Name: Halloween Brownie Bites Monsters
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: one box of brownie mix, plus ingredients needed according to package directions; half of a can of icing, any flavor desired; one canister of Halloween sprinkles; candy eyeballs

Gena is the mother of three boys, wife to DFW Dad, gardener, cook, crafter, DIYer, former teacher, and more! They live in the Tyler, Texas area.

The Best Meal Delivery Service for Keto, Paleo, and Family Meals!

By Gena Leave a Comment

I love to cook. It is something that I enjoy and have learned to do well over time. However, there are many times when I want a good, home cooked meal and don’t have much time to cook. This is especially important when my husband and I are on a diet and the kids just want their favorites! I have cooked three different meals sometimes, just because I need to and I have time to. But, that isn’t feasible most days! If you are doing keto or paleo, you know what I am talking about! So what if there was a company that delivered keto and paleo, as well as family meals, right to your doorstep? I’ll introduce you to the BEST meal delivery service!

best meal delivery service - doorstep meals

The Best Meal Delivery Service post was brought to you by Doorstep Meals. All opinions are mine.

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Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes and a Delicious Whole30 Sausage Sweet Potato Meal!

By Gena Leave a Comment

Do you love sweet potatoes as a side item but don’t have a full hour to cook one to perfection in the oven? Check out how I make Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes! And, check out one of my favorite Whole30 meals…sausage sweet potato!

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Making Time For Yourself – Painted Mason Jar Succulent Planters

By Gena Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CleanHealthyBold

Making Time For Yourself – Painted Mason Jar Succulent Planters

Click the picture above to purchase at Walmart.com!

Ever since I was little, I knew that I wanted to become a mom. I felt really prepared to have a baby, and I was, for the most part. What I was not ready for was just how to take care of a baby, and then eventually three kids PLUS myself. Let’s be honest, some days, especially in the early years, it is a struggle to get the basic needs met! Over the years I have realized that in order to take care of my family, I need to take care of myself first. This is not always easy, but there are ways to make this easier. A few quick suggestions from me include: always have water handy to easily hydrate, set bedtimes so everyone is getting enough sleep (hopefully!), use curbside pickup, and always have the essentials stocked up. View Post

Things to do Before Sending Your Child Back To School After Virtual Learning

By Gena Leave a Comment

Things to do Before Sending Your Child Back To School After Virtual Learning

Our 6 year old has not been in school in person since March 8th of this year, like many kids around the country. Next week, he will be going back in person and we are all a little nervous, but excited!

Things to do Before Sending Your Child Back To School After Virtual Learning was brought to you by Moms Meet. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

He has been rocking his first grade virtual assignments, and we have also been doing a lot of writing, reading, and spelling practice. We were told he could stay virtual until January, but the district has decided to just bring all students back. He took the news well, and is excited to see his friends! His two older brothers have already been back to school, so that helps for sure.

Get your child started on a Gut Connection Kids supplement.

Gut Connection Kids by Country Life is a scientifically formulated range of supplements that connects the gut to individual health issues that matter. These supplements contain clinically studied Epicor® Whole Food Fermentate prebiotic shown to support immune and gut health. Each product is formulated for children’s needs.

We chose Gut Connection Kids Immune Balance, to support a strong, healthy immune system. and improving the microbiome for overall health

A balanced microbiome is important because 70% of the entire immune system is found in the gut. A healthy intestinal microbiome is a major factor in children’s growth and development.

Find some good masks and practice wearing them.

Masks have been recommended by health officials to slow the spread of viruses, so even though our state mandate says kids under do not have to wear a mask, we are encouraging, as is his teacher, to wear a mask unless eating or playing at a distance outside. I polled my friends on Facebook to see what masks their kids liked best, and thankfully, he is pretty good at mask wearing already, but we did find some more comfy ones that he likes.

Encourage them to Speak Up

Now is a great time to talk about how and when to voice concerns. I have told all three of my kids that if they are in an uncomfortable situation, to tell the teacher nicely and then follow up by telling me at home. This is beneficial for so many reasons, but if they do not feel safe, they cannot learn and will not want to return to school.

>>Read more tips on School Anxiety<<

Give your child a great start with these supplements from Country Life Gut Connection Kids. Use the code “MOMS20” for 20% off your entire order at countrylife.com.

Halloween Brownie Bites Monsters

By Gena 1 Comment

I love Halloween treats and holiday snacks, but I struggle with making cutesy little things for my kids. That’s why I went the easy route and got the ultimate mom hack for decorating easy snacks…. candy eyeballs and sprinkles! These Halloween Brownie Bites Monsters are cute, edible, delicious, and easy to make! It is something the kids can help with, too!

