Easy Roast for Busy Nights

This is my all time favorite, SIMPLE slow cooker roast recipe. I love it for those nights filled with school events, t-ball practice, soccer and the works! It's great to come home and have a dinner that's home "cooked" and waiting on you. You can use a shoulder roast or rump roast, whichever you prefer - both work great. I usually put my roast in the crock pot the night before, place it in the refrigerator and pull it out the next morning before I leave for work - that way I just have to turn it on and go!

1 roast
1 packet Au Jus Gravy
1 c. water
Onion, carrots, potatoes (optional)

Place the roast in your crock pot, pour one cup water over the roast and sprinkle one packet of Au Jus Gravy mix over the roast. Cook the roast on low heat for 8-10 hours. If you prefer onions, carrots and/or potatoes with your roast, you can add these to the crock pot and allow to cook all day as well. I usually get everything mixed up and in the crock pot, set it in the refrigerator the night before and take it out and begin cooking it before I leave for work the next morning. The Au Jus makes for a great flavor and after a day of work and after school activities - it's nice to come home to a cooked meal and a great smelling house!

Want an easy cornbread to make with it? I have a great recipe from my mom...easy and YUMMY!

2 c. buttermilk
2 c. Cornmeal mix
1 tbsp. oil
1 egg

Mix all ingredients well, pour into a well greased iron skillet. Cook at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes until dark brown and golden. Enjoy!

How to Make Snowcream - IT'S SNOWING in ALABAMA!

I was thinking I needed to put a new recipe up and today IT'S SNOWING in Alabama so I couldn't think of anything better than ...snowcream!! Now, this may be old news to those of you who don't live in the south, but for us "southern folk", this is a recipe we don't get to pull out much! What a fun way to celebrate a snow day with your family - for free!

It's been snowing here for about four hours now and I hope it continues...it's beautiful! This is the first significant snow my son will be able to remember, so I'm excited for him! We've been building a snowman, but we had to come in so "mommy" could get out of wet clothes and warm up by the fire...I obviously didn't dress appropriately - ha! Now, the little one is napping and we're off to finish our snowman when he wakes up...and then we'll make snowcream.

If you've never made it, we take the simple route:

Basic Recipe

1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow (about 3 quarts)

Blend milk, sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough snow to make snow cream to an ice cream consistency.

Variations - You can always substitute canned cream for milk for a heavier flavor. Add Nestles Quik for a chocolate snow cream, or use instant cocoa mix. Another variation is to add plump raisins and cinnamon, or add a beaten egg for a nog taste. A friend even said sometimes she will puree an overripe banana and add to the mixture. Get creative - you know your family's tastes! For us, we like the good old fashion PLAIN snowcream ...because...it's such a rarity in and of itself!

Always make sure the snow is clean. It takes at least one to two hours for snow to clean the pollutants from the air, then use only snow that has fallen after that first cleansing snow. It also goes without saying (but I will anyway), to make sure you do not collect the snow where animals and birds eat (or do other things). Stress that with the kids, because this is a treat even the younger ones can make on their own! It would be just like The Short One to serve up "Snow Poop"...lol...ick... :)

Easy, Yummy Peppermint Fudge

I have a YUMMY recipe for you. I usually make it for Christmas, but I was thinking - this would be PERFECT for Valentine's Day, too!! It doesn't have an overwhelming peppermint flavor, nice, sweet and just right! Every time I make it someone asks for the recipe, so...I thought I would share. After all, it HAS to be the easiest fudge recipe EVER! And, if you like it, I have one similar for a Rocky Road Fudge I can share as well...YUM-MY!! :)

12 oz. package white chocolate chips
1 tub creamy vanilla frosting (I usually use Pillsbury)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
7-10 peppermint candies, crushed
No stick cooking spray
Red food coloring
Red candy sprinkles (optional)
Aluminum foil
8x8 baking pan

Line your 8x8 glass or metal pan with aluminum foil. Spray and coat well with non-stick cooking spray, set aside. Melt your chips in the microwave. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Microwave at 30 second intervals until chips are completely melted. Stir in peppermint flavoring and frosting. Stir well. Pour into pan. Drop food coloring in each corner. Using a knife or toothpick, swirl food coloring into fudge. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint and/or red sprinkles. Place in the refrigerator until hard. Remove, lift the fudge out of the pan using the aluminum foil, cut into squares and enjoy!

This is GREAT to drop into your coffee!! If you're a fan of peppermint mocha, you will LOVE a square of this melted in your coffee! It also makes a fun gift to cut into squares and give in a coffee mug with some single serve coffee packets.

It's Dinner Time! SIMPLE Stir Fry

This is one of my favorite recipes - for LOTS of reasons!! Really, it's not even a recipe, it's just a bunch of stuff thrown together - ha! I like it because it's thrifty, it's easy, it makes a ton for left-overs and it's YUMMY! I've had several friends and co-workers ask how to make it when I bring it for lunch and...it just couldn't be easier!! I try to be frugal when it comes to using left-overs and this is a great way to do it. It's actually made with Ramen Noodles - can't get much cheaper than that!! I keep a case of both chicken and beef Ramen Noodles on hand (usually bought from Aldi) - because all things Aldi are inexpensive!! Here are the basics:

2 pkg. Ramen Noodles (chicken or beef)
Left over chicken (grilled or baked) OR steak
Mix-ins (I usually use squash, broccoli, mushrooms for beef and zucchini, bell peppers, onions for chicken - or whatever I have on hand)
2 eggs
Olive Oil
Butter
Seasoning (I use Dale's for steak, Toni's for chicken)

Open your Ramen noodles and soak them in a bowl of water - let sit while you're working on the "other stuff". Drizzle a non-stick skillet or wok with olive oil. Cut your veggies and meat. If meat is left-over (already cooked), you can just throw it all in the pan together. If not, I always cook my meat in a separate pan, then add to skillet. Toss veggies and meat until tender. Add noodles, drained. Toss together with seasoning of choice and a little butter. Scoot everything to one side and crack your eggs on the other side of the pan. Quickly scramble your eggs. When done, mix in with noodles, veggies and meat - all done! This is SO easy and versatile. You can just use whatever you have left-over and my family LOVES IT! Throw some egg rolls in the oven or toss a quick salad and you have a great meal that's even better the next day!