Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #23

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Holy Cow does that say 23rd week? That is almost 6 months that we have been partying together! What a great time it has all been with you! I enjoy reading your posts and getting to know you all better. Blogging is just about the best thing in the world and I am so happy to be sharing this fun and wonderful time with you all!

I really think that a Linky Party should benefit all those involved and not just the Host. I hope that you have all seen The Pins on my Pinterest Page under Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s. If you link up you WILL BE PINNED! As this party grows and the word is spread that means really great exposure for all of you! So please Grab a button and spread the word about this linky party the more that see this, the more that will see YOU!

As each week goes by I can see that this is going to be harder and harder to highlight some of the amazing recipes and crafts that you link up! I am trying really hard to make sure that I spread the love around. There may be some weeks where you will see the same blog with different posts highlighted two weeks in a row. I am going to do my best to keep that to a minimum so that everyone gets their time in the sun. I have a featured on Board on Pinterest. So again the more traffic that you can help me drive to my Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter pages the more people that will see your wonderful creations!

I hope that after you link up you stay and party with us! I know how great it is to see everyone stopping by. Stay and play and party with us. Visit each other and let them know you found them on Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!!!

Now On to the Features! The Link with the most views:

Food Done Light’s Honey Lemon Cookies These look beautiful

Here are some of my favorites:

Carolina Heart Strings Shrimp Relleno

Your Home based mom’s Lemon Cream Cake I want to face plant right into that cake!

Janae Today’s Magnet Lampshade Embellishment So very Pretty!

Everyone Featured Grab a Featured On Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s Button located on the side bar of the home page!

Polka Dot Biscoff Sandwich Cookies

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Have you tried Biscoff spread yet? Chances are if you are a blogger you buy this stuff by the case! If you have never tried it, I am telling you to get up, get in your car, drive to the store and buy some right this minute!!!! This stuff is like crack for Soccer Mom’s! Biscoff Cookies are the only reason that I would choose to fly Delta. They are seriously that good! These little gems came to life when I made the Polka Dot Cookies and then I saw my jar just staring at me {you see I eat the stuff by the spoonful} and I thought ‘Oh My! Yes oh yes this needs to happen!’ A match made in heaven!

Can you just see that luscious creamy dreamy spread oozing out of the middle of those two decadent chocolate cookies? Speaking of these cookies, these are the richest densest chocolatey cookies that you will ever eat! The trick? These are cookies that used to be brownies. Yep you read that right. A Brownie turned Cookie! Toss in the white chocolate chips for your polka dots and you are in some serious cookie business.

Everyone knows by now that I am Mad for Plaid, but I also have a huge Love affair with Polka Dots. My office at work is full of them and growing! I have dresses, pants, sweaters, tops, pillows, office supplies….. just tons and tons of Polka Dots mixed in with all the Plaid! So when I stumbled across this recipe in one of my Southern Living at Home cookbooks there was no choice these HAD to be made! Adding the Biscoff Spread well that was just the best idea I have had in ages!

See that bite taken right there? That is a bite of the most divine cookie that used to be a brownie!

Polka Dot Biscoff Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

1 box of fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 jar Biscoff Spread

Instructions

preheat oven to 350
line baking sheets with parchment paper
combine brownie mix, oil, eggs and stir well
fold in the chocolate chips
drop rounded spoonfuls of batter on the prepared sheets
bake for 8 min
let cool on pan 2 min then transfer to a wire rack
once cool spread a generous amount on one cookie bottom and top with another
Enjoy!

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Chocolate Cherries Cookies

Summer Striped Fruit Tart

Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #22

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Wowza! Last week was a fabulous week from all of you! I love that this Party keeps growing! Let’s keep that growth going as it helps us all!

Now on to the Features!The link with the most views was

Joyful Healthy Eats Skirt Steak and Chimichurri Sauce

Mostly Homemade Mom Crock Pot Portabella Mushroom Sandwiches

I Dig Pinterest and I did it too’s Sweet Shoppe Candy Party

Wilderness Wife’s Maple Walnut Tart

Everyone Featured Grab a Featured On Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s Button located on the side bar of the home page!

