Home Maid Simple

Tag: side dish

  • Prepping for Thanksgiving is easy with Freezer Rolls

    Prepping for Thanksgiving is easy with Freezer Rolls

    Freezer Rolls were made possible by FreezerLabels. All opinions are my own. 

    Less than one week until Thanksgiving now! If there’s any way to prep for the holiday feast, I like to do it. As much as I love being in the kitchen, I love making it as simple as possible on the day of as well. We’d much rather be socializing and playing games while the turkey roasts than still putting together all the extras, right? That’s why I taught myself how to make Freezer Rolls. These are just like what you can buy at the store, but homemade! This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click through and make a purchase. 

    Start Thanksgiving Prep early with these freezer rolls.

    Not that I don’t like the ease of buying premade rolls, or even the frozen rolls occasionally, but I truly love making bread from scratch. It reminds me of my mom, and covering our table in flour as we all helped to knead, shape and bake the bread. I have been tasked with bringing a batch of rolls to Thanksgiving, so I went ahead and got those halfway done the other day. All that’s left will be letting them rise and bake. 

    Prepping for Thanksgiving is easy with Freezer Rolls and labels from FreezerLabels

    Freezer Rolls are made just like any other roll. Take any old roll recipe, and whip it up. I like my Herb Dinner Rolls the best, but it works with any recipe!

    Try one of these Roll Recipes

    Buttery Soft Rolls from Tastes of Lizzy T

    Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls from Bunny’s Warm Oven

    Freezer Friendly Homemade Dinner Rolls from Six Dollar Family

    Easy Yeast Rolls from Eating on a Dime

    Amish Potato Dinner Rolls from I Am Homesteader

    Once you choose your recipe, you’ll take the following steps. Mix your ingredients and give the dough a good kneading. TIP: If you want to keep the mess to a minimum, try kneading it on a large serving tray. The flour stays contained, and you won’t have dough stuck to your table. 

    Prepping for Thanksgiving is easy with Freezer Rolls and labels from FreezerLabels

    Cover and let the dough rise until double, just like you normally would. After the dough has risen, shape it into your rolls. At this point, you’ll want to put the rolls on parchment paper on a baking tray. Notice – I forgot the parchment paper when I took the photos. It really helps keep the dough from sticking to the pan when flash freezing.

    Prepping for Thanksgiving is easy with Freezer Rolls and labels from FreezerLabels

    Place your pan of rolls in the freezer. Leave them there for about an hour or two. The last step is to move them into a freezer bag, and label it. I got these fun Thanksgiving labels from FreezerLabels. They have a number of fun free printables, or you can have your own printed. I had mine printed from the company because I figured their labels will better adhere to my freezer bags then ones I print myself. Also, when it comes to printing things like labels, making sure they print correctly – not really my area of technical expertise.

    Freezer Rolls
    Make rolls days in advance, just freeze before letting them rise!
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    Ingredients
    1. Favorite Roll Recipe – ( http://www.homemaidsimple.com/herb-dinner-rolls/ )
    2. parchment paper
    3. Freezer bags
    4. FreezerLabels
    Instructions
    1. Make rolls according to your directions.
    2. Place shaped rolls on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
    3. DO NOT let rise.
    4. Place in Freezer for an hour or two.
    5. Pack rolls in Freezer bags.
    6. Label with cook temp and time.
    7. Store in Freezer.
    8. When ready to cook, let thaw over night, and rise to double the size.
    9. Bake, and enjoy!
    Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/

    While I was in the Thanksgiving prep mood, I also prepped the green beans for Mark’s required Green Bean Casserole. I was concerned they wouldn’t stay fresh a full week in my fridge, so in the freezer, with a label, they went. 

    Freezing Green Beans

    To freeze the green beans, flash freeze the green beans for 20 minutes on a baking tray. Just like the rolls, put them on a parchment first. After the flash freezing, dump them in a freezer bag and place back in your freezer.

     What’s your must-have Thanksgiving dish?


  • Celebrate Fall with New Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu

    Celebrate Fall with New Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu

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

    Anyone with picky kids understands the struggle of finding a meal everyone will eat without complaining. So when I say I was shouting with joy and telling everyone about our meal last week that every single one of my kids ate without complaint, you’ll understand. It was also one of the simplest meals we’ve had in awhile. Chicken Cordon Bleu, steamed broccoli, and S&P Rice.

