Make it Monday [Sausage & Pumpkin Barley Risotto]

I love fall.

Lets be honest, its really the pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING that I'm really in love with... 

I mean pumpkin spice in my coffee? Yes Please! 

Pumpkin Pancakes? Duh!

Pumpkin desserts? Of course!

Pumpkin for dinner? Why not?

I keep pumpkin on hand from October through January so I'm sure this will not be the last pumpkin recipe I share this season.

This dinner came to be because I had leftover pumpkin from some pancakes...[yummy] and a I had made version of this that I made earlier with Sweet Potatoes.

I think this one is even better than the last!

Make it Monday [Hot Dog Cookies]

[this was my post for yesterday, sorry about the delay]These cookies are perfect for Fathers Day or even the upcoming 4th of July. They are a small and festive way to celebrate any BBQ!  I found this idea on A Taste of Home and I just couldn't wait to make them!  The original post didn't provide a lot of instruction so after making a large batch of cookies I think I got the method of shaping hot dogs down!

Here's what you'll need:

Make it Monday [Split Roasted Chicken]

This weekend was overcast and gloomy, not my favorite weather, then I remembered I had a whole chicken in my freezer. I decided we'd have a comforting and warm dinner.... Split Roasted Chicken.

Why the "split"? Well honestly because it roasts faster! I'm all for a faster cook time and still all the yummy goodness of roasted chicken. I made this with lemons and fresh herbs, we just love this combo when we roast a chicken...

It sounds much harder than it is; here's what you'll need.

Make it Monday [Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes]

These are my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes and they are toddler approved! Easy to make & healthy... Good stuff for my growing toddlers.

The kids eat a lot of pancakes [always dry] in our house because they are hand held and I can make a few days worth at once; making breakfast time easier.

My kids don't get butter or syrup for their pancakes yet so a dry pancake has to taste good. I always know if they don't like them... because they end up on the floor. These passed with flying colors!

Make it Monday [Guinness Corned Beef w/Sauteed Cabbage]

Every St. Patricks Day [since Joe and I moved in together, a long time ago] I make corned beef with potatoes, cabbage, onions & carrots. He loves it. About two years ago I tried something new and we don't have our corned beef any other way.

Today I'm sharing with you my secret to amazing corned beef and cabbage.

Make it Monday [Cauliflower Garlic "Bread"]

I came across this recipe a couple of weeks ago and I knew I just had to try it. Its actually pretty darn good. My toddlers even like it!

We found ourselves eating almost all of it, good thing its not really bread!

Make it Monday [Lemon Apple Blueberry Pancakes]

Pancakes are huge in our house and I've made enough over the past few months to no longer need a recipe! I was getting ready to make the twins blueberry pancakes [their favorite] when two other ingredients caught my eye: Lemon & Apple. I put them all together and they were great! The twins devoured them.

Make it Monday [Mimi's Corn Chowder]

Today I'm sharing with you my favorite soup of all time. I'm not sure if you've heard of Mimi's Cafe or not but they have the best Corn Chowder! For years I've gone there and ordered their soup and salad combo. The last few visits I've been slightly disappointed [menu changes], so I desided to try to make it myself at home. They have the recipe listed right here. For the most part this is the same recipe, I did make a few changes though.

Such an easy soup in less than an hour!

MOM Review [Baby Bullet System]

This is an honest review of a product I was not compensated for my opinions. All opinions are my own.

This MOM Review has been in my head since I received the whole system as a christmas present in 2011, when my twins were just about to start "solid" foods.

I made all of their baby food and can say that my twins have never had jarred food.

Make it Monday [Pumpkin Cream Cheese stuffed Pumpkin Pancakes]

Good Morning All

I have a confession. I am addicted to all things pumpkin. Which is why I've made a new style of pumpkin pancakes in January. I know its not fall anymore but that doesn't stop me!

I made these pancakes because my husband came home from Costco with Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese. Um YUM!?!!?!?!?!!

On the package it had a recipe for pancakes stuffed with this cream cheese. I knew I had to try it, but I threw out the package and didn't write the recipe down.

Not to worry I came up with an even better version...

MOM Review [Little Green Pouch]

I'm doing this review on my own, I purchased these pouches after I saw a pin on pinterest and followed up with the creators of these amazing pouches.

Around the twins first birthday I started buying pouches of fruit and veggies for the kids. I love them. I don't love the cost. Nope, Nope, Nope. I made all of the twins "baby" food and never purchased jarred food so starting to shell out about a buck a pouch was just shocking for me.

I was browsing along on pinterest [normal night activity for me] and I saw a pin for a re-useable food pouch...  the company is  Little Green Pouch check them out!

I was sold. Dishwasher safe, Freezer Safe... Its exactly what I'd been looking for and from what the company webpage said they were looking to start selling their pouches in Oct. I bought them the first week they went up for sale.

Make it Monday [Tortellini with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce]

I lied.

In my about me section of this blog I said this blog wasn't going to be about cooking. And for the most part it's not.... BUT I cook all the time [breakfast, lunch & dinner] and I find recipes that I really like, even if I haven't followed them to the T. So I thought I'd start sharing a dish I've tried [or made] from the past week...

So to start here was what we had for dinner last Friday!


We had our dear friend Janelle over since her hubby was out of town on business.

I made this [from FoodNetwork Magazine]

FoodNetwork Magazine Photo

Tortellini with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce 
[Active: 20 min | Total: 20 min | Serves: 4]

Kosher Salt
2 9oz packages cheese tortellini*
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small shallot finely chopped*
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/4 cups heavy cream*
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, for topping*

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the totellini and cook as the label directs. Reserve  1/2 cup of the cooking water. then drain the pasta.

2. Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until slightly soft, about 2 minutes.  Add the pumpkin and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in the cream bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to medium low; simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and cook until thick, about 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add the tortellini to the skillet and toss with the sauce, adding some of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed. Divide among bowls and top with more cheese and parsley.


My Changes:
*Wild Mushroom Ravioli [instead of cheese]
*Just used a little of the yellow onion I had on hand
*Used 1 cup of Almond Milk [to cut down on fat] & only 1/4 cup heavy cream
*Didn't have parsley and didn't miss it :)

I thought this was a GREAT dinner! Honestly I couldn't really tell that I made it with mostly Almond Milk and neither could my husband or Janelle!!! Sweet!

And here's my dinner photo: