Fajitas anyone?

I love fajitas!  They have become one of my favorite foods over the years but a pain to make. I hated having to saute veggies in one pan while cooking my chicken or beef in another.  Now I don't have to!! I discovered on Pinterest that I can bake all the ingredients in one pan.  Yay!  So I have taken my recipe for fajitas and turned it into a one pan wonder!


2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 1/2 lbs steak
Taco seasoning (I use my recipe)
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 Large onions sliced
2 Large green peppers sliced (and seeded)
1 Large red pepper (optional)
Flour tortillas
Desired toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, Mexican rice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut chicken or steak into strips and place in a greased 13x9 baking dish.
In a bowl, combine oil, spices and salt.  Drizzle the mixture over the chicken or steak and stir to coat.  Add the tomatoes, onions and peppers.  Stir all ingredients. 
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked completely or steak done to your liking and veggies are tender. Spoon onto tortillas and top with your favorite toppings.  Most of all enjoy the easy clean up!!

We call it Goulash

I really don't know the official name of this recipe but it's good. It's a concoction of things I had in my pantry and fridge one day and it turned out pretty good.  The kids have named it goulash.  It's easy and tastes even better on the second day!

3 LBS ground beef
2 large diced onions
1 diced green pepper
4 1/2 Cups water
3 cans diced tomatoes with garlic and oregano
3 cans favorite tomato based pasta sauce or 3 cans tomato sauce
3 TBSP Italian seasoning
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
3 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 Tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)
3 Cups macaroni noodles (uncooked)




Heat 2 TBSP oil in hot skillet. Add red pepper flakes until they begin to brown but don't let them burn.  Add ground beef.  Brown and drain excess liquid. Add diced onions and garlic powder.  Saute until tender.  (Approx. 5 minutes) In a dutch oven, add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Stir well.  Add beef and sauteed onions. Place a lid on the pot and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid and simmer for another 30 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to sit for about 30 minutes before serving.

Serve with your favorite garlic bread and roasted veggies! 

Best.Tacos.Ever

This recipe has become a family favorite and the only way the kids ask for tacos.  They are really good and if you have a smaller family (4), cut the recipe in half. (This recipe makes 8-10 servings) They don't make the best leftovers because reheating the taco shells the next day does not work.  However I have started scooping out the filling and storing that in the fridge and tossing the taco shells.  The kids reheat the beef mixture and put it on potatoes, tortilla chips or in wraps. 

1 LB ground beef  or 2 LB ground beef
2 cans refried beans or 1 can refried beans
1 small diced onion
1 small can green chilies
3/4 Cup salsa
Taco seasoning (I use my homemade seasoning)
2 Cups shredded Colby-Jack Cheese (I use the Mexican blend from Aldi)
18-20 Hard Shell Tacos


Preheat oven to 375. Brown ground beef and diced onion over medium-high heat. Drain excess liquid. Add refried beans, salsa, chilies and taco seasoning. Mix well.  Spoon mixture into the taco shells and place in a 9x13 baking dish standing tacos up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the tacos. (I always push some down inside the shells as well.) Place in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted. 

Serve with your choice of condiments.
Sour Cream
Lettuce
Tomatoes 
Salsa 

Taco Seasoning

I no longer purchase the little pre-made packages of taco seasoning from the grocery store.  Currently I make my own and have found the flavor to be a lot better.  Enjoy!! 

1/4 Cup Chili Powder
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
2 Tsp Oregano
2 Tsp Paprika
1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/2-1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1 Tsp Onion Powder/Flakes
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
3 Tsp Sea Salt

Mix and store in an airtight container or old spice bottle.  Use 2-21/2 Tbsp in place of store bought packages.

100 Things about Me

I originally posted this back in January of 2011.  As I read through the original 100 I realized that some of the things about me had changed.
This idea was originally stolen from my dear friend Aaron over at Carp Dime.