    Chicken Cordon Bleu from Barber Foods

    Growing up I always looked forward to New Years Eve because it meant eating my Aunt’s homemade Chicken Cordon Bleu. I was in love with that dish, and often wondered why she didn’t make it more often. Her response was that it’s time consuming, and difficult, so only for a special occasion – namely New Years Eve.

    I’ve made her recipe a handful of times myself now, and yeah, while I love it, it’s not a regular from scratch meal. I saw Barber Foods at Kroger, and noticed they had new packaging with a brand new recipe for their stuffed chickens. It was almost the first day of fall, so I thought to myself

    Adelina – Get your favorite dish and throw a party for the kids. You deserve it!

    Barber Foods at Kroger
    SAVE $1.00 Off Original Stuffed Chicken Breasts

    So I did just that! I grabbed a couple boxes of the Chicken Cordon Bleu, some sparkling grape juice, and fresh broccoli. To me, chicken cordon bleu just goes perfectly with a side of steamed broccoli and perfectly cooked rice. The bubbly as we call it, just rounds out a good celebration dinner. 
    Chicken Rice and Broccoli
    Three ingredients for the perfect meal that had all the kids eating? YES! You guys, we may have been celebrating the first day of fall last week, but for me the real celebration was a dinner with happy kids eating good food. 
    One thing I noticed and was surprised about the Barber Foods Chicken is that it’s not actually precooked. You’re buying raw chicken that’s been stuffed and breaded – ready to be cooked. To me that just feels more fresh. Follow the cooking directions on the box, and be sure to get the internal temp to 165 F.
    Once you have the chicken in the oven, get your broccoli and rice going. Start your rice first as it takes the longest. 

    Rice
    1 cup uncooked long grain rice
    2 cups water
    1 tbs butter
    Pour all the ingredients into a medium sauce pan. Place over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. I like to check it about twice during cooking, and give it a good stir. This helps keep the rice on the bottom from burning to the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper. 
    Steamed Broccoli
    Steamed Broccoli
    2 medium Broccoli stalks
    Water
    Chop up the broccoli into bite sized trees. Place in the top of a steamer pan. Fill the bottom of the steamer with water. Place over medium-high heat. Cover and steam until broccoli is soft. 
    While the dinner is cooking, I made some Confetti Poppers for the kids. Any good celebration has confetti right? These are simple, and lots of fun. 

    DIY Confetti Poppers
    Colored construction paper
    cardboard tube 
    tissue paper
    ribbon
    Cut your construction paper into confetti pieces. 
    Cut the cardboard tube in half. Place the ends next to each other, on top of your tissue paper. Roll the tissue paper around the tube. 
    Tie off one end of the tissue with a ribbon. 
    Fill the tube with your confetti. Tie off the other end. 
    Decorate as you please!
    Do you know what’s another great thing to celebrate – dinner being at the same time! The chicken, rice and broccoli, when cooked in the order I gave, will all be done within 2-3 minutes of each other. 
    The kids thought the Barber Chicken Cordon Bleu was like a humongous chicken nugget, and when they found the cheese in the middle it was like a treasure. Rice is always a winner with thems, and the broccoli while not a favorite, they overlooked complaining about as they were so enthralled with the chicken.
    Follow Barber Foods
    Facebook  *  Twitter  *  Pinterest
    What are you celebrating this month? Tell me what you’d pair with the new Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken.
  • Weekend Bites #32 Sides

    Weekend Bites #32 Sides

    Weekend Bites
    Weekend Bites


    New to Weekend Bites? Here’s the run down
    Visit my cohost Debi at Practical Parenting
    1. Link up your any food related post below
    2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined. 
    3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
    4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)
    5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!!  This is a once a month newsletter, every first Friday of the month, no spamming involved. Subscribe!

    Miss me? Normally I get one or two posts in between each party, but this week has been one ride! I’m working behind the scenes on some Mothers day posts, some pretty dang fantastic recipes, and my day to day work of being a Mother and Student. Almost done my current class, woot woot!
    Enjoy these Features!
    Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Fries
    Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Fries
    Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes| LeMoine Family Kitchen
    Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
    (contributor LeMoine Family Kitchen)
    Italian Dressing Pasta Salad
    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Smoky White Bean Puree
    Grab a Featured Button!

