Easy Butterfinger Pie

This is one of the easiest , most delicious pies if you love Butterfingers. People will think you worked for hours.

1 graham cracker pie crust
8 oz cream cheese, thawed
12 oz cool whip, thawed
7 Butterfinger candy bars , crushed (2.1oz)

Mix 6 crushed candy bars with cool whip and creme cheese. Put in crust. Top with crushed Butterfingers.

Quick dinner and Fundraising Thoughts on Next Years Travel ball World Series

So I haven't written in my blog since we had been out of town for the World Series. Now that I am back I wish that I had written about it every day because it is such a wonderful experience for your travel ball player. And to be honest I think the parents loved it just as much. Next year before it begins again I will be writing a lot of articles on how to be prepared for the World Series but today I'm just going to say that you need to be planning now. Be fundraising for it now. If it is out of town for you then you need to plan ahead so you can fund it. We had about 6 months of planning for it. We did car wash, Sonic cards, Logan's night, etc but the longer you have to fundraise for it the better chance you have of paying for an out of town trip. Our boys loved it and it was worth every penny we paid for it though. The experience they got from it not to mention the team bonding was extraordinary. And again, the parents getting to bond was special too.  The kids definitely made some great baseball memories.

After saying all that you can imagine I have not been to the grocery store yet so my "never fail" dinner tonight was nachos. I know I've said this before but if you are in a hurry to feed your family then always be prepared with some basics. Tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and canned refried or black beans are always in my house. It's so easy and quick to make oven nachos. 350 on some aluminum foil on a cookie pan and your family has a quick dinner. Disclaimer: my husband did eat the leftover Chinese from last night while the kids and I ate these delicious nachos but when he does eat with us he adds hot sauce and jalapeños to his!

Easy Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago and they are known for their delicious Italian Beef which you just can't find in the South. I looked everywhere for it and then everywhere for a great recipe like what I use to eat in Chicago at street fairs etc. This is the recipe I love. It is really a great recipe for the busy person to, since it cooks all day in the crockpot.

Italian Beef
3-4 lb sirloin tip roast
2 tsp salt, divided
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp Parmesan cheese, divided
12 oz can of beef broth
1 tsp dried oregano

1. Place roast in crockpot. Cut four slits in top of roast. Fill each slit with 1/2 tsp salt, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp cheese.
2. Pour broth over meat slowly. Sprinkle with oregano.
3. Cover. Cook low 10-12 hrs
4. Remove meat and shred. Serve on buns . ( sometimes we add slice of Swiss cheese on top)

10 Things a travel baseball mom needs for a rainy day

1. Always bring your tent. The team tents have saved us parents when the kids are still playing in the rain. We tend to not think to bring the tent if it isn't hot or sunny. But if you think it'll rain then bring it for cover. Not only does it cover you but all your supplies too.

2. Dry socks. If you play more then one game you will need dry socks for your baseball player.  In between games have them take their socks off and air dry their feet. Even in the heat sometimes they need to change their socks. I've known moms to dry their kids socks in the car on the heater too. 

3. Slides or flip flops to wear in between the games while feet air dry.

4. Towel to wipe off bleachers

5. Blanket for bleachers. Thirty one makes a great blanket that rolls up small and tight that I love. It's waterproof on one side for the wet bleachers and soft on the other. 

6. Umbrella

7. Snacks for the long rain delays (grapes, peanut butter crackers, apples)

8. Baseball cap for you. Who needs soggy wet hair! 

9. Pay attention to what bag you carry that day. If it gets wet you want it to be material

that can handle getting wet.

10. Waterproof mascara! So if we forget any thing else we still look good Sports Momma Goddesses! 

The best Hash brown casserole

Since it is 4th of July weekend I am making my hash brown casserole to take to a cookout. I am always getting asked for this recipe so thought I'd post it today. It also makes a great breakfast to eat on for a few days. I don't always like leftovers microwaved but this one is just as great microwaved the next day.  So guess what my little baseball player is getting for breakfast this weekend before his tournament! Well of course that is if there are any leftovers which might not happen!

 

Hash brown Casserole

1 1/2 lb bag of frozen hashbrowns half thawed (I prefer the cubed)

1/2 c butter, melted

1/2 c chopped onion or onion powder (which is what I normally use)

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 Large sour cream

3 c cheddar cheese grated

1/4 tspn black pepper

1 tspn salt

A sleeve of Ritz Crackers crushed (put in a baggie, close it and crush them)

 

Mix onion, 1/4 c of butter, sour cream, cheese, soup, salt and pepper in large bowl. Fold potatoes into mixture. Put in a large casserole dish. Cover with the Ritz crackers. Drizzle other 1/4 cup of butter on top. Bake 350 for one hour.

 

 I prefer to cook this longer so I do the directions and then I turn the oven down to 200 and cover it with aluminum foil. I just leave it in the oven until I need it when we are cooking out at our house and my hubby is still grilling. If I am taking it somewhere I will turn it down to 200 and leave it in there for maybe 20-30 more minutes. It makes the potatoes softer. Either one you have time for is fine. I learned to do it this way since my hubby and I never get done cooking at the same time at cookouts. And I like the potatoes really soft.

 

****Hit "Follow me on Blogovin" at top of blog site to get all the future blog posts****

 

Mason Jar Salads

This idea is so cool for making a weeks worth of salads. You just take one day to make them in mason jars and put them in your fridge and when you want one up to a week later, just take it out of fridge, shake it up, and put it on a plate! How easy is that. I am so excited about this idea because my hubby is a big salad person and I am not. So this allows me to make him salads one night but last a week! 



In a mason jar:
Very important! Put on bottom of mason jar first your dressing, then

layer your carrots, onions, cucumbers, peppers , cheese. Whatever veggies you prefer on your salad. Then on top you put your lettuce or spinach. Place in fridge for up to a week!!!!