Attempting to be a Super Mom

During Lent this last spring, I needed a meat free dinner to feed my sister-in-law and her family. Usually my potato soup has lots of bacon and bacon grease in it. I found this recipe here .This one is meatless, but it is important to add that it is NOT dairy free. There are adjustments you can do to make it dairy free though. It’s quick and was really well liked.  Potato Soup 6-8 cups russet potatoes, peeled and chopped 1 yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 clove garlic 4 cups vegetable stock 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 1/2 cup sour cream or cream 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper Pinch red pepper flakes 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil In a large pot over medium heat, add the butter and olive oil. Once hot and melted together add the onions and celery. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add the potatoes and minced garlic to the pot and continue to sauté all of the ingredients for about 5 minutes. Add vegetable stock and increas...

A long time ago I mentioned a cookbook my grandma bought me when I was a teenager. It’s called Clueless in the Kitchen. This recipe came from that cookbook. We usually use the meatballs in this cookbook that I’d previously posted here , but lately I’ve been using some Teriyaki Pineapple chicken meatballs I found at Costco. They work out so well for this meal and the kids actively fight over the meatballs. Hawaiian Meatballs 1 14 oz can Pineapple chunks  1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp corn starch 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 tbsp soy sauce 3 tbsp vinegar 1 batch plain old meatballs 1 green pepper, cut into large squares 1 onion, cut into large squares  Rice Drain the pineapple chunks, pouring the juice into a measuring cup. Add enough water to the juice to make 1 1/4 cups of liquid. Pour into a saucepan. In the saucepan, add brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, soy sauce, and vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened. Dump in the cooked me...

 I love a good roast, but it’s not something we do often enough in our house. We spend so much time in a hurry that I never take the time to prepare something nice and slow. I decided to do a nice roast for the family Friday night and it turned out amazing! Pot Roast 4-5 lb whole chuck roast 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 whole onions 6-8 whole carrots Kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika 1 cup red wine 2-3 cups beef stock 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3 sprigs fresh rosemary Generously season all sides of your roast with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.  Preheat the oven to 275. Heat a large pot or dutch oven over med-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan. Cut the onions in half and cut the carrots in to 2 inch slices. When the oil is hot, add the halved onions browning them on one side and then the other. Remove the onions to a plate and add the carrots. Toss them around until slightly browned and them remove them to the plate with the onions....

So I found this recipe a few years ago and have made it several times for my family, and even done it as a dinner for extended family once. It’s a pretty meal that tastes amazing, and it really is an easy meal that has a wow factor when cooking for company. I made it again last night, and my kids and husband all insisted that a picture of it should go on “the gram.” I double this recipe for my family but probably don’t need to as we always have tons of leftovers. I just usually buy my flank steak from Costco and use it all. Ancho Chili Flank Steak and Sweet Potato Tacos 2 lb flank steak 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp ground cumin, divided 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp ancho Chile powder, divided 4 tsp kosher salt, divided 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided 1/2 lb fresh tomatillos, husks removed 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 large red onion, cut into 1/2 inch pieces Flour tortillas, corn tortilla...

 Do you watch Sister Wives? I sure do. Christine has always been my favorite, and the fact that she now has a cooking segment with TLC is my favorite. Here is her Beef Pot Pie recipe which I made for the family and we loved it. Beef Pot Pie 1/2 cup flour 1 tbsp garlic salt 1 tsp paprika 1 1/2 lbs stew meat 2 tbsp avocado oil 1 medium onion, chopped 5 small yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch chunks 3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks 2 cups water 1 packet brown gravy mix 1 box double pie crusts, thawed Combine the flour, garlic salt, and paprika in a large bowl. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and toss in the flour mixture to coat well. Heat an instant pot on the saute setting and add 1 tbsp of the oil.  When the oil is hot, add half of the beef and brown on all sides.  Removed to a plate and repeat with the remaining oil and floured beef. Once all of the beef is browned, add it back to the pot with the onions, potatoes, carrots and any remaining flour ...

 This is such a simple thing but I always forget how to do it. I'm leaving this here as a place for me to always find it, but for anyone else who may want it as well.  Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Put the trivet in the instant pot. Pour in 1 cup of cold water for a 6 qt model or 1 1/2 cups of cold water for an 8 qt model. Scrub the potatoes well and prick the potatoes several times with a fork or knife. Cook on high pressure. 10 minutes for small potatoes 12 minutes for medium potatoes 16 minutes for large potatoes 20 minutes for extra large potatoes Allow the pressure to release naturally for 8-10 minutes before venting. If you want crispy skin, brush the potatoes with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or broil for 2-3 minutes per side.

 I love quick and easy meals as all 4 of the kids do multiple activities. My husband sent me this recipe and asked if it would be too hard for dinner. I read it over and realized I had everything, or almost everything so I through it together, with the exception of the nori. It was so good, easy, and very fresh tasting. I served it with sautéed zucchini. Chicken Teriyaki Sushi Bowl 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 bottle teriyaki chicken marinade 1 english cucumber, cut into wedges 1 lg avocado, sliced sesame seeds 2 sheets nori, cut into triangles Place the chicken along with 1/2 cup teriyaki marinade into a large sauté pan over medium heat. Sauté over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Turn off the heat, drain the liquid from the pan and coat the chicken with 1 cup of teriyaki sauce. Serve the chicken in a bowl over rice along with the cucumber, avocado, and nori triangles. Drizzle sriracha mayo and sprinkle se...

