Life is hectic right now.  It really is.  I mean last week I had absolutely no time to blog and I felt like I was dying inside.  I visited my fellow food blogs and spent time on other friends posts, commenting and what not… but actual blogging I had none.  I don’t know what happened the week was just a mess.  Before I knew it it was Friday and I had done nothing in regards to my blog and my family and I hadn’t really spent anytime together.  That’s why I knew when Friday came a long I checked our schedule and saw that we had NOTHING scheduled, which for us that is really a miracle.  I took that upon myself to call this past Friday, Family Movie Night and you know what it was GREAT!  I got in the kitchen and started throwing some yummy hand food together, with of course my little helper, and we chose a movie that we could all watch… we decided on The Lorax.  A super cute family friendly movie… 🙂

When I told my kids what we were having they were super excited and couldn’t wait to try this Cheese Pizza Monkey Bread.  Now we are a family that loves their pizza, and if I can sometimes switch it up and make something different but still incorporate our favorite thing then I have truly hit a home run.

Let me just say that these babies were a HIT!  It’s a great way to turn a dish that is usually sweet into something savory and delicious!

Did you do anything fun and exciting this weekend?

Hope you enjoy!

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Stuffed Shells is definitely a meal I like to make for a number of reasons.  I find that when I prepare stuffed shells it allows me to not only be able to have dinner for that one particular night I am cooking for but also for many others.  I like to make a box of stuffed shells and flash freeze half of them for a night when cooking is at its minimum.  I promise you if you take this approach you will be so happy that you did this, you’ll be grinning form ear-to-ear!

You can stuff these shells with so many different things.  I took a veggie approach and stuffed them with ricotta cheese, spinach and actually added chopped portabella mushrooms for a little meat texture.  Oh so simple and oh so delicious.

Give it a try! 🙂

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These crispy flattened potatoes are great for parties or as a side dish.  These potatoes take only 5 ingredients to make and can be done ahead of time.  These are such a favorite of my husband kids.  I love thinking of new ways to use potatoes, because you can only have mashed potatoes and baked potatoes so often.  It’s nice to try and think out of the box… well sometimes at least. 😉  Trust me once you make these you will find yourself eating ten of them at one sitting… they are like potato chips, you can’t just eat one!

Enjoy!

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These shrimp kabobs are so fresh and yummy and just burst in your mouth with flavor, they were the perfect treat when I was on my kabob kick the other day.  I just marinated these shrimp in a simple flavorful sauce made up of chipotle powder, fresh cilantro, brown sugar, lime, cumin, garlic and paprika.  They were so tasty the perfect ending to our summer.

So fire up the grill and let’s start having some fun!

Enjoy 🙂

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I consider myself the adult version of Cookie Monster!  Ever since I was a little girl I have loved chocolate chip cookies.  Especially when these babies are right out of the oven.  Now as I get older I like to think of more sophisticated ways of enjoying this childhood classic.  When I saw this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe on a fellow foodie’s blog (Cookies & Cups)  I just knew I had to try it.

Let’s just say that this recipe not only takes 15 minutes to make… it only takes an additional 20 minutes to cook…. and then you know what that means…. I run around the house saying Coooooookies for Cookie Monster!!!!!! or a classic line “Get in my belly!” 😀

These are perfect for a quick dessert fix, I just had mine as I type this post.  The only downfall I am having is that I am definitely gonna have to run a lil extra harder and a lil extra longer tomorrow. BUT… It is soooooo worth it!

Enjoy!

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Figured it out yet….

Well if not its easy, you make Funfetti Cake Batter Waffles!  How does that sound?

I had always wanted to make something yummy by adding cake batter and sprinkles to it.  Now I know using cake batter has definitely been a big hit on the scene lately and I wanted to give my go on it.  I think I succeeded, and you will too if you decide to make these delicious babies!

I think breakfast is definitely the best time for experimentation… there is just so many things you can do to waffles, pancakes, and even french toasts.  Spice your day with some sprinkle cheer and show someone you love them!  Piles of fluffy soft waffles filled with colorful sprinkles topped with a sugary glaze will put a smile and anyone’s face… It does for me!

Enjoy!

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Cole slaw and I have never been one.  You see I am not a big lover with mayo.  I don’t like to add a lot to my tuna fish or chicken salads.  Just a little is perfect., even on sandwiches I only like a little but.  So when it comes to cole slaw I am very finicky.  While I I was working on a simple cole slaw recipe I knew hat I wanted to be super easy made with ingredients that I always have on hand, cabbage, carrots, apples, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and of course some tasty bacon.  Now yes, everything tastes better with bacon… am I right or am I right? hehehe

I think one of the reasons why I really enjoyed this recipe was that it literally took me 15 minutes to make and all I needed to do was put it in the fridge and let it rest until I was ready to serve.  How much better could it get?

Now, I plan on making other versions of cole slaw, this is one of many… do you have any recommendations or favorites for cole slaw?  I would love to know below!

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Summer is almost over and what better way to end it with making some scrumptious summery kabobs.  I went on a kabob kick this past weekend and made a whole summer feast, with BBQ Chicken Kabobs, Chipotle Shrimp Kabobs, Creamy Cole SIt law, Smash Potatoes, and Grilled Corn.  Here’s a picture I took with Instagram to showcase our Sunday summer feast…. (follow me @thatssoyummy on Instagram, :-))

It was a smorgasbord of yumminess.  The thing with kabobs are that you can pretty much skewer anything throw it on the grill and it would be delicious.  I love the variety aspect to it.  It also allows you to be a kid again…. who can ever turn down food on a stick. 😉 These chicken kabobs are so easy to make and can be made the day of or night before… it is totally up to you.  Just make the marinade and let it do its job.  At the end all you need to do is pair it with your favorite bbq sauce and that’s it! 🙂

Until next time, where I’m gonna share my the rest of our summer feast…

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I have a love affair with Nutella… sshhhhh don’t tell my husband!

Especially when I add bananas with Nutella…. Mmmmmm.  For a snack I actually just cut up bananas and drizzle Nutella on top.  You know where each and every piece of banana has some of that delicious chocolate goodness.

Now as a child peanut butter sandwiches were my favorite.  Especially when I added strawberry jam on it, oh so good.  But this time I wanted to do something different.  See, I make french toast all the time and I wanted to make these a little different and extra special.

I decided to add all my favorites together and stuff them into a pillow soft challah bread dipped in my french toast batter.

Let’s just say that these were supercalifragilisticespialidocious…. (in my Mary Poppins voice) ;-).

Enjoy!

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Ten years ago today, I held you in my arms for the very first time.

Ten years ago today, I was blessed with an enormous feeling of protectiveness and unconditional love.

Ten years ago today, I looked into your big beautiful brown eyes and I saw pure innocence.

Ten years ago today, I gave birth to my first child and only son.

I don’t know if words can express the feeling one gets when they become a mother.  The minute your precious unbelievably small little person is placed in your arms, and you hold that child for the very first time.  I know that I felt not only joy but also complete and utter terror at knowing that I was to nurture, teach, and bring this little boy into this world and show him all that he can become.  To guide him and allow him to find himself.  Now yes he is only ten today, but he is shaping himself to become the man I, his father and God want him to be.  I am so proud to call him my son and I am so proud to continue to see him grow and love on his sister, cousins, family and friends.

Ten years ago today, I was blessed to call you my son, Happy Birthday Julian!

Muah,

Mommy 🙂