    Weekend Bites
    Weekend Bites
  • Comfort Food with Peaches and Almond Cream

    Comfort Food with Peaches and Almond Cream

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WarmthInACrust #CollectiveBias
    Peaches and Almond Cream pair perfectly with Marie Callenders Pot Pies #WarmthInACrust #ad
     

    We had a nice 2 weeks of warmer weather, but this weekend saw us with snow again, and temps below zero. It was a neat phenomenon watching my hair frost over while shoveling snow this morning, but it also left me craving some home made comfort food. Of course when I think comfort food, I think Marie Callender’s pot pies.

    As much as I love baking from scratch, pot pies can be time consuming, and you all know how much I love going simple! We had been to Walmart the other day as a family, and let the kids all pick their own pot pie. I figured this way, no one could complain about dinner – sneaky sneaky. I may have also been sick of the immense whining heard this week over my choice of dinners.

    The kids definitely thought this was cool – and dinner was met with very little complaints, other than “Wait, I want to try hers!” So we passed plates and forks around the table until everyone was satisfied they really did pick their favorite pot pie. It might not be home made by me, but one of the things I love about Marie Callender’s pies is that the gravy is home made and it’s got a golden flaky crust. That kind of crust is important!

    To help remember who had what pie, I used the tip of a knife to carve everyone’s intitials into their pie. My kids love being able to claim ownership over things (as the penned names on the back of doors will prove…), so adding their initials was not only useful, but fun as well.

     

     
    While we were hanging out at Walmart, I noticed some peaches out. It’s not really peach season, and these peaches could tell – but since I was already thinking about comfort food, peaches and cream came to mind. Is there a better pairing of comfort foods then pot pie and peaches and cream? I don’t think so. While the taste like home made pies baked, I whipped up some Almond Cream to go with the peaches. 
     
     

    Peaches and Almond Cream

     
    Peaches and Almond Cream
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    Ingredients
    1. 1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
    2. 1 tsp almond extract
    3. 2 TBS confectioners sugar
    4. 1 vanilla bean
    5. 4-5 fresh peaches or 2 cans of sliced peaches
    Instructions
    1. Cut open the vanilla bean, and scrape out the seeds.
    2. Combine the seeds with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl.
    3. Beat on high until stiff peaks form.
    4. Place peaches in individual serving bowls, and add a dollop of Almond Cream.
    Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/
     
    *The vanilla bean is more for look than flavor. It gives a nice speckled look to the cream.
     
     
    Marie Callender’s Pot Pies know comfort food. That’s why they’ve started the Comforts From Home program. For every code submitted, Marie Callender’s will make a donation to USO2GO, a group that provides electronics, sports games, books, and more to our troops in remote locations. 
     
    Get more recipes at Pot Pie Please
    Stay up to date with Marie Callender’s on Facebook
     
    What’s your comfort food of choice?
  • The Best 7-Layer Bean Dip

    The Best 7-Layer Bean Dip

    This post is sponsored by LTD Commodities. All opinions are 100% my own. 

    I have a confession to make – I’m a closet football fan. I don’t go out of my way to watch any games, or really pay attention to who’s being drafter where – and I don’t care if you drop by during a game. BUT I get a tad excited for game day. I like seeing other people excited, and sharing good food with them. Even more, I love going to live games, or actually getting out and playing a game or two myself (though it’s been many years since I’ve done that).

    My heart will probably always belong to the New England teams, even though I have now lived the majority of my life in the west. I will always root for the Patriots, and the Red Sox. They’re my teams. While I was prepping for this post I began to browse LTD Commodities, and found the perfect game day entertaining pieces – condiment jars, football platter and dishes, even a Patriot’s branded bowl!

    I like to keep things simple, so even Game Day doesn’t get too crazy. Just some home made hot dog buns, paper plates, chips, and of course 7 layer Bean Dip! This stuff is my favorite to share at parties! It’s quick, easy and the perfect chip dip!

