Tag Archives: meal plan

Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

24 Nov

 

Since I have been on a Thanksgiving recipe roll, I figured I have time to share one more simple, decadent, delicious, recipe.

So if you are interested in being the veggie hero once again…keep on reading for the recipe.

corn

Seven ingredients is all you need.

 

corn1

In a skillet melt the cream cheese and butter over low heat. If your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature this will take about 5 minutes. Don’t panic, it will look a little lumpy and bumpy until your whisk in the milk.

corn2

Add the milk and whisk until smooth.

corn3

Add corn and salt and pepper. Go ahead and give it a taste test or three….you know, to make sure it is seasoned properly 🙂

corn4

Add to your greased baking dish and sprinkle with cheese…don’t be shy.

corn5

Bake 20-25 minutes or until hot, bubbly, deliciousness is achieved.

corn7

Resist the urge to cut into it right away. Let this beauty set for at least 5 minutes before serving!

You can watch how I make it here

 

Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

by Rebecca Vahdat

Cook Time: 20-25 Minutes

Keywords: bake side Thanksgiving Christmas winter

 

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1/3 Cup milk
  • 4 Cups of corn (18 oz.bag of frozen corn, thawed OR-15 oz. cans, drained).
  • 1 Cup Pepper Jack OR Sharp Cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 350 and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish and set aside.

In a pot melt together cream cheese and butter over low heat.

Add milk and stir until mixture is smooth.

Add corn and salt and pepper. Mix well.

Add mixture to greased baking dish and sprinkle with the shredded cheese.

Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Let set 5 minutes before serving.

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See, couldn’t be more simple.  This casserole has earned its rightful place as a star attraction on our Thanksgiving table.

I would love to know what you will be serving this holiday season. Leave a comment, recipe, or a link to your blog. I would LOVE to check it out!

Thanks for visiting and have a Happy and blessed Thankgiving!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

 You can also find me on Pinterest

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

13 Nov

I love this time of year especially for the smells and tastes of fall. One of my most favorite things to do this time of year is spend as much time as possible in the kitchen…cooking and baking and sharing my love of it to those around me.

One of my most requested fall recipes are these cupcakes. I get asked for this recipe all the time. This is usually what I am asked to bring for holiday gatherings.  TO. DIE. FOR.  Seriously!  They are moist, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to make.

Go ahead and do yourself a favor and whip these puppies up…everyone will love you and you will love how quick and easy it was. Keep reading for the recipe.

What you will need to get started. So far so good.....

What you will need to get started. So far so good…..

Take a minute to add some of your measured flour to the chocolate chips. Keeps them from sinking to the bottom.

Take a minute to add some of your measured flour to the chocolate chips. Keeps them from sinking to the bottom.

Now go ahead and sift the rest of the dry ingredients and set aside. I know what you're thinking "2-3 tsp of pumpkin pie spice? Isn't that crazy talk?" Trust me, it works and it is awesome!

Now go ahead and sift the rest of the dry ingredients and set aside. I know what you’re thinking “2-3 tsp of pumpkin pie spice? Isn’t that crazy talk?” Trust me, it works and it is awesome!

Start by mixing your sugar and oil.

Start by mixing your sugar and oil.

Go ahead and add in the eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin.

Go ahead and add in the eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin.

Now here is the part where your house will start to smell heavenly.

Now here is the part where your house will start to smell heavenly.

Baked to moist, golden brown, deliciousness. The hard part is waiting for them to cool down.

Baked to moist, golden brown, deliciousness. The hard part is waiting for them to cool down.

You can certainly enjoy them as is, they make for a crazy good muffin. If you want to do it right, frost them with the worlds bestest cream cheese frosting. It will be the best decision you'll make all day! I'll leave a link for that below.

You can certainly enjoy them as is, they make for a crazy good muffin. If you want to do it right, frost them with the worlds bestest cream cheese frosting. It will be the best decision you’ll make all day! I’ll leave a link for that below.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it makes enough to share! Go ahead and wrap them up cute and share the love.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it makes enough to share! Go ahead and wrap them up cute and share the love.

Pumpkin Chocolate Cupcakes

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Cook Time: 17-22 minutes

Ingredients (18-24 cupcakes)

  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 C. sugar
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 C. vegetable oil
  • 2 C. flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2-3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1-15oz. can 100% pumpkin
  • 2 C. chocolate chips

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Add a heaping Tablespoon of flour to the chocolate chips and mix well (this step keeps the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes). Sift together the additional flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt; set aside.

