family Archives - For the Love of Food

In Missouri school ends around May 20 and starts back up August 20. So we have a good 3 months of sunny summer fun every year and we take full advantage!

I have included our favorites in the bucket list and added some links below to help you with ideas too!

Take a Road Trip

This has to be my favorite! We love exploring and taking short trips, even if it’s only an hour away!

Make Dirt Pudding

We made these Creepy Crawly Dirt Cups for Earth Day. Messy and tasty too!

Go to a Zoo

This photo is from the Wild Animal Safari here in Missouri and it is hands down one of the best zoos we’ve been too!

The animals roam around and you can hand feed them!

Make Tie Dye Shirts

Check out this DIY Salt Resist Tye Die Crafts we made!

Go Mini Golfing

This is another family favorite. We like to visit locally owned mini golf places.

Not only are you supporting small businesses but they have a cool, retro feel and ours is only $2!

Make Popsicles

Try this easy recipe made in dixie cups: Toddler Friendly Patriotic Fruit Popsicles

Attend a Sporting Event

My husband and father like to go to baseball games and this has been passed down to my kids.

It’s always fun to catch an outdoor game in the summer!

Do a Scavenger Hunt

These are my secret weapon! We have made scavenger hunts for our neighborhood, nature trails, even road trips!

Download them for free here:

Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Have a Picnic

We do this often at our local parks and springs. Check out this Pretty in Pink Picnic for a few ideas!

Join a Summer Reading Program

We do this every year for our whole family.

You can sign up at your local library and they usually have weekly events, prizes, and crafts!

Make S’mores

What is more fun than make s’mores over a campfire? This recipe we made them even better with Chocolate Chip Cookie S’mores!

Explore a New City

You never know what you will find, right around the corner!

Print your own bucket list!

>> Click here to download and print your own free Summer of Fun Family Bucket List!

Hope you have the best summer ever!

The post Summer of Fun Printable Family Bucket List appeared first on For the Love of Food.

25 Nights of Family Christmas Movies | Printable Checklist

Nicole Hood — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 13:44:09 +0000

It’s movie night and we are excited to choose a Christmas movie to watch at home while we cuddle up and sip hot cocoa.

I love watching some of my old favorites from childhood with my kids like Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street.

We also always find new favorites to watch like Polar Express and Netflix’s Christmas Chronicles.

So this year I made us a list (and I checked it twice, ha!) with 25 Family Christmas Movies to watch all month long!

Print out a copy below and check off the movies as you watch them.

Hope you have as much fun as we do and don’t forget the popcorn and hot chocolate!

Here are our favorite Christmas movies. What are yours?

Movie nights at home with the family are the best!

What movie will you watch first?

Print your own Family Christmas Movies Checklist here!

I titled mine Nights of Christmas Movies but you can also print out the 25 Days of Christmas List if you prefer that name!

The post 25 Nights of Family Christmas Movies | Printable Checklist appeared first on For the Love of Food.

November Fall Family Bucket List Printable

Nicole Hood — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 01:39:51 +0000

Happy November!

Fall is my favorite season and even though October and all the Halloween festivities are over, there is still plenty of fall fun to be had!

Download and print this free Fall Family Bucket List and check off all the family fun you do this month!

Some of our fall favorite activities:

Go on a nature walk.

Decorate for fall.

Check out my Fall Floral Pumpkins craft here.

Roast marshmallows {and make s’mores too}!

Drink apple cider.

Check out my Crock-Pot Mulled Apple Cider recipe here.

Make a leaves craft.

Got to a fall festival.

Jump in a pile leaves.

Make baked apples.

My recipe for Pecan and Cranberry Stuffed Apples is made in my slow cooker.

Take a scenic fall drive.

Watch a football game.

Make my Game Day Pecan Football Cheese Ball for serving while you watch.

Make a list of things to be thankful for.

Pay it forward.

Cook a turkey.

Turkey is my Dad’s favorite to make every year.

He likes to fry his but I also love this Soy Sauce Brined Turkey recipe.

Take family pictures.

Make pumpkin pie.

Or try my Pumpkin Pecan Pie Dump Cake recipe!

We sure do love fall!

Find the link to print your own fall bucket list below!

Also check out my Family Winter Bucket List for Christmastime!

>> Download and print the Fall Bucket List here. <<

The post November Fall Family Bucket List Printable appeared first on For the Love of Food.

