Eggstra Special Message

Try this really cute craft for Easter! It's like a "message in a bottle" but replacing the bottle with an egg.

You will need:
Raw eggs
needle
bowl
paint
scissors/exacto knife
paper

1. With a needle, poke a hole on the top and bottom of a raw egg.
2. Empty into a bowl. If the contents don't fall out completely make the bottom hole a slightly bigger and gently blow through the top hole.
3. Rinse out the egg.. GENTLY! and let dry.
4. Paint it however you wish.
5. Cut a strip of paper and write a nice easter message.
6. Roll it up tightly and push into the hole.
7. Carefully place it into a small box or basket with tissue gift paper or "easter grass".

It's a little surprise that will make your friends & fam feel Eggstra Special!
Happy Easter!

Love, Lana

quick quiche muffins

Think you don't have time for a hot breakfast in the morning? Think again! Here's a quick way to get all the joys of  quiche in a convenient mini muffin. The beauty of this is you can make it the day before and just reheat it in the morning. You may love it so much your cereal and oatmeal will get jealous! haha!

Ingredients

6 eggs, beaten



salt and pepper to taste
2 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
1 oz. shredded mozzarella

nonstick cooking spray

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add salt and pepper to taste.

You can cook bacon ahead, if you don't have any on hand, you can microwave the two pieces for a few minutes to crisp. Crumble them in to small pieces.

3. Add about 1T of the eggs into each cup. Then sprinkle a little of the bacon into each. Then add remaining egg mixture to the cups, it should be about 1T each. Lastly, sprinkle with mozzarella.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes. You can do a "toothpick" check to be sure. (insert toothpick in center, should come out clean)

These are a great snack or quick breakfast when you're running out the door.

They reheat well in the microwave and only take about 30 seconds.

Switch it up! Use cheddar cheese or cooked sausage instead. Add cooked hashbrowns or sauteed mushrooms, peppers, onions, spinach.. top with parmesan, or serve with salsa..  anything you would like with an omelet.

Breakfast in 30 seconds?! You've got time for this!

Love, Lana

Grilled Cheese Rollups

I saw this a while back and totally forgot about it. Shame on me! Because it's the best thing that ever happened since.. well.. since sliced bread! It's a creative twist on a classic.

Two words: Grilled Cheese = One word: YUM!

 This is fun to make and, I kid you not, one of the easiest things to cook. It does, however, require turning on the stove top so kids have your parents supervise.

Ingredients:

• 6 slices wheat bread
• 6 pieces American cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

1. Cut the crusts off the bread.
2. Flatten your crustless bread squares with a rolling pin 
3. Top each slice of bread with one piece of cheese (don't be tempted to use more cheese; in this case, one  is plenty).
4. Melt butter in pan over medium heat.
5. Roll your cheese squares up and cook them in the melted butter over medium heat, SEAM SIDE DOWN first to secure them.. when you see that they're closed up you can roll them occasionally while cooking to crisp all sides.
6. After about 5 minutes remove from the pan and your READY TO ROLL!!

** Another addition to try along with the cheese, throw on some lunch meat like ham or turkey. Or even switch up the cheese to spicy pimento. And doesn't everything taste better with bacon?

These make a great after school snack or pair it with soup for a quick lunch. Super dunkable!
Be creative with yours! Let me know how it goes. 

Love, Lana

Hot Ham n Cheese Sandwich Casserole

I got this awesome recipe from (a)musing foodie using something I absolutely love.. Hawaiian Bread! School is out and that means more time outdoors. We enjoy having our meals out on the patio. So when the rain cleared and the sun came out I wanted to make the fam a delicious lunch. This is super easy to make because you prepare it ahead of time. If you can make a sandwich, you can make this Hot Ham n Cheese Sandwich Casserole. 

