Taco Spaghetti

We had this for dinner last night.  I was different than the tradtional, but good.  There was not a morsel leftover.  Even my youngest that doesn’t like spaghetti ate it.  Although he did mention it would have been better without the pasta. LOL

Taco Spaghetti Skillet

Serving Size 6 servings (1 cup each)

Ingredients 1 pound extra lean ground beef (95% lean)

1 pkg (1.5 oz each) mild taco seasoning mix

 1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained

2-1/2 cups water

8 ounces dry Pot-Sized™ Spaghetti, uncooked

6 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream

Serving Size 6 servings (1 cup each)

Directions Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally.

Add taco seasoning, undrained tomatoes and water; stir to combine. Add spaghetti; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook 10 minutes or until spaghetti is tender, stirring occasionally.

Top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Cook's Tips Pot-Sized Spaghetti is 5 inches long --- the perfect size to fit in a pan without breaking. If Pot-Sized Spaghetti is not available, break regular spaghetti in half for this recipe.  Walmart has their own brand which is 16oz for $1.

Organizing Craft Room

I have a new friend Bonniejean, who is into crafts like I am. She showed me her craft area and it was ultra organized. Mine has been really bad for the last 6 months. Not putting things away, etc. I finally decided after church today I was going to get started.

Five years ago when I made my craft room, I painted the walls, put up my desk, painted the dressers for my yarn, put up pegboard and then just kind of stopped.

I haven't decorated the walls, or done much at all with the pegboard. I tend to take stuff in there and then dump it. Bad habit. Tonight I decided that I really want to actually finish this room so that I will enjoy it more. Money circumstances have changed some, so I need to do it on a shoe string. Most of the elements are in place. I just need to keep going.

I got my desk almost totally cleared off. What is left are little piles I want to put in baskets, jars etc on my pegboard. I need some organizing ideas. When I originally put my pegboard up cut dowels to put in the holes for my thread spools. That isn't working like I wanted at all. I'm going to see about buying a premodern rack.
 
When I originally planned my craft room I built desk top on the majority of two of the walls. I also saved and painted a piece to use as a table extension, with collapsible legs. It will give me some more room when sewing and laying things out. Not enough room to keep it prmanantly though. As I was cleaning up I realized I couldn't find it. Searched high and low to no avail. DS1 and DS2 said they didn't know. I guess I wll have to go buy a new piece. Darn!

Spice Rack

I have hated my spice cupboard for several years. It is just too small. I just don't have anywhere else to put them though. They are on the three shelves to the right of my stove. It is getting to the point I have to half empty it to find what I want. About a month before Christmas I saw a brilliant idea on Pintrest. It was for a slick rack that you could put between you fridge and counter. I wanted it!

I tried really hard to get one of my guys to make it for Christmas. My DH told me flat out no. He is a type 4 personality. If he can't do it perfect, he doesn't want to do it. I think the boys just thought it would be too hard. When none of them would agree to make it, I told them to just get me a gift card for Lowes or Home Depot. I decided I would do it myself. It is basically a bookshelf with a few dowels thrown in.

My DS2 gave me a $50 Lowes card for Christmas. Up until now it has been too cold outside or I haven't had time. Since Cracker Barrel wants me working Valentines weekend, I switched my regular with it. I didn't have to go shopping either. Free Saturday. I don't get many of those.

Here I am figuring out the shelves. I had made a plan with figures, but had to revise. I was using 1 x 4's. They were not 1". More like 3/4". Threw my math off and I had to refigure.

Once I got the places for the shelves marked and the dowel placement marked I clamped them together and used the drill. I pre drilled all the holes for the nails to make it easier in me. I clamped them together to make sure the sides matched.
BTW, just as a side note, I've done enough wood projects that I really want a pair if saw horses ans a circular saw. Crazy huh?

This is the frame put together.

This is after I added the backing and the handle. I was really glad that I had waited on the backing until the frame was together. With my math changing the back would have been the wrong size and I would have been ticked.

Here is the completed project. With dowels in place and the caster wheels so it will pull out. No all I have to do is find time to paint it.

