Taco Casserole

Sep102013

Taco Casserole. So good and so easy! {The Mommy Games}

I’ve forever loved Mexican food. The cheese dip, guacamole, salty chips, piles of sour cream – YUM! I would be pretty happy eating it every day, and we rarely go a week without having some kind of Mexican dish. Taco night is most certainly a favorite since the kids can either mix everything up into one big taco of their choosing (half of which inevitably ends up on the floor), or divvy it out into separate little sections. It’s amazing what giving the littles some interpretive room can do for their appetites.

It’s nice to switch it up every once in a while though, and this awesome taco casserole is just the way to do it. It gives you all that satisfying taco flavor in one easy dish. Just bring this over to the table along with a few bowls of toppings and let your family have at it. This was an instant hit in our house and has been added to the few dishes we rotate regularly. You will love how simple and delicious it is!

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Croque Monsieur Bake

Aug282013

Croque Monsieur Bake. Delicious and Simple Make Ahead Breakfast {The Mommy Games}

I love the start of a new school year. Fresh notebooks and pencils. Backpacks and lunchboxes that haven’t been ripped and dirtied. A whole new set of classes and teachers. It’s my inner nerd that really gets excited about these sorts of things. I have a whole set of goals that I’m working to implement that will keep our family running smoothly with the start of school. This will be the first year that Brandon goes to school every single day (though just in the mornings), and I’m thinking that having to have everyone up and ready 5 days a week is going to be an interesting challenge.

One of the things I’m focused on is revamping our breakfast routine. My kids aren’t huge breakfast eaters. They just aren’t super interested in eating as soon as they wake-up, and are usually content with just some cereal and fruit. I’m not great about breakfast either, since I usually run around 9 am, which means I can only handle a small snack when I wake-up.  I generally wait until lunch to have a real meal (for all you interested runners – I do have a recovery shake right after my runs so I’m not totally going without). Since Brandon will be at school all morning, I want to make sure that he has something more filling in his stomach, so I’ve been experimenting with different hardy breakfast options. And I LOVE the idea of breakfasts that can be made the night before.

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Funfetti Muddy Buddies

Aug212013

Funfetti Muddy Buddies. Fun and perfect for a party! {The Mommy Games}

Although I’m not exactly sure what classifies as a “funfetti” flavor, I sure know that I love it! Maybe it’s the sprinkles that give it that extra sweet and fun punch. Do you remember way back when instead of being in sprinkle form, there were little sprinkle type balls? Those were amazing and I wish would make a reappearance on the boxed cake mix scene. I’m certainly not above busting out some boxed mix to make a quick batch of cupcakes or even a last minute birthday cake. I say, as long as it tastes good, than there’s no matter whether it took me an extra 30 minutes to make or not. Just hide the evidence and no one will be the wiser.

These muddy buddies (or Chex snack mix/puppy chow) are the sweetest, cutest snack around. They would be perfect set out at a party, since it’s easy to make a large bowl full and are so fun for guests to eat. Scatter some extra sprinkles around and I guarantee that bowl will be empty before you even get around to serving cake. I might need to include a warning that they are super sweet – so if you find yourself alone with said huge bowl, try and utilize a  little self control, or you might just find yourself with one heck of a tummy ache (not that I would know from experience…).  The greatest part is that these are ready in no time, with only a little microwaving and stirring involved, so you’ll be party ready in no time.

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Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Aug132013

Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta Amazing flavor packed into this easy weeknight meal! {The Mommy Games}I seriously love Pinterest. I mean I just love it. I could easily spend hours searching through crafts I’ll never make, impressive recipes I’ll never try, and clothes I’ll never wear. Oh, if only my real life reflected the one I lead on Pinterest. Occasionally I give myself a good swift kick in the pants, and commit to actually creating one of these “pinned” items that I was so eager to tuck away for later. Because truthfully, sometimes these amazing gems are forgotten as soon as they are filed away. After finding a recipe for sun-dried tomato chicken, then following it to the blog who created it, I knew this would be a perfect weeknight meal. And seriously, it’s pretty freakin’ fabulous. Everyone, picky kids included, gobbled this up. It’s creamy and rich, with a slight tang from the sun-dried tomatoes. This is the kind of meal that anyone would be happy with at the end of a long day.