Funfetti Pancakes

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Who doesn’t love Funfetti? I mean really these tiny colorful pieces of sugar can brighten up the cloudiest day. It just so happens that the morning I made these it was a super cloudy day and I was so bummed that I was not going to be able to photograph them. Well no sooner than breakfast was done and I had my plate of pancakes off to the side to take pictures of if the sun ever returned…… it came out!!! Look at all that beautiful Sunshine in the picture. I think that it makes me happier than the funfetti… almost. Like I said who doesn’t love funfetti?!

I know that you are asking yourself what is the occasion for these celebration style pancakes? Nothing much just that I love my husband so much and he has a childlike joy at the sight of colored sprinkles. Most Sunday mornings here are pancake mornings and this Sunday just needed a little bit more fun thrown in.

I know that funfetti EVERYTHING has been all over the blogosphere and that these pancakes are nothing new. Would it be ok if I told you that I don’t care I am still going to share with you my fun little breakfast that made my Hubby so very happy? . It is so funny to see a grown man who has been in 5 wars get silly happy over something so small. His face just lights up like a kid {or he} just heard the Ice Cream Man!

Do you know what the best part of these are? I don’t even need to write a big recipe for this. Are you ready? Take a box of your favorite Pancake Mix and a hand full of sprinkles! Viola you are done! How’s that for Super Fancy Gourmet Cooking? You just want to have fun, not spend all morning in the Kitchen. So get out there Celebrate the Loved ones in your life and the Sunshine!!!

Funfetti Pancakes

This is a Super Fun and Super Easy Celebration Breakfast!

Ingredients

your favorite Pancake Mix and the ingredients it calls for
1 handful of Colored Sprinkles
Whipped Cream

Instructions

make the batter according to box directions
mix in the colored sprinkles
make pancakes as you normally would
top with whipped cream
have a blast!!
Enjoy

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Here are some other breakfasts you may enjoy:

Cinnaminy Cinnamon Rolls and Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Bread Blondies

Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #21

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Welcome to this week’s Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s! Thank you for all the support and entries to the Contest last week! We had 175 entries and 62 new Facebook Likes! Rafflecopter randomly picks a winner out of all the entries and the Congratulations go to Diana of Diana Rambles.com!!! She has already received her prize of $25 Gift Card to Amazon! I am so thankful to all of you and especially my long time readers! I am sending a special Thank you to Sharonjo who has been with me almost since the beginning She is always leaving me such nice comments and I really appreciate the loyalty. Really this why we blog! To know that all our hard work is touching lives. So Thank You Sharonjo!

Due to the overwhelming growth this party has seen these recent weeks I am very sad to say that I will not have the time to leave comments on each post. What I still promise to do is to Read and Pin Every Post that links up!

I really think that a Linky Party should benefit all those involved and not just the Host. I hope that you have all seen The Pins on my Pinterest Page under Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s. If you link up you WILL BE PINNED! As this party grows and the word is spread that means really great exposure for all of you! So please Grab a button and spread the word about this linky party the more that see this, the more that will see YOU!

I hope that after you link up you stay and party with us! I know how great it is to see everyone stopping by. Stay and play and party with us. Visit each other and let them know you found them on Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!!!

Now on to the Features! This weeks most viewed post was:

3 Peppers Recipes Old T Shirt Rosebud Bracelet We are all loving her Tutorials on these flowers and all the Fun Things that we can make with them!

Here are a few of my favorites

The Best Blog Recipes Orange Push Up Smoothie I am so ready for summer fun and this smoothie screams Summer!

Sweet Twist of Blogging German Chocolate Meringue Cake Does this really need any other explanation other than Oh My Yum! ?

Busy Mom’s Helper Caramel Banana Cream Pie

Everyone Featured Grab a Featured On Button on my homepage sidebar!

Crock Pot Carnitas and Southwest Broccoli Slaw

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Here is another installment to the Plaid and Paisley Originals!

Let’s face it we all love a night off from cooking but we hate the guilt of getting take out for our families. Crock pot recipes were invented for this very reason. You can rub the meat and sear it first thing in the morning and let that baby slow cook all day while you are at work. You will be welcomed home to the most amazing scent of cooking meat and spices all melding together!