Daddy’s Slow Cooked Southern Lima Beans

Nicole Hood — Mon, 30 May 2016 15:57:00 +0000

Lima Beans, or anything beans for that matter, have always been my Daddy’s favorite food.

So it’s only natural that I love beans too and, lucky for me, my food lovin’ kiddos do too.

Y’all know I love the ease of Crock-Pot recipes and this simple side dish, on of my Daddy’s signatures, is in my Top 10!

Beans, beans good for your heart. The more you eat them, the more you…..love ’em.

What did you think I was going to say?

I have always been a Daddy’s girl and my Dad is one of my biggest foodie inspirations!

Not only are his lima beans the bomb, but he makes a darn good steak and rack of ribs too. And you’ve never had Southern comfort food until you’ve tried his Kitty Meatloaf. Trust me. {No cats are harmed in the making of said meatloaf}.

Daddy's Slow Cooked Southern Lima Beans

Makes 10 servings

Ingredients

16 oz bag dried lima beans soaked overnight, rinsed, and drained.
1 1/2 32 oz boxes of low sodium chicken broth
1 ham hock
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder celery salt, onion powder, to taste {optional}

Instructions

Pour dried beans in a large bowl.
Add water to cover and soak overnight.
In the morning, rinse and drain.
Add lima beans to a Crock-Pot.
Cover with chicken broth, I use about a box and a half.
Add a large ham hock nestled in the center of the beans.
Add your seasonings of choice. My Daddy simply seasons with salt and pepper. I like to also add garlic powder. My Mom likes celery salt and onion powder.
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours until beans are soft and the mixture is thick. Add additional liquid if needed.
Remove the ham hock before serving.
Ladle into bowls and devour!

I use dried lima beans, because even though you have the extra step of soaking them, you get more bang for your buck with the dried ones. Of course, you can use frozen beans too.

Pour dried beans in a large bowl.

Add water to cover and soak overnight.

In the morning, rinse and drain.

Add lima beans to a Crock-Pot.

I like using ham hocks to flavor my beans and soups but you could sub bacon.

Cover with chicken broth, I use about a box and a half.

Add a large ham hock nestled in the center of the beans.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add any additional seasonings you want like garlic powder, onion powder, and celery salt.

Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours.

Beans should be soft and the mixture should be thickened.

Remove the ham hock before serving.

The ham is fatty but darn it smells good!

Try not to gnaw on it like a dog {or at least do it in private}.

Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

You can serve this as a side dish or it’s hearty enough to be a meal on it’s own.

The post Daddy’s Slow Cooked Southern Lima Beans appeared first on For the Love of Food.

Ragù Sausage Stuffed Jumbo Rigatoni Pasta Bake

Nicole Hood — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Today I wanted to share a recipe that is close to my heart, Sausage Stuffed Jumbo Rigatoni Pasta. I had trouble finding large enough rigatoni, which is a tube shaped pasta, so the jumbo rigatoni are actually lasagna noodles. They are filled with flavorful Italian sausage and rolled up then topped with Ragu Sweet Italian Sausage and Cheese Sauce and melted mozzarella. This dish is inspired by my Italian heritage, from my father and grandfather. Our family loves to cook and eat together, we spend a lot of time talking, laughing, and making memories in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to grow up with my Grandpa Al, who I met later in life. But in the time I did spend with him, I learned that he loved sharing stories, eating good food, and that his Italian background and family memories were very near and dear to him.

Grandpa Al and my Dad circa the 1950s.

My father, for as long as I can remember, has been the cook in our family. He loves Italian food {no surprise there} and a hearty, flavorful casserole is the way to his heart! So after eating a dish similar to this at an Italian restaurant, I decided to recreate it at home. To me, and I am sure my Dad and grandfather would agree, no food is better than a good pasta. Except a good pasta with an equally good sauce. So when Ragu contacted me to work with them on their Simmered in Tradition campaign, I knew that combining Ragu’s pasta sauce with my stuffed rigatoni pasta was going to be a match made in food heaven!Did you know?

Ragu pasta sauce stems from a family recipe made with farm grown ingredients and contains no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup.

My Dad and me circa forever ago!

The woman who started it all.

