Steakhouse Shephards Pie {VERY Pic Heavy!!}

As I posted in my Menu Plan Monday post, we had Steakhouse Shephards Pie for dinner. I thought I would share the recipe for everyone along with pictures. This is so delish that I've made this my go to recipe for this type of dish!

While the potatoes are cooking, heat olive oil in a pan and add the bacon.

Crisp the bacon.

Let it cook and thicken up and you get the results below.

 

If the picture's confuse you on the recipe, here is the link to

the original:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/steakhouse-shepherds-pie-recipe/index.html

Menu Plan {Monday}

Monday- Steakhouse Shepards Pie with Crescent Rolls

Tuesday- Lasagna with Garlic Parmesean Knots

Wednesday- Slow Cooker French Dip Sammies

Thursday- Slow Cooker Beef Burgundy

Friday- Chicken Fajitas with Black Beans & Rice

Saturday- Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

Sunday- Kentucky Hot Brown

What's on YOUR menu for the week?

{Menu Plan} Monday!

A vital part of being frugal, to me, is meal planning!

I plan every meal my family has right down to the kiddo's snacks!

I thought it would be helpful if I showed our menu plan each week.

I will only post our dinner menu; the rest would be too much! LOL!

So for the week of January 2nd, here goes:

Monday- Sloppy Joes and Mac & Cheese

Tuesday- Crockpot Italian Chicken with Pasta

Wednesday- Crockpot Cube Steak with Peas & Mashed Potatoes

Thursday- Steakhouse Shepards Pie with Crescent Rolls

Friday- Pasta E Fagioli al Forno

Saturday- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Sunday- Lasagna

Menu Plan Monday

Today was grocery shopping day which means a new menu for the week!

What's on your menu for this week?

Our menu plan is:

Monday- Jambalaya

Tuesday- Crunchy Onion Chicken with Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans

Wednesday- Eat out

Thursday- Slow Cooker London Broil

Friday- Homemade Chinese Beef & Vegetable with Vegetable Fried Rice

Saturday- Chicken & Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups

Sunday- Slow Cooker Short Ribs & Vegetables with Walnut-Mushroom Tart

Candy Corn Cupcakes & A Birthday

Yesterday was my mom's 45th birthday (or 54th according to Ms. T) and Mr. Homemaker & I decided we would have her and my dad over for a birthday supper and cupcakes! I wanted to do something different...something non-traditional in terms of her cupcakes.

So, being the Pinterest addict that I am, I found Candy Corn Cupcakes!!

Bear in mind, my cupcakes are not as pretty as the one's in the above photo, but boy were they yummy!!

So here you go, instructions (with pictures) on how to make your own candy corn cupcakes!

All of your ingredients needed, minus the red & yellow food coloring I forgot to add in the picutre! :)

Add your oil, water, and egg whites to your boxed cake mixture. Add the quantities that the box calls for.

Have an adorably, enthusiastic 4yr old to assist with the mixing.

Take a break, and let your enthusiastic helper lick the beaters {her favorite part...I think that's why she likes helping!}

Divide your batter into 3 seperate dishes. This is so you can add the food coloring to make the batter white, yellow, and orange.

Add your food coloring and mix, mix, mix!!

Put a scoop of yellow batter in (I forgot to photograph that part), and next a scoop of orange batter on top.

Finally, add a scoop of white batter on top!

Once you fill the cupcake liners with the batter, bake according to the package instructions.

When the cupcakes are done baking, take them out of the pan to cool.

Finally, once they are cool, frost with vanilla frosting and top with a candy corn...or two!!

And when you open it up, this is what it should look like!

Crock Pot Spinach & Chicken

I have to say, if you are not a spinach lover then you will be quite skeptical with this dish as it calls for an ENTIRE bag of spinach. BUT! Mr. Homemaker (who repluses spinach) L.O.V.E.D this dish!! I can't take credit for this recipe since I found it at http://www.crockpotgirls.com/, but I do HIGHLY recommend it!! Enjoy! :)


Start with 1-1 1/2lbs chicken (I used the breast tenders).