These little guys are SO simple to make. First, get a box of brownie mix and make the fudgy like recipe, according to package directions. When almost cooled, scrape out the inside of the brownie pan, mix in a little canned icing, roll into balls, roll in sprinkles, and add two candy eyeballs. See!? SUPER EASY!!

The insides are super fudgy and who doesn’t love fudgy brownies?

These would make a great snack for your family Halloween get together or a class snack!

12-15 brownie bites

Halloween Brownie Bites Monsters

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

These fun Halloween Brownie Bites Monsters are cute, delicious, and easy to make!

Ingredients

one box of brownie mix, plus ingredients needed according to package directions
half of a can of icing, any flavor desired
one canister of Halloween sprinkles
candy eyeballs

Instructions

Prepare and cook brownies according to "fudgy brownie recipe" package directions.
Let cool at least 15-20 minutes.
With a fork, scoop out inside brownies (don't use the crispy edges for this, but feel free to eat them!)
In a bowl, mix brownies plus 1/4 of the tub of icing. If more is needed, you can add more.
Mix icing and brownies together well.
Form brownie and icing mixture into balls with your hands.
Roll each ball through Halloween sprinkles and set aside.
Using the icing as "glue," stick eyeballs to the sides.
Let stand for a few minutes for icing to stick and refrigerate if not consuming soon.
Serve and enjoy!

Carne Asada with Black Beans and Vegetables

By Gena Leave a Comment

Like any true blooded Texan, our family loves steak. Toss that in with the fact that we love Mexican food, this carne asada with black beans and vegetables is a winning meal in our house!

You can use any cut of beef that you have, but carne asada is typically made with flank steak or skirt steak. Marinating it makes it more tender and easier to chew, as well, so leave time to get that done so your beef will be melt in your mouth delicious!

If you prefer some starch to your meal, serve this meal with my Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice!

This meal is delicious, fairly simple to make, and a great source of protein. I hope you enjoy this recipe for carne asada made at home!!

2-4 servings

Carne Asada with Black Beans and Vegetables

Prep Time: 12 hours

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 12 hours 20 minutes

Carne asada is full of flavor and easy to prepare at home. Serve with beans and fajita veggies for the best meal!

Ingredients

2 lbs skirt steak or flank steak (or any cut of beef, sliced thin)
1/3 cup olive oil plus more for pan searing
2 TBSP fresh lime juice
1 tsp garlic powder or one clove fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 can of black beans
1 bell pepper, sliced and seeded
1 onion, sliced

Instructions

Whisk olive oil, lime juice, pepper, and garlic together in a bowl.
Place the steak in the marinade and coat.
Place steak and marinade in a plastic bag and let marinate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.
When steak is marinated, heat cast iron skillet (or grill) to high heat.
Place steak on a plate and sprinkle cumin, chili powder, and salt on all sides.
Add olive oil to hot pan and add steak. Sear both sides and cook until your desired level of doneness.
Remove steak from pan and let sit. Do not slice yet.
Turn pan to medium-high and add more oil to pan and add sliced onion and bell pepper. Cook until done.
Warm black beans in a pan.
Slice steak and serve over a bed of black beans. Top with cooked onion and pepper and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 828Total Fat: 54gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 828mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 67g

The writer is not a doctor or nutritionist and this nutritional information is just a guideline. Please consult your doctor or nutritionist for more accurate information.

Home Beverage Fridge – Why Every Family Needs One!

By Gena Leave a Comment

Have you ever considered if your family needs a home beverage fridge? There have been many days when I wanted to chill a bottle of water or juice and there was simply NOT any room in my refrigerator. Do you ever have that problem? Some days I wish for another fridge all together!

This post was brought to you by NewAir. All opinions are mine.

Our family loves drinks. We do not keep a lot of soda, but we for sure keep juice, sparkling water, and sparkling juice! All of this hydration is good, but the fact that we ALL have our different favorites is problematic for our family. And when we have guests, well, there just simply is not any more room!

Get some ideas for family friendly holiday beverages!

Use code “GINGERCASA” for 7% off of this beverage fridge on the NewAir website!

When we have soccer games or practices the next day, I can easily chill some reusable water bottles that will be nice and cold when we need them. I like that this beverage fridge can hold 90 cans and the racks can be removed and customized for any size beverages that you may need to chill.

