Taco Pizza Rolls

Every now and then we come across a recipe that is easy, practical, and delicious. This, my friends, is just that. For those of you who meal plan, this is a great addition to your Mexican night menu! The entire recipe can be found here.

Taco Pizza Rolls

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 lb ground beef
2. 1 can Pillsbury™ refrigerated pizza crust
3. 2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)
4. 3 tablespoons water
5. 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
6. Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, sour cream, onion, and guacamole

Directions: 

1.  Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a medium skillet, cook and brown beef until no longer pink. Drain. Add taco seasoning and water and cook for 2-3 minutes. Set aside and cool slightly before using. 
3. Take pizza dough out of its package and unroll it onto a flat surface. Slightly roll or press the pizza dough out into a rectangle.
4. Add the taco meat evenly on top of the pizza dough. Sprinkle the cheese evenly on top.
5. Starting with the long edge of the pizza dough, roll dough tightly up into a roll. Using a serrated knife, make about 1-inch slices along the roll, making about 18 rolls.
6. Place rolls on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Serve immediately and top with desired toppings.

 Notes: We didn't have any taco seasoning mix on hand, so we substituted some taco sauce instead. Delicious! And we doubled it for our family.

Enjoy!

Weekend Plans

Apologies for not visiting as much lately, my friends. This week was all about family and fun before Madison and Nicolas left for Denmark. More on that later. Meanwhile, summer marches on and we find ourselves enjoying the last weekend of July. Our weekend plans include mass and homemade zucchini lasagna as well as some rest and relaxation. Here is a peek at the past week here in our summer home...

We took a road trip together to visit Marian and watch a movie together...

Sidenote: War for The Planet of the Apes is a must see!

We ate at The Cheesecake Factory...

Where this Coffee Cheesecake changed my life forever.

We enjoyed a summer favorite...

Shark Week!

And awoke to find our sweetest neighbor Charley left some yummy zucchini on our side porch.

Too soon, we found ourselves at the night before Denmark Day...

So Peyton made a delicious Mixed Berry pie for Madison.

Mocha helped pack up the suitcases...

And I watched teary eyed, but feeling blessed and proud, as my four children took one last walk together.

Here they are...

Once again bound for adventure...and work and school...on the other side of the ocean.

I am blessed that his family welcomes my girl with open arms and hearts.

Hugs and tears and waves and smiles...

And then I sent my firstborn this.

And then I got to work, drowning my sorrows in scrubbing and cleaning Madison's room and bathroom. I had some help from the cutest Cinderella, too.

Could I ask for some prayers, my friends?

For my Madison as she leaves her home she loves so much to experience life with the one she loves and his family?

Thank you!

And in case you are wondering...

Only 162 more days until they return for an entire year.

Not that I'm counting. : )

*UPDATE*

They arrived safe and sound back in Denmark, and are settling in nicely.

We have already FaceTimed too.  

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

Also, Thank you to a sweet friend who sent me this beautiful reminder of me and my Madison.

Christmas In July 2017

We celebrate Christmas in July every year, but this year was a bit more meaningful. For the first time in her twenty one years, Madison will not be home for Christmas. This year, she is spending Christmas in Denmark with Nicolas and his family. With that in mind, I tried to make this smaller celebration a bit more special for my firstborn. And it was.

I woke up early and lit the candle that my children say smells like "Christmas at Home" to them.

Then Flynn and I set the table for a special Christmas breakfast...

 French Toast, fresh fruit, coffee, and milk.

The kids opened a few gifts I wrapped up for them...

And then we watched one of our favorite Christmas specials together.

Flynn was thrilled that our little elf Zip came to spend the day with us...

And that she could carry him around all day!

Peyton and Flynn made some yummy chocolate cupcakes for a special snack...

And we enjoyed them with some cocoa and Christmas trivia before bed.

And then we said goodbye to Christmas.

For just a little while. : )

A Peek Inside...Our Summer Bedroom

Have I ever told you how much I love Zulily? I find things there I didn't even know I was looking for! For example, I love the quilt I had on my bed, but it is heavy and not the best for summer. One day, I found a plain, light, quilted bedspread  on Zulily and because the price was so awesome...I ordered it. And I love it! I didn't realize how dark my other one was, and how this lighter one brightens up the room. And change is good once in awhile, don't you think?  : )

Weekend Plans...Or Not

This week was full of all the summer fun. From swimming to boating, we covered it all. Fortunately, we have little to no plans this Saturday and Sunday, except to spend some quality family time together. Friday we are traveling to the big city to spend the day with Marian! Tentative plans include The Cheesecake Factory and War For the Planet of the Apes. Good times.

Here is a quick recap of the fun had this past week here in our country home...

We snapped a few pictures of Flynn before Mass...

In this adorable new Snow White dress I found at The Disney Store online. : )

Highly recommend.

On the way to mass selfie with the whole gang...

Well, minus Steve.

Someone has to drive. : )

I have yet to find my favorite Blackberry Lemonade anywhere the year!

I had to settle for Strawberry when we want to Hoss's after mass last weekend.

Ok. So maybe it wasn't that bad.

Our Sunday afternoon Surf-n-Turf dinner was amazing!

Steve's prime rib was perfect, and my friend Heather's crab cakes??

Unbelievable.

We visited for hours, and then enjoyed Peyton's blueberry pie for dessert.

This is our favorite blueberry recipe, compliments of my Bloggy friend Patty.

Monday found us visiting with Steve's brother Todd, his wife Beth, and daughter Rachel. 

We love spending time with them!

Although we don't do it enough.

And yes. This is their backyard.

It is AMAZING!

As was the dinner of beef kabobs and baked potato bar they served for dinner. 

And the strawberry jello cake we had for dessert. : )

We had a wonderful evening visiting with them, and promised to do it again soon.

Tuesday Flynn had swimming lessons.

The only picture I have is this selfie with my Madison!

The rest of the time we were watching our little one learn to swim.

The swimming lessons are at our old home.

Steve and I built that house and moved into it with just Madison.

We brought two additional babies home into that house, and we were all excited to see it again after so many years.

The new owners are a young couple, just as we were, with one small daughter.

She invited Flynn to take private swimming lessons with her daughter.

And she was soooo kind in letting us walk through her beautiful home.

It brought back so many memories.

I was also so happy to see the house that we built being loved by a brand new family.

Wednesday we all went boating with our friend Justin and his adorable girlfriend Gina.

You may remember Justin as the guy who comes and cooks us chicken.

He is a super young man, and invited us to go out on his new boat.

It took some convincing for me to join in the fun, but I am so glad I did!

It was a blast!

And I was so happy and thankful they invited us.

My favorite picture of the day?

Justin helping Flynn before he took her out on the tube. : )

We all came back to the house and had pizza.

Then Madison and Nicolas made us some delicious crepes for dessert.

Thursday we stayed home.

Except for a run into town for some hot fudge sundaes from McDonalds.

My oldest gave my youngest a manicure...

And I spent some time on the porch with my shadow.

Have a wonderful weekend with your people, my friends.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Just A Thought...

When people ask me why I stay home so much...

Why we do so many things together as a family...

Why I say, "No. But thank you." to so many requests...

Why I am determined to make our home a place of comfort, contentment, and peace...

This.

Just this.

That is all.