Watcha Cookin’

Pumpkin Muffins

Not quite sure where this recipe originated and I thought I already had it on my blog but I could not find it. My sis-n-law shared it with me years ago and I have been making them ever since. They are sooo delicious and perfect for Fall baking. This makes 24 muffins so prepare to share them or eat them all I will not judge.

What are you cookin’?

Watcha Cookin’

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole by Damn Delicious

As always I tweaked the above recipe link a bit.

4 slices bacon chopped

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces ( When I make this again I will use 3 chicken breasts.)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp homemade ranch seasoning ( I used this → recipe)

8 ounces penne pasta (if I make this again I will stick to the rotini the recipe called for penne was a little to dense a pasta for this recipe I think.)

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

 

Alfredo Sauce

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 cup heavy cream ( I had none so I improvised with this → recipe)

1/4 cup grated parmesan

salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly spray at 9x9 pan.

To make Alfredo sauce I had to make up my homemade heavy cream recipe first and then set aside. Them heat up the butter over medium heat in a saucepan then add garlic and stir constantly til fragrant. Whisk in heavy cream until incorporated (about 1 to 2 minutes). Stir in parmesan until slightly thickened. If mixture is too thick add more heavy cream. Salt and pepper to taste and then set aside.

Heat skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the fat from the bacon in the pan before you set aside the bacon on a paper towel lined plate. 

In a gallon ziploc bag add chicken, olive oil and ranch seasoning to bag. Then toss around till all chicken is coated. Add chicken to skillet with the 1 tbsp reserved bacon fat and cook through flipping once.

While the chicken is cooking put pasta on to cook per packaging and then drain.

Now its just assembly. Add pasta to pan, pour alfredo over top, then add bacon and chicken and top with cheeses. (I am going to mix them all together next time along with a little bit of the cheese then put the rest of the cheese on top so its more incorporated while cooking.)

Pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through and bubbly.

It was really good but I will change those few things I mentioned next time cause I think it will make it that much better.

So what are you cookin’?

October Ipsy Bag

This bag has got to be the cutest one I think they have ever done. I love it so much I wish I could order just the bag to give as gifts to my nieces!! It was designed by an artist named Valfre. Check out her site https://valfre.com/ and use the code IPSY25 for 25% off. She has some super cute phone cases.

I got the Gimme Brow deluxe sample for trading in some points and I can not wait to try it because I have only heard good things.

The theme this month is Black Magic beauty spells.

I received:

Adesse New York polish in the shade Grand Central – Retails for $20  (IPSY20)

Ciate London Fierce Flicks Liner – I could not find the price because I believe this has not been released on their site yet. Their other liners retail anywhere between $18–20.

The Balm Hot Mama blush- Full size retails for $21 (IPSY20)

Trestique mini matte lip crayon in Belize Bordeaux – Full size retails for $28(IPSYFALLFUN30)

Pur-lisse daily lip nourisher with mango & shea butter. It smells like citrus leaning more to the oranges side more then anything. If you own pixi’s lip exfoliate or the organic pharmacy antioxidant lip balm it smells like those. Retails for $16 (ipsylipsy30)

I really like the color of the Trestique lip crayon but I am scared I am not gonna be a fan of the matte formula. Matte is just too drying on me unless it’s a comfort matte like urban decay’s.

I am so excited I got this blush from The Balm. I have been eyeing it for a while but could not bring myself to buy it because I have a bazillion peachy blushes.

I can not wait to try this nail polish. I mean just look at that duo chrome. I have my fingers and toes crossed that is as pretty on the nails as it is in this bottle.

Happy Monday

Storm Bread

Guys everywhere was completely sold out of bread last week with our impending storm so I improvised just in case we needed more then the loaf in the freezer and all the canned biscuits and croissants I had already made..

I know panic much!!

Anyway I found this bread recipe and although it looks like a flying saucer it was very tasty and required nothing but flour, baking powder, salt, water or rice milk and a liquid fat of any kind so olive oil, melted butter, etc etc.

Yeast Free Bread

Definitely try it if your in a pinch.

Watcha Cookin’

Or Watcha Eatin’ in my case. My friend made a big batch of this soup and brought me some. OMG it is soo good.

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup

My friend doubled the recipe and added a block of cream cheese and some milk.

1 tbsp butter

1/2 medium onion chopped

2 bunches broccoli cut into small florets

2 carrots julienned (1 cup)

1/4 cup of flour

1/4 cup of butter

2 cups half n half

2 cups chicken stock

8 oz sharp cheddar shredded

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Salt & Pepper to taste

Sautee onions in 1 tbsp of butter until transparent. In a separate pot make a roux with 1/4 c butter & flour cooking approximately 5 minutes over medium heat. Slowly add in half n half and continue stirring. Add in chicken stock and stir and let simmer for 20 minutes. Then add in broccoli, carrots and sautéed onions and let cook 25 minutes over low heat. Stir in cheese until melted (I guess this is where my friend added a block of cream cheese to the doubled recipe so 1/2 a block if you don’t double it). Then add nutmeg and salt & pepper to taste. (Not sure when she added extra milk??)

So what are you cookin’?