Quilt AsYou Go

When I called my friend Kathy last night to give her the info on the the long arm she invited me over to see her latest quilt. She is much faster at making quilts than I am.

I was telling her my delima about a quilt for DS1. she said I should do a quilt as you go. I came home and looked it up on line. You do each block separately. You quilt the top piece, whatever it is to the batting, attach the blocks together and then sew them to the back. Add your binding, and you are done. Very doable! 
 
I think that is what I an going to do. Looked on Pintrest for ideas. DS1 said he wanted basically the same thing. The green and burgundy. I think The blocks are in good shape, they just came apart. I may take it completely apart and use them in the new one. I'd like to find some coordinating prints to help update it at the same time.

The more I think about it, this may be my new technique. Since you are quilting each individual block you can be as detailed as you want.

DS1 Quilt Request

DS1 and his girlfriend were here at the house tonight. I was good timing because I needed her moms contact information. She has a long arm in her home, and quilts for people. A friend of mine had asked for the information.
As I was getting the info from her Ds1 mentioned he wanted a quilt. He says he stopped using his because it was falling apart. He just has it folded in his room. I told him I would think about it. The top I can afford, it is the quilting that kills.
I really would like to replace it for him. This is the second time he has mentioned it. I will have to think on this some.

About 16 years ago there was a local business in town that made sleeping bags, shirts and skirts I think. They used a machine to cut out. They didn't mind if you dumpster dived and took their remnants. I only went once, but I got two garbage bags worth. That year I made quillows for my three kids. My DD's was red. There was a solid red, and a white with red flowers. DS1 got now that was hunter green and burgundy. Green was his favorite color at the time. My youngest got a light chambray blue. His I had to go and buy coordinating fabric for. It was a light blue with red, yellow and orange lines bending like pipes all over it.

Last time I saw my daughters a couple of years ago it was still in one piece. Both of the boys loved theirs well. They have literally fallen apart. I think it was the cheap thread I used.

Mexican Chicken Skillet Dinner

This was really good.  I skipped the jalapeno and the cilantro, but we really liked it.

 

Mexican Chicken Skillet Dinner

Shared By: Pick Fresh Foods

Serves: 4

 

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp vegetable oil, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced
• 2 cups fresh or frozen corn
• ½ cup water
• 1 lime, juiced
• ½ cup grated Mexican cheese blend
• 1 jalapeño, sliced thin
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. In a small bowl combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
2. In a large oven safe skillet heat 1 tsp of oil over medium heat.
3. Add chicken breast and sauté until both sides are browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to plate and cover.
4. Add another teaspoon of oil to the pan along with the garlic and bell pepper. Sauté until garlic is fragrant then add the corn. Cook until corn is heated.
5. Add the chicken back to the pan.
6. Add water and pour lime juice over the chicken. Cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and place under broiler to melt cheese.
7. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with jalapeños and cilantro.
8. Serve with wedge of lime.

Crockpot Sweet and Sour Pork

I'm not a big fan of pineapple when it is warmed for some reason.  I had reservations about this recipe for that reason.  We all love sweet and sour, and it was a dump recipe so I decided to give it a try.  I have to admit that it was amazing.  We really liked it.  Not only that it made quite a bit when added with the rice.  Very inxexpsive recipe to feed the family.

Crockpot Sweet and Sour Pork

*2-3 pound lean pork roast
**1 cup granulated sugar (seems like a lot, but it mellows out)
½ cup white vinegar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons ketchup
20 ounce can crushed pineapple (drained)
.
Brown the pork roast on all sides and put it in your slow cooker. Mix everything else and bring it to a boil, then pour it over the meat.
.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until very tender (spoon the sauce over the meat every once in a while).

NOTES: 

*Walmart sells a small vacuum packed 2 pound pork roast that is perfect for this recipe. The package says "pork loin rib eye pork roast".

**Even though as noted the sugar mellows out, it was still a bit sweet for us.  Especially since you have sweet from the pineapple juice also.  I think next time I make it I am going to cut the sugar in half.