Sabrina Sandoval

4 Fool Proof, Go-To Recipes

I enjoy cooking but I like the trusty go to recipes that I know my kids will eat. Here are 4 of our favorite ones that are great for the cold weather.

Noodles and Beef Tip:

You'll Need:
1/2 package of egg noodles
1 package of stew meat or any cheaper cuts of steak.
1 package brown gravy mix.
salt and pepper to taste & EVOO
*In a large skillet heat 1 T. of EVOO, You'll want to cut your stew meat into smaller pieces, salt and pepper and then toss into a hot skillet. Let your meat cook until it has a nice caramelized look to all sides. As your meat is cooking bring to boil a large pan of water, cook your egg noodles. Once the meat and noodles are both cooked, take 1 C. of the noodle water and put it in your large skillet with your meat, add brown gravy mix, stir. Drain noodles and then toss all of your noodles into the skillet. Mix everything together. My kids LOVE this recipe, its simple, easy, doesn't cost a ton and is a great go-to!

Chicken-Potato Bake

You'll Need:
6 chicken legs
4 large potatoes carrots and celery optional.
1 C. Parmesan cheese
3 T. EVOO
1 C. Italian Dressing
*Place your chicken legs in a 9x 13 pan. Then add your vegetables (I cut them into wedges), around the chicken legs. Top with EVOO, Parm Cheese, and Italian Dressing. Bake at 350* for 40-50 min. Serve. For a family of 6 I have to double the above recipe as my kiddos LOVE this. We rarely have chicken since we raise beef so it's a bit of a treat for them.

Chili

You'll Need:
1 pound browned beef
2 cans Chili Beans
1 can Black Beans
2 C. Tomato Juice
2 T. Tomato paste
1 Can canned tomatoes
1 tsp. Onion powder
1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. crushed chili peppers
cheese, Frito's or toppings of choice.
*I make my chili in a crock-pot and let it do its thing for an entire day. But first I turn my crock-pot on and I put the Tomato Paste at the bottom for a few min. until you can smell the aroma. Then I add all of the other ingredients. Sometimes I add a little onion but one of our daughters isn't a fan of onions. Then I let it cook all day and its ready to serve. This is perfect for a cold day and warms the soul :)

Spanish Rice

You'll Need:

2 C. white rice

1 medium chopped onion

1 chicken bullion cube

1 T. Tomato paste

2 tsp. oregano

salt and pepper to taste

*I use my Spanish rice as a side to lots of meals we eat. First you'll want a pot and a pan out. In your pan you'll heat it with 1 T. EVOO. In your pot you'll heat to a boil 3 C. water and add your bullion cube. Switch back to your now hot pan and add your rice, cook for a few min. until you notice the rice starting to turn brown. Then add your onion and cook another minute. Once your water is boiling, add your rice, tomato paste and seasonings. Stir. Boil for 5 minutes and then reduce to a simmer for another 20 minutes or until the rice is fluffy. I don't like squishy rice so I watch mine closely.

Here's to staying warm in these cold months ahead!

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Watching our Family Grow

This time of year is picture time for most families. I had these three similar poses saved on my computer and it's so much fun to see how we've changed. My super talented friend Renee, took the top two photos and I used the timer on my camera for the bottom one.

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Halloween 2013

Such a fun thing about having 4 kids...

Dressing them up as the characters from Wizard of Oz!

Our kids school is so amazing! Providing so much fun for the kiddos.

And I have to say my girls have done the best job picking their friends.

It helps to have cousins that are the same age too. I love that Lilian and Kalli are in the same class.

Here's a fun picture of us trick-or-treating. We had tons of fun!

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A AUNT JULIE

If you know Julie you know what I'm saying. Julie is the best - no other way to put it. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. The kids all love her, shes such an encourager, friend, helper. In the month of being Thankful, this is one person that I'm super Thankful for!

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CREATE

It's fun to create!

I made these candle holders out of an old post and some barn wood. I had intended to make them as a Christmas gift since it's less than 2 months away, but now I'm thinking I might keep them :)

They are super simple with a touch of rustic.

There sitting on a new entry table I built out of wood from a fence line that was torn out this fall and right below my fancy coat rack I made a few months back.

Old things really have so much character.

Our back entry way has such limited space and shoes are typically all over. This entry table is just 2 feet long and a foot wide but I hope that it helps to keep things off of the floor.

And a cute little basket to hold gloves and hats as it's getting colder outside.

Those little boots are just the cutest... Make me think of my little cowgirl that wears them.

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Playing in the Corn

Corn Harvest was a few weeks ago, its one of those times in the year that my girls look most to.

Playing in the corn!

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Home-Made Benches

After I finished my table and new leaf, I needed to have matching seating. So it got me thinking...

I dug through our garage and found this 10 foot long 2x12. Cut it in half. Found some old 2x4s and measured them the same length as a chair leg would be. I then added some support.

I had the cutest little helper with me too... Do you see Owen in his pack and play? This project really was pretty simple and took maybe half an hour.

I wanted the color to match that of an old chair that I have (on the right). It's black but very warn. I used a coat of Ebony stain first, then I put on a coat of black paint very lightly. Once that was dry I sanded it lightly to give that used look.

And here they are in our kitchen. Perfect fit! There easy for the girls and they no longer fight over who is sitting in what chair. That's a huge victory in itself.

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{Table Reveal}

I've had this project on my to do list for a few years and I can finally cross it off!

This table was my great grandmothers. I remember it always being at the bottom of the stairs of her house. It would open and big enough for a leaf but we couldn't find any leaves for it. With a family of 6 we needed some more room. So I sat out to make it bigger.

I cut a board to fit the length I needed.

Drilled holes in the board so it would fit into the nubby thing that was already existent on the table.

Here's what it looked like after I fit the leaf in. I then sanded and sanded and sanded some more.

After the sanding was done I stained the entire table and new leaf to match. Once that was done I put on three layers of Polyurethane to help protect the table. A few of the old markings I couldn't get out with sanding. But I think it adds character and we all know how I love the look of old things!