Happy Halloween {Cupcakes}

Trick or Treat!

It’s almost here.

A few pics of My Halloween cupcakes!

What are you whipping up for Halloween!

Pop over and see more great Halloween Treats

xoxo, Mama Bird

{ghostly} Sheppard's Pie {Jen Cooks}

  My good friend Jen is back sharing another one of her family favs. I did not have the success that she did with my ghost. However, the Holiday Spirit is there and the dish was a hit with the boys.

1 lb ground beef (I use turkey)

1 onion, chopped

1 (12oz) bag frozen veggies

2 cups diced tomatoes

1 jar beef gravy

1 3/4 c chicken or beef broth

2 T butter

1/4 t garlic powder

1/2 c milk

2 1/4 c mashed potatoes

1/4 c parmesan cheese

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375. Brown meat & onion, set aside 12 peas, add remaining veggies, tomatoes, gravy to beef mix. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 8-10 mins. Add egg to potatoes, mix well. Put beef mix in a casserole dish, mound potatoes in 6 “ghost” shapes. Use peas as eyes. Bake 20-25 mins. 

Happy Halloween!! mama bird

Pumpkin Chili

For this edition of Souper Sunday it is Halloween week and it's all about the PUMPKIN!! I am so excited to re-share my friend Michelle's Pumpkin Chili Recipe. It may inspire you to whip up something fun for Halloween!! It is so odd, I know, but really yummy!! Give it a try!!

1 T. canola oil

1 onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef or turkey (I used turkey)

1  can cannellini beans

1 can black beans

2- 28 oz. chopped tomatoes (I like a ton of tomatoes)

1 can  pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!!)

7 oz. chopped green chilies

1 can chicken broth

1 T. cumin

1 T. chili powder

1 t. sugar

1 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon

1 t. unsweetened cocoa

Saute garlic and onion in oil. Add meat and brown. Add remaining ingredients, cover; simmer for approx. an hour- stirring occasionally. This also works great in the crock pot. Enjoy!!

trick or treat! mama bird

Percy Jackson Birthday Soiree

A good friend’s daughter is having a Birthday and she LOVES the Percy Jackson book series and especially is in LOVE with Greek Mythology. I am so excited to share ideas for this party! Fun and Different!!

Invite: Parchment Scroll written in purple, tied with a gold ribbon. (the Birthday Girl is making them!)

Decor: White, gold & BLUE

Games: Make a sign “Camp Half Blood” for some “Olympic” games

1. Capture the Flag

2. Scavenger Hunt

2. Trivia Game (also printed on parchment looking paper with medals for the winner)

Favor/Craft:

1. Nature Walk at dusk, search for leaves to make Laurel Wreaths for each girl to wear a “crown”. This is the PERFECT time of year!!

Greek Menu: I get really excited about Greek Food!!

Kabobs

Greek Layer Dip w/ pita chips & carrot sticks

Strawberries  (the fav food of Camp Half Blood)

BLUE cake, cupcakes BLUE punch, BLUE cookies (blue is the color of food that Percy’s Mom makes him for special occasions!!) I used symbols from the book, the trident, a maze and a lightening bolt to make cupcake toppers and cake decoration.

xoxo, Mama Bird

Mantel {FALL} Makeover

Even though FALL is NOT in the air this week (82 today). I decided it was time to do a Mantel Makeover to celebrate my FAV season. This makeover only cost me $6. for the Halloween banner, everything else, I already had!! My fav part of the whole mantel is the Candy Pumpkin Tree that Jack and I made this afternoon, with left over candy, pumpkin candy corn that he had to have! (and didn’t like, did I mention during the melt down in Wally he had “needing” the afore mentioned candy corn, I told him he wouldn’t like it!!) Branches we collected in the yard and some festive ribbon I had on hand.  Cute, don’t ya think?

Hubs suggested I make an apple necklace for the deer. I may just take that challenge. Any suggestions?

Are you doing any FALL/Harvest/ Halloween Makeovers?

xoxo, Mama Bird

up next…

Carmel Apple Cake &

Front Door {Harvest} Makeover!!

Weekly Run Down {countdown to Halloween}

This week is hopefully going to be a bit easier than last. I have a few new recipes to try out and a few less cakes to bake! This week Apple Cake with orange syrup and Carmel Icing!! yum-yum (will share recipe later this week!). Also, Jen is sharing her Ghostly Sheppard’s Pie and I will be re-posting PUMPKIN CHILI both perfect for Halloween!! Look for lots of new cakes & cupcakes as well!!

On our menu:

Monday~ Sausage & Lentil Soup (Carrabba’s inspired)

Tuesday~ Portabella Mushroom Pork Tenderloin

Wednesday~ Leftovers (Mama is working late)

Thursday~ Baked Ziti

Friday~ Pumpkin Patch & Pizza!!

What’s on your Menu?

xoxo, Mama Bird

Souper Sunday! {Sausage & Lentil}

Fall is back and along with the change of the season, I am back to my Souper Sunday Meal Planning. I make a big pot of soup, stew or chowder every Sunday for a great Family Night Meal as well as a perfect add on to week day lunches. Tonight’s meal is inspired by Carrabba’s  Sausage & Lentil soup.

