Beefed Up: Beefy Ravioli Bake

Another fantastic recipe find is Beefy Ravioli Bake.  This recipe has everything you need for a quick, crowd-pleasing, weeknight meal.

1 pound ground beef, crumbled and fully cooked
1 bag frozen cheese ravioli, still frozen
1 - 1.5 jars marinara sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, mix ground beef, frozen ravioli, some of the mozzarella cheese, and enough marinara sauce to cover the mixture.  Place in a large greased casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese, and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly/golden.  Serve warm.

IT REALLY IS THAT EASY. Serve it with garlic bread and salad, and you have a super easy weeknight meal.

Beefy Ravioli Bake is something you can always keep on hand by stocking your pantry with jarred sauce, your freezer with frozen ravioli and beef you have already cooked, and your refrigerator with cheese.

There are so many variations on this - Brown your beef with onions, add some chopped spinach to the mix, eliminate the beef to make it vegetarian (and less expensive per serving), try a different style of ravioli, or try a different type of pasta sauce. - to name a few.

Beefy Ravioli Bake is also a great meal to serve to a large crowd or to take to a friend or family who needs a meal.

If you are seeking a simple, budget friendly, hearty, quick, crowd-pleasing, keep-on-hand, and/or make-ahead meal, try this easy recipe.

I actually ate this at a party before going into labor with our second born, and it was SO GOOD.  I couldn't keep it off my mind. So much so that a few days after delivery I had to call the hostess and ask for the recipe right then and there.

Breakfast Yumminess: Sausage Rounds

I picked up this unique recipe from a friend in Dallas years ago.  I had never seen a recipe quite like it before or since.  We have used this hearty recipe for many parties, and it is always a crowd pleaser.

Sausage Rounds

1 can flaky buttermilk biscuits
2 cups grated Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese
1 lb sausage, cooked and drained
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, cooked and grated
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease muffin tins. Divide biscuit into thirds by separating the layers of the raw biscuit dough.  Place each third into a muffin cup. Mix remaining ingredients together. Place one heaping tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup over biscuit dough.  Bake 25 minutes.

Makes 24 Sausage Rounds

My friend says that these freeze well for a quick breakfast - ours never make it as far as the freezer.   I have used reduced fat sausage many times in the recipe, and it definitely seems to keep the rounds from being quite so heavy.

      

Looking for more creative breakfast ideas?  Check out this cookbook which has been a staple in our household for the past 15 years.  The lemon ricotta pancake recipe is amazing!

Mailed It! Eliminating Pests from Your Mailbox

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No Wasps or Roaches in Your Mailbox

This spring/summer we had some unwelcome guests in our mailbox - other than bills.  A family of wasps had decided that our large mailbox was the perfect home.  We did not agree.

Going to check the mail became a bit of an action/horror movie event, filled with suspense.  Would the wasps swarm us as we reached for our junk mail? Would they fly into the open window of our trucks and terrorize the kiddos before we could get everyone out of their car seats and evacuate the car?

We developed interesting techniques for checking the mail. So interesting that if anyone saw us (good thing we live in the woods) they probably would have thought that we had lost.our.minds. Seriously.

After weeks of debate of whether or not to spray the box and then have the mail we brought into the house (and that our kiddos spread around) covered in toxic pesticides, we decided enough was enough.  I looked online for an essential oil remedy that would eliminate wasps without exposing our family to the secondary threat of nasty chemicals.

It was hard to find much information online about wasp repellent made with essential oils. I found one recipe for a kind of similar situation, but I didn't have all of the ingredients on hand.  So I improvised.  I pulled out my peppermint and lemon essential oils and invested in a $1 bag of cotton balls.  I doused each cotton ball heavily in peppermint oil and in lemon oil and tossed the cotton balls into the mailbox. I used three cotton balls.