Combine sugar and oil and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add vanilla and pumpkin and mix well.

Slowly add in dry ingredients until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full of batter and bake for *17-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.

Let cool and frost or skip the frosting and enjoy as a muffin.

*Oven temps vary, check muffins a few minutes before to avoid over baking.

*You can find the recipe for the Worlds Bestest Cream Cheese frosting here.*

I hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as we do!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

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The Bestest Cream Cheese Frosting in the World

13 Nov

Truly, there is no other name worthy of this frosting. Really, it’s more than frosting it’s a way of life. Simple, delicious, maybe even life changing.  So simple, you’ll never buy canned stuff again!  Scroll down for recipe.

Just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes is all it takes!

Just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes is all it takes!

Light and fluffy. It has the potential to bring tears to your eyes...it's that good.

Light and fluffy. It has the potential to bring tears to your eyes…it’s that good.

Bestest Cream Cheese Frosting in the World

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Keywords: dessert

Ingredients (2 Cups of frosing)

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 Cup butter, room temperature
  • 4 heaping Cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Cream together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed.

Reduce speed to medium-low and gradually add in the powdered sugar until combined.

Add the pure vanilla extract.

Increase the speed to medium-high (setting 8 on my stand mixer) and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Simply delicious!

Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes or a two layer cake.

Enjoy!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

The Twilight of Childhood

4 Jun Twilight of Childhood

She wakes with an infectious smile that seems to chase away any lingering gloominess from my soul.  She rests her head with ease  in that little crook of my shoulder that always seems to fit no matter how she grows.  She reminds me what goodness, and loveliness, and kindness feels like and she freely shares it with anyone fortunate enough to cross her path.  She dreams of filling shelves at the book store with her writings and filling the stage with songs about her greatest love….Jesus.

Even though the twilight of her childhood is setting in she still clings to girlhood fiercely. She isn’t quite ready to let it go and I’m not quite ready to let her go. So for a moment I will relish in my little girl and all her little girl ways and I will keep loving her well. For these last few moments, I will be near, holding her hand as she dips her toes into adolescence, so when the sun sets for the last time on her childhood she will be ready to let go of me and pursue her own life with confidence. grace, tenderness, and passion. I pray that these gifts will be accepted well and would bring healing to a wounded world and hope to wounded souls.

But for now, I will enjoy her sleepy head on my shoulder with messy curls tickling my cheek. In a moment it will be over. Tonight she will say goodbye to ten and welcome eleven with great expectation…..just as she should.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest and YouTube!

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

I am my Beloved and My Beloved is Mine

23 May

12 years ago on a beautiful Colorado day I married my very best friend and the love of my life! I thought I couldn’t be any happier than I was at that moment but each year proves to be better than the last. We have been on such an adventure from births, deaths, illnesses, college, graduations, teenagers, moves, job changes, aging parents, and everything in between. With the constant changes of life, the one thing that has remained, is that we have clung to each other through all of it.  We have grown from a couple of crazy love-struck kids to a couple who are weathering the storms and enjoying every rainbow together. We have learned to appreciate that each day together is a gift.

There is no one I would rather spend time with or journey this life with. I am so blessed to married to a man of honor and integrity! A man who puts his family first and works hard to give us a good life. He is a man that I adore, respect and love! Without the grace of God none of this would of been possible!  I thank God for sustaining us and for constantly working on my heart as a wife. Happy Anniversary, Sunshine! Thank you for choosing me!

I would love to connect on Pinterest!

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Sweet and Sour Chicken

11 Jul

I love when my sweet girls want to prepare dinner. I love not just the practical skills they are learning in the kitchen but also that they are building a sweet friendship. If you are looking for a yummy and easy dish…keep on reading for the printable recipe.

Get a baggie and add the corn starch and chicken.

Get your ‘shakin’ face on! Imperative for the best results.

Whisk up a couple of eggs.

Add your chicken to the egg mixture.

                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                     

Brown the chicken

 

I might be mixing up some extra sauce to pour over my rice 🙂

                                                                                                                               

My lovely assistant pouring the sauce over the chicken.

                                                                                                                                      

Throw some bell pepper in there…it’s the right thing to do!

