Recipe: Cheesy Fiesta Tacos #McCormickTacoNight

I’ve said it before, but I love Mexican food. Whether it’s tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or another tasty dish, I could eat it every day if Justin wouldn’t get sick of it. As it is, we have some sort of Mexican dish at least every other week- &more often than not, it’s tacos that we’re enjoying.

McCormick Spices

One of the best things about tacos is the seasoning! I love McCormick spices & use them for just about everything. I even like to make my own taco seasoning sometimes so I can get it just the way I like it, and I use a lot of McCormick spices for that. For those nights when you just want an easy dinner though, McCormick still has you covered. They make a perfect prepared taco seasoning mix, and even a chicken taco seasoning that I really want to try. My newest love is the Cheesy Taco Seasoning Mix!

McCormick Cheesy Taco Seasoning Mix

McCormick sent me a package containing many of their seasonings & while I’m super excited to try them all, I just had to check out this new-to-me seasoning.


Cheesy Fiesta Tacos by McCormick & @NotQuiteSusie #McCormickTacoNight

Cheesy Fiesta Tacos

{from the McCormick website}

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef or turkey {I used turkey}
1 package McCormick Cheesy Taco Mix
3/4 cup milk
12 taco shells

Directions:

1. Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Drain fat.
2. Stir in seasoning mix and milk.
3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer 2 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spoon into warm taco shells. Serve with desired toppings.


I always set out the toppings as a taco bar, so I have a bowl of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded Mexican cheese. When I make regular tacos or burritos I add fresh cilantro & sour cream, but these did not need either of those because the seasoning packet already provided the perfect amount of flavor. Setting out a taco bar makes this an even easier dinner because everyone can do their own toppings just how they want them- saving you time and making it easier to go back for second without having to put stuff away twice. {Which was nice, since we may have both gone back for thirds.}

pinterest taco giveaway challenge

Win It: McCormick & The Motherhood are giving away 30 prize packs full of McCormick spices to those who participate in the Pinterest Taco Night Challenge! Now through May 31st, just pin or repin any taco recipe {yes, this one counts! If you need more inspiration, check out the McCormick Pinterest page} and caption it with the hashtag #McCormickTacoNight- and be sure to tag me @NotQuiteSusie! Good luck!

What’s your favorite spice?

Note: I was compensated for my work on this campaign. All opinions are my own.

Recipe: Seven Minute Pesto Pizza #FlatoutGood

We absolutely love pizza. I know pretty much everyone does, but really, it’s one of our favorite foods. It’s definitely not the healthiest food out there though, so we do what we can to improve it so that we can eat it more without feeling guilty. We add veggies, go light on the cheese or sauce, and even use Flatout Flatbreads to cut some calories while still enjoying a super crisp & yummy slice!

flatout

Not only do we save calories with Flatout, but we save time, too. To make a pizza with their Artisan Pizza flatbreads, you just preheat either your oven or grill, preheat your flatbread for a couple of minutes, add your toppings &then bake or grill for another few minutes. That’s it!

Flatout has several delicious recipes on their Facebook page- in fact, they’re sharing one every day for thirty days! The other day, I tried their Thin Crust Spicy Margarita Pizza {currently featured as Day 2’s recipe on Facebook} and it was delicious! Our grill is a little too hot so it got a bit crisp, but even so it was delicious.


Thin Crust Spicy Margarita Pizza

Thin Crust Spicy Margarita Pizza

Ingredients:
1 Flatout® Thin Crust Flatbread Spicy Italian
½ Medium Tomato Sliced
2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
6 Small fresh Basil leaves

Directions:
Preheat grill to 350°F. Pre-bake the flatbread on the grill for 1-2 minutes. Remove flatbread from grill. Top with cheese, tomato and basil. Return flatbread. Close lid. Grill for 4 minutes.

Oven Method: Place Flatout Flatbread on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for two minutes. Remove and top with cheese, tomato and basil. Bake at 350 for four minutes. Remove from oven. Drizzle with Balsamic.


After I made that delicious pizza, I was feeling inspired to make my own. I love pesto pizza & that’s always my go-to when we go out for a slice, so I made the most ridiculously easy pesto pizza ever. It doesn’t look like much but it is SO yummy!


7 Minute Pesto Pizza

7 Minute Pesto Pizza


Ingredients:
Flatout Thin Crust Flatbread Rustic White
Premade Pesto Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh Basil Leaves

Directions*:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place flatbread on baking sheet and preheat in oven for 3 minutes.
Spoon and spread pesto sauce in a thin layer on flatbread
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese as desired
Return to oven & bake for 3-4 minutes, until cheese is melted
Top with fresh basil leaves

*{These are the oven directions- My grill is too hot so I made this one in the oven. To recreate on the grill, follow directions on Flatout package.}

Buy It: If you’re in the mood for some yummy homemade pizza, be sure to head to your local Walmart where you can find many different Flatout varieties. {Check the store locator for availability.} &Be sure to check out their Facebook page for more recipe inspiration!

Win It: Flatout is giving away a two-night trip for 2 to experience Taste of Chicago 2013 from July 10-14! Enter using the form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you like on your pizza?

Note: I was compensated for my work on this campaign. All opinions are my own.

Recipe: Sweet Basil & Garlic Pasta Sauce {&Huge The Pampered Chef Giveaway!}

I am a kitchen tool junkie. Big or small, manual, battery-powered or electric, I love to try out new products for the kitchen. So when The Pampered Chef offered to send me a selection of their new Spring products, I couldn’t turn it down!

