Our New Tradition | Friday Movie Nights

I remember the Friday's I used to rush home from work to get to Happy Hour in time before the specials were over. Now, I can't wait to get home and put on my comfy pj's and enjoy in our new family tradition of Friday Movie Night. This week was our first one I actually prepared for. Our movie we chose was Moana and to go with the movie I made Hawaiian Ham & Cheese Sliders.

Ingredients:

1 pack of Hawaiian Rolls

About 1 lb of sliced american cheese (cut into fourths)

About 1 lb of sliced ham

1/2 cup melted butter

1 Tbsp Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

Directions:

Slice your rolls and add one slice of ham and one slice (cut into fourths) of cheese. You can add more if you want a hardier sandwich. Mix your melted butter with your seasoning and brush onto the top of the bun. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and your buns tops are browned. 

For dessert Joey picked out pre sliced chocolate chip cookies that we had already in the fridge.

It was the perfect night! 

Do you have any traditions on the weekends?

Easy Cheesesteak Egg Rolls with Cheese Sauce

I could eat appetizers everyday as meals if I could. BUT once in a while I need to throw in a hearty burger or steak or something like that.. 

These cheesesteak egg rolls are super easy to make and are so tasty as well! 

Ingredients:

Egg rolls:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 medium red onion, minced

3/4 lb ground sirloin

salt & pepper to taste

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 package egg roll wrappers

Cheese sauce:

2 cups milk

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and let is sweat. Add the sirloin and brown breaking it up as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper.  Once browned, drain the fat from pan and place meat in mixing bowl. Mix in the cheese. 

Lay egg rolls papers out and brush water on all four corners. Place 1/3 of meat mixture on center of wrapper. Fold two corners to the next. I ended up using two wrappers per roll since mine were small! Place finish rolls on baking sheet with a wire rack. Put in oven for 20-25 minutes or until the rolls start to get browned.

For cheese sauce, allow the milk to warm to room tempature.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Sprinkle flour over the melted butter while stirring to form a roux.  Cook for several minutes.  Gradually add milk to the roux while whisking to form a well blended mixture. Add in the cheese and stir until melted and thickened.

A Cool and Refreshing Summer Pairing

I love a light refreshing drink during the summer while sitting on the patio on in our sun room. But what is even better is having the perfect snack to go with it!  Today I have a light drink- a refreshing Moscow Mule paired with some yummy Skinnypop Popcorn!

This Moscow Mule recipe is so easy to make, I was actually surprised I had all the fixings right in my house including the mug! We received these as bridal shower gifts last Spring and they have sat (well used in decoration) ever since. I was excited to finally use them

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vodka

4-6 oz. Ginger Beer

1/2 oz fresh squeezed Lime 

 I paired the moscow mule Skinnypop Popcorn in the Original flavor. The popcorn goes great with the taste in the moscow mule.

 But why stop there.. check out all the other fun pairings Skinnypop Popcorn has!

Let me know if you try any! I think next on my list is the coconut margarita.. that's definitely calling my name! 

You can receive free shipping on your order of $49 with code SKINNYSHIP 

Recipe | Key Lime Bars

My husband has been on a Key West kick lately. We listen to the station 'No Shoes Radio' on Sirius XM and a lot of times they broadcast from bars in Key West. I blame this on his new found obsession.  Even though we won't be visiting there for a while. considering we still have an infant, I thought I would give him a piece of the south with these easy Key Lime bars!  

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
5 tbsp salted butter, melted
pinch of salt

Filling:

1- 14oz can sweetened condensed milk 

4 large eggs

2/3 cup Key Lime juice (or lime juice)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine graham cracker crumbs (I was out so I crushed regular graham crackers in a food processor) sugar, melted butter and pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Once mixed press firmly and evenly into a lightly greased 13x9 baking pan. Bake crust for 8 minutes and set aside to cool to room temp.  With a hand mixer, blend together condensed milk, eggs, lime juice, baking powder and salt.  Pour over the cooled crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the filling in set (but not brown!) Refrigerate for at least 4- 5 hours before cutting into squares. You can garnish with whipped cream or lime zest!

Recipe | Chedar, Broccoli and Pancetta Crustless Quiche

In our house, we have a grocery list hanging on the refrigerator. When I run to the store I will take the list with me so that I grab everything we need. If there is something I didn't get or prefer purchasing at say Target, I will usually make a note on my iPhone. Joe on the other hand will take a picture with his phone and bring that to the store. Therefore leaving the said list still hanging on the fridge. A lot of times I will catch him and throw out the list and start a new one. But then that one time where I don't is the time I decide to buy the large pack of eggs. 
I have to say we seldom use eggs. If we do, it's usually something I'm baking which require 2 maybe 3 eggs at a time. And since baby came along baking has been at a minimum. So now I have 2+  carton of eggs in my refrigerator with no plans to use them any time soon. Then I thought, let me make a quiche and use at least 1/2 a carton and so today you get a recipe for quiche!

I've made a plain quiche once before and I thought it was so blah. So while out, I picked up a small pack of diced pancetta and thought I'd add it in! I already had some cheddar cheese and broccoli and all the other ingredients too. 

