Christmas Cookie Cooking 2017 | Not the Mother I Intended to Be

Even before I became a mother, I had this simple, naive notion that I would be one of those Pinterest  moms. You know the ones. The ones who have their shit together. Their kids always look cute, she always looks put together, and wears a size 4. And somehow manages to nail every single thing she does.

She signs up for bake sales, and church functions, and volunteers with other kids, because being around her own kids just isn't enough.

Yeah.

Since actually becoming a mother, I realize all of the above is bull, and I'm okay with it. I'm still learning the type of parent I want to be, but I know one thing; these boys of mine have fun, and a lot of it. So maybe I am doing something right.

The great cookie cooking of Christmas 2017 presented by the Skelton boys; Henry and Shepherd James.

Merry Christmas all!

Impromtu Day Off

Monday, I had an unexpected day off work, which was an absolute blessing. And much needed; even though we just came back from a two week holiday. No judgment please, thank you.

For the most part of the morning, I did a little reading, some light cleaning, and lots of blogging-photography related research. Before I know it, it's about 3:00 and time to start cooking for my Tay.

It was a big undertaking and apparently, I should not be left alone in the kitchen. Because this is the result after 2 hours of prepping, cutting, and cooking. 

I think I used every boiler in the house. And almost every other dish too.
But the end result is worth it. About two hours of cooking for 4+ meals for the Tater and I.

The recipe came from my father-in-law; who is an amazing cook. Seriously. When I first started making this (right after Tay and I married) I had the father-in-law on speed dial and he knew exactly what I needed every time I called him. Now, I don't have to call and ask him anymore, I have finally committed the recipe to memory.

What you'll need:
-At least 6 medium size serving tins
-1 box of bowtie noodles
-1 box of elbow noodels
- 1/2 box of penne noodles
(I love bowtie and elbow and use more of them, but if you prefer penne, then by all means use more!)
-1 pound hamburger meat
-1 pound italian sausage
-1 package of pepperoni
-1 onion finely chopped
-1 bell pepper finely chopped
-1 can any pasta sauce - we use Ragu Roasted Garlic
-Minced garlic
-Bag of shredded Mozzarella
-Bag of Colby-Jack

Now for the cooking:
Brown and drain hamburger meat. (Save a little fat)
Brown and drain sausage.
Chop up onions and bellpepper and garlic.
Saute onions and bellpepper and garlic in meat fat.
Dump meats and peppers into a big ass pot, seriously.
Add half of spaghetti sauce.
Boil and cook noodles - directions on packages folks!
Dump noodles into big ass pot.
Cut up pepperoni and add to pot. I love them. Some don't, add as many as you like. 
Stir it all together.
Add mozzarella - a lot.
Stir some more.

Divy up into separate tins. I always make 6 tins. We freeze two, and put four in the fridge.

Happy cooking! And hopefully your kitchen won't end up looking like mine did!

Meatloaf Muffins

Yep. You read that right. Meatloaf Muffins. I'm not sure if it's been done before or not, but for the Skelton household, it was most definitely a first!

 

Since the New Year, the hubs and I have been watching what we eat...which basically means that we haven't had mashed taters and/or meatloaf in a long time!

 

Well, he's been begging for meatloaf and I've been dying of blogging about our cooking.

So, we found us a happy medium.

 

Meatloaf Muffins.

 

The recipe:

1 pound lean beef (remember, we are on diets!)

1/2 bell pepper

1/2 medium onion

1 egg

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup milk

1 package meatloaf seasoning

 

 

 

 

The piping kit...that the husband searched for all over town!

We are going to need it for our 'icing'!

 

 

 1 pound lean beef, you can use whatever you prefer, but this was

96% lean; a yes in our book.

 

 

Dice up your 1/2 onion and 1/2 bell pepper.

 

 

Throw a few tablespoons of olive oil into a saucepan and sauté those veggies!!

