Happy Halloween

Hey Y'all,

Are you Halloween  ready? Candy? Costumes? Dinner plans?  Yay you if you said Check, Check and Check! For the rest of us... I am sharing a few last minute Halloween ideas with you today. What are your plans? Do you attend fall festivals or go door to door on Tuesday night?   It was always a struggle to get home, feed the family and get out the door in the cutest costumes ever.  I tried to find spooky foods that were quick, yummy and somewhat good dinner options to dilute the consumption of sugar that I knew was coming.

If you aren't quite ready we are here to help you out. Here are some super cute costumes, treats and "healthy options" for dinner on the run. I think this is the cutest costume! Gotta love a crazy cat lady!

image via Pinterest

Hope you have a great Halloween!! We will be watching a scary movie
or two and probably having too much candy after our spooky mummy dogs. 

Happy Halloween

xoxo, Amy 

read more

SHE: Packs a Lunch

Hey Y’all,

Hope you have found lots to be Thankful and Happy about this week! Courtney has shared some really cute quotes ~ I have enjoyed seeing them each day. It’s been a nice reminder to look for the good.

So a few weeks ago I mentioned trying to eat better, walk a little farther and drink more water. I would love to tell you that I have done it all perfectly, but I have not. J   I will say one thing I have done well (for me!) is trying to take my lunch to work. So often for me, lunch is a quick trip out of the office, grabbing something and eating while I peruse social media and hopefully get a chance to chat with my girl.  It is just a mental break away.  But it is often not a healthy break. So I have actually planned lunches a few times lately and I was pleasantly surprised in that I did enjoy my break more. I wasn’t rushed trying to get my food and get back to the office. 

Trying to come up with something that would sound good to me the next day is the hard part. But I found a few guides that really make it pretty simple.

A basic lunch needs to consist of a protein/ starch, fruit, vegetable and a snack. I prepared my lunches on Sunday which made me more apt to pack it in the morning.   Mine was pretty simple, I made a tray in a plastic reusable container with cubes of mild cheddar cheese, grapes, cucumber slices, Triscuit crackers and sliced turkey.  I was full and relaxed & I found I didn’t have that late afternoon drop either. (Just a tip...buying cheese blocks is less expensive that pre-cut cracker slices, use a warmed knife to make it easier to cut). 

Here are some suggestions I found that might work to mix things up, following the same pattern. Misty Nelson over at Frosted Moms has an example (printable) that has a good variety of options.  

Do you pack a lunch? What is your go to lunch style? We would love you to share your ideas and to tell us how cute your lunch box is :)  These are super cute! 

Take care ~ 

Amy

read more

SHE: Cooks Football Snacks

Hey Ya’ll! Football season is upon us, and if your family is like ours, it means it’s an exciting time of year! In our home, we pull for the Tennessee Vols – through the good seasons and bad. Good food is always a necessity when watching the game. Today I’ve listed a few of our game day favorites. The best part is they are super simple to make and are sure to please a crowd!

Sausage Balls

1 pound uncooked hot sausage

2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese

3 cups Bisquick

1 cup water or milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cheese and Bisquick and then add the ground sausage. As needed, slowly add the water/milk until it is no longer dry. Form into balls the size of golf balls. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

1 package frozen meatballs

1 jar grape jelly

1 jar chili sauce

These can be prepared on the stove or in the crockpot. In a bowl, combine the jelly and chili sauce. If you cook on the stove, place frozen meatballs in a pot and cover with the sauce. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes. If using a crockpot, place frozen meatballs in the crockpot and cover with the sauce, then cook on high for 2-4 hours.

Hashbrown Casserole

1 bag frozen hashbrowns (cubed or shredded)

2 cups shredded colby jack cheese

¼ cup minced onion

1 cup milk

½ cup beef broth

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Dash garlic powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and preheat a skillet on medium high. Combine the frozen hashbrowns, cheese, and onion in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, beef broth, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix until well combined, and pour over the potato mixture. Carefully spoon the hashbrowns into the heated skillet. Stir occasionally and heat until the cheese has melted. Once the cheese has melted, transfer the hashbowns to a casserole dish. Finish cooking in the oven for 30-45 minutes.

I hope you're able to make one or all of these snacks this season. Make sure to share your favorite football snacks in the comments section!

xo ~ Brittney

read more