Ingredients: 6 large eggs 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese 4 oz package diced pancetta 1/3 cup chopped onion 10 oz frozen broccoli chopped salt & pepper 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Cook your frozen broccoli according to the package and drain well. Spray a large pie plate with non stick spray.  Spread broccoli, pancetta, onion and cheese in the bottom of the pie plate. In a small bowl beat the eggs and whisk in the heavy cream. Add a pinch of salt and better for taste. Pour evenly over the bottom layer. Place in over at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tooth pick in center comes out clean.
Let sit at least 10 minutes before serving. Can be frozen and reheated! Reheat at 300 degress for 10-15 minutes.

Easy Pasta Dinner

Are you like me and constantly on the hunt for easy weeknight dinners. Well this dish is actually my childhood favorite meal (besides plain bread) and it's so super easy to make! 

Ingredients: **Made for two people. If want to make for more, use whole box of pasta and double ingredients.

1/2 box pasta (you can use any pasta you like, I like shells because the garlic gets stuck inside!!)

1/2 cup oil

4 cloves minced garlic

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a medium pots, make pasta according to box. While water is boiling and pasta is cooking, in a small pot heat up your oil. Add in your garlic and mix thoroughly. When your pasta is cooked to your liking, strain water and mix with the sauce you made. Mix well and add in the Parmesan cheese. Top with more cheese if desired! 

If you want the pasta more wet, just add more oil to your initial sauce! Personally I like to enjoy the cheese and garlic, so I like just enough for a coat so that it sticks!

Super easy right!! Hope you all enjoy!

Easy Dinner Sesame Chicken

I've said it once and I'll say it again, I love an easy dinner meal. With work, practices, blogging, wedding planning, (oh yea and did you see my instagram this week) and now PUPPY.. I have a lot going on!

I picked this packet up at the store the other day and was a little hesitant about trying it. I'm not one for 'premade' or packaged meals but this is different. You actually cook the chicken and rice and then add it with the sauce. Super easy and you can totally make it your own!

To save even more time you can use precooked chicken breast strips. You can also use boil in a bag rice  to save time on making the rice.  The whole meal took about 20 minutes to make. I did however add the rice to the skillet to keep it warm and it ended up sticking to the pan causing it to brown a little. I would not recommend doing this, instead keep the rice separate in a pot or pan until ready to serve!

Nutella Cake in a Mug

Raise your hand if you love baking but hate the mess associated with it! THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE!! I do, I do!!

Occasionally, I'll whip up a batch of cookies after dinner or on a Sunday afternoon as a little treat. When I saw this recipe, I knew number one it would be a huge hit and number two it would be an easy clean up! In all, this cake took about 5 minutes and that's stretching it because I had to grab ingredients from the pantry in the basement!

Ingredients:

1/4 C Flour

2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

1/4 Tsp Baking Powder

2 Tbsp Sugar

1/8 Tsp Salt

2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

2 Tbsp Milk

1 Tbsp Nutella

Powder Sugar 

Directions:

Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, sugar, & salt in a bowl. Add in vegetable oil and milk and mix. Place in a microwave safe mug. In the middle of your mixture, place the nutella. Put in over for 70 seconds. Remove carefully and garnish with powder sugar! Middle will be extremely hot so be careful!! 

You can also add ice cream to the top for a Nutella Chocolate Cake sundae!! 

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Well time is running out if you have not gotten your special someone that perfect gift! You can check out my ideas here. So tomorrow will be the biggest date night all year.. have you made reservations yet?? Well if you haven't then keep reading because I have some stay at home and alternate ideas!

Oh and remember these cookies from last year.. 

Find the recipe here! Maybe you can make them for your sweetheart.. or a bake sale?!

Ashley's Top 6 Date Ideas

1. Have a takeout dinner at home and later go to a fancy bar for drinks.
Restaurants will be packed and most only offer a prefixed menu for this special night.  Why night have your favorites meal right in your own home! If you must get out of the house, put on your best dress and heels of course and go to a classy bar for cocktails and drinks.

2.Game night
With my busy schedule, its hard to stay in and just play a board game with my man. Take a night away from social media and just enjoy each other's company.

3. Recreate your first date
Whether your first date was at the local pizza shop, or at a friends house party. Try the best you can to recreate this.  Maybe have the same drinks or beer you had, make a similar meal to your first date, or go to a special place you first caught each others eyes!

4. Spend 1/2 day doing his favorite things and the other half doing your favorite things
My favorite time of day is weekend Brunch and Joe's favorite is a steak dinner! Compromise and do both! Spend Saturday with a mimosa brunch and a night out with beer and steak!

5.Tapas and sangria night
Maybe you are not into the whole big meal thing and rather have smaller portions while just lounging around. Go with the tapa's option and make a pitcher of Sangria

6.Go ice skating and have a hot chocolate bar at home.
With the Olympics in full swing, why not try your hand in some ice skating.  I have not gone ice skating since I was probably 12 so if you are like me, most likely you will spend more time on the ice then on your feet!

After all that skating go home and enjoy a warm up with a hot chocolate bar!