                                                                                                                               

Voila! The sauce cooked onto the chicken beautifully. Here is my plate-steamed white rice (with a little extra sauce) topped with the glorious sticky chicken. Happiness on a plate!

                                                                                                                                 

Thumbs way up from my lovely assistants!

                                                                                                                                       

My sweet boys happily went back for seconds.

 
Delicious and simple!  We love it over hot steamed white rice.  We made extra sauce for the saucy lovers (ahem…mama).  Give it a try…I triple dog dare ya’…..and let me know what you think!  Thanks for visiting.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Come see what I am Pinning!

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

These Muffins are Bananas

31 May

*Updated*

Let me tell you, I fail miserably at banana bread.  Burnt on the bottom, raw in the middle, deflated..I am not kidding! If there was a way to ruin it, I would. I have been on a mission to find the right combination of ingredients to yield a moist flavorful banana bread that cooks evenly throughout.  After a lot of trial and error…. I got to mixing and……..Houston, we got ourselves a winner;) I am really excited to share this simple yet delicious recipe for chocolate chip banana muffins. Scroll down for printable recipe. Let’s get baking!

 

 

Printable Recipe

 

We would love to know what you’ve cookin’!  Leave us a message or link in the coments and let us know.  Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Let’s be Pinterest friends!

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Quick Enchilada Bake

6 Oct

Who doesn’t love a meal that consists of 5 ingredients and one pan?  This girl does!  This meal is perfect for those days when you just want a quick meal with low fuss and minimal mess.  Sit back, get comfy and see just how easy this meal can be.  Enjoy!

4 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2-2 pounds). Sprinkle both sides of chicken
with taco seasoning about a teaspoon per side. Bake in 350 degree oven
for about 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.
While chicken is cooking slice up about 4-5 green onions.
You will need 1 Cup of your favorite cheese. Really, you could use
as much or as little as you like. 1-19oz can of enchilada sauce. This yields
about 2 Cups of sauce. Again use less if you would prefer it less saucy.
We used extra sauce in ours because we served ours with tortillas and
white rice. The extra sauce absorbed into the rice and made it extra yummy!

When chicken is done remove it from the baking pan and dice it up into bite sized pieces. Add the enchilada sauce and mix well. Top with cheese and place back into your 350 degree oven for 20 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the mixture is hot and bubbly.

                                                                                                                        

                     When it is done baking sprinkle with the green onions.

            We served ours with white rice rolled in tortillas topped with 
               lettuce and tomatoes. Now for the verdict from some tough critics…

Our little man approves and………
                                                                                                                                                                                    

                  Very enthusiastic thums up from the girls. The hubba hubba hubby
    also gave it a thumbs up.

Recipe

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1-2 tsp taco seasoning

4-5 green onions thinly sliced

1 C. shredded cheese

1-19oz can enchilada sauce

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chicken in baking pan and sprinkle both sides with taco seasoning.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.  Slice up green onions while chicken is cooking, set aside.  Remove chicken from oven and cut into bite sized pieces.   Return chicken to baking pan and add the enchilada sauce, mix well.  Top with cheese and return it to your 350 degree oven.  Cook an additional 20-25 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.  Sprinkle with green onion.

Serve as is or on top of crisp shredded lettuce (great low carb meal) or as my family did, with tortillas.  A little less fussy than traditional enchilada’s.  As always, thank you for visiting.  I love to hear from you and to see what you’re cookin’.  If you have a favorite recipe, please share below or add a link, I would love to see it!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Copyright © 2013 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Mama is Cookin’ Fancy Tonight!

1 Oct

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get into a cooking rut! I just throw together the same 5-6 meals  over and over again. My family is very slow to complain about what they are eating, but you can just tell that there is no real excitement about the same meal they just ate 4 days ago. I have found that with a little extra effort you can put together a simple meal that will make your family or guests feel extra special!