Another fun feature of this beverage fridge: it has a lock and key! So, if your kids try to sneak drinks, lock it up! If you choose to store adult beverages in it, lock it up! Simple and easy and SAFE! I love this feature!

This has been a great addition to our kitchen and has freed up a lot of space in the big fridge! It can be used in a residential or commercial setting. The compact design holds 90 cans and the freestanding design requires no special installation. There is also a light that can be left on and a set-and-forget-it thermostat.

What would you keep in your home beverage fridge??

Apple Cider – Kid Friendly Recipe for Cool Nights!

By Gena 1 Comment

This Apple Cider recipe post was brought to you by Juicy Juice, but all opinions are mine!

My kids love Juicy Juice apple juice, but I wanted to introduce them to apple cider! I was looking at the Juicy Juice website because it has lots of fun crafts and recipe ideas, and I saw a recipe for Juicy Juice Apple Cider and I knew we had to try it!

It was super simple to make and minus the cutting of the oranges, the kids would be able to help make it.

We love the flavor of this drink, and I know it will be delicious on a cold winter day! Juicy Juice apple cider is a delicious holiday drink for the whole family!

If you prefer your drinks cold, try my Spiced Apple Iced Tea!

Juicy Juice 100% Thankful Teacher Contest

If you need even more reason to love Juicy Juice, check out their 100% Thankful Teacher Contest! Head over to the site and vote for the teacher that you think is the most deserving!

10 servings

Apple Cider - Kid Friendly Recipe for Cool Nights!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Make this delicious homemade apple cider for the family nights when it's cool outside!

Ingredients

1 64oz bottle of Apple Juicy Juice 100% juice
3 cinnamon sticks (plus additional for garnish)
2 whole oranges, peel included
10 cloves

Instructions

Wash oranges in cold water and chop into fourths
Add cinnamon sticks, oranges, cloves and Apple Juicy Juice 100% juice in a saucepan
Simmer over low heat for ten minutes, never letting the mixture boil
Remove oranges and allow cider to cool for 5 minutes
Serve in a mug with a cinnamon stick for garnish
Pour the remaining cider in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator for later

How to Clean A Grill

By Gena Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and Colgate-Palmolive® and Scotch-Brite®. All opinions are mine alone. How to Clean A Grill #GreatTeamEasyClean

We live in Texas, so there is not really a specific “grilling season” or “BBQ season.” The only time you cannot grill in Texas is when it is stormy outside, and even then, some may argue with that. Some of our favorite meals are made on the grill, from chicken wings, to fajitas, to of course, hamburgers and hot dogs! I love grilling because it is all contained into one cooking area, instead of dirtying up different pots and pans, the oven, and different parts of the kitchen.

Being that the grill grates are the cooking surface, they can get really dirty really fast. And if you just close the lid and forget it until the next time you use it, you likely have a gross buildup that needs some tough cleaning action. This is what my grill looked like before I started this deep cleaning:

When I decided to clean my grill, I simply opened up the Walmart app and added Palmolive® Ultra Oxy and Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers to my online cart for grocery pickup. It was a breeze, as always! The combination of Palmolive® and Scotch-Brite® is the perfect solution to clean up any type of mess!

Next, I located a shallow plastic tub that I had in the garage and ensured that the grill grates would fit nicely inside. I then filled it about 3/4 of the way full with water and about 1/4 cup of Palmolive® Ultra Oxy. Next…I let it set for a few hours so it could get to work on the grease before I cleaned it with the Scotch-Brite® scrubbers.

During the wait time, I use the Scotch-Brite® scrubbers to clean the grill itself. It is really obvious, but also amazing how dirty a grill can get, both inside and out. I used the soft side to clean the outside of the grill, and the scrubbing dots side to clean the parts with stuck on residue.

When I checked on the soaking grill grates, I could instantly see that some work had been done for me by the Palmolive® Ultra Oxy. The water was VERY dirty and I could see a greasy film on top of the water. I used the Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrubber to scrub off the residue on the grill grates. Most of it came off easily, but there were a few stubborn areas in which food had been burned onto over time. No problem, though, I just put in a little more gentle elbow grease and it came off! I was really amazed at how clean these grates were becoming! Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dot Scrubbers and Palmolive® Ultra Oxy is the WINNING TEAM!!

I love that the Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots are non-scratch and didn’t cause any damage to the grill grates, but yet it was effective in removing the stuck on food. It delivered the trusted scrubbing power that we know from the Scotch-Brite® Brand! Powerful Scrubbing. Rinses clean.