    7 Layer Bean Dip

    Ingredients *amounts are all based on individual preference
    1 can Refried Beans
    Shredded Cheedar
    Salsa
    Sour Cream
    Lettuce, shredded
    Tomatoes, chopped
    Tortilla chips
    Directions
    In a 9×9 pan spread the refried beans (double if you use a larger pan). Top with shredded cheese. Microwave for 1 minute. Let rest for 1 minute. Microwave for another minute. 
    Top with a layer of salsa, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes. Serve with the seventh layer – Tortilla chips!
    This dip can be served warm, or cooled – making it the perfect game day treat. Whether you’re watching from home, or headed out tailgating. 

    Get more game day party ideas


    Ready to do your own entertaining? LTD Commodities is giving one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate. 
    Enter on the Rafflecopter form
    All entries will be verified. 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Cauliflower Au Gratin from The Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce Cookbook

    Cauliflower Au Gratin from The Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce Cookbook

    Cauliflower Au Gratin with Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce

    Getting to know other bloggers is so much fun! It’s even more fun when they write a cookbook and ask you to review it. Krista from Far From Normal did just that. When her recipe for Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce went viral, she saw an opportunity to share many more recipes that use this sauce in an easy access format – The Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce Cookbook.

    The book includes variations of the sauce, pastas, pizzas, snacks, soups and sides. I had a hard time figuring out just where I wanted to start with this one. It all sounded good, and I knew the family would love some pizza, but I decided to head to the sides section.

    I went with the Cauliflower Au Gratin, because it reminded me of how I ate Cauliflower growing up. A nice bit of melty cheese sauce and steamed cauliflower and broccoli. Perfect and filling side! Replacing my cheese sauce with Krista’s alfredo sauce lightens the side, while still keeping a beautiful flavor I can’t resist.

    When I first read over the recipe for the sauce, I was a little skeptical. I don’t do a ton with Greek Yogurt, because none of my kids really like it. I think it’s just too thick and they’re too use to the sweet yogurts. However, the sauce is not overwhelming on the yogurt, and the added parmesan really kicks up the flavor.

    For dinner we served the Cauliflower Au Gratin as a side with Chicken Enchiladas. The combination was amazing! It was 2 thumbs up from Mark, followed up with a “why didn’t you make more?”

    Cauliflower Au Gratin with Greek yogurt Alfredo Sauce. The perfect light side with chicken enchiladas.
    I think we’ll try the Creamy Spinach Soup next! 

    Follow Krista and Far From Normal
    Facebook  *  Twitter  *  Pinterest

    Win a copy of the cookbook!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Foodie Friday Featuring Creative K Kids

    Foodie Friday Featuring Creative K Kids

    I would love it if you took a moment to visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating. 
    If you’re new to Foodie Friday, here’s the run down
    1. Link up your recipe or any food related post below
    2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined. 
    3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
    4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)
    5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!!  This is a once a month newsletter, no spamming involved. Sign up over there ——>
    This weeks Feature is 
    Creative K Kids

    I don’t remember where we first “met” but Tammy and I have become online friends through our blogs and social media. I love seeing what she shares each week, and also linking up my recipe to her Tasty Tuesdays Party. Tammy and her husband have 4 girls, all starting with the letter K, and one boy. They love to cook and craft and share those creations with us through their blog – Creative K Kids. 
    Last week they shared a delicious and easy recipe for Green bean Fries. I’m pretty sure this would be a great way to trick my kids into eating the beans. 
    Recipe for Green Bean Fries
    Follow Tammy on Social Media
  • Foodie Friday Featuring Asparagus Sides

    Foodie Friday Featuring Asparagus Sides

    I would love it if you took a moment to visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating. 
    If you’re new to Foodie Friday, here’s the run down
    1. Link up your recipe or any food related post below
    2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined. 
    3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
    4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)
    5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!!  This is a once a month newsletter, no spamming involved. Sign up over there ——>
    Happy Almost Easter
    We’re headed over to my mom’s this weekend for our Easter dinner. She’s purchased a lamb, which is something I’ve never had, and she’s never cooked herself! It should be a lot of fun. I tried to find lamb last Easter but couldn’t find it. So we enjoyed a more simple Jerusalem dinner to remind us of Christ and what He may have eaten. 
    This week instead of featuring 1 blogger, I wanted to feature some of your Easter recipes. They were so overwhelming though, I decided to narrow it down to one of my favorite Spring sides – Asparagus! I’m sure you’ve already got your main dish planned for this Easter, but perhaps are looking for a godo side. I’d suggest giving one of these a try!
    from Farm Flavor
    Asparagus with Crispy Garlic and Prosciutto
    from A Palatable Pastime
    from My Carolina Kitchen
    This would make more of a meal than a side 🙂
  • Tropical Salad with Marshmallows