We love a nice, body warming, creamy potato soup in our house. This recipe from  Sugar Spun Run  was really good! Creamy Potato Soup 6 strips bacon, uncooked and cut into small pieces 3 tbsp butter 1 yellow onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1/3 C flour 2 1/2 lbs gold potatoes, peeled and diced into pieces no larger than 1" 4 C chicken stock 2 C milk 2/3 C heavy cream 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder 2/3 C sour cream Place bacon in a large Dutch Oven over medium heat and cook until bacon is crisp and browned. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pot.  Add the butter and onion. Cook over medium heat until onions are tender. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot and stir until smooth. Whisk if needed.  Add diced potatoes to the pot along with chicken stock, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, ancho chili powder. Stir well. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender whe...

We had this Korean restaurant here that we loved so much, but it closed recently and left a hole in our stomachs. This is in no way the same thing, but it's nice for a quick and easy dinner that gives us a bit of that warm feeling we got from O Cafe. I got this recipe from  The Recipe Critic . This is the recipe that I use to feed all 6 of us. Korean Ground Beef Bowls 3 lbs ground beef 9 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 C brown sugar 3/4 C soy sauce 6 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp ground ginger 3/4 tsp crushed red pepper 3/4 tsp pepper sliced green onion and sesame seeds for garnishing In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and garlic until browned crumbles. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper, and pepper. Pour over the ground beef and let it simmer for another minute or two. Serve over hot rice, topped with green onion and sesame seeds. I usually serve this with a green vegetable.

A while ago, my friend sent me a picture of a chickpea salad she had made for her kids and they loved it. The picture alone made my mouth water, so I decided to make pork souvlaki and add this as a side. I used the recipe I found on Delish and added the cherry tomatoes like my friend had in hers and it was sooo good.  Mediterranean Chickpea Salad 2 (15 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 medium cucumber, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 C cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 C kalamata olives, chopped 1/2 C crumbled feta salt pepper Lemon Parsley Vinaigrette  1/2 C EVOO 1/4 C white wine vinegar 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper In a large bowl, mix together the chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, olives, and feta. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. In a jar, mix together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, red pepper flakes and shake it until emulsi...

 In my house, we LOVE Greek and Mediterranean food. This Pork Souvlaki came from a Healthy Greek cookbook I have, and we do it often. Pork Souvlaki 3 lbs pork tenderloin, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes 1/3 C freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/3 C EVOO 2 tbsp salt 2 tbsp pepper 1 tbsp dried Greek oregano 2 red onions, quartered 3 bell peppers, any color, cut into 1-inch squares Lemon wedges, for garnishing and squeezing on to finished dish Preheat the grill to med-high heat. In a large bowl, combine the pork, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Let sit for 15 minutes. Assemble skewers: Alternate pork pieces with red onion and bell pepper. When adding the onion, pull off 2 layers from each quarter and put them on the skewer. Grill the souvlaki for 7 minutes. turn and cook for another 7-8 minutes more, or until the pork is done.  Squeeze lemon wedges over the pork after serving.

 I have this really good and easy Pork Souvlaki recipe that I will have to add as well. It is really good, but it definitely needs some kind of sides. I found this Lemon Orzo recipe and the kids wolfed it down. We had hardly any leftovers. Lemon Orzo 1 lemon, for juicing and zesting 1 C orzo 2 1/2 C chicken stock 1/2 tsp dry oregano 1/2 tbsp butter 1 tsp fresh mint, finely chopped Zest the lemon. Bring the orzo, chicken stock, lemon zest, and oregano to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 13-15 minutes, uncovered until the orzo is tender. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Let it rest for 5 minutes.  Juice half the lemon onto the orzo, add the mint and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.

 The beginning of Lent brings on a need for meatless meals. Seeing as my kids can sometimes be picky and my husband needs some kind of meat, fish, or replacement protein to feel full I decided to find a homemade Alfredo sauce recipe that I could add a ton of shrimp and mix with pasta and steamed broccoli. This one , much like the rest of the recipes on The Salty Marshmallow, was delicious! It was also insanely easy. I will never buy jarred Alfredo sauce again. Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce 1/2 C butter 1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream 2 tsp garlic, minced 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 C freshly grated parmesan cheese Add the butter and cream to a skillet and let simmer for 2 minutes. Whisk in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for one minute. Whisk in the parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.

 It's been cold and rainy here lately. I needed something a little different to feed the family for the night, and I wanted to take advantage of the end of soup season. I found this recipe online at  The Cookie Rookie  and it was a major hit with the family. Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup 2 Tbsp cooking oil (I use avocado oil) 3 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 onion, chopped cooked ham, cubed (I used a half ham from Costco) 4 garlic cloves, minced 8 cups chicken stock 5 15.5 oz cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed 1 Tbsp soy sauce 3 tsp white wine vinegar 3 tsp Italian seasoning 2 tsp thyme 1 tsp salt 2 bay leaves Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add oil. When hot, add the carrots, onion, celery. Stir occasionally until the onion starts to soften. Add the ham and garlic and cook for another minute or two. Add the chicken stock, beans, soy sauce, vinegar, seasoning, thyme, salt, and bay leaves. Turn off the sauté mode and set the Instant Pot to pressure...

