Ranch Pizza & Tips to Freshen Up Your Spring Menu (+ A Giveaway)

This post is sponsored by Naturally Fresh® Brand Dressings. The opinions are my own. #NaturallyFreshRecipe

Ranch Pizza and Tips to Freshen Up Your Spring Menu

In the winter time, I love my soups, casseroles, and comfort foods, but I love the opportunity that spring time brings to freshen up our menu! We get to embrace fresh ingredients, eat a little lighter, and enjoy new things.  Today I’m sharing tips on how you can join me and freshen up your menu this spring, and I’ve got a quick and easy recipe for fresh Ranch Pizza! [Read more…]

5 Tips for Menu Planning Success

Have you ever struggled to get dinner on the table?  Have you ever felt like your head was spinning after being asked the question, “What are we having for dinner?”  Has the subject of dinner ever started an argument in your house?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you probably need to start menu planning!

Now before we start, I have to confess that I am not a die-hard menu planner.  I don’t spend a lot of time making out a plan, and when I make a plan I like to leave myself some wiggle room.  Sometimes things come up, and we just don’t have the time or frankly, we don’t feel like cooking!  I also reserve a right to change my mind and my husband reserves a right to change his mind, and when that happens, we divert from the plan!  BUT…overall I find that the week goes a lot smoother when I have a menu planned out.

On one hand it’s good to know what I will be cooking each day, so I can properly schedule my cooking around the day’s events.  Secondly, by making a menu plan, I can ensure that I have all the groceries I need for the week.  (No more eating out, because we’re missing key ingredients!)  Third, I can actually save money on my groceries, because I will only buy the items on the list I’ve made, and the list is based on my menu plan! [Read more…]

Fueling My Family with Jimmy Dean® and State Fair® + Meal Planning with Online Calendars

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FuelForSchool #CollectiveBias
Fueling My Family with Jimmy Dean and State Fair

I’ve been so busy this month!  It seems like every time I scratch something off the old to do list, I end up adding 3 MORE things to the to do list.  This week  I’ve got my usual housework to do, plus several blogging projects.  We’ve also got the usual school, band practice, and ball game schedule.  Plus, this Saturday we have a band festival and scholar’s bowl tournament. AND….if all that is not enough, my mom and I are working on going through stuff at her house and my house so we can have a yard sale.  Eek!

But regardless of how much stuff we have to do, the family still has to eat!  Luckily I keep a lot of convenient, yet delicious and hearty breakfast and dinner food options to fuel my family no matter how busy life gets!  A couple of family favorites are Jimmy Dean® Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant and State Fair® Classic 22ct Corn Dogs. [Read more…]

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes and Breakfast Time with Quaker

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

Breakfast Time with Quaker

If you’re a mom, back to school means back to school shopping, organizing, and planning, especially menu planning!  Your little darlings need breakfasts, snacks, lunches, after school snacks, and dinners!  Whew….that’s a lot of food prep! Today I’m talking about just a few options that Quaker gives you help get your through the morning breakfast time, and I’ve got a delicious recipe for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes that you and your kids will love!

And to help you get organized in the kitchen this fall, I’ve created a free printable that you can use to create your weekly menus!  Yup, it’s going to be a jam packed post, so let’s get started!

[Read more…]