Category: Kid Fun

Classic Sloppy Joes

Welcome to September! I know it’s not quite fall yet, but I’m eager for the fall temperatures! Summer is actually my least favorite season unless I’m on a beach or sitting by a pool and drinking a margarita! Anyways, fall and winter are perfect season for comfort food. That’s exactly what this recipe is! Pure and simple comfort food! This meal takes most people back to their childhood, kids love an excuse to get messy!! That’s the fun part!

I love this recipe because it’s quick, delicious and case easily be spiced up! If you like heat, add some cayenne pepper and hot sauce or even some jalapeños! This recipe is a perfect freezer meal, too! Make extra and put in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months! Just thaw and add to a sauce pan and heat on low! Give this recipe a try and let me know how you like it!

Ingredients:
1.5 lb ground beef (I use 90% lean)
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbps olive oil
3 tbps tomato paste
1 tbps light brown sugar
2 tsp lite soy sauce
15 oz can tomato sauce (I use no salt added)
1 tbps Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water, more if needed

Seasonings:
1 tbps chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic & herb seasoning, (optional)
1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
1 tsp salt or to taste
2 tsp salt or to taste

Or: Sloppy Joe seasoning packet

Directions: Heat a large deep skillet on high heat. Add in the olive oil and let heat 2 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook till fragrant. Next add in the pepper and onion and cook till tender and the onion is translucent. Add the ground beef to the pan and brown, breaking up while it cooks. (See Amazon items below for the best tool for breaking up ground meat) Add the seasonings above or the seasoning packet and mix well. Stir in the brown sugar. Add in the water, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce and mix well. Let simmer on medium low heat 10 minutes (this step is completely optional it just helps the flavors come through, but you can eat as soon as it’s completed.) If the sauce becomes to thick and you want a really sloppy Joe, add more water.

Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture over a bun and either eat like a sandwich or eat it opened faced! Enjoy!

Hamburger Meat Chopper https://www.amazon.com/shop/garlic_and_oliveoil_veins

garlicandoliveoilveins

Air Fryer Oreos

I’m still loving my air fryer! It was probably one of the best items I’ve purchased recently. I love kitchen items, obviously! But this gadget is awesome! I decided to give Oreos a try in the air fryer. I personally don’t like the idea of the ones with crescent dough. I feel like it would be a little on the doughy side for me. I made mine with pancake mix and I loved the way they came out. Do they taste like a fried Oreo you get a carnival or state fair… probably not. BUT these are delicious nonetheless! If you are looking for a “fried” treat with no guilt this is it! Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Air Fryer Oreos

Ingredients:
1/2 cup complete pancake mix
1/3 cup water
10 Oreos (or other chocolate sandwich cookes)
cooking spray
powder sugar, to taste

Directions: Preheat air fryer. (Mine preheats at 400 for 4 minutes) In a small bowl mix together pancake mix and water until combined. If the mix seems to wet you can add more pancake mix. You want it to be thicker and not to runny. Spray the air fryer rack with cooking spray. Dip the cookie in the pancake mix and make sure it’s fully covered. Lay on the air fryer rack. Complete with all Oreos and make sure they are not touching. Place in the air fryer and cook at 400 for about 7-8 minutes flipping halfway through. Remove from air fryer and sprinkle with powder sugar. You can use parchment paper for a smoother bottom! I just put on the rack vs using the parchment paper.

garlicandoliveoilveins

Air Fryer S’Mores

Yes, You read that right Air Fryer S’mores! This recipe is for s’mores in the air fryer. I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did. I was skeptical and I’m a total believer now. Is it 100% like a regular campfire s’more, maybe not…but it’s pretty close. The only thing that’s missing is that fire taste and I haven’t gotten them super charred and dark like I would at a campfire.

Please give this a try and you won’t regret it!

Air Fryer S’Mores

Ingredients:
2 sheets graham crackers
4 large marshmallows (or 2 extra large campfire marshmallows)
2-4 pieces sold chocolate squares

Directions: Preheat the air fryer. Break the graham cracker sheets in half. Add half the graham crackers to the air fryer rack or basket. Top the graham cracker with the pieces of chocolate. I usually only do 1 piece on each, as 2 pieces on each is very sweet. Top chocolate with the marshmallows. (Note: Sometimes I just use the marshmallows vs the chocolate. keeps a little more health conscious, and still delicious.

Add to the air fryer and cook at 400° for about 3-4 minutes. I’d watch them closely and cook to your desired marshmallow doneness. I like mine a bit darker so I let it go until it’s a deep golden brown. Next remove from the air fryer and top with the other halves of the graham crackers and enjoy, grab a napkin!! Use can also use other chocolates to change it up. Like peanut butter cups or toffee bars.

Note: I use an air fryer oven type air fryer. My preheat is 400° for 3 minutes. The marshmallows do puff up some once you cook them.


garlicandoliveoilveins

Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

I’m obsessed with my new air fryer! I’ve had it since before the holidays and I honestly can’t get enough. I’ve been trying out so many delicious recipes. This recipe was one that surprised me! French toast sticks! Super simple, yet the flavors were awesome. Personally, I feel like it’s much easier than in a pan, and let’s be honest that’s pretty easy too.

Try this recipe if you want a quick breakfast. Keep in mind, every air fryer is different. The cook time and temperatures will vary.

Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

Ingredients:
8 slices of white bread or Texas toast
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 t vanilla extract
cinnamon, sprinkle (optional)

To serve:
favorite syrup
powdered sugar

Directions: In a bowl add in the milk, eggs and vanilla and whisk well together. Cut the slices of bread into thirds. Spray the air fryer rack or basket with cooking spray. Dip each stick into the egg mixture quickly on both sides. Remove from the egg mixture and place directly on the rack or in the basket. Complete with all break sticks. Sprinkle each stick on both sides with cinnamon, if desired. Preheat the air fryer. Add the rack or basket into the air fryer and cook at 350° for about 7-8 minutes flipping half way through. Cook until crispy. Remove from air fryer and sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup.

Notes: You can add regular sugar to the bread as well as the cinnamon. Personally I use the cinnamon and then powdered sugar. You can do whatever you like. I like mine on the crispier side as they are better to dip.

garlicandoliveoilveins

Spinach & Mushroom Pizza

I love making homemade pizzas. I personally just buy the pizza dough from a local Italian shop and it cuts the prep time in half. I made this pizza and the dough wasn’t cooperating, so the crust totally came out wonky. I still had to share because the flavors were awesome. This is also my first time making a video while cooking. It’s new to me, so I’m learning as I go! 🙂

Spinach & Mushroom Pizza

Ingredients:
1 fresh pizza dough
8 oz sliced mushrooms, sauteed to remove moisture
10 oz fresh spinach
1 cup Italian shredded cheese
4 oz fresh mozzarella, diced
1 T grated Romano cheese
1 T + 2t olive oil
1/2 T Italian Seasoning
2 t garlic salt

Directions: Preheat oven 425°. Roll out pizza dough to your desired thickness. Use spray oil on a large cookie sheet and add the dough. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Par bake the crust for about 8 minutes.

Remove the dough from the oven and assemble the pizza. Drizzle 1 T oil over the crust and use a brush to completely cover the crust. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the crust. Next layer with spinach and then top with mushrooms. Next add the fresh mozzarella. Sprinkle the Romano and Italian seasoning over the top. Lightly drizzle oil on top and bake in the oven for another 10-12 minutes depending on how crisp you like your pizza and how thick your dough is.

Once pizza is done remove from oven and sprinkle with garlic salt. Cut and serve.

garlicandoliveoilveins

Cheeseburger Cupcakes

These little cheeseburger cupcakes are so fun to make. This post isn’t going to be recipes for these little cute cupcakes. It’s just going to simply explain how to assemble them.  I made these for my favorite little people.  My niece and nephews a while back, when they were a few years old.  They are 12, 10 and almost 10 now.  These are very sweet, they are more for the look, but the kids didn’t eat much of them back then.

I got such a kick out of making these.  When I put them together I actually bought some of the stuff and made some of the components of this cupcake.  Take a look below how to make/assemble them!  These would be perfect for a BBQ!

Cheeseburger Cupcakes

Bun: Yellow cupcakes (unfrosted) either homemade or store bought
Burger: Brownie Bites
Cheese: Melted Marshmallows with yellow food coloring
Ketchup: Red Frosting ( Just put along the edges, so you can see it)
Lettuce: Coconut flakes with green food coloring
Seeds: Rice Cereal

Directions: To assemble these adorable cupcakes, cut the yellow cupcake in half. Add the brownie bite to the bottom half of the cupcake.  After melting the marshmallows put over top of the brownie bite.  Add a little bit of red frosting (just to the outer area so you can see it.) Next sprinkle on the coconut flakes.  Top with the other half of the cupcake and add a few pieces of rice cereal to act as the seeds on the bun.

 

garlicandoliveoilveinsLeave a comment