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Recipes: Easy Homemade Egg McMuffin
For those of us that eat eggs in my family the Homemade Egg McMuffin is a big hit for breakfast. I have one kid in particular that if given a choice she almost always asks for an Egg McMuffin (and I am pretty sure she has never had one from McDonald’s or anywhere else either). She has recently figured out how to make it completely on her own which means she no longer has to wait for my help! WooHoo!
We’ve been using this recipe for probably almost two years now. My sweet husband came up with the recipe one morning because he wanted to encourage me to eat eggs. As a kid I was NEVER a fan of eggs. However, my husband has slowing been transforming into more of an egg person. Now I actually look forward to and enjoy eating eggs at times. Of course, my version of “eating eggs” usually includes a decent amount of melted cheese and/or bacon on top, but hey that counts too! I am still not of fan of a plain fried egg or anything that dramatic!
Although, there are a lot of great Homemade English Muffin recipes we typically pick up the store bought ones to save time. So while our Egg McMuffin is homemade not all parts are from scratch like the english muffins. After making Egg McMuffins for awhile my kids bought me a handy microwavable Egg McMuffin dish that is much easier to use (you’ll see a picture of it below).
Easy Homemade Egg McMuffin:
- 1 whole English Muffin
- 1 Egg
- 1 slice of Cheese (shredded works too)
- Sprinkle of Real Bacon Bits or 1 slice of Bacon (whatever you have on hand)
Toast the English Muffin, butter it, and set aside (do these steps while cooking the egg so both the English Muffin and Egg are done about the same time).
Spray your Egg McMuffin dish or a small glass bowl (about 3 to 4 inches in diameter). Crack your egg into your bowl and stir to break up the egg yolk. Cover and microwave for 60 seconds on 50% power (the 50% power is important because your egg will cook slow and evenly not explode into a mess). Remove from microwave, uncover and add the cheese and bacon. Cover and microwave for 30 seconds on 50% power.
Flip the cooked egg, cheese, and bacon onto the toasted and buttered english muffin and enjoy!
Egg McMuffin cooking dish. I have really liked having this piece for making Egg McMuffins and it is super easy to use and clean! You can get one for around $3 at your local Walmart or on Amazon.
Crack the egg into the dish
Stir the egg to break up the yolk
Toast and butter your English Muffin
Cook your egg for 60 seconds on 50% power
Cheese and bacon added then cooked for 30 seconds on 50% power
Now your ready to eat Easy Homemade Egg McMuffin!
Recipes: Easy Apricot Pork Chops
Recently, I made up a new recipe with some pork chops that we had in the freezer and some items we already had in the refrigerator. A lot of times I will find pork on marked down on clearance, even more than chicken or beef, so I will pick it up and come up with a recipe to use it. The Easy Apricot Pork Chops turned out well! The only thing that I would change is that we had something come up the evening I was planning on serving it so the pork chops marinated for an extra 24 hours which wasn’t necessary; they still tasted great just a little stronger flavor than I originally intended.
Easy Apricot Pork Chops:
- 1 pound Pork Chops (we had boneless pork chops, but either would work)
- 1/3 cup Apricot Preserves
- 1/3 cup French Dressing
- 1/2 pack Onion Soup (optional)
Grease the bottom of a casserole dish that will fit your pork chops and place them in it. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the apricot preserves, french dressing, and onion soup. Poke the meat with the fork to allow the fruit mixture to penetrate. Evenly spread the apricot mixture over the pork chops. Cover and bake for 45 minutes or until the pork chops are fully cooked. You could also do this in a crockpot on low for 4 to 6 hours.
In the recipe pictured I added the onion soup pack, but if you want a little sweeter flavoring or to have less of an onion taste try it without the onion soup! Without the onion soup it’s delicious and simple too (the recipe would have only 3 ingredients making it more economical as well)!
Pork chops in the pyrex dish waiting to be covered
Apricot mixture
Putting the apricot mixture on each pork chop
Completely covered the top of each pork chop
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My Little Chef: Homemade Apple Crisp
Brina’s Homemade Apple Crisp was delicious!
Brina wanted to make homemade apple crisp for the family. She loves to cook and spend time with us in the kitchen. Thankful for her willingness to learn how to cook. She is becoming a great chef!
Mixing up the crisp, the spoon wasn’t working well so she used her fingers.
Freshly cubed apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
Homemade Apple Crisp ready to go into the oven.
Freshly baked apple crisp!
Recipes: Taco Pasta Casserole
Taco Pasta Casserole
Jake made this amazing taco pasta casserole for us the other day. It was easy to put together and delicious too. Thankful for a creative husband who comes up with great recipes and is willing to cook for the family. The whole family enjoyed this recipe.
Taco Pasta Casserole with corn chips on top for the extra crunch!
Taco Pasta Casserole Recipe:
- 1 pound Ground Hamburger (cooked)
- 1/2 small Onion
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 12 oz Pasta (cooked)
- 1 pack Taco Seasoning
- 1 can regular diced Tomatoes
- 1 can diced Tomatoes with Chilies
- 2 cups Corn Chips
- Topping Options (sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa)
Saute the onion in Olive Oil for about 5 minutes. Add the ground hamburger to the onions, cook thoroughly, and drain the fat. Add the pack of taco seasoning according to directions. Cook the pasta according to directions and drain. Add the 2 cans of diced tomatoes to the taco hamburger mixture and heat to a boil and simmer on low for 3 minutes. Add the pasta to the hamburger mixture and mix.
Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish and cook on 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated through. The last five minutes add the 2 cups of corn chips on top. Serve with taco toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, and salsa, olives, and fresh diced tomatoes.
Taco Meat and Pasta with a few chips before adding the sour cream, salsa, and cheese toppings.