1. My birthday is September 17
2. My favorite season is fall
3. My favorite season would best be spent in the mountains
4. I love to read while sitting on the beach
5. I would rather spend my vacation doing nothing than constantly on the go
6. I have had at least five different hair colors
7. I love fast cars
8. I have five children
9. Those same five children can lead me to a place of wanting to cut off all of my hair at times
10. Those same five children have taught me to love like I have never loved
11. My favorite color is red
12. My favorite movie is STILL Knight's Tale
13. I enjoy reading a variety of things when I have the time
14. I would rather eat my dessert before my meal
15. I love to bake
16. I do not like chocolate chip cookies but I love to make them for those I love
17. I believe that true love is selfless and it does exist
18. I believe that people are too cynical
19. I believe that most people take themselves too seriously
20.I LOVE to laugh
21. I love to take care of other people
22. I believe that God is in control of all things-good and bad
23. I love to write
24. My favorite show is The Big Bang Theory
25. My favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story
26. My favorite Disney animated movie is Aladdin
27. My favorite Disney Princess is Cinderella
28. I have had 8 dogs in my life
29. I have had 7 cats in my life
30. I had a hamster when I was 15
31. My Honda S2000 was my dream car.
32. I named her Lucy.
33. I would rather drive a stick shift than an automatic
34. My favorite cake is Coconut Cake
35. I love to cook and make recipes my own
36. I would rather eat at a mom and pop diner than a five star restaurant
37. I love to get all dressed up but am thankful that I do not have to every day
38. I am a very forgiving person
39. My fondest memories of childhood are of being at the beach with my family
40. I miss family reunions and big family Christmas' with my extended family
41. I LOVE McDonald's honey
42. Some say that I can be sarcastic but I don't believe them
43. Math is not my strongest area
44. I love to be doted on
45. During the week you can always find me at one of two places at some point
46. Target and Harris Teeter
47. Hearing one of my five say I love you and their laughter are my favorite things to hear
48. I love to eat take-out from Lin's Garden in Wake Forest
49. I prefer greasy New York style pizza over any pizza chain
50. I am not a very trusting person
51. Yet I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt
52. Which leads me to get my heart broken quite often
53. I don't like to be late
54. I do of good job of arriving on time even with five children tagging along
55. I prefer to be organized
56. But I find it difficult at times with five children
57. I do not like going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink
58. I know the difference between to, too and two
59. And the difference between your and you're
60. And I also know the difference between its and it's
61. I love to watch college basketball
62. But I would rather experience a hockey game live
63. I am moved by many genres of music
64. Reba McIntyre is my favorite country artist
65. Train is my favorite alternative rock group
66. There is no one more amazing in concert than Chris Tomlin!!!!
67. Each of my children think that they are my favorite
68. I love fancy gadgets
69. My favorite book of the bible is Philippians
70. My EVO LTE is the BOMB
71. I get paid to shop
72. I LOVE getting paid to shop
73. I despise ranch dressing
74. I despise Reese cups even more
75. The smell of Miracle Whip makes me gag
76. I love the smell of coffee
77.  I only drink it if prepared by my husband
78. And I love how the smell reminds me of being in my granddaddy and grandmother's house
79. My favorite reality show is Big Brother
80. One of my favorite smells is that of a sweet baby after a bath
81. The smell of blood makes me light headed
82. I do not particularly enjoy the smell of many types of flowers
83. That said I could spend an entire day surrounded by Jasmine bushes
84. I enjoy working on school projects with my kids
85. I love the thrill of shopping a good sale and saving a ton of money
86. I will confess that I spend more than I should
87. I am rarely wrong :-)
88. I am the oldest child of three
89. Many times I wish I were the youngest
90. I do not know how I will survive the death of my cat Bailey
91. I was born in Roanoke VA
92. I now live in downtown Wake Forest, North Carolina
93. I enjoy going to museums
94. I would love to live in Italy someday
95. I believe in the magic of Disney and love to visit
96. I love American History
97. I am a Christ Follower
98. I am a part of a non-denominational church
99. I have read the Constitution at least twice
100. I will know that you have read my facts if you leave me a comment

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Everyone in this house loves Buffalo anything.  After some experimenting with different hot sauces my oldest daughter and I think we have perfected what we consider the best Buffalo sauce :-)

Be warned.  It is NOT a healthy recipe but it is SO GOOD!

We start with Frank's Red Hot Sauce.  

This recipe will make around 2 cups of sauce which will coat around 32 frozen chicken tenders.  This feeds our family of 7.

16 Tablespoons of Franks Hot Sauce

Two full sticks of Butter

1/8 Teaspoon onion powder

Pinch of nutmeg

1/4 Teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper (when I don't have Cayenne I use Chili powder)

3 Tablespoons of White Vinegar

2 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper to taste

Mix it all in a saucepan over medium heat while stirring occasionally until the butter is completely melted.  Reduce to simmer.  Typically, while my oldest daughter is mixing the sauce I prepare the chicken tenders.  You can either make your own or buy frozen tenders from your local grocery store.  If I use frozen tenders I put them in the over for the first half of the cooking time.  I then remove the tenders, put them into a large plastic food storage container and pour sauce over them.  I then close the container and gently shake.  Once coated I place them back into the oven for the remainder of cooking time.  Once done I serve with ranch dressing.  Easy and delicious!

An invitation

I cannot say enough good things about my church. I don't typically link sermons encouraging others to listen but this one is exceptionally good. I came from a very legalistic church that left me questioning my faith as well as God's character. God brought me to Journey three years ago where I found incredible healing and a real relationship with Christ. If you struggle with the rules and lists that religion offers, take a listen to Jimmy's message. There is an amazing God waiting to have an intimate relationship with you! 

Post by Journey Church.

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