They sent me some amazing products & challenged me to make a recipe featuring at least one of the products. But there were so many items that were relevant to the way I cook that in coming up with my recipe, I actually used 5 of their products!

New Tools from The Pampered Chef

I’ve been experimenting with different pasta sauces lately, and I’ve loved the ones I’ve made, but it really had me missing my Mom’s homemade sauce. I still wanted to make something a little different though, so I started with her recipe and added in some extra herbs & spices for a bit more kick.

Sweet Basil and Garlic Pasta Sauce

Sweet Basil & Garlic Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. whole wheat pasta
  • 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 28 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 8 oz. water
  • Salad dressing: Red Wine Vinaigrette or Italian
  • Garlic Powder, 2 tbsp {divided}
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • The Pampered Chef Sweet Basil Rub
  • 1/2 tbsp Italian Seasonings
  • 4 tbsp grated Parmesan {or to taste}
  • 4 green onions

Directions

  1. Coat the bottom of a medium saucepan with the dressing of choice. Heat on medium until bubbling, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add 1 tbsp. garlic powder and stir.
  3. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water and stir well.
  4. Add Sweet Basil Rub, Italian Seasonings and remaining 1 tbsp Garlic Powder. Stir.
  5. Cover pan with tight-fitting lid and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. In the meantime, cook pasta. To prevent boil-over, use The Pampered Chef’s Boil Over No More.
  7. Use The Pampered Chef’s Garlic Smash & Paste to easily remove the peels of the garlic cloves & to make garlic paste.
  8. When the sauce has been simmering for 25 minutes, carefully remove lid and add garlic paste and grated parmesan. Stir well, remove from heat &let cool for a few minutes before serving.
  9. Top your pasta with the sauce and garnish with green onions that have been nipped with The Pampered Chef Bean Slicer.
http://www.notquitesusie.com/2013/04/recipe-sweet-basil-garlic-pasta-sauce-huge-the-pampered-chef-giveaway.html

I also made garlic bread to go along with the meal using The Pampered Chef Scoop & Spread- it was easy to scoop the butter spread, mix it, and spread it onto the bread all with the same tool.

As you can see, The Pampered Chef has a lot of tools that help make cooking easier- and more fun!

Buy It: You can check out The Pampered Chef’s website to buy or consider hosting a party to earn free and discounted products!

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a The Pampered Chef prize pack valued at over $300! Click on to see what the prize pack includes & to enter using the simple form below. Good luck!

[Read more...]

Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Recipe

My family is PB&J obsessed. Shane is in a stage where he’ll only eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for lunch, no matter what else we’re offering, and I send one with Justin to work most days. I enjoy them occasionally {I’d have them all.the.time. if they were calorie-free} but my favorite time to have them is when I’m sick.

Grilling PB&J

We all have those comfort foods that remind us of our childhood, and for me, that’s grilled peanut butter & jelly. My Mom used to make it for me whenever I was sick as a kid since I am a PB&J lover and it was about all I could stomach when I was sick. Whenever Shane isn’t feeling great, or if we just want to make our PB&J special, we grill it on the stovetop!

Shane & I made this how-to video below, complete with {Shane’s} funky dance moves:

You can see how easy it is to take a plain peanut butter & jelly sandwich and turn it into a special, gooey treat! Welch’s is a great jelly choice for your treat because their strawberry spreads are made with sweet, vine ripened strawberries, their  Concord Grape Jelly & Natural Grape Spread are made with Welch’s own Concord grapes grown in the US & Canada, and their natural spreads contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors or colors, and no preservatives. That’s a “treat” I can get behind!

welch's

Another reason I love PB&J is that Shane always loves to help me in the kitchen, and PB&J is an easy food for kids to help with. Despite appearances from the video {he always turns into a ham when the camera’s on} he often asks to help me make his sandwiches & loves to enjoy his own creations!

Did you know that this coming Tuesday, April 2nd, is National PB&J Day? To celebrate, Welch’s is running a Facebook contest where you can “PB&J Your Way”! Tell Welch’s your creative spin on PB&J for a chance to win $500 and a one year supply of grape jelly {Justin’s favorite!}, plus 50 people will win a sandwich keeper! Just click here to enter!

What is your favorite way to enjoy PB&J?

Note: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Welch’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

St. Patrick’s Day Snack: Over The Veggie Rainbow

I love trying new & creative ways to get Shane to eat vegetables. He likes a couple but refuses to try anything that he doesn’t already love {which includes broccoli, carrots & not much else}. Disney’s Family Fun Magazine has this adorable Over the Veggie Rainbow snack that is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!

Over the Veggie Rainbow Snack for Kids- A Fun, Creative Way to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies and Perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

Over The Veggie Rainbow

Ingredients

  • Small bowl
  • Dip of choice (we used guacamole)
  • Bell peppers – various colors
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots

Directions

  1. Fill a small bowl with dip.
  2. Slice four long strips of bell peppers in various colors and arrange them as shown.
  3. Cut two small cauliflower clouds, skewer each with a toothpick, then position one on each side of the peppers.
  4. Place sliced carrot coins beside the bowl for the leprechaun’s pot of gold.
http://www.notquitesusie.com/2013/03/st-patricks-day-snack-over-the-veggie-rainbow.html

Do you have any fun St. Patrick’s Day snacks planned?

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