Mandarin Lemon Cake with Pineapple Pudding Whipped Topping

This is the perfect recipe for taking a collection of pre-made packages and creating something that tastes homemade.  Not only does it take a regular boxed cake mix to the next level, it comes together quickly and definitely makes an impression.

Mandarin Lemon Cake with Pineapple Pudding Whipped Topping

1 boxed Lemon cake mix

Ingredients required on cake box

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

20oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

6oz. package vanilla pudding

8oz. cool whip

1/2 c. coconut

chopped pecans

Prepare cake batter according to package directions.

Gently fold in drained mandarin oranges.

Bake according to package directions.

Mix vanilla pudding with crushed pineapple until blended.

Fold in whipped topping and coconut.

Frost cake and top with chopped pecans.

Keep refrigerated.

Oats and Apples

This recipe was originally meant for the crockpot, but there is just no way I am going to remember breakfast at bedtime - it wont even hit my radar.

This is basically your regular oatmeal breakfast, but with added apples, cinnamon and sugar.  Comes together quickly and I love the flavor from the spices and the crunch from the apples.

Oats and Apples

Recipe from Fabulous Food Blog

2 slices apples

1/3 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. regular oats

4 c. water

Layer apples, sugar, cinnamon, oats and water (in that order) in a medium saucepan.

Do not stir.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until oats are cooked.

Stir everything together and serve warm.

Taco Pizza

My sister served up this pizza at our last family vacation.  It is delicious and it feeds a crowd!  Mix up the toppings however you would like, this is a winner!

Taco Pizza

Recipe modified from Life as a Lofthouse

1 pizza dough recipe

1/2 lb. ground beef

2 Tbsp. taco seasoning

1 16oz can refried beans

3 c. shredded cheese

1/2 c. chopped tomatoes
1/4 c. sliced black olives
4 green onions, chopped
1 c. corn, optional - I liked it better without

Prepare pizza dough and spread out on large baking sheet.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Meanwhile, brown beef in a large skillet until no longer pink; drain.
Add taco seasoning to cooked beef.
Heat up refried beans, stir, and spread evenly over the top of the warm pizza.
Top with cooked ground beef.
Sprinkle with cheese, tomatoes olives, green onions and corn.

Return to oven and bake an additional 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve immediately with salsa and sour cream if desired.

Honey Citrus Cold/Flu Fighter - Plus a Giveaway!

I love autumn.  The cooler weather, the colors, and the beginning of soup season.

I don't so much love the cold and flu season that inevitably follows though.

This is a simple home remedy to combat the onset of sickness.  It is incredibly easy, delicious, and safe for kids.  It is all natural, and a great alternative to medicine.

Honey Citrus Cold/Flu Fighter

1 tsp. honey

1 drop lemon essential oil

1 drop On Guard essential oil

Scoop or pour honey onto a spoon and drop the oils onto the honey.

Suck mixture off of spoon.

Repeat a few times throughout the day to combat a cold or flu, or at the onset of sickness.

**Essential Oils are very potent, and OnGuard is spicy!  If you are afraid that this will be too much for you or your kids, try mixing this concoction in water and drinking it instead.  Especially do this if you accidentally drop more than 1 drop of oil on your spoon! 

Laundry Stain Remover

My husband gets bloody noses at night.  In his sleep.  Its weird.

Usually he wakes enough to clean up his pillowcase, but the other morning I woke up to him saying "uh-oh".

I love Zout.  It is by far my favorite stain remover, and I never thought I would find an equal replacement.  Now was the time to test the strength of this home made version.

 Even more so disgusting than the nose bled stained pillowcase was what I discovered after it was washed.  As you can see, not only did it completely remove the stain, but you can clearly see the lines where the stain remover had run vs. where it hadn't.  Yeah, I know, gross.  The pillowcase was that dirty.  Even after being washed.  I ended up soaking the whole thing in hot water with some of this stain remover to get the entire thing clean again.

I have one of these bottles in my bedroom to spot clean before I put clothes into the hamper, and one in the laundry room.  I also use it to pre-treat the collars of button up shirts, as well as the armpits of white shirts before they are washed.  It is a great, inexpensive version that works wonders!

Laundry Stain Remover

Recipe from One Good Thing

1/3 c. dishwashing liquid detergent (dawn/palmolive)

1/3 c. ammonia

3 Tbsp. baking soda

1 c. warm water

In a spray bottle, dissolve baking soda in warm water.

Add remaining ingredients.

Shake before each use.

Grilled Chicken with Barley Corn Salad

I love a great marinade that can double as a salad dressing.  This meal screams summer to me.  Light and delicious.  The salad is definitely worth making even without the chicken.  The tomato marinade turned it a gorgeous pink color, and the flavors were light yet satisfying.  It is a great make ahead meal as well, just pull the chicken out of the fridge, grill and dinner is ready!  We'll be returning to this one again and again.  

Grilled Chicken with Barley Corn Salad

Recipe from Iowa Girl Eats

4 chicken breasts (I used thighs)

3/4 c. dried barley

2 c. corn kernels

1 1/2 c. halved cherry tomatoes

1/2 c. minced red onion

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 avocado, chopped (optional)

salt and pepper

Cherry Vinaigrette:

1 c. halved cherry tomatoes

1 clove garlic

3 Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. red onion

salt and pepper

Cook barley according to package directions (I cooked mine in chicken broth).

Fluff with fork and place into a large bowl to cool.

Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.

Place 6 Tbsp. of the vinaigrette into a quart ziplock bag and add the chicken.

Set in fridge to marinate.

Stir the corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion and bacon into the cooled barley.

Add enough reserved tomato vinaigrette to coat and stir well.

Gently fold in the avocado and season with salt and pepper.

Place in refrigerator.

Grill chicken and serve over salad.

Cantaloupe Jam

I over did it on melons this year.

I realized I had a problem when I had 4 in the fridge, 8 freshly picked, and 7 more in the garden that would be ready in a week or so.  Not to mention that we had eaten at least 1 per day for the last couple of weeks.  We love summer produce.

I had heard about cantaloupe jam, so I surfed over to Pinterest and found lots of ideas.

I settled on this recipe because it uses a relatively small amount of sugar and sugar free pectin, which I replaced with Ultra Gel.  I was also really intrigued by the addition of vanilla.  

It turned out beautifully.

I was all sorts of worried about the consistency; I just thought for sure it would be a runny mess.  But it is smooth, and perfect, and oh so delicious!

Cantaloupe Jam {with Vanilla}

Recipe modified from the Boulder Belt Blog

12 c. cantaloupe puree with chunks

1/4 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. vanilla extract

1 1/2 c. ultra gel

3 1/2 c. sugar
1-2 Tbsp. butter

Pour cantaloupe puree, lemon juice and vanilla extract into a large stock pot.
Stir in ultra gel (or pectin) until dissolved and bring to a rolling boil.
Quickly stir in sugar.
Return to a rolling boil.
Boil and stir constantly for 4 minutes.
Add butter and stir until melted and mixed in.
Ladle into hot sterilized jars.
Top with sterilized lids and screw on the bands.
Steam or water bath for 15 minutes.
Remember to adjust for altitude.

Makes 12 half pints, plus more for immediate use.