Galumpkis (Stuffed Cabbage)

Don't wrinkle up your nose just yet.  This is sooo yummy!  I don't make it very often but I received this HUGE head of cabbage in my bountiful basket last week so I just had to make some stuffed cabbage with it.

Here is the original recipe I normally use:

Ingredients:
Head of cabbage
2 cups cooked rice
1 lb. ground turkey
1 tbs. italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic
2 cans tomato sauce or 1 jar spaghetti sauce
Salt & Pepper


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees or make the day before & stick in the fridge.


Pour a small amount of sauce into a baking dish and set aside.


Remove core from cabbage.  Remove leaves under cold running water.  Boil a large pot of water and add your cabbage leaves 4-5 at a time for about 8 minutes.  They need to be limp so you can roll them up.  (will have to cook in stages)


While you boil your leaves, brown & drain your ground turkey, cook your rice according to the bag, and mix the two items together.  Stir in 1/2 of your tomato sauce, your italian seasoning & season with salt & pepper.  Set filling mixture aside & finish cooking your cabbage leaves.  Once your cabbage leaves are cooked set on a towel to drain and cool off before filling.  


Scoop in filling at the stem end of the cabbage leaf and start to roll up, tucking in the sides and place seam side down in your prepared baking dish.  Repeat until dish is full.  Spoon sauce over the top of the rolls and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

This recipe is super easy and can be modified and changed to whatever you might just have on hand.  Check out how I made them today!

I used the same steps as above with the ground turkey, but instead of rice I used quinoa and cooked it according to the directions on the bag.  1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups water.  I also added some shredded kale, and shredded zucchini to my mixture to give it an extra boost of veggies.

Super yummy, healthy & even if your kids don't like the cabbage they will probably like the filling inside!  Enjoy!

Dallas Trip

Once we arrived in Dallas we hit up the "indoor" pool which really was an indoor/outdoor pool so it was freezing!  We all swam in the hot tub for a bit and dried off in the sauna.  First thing we did the next day was hit up.....yep Dunkin' Donuts!  Can we say Lily's first time at Dunkin'?  Maybe she had one at the airport on our way to Disney last year but I don't remember, does that really count anyways?  We all scarfed down our favorite kinds like we have never had one before.  What is it with food you don't ever get to have?  Let's just say I had a sesame bagel, lightly toasted, with light cream cheese and a boston cream donut....or two but who's counting?  It's vacation, right?

Needless to say we drank only Dunkin coffee the whole weekend!

Then we hit up the guys favorite thing, shopping!

and to our surprise the Christmas Tree Shop!  Woah!  Who knew it was even here?  Could this trip get any better??  I have not been in a Christmas Tree Shop just under 3 years so I was super pumped to go!

That evening we went over to visit the Williams Family!  The kids all got to play.  I think Gabe LOVED seeing his buddy Gage.  We got to see sweet Autumn...well more like sassy Autumn.  She is too funny & has such a little personality.  It's amazing to watch her army crawl & to sit in a booster seat.  Such a blessing to see!

The next day we went to the Imagination Movers!

and Choo Choo Soul was the opening act.  Who knew?  It was so much fun!

We had a great time away with the family.  It had been such a long time since we last left Midland so it was a much needed break!

New Recipes

I have made a few new recipes lately that I have LOVED.  I thought you might want to give them a try too!

Breakfast Pizza

We had the family over for make your own breakfast pizza one saturday morning!  It was a HUGE success.  To be quite honest I have never even had breakfast pizza before...I know call me crazy!  It was soo good!  I just did scrambled eggs and had a bunch of toppings they could put on & make them how they wanted it to be.

Breakfast Pizza

Pillsbury Pizza Dough

Scrambled Eggs (2 per person)

Browned & drained ground breakfast sausage

Browned & drained crumbled bacon

Cherry tomatoes

Shredded Cheese

Roll out the dough, cut into sections for each guest, place on a baking sheet, allow them to put on their own toppings (or take orders) put in a 350 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the dough is finished cooking.  

Taco Soup

My friend Falecia gave me this idea for the taco soup so technically it is her recipe I just added a few more things.  It is great!

