Up... Up... and Away!

Indianola is known for it's hot air balloons. We have lived here for going on 2 years and I had yet to go to the Balloon Classic! Riding in a hot air balloon is on my bucket list - so hopefully next year I'll get a chance to ride in one. I did judge the Balloon Queen Pageant - which was fun!

Here are few pictures of the balloons. They also did "night glow" where they all light the balloons at once, it was so beautiful!



I also wanted to share what I made for dinner tonight!

Cheeseburger Bake

 (I know I've been making a lot of "burger" meals - but we have a ton of ground beef.. and it's easy!)

Ingredients:

•  8 oz. tube of crescent rolls (get a coupon for .75 off here) - I'll save my "crazy couponing" for a future post)
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
• 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
• 2 c. shredded cheese

Directions:

1. Unroll crescent roll dough, press into a greased 9" round baking pan, pinching seams closed.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes (until golden) set aside.

 

3. Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat; drain.

 

4. Add taco seasoning and tomato sauce to skillet; heat through, about 7 minutes.

 

5. Pour into crust

 

6. Sprinkle Cheese on top!

 

7. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving!

 

 

Yum!



Cheeseburger Lasagna

I promise I am going to become better at posting  more recipes once school starts! I really don't do a whole lot of cooking during the summer because 1. Usually our food is on the grill 2. We are so busy I just throw stuff together :)

But I thought cheeseburger lasagna sounded so delicious - so I googled it and made it my own. Here's the recipe!

Cheeseburger Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 3 tbsp onion minced
• 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup of ketchup
• 1 tbsp of mustard
• 1 egg
• 1 15 container or ricotta (I just used cottage cheese)
• Uncooked lasagna noodles
• cheddar cheese (or whatever you got)

Directions:

1. Brown meat, add minced onions (I just used a jar of chopped, dried onions) Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. After meat is browned, add tomato sauce, ketchup and mustard.
3. In another bowl, beat the egg, then add the ricotta or cottage cheese and 2 cups of any cheese blend.
4. Spray your pan GOOD!
5. Add meat mixture, then uncooked noodles, then cheese mixture and repeat until you reach the top!
6. Cover top with cheese
7. Heat oven to 350. bake lasagna covered, 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 25-35 minutes longer until bubble.
8. I LOVE PICKLES! So I added some to the top. Feel free to add: lettuce, tomato, sour cream, anything!

I served mine with some fresh bread (from the farmer's market.) I sliced it and buttered it and sprinkled ranch from the seasoning packet on it! Yummy!

I can't believe that I start going back to school for  meetings NEXT week! I'm sure Tyler will be happy because I will get all of my "teacher stuff" out of our office :)

Hope you all are having a great summer!
x- K

It finally happened!

After 2 years of praying and staying optimistic it has finally happened!!!

I am happy to say that I will be teaching next year! I have accepted a position as a reading teacher at Wilder Elementary. I am so excited to have a consistent group of students every day. I am also excited to decorate my room and just share my passion for reading.

Any advice or ideas are welcome! I have already gotten a few books on forms for 1st year teachers and my mom has a lot of classroom decor that she has graciously saved for me in my dad's warehouse for the past 3 years! I will be sure to post pictures of my 1st classroom.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts!

In my next house...

I came across this design idea from another blog (click here to check it out for yourself) and this is definitely something I want to try in our next home. I think it would be perfect in a small guest or entry bathroom to spice up your home.

Madison Humphrey

Maybe I am just a sucker for anything dog (or daschund.) Bold wallpaper would definitely not work in a large room - too much! But in a small bathroom - perfect!

Isn't this adorable and so fun?!

Here are few more fun things to brighten your day:

So cute!

Fun!

You want this? Click here

Happy Tuesday!!
x- K

Summer Appetizers

It seems like summer is a time that we have guests over quite a bit for a bbq or just to get together. So I thought it would be nice to share some yummy summer appetizers!

Black Bean Corn Dip

(I always keep all these ingredients in my pantry - just incase I need to throw them all together!)

Ingredients:

•  1 can of diced tomatoes (get the can with peppers for some extra spice)
• 1 can of black beans (drained/rinsed)
• 1 can of mexican corn
• bunch of green onions
• bunch of cilantro

and TA DA mix it all together - add more of what you like (ex- cilantro) or you can always add other veggies you like (red peppers, a little bit of minced garlic.. be creative!!)