Assunta Cantisano made the voyage from Italy to America with a little something extra up her sleeve, her family’s recipe for tomato sauce– a secret and sublime combination of vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil, fennel, garlic and ground pepper, meticulously writing down every detail and hiding it for safe passage. It survived the long journey and even during the Great Depression Assunta was able to keep her family’s heritage, tradition, and memories alive. She made and sold the sauce herself and it was loved by everyone who tried it. Today Ragú pasta sauce has been on shelves over 80 years and is still America’s number one!

Ragu. Crafted with Passion. Simmered in Tradition.

To learn more about Assunta, her sauce, and her story visit the Ragu website.

The last photo of my Dad, me, and Grandpa Al. Do you see a resemblance?

Like Assunta we want to keep our family’s heritage and traditions alive with our recipes and memories.

Ready. Set. Cook Recipe Contest with Food.com

This fun contest challenges home cooks to create new and unique recipes featuring Ragu sauce plus a set list of other ingredients. Enter to win here.

Ragù Sausage Stuffed Jumbo Rigatoni Pasta Bake

Makes 20 Rigatoni

Ingredients

23.9 oz jar of Ragù {I used Sweet Italian Sausage and Cheese}
5 links of Sweet Italian Sausage {about 20 oz} casings removed
8 oz lasagna pasta sheets {1/2 a box}
1 yellow onion diced
2 cloves garlic pressed or grated
1/2 cup ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add lasagna sheets and cook until done about 8 minutes or according to the package directions.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Drain the pasta and lay each sheet flat on a baking sheet (or you can use a cutting board/s) to cool.
Meanwhile, heat a large non stick skillet over medium.
Remove sausage from casings and crumble in the skillet.
Cook until browned then remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Now add diced onion to the hot skillet. You can use the sausage drippings to saute them or drain and add olive oil.
Cook until softened, about 5 minutes then add garlic.
Cook for about 2 minutes or until browned then remove from heat.
In a food processor or blender add 3/4 of the sausage (about 3 of the 5 links worth), the ricotta cheese, and the onion and garlic mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse until creamy.
Add 1/2 the jar of Ragù pasta sauce to the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish, spreading to cover.
Cut each lasagna sheet in half lengthwise and add a large spoonful of the sausage mixture on the end of each sheet.
Roll up and place the rigatoni seam side down in rows in the baking dish until you get about 20.
Stir together the remaining sausage crumbles and the remaining Ragù pasta sauce in a bowl then pour on top of the rigatoni, spreading to cover.
Then add all the shredded mozzarella cheese on top, covering the pasta.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Cut into portions and serve hot with bread for dipping and a side salad.

I used a package of five Sweet Italian Sausages for this recipe.

Remove sausage from the casings and crumble in a skillet.

Cook over medium heat until browned.

Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

Now add diced onion to the hot skillet.

You can use the sausage drippings to saute them or drain and add olive oil.

Cook until softened, about 5 minutes then add garlic.

Cook for about 2 minutes or until browned then remove from heat.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add lasagna sheets and cook until done about 8 minutes or according to the package directions.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Drain the pasta and lay each sheet flat on a baking sheet (or you can use a cutting board/s) to cool.

Then cut each sheet in half lengthwise.

In a food processor or blender add 3/4 of the sausage (about 3 of the 5 links worth), the ricotta cheese, and the onion and garlic mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

Pulse until creamy.

You want a smooth texture so stir and blend again if needed to remove any chunks.

Add 1/2 the jar of Ragù pasta sauce to the bottom of a

9X13 baking dish, spreading to cover.

Add a large spoonful of the sausage mixture on the end of each half lasagna sheet.

Roll up and place the rigatoni seam side down in rows

in the baking dish.

You should be able to fit about 18-20 in your dish.

Stir together the remaining sausage crumbles and the remaining

Ragù pasta sauce in a bowl.

Pour on top of the rigatoni, spreading to cover.

Add all the shredded mozzarella cheese on top, covering the pasta.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Until the cheese is melted all over.

Cut into portions and serve hot.

Comment below and share your favorite family recipe!

Visit the Ragu website for more information.
Enter your unique Ragu recipe in the Food.com recipe contest.

