SusieQTpies Cafe

Saturday

{Pinterest Party} Seafood and Lent Recipes

Do you eat more seafood recipes during Lent? Here are some fish lent recipes for this time of the year no matter if you observe lent fasting or not.

Do you have any fish or seafood recipes on your blog? I would especially love for you to share your favorites, favorite Pinterest board and/or Pinterest ID so that I can follow you back! My featured board is Seafood Recipes so stop in and see all the tasty recipes.

Want to join in the FUN today?

HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY Party (all optional)

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please!

2) Link up your most clicked on post, most followed Pinterest board, favorite pinterest pin, etc...anything goes.

3) Add your Pinterest name to the linky.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and cohost Crystal and Company and 3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.

Here are more fish & seafood recipes on my blog:

Creole-Style Red Bean Soup with Shrimp
Springtime Menu and Recipes by Patricia L. Mote (Ota Ika)
Salmon with Balsamic Sauce
Thai Peanut Noodles
Wild Salmon Patties with Quinoa

Friday

February American Heart Health Month with Quaker

In April 2012 I started my healthier lifestyle journey so that I would feel better and to prevent heart disease from attacking me. February is American Heart Health Month and I am celebrating it by being healthier and eating Quaker Oats!

Do you have a family history of heart disease? What are you doing to take care of yourself? How about your family? I have made some lifestyle changes over the past 10 months to get my heart healthy.

If you haven't thought much about your heart health, this is the month to do it. There are many things that can be done including eating whole grains. Several times a week I eat a hot breakfast of Quaker Oats to give my day a kick start. I also exercise at least 5 days a week. What are you doing for your heart? Check out www.GoRedForWomen.org for more heart healthy tips and guidelines.

The below video is of Quaker and heart-throb chef Fabio Viviani. They are working together to energize and inspire women to take care of their hearts for American Heart Health Month. By starting now you will develop good habits to keep you going all year long.

Join in the fun and participate in the Epic Hot Breakfast Twitter sweepstakes. All you have to do is watch Quaker’s Epic Hot Breakfast video on YouTube.com/Quaker and then share it on Twitter with the hashtag #QuakerLove between February 14th through 28th. Random picked Grand Prize winner will win a get away spa treatment and dine at Siena Tavern in Chicago. Fifteen other participants will also be randomly chosen to receive the "Ultimate Hot Breakfast" prize pack!

Want even more fun for Heart Month? Join the Quaker Heart Heath Twitter (click to RSVP) party Tuesday 2/19 from 8-9 PM EST hosted by @ResourcefulMom and @FabioViviani. Use the hashtag #QuakerHearts to participate in the Twitter Party.

Follow Quaker social channels to keep up with the fun this month!

· Facebook

· Twitter

· YouTube

· Google+

This is a sponsored post which I was compensated to write but my own tasty opinions, as always, are written here.

Wednesday

Valentines Craft Handprints Heart Card Kids Crafts

Here is a sweet and easy valentines craft for you to make today with your kids. Kids crafts using their handprints are great keepsake projects.

Valentines Craft

Construction paper or card stock

Glue

Scissors

Pencil, pen, or marker

Stickers, markers, crayons, glitter (for optional decorating)

Handprints Heart Card

1. Fold a piece of paper width-wise (hamburger fold, not hotdog!).

2. With the tip of your thumb aligned with the folded edge, trace your hand.

3. Cut out your handprint, making sure both layers get cut and stay connected in the thumb area. Don't cut out the space between the pointer finger and the thumb yet!

4. Cut out the paper in the space between the pointer finger and the thumb. It took us till our third one, the red one, to figure out that we should just cut a heart shape there, instead of trying to follow the traced lines. It made a much better heart shape that way!

5. If you want, decorate your handprint card with stickers, glitter, markers, or crayons!

Stop over and check the other kids crafts handprints valentines craft project by Donna & Co.

Tuesday

I Love You Sign Language Kids Crafts

Kids love hands on kids crafts such as this "I Love You" sign language handprint card. This is a perfect Valentine's Day gift that they can make and give to family and friends.

"I Love You" Sign Language Handprint Card

1. Using a single sheet of unfolded paper, trace your hand.

2. Cut out your handprint.

3. Carefully fold down the middle finger and index finger. Unfold and apply glue to those two fingers. Fold them back down, and press down to glue securely.

4. You made the American Sign Language sign for "I Love You!" If you want, decorate your handprint card with stickers, glitter, markers, or crayons! (If you want a bigger card, you can glue your handprint onto another piece of paper that has been "hamburger folded" or folded in quarters.)

Kids Crafts

Fun kids craft from Donna & Co.

Monday

Menu Plan Monday Mardi Gras & Valentines Day blog hop

Happy Valentine's Day Week and Mardi Gras Menu Plan Monday. Here are a few tasty recipes to make this week for your family.

(No Bake Snickers Cake by Winnie)

Welcome back to Menu Planning Monday! Thanks to all for stopping in and even linking up! My blog will be going through a few changes over the next few weeks. One change is that I've shortened the name to SusieQTpies Cafe instead of SusieQTpies Scraps of Life. I also have my own domain name so it is much shorter than having the blogspot address!

Here is my menu and I"ve included a linky so you can link up your menu plan or find new recipes. So please share! I will feature a few recipes/menus each week.