Ingredients

2 24-packs King's Hawaiian Rolls

1 pound shaved Virginia ham

24 slices Swiss cheese

1-1/2 sticks butter

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons dried onions

2 teaspoons poppy seeds

 Directions

Slice the King's Hawaiian rolls in half. Line the bottom of two 9X11 baking pans with the bottom halves of the rolls, 24 in each pan (they should just fit). Spread the ham over the rolls, and then layer the Swiss cheese on top. Place the other halves of the rolls on top. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan, combine the butter, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dried onions. Over medium heat, stir until the butter has melted to create the sauce. Pour equal parts of the sauce over top of the rolls, and then sprinkle the tops with the poppy seeds. Cover the pans tightly with aluminum foil, and then refrigerate for at least three hours - or overnight (better).

When You're Ready to Bake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the covered baking dishes in the oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese has finished melting. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 48 mini sandwiches.

I made a few changes. I divided the recipe in half. (What would we do with all those sandwiches??) And for a couple of them I added some pastrami.. because we had some, and my dad likes pastrami! Next time I'll make his with spicy cheese. If you like hot sandwiches.. (think of Firehouse Subs) but a mini version you can do yourself give this one a try. Soooo yum! Lunch turned out great and we will definitely have this again.

Love, Lana

Lana's enchiladas

The other day I made homemade chicken tenders. I had leftovers for the next day, but felt like having something different. To the pantry I go!! Working with what I had I came up with a cheesy enchilada that kids can enjoy and have fun cooking.

Lana's Enchiladas
8 chicken tenders
1 jar GOYA sofrito
1 box GOYA rice and beans
4 flour tortillas
1 packet of Chi Chi's sweet corn cake
1 package shredded mexican cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Depending on how many you are making, size the baking dish accordingly. I only made a little bit for me and my brother so I used a 9x9 casserole dish. It fit 4 large enchiladas. Spray the dish with cooking spray and then spread a thin layer of Sofrito sauce on it and set aside.
3. In each tortilla: spread about 1tbsp Sofrito sauce, place 2 chicken tenders, generously top with shredded cheese.

4. Roll up tortilla and place in backing dish seam side down.

5. Once they're all lined up, top with remaining sofrito and cheese.

6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

I paired my enchiladas with Rice and Beans and Sweet Corn Cake. Both are cooked according to the directions on the package. Except, with the corn cake, instead of baking it like a "cake" I put them in a muffin pan.

Enjoy! Love, Lana

Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4-5oz ea)
1 box (9oz) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to drain
2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 13x9 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl mix spinach, onion, and mozzarella cheese.
3. Between pieces of waxed paper roll chicken flat with a rolling pin.. make them about 1/8in thick. Sprinkle with garlic salt.
4. Place about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture on the center of each chicken breast. Roll up chicken.
5. In a shallow plate, mix bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
6. Roll chicken in melted butter, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place seam side down in baking dish.
7. Bake for 15min, turn chicken over and bake for 15-20 more minutes.. until golden brown.

This was a quick and easy dish to make and it all came together with ingredients we always have on hand. One thing I might have to change to the recipe is add more cheese. I'm a kid.. and we like cheese!

Love, Lana

heart to heart

Hello! I know I am a little late in posting this, but I just wanted to share my Valentines Day with you all. This year was all about hearts.. sweet, cute, nutty, and crunchy hearts!

I made sugar cookies with cookie icing, candy eyes, m&m's, and sprinkles. And then packaged each one with a Valentine Card.

My little brother wanted ninja valentines, of course, so we made simple treats to match his cards. Fortune cookies dipped in red melts, sprinkled with hearts.

And just a little something extra.. chocolate covered pretzel hearts.

We wanted to make it a family movie night so we rented "Gnomeo and Juliet". I made mini cupcakes with yellow cake and chocolate frosting in darlin red and white polka dotted cups. My mom made themed cupcake picks and also red chocolate hearts for toppers. We made some with a macadamia nut inside. So yummy!

It was a sweet Valentines Day for us all. Hope you got to spend it with your loved ones too!

Love, Lana