Making Meal Time Special On New Year's Day

     Last night was New Year's Eve. I rang in the new year with my four youngest children. We baked cookies, had a movie marathon, made glow stick necklaces, watched the ball drop at midnight then went outside to light the pack of sparklers we had saved from the Fourth of July. My husband had to work, and missed out on the festivites, so I wanted to make today special too.

Confetti Pancakes and White Grape-Berry Juice:

     What better way start off the first day of the new year than with confetti pancakes? They were simple to make using the Market Pantry Pancake mix and adding rainbow sprinkles to the mix.


 After adding the sprinkles I cooked them as usual and topped them with Market Pantry whipped cream and a few more sprinkles. If sprinkles arent your thing, check out the Archer Farms pancake mixes. They have so many yummy flavors to try. We had the red velvet pancakes for breakfast Christmas morning last year. Everyone loved them.


For a festive drink I started with Market Pantry White Grape Juice and added Market Pantry Frozen Mixed Berries.


Chicken and Star Soup with Star Cracker Stackers and White Chocolate Raspberry Milk:

At lunch time I continued our festive theme. I made Market pantry Chicken and Stars soup with cheesey stars and crackers on the side. I just used sliced Market Pantry cheese, colby jack and provolone, then cut them with a small star shaped cookie cutter. I do this a lot for a special treet in my children's school lunch boxes. It is a quick trick that makes their day special.

 I used another one of my quick tricks for the milk. It looks like an ordinary glass of milk, but when they take a sip they will find it is flavored. I do this by adding a shot of my favorite flavored coffee creamer to a small glass of milk. We have had peppermint milk for Christmas and pumpkin spice for Halloween. This time I used some White Chocolate Raspberry.  I need to investigate the next time I am at Target to see if they offer Market Pantry or Archer Farms liquid or powdered flavored coffee creamer.



By dinner my creative juices were beginning to drain from me, having been up late with my little ones, so I scanned the web for some inspiration. I saw a recipe to make crispy chicken roll ups. It looked good, but it seemed complicated and had a lot of ingredients that I didn't have in the pantry. It got me to thinking, though. I bet I could make something just as good using only Target brand items.

Here is the recipe I came up with for Crispy Turkey Roll Ups:

2 cups of cooked turkey (you could use chicken or any other meat you like)
1/2 onion diced
1can of Market Pantry enchilada sauce
1can of Market Pantry diced tomatoes
1 can of Market Pantry corn (drained)
1 can of Market Pantey black beans (drained)
1/2 tub of Market Pantry cream cheese
1/2 bag of Market Pantry shredded cheese.
2 packages of Market Pantry flour tortillas.
3 tblsp melted butter
optional: sour cream, salsa, or guacamole

I had roasted a Market Pantry Turkey Breast and an Archer Farms Spiral Cut Ham for Christmas Dinner. (I have a post planned for the Ham, so stay tuned for that) I froze the left overs and still had some left over turkey in the freezer, so I defrosted it. I put it in a pot with the diced onion, then added a can of Market Pantry enchilada sause, and one can of Market Pantry diced tomatoes, I let those simmer on the stove while I got some laundry done.

A load of laundry later I added one can of Market Pantry corn (drained), one can of Market Pantry black beans (drained), half a tub of Market Pantry cream cheese, and half a bag of Market Pantry shredded cheese. I used the Mexican cheese blend because that is what I had, but you can try diffent flavors, maybe pepper jack.

Prepare two cookie sheets by covering them with Up and Up aluminum foil. Melt three tablespoons of Market Pantry butter, set that aside. Take a Market Pantry tortilla and spoon some of the filling into the middle. Carefully fold it up so the filling will not be able to leak out. I tried to photograph my technique the best I could with one hand.

Arrange the roll ups on the cookie sheet. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Bake at 400º until they are golden brown and crispy. Serve with a little sour cream, salsa, or if avocados are in season, you could add some fresh guacamole.

