While He Was Napping

momma gets stuff done

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Slow Cooker Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

Monday night we got almost six inches of snow – six! That’s a big deal for us desert rats. They delayed school by two hours and we played in the snow last night. It’s also a big deal that the snow was still there to play in eight hours later. We even made snow ice cream for dessert. But for dinner, we had delicious wild rice and chicken soup. Some days are just soup days and this soup is the kind that makes you want to snuggle in with a book or good TV show and then go to bed. It’s amazing, make extra!

WILD RICE AND CHICKEN SOUP

Slow Cooker Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

 

Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup butter
– 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
– 1 onion, finely chopped
– 1/2 cup celery, chopped
– 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
– 8 cups chicken broth
– 2 cups wild rice
– 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
– 1 tsp sea salt
– 1 tsp rosemary
– 1 tsp thyme
– 1/2 tsp white pepper

Directions:
Melt the butter in a small sauce pan and gradually whisk in the flour to make a rue.
Add all ingredients to the slow cooker, including the rue. Mix to incorporate.
Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

Slow Cooker Wild Rice and Chicken Soup CloseUp

 

We like ours thick and hearty. If you want a thinner soup, add 2-4 more cups of chicken broth until desired thickness is reached. You can also omit the rue, but it will slightly change the flavor.

This is one of our newest additions to our family menu, joining our family-approved last around Christmas last year. We absolutely love it! Even Little J, who gets bored of eating and has a hard time finishing dinner most nights, gobbles this stuff up. And Baby N, who is in his Mr. Independent stage will let me feed him this soup. Boy knows not to let good food go to waste.

Not only is it a hit with the whole family, it freezes fantastically. Which means it’s a great quick and easy menu option too.  Pull it out of the freezer and warm it on the stove.

Hearty Slow Cooker Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

 

This soup is hearty, filling and full of flavor. Perfect for cold wintry nights and after a day out in the snow. It makes me wish we had a fireplace so I could eat my soup in front of it. The great part about the slow cooker, besides the set it and forget it part, is that I can make a lot, freeze the leftovers and I’ve made three dinners for not much more work than making one. Total mom score during the busy, hectic holidays.

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3 Generation Goulash

My family is all about a good casserole, especially when it gets cold outside. Well, it’s been snowing here for almost 24 hours and my thin desert-climate blood had left me chilled and with a hankering for some good comfort food. Goulash is something I ate growing up and I remember more than one family dinner gathered around the dinner table, discussing our days over a plate full of my mom’s goulash. However, this is three generation goulash and my mom and I are only two generations. I love that the third generation is my grandma, my dad’s mom. This recipe takes the best of my mom and the best of my grandma and a few things I love and combines them all together. Two amazing women helped shape this recipe and make it the scrumptious dish that it is. It’s pure comfort in a bowl. And you probably have the ingredients in your cupboard and refrigerator RIGHT NOW. Some veggies, ground beef, pasta and Ragu Pasta Sauce, that’s it. Let’s get cookin’!

3 GENERATION GOULASH

Ragu Pasta Sauce Simmered in Tradition 3 Generation Goulash Family Tradition

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3 Generation Goulash

Prep time: 

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Total time: 

Serves: Serves 6-8

A hearty casserole-style dish with lots of flavor. Pasta covered in flavorful tomato sauce with vegetables and hamburger make this a wonderful family favorite.
Ingredients
  • 16 oz uncooked Pasta
  • 12 oz bottle Ragu Pasta Sauce
  • 5-6 medium Portabello Mushrooms
  • 1 Red Pepper
  • 14 oz canned Corn
  • 14 oz canned cut Green Beans
  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tbsp dried Minced Onions
  • Shredded Cheese
Instructions
  1. Boil water for the pasta as directed on the box. When water boils, cook the pasta as directed.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet on the stove.
  3. Add the garlic powder and the minced onion.
  5. Slice the pepper and mushrooms. Add to the ground beef. Saute until the mushrooms and peppers are tender.
  7. Add the green beans and the corn. Combine until well mixed.
  9. Stir in the Ragu pasta sauce and mix until the sauce coats the meat and veggies evenly.
  11. Simmer on low on the stove while the pasta cooks.
  12. Drain the pasta and rinse, if desired.
  13. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix until the pasta is evenly coated.
  16. Serve topped with shredded cheese.