The post Ragù Sausage Stuffed Jumbo Rigatoni Pasta Bake appeared first on For the Love of Food.

family Archives - For the Love of Food

85+ Fun and Festive Christmas Shaped Recipes

Sweet:

11. Gingerbread Reindeer Cake Cookies – For the Love of Food

20. Egg Nog Sugar Cookie Wreath – For the Love of Food

23. Peanut Butter Ritz Snowman Bites – For the Love of Food

44. Oreo Marshmallow Snowman Treats – For the Love of Food

52. DIY Snowman Donuts – For the Love of Food

Savory:

4. Christmas Morning Pancakes – For the Love of Food

8. Festive Christmas Wreath Nachos – For the Love of Food

12. Christmas Tree Pesto Pizzas – For the Love of Food

15. Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board – For the Love of Food

20. Tortilla Roll-Up Christmas Tree – For the Love of Food

25. Cheesy Egg and Bacon Breakfast Wreath – For the Love of Food

28. Christmas Snackin’ Tree Board – For the Love of Food

125+ Southern Style Holiday Recipes

Breakfasts:

1. Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Glaze – For the Love of Food

4. Biscuit and Sausage Gravy Casserole – For the Love of Food

7. Savory Bacon and Gouda Bread Pudding – For the Love of Food

9. Overnight Bread Pudding Breakfast Casserole – For the Love of Food

12. New Orleans Beignets – For the Love of Food

14. Wild Blueberry Buttery Grits – For the Love of Food

Appetizers:

1. Baked Cheesy Black Eyed Pea Dip – For the Love of Food

3. Game Day Southern Deviled Eggs – For the Love of Food

6. Kentucky Hot Brown Boxtys with White Cheddar Sauce – For the Love of Food

9. Barbecue Armadillo Eggs – For the Love of Food

11. Fried Deviled Eggs with Chow Chow Relish – For the Love of Food

13. Hot Artichoke Dip – For the Love of Food

Entrees:

1. Hot Chicken Salad Casserole – For the Love of Food

3. Leftover Holiday Ham Baked Sliders – For the Love of Food

5. Crockpot Blackberry Glazed Ham – For the Love of Food

7. Twice Baked Shrimp Stuffed Potatoes – For the Love of Food

9. Crockpot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham – For the Love of Food

11. Grilled Turkey Legs – For the Love of Food

13. Crock-Pot Mississippi Pot Roast – For the Love of Food

15. Harvest Chicken Pot Pies in Pumpkin Bowls – For the Love of Food

17. Bourbon Glazed Kentucky Hot Brown Turkey Burgers – For the Love of Food

19. Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich – For the Love of Food

21. Pioneer Woman’s Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey – For the Love of Food

Side Dishes:

1. Southern Fried Cabbage – For the Love of Food

3. Duck Dynasty Mashed Potato Casserole – For the Love of Food

5. Southern Broccoli Cornbread – For the Love of Food

10. Southern Slow Cooked Green Beans with Bacon – For the Love of Food

15. Slow Cooked Southern Lima Beans – For the Love of Food

20. Ultimate Sweet Potato Casserole – For the Love of Food

23. Loaded Pumpkin Grits – For the Love of Food

26. Squash Souffle Casserole – For the Love of Food

28. Sweet Corn Spoonbread Casserole – For the Love of Food

31. Parmesan Creamed Spinach – For the Love of Food

33. Baked Bean Casserole with Apples and Bacon – For the Love of Food

35. Lucky Collard Greens – For the Love of Food

37. Easy Cheesy Funeral Potatoes for a Crowd – For the Love of Food

39. Paula Deen’s Green Bean Casserole -For the Love of Food

Desserts:

1. Southern Pecan Pie – For the Love of Food

5. Southern Honey Butter Cream Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy – For the Love of Food

9. Kentucky Pecan Bourbon Balls – For the Love of Food

11. New Orleans Bananas Foster – For the Love of Food

13. Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Tassies – For the Love of Food

16. Pecan Pralines – For the Love of Food

18. Cream Puffs – For the Love of Food

21. Blueberry Honey Cornbread – For the Love of Food

23. Eggnog Pound Cake – For the Love of Food

26. Skillet Peach Cobbler – For the Love of Food

28. Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Oreo Cookies – For the Love of Food

30. Kentucky Derby Pie – For the Love of Food

32. Mason Jar Banana Pudding – For the Love of Food

34. Rhubarb Cobbler – For the Love of Food

35. Chocolate Lovers Mississippi Mud Pie – For the Love of Food

38. Pumpkin Pecan Pie Dump Cake – For the Love of Food

40. Holiday Fruit Cake – For the Love of Food

Summer of Fun Printable Family Bucket List

Take a Road Trip

Make Dirt Pudding

Go to a Zoo