Tell me you don’t want to dive right in and start to chow down? True to it’s name and it’s flavor combination you are looking at the easiest way to make Carnitas. Traditionally Carnitas take all day on the stove top cooking and cooking and rendering and rendering. This little trick with the crock pot takes all the work out and you don’t have to keep skimming all that yucky foam off that your get when you cook pork. Once you take the meat out of the pot and it all just tears apart so easy leaving you with tender juicy seasoned meat. A quick pop in the broiler and you have that perfect crispy texture that Carnitas are famous for! The best accompaniment to these tacos is a fresh and tangy Broccoli Slaw.

This slaw is tangy and spicy and just a little bit sweet. A true spin on the classic picnic cole slaw. This is made with broccoli and carrots. You can buy the broccoli slaw already julienned and ready to season. Then you have the same spices that you season the meat with some lime juice and the easiest part…. Ranch Salad dressing. This slaw is great on it’s own but even better when place in the taco with the carnitas.

I hope that you have a Fun and Safe Cinco de Mayo this year! Along with all the fun Margarita’s you drink it would be great to have this no fuss meal for everyone!

Crock Pot Carnitas and Southwest Broccoli Slaw

This is a Plaid and Paisley Original Recipe

Ingredients

For the Meat
1-3 lbs pork shoulder roast
1 tbs of each salt, cumin, chili powder
1 tsp of each black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
1 onion quartered
1 12 oz bottle of light beer like a Corona
1 cup water
15-20 corn or flour tortillas
for the slaw:
1 package of raw broccoli slaw
1 tsp of cumin and chili powder
juice of one lime
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing

Instructions

in a small prep bowl mix all the seasoning together for the meat
rub the meat generously with the seasoning mixture
in a skillet over medium high to high heat sear all side of the pork roast giving a nice caramel color
remove from the heat and let rest
place the quartered onion in the bottom of your Crock Pot. {this will act as a bed for the meat}
place meat on the onions
pour in the Corona or any light beer and the water
place the lid on and cook on low for 6-8 hours and high for 3-4 hours
when done the meat will just fall to pieces
place the shredded meat on a large jelly roll pan and broil for 5-6 min to crisp up
I like to place my tortilla's right on the gas burner on low to warm and char them
For the Slaw:
mix the slaw and cumin and chili powder in a bowl
add the lime juice and the Ranch Dressing and mix to combine
you can make this the night before so it can chill and the flavors combine with the pork is cooking
Enjoy!

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Here are some other recipes you may enjoy

Federale Potato Casserole A spice Treat for the whole family

Chicken Fajita Enchiladas

Federale Potato Casserole

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

This is the last day to enter to win the $25 Amazon Gift Card!!! Check it out here and enter to win!!!

It’s really warming up here in the Mid West! It was 85 the other day! That is my kind of weather. So in honor of the rising mercury and that Cinco De Mayo is only 3 days away I bring you one Spicy Dish! This recipe is the latest in my Plaid and Paisley Original Recipe series. This dish was a super huge hit with the boys and I have to say I really loved it also. You can temper the heat to your families taste. This uses Fire Roasted Tomatoes and if you want to dial the heat down just used regular diced tomatoes. Want to heat it up even more {that may be more than you bargained for} add a second can of green chiles. This is a big bold recipe and true to a casserole you really don’t even need to make a side dish. Well, a nice green salad would be great with this.

Can you just see the flavor bursting out of the picture? We have all sorts of great things on this plate. Ground Beef, Potatoes, Red and Yellow Peppers, Tomatoes, Chilies, and don’t forget the Cheese! What would a casserole be without cheese? This is a perfectly easy throw together in a hurry weeknight meal. You can even buy your peppers already cut up for you to help with the prep time. There is nothing better than being able to serve the family a wonderful dish that comes together in 15 min and bakes up in 30! That 45 min sounds like perfect homework time to me.

So make this tonight, or for Cinco De Mayo or anytime a fun easy tasty spicy dish is in order!!!

Federale Potato Casserole

This is a Plaid and Paisley Original Recipe

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
5-7 yukon gold potatoes diced
1 red and 1 yellow pepper diced
1 4 oz can green chilies diced
1 14 oz can roasted fire tomatoes {or just diced for less heat}
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Brown the beef in a skillet and drain the grease
Mix in the taco seasoning and set aside
in a mixing bowl add the remaining ingredients except for the cheese and mix to combine
mix in the beef
pour into a 9x9 baking dish
cover with foil {the steam will help cook the potatoes}
and bake at 350 for 30 min
remove the foil check potatoes for doneness
it they are still under cooked replace foil and bake for 50-10 more
if they are done sprinkle the cheese and bake for 5 min
remove from oven and serve!
Enjoy!

