Quick and Easy Potato Soup

So I woke up this morning and guess what.....it was cold and rainy AGAIN!! Did I mention I am over this weather??

All bundled up I sat pondering what I would make for lunch today and then it came to me.......WARM CHEESY YUMMY POTATO SOUP;) Sounds good huh??

So I thought I'd share my favorite quick and easy recipe that takes 30mins tops!

you will need:

3 cups of fat free milk

1 can of condensed cream of potato soup

2 cups of southern-style hash browns

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

bacon, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled

thinly sliced green onions

Mix milk and soup in large saucepan. Stir in hash browns. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 mins stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Top with lots of cheese, bacon and onions. I say the MORE the better:)

{recipe from Everyday Dinner Magazine}

XOXO,

April

Bathroom Redo, Light Nightmare

{the bathroom before}

We have been redoing our master bath and I have never been more excited to get the builders grade decor out. First we took down that huge frame less piece of mirror (if you have ever lived in an apartment you know what I'm talking about) that was over the sinks, painted the room, doors and trim. Then we replaced the mirror with super cute beveled mirrors I found at Home Depot for about $30 a piece and put hardware on the cabinets for about $20. Next we wanted to replace the light fixture. It's a 1990's chrome vanity light and it had to go!! As we took down the light much to our surprise there was a huge hole behind the light. The genius that built our house decided it would be a good idea to cut a hole in the Sheetrock the whole length of the light. REALLY!! Now you may be thinking....just put more Sheetrock up, patch the hole and you can have any light you want. RIGHT?? WRONG...if we put up new Sheetrock, we would then have to re texture the wall. Every room in our house has textured walls and it really becomes a problem when you patching holes (especially big ones). This was definitely becoming a much bigger project than I wanted to tackle. So I looked around on my favorite blogs for other options and a little inspiration. That's when I was on The Thrifty Decor Chick's blog and found my solution:

Hello Krylon spray paint;)

Yes, I could have bought a new vanity light in brushed nickel instead of spray painting the one I had. Would it have cost me a whopping $3.00??? NEGATIVE

What a scary double jointed brushed nickel hand looks like! EEK

The finished product....I don't think it turned out to bad. Don't get me wrong I would have loved another light and already had a few picked out. But all in all a much needed improvement for only a few dollars!!

{I Big Fluffy heart my new mirrors}

I also found this cute candle while I was at Walmart for only $2.00!! It was on sale because it is a fall pumpkin spice scent. But who cares I love it, and it smells wonderful. I would have bought more but it was the last one....So hurry go get yours while they still have them.

*Next up new faucets*

April

10 minute Chili

So, I usually don't make chili in February in Florida but its been really cold lately, so tonight I decided to make a farewell chili dinner. Hopefully, this will be the last time I make this until the fall and not because I don't lurve it...cause I do, I really, really do & so does the hubby. I'm just hoping for some warm weather soon....very soon. I usually make this for the first time every year the day we go and pick out our pumpkins for Halloween (it's kinda become a little tradition) and I usually retire it in January....that is until this year! So if it's still chilly where you are and you need a quick warm "stick to your ribs" kind of meal here you go:

This is all you'll need
{you will also need 1lb of ground beef..sorry beef you were thawing in the sink for this picture}

Directions

• brown ground beef and drain off the grease
• add Chili-O packet and give it a good stir (it will be thick)
• next add your can of tomato soup...you can use the good stuff or be cheap like me and use the store brand
• then add a can of ro*tel tomatoes (you could use regular diced tomatoes, but for me it doesn't give it enough of a kick...I like it a little spicy)
• last but not least add your can of beans
• then put a lid on it and let it sit on med heat for about 5mins until heated thoroughly. This is when you want to taste it, add some salt and pepper. Some times I get a little frisky and squirt in a big glob of spicy brown mustard or add a little minced garlic:) YUMMO

** if your making this for more than 2 or 3, you'll probably want to double the recipe**

That's it your done!