Mine didn't turn out as pretty as the inspiration picture I saw online, but they tasted so good I can't complain.  The kids asked if there were any leftovers, could they have it for lunch the next day. Even the baby wandered over and ate half of one of my roll ups. I was afraid it would be too spicy for her, but she didn't seem to mind at all. This is definitely a recipe I will make again! Thanks to Target's quality products, I was able to make three very memorable meals to share with my family. Who knows what new adventures this year will bring, but one thing is for sure, the Market Pantry possibilities are endless!

No butts about it, or, Making the best of a crummy situation.

 

      The name says it all. The "butt", "heel" "end" of the bread. This necessary, but least desired part of a loaf of bread. Who eats this stuff?  Certainly not my kids, and if i am being honest, not me. Sure my husband will eat it if he has a hankering for a sandwich and it's the ends of the bread or nothing. Still, there is a part of me that cringes at the thought of throwing away perfectly good food. I always think "I can use it for...something.." then it sits around and I throw it away and think "It's just not worth it."


     But is it worth it? I buy my bread at Target. We go through about two and a half loafs a week. Each loaf of bread is about $1.00, with twenty slices per loaf. Bust out the calculator for some simple math and it comes to $.05 a slice. That means if I throw out the unused heels of bread each week, I am throwing out a quarter.  Hmm...that adds up pretty quick.


     I have decided I want to keep my quarter and save even more! I have started making my own bread crumbs and croutons using the ends of my bread. A bag of those fancy croutons can run $3.00-$4.00 and a can of bread crumbs costs around $2.00. Now that is a big jump from our quarter. Are you excited about trying it for yourself now? Here is what you will need. You should have this all Iin your kitchen already.

1) The ends of your bread- you can do this with 1 slice or 10 slices, Whatever you have on hand.

2) I You are making croutons you will need some olive oil or butter to brush onto the slices.

3) Spices you like. I like to use salad seasoning on my croutons and Itallian seasonings in my bread crumbs. A little parmesian cheese would be good too, but I am currently all out.

Arrange the bread on a cookie sheet. If you are making croutons spread a thin layer of olive oil or butter on each slice. Sprinkle your favorite seasoning on each slice. Bake in the oven at 250º until they are crisp and dry. (They should not change color at all. We arent are not trying to toast them, just dry them out.) Mine took about 15 minutes.

Take the bread out of the oven. Slice it into four strips then again to make bite sized cubes. Let them cool completely before storing them in an air tight container. 

Now I haven't forgotten about those of you making bread crumbs. Once you take your plain bread slices out of the oven break a slice into fourths and place in your food processor. Sprinkle your favorite seasonings in. Then pulse away.

And keep going....

...And done! At this point have a sniff and taste a pinch to make sure the seasoning is to your liking. If it is, pour it into a airtight container and start the next slice the same way. 

I am just using an old spaghetti sauce container. (I have another post planned for reusing spaghetti sauce jars, so stay tuned!) 

So there you have it, your very own croutons and bread crumbs. Won't those croutons be delicious on a salad or a hearty winter soup? Can't you just imagine serving a breaded chicken or sprinkling your home made mac and cheese with some of these bread crumbs? The best part is that it doesn't cost a thing to make, and you can change the flavors to fit your tasre or recipe. The Market Pantry possibilities are endless! Now take your quarter and go call a friend and tell them how they can reuse those bread butts. 

Parm-crispies

     

Parmesan-crispies

    If you like crispy, crunchy, and cheesy then these Parmesan shredded cripies are for you! I made these delicious, lacy, little snacks to top my dish for a macaroni and cheese cook off. They were a huge hit. Everyone who tried them commented on how good they were. But the secret is they are so easy to make. Of course I got all of my ingredients at Target.

   This recipe features a relatively new product: Market Pantry Shredded Parmesan Cheese. I have used it quite a few times since it was introduced, and I have always had good results. with only four ingredients in this recipe,  the flavor and quality of the Parmesan really has a chance to shine. 