Monday-Quick & Easy Jambalaya & Winnie's No Bake Snickers Cake

Tuesday- Mardi Gras King Cake and Red Beans & Rice

Wednesday- Crystal & Co's Menu Plan looks tasty including her recipe for Beefy Mexican Rice and New Orleans Beignets

Thursday- Happy Valentine's Day - Spinach Stuffed Shells and Deep Fried Ice Cream or other sweet Valentines Day treats

Friday-Busy Day Lasagna & Herb Biscuit Knots

Saturday-Healthier, Crunchy Granola

Dessert-Southern Fried Apples

National Potato Lovers Month

I've linked up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday link up and always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menus.

Saturday

Gooseberry Patch Weeknight Dinners Recipes and Cookbook

Gooseberry Patch is the National Best-Selling Publisher of cookbooks. Their books cover such topics as Kids in the Kitchen, Best Ever Cookies, Mom's Very Best Recipes and more! Here is a review on their newest, Weeknight Dinners.

Every time I review a Gooseberry Patch cookbook, I tell myself that it is my favorite. Well it is my favorite until a new one comes along. Just a few weeks ago I reviewed 101 Farmhouse Favorites and loved all the fresh recipes. Well guess what? My new newest cookbook is Weeknight Dinners. I think this is a must buy for ANY family!

This is a fun cookbook and perfect for week meal planning! The chapters are Meatless Monday, Tuesday is Tex-Mex Night, Wednesday is Italian Night, Comfort Food Thursday and Just for Fun Friday! Each chapter is chocked full of recipes under that theme. This takes the guess work out of a themed meal for your family or for a party you are hosting. There are over 250 recipes & tips in this book. Below, by chapter, I will list just a few of my favorites!

Meatless Monday-French Onion Tart, Zesty Black Bean Loaf, Veggie Stuffed Peppers, Japanese Onion Soup, Sesame-Asparagus Salad, Whole Wheat Applesauce Bars

Tuesday is Tex-Mex Night-Sopa de Albondigas, Indian Tacos with Fry Bread, Light & Healthy Fish Tacos, Golden Sopapillas, Mix Your Own Taco Spice.

Wednesday is Italian Night-Creamy Marinara Linguine, Caprese Salad, Bubbly Cheese Garlic Bread, Chicago Italian Beef, Pesto Chicken Pizza, Strawberry Ice

Comfort Food Thursday-Honey Chicken & Sweet Potatoes, Lemon Wine Chicken Skillet, Zesty All Purpose Seasoning, Peasant's Beef Pie, Dill Potato Wedge, Nutty Peach Cobbler

Just For Fun Friday-Crazy Good Seasoned Salt, Build Your Own Taco Pizza, Kid Pleasin' Chicken Fingers, Best Honey Mustard Dressing, Chicken Apple Sliders, Saucy Meatball Subs

"Deep Fried" Ice Cream

Ingredients

4 c. bite size crispy cinnamon rice cereal squares, crushed

1 c. mini semi sweet chocolate chips

2 pts. vanilla ice cream

1/2 lb. fresh sliced strawberries, hulled & sliced

Garnish: honey, whipped cream

Directions

Combine cereal and chocolate chips in a bowl; set aside. Scoop 8 balls of ice cream with an ice cream scoop. Quickly roll ice cream balls in cereal mixture; mound balls in a 9" pie plate. Coer; freeze at least one hour until firm. At serving time, top ice cream balls with strawberries. Drizzle with honey and dollop with whipped cream. Makes 8 servings.

Kitchen Notes: I made this on a whim and used what I had on hand. We omitted the chocolate chips and strawberries. Instead of honey we used caramel sundae syrup and topped with a cherry. All easy changes and this is now a new go to recipe when we need a sweet mexican treat!

Spinach Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

24 jumbo pasta shells, uncooked

1 c. onion, finely chopped

2 10oz pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed & well drained

3 T. olive oil

8 oz pkg. cream cheese softened

1 egg beaten

1 T. dried basil

3/4 t. garlic powder

1 1/2 t. onion powder

1/4 t. pepper

1 c. cottage cheese

2 T. plus 1 t. grated Parmesan cheese

2 26 oz jars pasta sauce

8 oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Cook pasta shells according to pkg. Drain. Meanwhile in a heavy skillet over med. heat, cook onion and spinach in olive oil for 10 min. or until onion is soft and translucent. Set aside. In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese egg and seasonings; stir in cottage and Parmesan cheese. Add onion mixture; mix well. Gently spoon mixture into shells. Arrange shells in a 13" x 9" baking pan sprayed with non stick veg. spray. Spoon pasta sauce over shells, making sure all are covered. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Remove foil; sprinkle with mozz. cheese. Bake, uncovered, an additional 7-10 minutes, until cheese melts Bake 8-12 servings.

Kitchen Notes- I only had 1 pkg of spinach and it turned out fine. Instead of baking I added it to the crock pot for 2 hours. Tasted great and will make it again.

Find even MORE from Gooseberry Patch online!
http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/blog
www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch
www.twitter.com/gooseberrypatch

4 Valentine Treats for your Sweeties

Here are 4 Valentine Treats to make your sweeties for Valentine's Day. I love homemade Valentine sweets and cute gift ideas. Do you have any special Valentine's Day traditions? I'd love to know.