Happy New Year!! I love a good tradition and absolutely love when my traditions involve an associated delicious food! I’ve always been told that if you eat black- eyed peas and cabbage that will set you up for health, wealth, and happiness for the New Year! I’m not certain which foods do what things but bring on all the peas and cabbage! With the never ending pandemic I think I’ll go back for another dose of these yummy Black-Eyed Peas! 

These peas are a delicious blend of sausage, diced tomatoes, and chili seasoning. It really is super easy to make and full of so much flavor, with just a handful of ingredients. I don’t know why but I only let myself enjoy them on New Years but that certainly has me looking forward to them all year long! 

I enjoyed having some helpful assistants with me! This really is a great meal to get some help from the little ones when making (obviously with a cooled Dutch Oven)!

This delicious recipe only has three steps! I’m certainly hoping for some leftovers to take into work. I love a hearty meal that I can eat at my desk as I’m certain the ER is going to be bringing all the chaos!

Happy New Year!!!

I love a reason to celebrate life. Especially my kid’s lives!! I had so much fun planning a tea party for my older girl’s birthdays. One of our quarantine activities has been the occasional tea party. My oldest has always called it “her special day.” She loves all things glittery and gold and lives for the opportunity to wear dresses and paint her finger nails! So for this birthday I truly wanted them to remember it as their special day!

They made my day by wanting matching dresses and surprisingly enjoyed wearing their hat party favors! We enjoyed making bracelets and playing Bingo! My girls even convinced everyone to wear their fancy clothes. Or as they call it “your married clothes!”

The girls had a absolute blast drinking “real” tea! I was tickled that I found paper cups with a handle to spare the breakables!

This tea party had a lot of sentimental parts for me also. I had the amazing opportunity to study a semester abroad in London during college, which was where my love for hot tea consumption was born! I enjoyed decorating with tea pots that I had picked up during my journey. I also served tea from my grandparent’s silver tea set which was used at my parent’s wedding! The grownups also enjoyed using real teacups borrowed from friends.

I tried my hand at a few new menu items. I thought they were tasty and will be filling some of those away in my fancy menu party options!

My menu included: Cheddar and Dill Scones with a Caramelized Onion and Bacon Jam, Mini Tomato and Mozzarella Bites, Flavored Pretzels, Open Faced Cucumber and Whipped Cream Cheese Sandwiches with Everything But Bagel Seasoning, trusty PB& J, my girl’s favorite- Peanut Butter & Honey with Toasted Coconut, Macaroons, Semi Homemade Petit Fours, and the most beautifully decorated Sugar Cookies! My sister-in-law was the master decorator behind the cookies. I only wish I was that talented!

I tried my hand at a teapot and teacup cake for my girls. That certainly wasn’t my crowning achievement especially as it was my first go with fondant, but my girls picked the color and saw cake so they were happy!

I know it was their birthday but I couldn’t help myself and got myself a present for their birthday! When I traveled to London one of my classmates and fellow traveler is unbelievably talented and has since opened an online shop called The Purple Plum Studio. I got her to paint me a picture. I could not be any happier with the results. I want to always remember our lazy, before school, and chaotic days. These days will certainly always be “my special days!” Happy Birthday my little loves. I sure do love celebrating you!

We have recently added a little boy to our family! I haven’t posted anything in a while since becoming a family of 5! I have been soaking up all the baby cuddles while trying to keep 3 little ones 4 years old and younger fed and somewhat entertained! Life is certainly a beautiful chaos right now!

My sense of accomplishment these days are having all three children out of pjs and a somewhat warm meal around the time my husband gets home! I have discovered the beauty of dry shampoo and now realize that a daily bath is a luxury! Despite the craziness this is such a beautiful season in my life. However, I don’t know if I was prepared for being pregnant and having a newborn amongst a pandemic.

We have truly been hulled up at home with only immediate family occasionally stopping by. One thing I am so thankful for (besides click list groceries) is having a stocked freezer before his arrival. We have slowly been dwindling it down (and thankfully replacing some space with frozen milk!). I wanted to recap some of my previous posts that I used to stock my freezer. They have been a lifesavers!

I think I had 5 servings of this taco meat frozen. It is so easy to thaw for quick tacos, quesadillas, or taco salad. I think my favorite way to have it is to heat the meat in the microwave, place in a tortilla with shredded cheese and chopped green onions, roll up the tortilla like a burrito, then grill it on the stove until lightly brown.

This recipe is also super easy to make. I love an easy dump in the crockpot and forget it meal!

Every time I make these I triple the recipe! It really doesn’t get easier than these 3 ingredient wonders! I freeze all of them all then take out the desired amount and microwave in 15-30 second intervals. They have been such a blessing after long nights!

This pizza wrapped goodness is my husband’s favorite! The recipe makes 2 large loafs. I fully bake both loaves and freeze one in foil after baking. I thaw it completely, leave it wrapped in the foil, and put it in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees or until it is warmed through and the cheese is melted.

Southern Pork Chops and Rice is certainly a childhood favorite of mine! I doubled this recipe then divided it in 3, 9×9 inch pans. I usually freeze before baking it. When we are ready to eat I thaw completely then bake as normal.

I absolutely love this soup! I alway double it and freeze the leftovers. We are actually about to enjoy some for supper this week with our cold weather that’s coming through!

Some other favorites that I stocked my freezer with are The Pioneer Woman’s Comfort Meatballs. I divided our servings into zip lock bags. They are partially cooked. When ready to eat I thaw and cover in a BBQ like sauce then bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

I also have a couple of pans of Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Spaghetti, Easy Lasagna, and Banana Crumb muffins that are on my list to blog for you soon!

Sams also came to the rescue with French Toast sticks, Frozen PB& J (don’t judge my girls are crazy about these and some days Momma needs a break!), frozen vegetables, chicken nuggets (that taste like Chick-fil-a), and frozen pre-cooked pulled pork. I also freeze a lot of breads and buns for quick sandwiches.

So that is basically my freezer line up! It certainly has kept us going these past few weeks! I always enjoy making extra and keeping my freezer stocked especially for those days where I’m running on empty! Hopes this helps you too!