 Taco Soup

1 can Rotel (tomatoes with green chilies)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 can black beans

1 cup water

1 can corn

(I threw in some left over ground taco meat we had in the fridge too)

Mix all ingredients together, serve with some sour cream or shredded cheese, and tortilla chips.  Yummy!

Layered Salad

I made this layered salad for our little super bowl party we had with the family.  It's super quick and easy!  Not to mention healthy too!

Healthy Layered Salad

Chopped or Shredded Lettuce

Black Beans (rinsed)

Canned Corn

Diced Bell Peppers (any color)

Diced Avocado

Diced Tomato

Low Fat Cheese

Low Fat Sour Cream (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Just layer all your ingredients in a trifle bowl.  Serve with cheese, sour cream, and salsa.

I mixed my sour cream & salsa to use as the dressing.

Out with the old, In with the new

I finally did it!  I got some pictures up of our new washer and dryer.  The problem has been laundry stacked in front of it since I got them.  I still have the same amount to do but in wayyyy less loads and time!  Who knew one would be so excited about just one dry cycle.  I mean really?

 Just look at all the room in there?  I swear I could fit the dog in there on the gentle cycle...I mean we are starting financial peace tonight & I could save about 40 bucks!  Tempting!

We also said good bye to our Jeep!  It was a bittersweet moment.  This is the vehicle that moved us across the country on our journey.  It carried my sweet babies home from the hospital.  

It brought a new puppy to our house.  It outlasted many road trips.  We finally out grew it.  It's like an end to a chapter of our lives.

 Now we get to start a new chapter (and a new car payment) with this luxurious ride!  We feel so blessed beyond measure with this vehicle.  God exceeded our expectations!

 Our kids LOVE there new dual-DVD players!  (can we say spoiled)

I am sure lots of memories will be made with this vehicle.  We give all praise to God for his wonderful provision in our lives!

Snow Day

It was a declared snow day at our house yesterday!  Gabe had a 2 hour delay the day before, arrived to school & basically went to P.E., had lunch, watched movies & colored for the day.  When I found out we had another 2 hour delay the next day Bill thought it would be best for him just to stay home.  So, that's what we did!  Here's what our day looked like.

Fun Morning Outside (for a little bit) 

Even the dogs wanted to be outside!

We came inside for some snow cones of course! 

(hot cocoa is over-rated)

 We had our special lunch!  My kids LOVE eating this way!  I save it for special days!

We took a second trip outside for some color fun!

This girl loves her boots!  A true Texan!

We came in for Lily's nap & Gabe's craft time!

(wish 5 years olds still took naps, haha)

 We finished our day off with Pizza Hut (Gabe's pick), Ice Cream (another one of Gabe's picks), and Monopoly!  (which will continue tonight)

I <3 Snow Days!

Papercutz

I know I don't talk about my business on here very often but I couldn't resist sharing some pictures from my workshop that I co-hosted this past weekend.  We did a 2 day crop at a local church & I really had a good time.  I think all of my guests did as well.  The best part about the whole weekend was getting to know new people & getting to have conversations without being interrupted by kids...doing what I love to do!

I love that I am able to stay home with my kids & do what I love!  I have a few more pictures on my blog so be sure to stop by and check them out.  

Also, be sure to visit Take It From Me I am the Featured Business today & tomorrow!  

There will be a giveaway so be sure to stop by & enter to win!

Chalkboard Picture Frame

I am loving me some chalkboard paint these days!  I am fixin' to put a big chalkboard in our kitchen & in my craft room!  I saw these frames at Michael's and thought they would be perfect for leaving love notes, scripture...whatever you want on them!  Here is how I made them!

 you need a paint brush too!  :-)

Voila!  Sit back and Enjoy!

We woke up to this...

Gabe has been waiting ALL winter for it to snow!  It FINALLY did!  The sad part was he still had school but it's suppose to stay cold for a couple days so hopefully it will last until he gets home so he can play in it.  The whole inch (being generous) that it is, haha!  We snuck a little playing in before school! (good thing we kept that scraper)

 Lily wasn't too sure about it all.  That's about as close as she got.

 Until Gabe tried to touch her hand with it & well she lost it!  She wanted to go back inside!  She wanted nothing to do with the white stuff!  She wouldn't even touch it!

It's so amazing how a little snow stirs up such excitement & joy (well except maybe for Lily)!  Our God is so good!