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Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy if you like this one

Tequila Lime Green Chile Chicken Roll Ups

Easy Rotel Casserole

Cinnaminy Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Have you entered to win the $25 Amazon Gift Card?!!! Hop over right here to enter! Good Luck!

Cinnaminy is not a Word!!! It is when you add extra extra cinnamon in the rolls! You know what? I just happened to do that! These rolls are exploding with Cinnamon and Sugar! This is not a breakfast for hard core Dieters that is for sure. If you want to start your day off on a sweet note then these are the Cinnamon Rolls for you! They are very reminiscent of Cinnabon but I didn’t use a copycat recipe. I found this recipe from Just Love Cookin’ Ana Maria has a beautiful blog in Italian. {Thank heavens for Google Translate}

I made this recipe when I had friends from out of town and everyone went Gah Gah over it. So I knew that I needed to make it again for you all. Happy Tuesday and Happy Breakfast!!!

The dough makes a light and airy roll. The layers and layers of Cinnamon make it delightful! The trick to a really gooey yummy middle is melted butter and brown sugar! Oh and don’t forget the Cinnamon. Speaking of the middle…. That is my favorite part! I can leave the sides behind and eat the middle out of each roll!!!

Hmmmmm The middle……… Best Part of the Roll!

One of the great things about this recipe is how beautifully it bakes up. The dough rises easily and it bakes to a perfect golden brown. Just look at that bottom. So Tasty! Well I do suppose I have to confess that other than the middle the Cream Cheese Frosting might really be my favorite!

It is so thick and creamy and sweet! You can see the cinnamon peaking through the frosting. Other than the insane amount in the middle I also added a layer on top. Just before baking brush melted butter on the tops of the rolls and sprinkle more brown sugar and cinnamon! You have the Perfect Cinnaminy Cinnamon Rolls!

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is adapted from Just Love Cookin'

Ingredients

For the Dough
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tbs dry active yeast or 1 envelope
1/8 cup melted butter 1 egg yolk
2 cups AP Flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 tbs + 1 tsp milk
For the Filling:
1/4 cup melted butter
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tbs cinnamon
For the Frosting:
3 oz cream cheese soft
2 tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

In a mixer with the dough hook attachment
place the yeast, sugar and lukewarm water
let sit for 10 min till bubbly and foamy
add the egg yolk, melted butter and the salt
slowly add the flour in
let the machine knead the dough until a ball forms
if it is dry and not coming together add the milk 1 tbs and tsp at a time
in a greased bowl place the dough with a moistened towel with warm water over it
let sit and rise in a warm place for 1 hr it should double in size
preheat oven to 350
gently remove the dough and lay out on a floured surface
with a rolling pin roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness
brush on the melted butter and sprinkle on the brown sugar and cinnamon
{you can save some for the top or use it all and just put more on the top.}
roll the dough into a log shape
cut about 2 inch pieces and place in a greased {not spray} pie plate
brush with more butter and sugar and cinnamon
bake for 30 35 min
to make the frosting just cream together all the ingredients and spread on cooled rolls or just slightly cool for a melty effect
Enjoy!!!

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Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #20 {$25 Amazon gift card Giveaway!}

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Hello!!!! I am so very excited to tell you that we have hit our First Milestone here at The Plaid and Paisley!!! We have 500 Facebook fans!!!! Jumping up and Down and whoo hooing!!! This calls for a party! I also think this calls for a nice little Giveaway to thank you all so much for your Loyalty! How does a $25 gift card to Amazon sound? Pretty snazzy huh? Well you have earned it! Go ahead and enter right here in the rafflecopter form!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now on to the Party!!!! We are getting more links every week! It is so exciting to see this party grow and I hope that you all are really enjoying yourselves! I really think that a Linky Party should benefit all those involved and not just the Host. I hope that you have all seen The Pins on my Pinterest Page under Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s. If you link up you WILL BE PINNED! As this party grows and the word is spread that means really great exposure for all of you! So please Grab a button and spread the word about this linky party the more that see this the more that will see YOU! I hope that after you link up you stay and party with us! I know how great it is to see everyone stopping by. Stay and play and party with us. Visit each other and let them know you found them on Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!!!