I found this recipe at Simply Happy Foodie . There are several variations of recipes much like this one in most cookbooks, and recipe websites. It’s a favorite in my house. Especially since the ingredients in this soup are mostly things that we keep on hand all the time and they usually keep for a long time. Instant Pot Sausage and White Bean Soup 2 tsp olive oil 1 1/2 lbs Smoked Kielbasa Sausage (I use apple Gouda chicken sausages) sliced in 1” thick rounds 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 large bay leaf 4 carrots, chopped 3 select stalks, chopped 4 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried) 1 4” long sprig of fresh rosemary 1/4 tsp Oregano, dried 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 1/2 tsp pepper 5 cups chicken stock 2 cans white beans 3 cups fresh baby spinach or chopped kale Salt to taste (add after cooking as it may not need it) Turn the pot to sauté. Let the oil heat up and add the sausage. Let it sit and brown for a few minutes to brown and then stir. Lightly brown on all sides. Add th...

 Ok, when my husband sent me this recipe, the name threw me off a little. I thought how on earth can this be everything I want it to be? Well, I paired it with a salad and some fruit and we had maybe a small bowl of leftovers. I think every kid got seconds. My husband and son might have even gotten 3rds. This recipe came from  365 Days of Crockpot  and is not one to be looked over. Here’s how I adjusted it for our family. Instant Pot Creamy Potato Hamburger Soup 1 1/4 lb ground beef 1 onion, diced 1 tsp garlic 3/4 tsp salt 6 cups chicken stock 8ish yellow potatoes, peeled and cubed 4 carrots, sliced 4 celery ribs, sliced 1 tbsp dried basil 2 tsp dried parsley 1 1/2 (8 ounce) bricks of cream cheese 1 1/2 cups warmed milk 3 tbsp cornstarch Salt and pepper to taste Turn your instant pot to sauté and brown the ground beef and onion with the garlic and salt. Once cooked, drain off any extra grease. Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pot. Add the potatoes, carro...

I was struck with a crazy craving for a Greek cucumber salad. When I found this recipe at  The Salty Marshmallow  I was excited. The best part though, is that my kids actually got excited by it too and my daughters found out that they actually love cucumbers now.  Greek Cucumber Salad For the salad 2 large cucumbers, sliced (we usually cut them in half as well) A package of cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 red onion, halved and sliced 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced 1/4 - 1/3 cup feta cheese For the dressing 1/4 cup olive oil Juice of one lemon 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp dried oregano  1/2 tsp dried basil Salt and Pepper to taste Place the cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and olives in a large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad, then toss, and put in the fridge for 30 minutes. Top with feta before serving.

My kids are mac and cheese addicts. I found this instant pot recipe for macaroni and cheese here and it has taken over as a common food in our house. When I make it for lunch while the kids are at school, Ben comes home so upset we cooked it without him. Instant Pot Mac n Cheese 1 box (16 ounce) elbow macaroni 1 cup of heavy whipping cream 3 tbsp butter 2 tsp salt 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 4 cups of water Put macaroni, water, salt, and butter. Set the instant pot on manual high for 4 minutes. Quick release. Set pot on sauté and add whipping cream and stir. Slowly add the cheese at is melts.

I love soup, especially when it's cold outside. Because we do soup so much, I'm constantly looking for new yummy soup recipes. I found this recipe here . The kids and I had it while Shawn was out of town and we loved it!!! Instant Pot Soup with Smoked Sausage, White Bean & Vegetables 1 lb bag dry navy beans, soaked for several hours 1-2 tbsp olive oil 14 oz smoked turkey sausage, sliced into medallions 1/2 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 carrots, peeled and chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped 7 cups vegetable broth 3 cups fresh baby spinach 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste) 1/4 tsp black pepper Using the sauté function, add olive oil and cook sausage until browned. Add onions and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for one minute. Turn sauté off. Rinse the beans and add them to the pot, along with the remaining ingredients. Set pressure cook (manual) on...

For my sister in law's baby shower, I made a delicious punch that I found here . It was so good I ended up having to make two rounds of it. The kids kept coming up for seconds and thirds. Raspberry Sherbet Party Punch 2 Liter Bottle Sierra Mist, chilled 2 Liter Bottle Club Soda, chilled 1 Fruit punch can (12 oz), or pink lemonade, thawed in the fridge 1 Pineapple juice can (12 oz), thawed in the fridge 6-8 scoops Raspberry Sherbet ice cream, or any flavor you have available (If you can't find fruit punch or pineapple juice, then 2 cans of pink lemonade will work as well) For Garnish Fresh or Frozen raspberries Pineapple slices (canned or fresh) Combine all the ingredients in a punch bowl and serve. As the sherbet melts the punch keeps getting sweeter.