Watcha Cookin'

Jamie Deen's Chili from Apple A Day

 

I have been using this recipe forever and it is delicious. I tweak mine just a bit from the above recipe cause I did not need a ginormous batch even though this still make a lot and I have picky eaters.

 

1 lb  ground turkey meat

1 medium onion diced very fine (I use my handy dandy Vidalia Chop Wizard)

3 cloves garlic peeled and diced

2 (14.5 oz) cans of diced tomatoes

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

2 tbsp cumin

1/4 c chili powder

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 (14.5 oz) can pinto beans (drained & rinsed)

1 (14.5 oz) can black beans (drained & rinsed)

1 (14.5 oz) can kidney beans (drained & rinsed)

salt & pepper to taste

 

Brown ground turkey in a skillet, drain and set aside. In a large pot sauté onions and garlic over medium heat. Then add canned tomatoes to the pot along with all of your spices. Let that cook for about 8 minutes then add your meat and beans. Partially cover and simmer for 4 hours. Salt & Pepper to taste.

 

 

Cornbread Muffins from Once Upon A Chef

The only thing I did differently from the original recipe was a total accident. I thought I had yellow cornmeal but I did not I had Martha White yellow cornbread mix so I added the cornmeal mix along with all the other ingredients except the salt. Turned out delicious and way better and way more moist hate that word then jiffy mix sweet corn muffins.

 

3/4 cup Martha White Yellow Cornbread Mix

1 1/4 c all purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder (not even sure this was necessary because of the cornbread mix but it worked)

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 tbsp honey

3/4 cup milk

1 stick unsalted butter melted and cooled

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line or spray muffin tin.

In large bowl whisk together dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl whisk eggs, honey and milk. 

Add milk mixture and melted butter to dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Do not over mix.

Pour in muffin tin and bake for 17-20 minutes. (mine only took 17)

 

 

Simple Apply Cobbler from A Cowboy's Wife

This recipe was so stinkin’ easy and delicious!!

 

1 butter pecan cake mix

2 can apple pie filling (or caramel apple pie filling ← I have only ever found this at hellmart.)

2 stick of butter melted (or you can use sprite the recipe says…I did not cause that just sounded weird.)

 

Spray 8x11 pan with nonstick spray and preheat oven at 350 degrees. Pour both cans of apple pie filling in pan then cover with cake mix. Pour melted butter over top to cover cake mix and bake for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve with ice cream (I used butter pecan and you should too LOL!!)

 

 

So what are you cookin’ this week?

Talkin’ Trash

Not talkin’ smack.

Products I used up in August & September and some duds I will never use up.

Hair Styling Products:

Sauve Dry Shampoo:

This works really good but I can not stand the smell so I doubt I will repurchase unless I am in a pinch.

John Frieda Full Repair Styling Spray:

I really liked this and it smells really good so once I have used up some of my other styling sprays I will definitely repurchase this.

Bath:

Philosophy Christmas Cookie Body Wash:

I bought a bunch of these last holiday season and I actually used this one up some time ago and forgot to post it. I love philosophy’s body washes and this one smells like yellow cake. Will definitely be buying more.

Dr Teals Epsom Salt Foaming Bath and Clairol Hair Food Mask:

Dr. Teals is my fave bath product cause it produces lots of bubbles, smells awesome and gives a good detox and I have already repurchased more. Clairol Hair food was awesome. I loved the smell and it made my hair sooo soft. Will definitely be getting more.

Lotions:

Sauve Visible Glow, Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl, Marlowe Body Butter & Bach Rescue Cream:

Love all of these but the two stand outs are the Suave and the Marlowe. I will be getting more as I run out of body lotions.

Face Creams, Serums & Masks:

Murad Advanced Acne & Wrinkle Reducer, Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster, 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream, Dr. Jeanette Graf eye Serum & Laneige Water Sleeping Mask:

I loved the Murad, Paula’s choice, 100% pure & Laneige. The Dr. Jeanette stuff made my eyes burn and itch so that I will never repurchase and I did not even use it up.

Kate Somerville Exfolikate:

This stuff is so awesome and gets any impurities out of your skin plus it smells like Fall pumpkin goodness to me. I have already purchased a travel size of it and will purchase a full size when I run out.

Makeup:

Loreal Magic Lumi Concealer:

This used to be my favorite under eye concealer and it’s still nice but I like the Maybelline better skin concealer more now.

Nails:

Cutex One Step Nail Polish Remover Pads:

I received these in a Target Beauty Box I believe and they are awesome. They take everything off. Not sure I would repurchase them for everyday use but maybe for travel.

Teeth:

Crest 3D Glamourous White:

I received this in a Target beauty box and love these but they do not love me. They make my teeth so sensitive so I will not repurchase.

Perfume:

Escada Cherry In The Air & Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia Eau Fraiche (do what?? LOL):

Loved both samples and if they weren’t so dang expensive and I didn’t have so much perfume already I would be buying a full size. The Escada smells fresh and sweet and its notes are black cherry, raspberry, mandarin, marshmallow, gardenia, coconut, sandalwood and oakwood.  The Giorgio Armani is very sweet smelling too but with a hint of muskiness and its notes are primafiore lemon, peonies, water jasmine and brown sugar.

Happy Monday!!