Dear February....

 

You brought us candy hearts, museum outings, and a husband cleaning the kitchen. That part seriously rocked! You brought us pancakes, a new to us piano, and homemade hot dog buns. We had quite a few canning adventures and a sweet hubby who did the once a month shopping. We had a few weeks, where we were quarantined with a bad cold, but we made it. Lots of finger painting and a movie night helped pass the time. Thank you February for the warmer winds you brought to us and the sweet family we were able to spend our days with. Thank you for two little red heads, who make each day exciting and tiring (all at the same time). Thank you for that sweet hubby, who answers my prayers everyday. Thank you for those Sunday nights, where Hubby and I camped out in front of the television. We can never miss Downton Abbey. It is way to good. So February, until next year, thankyou for all you gave and blessed our family with. Thank you.

Pictures via Instagram
follow me at blissful_and_domestic

XO Danielle

Whole Wheat Breadsticks

 

Did you all see the One-Pot Spicy Cannellini Soup I posted yesterday? Well here are the yummy bread sticks we served with them. Both meals are found in this weeks meal plan. The bread sticks are quick to make, delicious, and oh did I mention they are super quick to make? No rise time folks. LOVE IT! Make some today. We pair our bread sticks with homemade spaghetti sauce, creamy tortellini soup, or Red Pepper and Squash Soup. My hubby could eat just the bread sticks. They are his favorite!

Bread sticks

2 ¼ tsp yeast

1tsp sugar

¾ cup warm water

1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour*

½ tsp salt

2 tbl butter

2 tsp garlic (I used already minced garlic in a jar)

1 tsp Parmesan cheese

Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a bowl. Mix until combined and yeast starts to bubble around the edge of the mixture. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Yeast mixture will be bubbly after the 5 minutes. Next add flour and salt. Mix until a ball of dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes. Allow to rest for a few minutes. Next roll out dough into an 8 x 8 rectangle. Take a pizza cutter or knife and cut strips of dough. Place on a grease baking sheet.

Ina small bowl mix melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Brush onto bread sticks. Cook for 8-10 minutes at 500'.

* you can use whole wheat flour, white flour, or a combination of both.

Enjoy lovelies!

XO Danielle

One-Pot Spicy Cannellini Soup

When I ordered my basket  this week, I requested a Mexican themed veggie add on. I had a few new recipes I wanted to try out. I was able to get beautiful green tomatillos, cilantro, chiles, and peppers. Pretty much a rock star bunch for the recipes I had in mind this week. I decided to go with a soup first, since we were all craving the warmth soup offers on a chilly, windy day. We paired our soup with some whole wheat bread sticks. You can find the recipe in this weeks menu plan . The soup turned out great and those red heads of mine enjoyed it as well. It is always a plus when the littles gobble it up:)

So make some soup today, snuggle up with those littles, and stay warm.

One-Pot Spicy Cannellini Soup

1 medium onion chopped

1 cup cannellini white kidney beans*

1 cup pinto beans (cooked)*

1 cup red kidney beans (cooked)*

2 tbl cilantro

4 potatoes, washed and diced

4 cups beef broth**

2 Chile peppers, washed and diced

1 packet of taco seasoning

* if you do not make your own beans, then substitute 1 can of beans for each cup of cooked beans. - see how I make beans here)

** I used beef bouillon cubes and water

Place all ingredients in your crock-pot. Cook on high 5-6 hours

I do this first thing in the morning, so I have it hot and ready for lunch:)

Print Recipe HERE

XO Danielle

Sweet Potato Quick Bread

 

Saturday morning I found myself washing dishes, mentally planning what I would be baking that morning. I did a mental check list of what needed to be used in my fridge and pantry. I had just gotten my basket and knew I had a few things that needed to be used up before we dug into our new basket of fruit and veggies. I had quite a few sweet potatoes to use. Usually I do mashed sweet potatoes, but a mama can only make that so many times. I needed something new to help me use up those orange potatoes in my pantry. Then it dawned on me....Why not make sweet potato bread. I thought I was coming up with something pretty original, until I googled it and realized many other mamas had already had my great idea. I checked out a few of their recipes and then came up with the recipe below. It is a super moist bread, which was a crowd favorite in my home. In fact it only lasted about 2 days here. We all gobbled it up as soon as we could. Yep it is that good. So make some quick bread for your family tonight. Serve it for breakfast, a snack, or a yummy dessert. We were finding any excuse to have it.... I seriously need to make some more....yum:)


Sweet Potato Bread
1 ½ cups sugar
1 stick butter
2 eggs
1 ¾ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked sweet potato puree (I did mine in the pressurecooker)
½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
1 tbl flax seed (optional)
1 tbl bran (optional)

Combine sugar and butter in a mixing bowl, beat until creamy. Add water, eggs and puree. Beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients and beat. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350' for about 1 hour.