 To start, you are going to need 1 green pepper, 1 large onion, 1 package
button mushrooms and 2 cloves of garlic.
I have about a 1 1/2- 2 pounds boneless pork chops that are about
1 1/2 inches thick, salt, pepper, garlic powder and turmeric.
Wash the green pepper and mushrooms. Thinly slice the green
pepper, onion and mushrooms and finely chop the garlic. In a
frying pan add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and heat over med-high
heat. When pan is hot add the green pepper, and onion.
sautee’ for 4 minutes and then add the mushrooms.
Sautee’ for an addition 2-3 minutes or until the veggies are just tender. Add garlic.
Remove veggies from pan and set aside. Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
to the same frying pan and heat on med-high heat.
I sliced my pork chops in half because they were a little to
thick for me and it greatly reduces the cooking time.
Sprinkle both sides to your liking with salt, pepper, garlic
powder and turmeric. Place in pan and let sear for 3-4 minutes
and flip pork chops and turn your pan down to med or if browning too
much down to med-low.
I like to serve my pork chops with real mashed potatoes. I peeled
and washed about 8-9 medium sized potatoes. Cut them in small
pieces so they will boil in no time. Place cut potatoes in a large pot
and cover potatoes with water up to one inch over potatoes. Cover
pot and heat on high heat until potatoes start to boil. Turn heat down
to med-high and remove lid enough to let the steam escape. Continue
to boil 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender (fork
easily pierces potato without force or effort).  Drain into a colander
and immediately add your drained potatoes back into hot pot.
This helps to dry up the excess water on the potatoes.
You want your pork chops to have this nice carmely color.
To the potatoes add 4-5 Tablespoons of butter, 1/2 Cup warm
milk, 1/2 Cup sour cream, salt and pepper to taste.
Start mashing:) Yes, making homemade mashed potatoes is
a little more work than instant, but oh so worth it!
Keep mashing until the potatoes are mostly smooth and
really creamy. Add more butter, milk or sour cream to
get the desired consistency of your potatoes. I actually
ended up adding an extra Tablespoon of butter and a few
more splashes of milk. I like to put the lid on the potatoes
put it back on the stove to keep it warm until you’re
ready to serve.
Get several slices of thinly cut provolone cheese ready.
Enough for each pork chop.
When pork chops are cooked through, about 12-15 minutes
you are going to want to turn your pan down to low. Place a
heaping serving of your sauteed vegetables on top of each
pork chop.
Top each pork chop with a slice of provolone cheese. Cover
and let the cheese melt and get all deliciously gooey.
Serve right away with your delicious creamy sour cream
mashed potatoes. From ordinary to ‘fancy’ in no time!
Ingredients
1 green bell pepper
1 large onion
1 package fresh button mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 -2 pounds boneless pork chops
thinly slice provolone cheese; enough for each pork chop
8-9 medium baking potatoes
olive oil
1/2 Cup of milk
1/2 Cup sour cream
4-5 Tablespoons of butter
salt
pepper
garlic powder
turmeric

I hope you and your family and friends enjoy this simple yet delicious dish! We have also enjoyed this dish with tri- colored bell peppers and when I am serving just the adults, I will sometimes substitute a little pepper jack cheese. Have fun with it and make it your own. This recipe was made to accommodate our family of 5 with enough left over for daddy to bring to work the next day.   What is one of your family favorite meals?  I would love to know!  Please leave a comment or a link to your favorite recipe. Thank you for taking the time to visit!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Let’s connect on Pinterest!

Copyright © 2013 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

New Mama Chicken Casserole

2 Sep

I love, love, love bringing a meal to a new mama. It is such a nice stress reducer for a new family to not have to worry about dinner or having to spend a lot of money eating out the first few days and I’ll admit I kinda like getting my newborn fix! Blessing someone with a homemade meal can be quick, easy and budget friendly! I love this recipe because it can easily be put together and even easier for the recipient to throw it in an oven and serve. This is also a recipe my family loves and it is so easy to personalize it and make it your own!  Keep reading for the printable recipe.

The stars of the show.
mix together the soups, the milk and 1 Cup of cheese. Set aside.
Shred or cut chicken into bite sized pieces.
Add your drained egg noodles to a large bowl.
To the noodles add 1/2 the sauce mixture, the chicken, 1/2 C of cheese, and the peas. Mix well. Add more of the sauce mixture until you get a nice creamy moist consistency. I used all but about 1/8 of a cup of the mixture.
Add to your disposable baking dish and top with the last of the cheese.I brought this dish to the family unbaked so they could eat when they were ready. .
Have fun with this recipe! You can add potato chips on top to make a crunchy crust.  Try using mixed medley of vegetables or use leftover turkey instead of chicken.  I hope you enjoy this simple but yummy recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
 ~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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