Monthly Archives: May 2020

Porcupine Meatballs

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Filed under Main Dish

Me: “Whitaker, we need to look for 3 porcupines for dinner tonight!” 

W: (His Face) “Wait, What?”

Me: “We are having Porcupine Meatballs for dinner.  I need to find 3 porcupines on our walk to use for dinner.”

W: (His Face, Again!) “Mom, I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

Ok, you don’t use real PORCUPINES but these fun meatballs studded with rice will remind you of little porcupine quills.  Our weather in Atlanta has been a bit rainy and gloomy.  These little meatballs add a little fun to dinner.  

At dinner, it gave us a great time discussing the creativity of God.  I mean look at a porcupine.  How cool!

Keep Singing and Dancing,
Amanda

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Porcupine Meatballs

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

3/4 c. uncooked long grain white rice

1/2 c. whole milk

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

2 T finely chopped parsley, plus more for garnish 

2 t Worcestershire sauce, divided 

1/2 t garlic powder 

⅛ t cayenne pepper 

Kosher salt 

2 T extra-virgin olive oil 

1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, pureed 

Freshly ground black pepper

Grated parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, rice, milk, onion, parsley, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Shape beef mixture into 1 ½” meatballs.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add meatballs in a single layer and cook until golden, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove meatballs to a plate.

In a 9”-x13” baking dish, whisk together pureed tomatoes and remaining teaspoon Worcestershire. Season with salt and pepper. Add meatballs to the baking dish and cover with foil. 

Bake until rice is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake until sauce is thickened and meatballs are cooked through, about 15 minutes more. *Be sure to cook rice until tender or your family will experience a porcupine situation in their mouths.*

Sprinkle with more parsley and parmesan before serving.

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Business/Party Nacho Cheese Dorito Chicken

The last ten weeks have been like nothing we have ever experienced.  I have used the words “quarantine”, “shelter-in-place”, “Covid19”, “Coronavirus” so much that even my 6 year old understands everything is completely different because of one of those words.

I have been introduced to Zoom calls.  While not my favorite thing, I understand it is a way to connect and get to “see” others.  I also understand like many that you only have to be presentable from the waist up!  Business/Professional/Put Together on top and Party/Whatever/PJ pants I have been wearing for three days on the bottom.

During this ten weeks of our “Corona Chronologicals”, Will (14.5) and Chris, my hubby, have talked about the idea of a Mullet.  (Like “Business in the Front, Party in the Back” haircut.)  Will had no where to be and why not go for this look during his time off.  Chris watched a few Youtubes and felt confident that he could make this look happen.  So, a couple Saturday nights ago, on our outdoor deck, Chris and Will proceeded to make a memory with hair clippers. Within a few minutes, Will was ready for business and party!  I will admit that Will could pull off any haircut.  (The kid has good hair!)

This whole experience of Zoom calls in PJ pants and teenagers with mullet reminded me of a meal.  A meal that says, “I look like a hot mess with the ingredients I bring to the table but trust me.  I mean business!”  A meal that says, “Yes, I have Nacho Cheese Doritos all over me but guess what Fancy Pants?  You are going to be drooling over the business I bring to your mouth.”  

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In all seriousness, my boys loved that this momma brought a little party to the dinner table.  Don’t knock it until you try it.  Seriously, we are all trying new things right now.  Go for it!

Looking Forward,
Amanda

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Nacho Cheese Dorito Crusted Chicken 

4 chicken breasts, pounded
1 cup mayo
1 t Italian seasoning
2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed
¼ cup butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put chicken breasts in a zip-lock bag and pound to flatten.
Combine mayonnaise and Italian Seasoning in a pie plate.
Crush Doritos in a zip-lock bag.  You want chips small.
Dip chicken breast into mayo mixture and then roll in Dorito crumbs.
Place in a casserole dish and drizzle with melted butter all over the chicken.
Bake uncovered for thirty minutes.

Blood Orange Mimosas

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Filed under Beverages

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🌸It’s Mother’s Day Weekend!🌸

Mommas out there will be celebrated. On my list of ways to be celebrated is a yummy Blood Orange Mimosa. Thought I would share how we do it over here.
(Is it a recipe if there are two ingredients?🤷🏼‍♀️)

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You need 3 or 4 Blood Oranges and 1 bottle of Prosecco/Cava/Champagne

1. Juice the blood oranges.
2. Place 2 tablespoons of blood orange into your glass.
3. Slowly fill glass with champagne, prosecco, or cava.
4. Serve, Toast, Drink & Repeat

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Quarantine Mother’s Day

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Filed under on mission in the kitchen

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Mother’s Day is Sunday!  If we are honest, it is different this year.  For the past two months everything has been different.  When chatting with a momma recently, she told me that this year Mother’s Day is just another day. She said it was not going to be special because of everything going on.  HELLO, WHAT?!?  Yes, I agree that things are different and might not be the dream Mother’s Day you had envisioned with your children all gathered (well behaved all day), an amazing meal out, a day of pampering at the spa, time with other mommas to sip mimosas, and that special moment at church where you get to stand up and everyone claps because you are mom! Oh and then there might be that amazing photo op that was setup and your children dressed up with fresh haircuts and all smile with you at the camera.  Then you post that picture and say #BlessedMomma.  You are correct my friend, all that special will not be happening this Mother’s Day!  So do you want to wallow in that or Momma Up!  Put on Your Cute Momma Britches and Let’s know that we are honored and loved.

A few tips of my 14 ½ of being a momma:

  1.  My husband and children cannot read my mind.  I can get frustrated or I can just say “you know I would like….”  This is what I did.  I love having brunch out on Mother’s Day.  I have already done the research and set my guys up for success.  I told them the place that is offering takeout brunch and when they need to have it ordered.  This year’s pick is: Little Rey’s. I’m already craving their breakfast tacos.  I also know I want something sweet so I have an order in to A Piece of Cake.  There is no shame in picking our your own cupcakes. 
  2. I know I will not be having a pampering day at the spa this year.  That’s ok!  I have learned during this time that just having a little time to myself goes a LONG way.  Again, I told my hubby that I would like to get out of the house.  You can take a walk or a drive.  Listen to your favorite podcast, read a book, or just listen to silence.
  3. Rediscover yourself.  IS there something you have been wanting to try?  Paint by number, baking, growing your own herbs, or playing the ukulele.  This is a great time to do this.  Tell your family that you want this for Mother’s Day.  You might need to send the links from Amazon but who cares.  You are getting what you want.  
  4. Don’t be a brat on Mother’s Day!  This is not the year to pull this.  Everyone is doing the best they can.   Your family wants to celebrate with you. You don’t want them to remember the year that mom pouted because she didn’t get the day she wanted.  

Proverbs 31:28 says “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”  Right there.  Proverbs 31:28 is the momma that I want my husband and children to find.  I want my heart and mind to focus on Jesus on Mother’s Day.  I want my family to see that I feel honored that I was chosen for them.  

Let’s Momma Up this year!  You can have your Mimosa.  (I have a recipe coming!)  Use your voice.  Focus your heart and mind on Jesus.  You got this.

Love You Mommas!

Amanda 

Last year’s Mother’s Day post looked a little different! 🙂