The next time we checked the mail, the wasps had checked out of 'Hotel de Mailbox' and found a new home elsewhere.  We also had minty fresh smelling mail for a week or two.  Eventually the minty fresh smell subsided, but the wasps have stayed away all summer.  Yay!

A month or so after our success, my parents complained of roaches appearing in their mailbox.  After seeing our success, I quickly took the oils and cotton balls to their house.  My mom was concerned the mail person would think the cotton balls were a bomb (which has actually happened before, but that is another story for another day... okay, it was one of those national weather service balloons that randomly land and whoever finds it has to return it by dropping it in a mailbox).  The other concern was that they would complain about the strong odor.  Well, none of the above happened - no bomb concerns, no complaints over odor.  BUT, what did happen is that the roaches disappeared.

So, in summary, if you want to rid your mailbox or other small area of insect activity without industrial chemicals, try dousing cotton balls in peppermint and lemon essential oils. If you only have peppermint oil, try that by itself.

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No Wasps or Roaches in Your Mailbox

LEGO Heaven: Turning Seven

Our oldest is turning seven soon, and he loves Legos - who doesn't though, really?

We decided to throw a Lego themed party.  Here is how we brought the Lego theme to life:

1.  Decorate with Legos.  

Pretty basic, right?  We used MegaBlocks to spell his name and make the decor for our mantle. To ensure the "V" didn't fall apart, I secured the back of the blocks with a couple of strips of clear (Scotch) tape.  Use some wider blocks at the base for a good foundation. Our kiddos were super excited to wake up one morning and find this on the mantle.  The kids jumped in on the fun and built several other Lego names and sculptures to add around the house.  It was a fun project for the week.

We also surrounded our flatware holder in Legos to add to the theme. You can add your child's name for an extra special touch.  If you don't have a flatware holder, make one using only Legos.  Make one for each item - one for forks, one for spoons, etc.

"Le-go" of your inner master builder and run wild with fun decorating projects.

And, we used some of the chunky MegaBlocks in the open base of the cake stands. You can see those in one of the following pictures.

We happened to also have Lego mugs handy for the coffee, Lego shaped Lego containers on the book shelves, and a Lego lantern to add to the buffet.

2. Play "Pin the Head on the Lego Man."

I found this great activity online at East Coast Mommy Blog.  While I wanted my Lego man to look a bit different, the blog does offer templates if you don't want to freehand your Lego man.  For our Lego man, I used a standard piece of blue posterboard.  I drew the Lego man out with a Sharpie marker.  We painted the red using washable paint, and I made the hands from yellow construction paper - the same paper from which I made the heads.  The Lego logo was made out of cardstock and Sharpie markers.

The kids really enjoyed this game.  Even the oldest participant (8) was skeptical and felt too cool to play in the beginning asked to join before the game was over.

3. Leave out some Legos for the kids to play. 

It is a Lego party, right? I thought only the little kids would play with the MegaBlocks, but before the party was over, a crew of kids ages four to seven were building this structure together.

4. Make Lego cupcakes.

Originally, I planned to make a Lego brick cake - two standard sheet cakes layered with the end trimmed off for the block and using the extra cake to cut into circles for the top dots, icing everything in red. However, I realized that is A LOT of red icing (i.e. A LOT of red dye to be spread throughout our house and clothing by little hands), SO I decided to make cupcakes.

I used store bought cake mix and frosting for the cupcakes.  To make the Legos, I bought a multipack of fondant sheets from our local Wal-Mart (roughly $9 before tax).  I used kitchen scissors to cut the rectangles for the blocks, and I used our (washed) single hole punch to make the six dots for each "block."  To attached the dots, I put a small dot of icing between the rectangle and dot.  You can use matching icing or the same color like I did.  I also wrote the birthday boy's name on the top cupcakes using the same styling as the Lego logo.

I did notice that the fondant bricks were beautifully stiff and had that Lego look when I put them on each cupcake, but by morning, the "bricks" had taken on some moisture and settled more into each cupcake. Everyone still seemed impressed, and it was still clear that these were Legos.