My husband loves for me to put Fritos in the bottom of his bowl, put a huge serving of chili on top, and finish it off with some grated Cheddar cheese. If I have some sour cream in the fridge I' ll even throw on a little "dollop of daisy."

Enjoy,

April

Oh Happy Day

So Excited about the Cuteness I've

been working on!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! We did down here in the Sunshine State... notice the palm trees & water in the back ground...don't be jealous!! Believe me we are wearing sweaters (and socks) right now!! Burrr

Cup of Joe for a Joe

{picture courtesy of green beans coffee}

Just wanted to let everyone in on one of my favorite ways to give back! For just a couple of dollars you can send a soldier who is deployed a cup of coffee. It may not seem like a lot, but to put a smile on someones face who has done so much for our country seems like the least I could do. You will also receive thank you letters from each soldier who receives your cup of coffee. These letters will touch your heart and let you know just how much they appreciate your kindness. Please help me spread the word!

http://www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/index.php

*click above to be directly connected to where you can contribute

{Don't Forget to Join their Facebook Fan Page}

Thanks,

April

A Cute Little Dog Bag

So here are some pictures of the cute dog bag project I've been working on. It's not done yet so I will post more pictures when it's complete! As most of you can tell by now, I can't stand to have nothing to do. So when I'm bored things like this begin to happen. I actually started this because I felt bad that our frenchie didn't have a bag of his own (I'm sure he knows that we've neglected to buy him a bag and is suffering from 2nd child syndrome....which would explain why he's so bad). But before we ever got our frenchie Dunkin, before I married my husband and moved to Florida, it was just me and my first love my boston terrier, Rocco. Rocco was SPOILED he had everything, including a bag with his name embroidered on it! Don't judge he needed that bag, for all of his belongings. Since then Dunkin has been forced to share Rocco's bag when we go on trips! So now, he will have one of his own and will always be on his best behavior:)*wink wink A girl can dream right??

Football Truffles

{picture courtesy of Bakerella}

I can't wait to make these for the Super Bowl Sunday & since my oven STILL doesn't work (hint hint hubby) these football truffles are perfect since they require no baking!! I absolutely LOVE Bakerella......Can I just say YUMMO!! My mouth waters every time I go on her website. She has some awesome ideas and recipes and I don't think I have ever been on her website without finding something I wanted to make. I'll take anything sweet (chocolate to be exact) to make me feel better on this gloomy, rainy, & cold day today!

Dear Chocolate,

You are my hero! You always know how to make me feel better.

Thanks for always being in my pantry:)

Love,

April

For Oreo Truffle recipe click below:

http://www.bakerella.com/super-bowl-funday/

**update** I made these and they were amazing:)

Pork & Slaw Sandwiches

Today I made these for dinner and let me tell you they were lip smack'n good. If you don't believe me ask my husband...... he had 4!!! I put this in the crock pot at about 10 a.m & left for the day (that's why I love the crock pot). This would also be a great dish to make for large gatherings (just double the recipe) which brings me to my next topic. If you're having a Super Bowl party next weekend you have to make these sandwiches. Your friends and family will sing your BBQ praise:)

You will need:

1 (3-pound) lean boneless pork loin roast

1 cup of water

1 (18-ounce) bottle of barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons hot sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 1/2 cups prepackaged cabbage-and-carrot coleslaw

1/3 cup light coleslaw dressing

15 hamburger buns

1. Trim fat from roast. Place roast and water in a 4-quart electric slow cooker. Cover with lid; cook on high-heat setting 7 hours or until meat is tender. Drain pork, discarding cooking liquid. Return pork to slow cooker, and shred with 2 forks.
2. Add barbecue sauce and next 4 ingredients to pork in slow cooker; stir well. Reduce to low-heat setting; cover and cook 1 hour.
3. Combine coleslaw and dressing in a bowl; toss well. Serve barbecue on buns with coleslaw.

recipe from:

Southern Living Slower Cooker Cookbook

2002 by Oxmoor House, Inc.