    Tropical Salad with Marshmallows

    Tropical Salad with Marshmallows from Home Maid Simple

    I don’t normally go for anything with marshmallows…unless it’s smores or hot chocolate. I found this recipe for a Peachy Salad in one of my Taste of Home magazines. I debated on it for a couple weeks, all because of those pesky marshmallows.

    I am so glad I gave it a try!  The marshmallows start to dissolve with all the fruity goodness and give a little extra airy texture to the salad. I decided to change up some of the fruits from the original recipe to create my own flavor combo.
    .

    The marshmallows add an airy texture to this Tropical Salad from Home Maid Simple

    Every Friday we have pizza and a movie night. It’s the one night of the week the kids really look forward to, and I don’t have to fight anyone to eat their dinner. Sometimes we’ll have bread sticks, or chips, or other not so good for you sides with it. After all, it’s supposed to be a fun night right?

    When I made the Tropical Salad I thought it would make a great side for pizza while the marshmallows kept it fun and exciting for the kids. I think for once I ate more of my side than I did the pizza. It was amazing!!

    Tropical Salad with Marshmallows from Home Maid Simple

     

    Tropical Salad with Marshmallows
    Fruit and Marshmallows combine for a fun salad kids will eat.
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    Ingredients
    1. 21 oz can peach pie filling
    2. 20 oz can crushed pineapple
    3. 11 oz can mandarin oranges
    4. 1 banana
    5. 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
    6. 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
    Instructions
    1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/
  • Vegetable Spring Rolls

    Vegetable Spring Rolls

    *This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Home Maid Simple*
    Vegetable Spring Rolls. Browse more recipes from China at the Food of the World Link Party.
    I was really excited when Diane announced China for this month’s Food of the World party. It is one cuisine I know my family generally enjoys, and I have a cookbook full of genuine Chinese recipes. 
    You may recall if you’ve been around for a few years, that I had the opportunity to review Feeding The Dragon by Mary Kate and Nate Tate. This brother and sister team took a trip to China and decided to travel the whole country photographing the local, food, and learning traditional ways and recipes to cook the food. It is such a wonderful book if you want to learn more about Chinese culture and food. 

    Shortly after reading the book, and browsing the recipes, I tried my hand at some Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps that turned out delicious. I mostly use the recipes and dialogue in this book as a base line, and then substitute with what I have on hand, or what my family prefers (less spice usually). 
    For today’s link party I wanted to make something more traditional for the Chinese New Year Spring Festival – which by the way is apparently in full swing according to my cousin who just traveled through Singapore and caught a kickoff celebration. I digress…so I was trying to find something that the Chinese eat on their New Years, and although I came across a lot of different lists, nothing was sounding too good. I headed back to my cookbook, and decided to make Chicken Spring Rolls. While reading through Mary Kate and Nate’s travelogue, I was pleasantly surprised to find Spring Rolls are traditionally eaten during this festival. YAY! It makes sense once you connect the names “Spring Roll” and “Spring Festival”.  
    I altered the recipe from the book to be a Vegetable Spring Roll, but I used the same methods to cook the filling, and also included similar flavor combinations. I hope you enjoy.  Oh and FYI – I did it again, I chose something that needed to be fried. My mind kept telling me to stop, pick something different, but I pushed forward despite my past failures.
    This is part of Simple Living and Eating’s Food of the World Party. 
    If you have a Chinese Recipe link it up below. You can use this link 

    get the InLinkz code to add the linky to your blog. 
    Looking for Co-hosts for the Food of the World party!! Interested – leave me a comment, or head to Simple Living and Eating and tell Diane!

    Next Month’s Country: Italy. Link up will be February 11th