Now on to the Features! The Most Viewed Link was:

Simple Sue’s Butterscotch Fluff

Some of my Favorites were:

Crazy for Crust’s Sopapilla Cheesecake Hand pies

Crumbs and Chaos Butterfinger Muddy Buddies

3 Peppers Recipes Old T-Shirt Flower Tutorial

Chocolate Chocolate and More’s Mini Lemon Cheesecakes

Everyone Featured Grab a Featured On Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s Button located on the side bar of the home page!

Tequila Lime Green Chile Chicken Roll Ups

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen

Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner! Whether you are Mexican or not it is a fun day filled with food, margarita’s and pinatas. Tonight I am bringing you another installment to the Plaid and Paisley Original Recipe page. I know that Roll Ups are all the rage in Dinner Time right now. I wanted to bring you one that is not the traditional Italian flavors but a great twist on traditional Mexican flavors. I don’t really need any excuse to use tequila for anything but, hey May 5th is Mexico’s Independence Day and it’s a great Party to be had. You will love the tang of the lime and tequila and the slight heat of the green chiles. I used my frozen Hatch Chiles for this, but you can also just replace them with a 4 oz can of chopped green chiles. If you are a long time reader of the blog then you will know of my obsession with Hatch Chiles. If you are new feel free to jump over here and here to read about these amazing green goodies!

This recipe is a great use of leftover chicken. Just shred any chicken breast or roasted chicken that you may have and warm in a skillet with a little taco seasoning. For this recipe I did start with fresh chicken breast and I include my spice rub in the ingredients, but if you have leftovers that you are looking to use up by all means this is a go to recipe for you.

If you are worried about the Tequila and little ones, don’t fret all the alcohol is cooked out and you are only left with the flavor. {I suppose if you are really concerned you could always leave it out, but you would really lose one of the key flavor components.} As long as you have that Tequila bottle out anyway go ahead and mix up a Margarita or, three! You already have the limes ready to go. I don’t think I would advise doing shots until you take your dish out of the oven though.

This is another dish that you will save your sanity if you only parboil your noodles first. You will need them to be soft and pliable but not cooked to the point they break when being handled. Boil for 7 min only and then rinse with cold water. You won’t need to use toothpicks or anything to keep them rolled up if you follow this step. The sauce that you make is where all the flavor is at! We are talking serious creamy delight! Kick up the heat and add more chile’s, tone it down by holding back. The one thing you don’t want to do, is to Not Make This. Seriously you have to make this! It is THAT GOOD!

Tequila Lime Green Chile Chicken Roll Ups

This is perfect for leftover Chicken. Just shred the chicken and warm in a saute pan with 3 tbs taco seasoning or start from scratch and follow my recipe!

Ingredients

3 boneless skinless chicken breast OR 2 cups shredded leftover chicken
1 tsp each of salt, cumin, and chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbs olive oil
10 lasagna noodles {not the oven ready kind}
1 can of cream of celery
1/4 cup Tequila
zest of one lime and the juice reserved
3 Hatch Chiles Chopped OR 1 4 oz can of chopped green chiles
1 14 oz can green enchilada sauce
cilantro for garnish

Instructions

preheat oven to 350
in a baking dish
Season the chicken breast with the salt, cumin, chili powder and black pepper
drizzle the olive oil on top
bake for 30 min
remove from oven and shred with two forks
par boil noodles for 7 min drain and rinse with cold water
in a saucepan combine the cream of celery, tequila, zest of the lime, and green chiles
bring to a boil reduce heat and simmer 5-7 min
in a 9 x13 baking dish
spoon 1/3 of the of the green enchilada saucesauce on the bottom of the dish
take each noodle and spread 2 tbs of chicken lengthwise
roll up and place seam side down on the sauce
repeat till all noodles and chicken are used
pour the remaining sauce on top
then pour the reserved lime juice
then pour the tequila lime sauce on top
bake at 350 for 30 min
serve with cilantro as garnish
Enjoy!