Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

What's easier then throwing ingredients into the slow cooker and let it handle the work the rest of the day??
 
I've got an amazing recipe for Beef Stroganoff, that has become a family favorite!! And did I mention it's easy to prepare!?
 
With this meal, you can throw it together at night put it in the fridge, and it's ready for you to put in slow cooker while your racing for work (or getting the kids ready for school)
 
 
 
These are the ingredients needed.
 
2 Packs of Beef Stroganoff Seasoning Mix
2 Large sized containers of Sour Cream
Family Pack size Boneless Beef for Stew
Large bag of Medium Egg Noodles
 
 
I start off by cutting the beef chunks into smaller sections. This is optional, but I think this gives the stroganoff more meat pieces.
 
Then you scoop the meat into the slow cooker and add water and both stroganoff seasoning mixes.
 


 
To get a thicker sauce, add just enough water to barely cover the top of the meat. For thinner sauce you can add more water.
 
Stir the Stroganoff mix in with the water and meat and allow it to cook on high heat for at least 8 hours.
 
 
Ok so your home from work, the house is smelling amazing and it's getting closer to eat.
 
Next step is to stir in both Sour Creams and allow it to thicken up while your boiling your noodles.
 
I didn't take pictures of the noddle cooking part. So, boil your noodles until tender drain and add them to your stroganoff.
 
For extra flavor, I add in some Seasoning Salt and Pepper. This is optional and of course you can pick and choose any desired seasonings of choice :]
 

 
 
And there you have it! I hope you enjoy this dinner as much as my family has!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Earwax Candles

Today my Husband and I used those candles that retrieve your inner ear wax ew! I was pretty hesitant on using it but after watching numerous You Tube videos on how it's done, I decided i will give it a try.

I wanted to share my experiance with ya'll lol.


My Husband hiding his face lol


Sorry about my goofy face, I was so scarred lol!


Cayden was our little spectator


So what I didn't share was the inner ear wax part, pretty nasty looking! Even if you clean your ears daily it's amazing how nasty the results are.

I am not sure if it's a mental thing or what, but you can tell a differance in hearing after your done! 
I hear that this is actually a healthier way of cleaning your ear then the q-tip way.

Taco Lasagna

Bringing a new approach on your Traditional Lasagna, Taco Lasagna is a delish meal that will leave you satisfied.
This recipe is my family's favorite dish and is always turning friends heads. I am asked to make this meal all the time when any of my Husband's friends come by to visit.


    Your ingredients:

-2 Pounds Hamburger Meat
-31 oz can Refried Beans
-10 oz can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
-15 oz jar Salsa Con Queso
-8 oz Bag Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
-16 oz box Lasagna Noodles
-24 oz container Sour Cream
-2 packets Taco Seasoning

Steps-
1. Start boiling the water for the noodles. when water boils cook noodles until tender ( I recommend adding salt to the boiling water to keep the noodles from sticking)

2. Meanwhile fry the hamburger meat thoroughly and drain grease.

3.Put the hamburger meat back on the burner and add the whole jar of salsa con queso as well as the taco seasoning and stir thoroughly.

4. Warm up Refried Beans (Optional, warming them first will help them apply  easier)

5. Start adding your layers. I suggest starting the layers off with the taco meat. In between each layer separate with the Lasagna Noodles. 





6.Keep adding new layers of all the ingredients, leaving the lasagna noodles on the top.

7. Sprinkle the cheese over the noodles and drizzle Ortega over.
8. Cover with foil and bake on 350 for an hour.

9. Allow a half hour gap between baking and eating.












Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Finding our way to Potty Training Success



Tis the time to start Potty Training in the Yarnell Household. With Carson Being 27 months old, he is starting to show interest in the Potty.


Potty Training should be fun and Successful for a child and that is what I am trying to do for My little guy.

This is my Big Boy, giving the stand up method a try!
Sit down Method


To help his excitement for this new step in his life I went out and bought these two things for him.

Carson loves Elmo!! The DVD really caught Carson's attention and as for the book, we bring that into the Bathroom with him while he is on the potty!

Another thing I came up with, was our own chart!
Here is what I came up with. On the left side, all his "pees" will be counted and the right, his "poos." Each parent can have their rewards. I chose to give Carson a Candy after 10 pees (a BIG candy) and for Poo's after 10 a toy (a simple Dollar Store would be good!) Each time he goes pee/poo I do reward him little treats. For our Potty Training chart I laminated it for multiple uses when used with a dry erase marker.

