dinner

My husband and I are both fans of anything taco, so when I shared this treat with him he was ecstatic. It starts out like any good taco-making session should: brown up some ground beef and mix with a little water and taco seasoning. Then it takes a turn for the awesome by combining onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms with the taco meat before wrapping it in crescent rolls and baking it in the oven. There is nothing quite like biting into this flaky taco braid meal!

Of course, there were so many options for mini foods, so I couldn't just stop at hamburgers and fries. That same night I decided I would also serve mini pigs in a blanket to my guests! So many mini foods, so little time.

Mini food is apparently all the rage, so I decided to try my hand at arranging mini appetizers for the pleasure of my guests. My first stop was to Kohls where I picked up a set of white espresso cups with matching saucers.  They are absolutely adorable!

Fall has hit, the leaves are turning colors, and the temperature has dropped. It's my favorite time of year! Growing up my ultime favorite meal was chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. My mom had a quick and easy recipe that is very Minnesota.

On those cold days when you want a home-cooked meal, but you don't want to put forth too much effort, here's a simple way to make a delicious meal.

My mom always used to make egg rolls growing up and they were amazing! Nothing in the restaurants compared to mom's egg rolls. However, she would only make them for special occasions because they were so putzy. One day, she taught me how to make them and I've been experimenting with them ever since.

My mother has always made the BEST lasagna I've ever had. Whenever we went to a restaurant or over to someone else's house and they were serving lasagna, it just never compared to my mom's homemade lasagna. The sauce wouldn't be quite right or there wouldn't be enough cheese or, worst of all, there would be sausage in the lasagna! I mean, sausage?!

My green bell pepper plants have finally produced large enough peppers for eating, so I came up with some tasty meals that could incorporate my garden fresh peppers. The first one was the steak sandwich. Then, considering my husband's inexplicable love of "Mexican" food and all things wrapped in a tortilla, I decided to make Chicken Fajitas!

After visiting my dad's for dinner the other night, he gave us some leftover steak to take home. My dad makes the most amazing steak I've ever had. Leftover meat poses a small problem (at least for the picky of us): it never tastes quite the same as when it was freshly cooked. Now, my husband would have no issue with just eating the leftover steak and some grilled veggies like we did the first night.

It has been unbearably hot in the great mid-west. Anything about 70, especially if humidity is involved, is too much for me! So I've been trying to come up with ideas that avoid the oven and minimize the use of the stove. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables have been great for snacking on. However, meals are a bit trickier.

Obviously, I am not from the South. However, I was taught by true Southerners the perfect recipe for making crispy, fried chicken with a white gravy. The mashed potatoes are very much part of my Northern heritage, and I will share my favorite way to make them!