Lori's Dip

This recipe is from my mother's friend. It is absolutley delish! Don't let the ingredients fool you. It really is not that spicy (i'm not a huge "spicy" lover - but this dip is so yummy)

Ingredients:

•  1 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 cup of mayo
• 1 chopped jalenpeno (chop it alot!)
• Minced garlic (as much or little as you like)

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature (it's easier to mix) mix them all and heat it up in the  microwave. Serve with tortilla chip or crackers! I know you will love it.

Watermelon Salsa

This is one of my favorite summer things to have in the fridge! It is sweet and spicy and sooo good!

Ingredients:

•  3 cups of finely diced seedless watermelon (let it drain for a couple mins)
• 2 jalapeno peppers -seeded and minced.
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• Juice of two limes
• salt

Combine all ingredients except salt before serving add 1/4 tsp salt.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is my "go to" appetizer :) 

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Cream cheese
• 1 cup of ranch or blue cheese!
• 1 couple of finely shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 12.5 oz. of chicken
• 1/4 cup of hot sauce (I used Louisiana Hot Sauce)
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream

Mix all ingredients (I just put them all in my small crockpot) or just warm it up and serve with chips or crackers!! :)

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of chopped artichoke hearts
• 1/2 c - 1 cup frozed chopped spinach thawed and drained
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 c. parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• dash of pepper

Combine and heat up - served with chips, crackers or bread!

Shrimp Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sharp shredded cheddar
• 1 cup mayo
• dash of Worcestershire
• garlic salt (to taste)
• 6 chopped green onions
• 2 small can of tiny shrimp - drained

Combined and serve warm or cooled!

Chicken and Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• 20 oz. chopped chicken (4 breasts)
• 1 onion - diced
• 1 bell pepper - diced
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 4 oz. pepper jack cheese
• 1 clove garlic
• 3/4 c. velveeta
• 8 oz. sour cream
• 4 oz. jal. peppers

Microwave 3 minutes and stir. Continue microwaving 3 minutes and stir until thick and creamy.

Put in crockpot to keep warm. Serve with tortilla chips.

Hope these give you some ideas if you need to whip up a quick appetizer! :)

x-Kay

 

 

 







Summa Time

I know it has been 4-ever since I have blogged. It seems like we have been on-the-go every weekend - so it's been alittle tough to blog. So here is what you've missed!

Tyler's dad celebrate a birthday! Here is a picture of all the Pontier boys. :)

We ventured over to Davenport to see all our amazing friends for Pat's "fiesta" :)

We also picked the perfect to play some best ball golf (We actually used my shots quite a few times might I add..)



My best friend Caity had an absolutley gorgeous baby girl named Sophia Jo. I have LOVED getting to cuddle with her. Tyler and I babysat for them this week and got some great "practice" in.. (for some day...)

Isn't she just a doll? Love her!

Memorial Day weekend was spent in our favorite place in the U.S. - Lake of the Ozarks :) We had a blast!

Me & my hubby

We had so much fun at a Nascar Race in Kansas City. We got pit passes and actually got to meet all the "big wigs" like Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, etc. So much fun! :)

Other than that, I have been busy with coaching cheerleading at Indianola High School. I am looking forward to going to camp at ISU with the girls (even though it does make me feel a little old.)

I promise to start getting better on blogging more often. I have a ton of recipes to shares and summe decorating ideas so stay tuned!

x- Kay

Happy "EAT" ster :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend. I will make sure to post pictures of how my recipes turned out! (Click here to see what I'm cookin')

Here is YUMMY recipe we had last night and it is sooo good! (one of my new faves)

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Ingredients:

Photo

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 3/4 package of No Yokes noodles
• 2 cups sour cream
• 3/4 cup cottage cheese
• shredded cheese
• 1 bunch of green onions
• 15 oz. of tomato sauce

Directions:
1. Brown up ground beef (drain and add salt & pepper)
2. Add tomato sauce and let simmer.
3. Cook up noodles until soft, drain.
4. Mix sour cream, cottage cheese, then add green onions.
5. Mix noodles and sour cream mixture.
6. Add half of noodle mixture, then meat & tomato sauce mixture then add another noodle layer.
7. Top with shredded cheese.
8. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and brown.
9. Serve with french bread!

This recipe is from www.pioneerwomancooks.com Check out her website for yummy recipes!

Also, I wanted to share a cute favor that I am doing for my Easter lunch. My family has a love for Peeps, so this is perfect!



Go to www.eighteen25.blogspot.com for the FREE download and make some for yourself!!

Happy Easter!
xoxo,
K