5. Make a Lego pinata.

I found this idea online also at Little Family Fun.

The pinata was easy to make. I used a diaper box that had held two packs of diapers. It seemed to have the best Lego shape out of our collection of diaper boxes.  I filled it with a large, mixed bag of Halloween candy (Nerds, SweetTarts, Bottlecaps), a 484 count box of Classic Legos, and a large tub of soft peppermints (Bob's brand).  The filling cost about $50 ($30 for the Legos, $10 for the mixed candy, $5.88 for the peppermints, and tax).  I used masking tape to secure the box, and American Greetings brand wrapping paper from Wal-Mart to wrap the box.

Definitely follow the suggestion at Little Family Fun of using styrofoam cup tops and card stock for the dots.  I used the wrapping paper and multiple foam stickers, which did not make for a completely "finished" look although it got the job done.  The inside ring of the masking tape roll was the perfect size and template for the dots.

To figure out which kiddo got a crack at it first, we took inspiration from Little Family Fun.  I cut construction paper into rectangles, drew on the dots, and wrote a number on the back of each card with a marker (Be sure to draw a line under the "6" and "9" to prevent confusion.). We mixed the numbers up and handed a Lego "brick" to each kiddo who wanted to take a swing at the pinata.

Each child was given a goody bag for when the pinata broke.  This activity was both a game and a way to pass out favors all in one.  We wrote each child's name on their number card to go into their goody bag to eliminate any confusion about the owner of each goody bag.

It was very hard to bust the pinata open.  A cardboard box is thicker than a traditional pinata. On the plus side, everyone got a turn to swing at pinata both in the traditional blindfolded way and the free-for-all-swing-a-thon that occurred after.

We also found that we should have purchased an eye mask for the blindfold since we had two games involving blindfolds at our party, and blindfolding each child with a scarf is time consuming and difficult.



So, I may have taken the idea of "a simple Lego party" at home farther than I planned, but everyone (especially the eight and under crowd) seemed to have a lot of fun.  Our kiddos had a great time building and making decorations for the party the whole week beforehand.

To see even better ideas, check out Buzzfeed's excellent list here:  How to Throw the Ulitmate Lego Birthday Party

        

Eggs-cellent

When we first moved back home, we thought it would be neat to get some chickens.  We had considered having chickens in our backyard in Dallas after taking the annual "A Peep at the Coops" tour in our area, but the idea didn't gain much ground.  Neither of us had owned chickens before, and the project seemed daunting.

As soon as we knew we were moving back to Louisiana, we started researching small, mobile coops, thinking it would be nice for the kids to experience.  However, the chicken excitement took hold of all of us- okay, maybe not my dad.  Within a month of moving back, we had chickens.  So much for waiting.    Luckily, my mother had some experience with chickens and relished the idea of them living in a section of her super large garden.  We all had a blast watching our four Buff Orpington ladies peck around, eat chicken scraps, and just live life.  We all bought chicken boots, and the kids had a real life petting zoo in the backyard.  We soon realized taking care of four chickens is about the same as taking care of many, many more.  Our operation began to grow and become "an operation."

Here's what we've learned so far and the answers to some frequently asked questions:

• Just like dogs, there are breeds of chickens, each with their own distinct characteristics.  Check out MyPetChicken for the full scoop. 
• You do NOT need a rooster in order for your hens to lay eggs.
• Chickens lay a maximum of ONE egg per day, but some days, they do not lay any.  Different breeds lay at different frequencies.
• Chickens CAN eat scraps.  Here is my "go-to" website for a list of acceptable scraps.  Note: One time I fed our ladies a LOT of leftover baked fish, and the scrambled eggs soon after tasted fishy to me although no one else noticed.
• Chicken sleep on roosting bars in the coops, not in the nesting boxes, usually.  
• Unwashed eggs can sit on your counter for about a month, safely.  Once an egg is washed, it's "bloom" is removed, and you should refrigerate it.  Above is a picture of our unwashed eggs on display.  There is something satisfying about seeing your freshly collected eggs on the counter.
• We wash our eggs in warm water, dry them well, and then refrigerate the eggs.
• If you do get a rooster, you will not necessarily have chicks.  We let one of our hens sit on her eggs for a month, with no results.  Online research found that today's chickens aren't exactly in touch with the way to properly sit on the eggs, thus the need for an incubator.
• We have bought chicks before, but the wait for eggs to arrive is very, very long...and chicks can be very, very messy.  Knowing these things does not necessarily keep us from buying chicks - they are super cute.  Know that many states require that you buy a minimum number of chicks. In Louisiana and Arkansas, that number is six.  Why? To curtail buying chicks at Easter as pets, pets that would probably have a very short life.  Also, chicks like to huddle, sharing their body heat to ensure a better chance of survival. When I was a kid, you could buy dyed chicks on the side of the road around Easter.  Seemed neat at the time, but, as an adult, I see the many concerns with that practice.

There are many, many books on keeping Backyard Chickens.  You only have to do a quick search on Amazon.com for Backyard Chickens to see the many options available.

Before you know it, you may chicken out just like us.

Going Bananas (One Family's Fascination with Their Yonanas Maker)

A couple of years ago, we went bananas.  My parents gave us a Yonanas maker for Christmas.  I had seen these advertised, with their promise of "healthy" and "easily homemade" frozen treats...but I balked at the $50 priced.  I tried emulating the results using a relatively new blender - let's just say that didn't go well and that I am thankful my husband could fix it.  I tried seeking it out on my local Freecycle group - no luck there.  So, with a big sigh, I shelved my hopes for another day.

THEN, Christmas came, with family members asking for ideas.  Guess what made the list? A Yonanas maker.  At $50, I couldn't justify buying something we may or may not use, but it seemed to be the perfect Christmas item.

Christmas Eve, we unwrapped a brand new Yonanas.  We, of course, wanted to try it out immediately, but we didn't have any frozen fruit on hand, and the grocery stores would be closed Christmas Day (which is a good thing).  BUT, we still couldn't use our gift.  December 26th found us in the frozen section of the grocery store, plundering all the frozen fruit.  We also raided the banana aisle, but that was more disappointing since the bananas were mostly green.  The instructions are clear: You MUST freeze bananas that are so ripe that they already have "cheetah spots."  Bummer!  We pressed on nonetheless, processing our selection of frozen fruit, judging which we liked best and which didn't make the cut.  All the while, we watched our bananas like hawks waiting for the "cheetah spots" to appear.  When the bananas were finally ripe enough, we peeled all qualified candidates and gleefully tossed them into a Ziploc bag in the freezer.  And then we waited, again. (!)  The bananas must freeze 24 hours before you can use them.  And, then, they must thaw for about 10 minutes before you run them through the machine.

I make this sound like the process was difficult and long, but, really, it wasn't at all.  We were just antsy.

Now, I buy bananas by the bunches and toss the overripe bananas in a predetermined "banana bag" in the freezer as their time comes up. By "banana bag," know that I mean a gallon Ziploc bag with "Bananas" scribbled on it in Sharpie marker, a bag which is frequently emptied and refilled.

When it's time for a family treat, we pull out our Yonanas, let our bananas begin thawing/softening, and crank up the machine for some fun.

This has been especially great for our family as we have tried various exclusion diets this year in an effort to pin point some problematic allergens.  Yonanas are gluten/wheat free, dairy free, nut free, egg free, and soy free.  They are tasty and fun.  We like to customize ours with marshmallows, nuts, chocolate chips and more.  We also like to blend in Oreos for a Cookies N' Cream blend - a favorite of the hubs.