1 lb sweet Italian sausage, browned & drained

1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
6 cups chicken broth
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cloves garlic
2 cups dry lentils

salt, pepper, red pepper, basil, oregano, thyme & parsley  to taste
Brown Italian sausage, drain and put in crock pot. Sauté all veggies in sausage drippings, add to crock pot.  Add all remaining ingredients to crock pot. Set on low and enjoy.

Do you have a FAMILY FAV Soup or Stew you’d like to share? I would LOVE to feature YOU on SOUPER SUNDAY.
xoxo, Mama Bird

{Jen Cooks} Asian Beef & Noodles

My good friend and excellent cook, Jen shared this recipe with me last week and it was great! Super easy, quick and the boys gobbled it up! I am hoping that she will agree to continue to share some of her wonderful recipes with MBN.

Asian Beef & Noodles

1 lb ground turkey

2 pkgs Oriental Ramen Noodles

2 cup chicken broth or beef broth

2 cup frozen veg mix

1/2 tsp ginger (I used curry powder)

green onions

In a lg skillet, brown meat, drain, season meat w/ 1 seasoning pkt and set aside. In same skillet, combine broth, veg, noodles, seasonings. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover for 3 mins. Return meat to pan and stir in onions.  

Next Week Jen shares her Ghostly Sheppard's Pie

on the menu…

This is going to be a doozie of a week for me. 2 doz guitar themed cupcakes for Monday, Dora for Wed, Homecoming cupcakes for HHS on Thursday, more Dora & a baby shower on Saturday. 100+ cupcakes between now and the next 7 days! (and this is just my side job!) SO, you ask what the heck is on the menu for this week? Well, I hesitate to say. I’m going to WING IT! yikes, we’re playing fast & wild with my day timer here.

Monday~ chicken in the crockpot ?

Tuesday~ spaghetti

Wednesday~ ground turkey? tacos?

Thursday~ leftovers?

Friday~ Family Fun Night @ Pre-school

Wish us luck.

Mama Bird

Give Thanks and Eat {my newest love}

  Had a new visitor today Lolly Jane! I am in LOVE with their stuff I have to share with you their creation.

“GIVE THANKS AND EAT”

I am heading to the etsy store to buy this for my kitchen. I just LOVE it!!!

Now the problem which one do I order? The classic/retro with the plate or the  funky/classic with the candelabra? 

xoxo, Mama Bird

Cabbage Wraps

I have never made or eaten cabbage wraps, but this week in my goal to make a different dish everyday I thought, WHY NOT? My original inspiration was a deconstructed crockpot version. After reading it more closely I decided if I was going to make the dish then I should DO IT! The real way. All I knew was that it was a meat mix rolled in cabbage leaves and cooked. I found further inspiration from a Martha recipe as well as Smitten Kitchen. In true form I took a little from each and made my own. Here goes!

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 apples, diced

2 T olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

2 T tomato paste

1 c rice, cooked

salt & pepper to taste

2 t paprika

garlic

1 head of cabbage

1 28 oz can tomato sauce

Remove core from cabbage and place in large bowl and pour boiling water over top, cover with towel, allow to steam/cook for 10 mins. Add 1 T olive oil to a deep/wide sauté pan; sauté veggies and place in bowl. Brown turkey; add to bowl. Stir in tomato paste, rice, spices.  Remove cabbage leaves, one by one and dry between paper towels. Roll meat mix in leaves. Place back in sauté  pan, top with tomato sauce. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 mins.

This was actually really quit tasty! I was really surprised.

Enjoy!

Mama Bird

Harvest Pork Tenderloin {Crockpot}

I was inspired this week to do ALL new recipes! I found a yummy looking pork recipe and thought it would be great. My goal was to use meat from the freezer and groceries I had on hand so as always I had to switch up the recipe a bit. 
Layer in the crockpot:
3 sweet potatoes, sliced med-thin
1 sweet onion sliced
1 t curry powder
Pork Tenderloin
1 to 2 T Steen’s Pure Cane Syrup (molasses or maple syrup would work)
1 t curry powder/ salt to taste
4 small apples, sliced
1/2 c dried cranberries
2/3 c chicken broth
I started this after lunch and turned the pot on high for 4hrs. Normally I would do on low all day. It was great! VERY FALL!! Loved it!
xoxo, Mama Bird

Finally FALL!! {Freezer Cooking}

Finally! It feels like fall! 48 this morning and I have to say I am so happy! I am making an attempt this week at cooking solely from my freezer. AND to try ALL NEW RECIPES!!!  I have ground turkey, flank steak, pork tenderloin, shrimp and chicken! I believe this will be a success. I began my Recipe Search and HERE is this weeks FOOD line-up. I am sharing the recipes I found for inspiration and I will post my critique. This is going to be FUN!!

Monday~ Pork Tenderloin {CROCKPOT} via

Tuesday~ BBQ Flank Steak via Vanilla Garlic

Wednesday~ Stuffed Cabbage Casserole {CROCKPOT} via Nanny Kim’s

Thursday~ Grilled Sour Cream Shrimp via Food & Wine

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Family Night Out for Pizza! SO EXCITED Mellow Mushroom is OPEN!