This recipe is included in this weeks meal plan.

XO Danielle

Menu Plan # 7 with Printable Recipes

 

Happy Monday Lovelies! Well it has been quite an exciting weekend. Michelle Manetti, from The Huffington Post wrote an article about Blissful and Domestic! I am was so excited. She was super sweet to work with and wrote a wonderful article. Check it out HERE. I am very thankful that my little piece of blog land is getting out there and helping people. Knowing that my meal plans, recipes, and tips are helping people, is such an amazing blessing to me. It gives me the motivation I need everyday to continue typing up all the goodness that goes on in this brain of mine. It reminds me of why Once Upon a Time I started this blog. Thank you for reading each day and leaving me sweet words. I will never be able to thank you all enough, but I will never stop trying...from the bottom of my heart, thank you! thank you! thank you! I always appreciate you!

Now that my thanks for the day have been expressed...who's ready for a new weekly meal plan. This week I am changing it up a bit. I have been talking with that sweet hubby of mine (he is the best) and we have come up with some amazing ideas for Blissful and Domestic. It will take me some time to work through all the plans I have developing in my noggin, but I am slowly but surely trying. The first change is adding pictures to the meal plans. We will be adding pictures and I am also going to be including breakfast and lunch recipes. Many of you asked for them, so I thought I should deliver on that.

You will also find the recipes in a printable file. I will not be adding a shopping list, since it is very hard to judge what is appropriate for each family. I do encourage you to make lists ALWAYS before shopping. Check your pantry first and always try to choose the healthiest option for your family.

Alright now onto this weeks meal plan.....for those of you that follow me on instagram, you probably noticed all the baking I did this past weekend. Side note: I post weekly recipes and thrifty living tips via instagram, so be sure to follow me so you don't miss out on any thrifty fun! (blissful_and_domestic) I was preparing for the week using the recipes below. We will be eating this same menu this week.

So get to planning and have a fabulous week!

 Monday

B-Sweet Potato Bread + Fruit

L- Cappellini Soup

D- Baked Burritos with rice and veggies

Tuesday

B- Waffles with fruit

L- leftover soup from Monday

D- new recipe night :)

Wednesday

B- Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

L- leftovers

D-Potato and bean enchiladas with veggies

Thursday

B- Toast + Fruit

L- Pizza + veggies

D- Sweet and Sour Chicken 

+ fried rice

Friday

B- Berry Muffins with yogurt

L- Butter noodles with veggies

D- Broken Lasagna with zucchini tomato sauce

Saturday

B-cereal + fruit

L-leftovers

D- Chicken Tacos

Sunday

B- Pancakes with Blackberry Syrup

L-Egg Salad Sandwiches with fruit

D-Linguine with picante sauce and veggies
+ whole wheat bread sticks

Print Your Menu HERE

This weeks recipes can be printed HERE

This week I am sharing a few quick bread and muffin recipes. All of these freeze great! Pick a day, bake up a storm, and then freeze your goodies. Then you will have home baked goodness all month long:)

XO Danielle

P.S.
This week's Blissful Exchange via Blissful and Domestic Facebook Page is

"What is your favorite "potato" recipe?"

How do you cook, season, eat your potatoes? I have 30lbs of potatoes and need some ideas:> Share your recipes,tips, and tricks. Come give your 2 cents on the Blissful and Domestic Facebook Page.

Ready-Made-Mixes: Pancake Mix

 

 Growing up I can remember many Saturday mornings where my father would be busy making pancakes. I loved Saturday mornings. My brother and I would cross our fingers that Dad would be craving some pancakes. I honestly don't think I can think of pancakes without thinking of being a child, mixing the Krusteaz mix, in that purple bowl of my dads. I want my children to have fond memories like this as well. That is why we have pancakes at least once a week. It is a special treat they look forward to....well we all look forward to...pancakes are just too yummy! The only thing I do differently is make my own mix. I whip up a batch of this mix every month or so. It definitely goes a long way. I store my mix in Tupperware. Making your mix ahead of time, saves you time in the morning. I can quickly whip up some pancakes in under 15 minutes.

