Super Easy and Delicious Crockpot Beef Burgundy

Ok, so I debated about putting this one on the blog because I am trying to cook more healthily and this recipe is filled with canned soup, which I try to stay away from. However, my Mom made it this week for us and it was so incredibly delicious and easy that I decided I had to post it. I'm going to have to experiment with it later on to make it more healthy :) But boy is it good!

Ingredients:
2 lb London Broil, sliced thinly
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery or broccoli soup
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 large can of mushrooms or fresh
rice or noodles or quinoa

Directions: Mix all ingredients; put in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice, noodles, or quinoa

Mom's favorite gingerbread cookies

I used to make these cookies every year with my Mom and let me tell you, they are my favorite gingerbread cookies ever! They are filled with spices and the whole house smells sooo good when you make them! They are best if you let the dough chill in the fridge overnight, so plan ahead!

Ingredients:
1 tsp. lemon extract
2 3/4 cup flour
1 Tbs. Cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
2/3 cup soft butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbs. water
3 Tbs. light molasses

Buttercream Icing Ingredients:
1 box confectionary sugar
1 stick of butter
1 tsp. almond extract

Directions: Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Cream butter and sugar, then slowly beat in water, molasses, and lemon extract. Gradually stir in dry ingredients. It is a very stiff batter. Make into a ball. Roll out and cut into gingerbread people with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes -- longer if you want them more crispy.

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Just in case you are looking for something to bring to the Thanksgiving Feast, HERE are some of our favorite traditional dishes from both the DeLongs and the Jones Family :)

Cliff bars made healthier

Just wanted to let you know that I did try making the Cliff Bars healthier by soaking the oats overnight in about 2 cups water and 2 Tbs. of yogurt. They still tasted great, but it was a lot more difficult to process and needed a longer cooking time. It changed the consistency from a crunchy bar to a chewy bar, but my toddler still loved them and wanted to eat them for every meal :) So I'm going to experiment one more time and use a little less water for soaking and solidify the cooking time before I officially change the recipe :)

Cream Cheese Icing

This icing is awesome on my Cinnamon-Syrup Breadsticks or any other dessert!

Ingredients:
2 cups cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 Tbs. Vanilla
3/4 cup raw honey or organic maple syrup

Directions:
Place ingredients in bowl and mix until smooth

Cheesy breadsticks and cinnamon sugar sticks

I know, I'm waaay behind in my updating. It just so happened that last week my girls somehow had a hard time napping at the same time. Which meant that my blogging time disappeared :) But I think I've got them figured out now, so this week should be better :)

OK, this pizza dough recipe is officially my favorite go-to recipe now. It is awesome because I make 4 sets of dough and only use one, so I always have some in the freezer to grab in a hurry. I've started making fun breadsticks out of the dough, both the yummy cheesy kind and the cinnamon-sugar kind for dessert or breakfast. It is really easy. And my husband and toddler LOVE them!

Cheesy breadsticks
(this recipe is extremely versatile -- I know you want me to put exact measurements, but you can really put as much cheese or butter or seasonings as you like -- go ahead and experiment!!!)

Ingredients:
1 ball of pizza dough
your favorite shredded cheese
softened or melted butter (I used about 3/4 stick)
your favorite seasonings (I like garlic powder and a little oregano)

Directions: Roll out dough; cover with butter. Sprinkle on seasonings and cheese. Fold up each side like a tortilla. Slice in breadstick-like pieces; place on pan and twist (I'll take pics next time so you can see what it is supposed to look like :) Bake at 350 for about 15-20 min. These are awesome served with marinara and/or garlic butter dipping sauce

Cinnamon Breadsticks

Ingredients:
1 ball of pizza dough
softened or melted butter
Cinnamon
your choice of sweetener: I've tried maple syrup, honey, and rapadura with sucess

Directions: Same as above except substitute the cinnamon and sweetener for cheese and seasonings. These are awesome served with my cream cheese icing

Healthy Fried Apples

Ever since we came across the recipe for apple cinnamon omelets, we have had an obsession for apples with our eggs. And they fit nicely together: Eggs contain every nutrient your body needs except vitamin C, and apples have lots of vitamin C, so they are the perfect breakfast pair! But we don't always have the time to make separate omelets for everyone, so we just started making yummy fried apples to go with our scrambled eggs. (And the combo is even better with some crunchy bacon, let me tell ya! :) I mix them all together and Mark eats them side by side, so do whatever you like best :) Here is how we fry our apples -- so easy!

Ingredients:
apple slices
coconut oil
cinnamon

Directions: Put a big, heaping spoonful of yummy coconut oil in frying pan. Turn stove on medium and cut up apples while the oil melts. Throw the apples in the pan, stir to; covered with oil, and shake cinnamon on them. Let simmer til soft.

Crud-Fighting butter spread

I am so thankful for Donielle because I keep learning so many wonderful tips from her! Today on facebook she posted this spread that actually helps fight the viruses and infections! I never thought of such a thing, but the ingredients are soooo good for you! Now I need to go make some yummy home-made bread so I can smother it in this :)

3 Tbsp softened butter (NOT margarine!!!!!!)
3 tsp softened or melted coconut oil (CO is ant-viral and helps counter the strong garlic)
2+ cloves of fresh garlic (as much as you can stand -- garlic fights infection!)
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp dried minced onion

Mix together and slather generously on warm bread, toast, baked potatoes, etc.

Use as much garlic as you can, I put 4 cloves in ours today and if it was just for me I could do one or two more.