   

Here is what you will need: (Everything can be found at Target)

    1) a ceramic plate

    2) parchment paper, enough to cover the dish

    3) Market Pantry shredded Parmesan cheese

    4) onion powder

    5) garlic powder

    6) fresh ground pepper

Directions: (now hold on to your socks, because when you learn how easy this is, it just might knock them off!)

1) cover your dish with parchment paper

2) place little piles of shredded Parmesan cheese around the plate. About the size of silver dollars. Be sure they are not touching.

3) sprinkle the cheese with the seasonings

4) I cook mine in the microwave for one minute. Keep a close eye on them. Every microwave is different and you don't want them to burn. Add or subtract time as needed. Take them out and let them cool. Enjoy! 

   Now wasn't that easy-cheesy? These crisps would be perfect for soups, salads, a substitute for potato chips... the Market Pantry possibilities are endless!

   Today was the Mac and Cheese Throw down that I mentioned in my last post. It certainly was not yesterday as I originally thought. I woke up bright and early yesterday morning, went to Target to buy a few last minute items, prepped and prepared my dish then drove two towns away in holiday traffic to my friend's house. It wasn't until I rang the bell for the third time that I began to suspect something might be up. I went back to the car and double checked the event information on my phone. I nearly died from disappointment. My lovely mac and cheese was ready...a whole day early. I had no choice but to go home put my crock pot in the fridge and do what I could to save it the next day. To take my mind off my epic failure, I made some macaroni headbands for my girls and myself and spray painted them gold to wear as good luck charms. (Or subliminal message to the judges maybe)

   This morning I crept down stairs and peeked at my poor macaroni. To my surprise, it had held up in the refrigerator. I set the crock pot up, plugged it in and crossed my fingers. I wasn't sure how well it would hold together reheated. Just to be on the safe side I made some extra sauce to pour over the noodles. Once everything was heated up and mixed together I called my husband over to taste test it. He gave it a thumbs up and my dreams of gold macaroni trophies were restored. Thank goodness for quality Target ingredients!

   Being a dedicated Target shopper I decided my entry would be made entirely from products purchased at. Target. Market pantry pasta and cheeses were the star of my dish and the crowning glory was the Parmesan crisps I made using the new Market Pantry shredded Parmesan cheese. They were super simple to make and very tasty. I will try to post a recipe soon.
 

   I was impressed with all of the efforts from the entrants. There were several dishes that featured bacon, a chili-mac, fried macaroni balls, and a few classic macaroni and cheeses. Although the ones to beat were a marinated mushroom mac and cheese stuffed bell peppers, and a "Captain Jack and cheese" featuring drunk chicken in the macaroni and a fleet of pirate ships surrounding it. This entry was accompanied by a shot of an adult beverage. Needless to say this was the winner, followed closely by the mushroom mac, leaving me with a respectable third place.

   Although I didn't leave with the coveted golden macaroni bowl trophy, I visited with friends, had fun and ate a lot of pasta, so in a way, we all won.

Say Cheese!

 

Say Cheese!

 

 

   Last year a friend of mine decided she would start a bucket list blog. Here is a link to her page. http://adventure365.wordpress.com/the-list/  Some of the things she wanted to do were big; like go to Belize or have another baby. (Both of which she did, by the way) Other things on her list were pretty small; such as finish a 1,000 piece puzzle or visit a local store she had driven by a hundred times but never went in. One thing she wants to do and still has not checked off yet, is have a Macaroni and Cheese cook off. She rallied friends and family to join her in what she is calling a "Mac and Cheese Throw-Down".

 

   Of course I signed up, because one; I make a pretty mean Mac and Cheese, and two; I am slightly competitive. When she showed me a picture of the trophy, dry pasta in a bowl and spray painted gold, I knew it had to be mine. The rules are simple. We must use pasta and we must use cheese. Everything else is free game. Well, game on!