My kids eat this up every time I make it. They love it! I love that it’s easy to make, it’s a delicious crowd-pleaser and it totally nostalgic for me. I always get flashbacks to family dinners and trips to Grandma’s when we have this. I hope it’s something that my kids will pass onto their families when they get older – share with their wives and kids. Every lady loves a man that can cook.

Ragu Pasta Sauce Simmered in Tradition 3 Generation Goulash Hero

My grandma always makes her own tomato pasta sauces, but my mom always used Ragu pasta sauce. I love the option, because with my busy life and busy boys, I don’t always have the time or energy to make my own sauce. I love that Ragu pasta sauce is a part of this tradition and that it is a sauce that I can count on to deliver quality flavor.

While working on this post, I was able to learn more about the origin of Ragu and the woman who started it all. Assunta Cantisano was a woman with a dream. Assunta came to America from Italy and brought her family’s recipe for tomato sauce with her. Her neighbors loved it. And so did her neighbor’s neighbors. Before too long, people were grabbing it off of store shelves in Iowa and the Ragu tradition was off and running. Great success story, right? But it wasn’t easy fame and fortune for Assunta. She grew up during the Great Depression and she struggled as a single mom. Her hard work and perseverance clearly paid off. When people didn’t have much of anything, she gave her all to share her sauce with others. Since Ragu was born hundreds of pasta sauces have graced the shelves over the past 80 years, and has even gone on to become America’s number one pasta sauce.

Ragu Pasta Sauce Simmered in Tradition 3 Generation Goulash

Do you like to experiment in the kitchen? Right now, food.com has a contest running called Ready. Set. Cook! and they have issued the challenge to create new and unique recipes featuring Ragu sauce plus a set list of other ingredients. Think you’re up to the challenge? Check out the Ready. Set. Cook! contest over on food.com.

Ragu Pasta Sauce Simmered in Tradition 3 Generation Goulash Pasta Sauce

I love traditions and sharing them with my kids, especially this time of year. What are some of your favorite family traditions?

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Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies

I can’t think of a better way to kick off the chilly season than with some fun in the kitchen. Celebrate the first snow fall, with these fun and super easy Nutter Butter Snowmen cookies!

I often run out of steam and energy before we’re finished when I’m in the kitchen with my boys; so, I decided to skip the baking part and just jump right to the fun part. We used Nutter Butter Cookies and candies to decorate and make snowmen!

NUTTER BUTTER SNOWMAN COOKIES
Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies

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Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies

Prep time: 

Total time: 

Decorate Nutter Butter cookies and turn them into a winter wonderland! Create friendly snowmen with candies and white dipping chocolate.
Ingredients
  • Nutter Butter Cookies
  • White Dipping Chocolate
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Mini Chocolate Candies
  • Mini Peanut Butter Candies
  • Chocolate Flavored Roll Candies
  • Red and Green Licorice
  • Confetti Sprinkles
  • Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Melt the white chocolate.
  2. Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies Melt White Chocolate
  3. Work one cookie at a time so you can get it completely decorated before the chocolate hardens.
  4. Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies Snowman Cookie Construction
  5. Spread the white chocolate on one side of the Nutter Butter cookie with the back of a plastic spoon.
  6. Shape the chocolate roll candies into the shape off a top hat. I actually found it easier to make several at a time and have them ready to go straight on the cookies as soon as I got the chocolate spread.
  7. Use the mini chocolate candies, the mini peanut butter candies and the confetti sprinkles to create eyes and buttons on the snowmen. The orange peanut butter candies perpendicular on the cookies made a great nose on the round snowman faces.
  8. Use the licorice to make a scarf for the snowman.
Notes
The best part of these cookies is that you can decorate them however you want! Your imagination is the limit. My kids liked the snow globe, but my favorite was the snowman faces. Get creative.

Decorating these cookies was a ton of fun and, while my boys ate more candy than they put on their cookies, it was definitely more conducive to the length of their attention spans. There wasn’t a long wait time while the cookies baked. We got in, got it done and moved on to other activities.