 You can get creative with your pancakes too! Throw in berries, bananas, or chocolate chips. Also if you are running low on eggs, you can substitute with apple sauce.

We also make our own syrup.

 Ready Made Pancake Mix

10 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups instant nonfat dry milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup baking powder

2 tbl salt

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together to blend well. Put in a large airtight container. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 to 8 months. Makes about 13 cups of pancake mix.

Perfect Pancakes

for a variety add your favorite fruit to the batter

or chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups PANCAKE MIX

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup water

3 tbl vegetable oil

Put pancake mix in a medium bowl. Combine egg, water, and oil in a small bowl. Mix well. Add egg mixture to pancake mix. Add more water for thinner pancakes. Blend well. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cook on a hot griddle about 3 to 4 minutes, until browned on both sides. Makes 10 to 12 4-inch pancakes.

Find more Ready-Made-Mixes Below

 

XO Danielle

Baked Asparagus

• Sometimes living frugally means, learning to cook with new things. I recieved some asparagus in my basket last week. It was a first for all of us, except hubby. I was a little hesitant, but I actually liked it. It was really simple to make too! I tried it on both the stove top and the pressure cooker.

Stove Top Method

• 1 bunch thin asparagus spears, trimmed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Place the asparagus into a mixing bowl, and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat the spears, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Arrange the asparagus onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness. Sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

Pressure Cooker Method

Place washed asparagus in pressure cooker, with tray. Fill with 1 cup of water. Place lid on and allow cooker to fill with pressure. Once pressure valve begin to rock gently, set timer for 1-2 minutes. Cool down rapidly and enjoy. We sprinkled nutritional yeast on our asparagus. It was good!


Print Recipe HERE Find more pressure cooker recipes, tips, and tricks HERE

XO Danielle

20 St. Patrick Day Activities for Kids + Feature Friday Linky Party

St. Patty's day is fast approaching, so craft time is in full swing around blog land. Today I have 20 fun crafts to do with those sweet littles of yours.
Share a little comment love with these fancy ladies and if you were featured snag a button here. Also don't forget to link up, while you're here. I can't wait to see what you've been up to.

17 Fun Things to Do for St. Patrick's Day @ Secrets of a Super Mommy

Wee Little Shamrock Men @ U Create With Kids

Shamrock Streamers @ Rockabye Butterfly

Hand Print Leprechaun @ Elizabeth Lauren

Pot of Gold @ Play and Learn with Dana

Easy Leprechaun Dress-Up @Super Mom Moments

No Pinching St. Patrick's Day Shirt @ Dukes and Duchesses

My First Rainbow Painting @ In Lieu of Preschool

Shamrock Craft @ Hands On As We Grow

Fruity Rainbow @ Hands On As We Grow

Bell Pepper Shamrock @ Train Up a Child

Toilet Paper Roll Leprechaun @ Moments of Mommyhood

Mini Pots of Gold @ The Crafting Chicks

Marshmallow Rainbow @ No Time For Flashcards

Shamrock Color Matching @ Crystal and Co.

Rainbow Hand Print @ B Inspired Mama

Lucky Shirts @ The Crafted Sparrow

Streamer Rainbows @ Mom's Crafty Space

Lucky Banner @ Blissful and Domestic

Coffee Filter Pom Pom @ Blissful and Domestic

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I can not wait to see what you all have been working on.
 Read the rules below, grab a button, and get your party on!

• Feel free to link up just about anything {that is appropriate, of course}.  Recipes, Tutorials, Inspiration, Crafts, Printables – If you blogged it, feel free to link it!  If you didn’t… don’t!
• It’s not mandatory, but I would {love} for you to follow my blog.
• Please link to your specific post and not your entire blog. 
• Please add this party to your linky party list.
• Please do NOT link Etsy stores, giveaways, or other link parties
• Take a few extra minutes to visit some of the bloggy goodness that has been linked up.
• Most importantly: HAVE FUN!  Feel free to grab my button and spread the linky {love}.

XO Danielle