 

  When I first started thinking of writing a blog, one of the things I knew I wanted to include was my recipe for my Macaroni and cheese using all Target brand products. The "Throw Down" is the perfect place to exhibit the delicious, quality ingredients Target has to offer.

 

Here is my Recipe for Marker Pantry Macaroni and Cheese: This will feed a small army, or just my family

 

One box Market Pantry Elbow Macaroni- you may choose to use another kind of pasta, but for the competition I will stick with the classics.

 

2 tubs of Market Pantry Cream Cheese Spread 8 oz each- I just use the whipped kind because that is usually what I have on hand to put on the kid's bagels. I am sure the block or regular cream cheese will work too.

 

 

16 oz of Market Pantry chicken broth- I buy all of my chicken broth in these 32 oz pour containers. I just use half for this recipe and put the other half in the fridge to use another time.

One stick of Market Pantry Unsalted Butter- I know a whole stick sounds like a lot, but this is for a competition! If I am making it just for the family I might use less, but lets face it, Macaroni and Cheese is not a diet food.

 

 2 Market Pantry Shredded Colby Jack Cheese 8 oz each- you can use any cheese you like, pepper jack would spice things up a bit.

 

1 Market Pantry Shredded Mozzarella Cheese- Yes, more cheese. This is going to be sprinkled on the top. Did I mention this was not diet food?

 

1 Yellow onion- My local Target has fresh produce. I hope you are lucky enough to have fresh produce in your Target store as well.

 

1 head of cauliflower- This is my way of sneeking some veggies into my children's diet. If you don't like cauliflower, don't add it. You will have to add another box of pasta though, or you will end up with too much sauce.

 

 

 

Directions:

 

1) Preheat the oven to 375, read all directions and gather supplies. Go ahead and salt and pepper this to your taste and feel free to add your favorite seasonings. This is just the basic stating off point, the Market Pantry possibilities are endless!

 

2) In a large pot boil the macaroni until al dente

 

3) While the pasta is boiling, dice the onion and cube the cauliflower into bite size pieces about the size of the macaroni. Set them to the side.

 

4) When pasta is al dente, strain and set to the side

 

5) In a large pot (I use the same large pot) melt the stick of butter. When the butter is melted add the onions. Cook until the onions are tender.

 

6) Add the chicken stock, cream cheese, and the Colby jack shredded cheese. Reduce heat to simmer and stir, stir stir, until it is well blended.

 

7) Stir in the pasta and cubed cauliflower, evenly coat all of the pieces in sauce

 

8)* Pour into baking dish, sprinkle with shredded Mozzarella cheese

 

9) Bake for 30-45 min, until cauliflower is tender when poked with a fork the cheese is golden brown.

 

10) Let it cool and enjoy!

 

*this could be done in a crock pot also. Just follow directions 1-7 then pour the ingredients into the crock pot dish and cook for at least an hour or up to 4 depending on your machine.  

 

 

 

   I hope you enjoy the recipe. Please let me know what you think and I will be sure to let you know if I win tomorrow at the Mac and Cheese Throw Down.  Wish me luck!

 



Life on Target

   I love Target! I like shopping in general, but shopping at Target is my absolute favorite. I would say that between 80-90% of what I buy comes from Target. I am there at least once a week, and to tell the truth it is probably more like three visits a week.  I do all of my grocery shopping there and whenever possible I buy Target brand items; Market Pantry, Archer Farms, and Up and Up. I truly enjoy using their products and get excited when they introduce new product lines. I am definitely Target Brand!
   Just in case you were wondering, my husband is a Target employee. He works at the Target warehouse in our home town. I do not work for Target. I am a homemaker and a stay at home mom with 4 young children, and 3 nearly grown step-children. So as you can imagine, I am always on the lookout for ways to stretch our budget and find little ways to indulge without breaking the bank.Target helps me do that, and I appreciate the company and the employees that make my shopping experience so enjoyable.
   In this blog I will share the tricks and tips I have developed and discovered that keep my life on target.