These would be perfect for neighbor goody plates this holiday season. My kids loved the snow globe cookie, but it wasn’t as pretty as I had in my head so I only did one of those. My favorites were the snowman faces.

Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies Large Nutter Butter Snowman Closeup

Nutter Butter Snowmen Cookies Nutter Butter Snowman Face Closeup

 

Tips and Tricks I Discovered While Making Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies

  • I loved that the cookie decorations were trapped in the melting chocolate after it hardened. It was less messy when my kids were eating them… and that’s definitely a win. You could definitely substitute the melting chocolate for frosting too, if that is more your style.
  • I opted to just spread the melted chocolate on one side of the cookie because I like Nutter Butter cookies as they are and didn’t want to change the taste too much. I didn’t want the dipping chocolate to overpower the Nutter Butter cookie flavor. And it cut down on sugar a little bit.
  • I used my little melting pot to keep the chocolate warm and melted. It worked great. A small slow cooker would probably work as well. Just make sure you don’t over heat your chocolate or it will get grainy. You can also just heat it in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave in 30-second intervals until it’s melted. If you have access to a melting pot, I would highly suggest using it.
  • It was much easier to shape several hats before I started putting the chocolate on the cookies. Then I just had to grab one and stick it on. I didn’t have to worry about moving quickly before the chocolate hardened.
  • Use a toothpick to help you place the little candies on the cookies. The candies are tiny and kind of hard to position with larger hands. My boys did great if I was steadying their hands. A toothpick lets you push the candies right where you want them.
  • Use an orange peanut butter candy bit for the snowman face nose. Stand it up on the cookie to make it look more carrot shaped and give your cookie more dimension.

 

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Caramel Apple Nachos

Caramel and apple is one of my favorite fall flavor combinations. The sweet, crisp apples and the delectable caramel, what’s not to love? Maybe the stickiness, but that just doesn’t seem to bother me when I’ve got that delicious combination tickling my taste buds. These caramel apple nachos are one of our go-to snacks after school. They are just sweet enough to be a treat, but are still mostly fruit. I also love being able to adjust the amount of caramel and chocolate on them.

CARAMEL APPLE NACHOS

Caramel Apple Nachos Overhead

 

Ingredients:
– 1-2 Apples • I love green Granny Smith apples or Galas
– Caramel sauce • make your own or use your favorite ice cream sundae topping
– Chocolate sauce • I like a thicker hot fudge
– Knife
– Cutting board
– Plate
– Nuts, if desired

Directions:
– Core and slice your apples into thin slices with the knife.
– Layer the apple slices on your plate.
– Drizzle caramel sauce on the apples.
– Drizzle chocolate sauce on the apples.
– Chop up the nuts, if you want nuts.
– Sprinkle over the apples.
Serve and enjoy!

Check out the video to see just how easily this comes together. It is super simple and always a yummy treat.

 

A video posted by Krista Wolff (@whilehesnapping) on

The caramel and chocolate will start to soak into the apples the longer they sit. I like it that way, it’s like caramel infused apple slices; but, it doesn’t look quite as pretty. So, keep that in mind if you are thinking about serving them for a party or something.

Caramel Apple Nachos CloseUp

 

Speaking of parties, I like to do this as a caramel apple bar of sorts when we have people over. Let your guests start with apple slices and build their own nachos. Everyone gets what they want and how much they want.

Topping ideas we love:
– mini marshmallows
– white chocolate chips
– cinnamon and brown sugar
– chopped nuts
– whipped cream

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Caramel Apple Cupcakes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeInTheFun #CollectiveBias

It’s official… autumn is here!  Hooray!  I love summer, I really do.  But, since becoming a mom, autumn has slowly stolen my heart.  The colors, the traditions, the holiday season kicking off, and the foods.  Oh, the foods.  So many fabulous flavors come with the autumn season.  One of my favorites is apple and my sweet tooth has a soft spot for caramel.  How perfect is the caramel apple combination?  Perfect enough for some cupcakes!  Caramel Apple Cupcakes have some of autumn’s best flavors all in a delicious little cake just bursting with flavor.