The Palmolive® Ultra Oxy was just what these grill grates needed to attack the grease. This formula, with oxygenated cleaning action, cleaned efficiently! I love that it was soft on my hands and I did not need to wear gloves.

I could talk all day about how well these products worked to clean my grill…but let me show you the pictures! These grill grates are SO INCREDIBLY CLEAN! We have used this grill for at least four years and these grates look brand new, almost!

Just look at that gorgeous old grill!!

Click the image below to add these products directly to your Walmart Online Grocery cart:

Have you been avoiding cleaning your grill? Now you do not have to with this easy tutorial on how to clean your grill with Scotch-Brite® and Palmolive® Ultra Oxy!

Chicken Enchilada Sliders

By Gena Leave a Comment

Easy meals that the whole family will love are my favorite. These chicken enchilada sliders will be a family favorite of yours soon!

Okay, so it’s true. My family loves enchiladas. You may have seen my recipe for air fryer chicken enchiladas. If not, you should add that to your meal plan, too! If there’s something that the men in my house love equal to enchiladas, it’s sandwiches. This recipe for Chicken Enchilada Sliders combines both worlds and makes delicious mini sandwiches that would be great for a busy family dinner or a finger food at a sports party.

The chicken for these sliders can be made in a few different ways. You can use thighs, quarters, or breasts. You can cook your chicken in the Crock Pot or oven (or Instant Pot, really, if you are short on time.) You can also use rotisserie chicken and cut the cooking out all together! It’s a great meal idea for those busy nights!

These sliders are full of flavor and even come with some vegetables. You know, so my kids can pick them off and stuff. HA! But really, the veggies add to the delicious flavor!!

You can, of course, switch it up by adding jalapeños, hatch chiles, or even use green enchilada sauce or pepper jack cheese. Anything goes, and these are delicious no matter what!

>>Try my recipe for authentic cheese enchiladas and instant pot mexican rice!<<

Chicken Enchilada Sliders

These Chicken Enchilada Sliders are easy to make and will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

1 package sandwich rolls
2-3 cups shredded chicken (see step 1 for options)
1 cup shredded cheese
1 tomato, chopped
1 sweet bell pepper, chopped
1/4 red onion, sliced thin
1/2 black olives, sliced
1/3 cup butter, or more as desired

Instructions

To make enchilada chicken, place 4 large chicken quarters or chicken breasts and 1 32 oz can of enchilada sauce in a glass dish and cook in the oven for 1 hour at 400 degrees OR in the crock pot on high for 3 hours. Also, you could use rotisserie chicken and enchilada sauce, warmed on the stove for a quick dinner solution
To make sliders ... Preheat oven to 350F
Line a 9” x 13” casserole dish with parchment paper.
Lay the bottom half of the sandwich rolls in the casserole dish.
Layer on the shredded chicken, shredded cheese, and chopped veggies.
Cover the sandwich fillings with the top of the sandwich rolls.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Pour the butter over the sandwiches, using a pastry brush to ensure even coating.
Cover the casserole dish with tinfoil and bake for 15-20 minutes, until butter is fully absorbed and sandwich tops are lightly browned.
Slice and serve

Notes

You can add other favorite ingredients like hot sauce or green chiles to the crockpot to give your chicken even more flavor.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 426Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 358mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 39g

The writer is not a doctor or nutritionist and this nutritional information is just a guideline. Please consult your doctor or nutritionist for more accurate information.

Things to do Before Sending Your Child Back To School After Virtual Learning

Get your child started on a Gut Connection Kids supplement.

Find some good masks and practice wearing them.

Encourage them to Speak Up

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Instructions

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Ingredients

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Get some ideas for family friendly holiday beverages!

Use code “GINGERCASA” for 7% off of this beverage fridge on the NewAir website!

What would you keep in your home beverage fridge??

Juicy Juice 100% Thankful Teacher Contest

Ingredients

Instructions

Recommended Products

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

How much did you love this recipe?

Have you been avoiding cleaning your grill? Now you do not have to with this easy tutorial on how to clean your grill with Scotch-Brite®​ and Palmolive®​ Ultra Oxy!

Easy meals that the whole family will love are my favorite. These chicken enchilada sliders will be a family favorite of yours soon!

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

How much did you love this recipe?

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Have you been avoiding cleaning your grill? Now you do not have to with this easy tutorial on how to clean your grill with Scotch-Brite® and Palmolive® Ultra Oxy!