spices and simmer a few minutes
3. add the rest of the ingredients
4. bring to a boil
5. let simmer for as long as you have before dinner....2 mins - 2 hours :)
   

as you are simmering the soup...prep your toppings!

these too can be as varied as your taste! i simply added what we like to put in our wraps...along with the taco chips:)


once you're ready to eat, serve up a bowl of goodness, sprinkle on all (or some or none:)) of the toppings....and enjoy!!

super nummy
super speedy
super simply!
....homemade!!

::simple squares::

...so simple, my 5 year old makes them here...for you!

what you need:
1 c flour (we use whole wheat)
1/3 c br. sugar
1/4 c butter or oil
coconut
chocolate chips
nuts...we used almonds
1 can sweetened condensed milk
and...if you wish...some Skor bits!

*********************

Step one: mix first three ingredients until crumbly



Step two: pour dry ingredients into and parchment-lined 8x8 pan and mush it down with a masher...or whatever floats your boat!



Step three: make an even layer of the next 3 ingredients...like this




Step four: open the can of sweetened condensed milk



Step five: get the lid off...or ask for help


Step six: pour the entire can evenly over the whole kit'n'kaboodle



Step seven: scrape out every last drop of goodness



Step eight (if you wish): sprinkle a nice layer of Skor bits over the gooey goodness


Step nine: step back in awe of your creation


Step ten: place into preheated 325 degree oven for 20-25 mins


Step eleven: take out when bubbly and nicely golden brown...comme ca!


Step 12-24: bite...savour...devour...repeat!

simply delicious!!

i've fallen...

off the "posting" wagon, that is!!

okay...i'll admit it, i've wanted to be writing on here...BADLY!! but...but...but...excuses excuses!!

so, i thought i'd take this tie to let you know i'm still here, if you are:)

and i'll try and make a better effort to keep in touch!

i hope you understand!

until next time...my little bit of advice for today: USE PARCHMENT!!!

seriously...i LOVE this stuff!! awesome for a stick-free mess of your baking sheets AND frying pans!! SERIOUSLY!! i just made scrambled eggs tonight in my cast iron frying pan (because teflon-non-stick pans are E.V.I.L - but i'll possibly talk about that at a different time!!) and thinking about...no, wallowing the fact that i'd have to scrub all the eggy-goo off the pan and re-oil it...UNTIL i remembered PARCHMENT!!! so, i gave it a try...and VOILA!! a mess free simple fix!!

there ya go...i dare you to try it!!

until next time,
me

needing inspiration!

okay...i AM still here!

but, to be quite honest, i'm needing a BIT of inspiration!!

is there ANYTHING that you are particularity interested in knowing how to make/do??

anything you'd like me to try as your guinea pig??

please let me know!!

i'd be happy to assist you:)

oh...ya...and happy new year!!!

go on over to my other blog and check out my phrase for the new year!

::no fail...no cook::

...so simple...play-dough!!!

this recipe was graciously shared with me by my kindred friend...and we've been loving it ever since!!

so...give it a try, and just see if you're not hooked...to it's simplicity, to it's smell, and to it's ability to keep a child occupied for an unusually long amount of time:)


for an individual amount (double if you want to share)

1 c flour
1 pkg kool aid (the tiny envelopes that are concentrated)
2 Tbsp cream of tartar (do NOT try making it without this! - but you don't HAVE to have this exact amount)
1/2 c salt
1 c boiling water
1-2 Tbsp oil

1. mix all the dry ingredients
2. add the oil to the boiling water
3. make a well and pour the water into the dry ingredients
4. STIR, STIR, STIR... it is in this stir that you work the flour to a smooth consistency and activate the tartar...
5. gather it all up into a big smelly ball
6. ENJOY!!

...so simple!!

::mmm...pizza::

here's another speedy, scrumptious idea here for ya!!

so...when you feel like pizza, good pizza, but you're pressed for time...don't worry! you can still satiate your hankering without the time-consuming thoughts of dough-prep!!

how?? you ask! Well...simple, I say!

*************

INGREDIENTS
(for one personal sized pizza):

2 flour tortillas (lrg size)
grated cheese of your choice/amount
pizza sauce
toppings of your choice
VOILA!!

okay...so you preheat your oven to...hot! Say, 425 degrees. Grab a cookie sheet and place one tortilla one the sheet, sprinkle some cheese all around it, and place the second tortilla over that. There's your "crust"!

...now, easy-peasy...
spread the sauce over the crust...load up the cheese then neatly place your yummy toppings all over...and into the oven it goes!!

bake for 15 mins, or until golden brown all over - kind of like getting the perfect tan!

so simply...so good!

enjoy....

::'tis the season::

okay, okay...i may be putting myself way out there, admitting my ignorance?! But, on the other hand, my honesty here could quite possibly enlighten any of you who are also living in unaware ignorance!

what could possibly be so enlightening, you ask?!

Hot Cocoa, of COURSE!!!

and what was my "a-ha" moment?? Well, here it goes: I thought that the only way you could make hot chocolate was to buy "Cadbury's" mix (or something of the like) and mix it with boiling water!! Seriously!!! But have you READ the ingredients?!?!?! If I feel like drinking hot chocolate, that's ALL I want...not any/all of the other 12-15 remaining ingredients that are added to the store bought junk...thank.you.very.much!

I, who consider myself quite knowledgeable in the food/drink department, had NO IDEA that it was SO SIMPLE to make hot chocolate...from scratch!!

So...this is for you! If you, like me, just received an "a-ha" moment...

to make ONE CUP of Cocoa: (double, triple or quadruple accordingly!)

1 c whole milk
1 Tbsp cocoa
1-2 Tbsp sugar (gauge depending on how sweet you like it)

** the key thing is to mix the dry ingredients with a few Tbsp of cold milk until it dissolves...and THEN add that syrup to your hot milk ;)

....your welcome!

Pour the warm chocolaty goodness into a festive mug and top with some nummy mini marshmellows (say that 5 times fast!) heehee...you did, didn't you! ;p

SO SIMPLE...SO GOOD!
enjoy...