Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Spring is only a few days away, but it is still seriously cold here. Like, stay-in-bed-all-day kinda cold. The only thing good about this never ending winter weather is that we get to keep on eating hardy, warming dinners like this beef stew (and that we get to hide all our winter eating under big comfy sweaters). You are going to love this recipe. It uses frozen vegetables, so you can get it into your slow cooker with barely any prep time. And the end result is a bit lighter and definitely more flavorful than your typical beef stew, all without even having the brown the meat. We loved it over rice, but you could do mashed potatoes if that’s more your style. If you are still dealing with the cold, put this one on your list to make soon!

[Read more…]

signature

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting by The Mommy Games #1stbirthday

A first birthday cake can be a tricky thing. You want something that your baby will love and can safely eat, but you also want something yummy for the adult party goers. After much consideration, I decided to make a banana cake for Rylan, since he loves bananas, and top it with a cream cheese frosting. Blueberries are also his current fruit obsession, so I used those as decoration. This was a huge hit with everyone, including the birthday boy. Rylan devoured his piece and then tried to steal his brother’s as well. This cake isn’t too sweet, and has no nuts or chocolate (though it does have eggs), making it a perfect first dessert. I made one 2-layer cake, but if you are having lots of guests over, you might want to make a smaller “smash” cake or cupcake for the birthday girl or boy, then a separate cake for everyone else. And it’s not just for birthdays, this cake would be fabulous any time!

[Read more…]

signature

Chicken Curry with Apples and Raisins

Chicken Curry with Apples and Raisins by The Mommy Games

So it has been busy, busy, busy around our house! We moved at the end of last week, and even though it was only a total of 14 floors, moving takes a heck of a lot of work. Thank goodness for my in-laws, brother-in-law, and husband who all pitched in to watch the kids, organize (we had people pack and unpack but I pretty much found clothes in the kitchen), hang pictures, and make many, many trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Things are no less crazy today as we have a construction crew in doing all kinds of last minute work. Tequila shots at 10 am sounds just about right to me.

[Read more…]

signature

Praised Chicken with Mustard & Dill

Praised Chicken with Mustard & Dill via The Mommy Games

As I promised in my last post, here is the recipe for “Praised” Chicken. It’s a Nigella recipe that I’ve been making for years, and is probably the most requested meal around our home in the winter time (it’s one of my husband’s favorites and both the kids love it, even my 11 month old). It’s like a super kicked-up version of chicken soup. It’s called “praised” because the chicken is first pan seared, then braised. It comes out super tender but with that almost roast chicken flavor. Plus, you get a nice amount of stock to keep in your freezer and use another time. You serve the chicken, veggies, and a little stock over rice with a side of Dijon mustard and a healthy portion of dill. It sounds a little different, but the whole combination is amazing. It’s these little additions that make this a company worthy dish. This a surefire crowd pleaser, and although it takes a little time to simmer in the pot, is really a cinch to make. This has Sunday dinner written all over it.

[Read more…]

signature

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar Pasta by The Mommy Games

Happy Valentines Day! So, I had this lovely, romantic meal planned out for my husband and I that I was going to share with all of you today, but I just didn’t feel like cooking it! We all have those kinds of days, right? After battling a cold for a few days and having the kids all to myself while Brad was away, I just couldn’t muster the energy to make a more involved meal. Instead, I made one of my old standbys. People, this could not be simpler or more delicious. It’s like an elegant version of mac and cheese and I have been making it for nearly a decade (seriously, I got the recipe from one of my college sorority sisters). This is the dish that I often make to bring to people after they’ve had a baby or are just in need of a comforting home cooked meal. Not that it takes any time to put together, but you could easily make a double batch and throw one in the freezer for just that sort of occasion. I am constantly getting asked for this recipe, and am nearly embarrassed to share it because it is so insanely simple. Please don’t be afraid of the “Caesar” taste, both of my kids (2.5 and 11 months) devour this.

If you are having a “I just don’t feel like cooking” kinda day (even if it is Valentines!), give this one a shot. It’s a tried and true winner!

[Read more…]

signature

Oven “Fried” Pickles

Oven Fried Pickles via The Mommy Games

I love fried food, but rarely make it at home because I can not stand the smell. And then there’s that issue of the oil. What exactly do you do with the frying oil when you are done? I once heard Martha Stewart say that she dumps hers on the rail road tracks. Not exactly convenient. When I saw these baked “fried” pickles on Pinterest I immediately pinned them, only to find out that they linked back to a site that no longer existed (grr…). So then I started scouring the internet to find something similar, picked out my favorite bits from a few different recipes, and created the lovely plate of baked goodness you see above. They were a big hit on Superbowl Sunday and would be great for any party. Just dredge the pickles up and place them on the wire rack in the fridge and bake when ready. Crunchy exterior, flavorful pickle, easy dipping – all with no lingering fried smell or annoying left over oil. Oh, and I guess they are healthier too if you are still on a New Year’s kick. :)

[Read more…]

signature

5 Meals for Kids in 5 Minutes

5 Minute Meals for Kids

We all have those nights that just seem to get away for us. We get busy doing something-or-other when we suddenly realize it’s dinner time. When I find myself in this predicament, I immediately scratch the idea of family dinner and focus on getting something made for the kids pronto. The adults will just have to fend for themselves after bedtime. Rather than having the kids fill up on goldfish while I cook for 30 minutes, I assemble a super speedy meal that can be thrown together at a minutes notice, all using ingredients that I usually keep on hand. These aren’t necessarily the most well-rounded meals, but they only happen on occasion and they get the job done without having to resort to anything boxed and frozen. I usually throw in some kind of fruit side (berries often being a good choice since you don’t have to cut them up) and you could also quickly microwave some frozen peas and a little butter for a veggie. They all take less than 5 minutes (because 10 is just way to long to deal with whiny, hungry children!), and there are no Rachel Ray super fast chopping skills required. These dishes have saved us time and time again, and I hope you find them helpful too.

[Read more…]

signature

Red Velvet Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

It’s almost February and Valentines is right around the corner. Although it is arguably the cheesiest holiday around, it’s fun being a girl on Valentines. If you are in a relationship you can rightfully expect to get pampered. And if you are single you can rightfully expect to get bombed with your other single girlfriends – who needs men?! But we can all expect to ride a sugar high for most of the day.

My mom made this amazing cake when we were home for the holidays, and I knew I absolutely must share it with all of you. It was so incredibly good! My brother recently got married, and the woman who made his rehearsal dinner cake told us the secret to her super moist cake was to freeze them beforehand. When they are defrosted, all that moisture goes back into the cake, making it one of the most tender and moist cakes you will ever eat (how-to details in recipe below). My mom did just that with this beautiful layer cake and the result was amazing. You have to try it for yourself! And the frosting is beyond delicious. Like, you should make extra. Tempted to throw in a comment about what to do with said frosting on this romantic holiday, but this is a G-rated show here at The Mommy Games. Thanks Mom for sharing this recipe and for letting me be a very diligent taste tester!

[Read more…]

signature