McDonald's Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe

After reading a few different recipes for this, I decided this particular recipe sounded the best in my opinion. We made it tonight for a St. Patty's day treat, and we all thought it was YUMMY! This might become an annual tradition. :) Definitely beats corned beef and cabbage, although I wouldn't really know since I've never actually eaten corned beef and cabbage... :)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups good quality vanilla ice cream
• 1 3/4 cups 1% milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Green food coloring, if desired

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely thick and smooth. Pour into glasses and serve!

This made plenty for all 3 of us. We also topped ours with whipped cream and green sprinkles, like the picture.

Dinnertime 'Cupcakes'

For dinner the other night, we had cupcakes for dinner! ;)

I made our favorite meatloaf recipe (found here), but instead of cooking it in a loaf pan, I baked it at 350 degrees in muffin tins for about 15 minutes.

Then, we 'frosted' each mini meatloaf with crockpot mashed potatoes, and I added a 'cherry' dot of ketchup. Katelee was tickled that we were eating cupcakes for dinner! ;) And, this is Gerald's very favorite meal (though he doesn't really care if it is in the shape of a cupcake or not!) ;)

Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Source: budgetsavvydiva.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I saw this recipe on pinterest recently and tried it out this week. It was super easy and truly delicious! I have two crock pots, and I think it would be wonderful on a Sunday morning to put these potatoes in one and a roast or some chicken in the other and come home to dinner - YUM!

Ingredients

• 5 Pounds of Russet Potatoes
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup butter, cut into small cubes chunks
• 1 1/4 cup light sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup milk, warmed
• 2 ounces of light cream cheese

Instructions

1. Peel Potatoes and Cube – I try and get 12 cubes per potato.
2. Get your crock pot out and set it to high. Put – Potatoes – Chicken Stock – and Butter into the Crock Pot
3. Cook for 4.5 hours
4. Roughly Mash Potatoes – then add garlic, sour cream, salt, pepper, milk, and cream cheese and finish mashing
5. Enjoy!

Chicken Ranch Tacos

With a new baby around, I am on the search for recipes that are extremely EASY, FAST, and still DELICIOUS! Here is another one that completely fits this description!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 chicken breasts
• 1 packet of Hidden Valley ranch seasoning mix (I did NOT use the buttermilk kind, but I'm not sure it would matter.)
• 1 packet Taco Seasoning
• water
• Taco shells & toppings

In the morning, throw your chicken into the crockpot. Sprinkle the seasoning packets over the chicken and add a bit of water and mix it up so the chicken is coated with the seasoning. Cook on low all day. I stirred it occasionally, but I'm sure it wasn't necessary. By dinnertime, the chicken will be ready to shred up nicely. Place in a tortilla or taco shell and top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cheese, and whatever other toppings you love. Enjoy! This has such a nice rich flavor for being so stinkin' easy!