Since it's summer, to let Carson be aware of it being "time to pee" I will occasionally let him run around outside without a diaper. Letting him know, when it's time to go pee run up to a bush and pee on it... He loves this idea and gets a big kick out of it.

Some other ideas I heard and are trying some as well are to help with Potty Training Success are.

-Buy some inexpensive toys, wrap them up and allow them to choose one after their accomplishment of successfully using the potty.

-Another is, remain positive. If your little one has an accident, don't discipline him/her for it.

-Put Cheerios in the toilet as an aiming device.

-Make up exciting songs about Potty Training.

-Use a sticker chart.

-Start a tradition, after every successful run follow up with an activity. Do this every time your little one uses the potty (like color, or paint, play a special game)

-Pick out fun "Big Boy" under wear with prints that appeal to your toddlers likings.

-Die the Toilet water Blue or Red that way when the pee hits it, it turns the waters color.

-Put the diapers and diapering utensils further than normal and every time you change your little ones diaper, have him/her go grab all the supplies.

Please share your success stories and add some tips if you have them!






Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Another Remedy For Diaper Rash

Continued on to my previous post about the Diaper Rash Remdy, I have two more that I recommend using.


One is given to us by our Pediatric Nurse and the other one was passed down through a friends Pediatrician.



This Remedy is the one our Pediatric Nurse Gave us, Simply mix equal parts of Corn Startch and Maalox together until a you get a "Diaper Cream" like condensity.


The other one, is one part Eucerin and one part Maalox

These two are good ones as well as the first one I wrote about. If you know your Baby doesn't have a "Yeast Diaper Rash" then I would say to use these to only because the anti fungal cream in the other blog i wrote could hurt their sensitive skin.


Monday, July 16, 2012

Severe Diaper Rash Home Remedy

So my 8 month old has, this crazy diaper rash going on. I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun to help his little tush. 

While talking to my Grandma, I had mentioned this issue to her and she gave me a home remedy that has been passed on through the family. (Or maybe at least my Aunts and Uncles) 

This is known to work wonders, and out of all the cousins I have (8 total) this has been the best diaper rash solution. 


These are the ingredients you need:
Desitin- Original 
A+D Ointment
  Lotrimin (or a Anti fungal cream)
Maalox or Mylanta (I used Alka-Seltzer because I had this on hand however it took 90 years to crush up the tablets lol but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND not using Alka-Seltzer I had to re do it and use Maalox)


Here is the Maalox, I have yet to find it in the actuall brand but Kroger Brand does have it and it's cheaper I bet!!



Why the ingredients? 

Maalox/Mylanta- Reduces the irritation from the acid in the stools.
Lotrimin/Anti Fungal- The bad diaper rashes involve yeast which the anti fungal helps to reduce that. 

How to make it. 

Mix equal parts of all the ingredients with a cap full of Maalox. This is sort of a trial and error type of thing until you are able to get it to a thick paste. 


This is what the final product should look like. 


Put the cream into a container that has a lid so you are able to have multiple uses! :] 


You are able to use this Remedy as often as your change your little one. Good Luck and I hope this helps Your Little One! 




Saturday, July 14, 2012

Fourth Of July Shirts

I am a little late blogging about the Fourth of July. I haven't had much access to a computer since, the battery on mine is long gone! 

I love having my boys match, so for the Fourth I thought it would be fun to have them match by making them shirts on my own... What's more better than a personally made shirt?? 

I went to JoAnn Fabrics and by surprise the "Patriotic" fabrics were all 50% off so I winded up spending a whopping 2 dollars for all my fabric! Nice right! :] 


I picked up two different styled fabric choices, as well as this neat bonding fabric the lady introduced me to at the store. 
I have no Step By Step Photo's and I do apologize I waited till 1 am the day before to make this project. 


Start off by drawing a tie like shape on a piece of paper that is an appropriate size to the shirt you'll be putting it on. 

Once done place your "tie" on the fabric and lightly trace around. You Could even put the bonding fabric under the fabric to insure a precise cut on them both. 

For the other Fabric and Simply cut out strips as long as the shirt your putting it on (From shoulder to bottom) again cut out both fabric and bonding material together. 

You got all your pieces together, now all your do is place your fabric on the shirt where you want it located and iron it on. (Your bonding fabric will have play by play instructions on how to do it!) 


And the finished product :] Since having the shirts on hand this project only cost the price of the fabric. Which was 2 dollars! :]