See, making your Pinterest dream life a reality isn’t so hard after all. Now, on to the other 872 things I have pinned…

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S’mores Icebox Pie

Aug62013

S'mores Icebox Pie | Super easy and quick dessert that both kids and adults will love! | {The Mommy Games}Is there any more quintessential summertime dessert than s’mores? Just type “s’mores” into Pinterest and you will be privy to a variety of desserts that have all gotten their inspiration from this much loved classic. There’s just something about the whole graham cracker, gooey marshmallow, and chocolate combo that wins over adults and children alike. This pie combines all of that, with the addition of ice cream. In my book, everything is better with a little ice cream. This took no more than 10 minutes to put together and there’s no actual cooking involved, just a little microwaving and assembly. This was such a light and refreshing dessert, with just a hint of decadence from the chocolate and marshmallow layers. A great spin on a classic, and one I know your family will love.

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Blackberry Lime Sorbet

Jul302013

Blackberry Lime Sorbet {The Mommy Games}I have a confession to make….I pretty much hate doing anything artsy with my kids. Yep, play-doh, painting, markers – I could live a happy life without any of it. Every time I get brave and bust out the arts and crafts, we end up with spilled paint, crayons in the mouth (repeatedly), stickers stuck to the floor, and a very stressed out momma. My type-A tendencies just can’t handle it. Thankfully, what the kids miss in the arts department, we more than make up for with our culinary adventures. For some reason making a mess in the kitchen is so much easier to handle. Like the kitchen is meant for messes (not to mention, everything is at least somewhat wipeable).

There are still days when I really don’t want to deal with spilled flour and sticky floors though, and on those days, we make sorbet. Sorbet is the perfect thing to make with your littles because there is little mess involved, and a lot of cool gadgets. Just make the simple syrup during nap time, so that way all you’re doing is a little blending (do your kids love to push the buttons as much as mine?), straining, waiting (admittedly, the hardest part, but I consider this a teachable moment about patience), and the most fun – watching the ice cream maker turn our bright purple liquid into a frosty treat. It’s like magic in their kiddo eyes.  So go ahead and try making this super refreshing, and very pretty sorbet with your kids. If I, in all my neat-freakness can handle it, then I’m sure you can too.

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Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Jul232013

Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins {The Mommy Games}

I sort of can’t believe this is my first sweet breakfast recipe that I’ve shared here. See, I love muffins and pastries, but since we have incredible bakeries (Magnolia, Boulud, Bouchon) a stone’s throw away, I generally just pick something up on my way out. NYC is a dangerous place to live like that. I can’t walk a block without passing multiple temptations, and given that I have about zero self control in that department, I almost always give in. But alas, the smell of freshly baked muffins lofting out of the oven is enough to have me shunning all my favorite treats. If only a candle could accomplish what a little baked good can.

When I saw piles of gorgeous blueberries (on sale at Whole Foods!), I just knew that muffins had to happen. And there is no better muffin than one with a serious crumb topping. It’s rather essential in my book. The streusel needs to hold together but not be overly crunchy. Just enough to add some texture and a little more sweetness. I also love the brightness the lemon gives these as well. It’s subtle, but takes an ordinary muffin to the next level. Make a batch and freeze any leftovers, making for quick and yummy weekday grabs. These are by far the tastiest muffins that have ever come out of my kitchen, and I know you and your family will love them.

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Jul162013

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs. Sticky, Saucy, and Fall-off-the-bone Delicious! {The Mommy Games}

Remember how I told you a few weeks ago {here} that I was on a quest to find summer appropriate slow cooker meals? Well, this here is a doozy. Barbecue ribs are like summer on a plate, and these are some of the best I’ve ever had. Since they are cooked low and slow in the crock pot, they are fall of the bone tender, with the added bonus of a crispy, sauce lacquered top since they are finished in the oven. Lick-your-fingers delicious. There is hardly any hands on time with getting them started, and then just a little basting & simmering once they are in the oven. Combined with fresh cut watermelon and buttered corn, this made for a quintessential summertime meal. And it didn’t last long. Both my kiddos and husband devoured these ribs, and had sauce covered faces to show for it. Definitely put these on your list to make!

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