Twice baked Potatoes - Fancy Smancy

So the picture just doesn't do these justice! I was having company over for dinner and really wanted a side dish with a little pizazz. I tried this recipe for twice baked potatoes and I cannot even tell you how good they were. They may look a little rough here....but on a plate they looked awesome! Pair with steak and some grilled asparagus and you have a positively yummy dinner!!

Twice Baked Potatoes

6 large baking potatoes

1/2 package (8 oz. size) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

salt and pepper, to taste

Bacon crumbles

Bake potatoes at 400 until tender. Slice potatoes in half when cool enough to handle. Scoop insides of potatoes into a large bowl; place shells on a cookie sheet. Combine 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and remaining ingredients with potatoes. Beat till light and fluffy.

Spoon potato mixture back into shells. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar and lightly sprinkle with bacon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or till heated through and cheese is bubbly on top.

Works for me Wednesday

When you are a mama, you and the pediatrician are friends. As in....you have basically paid for their children's college with the amount of visits in the first couple years alone.

Then you have another child (Or a couple) and you start to pray before you hit the door that the doctor will not be running behind.

You know the scene.

A sick, whiny child crying or laying on the floor. ewwww. Another child trying to get in the drawers or touch things they shouldn't. My son used to play rocket man with the doctors chair while I was trying to get my daughter out of the big paper roll cabinet.....good times.

A couple of months ago I started taking crayons with me to the offices. It saved my patience, tolerance and sanity :)

I now plop both kids promptly on the table, hand them crayons and watch them go to work. They can draw and color on the paper to their hearts content. There has even been a game of tic-tac-toe or two. The paper gets thrown away after every visit so there is no guilt and the kids stay entertained.

And that works for this crazy mama!

Menu Plan...errr Tuesday?

I am ready for spring Y'all! Can I just say that after being well on the road to recovery, we all got the stomach flu. Thus, the late meal planning. Its going to be a lite one since we are not quite ready to jump into heavy dishes. I pray to the good Lord that this is our last bought of sickness...at least for a little while :) Happy Eating !!!!

Monday: Oops...no food Monday :)

Tuesday: Chicken noodle soup, yeast rolls

Wednesday: Grilled chicken strip salad with cranberries and walnuts

Thursday: Steak Fajitas, (Recipe follows) black beans and rice

Friday: White Pizza, salad

Saturday: Leftover night- If its not movin you can eat it...but mama is not cookin!

Sunday: Beef pot Roast, mashed potatoes, green beans

Steak Fajitas

1 pound lean steak, cut into strips
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, cut into thin strips
1 julienned green bell pepper
2 lemons, quartered
salt and pepper to taste
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas

Combine the lime juice, ground pepper and cilantro in a shallow dish. Place steak strips into the marinade and refrigerate for two to four hours.

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak strips, and fry until cooked to your liking. Remove meat and set aside.

Add remaining oil and onions to the skillet. Cook over medium low heat, until translucent, stir in green peppers and steak. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the top and stir. When the green bell peppers are just tender remove the pan from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the steak fajitas with tortillas and lemon wedges on the side.