Top the chicken with bell peppers & onions.

I used 1/2 of a green bell pepper and about 3/4 of a red onion.

Next, add a good handful of cajun seasoning.

To your mixture, add zucchini & mushrooms.

I used 1 zucchini (chopped) and about 1/2 of a container of fresh mushrooms.

Next, add 1/2 of your bag of spinach and a large jar of spaghetti sauce.

I used Dole baby spinach & 6 cheese spaghetti sauce.

 

 

Finally, add the remaining half of your spinach to the crock pot.

Cover, and cook on low for 6 hours!

Serve over your favorite pasta (my kids love the farfalle "bowtie" pasta) and sprinkle with some parmesean cheese!!!

Yum!!

Beef Burgundy {Crock Pot Style!}

INGREDIENTS:

One package stew meat

3 cans of mushroom soup

3/4 can red cooking wine

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in crock pot, cover, and cook on low about 6 hours. Serve over egg noodles.

Dalton Style Homemade Chili | A $ Saving Meal

If you're like me you look for meals that will allow you to stretch your bucks BUT, taste good & your whole family will like. Even the picky eaters...I know I'm not the only one with a couple of those!! :)

I developed my homemade chili recipe about 3 years ago and I don't have complaints from ANYONE...even my fussiest eater! And it's VERY budget friendly!! My meal tonight cost me a grand total of $8.20 for my family of four (4) and there is ALWAYS leftovers which either get frozen or turned into another meal!!

From my kitchen to yours......Dalton Style Chili Beans!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 jar salsa (we use HOT!)

2 cans pork & beans

1 can chili beans

1 can kidney beans

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 large onion, diced

3/4 lg. tomatos, seed & diced

1 palmful chili powder

2-3 tbsp. olive oil

{$.69ea for Pork & Beans, $3.25 for 1lb ground beef, $1.99 for the salsa, $.69 for the Kidney beans, and $.89 for the Chili beans! I had the tomato, garlic, onion, chili powder, and olive oil on hand!}

Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven.

Add the onions, garlic, and tomato to the heated oil.

Sautee until the garlic & onion become fragrant.

Next, add a palmful of Chili powder to the sauteed vegetables.

Next add in the ground beef.

Brown the beef and, when it's done, drain the grease.

When the meat is browned and drained--add in the beans, salsa, and 1/4 can of water.

Simmer to blend the flavors!

Serve with your favorite shredded cheese & a slice of cornbread!!

Yummmmm-o!!!!

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does!!

Jambalaya

I swear I think Mr. Homemaker should have been born in Louisiana! The man loves anything the spicer the better! He and I were trying to figure out supper for tonight and we borrowed a recipe that his mom had given us for homemade Jambalaya. Now let me preface this by saying I'd NEVER eaten Jambalaya let alone prepared it AND Mr. Homemaker LOVES it (he's eaten it resturants). So I had everything that I could cross, crossed, praying that it turned out ok!! And I will tell you, Mr. Homemaker LOVED it!! He just said it needs to be a little spicer!

Homemade Jambalaya

 In large saucepan, heat oil over moderate heat. Add 8 oz. shrimp (remove tail, shells) and saute, remove & set aside, leave drippings in pan.

Chop 1 large Onion, 1 small Bell Pepper, 1 stalk of Celery and 1 clove of Garlic. Then, add the Onion, Bell Pepper, Celery, Garlic and sausage to pan. Cook, stirring frequently, for approximately 3-4 minutes.

 Stir in 1 1/2c. Chicken Broth, 14 oz. can Tomatoes, 1 tsp. Thyme, 1tsp. Pepper Sauce, and 1 Bay Leaf into the mixture. Increase the heat to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed... Stirring occasionally.

Add in pre-cooked rice and add shrimp, cover and cook until Shrimp is re-heated. Discard the Bay Leaf, and season with salt/pepper to your likings :)

When you're finished cooking, you should end up with something like this: