Pinterest | Smart & Sassy Mom

30 Minute Meal – Potato Kielbasa Recipe

January 1, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 8 Comments

Hey Guys! I found another 30 minute meal. I re-pinned this from a friend on Pinterest of course. This is a really hearty meal that I consider “comfort food”. As usual, I substituted the sausage with turkey sausage and the bacon with turkey bacon, which I’m sure it would be even tastier if I didn’t, but that is what my family is accustomed to, so I just rolled with it. I’ve made this twice and both times, it was a hit! The sweetness of the brown sugar and the tangy vinegar make the taste of this perfect. I saw a variation of this meal on Pinterest and I may post it as well if I decide to make it.

Ingredients
1 pound red potatoes, cubed
3 tablespoons water
3/4 pound smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups fresh baby spinach
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Directions

Place potatoes and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until tender; drain.
In a large skillet, saute kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add potatoes; saute 3-5 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.
Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add spinach and bacon; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Yield: 4 servings, but I doubled everything, because I am the Leftover Queen!!
Let me know if you make it and as always, share your 30 minute meals here with us as well as any variations of it!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food, Pinterest Tagged With: 30 minute meal, dinner, Pinterest, quick dinner

Toddler Breakfast: Mini Banana Pancake Muffins

November 5, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 5 Comments

Here comes another episode of “When Pinterest Becomes Reality“…. Starring Smart & Sassy Mom AKA June Cleaver AKA Martha Stewart. Give me a Pinterest idea that contains 5 or less steps and look out world! I am unstoppable…OK, not really, but I really do get excited and my family does too. They can’t wait to find out if my adventure will be BLAST or a BUST! And trust me, they will tell the truth.

I found this neat little recipe on Pinterest which led me to this site by Once a Month Mom for these amazing little pancake muffins for my little “Muffin” who is super excited about self-feeding right now! They were so easy (about 20 minutes), cheap (only had to buy the Bisquick for $1.39 had everything else at home) and tasty. I made them for the baby, but between my middle daughter and myself, we gobbled up the poor little baby’s breakfast food! They taste like little pancakes with syrup on them…Yum!

Here’s all that’s to it and don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest. As you can see, I pin some really cool stuff!

You need:

1 cup Bisquick Complete (just add water kind)
1 Banana (sliced and quartered)
2/3 cup syrup
2/3 cup of water

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees F.

Mix your Bisquick, syrup and water together in a bowl and spoon contents into a lightly greased muffin (preferably mini muffin) pan.

Drop bananas in the mixture and bake for 12-15 minutes for mini muffins (and 15-20 minutes regular muffin size). Let them completely cool and you can even freeze them for serving later!

And this is what makes me happy!

I want to hear from you…Let me know when/if you make these and what other easy toddler foods you love!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Baby, Children, Food, Pinterest, Thank Me Later Tagged With: baby, Bisquick recipes, DIY baby food, easy baby food, mini muffins, Pinterest, self-feeding, toddler food, toddlers

Easy Pinterest-Inspired Recipe

August 14, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

This is a Pinterest-Inspired recipe that I pinned from a friend. So easy that my 12 year old son did everything except clean and cut the chicken!!!

Place your chicken, potatoes and green veggie in a 9×13 dish. Sprinkle a packet of Italian Salad Dressing mix over everything and top with EVOO/butter/both. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for one hour and Vóila!!! Enjoy!

Follow me on Pinterest. See the Pinterest icon on the sidebar to your right!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Pinterest Tagged With: dinner, easy, food, meat, Pinterest, quick meal, veggies

My DIY Shoe Tying Board

August 7, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 6 Comments

Of course I’m on Pinterest all the time! And sometimes I actually DO the stuff I pin! Last night, I made my five year old a shoe tying board. Thanks to Salsa Pie! Since it’s Summer and the Princess wears a lot of sandals, now’s the time to practice tying our shoes to prepare for Kindergarten.

It took me about 5 minutes to do and I’m so excited that she was tying all night! Yay! So, if you have a preschooler that’s itching to learn, here’s an easy DIY shoe tying board.

Materials Needed:
Cardboard
Shoelaces
Box cutter (or heavy duty scissors)
Screwdriver
Sharpie

Step 1
Cut out a large piece of cardboard.

Step 2
Lightly trace the outline of both shoes with a pencil first. Then outline with a marker.

Step 3
Draw 5 holes on each side to represent the holes for laces.

Step 4
On a resistant (carpeted) surface, get a screwdriver and punch holes through the card board. (Grown-ups only)
(See above)

Step 5
Pull the laces through the holes.

And voila!!!

I pin some awesome stuff…Follow me on Pinterest!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Children, Pinterest Tagged With: children, DIY, kids, Pinterest, tying shoes

Why I LOVE and HATE Pinterest!

June 8, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

Pinterest, clever party favors, carnival theme

My Pinterest-inspired Carnival themed birthday party favors | photo credit @smartnsassymom

Of course by now you have heard of the virtual pin board website called, Pinterest. Its all the rave right now and the latest craze, especially for brides-to-be and those have been blessed with creative genes. Me, not so much, BUT, I’ll have you know that I have been inspired by Pinterest to be a little more creative. I created these popcorn party favors, not because I actually saw these. I just knew we were having a carnival theme birthday party for my 5 year old and I got inspired by something I’d pinned before. (The amazing human mind) So, there you have it…Popcorn tub party favors filled with, of course a bag of microwave popcorn, a note pad, a kazoo, crayons, candy, silly straws, silly bands, and some bubbles!

Pineapple Lemonade Sangria | photo credit @smartnsassymom

OK, my obsession with all things wine naturally mandates that I have a wine pinning board. This Pineapple Lemonade Sangria is EVERYTHING! I made it for the party. Sorry for the paper towel, but this stuff went so fast, I had to hurry and snap the shot! I re-pinned this and the original recipe came from Deep South Dish – a website and Facebook page I AM IN LOVE WITH! The food recipes are delightful and I’m going crazy over the cocktail recipes! All this is making me quite the popular hostess! Thus, my love with Pinterest!

And how’s this for an End-of -the-year Teacher Gift? I was so proud to do these!! The one I originally pinned had just a bath towel, sunscreen and a magazine. I tweaked mine, of course and tied together a bottle of water, a beach towel, a magazine, a travel kit, and of course a ‘thank you’ note from each kid! I added a cute little Smart & Sassy bow and VOILA! They were so thankful!

Teacher’s gift – End of the year

OK, I did say that I hated Pinterest, too, right? Hate may be a little harsh. But, my gripes with Pinterest are:

1. When you think you have the perfect recipe for something and you click on the originating post and its either SPAM or that stupid 404 error! I hate that and…
2. WHY WASN’T PINTEREST AROUND WHEN I WAS GETTING MARRIED?!? I’m so jealous now. There is so much cute stuff and amazing ideas out there that I would a pinning fool! (More so than I already am!) and…
3. Its highly addictive!

So, come be with me in my happy place! Follow me and my “better-than-all-the-other boards”!!! I pin some really cool stuff!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),