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
I am really hoping for a more normal week this week. Last week I cooked for my family, however, my stomach was still upset from the epidural steroid shot so it was a little more challenging. This week I am trying to keep it simple as it will be a busy week. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Beef & Bean Chili, Cornbread
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Hot Dogs, Steamed Vegetables
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Spinach & Chicken Casserole, Fresh Salad
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Broiled Salmon, Mash Potatoes
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
It was a little better this week. Still healing, but continue to have pain, numbness, and my stomach hasn’t reset itself yet. Had another doctors appointment and hoping to have a better report soon. I was able to get up and move around more this week, but still haven’t been able to get to all of the items on my lists. At least some progress is being made.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids – still reading to the girls (we had a week of heavy homework)
- Plan one special activity with the family – had another family event come up on the calendar on that day
- Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips – waiting on approval from my doctors
Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with HomeworkAttend After School ActivitiesLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
Dr. Appointments for Kids– had an ENT appointment for one of the girls and picked out new glasses for both
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – my stomach hasn’t been happy with drinking water this week so this one has been a challenge
Continue my YouVersion plan(s)Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took me 3 partial days to get it done
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekDo at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)Clean out & Organize Refrigerator & FreezerClean House (Focus – Basement Floors)– my amazing husband helped get this accomplished for me (thanks, Babe!)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room) – didn’t get it done
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away) – still needs done
- Pet Care (Focus – Refill Goat Food Bin) – still needs done
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – making some headway
Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – didn’t have a lot of extra curricular activities this week
- Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes – making preparations
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car – working on it
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – paid an little extra this week
Pay Bills & File Paperwork- Earn some Creative Cash – working on it
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – the girls helped me at the grocery store this week and we had to go by more than one store because of the items that we needed this week
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
- Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
- Attend After School Activities
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
- Dr. Appointments for Kids
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
- Clean House (Focus – Bathrooms)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room)
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away)
- Pet Care (Focus – Refill Dog & Goat Food Bin)
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
- Pay Bills & File Paperwork
- Earn some Creative Cash
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Recipes: Homemade Apple Dumplings
Homemade Apple Dumpling Dessert
Jake made recently made this delicious fall apple recipe for dessert! Sometimes we go apple picking and other times we just enjoy the stores having some of our favorite apples on sale during this time of year. Every year we like to try different apple dishes. I am thankful for a husband who cooks and who will random surprise us with a tasty treat. The homemade apple dumplings would go very well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream too if you have some at the house!
Apple Dumpling
Homemade Apple Dumplings:
- 1 3/4 cups Water
- 1 1/4 cups Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons Butter or Maragine
- 2 1/4 cups Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2/3 cups shortening
- 7 tablespoons Water
- 4 Apples (small to medium size)
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
In a saucepan combine 1 3/4 cups water, 1 cup of sugar (save the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar for later), 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (save the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon for later), 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (save the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for later). Mix together, simmer with it covered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter or margarine. Set the syrup mixture aside.
Combine flour and salt. Cut in the shortening until all the pieces are about the size of a black bean. Add water a little at a time and mix until all is moist. Form the dough into a ball. Roll the dough onto an approximately 16 x 12 inch rectangle, cut into four 4 inch squares.
Wash, peel, and core your 4 apples. Place an apple on each of the 4 pastry squares. Mix together the brown sugar and raisins and put a small scoop in each apple where the core was removed. Mix the remaining sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together and sprinkle over the fruit. Moisten the edges of the pastry with water and fold the corners to the center on top of the fruit and pinch to seal it (see picture below). Place dumplings in a greased pan and pour the syrup mixture over the top of the dumplings.
Bake the dumplings on 375 degrees in the oven for 45 minutes or until the fruit is tender and the pastry is slightly brown. Prior to serving spoon syrup from the pan over the pastries and serve with vanilla ice cream.
The recipe is a delicious fall apple dessert! I recommend serving with ice cream or a glass of milk! Enjoy!
Ready to go into the oven!
The apple dumplings not only smelled delicious, they tasted amazing too!
Inside the apple dumplings!
My Little Chef: Making Blue Raspberry Cookies
Mixing up the cookie dough!
When I am in the kitchen and Brina is around she is always willing to pitch in and help. She is becoming more efficient cook as she gets older. Recently, she decided to whip up some blue raspberry sugar cookies as a “Welcome Home” goodie for Jake who was arriving home that day from a work trip.
When he is away on a work trip we always try to make or pick up something special for him to have when he comes home. It is important to us to make sure he knows how excited we are to have him back home again. It is always so much better when the whole family is home together!
I am so thankful for kids that enjoy helping out in the kitchen. The girls have fun helping out in the kitchen and learning some great lessons along the way too. Grateful for my girls!
A batch of blue raspberry cookies ready to go into the oven!
Cookie rolled is blue sprinkles!
She made the perfect cookies!
Ready to eat and delicious! Thanks B!
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
You may notice that this weeks menu looks a lot like last week? Yes, it is actually identical! Well, there is a reason for that….I pretty much had to scrap my plans and menu for last week due to the epidural steroid shot in my neck last week taking a much greater toll on me than I originally thought it would. I was under the disillusion that I would bounce back rather quickly from the treatment, ha! Lesson learned!
Thankful for Jake, the girls, family, and friends who stepped up and pitched in to help throughout the week. Your thoughts, prayers, messages, visits, meals, flowers, and everything have been a tremendous blessing to our family. With that being said I hope (and pray) that this week will be more “normal” whatever that means anymore. We are going to attempt to repeat last week’s menu and actually eat the food that I planned this week. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Shepherds Pie, Fresh Salad (Make 1 & Freeze 1 Meal)
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Homemade Pizza, Fruit Salad
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Curry, Naan, Steamed Rice
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Baked Tilapia, Steamed Vegetables
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