I’ve got a killer recipe for you today that will make you taste buds scream “AUTUMN IS HERE!”  They are super easy to make – from a box!  Wanna make baking even easier?  Enter the #bakeinthefun sweepstakes by voting for your favorite submission.  You could win a KitchenAid!  Get the details!  Let’s get to baking those amazing autumn Caramel Apple Cupcakes, shall we?

CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES

Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes Hero Vertical 2

 

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Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 24 cupcakes

Cupcakes bursting with delicious autumn flavors - caramel apple. Soft, moist cakes full of apple flavor and topped with creamy tangy frosting.
Ingredients
  • 15.25 oz Pillsbury™ Moist Supreme® Caramel Cake Mix
  • ¼ cup Mott's® Apple Sauce Original
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup Snapple® Apple
  • Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place cupcake liners in a muffin tin. Spray lightly with cooking spray, if desired to help the cupcakes release more easily after baking.
  2. Combine the cake mix, apple sauce, oil, eggs, water and Snapple® Apple in a large bowl.
  3. Mix until well combined.
  4. Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes Combine Ingredients
  5. Fill each cupcake liner ¾ full.
  6. Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes Fill Liners
  7. Bake 22- 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cupcake comes out clean.
  8. Cool 10-15 minutes before removing cakes from the pan.
  9. Cool completely before frosting.

You’ve got the cupcakes, now comes my favorite part of making cupcakes: the decorating!  When I think of caramel apples, I think bright green and that beautiful brown caramel color.  I wanted to put those on display on these cupcakes.  While I was at Walmart the other day, I saw these new M&M’s® I couldn’t pass up – M&M’s® Pecan Pie!  They were perfect with their fall colors to use as a garnish.

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Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 24 cupcakes or 48 mini cupcakes

Tart apple and sweet caramel combine in this delicious cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
  • 2 sixteen oz cans Pillsbury™ Supreme Creamy® Cream Cheese Seasonal Frosting
  • 2-3 Tbsp caramel sauce (I used a store-bought ice cream topping, but you could make your own)
  • Lime green gel food coloring
  • M&M's® Pecan Pie flavored for garnish
  • M&M's® Milk Chocolate Harvest for garnish
Instructions
  1. Prepare a pastry bag with a large round icing tip. The larger, the better.
  2. Place the empty pastry bag inside a tall glass and fold the top of the bag over the rim of the glass.
  3. Bake In The Fun Putting Frosting in a Pastry Bag
  4. If you want to create a marbled effect in the frosting, draw lines or dots inside the bag with the gel food coloring.
  5. Bake In The Fun Make Marble Frosting
  6. Fill the bag with the Pillsbury™ Supreme Creamy® Cream Cheese Seasonal Frosting. Add a small squeeze of food coloring into the glass as you put each scoop of the frosting into the pastry bag. When the bag is full or the frosting is all in the bag, remove it from the glass.
  7. Squeeze the frosting around a bit to help mix up the food coloring. You just want it streaked, not completely mixed; don't squeeze and mix it too much.
  8. Bake In The Fun Frosting In Pastry Bag
  9. Pipe the frosting onto a cupcake, starting at the outer edge and moving inward in a circular pattern, ending with a point in the middle.
  10. Put the caramel sauce inside a zip top bag. Snip off just the very point of one corner of the bag.
  11. Drizzle the caramel sauce on the cupcake. I put it between the lines of frosting, which helped hold it where it needed to be and kept it from dripping all over. If you frost the cupcakes with a knife, you can drizzle little zigzags of caramel sauce on the tops of the cupcakes.
  12. Garnish the tops of the cupcakes with M&M's®.
  13. Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes Horizontal
  14. Place the cupcakes in the fridge until ready to serve.

Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes CloseUp

I really love the way these cupcakes turned out.  The apple is just tart enough and the caramel just sweet enough… it’s a perfect combination.  It’s autumn in a little cake.  I can’t think of a better way to start out the season!  Grab everything you need at Walmart to make these delicious treats and check out these other delicious recipes!  And don’t forget to enter the #bakeinthefun sweepstakes!

MARS Bake In The Fun Sweepstakes

Grab your ingredients for these deliciously Harvest-inspired cupcakes on your next trip to Walmart. All ingredients can be found in the grocery section of the store.

Bake In The Fun Caramel Apple Cupcakes In Store

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