While your veggies are cooking, combine the meat, egg, bread crumbs, milk and meatloaf seasoning.

Once the veggies are done, let them cool and then add them to the meat mixture.

And remember, don't you dare shape this into a loaf, we are making Meatloaf muffins!

 

1 pound of meat (plus all the filler) makes about 6 muffins.

Remember to spray the heck out of your muffin pan!!

Or do what we did. Go to Kroger and buy the cheap muffin tin...we still sprayed the heck out of it, but that way, we didn't risk loosing one of our muffin pans.

Bake in a 350* oven for approximately one hour or until internal temperature of meat reaches 170*.

 

For our icing, I just made standard mashed taters. Nothing fancy.

I just added a bit more milk so that they would be extra creamy and would fit into the piping kit that Tay bought.

 

 

And voila!

Meatloaf Muffins!!

With all the trimmings: icing and sprinkles :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

This recipe is courtesy of the Pioneer Woman.

She featured it on her show yesterday, and I decided to emulate the recipe.

 

The cast of characters:

 

FOR CRUST

25 whole Oreos

4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

 

PEANUT BUTTER FILLING:

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1 package (8 Ounce) Softened Cream Cheese

1-1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

1 package (8 Ounce) Cool Whip, Thawed

First things first, you gotta make the crust.

That involves 25 Oreo cookies and putting them into a food processor and pulsing them like crazy. And if you don't have a food processor, you could try the cheap/easy method; ergo, putting Oreo's into a Ziploc bag and beating them into oblivion. Let me say, I tested that, it's a no go :(

The food processor is the way to go.

 

 

 

Then take them out and put them into a mixing bowl.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter.

 

 

Add the melted butter to the cookie crumble.

Stir with a fork.

 

 

 After the cookie/butter mixture is stirred, press it into a pie pan.

Bake at 350* for 5-7 minutes.

DON'T BURN IT!!

While the crust is setting/baking, add 1 cup of Peanut Butter and one package of cream cheese to the mixer.

Whip it together until smooth.

 

Add 1 1/4 cups of powdered sugar.

Mix and mix and mix some more.

Remember to scrape the sides.

 

Then add the entire tub of Cool Whip.

Yep, the whole thawed tub.

 

Tell me the below picture doesn't look appetizing..

I dare you.

It looks great and the whole kitchen smells like peanut butter.

Just a small slice of heaven.

 

Once everything is whipped into oblivion,

add the peanut butter mixture to the cooled pie crust.

Chill for at least an hour.

Give leftovers to your dog...

Make sure to take a picture if it gets all over his face :) 

 

Marlboro Man Sammies Tater Style

If you don't know who the Pioneer Woman is, I feel sorry for you. Her recipes are amazing. And simple to cook. And taste divine. And last night, Tater decided to make some Pioneer Woman food. OK well Marlboro Man food a.k.a the Pioneer Woman's husband.

Tater examining the recipe box.

Cube steak. The recipe calls for 2 pounds. Whoops!

First things first, cut the meat into strips against the grain.

Salt and pepper to taste; which for us means a lot.

Norman wanted to help, but decided to be a dead dog instead.

I can tell Norm, "Dead Dog," and he'll drop and do this!

Heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over high heat.

As soon as it's melted (but before it burns) brown strips. About 1 1/2 minutes per side.

When the meat is brown, take out and set on a plate and set aside.

Reduce the heat to medium-high. And add....

One whole onion and 3 minced garlic cloves.

Once the onions are garlic are cooked, remove to a separate plate and melt two more tablespoons of butter into the skillet. Add Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, as much or as little as you like. Once reduced, throw everything back into the pot and cook for about 5 minutes!

While the meat is finishing up, lather a pancake pan with butter.

Throw some buns on the high heat and toast the bread.

And combine for a delicious meal.

You can also add mushrooms and peppers and any other veggies that you like, but we haven't gone grocery shopping since we are moving and didn't have the all the necessities!