Creamy Lemon Squares

Happy New Year's Eve! Hope you all have big, fun plans for this evening. My family will get together for food and fun for just about any occasion. Tonight will be no different! Anytime we have a get together and I am looking to make something new, the first place I look is to The Pioneer Woman. Either her website or her cookbook . I got this recipe off of her website. Much like pretty much everything I have made of hers, it involves a little time and effort but it is always well worth it. Here is what you will need:

*Cream together 1 stick of softened butter and 1 cup packed brown sugar

*Add in 1.5 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 cup oats

*Mix by hand until everything is well incorporated

*Press half of crumb mixture into a 9x13 pan

*For the filling you will need 1/2 c fresh lemon juice and the zest of 1 lemon

*Mix the lemon with 1 can sweetened condensed milk until smooth

*Spread the lemon mixture over the pressed crumb mixture

*Top with remaining crumbs

*Bake at 350 for 25 minutes

*Cool for 30 min and then cut into squares

*Keep refrigerated until ready to serve!

Meatless Tacos Version 2.0

If you have read through my blog at all you can probably figure out that I love Mexican food and I am not going to let the whole "no meat" thing out damper on that! Tonight we tried a different version of meatless tacos. Now that Christmas is over and we are stuffed to the brim with junk (wonderful, delicious junk!) it is time for some good, slightly more healthy, home cooked food. It tasted great and we will have it again for sure. It takes no time at all to throw these together. I actually folded some laundry while it was cooking! Ok, here is what you will need:

*In a large skillet pour a 16oz jar of chunky salsa, 1.5 tsp chili powder, and a splash of water

*Bring to a boil

*Add in 1 cup of instant brown rice, remove from heat, and cover for 5-10 minutes

*While the rice is cooking, drain a can of black beans and a can of mexi corn

*When the rice is done cooking, give it a stir:

*Add in your beans and corn and stir

*Serve with shredded cheese on a tortilla (don't you love E's pink plate?!)

Lentil Tacos

So, I don't know if anyone knew this but I have been a vegetarian for exactly 4 days now! (Probably not since I think I have told a grand total of 3 people.) It is something I have been thinking about for quite a while and I finally decided to just go for it. I am doing it more for the health benefits of it and not so much the "oh, please don't kill the animals" thing. Tonight I made lentil tacos. I have made them before but they were especially good tonight. I think I perfected cooking lentils and that makes a difference. I had these with my Spanish Rice and it was perfect! Here is what you will need:

*Heat up 1 tsp oil in a pan and add in 1 chopped onion and 1 tbs minced garlic

*When onion is tender: add in 1 cup lentils, 1tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp cumin, and 1tsp oregano.

*Stir and cook for about 1 minute

*Add 2.5 cups vegetable broth and bring to a boil

*Reduce heat to medium and cover. Simmer for 25-30minutes

*When liquid is almost gone, remove from heat

*Smash lentils slightly with a fork and add 1/2 cup salsa if desired

*Serve on tortillas with cheese!