Kielbasa skillet

Summertime is pretty amazing, right??  The kids are home, the days are busy and I'm loving every minute of it!  It's hard to accept the fact that school will be starting at the end of the month. 

I think by now you know that I really enjoy cooking.  It's no secret.  But do you know what I don't enjoy?  Clean up.  Summer is so fabulous because grilling means less dishes and clean up, and that means more time to enjoy the things I want to enjoy.  But let's face it... I can't grill every single night.  Want to enjoy less dishes, less clean up and more time doing the things you wanna do this summer? Let me introduce you to this kielbasa skillet meal.

Looks pretty amazing, right? One skillet.  Tons of delicious flavor for you and your family to enjoy!  This meal will be perfect once the kids go back to school as well.  It's easy to throw together and minimal clean up will give you more time with your family.  No kids?  No problem.  This skillet meal is a crowd pleaser.  Who wants to be left with tons to do after friends leave for the night?  Not me!

Ok, so the bad thing about this meal is that there isn't a real recipe that I use.  The good thing about this meal (other than it being easy, quick to throw together and delicious) is that there isn't a real recipe.  You can't really screw it up and it tastes amazing every time!

Ready??  Here's a general idea of what you need to make this amazing kielbasa skillet...

Kielbasa Skillet

*Russet potatoes, diced (I used 3 medium ones)

*One ring of Hillshire Farms kielbasa, sliced (I used half of that)

*One can of Frank's sauerkraut (I used half of that as well)

*Half of a sweet yellow onion, sliced

*One bag of shredded cheddar cheese (Let's be honest... I use most of that)

*Salt & Pepper

*Lawry's Seasoning Salt

*Lawry's Garlic Salt

*2 Tbls Vegetable Oil

*2 Tbls Butter

Grab a skillet (cast iron if you have it) and set it to a medium heat.  Add one tablespoon of both butter and oil to the pan.  Add sliced kielbasa and lightly brown on each side.  Remove kielbasa from the pan and add the rest of the oil and butter.  Add onions to the pan until they start to soften.  Then add the diced potatoes to the onions.  Season with salt, pepper, garlic salt and seasoning salt. Fry up the diced potatoes until lightly browned and tender.  Turn heat to low. Add back the kielbasa and top with sauerkraut.  Lastly, top it all with delicious cheese.  Turn off the heat, cover and let the cheese melt.  If you're using cast iron, feel free to set under the broiler to heat up the cheese a bit quicker and more evenly.  Now grab a big spoon and dig in!  Soooooo cheesy and yummy!

*you can follow me on IG @HauteDishHousewife , on FB Haute Dish Housewife , on Pinterest @HauteDishHousewife or on Twitter @HauteDishHWife and SnapChat @HauteDishHWife for more recipe ideas, crafts/DIY, my style and giveaways. 





Pre-Fall Pieces to Adore

I know... I know.  It's hotter than ever outside.  However, us Minnesotans know how quickly things can change and I like to be ahead of the game.  So does Mainstream Boutique in Savage!  With new arrivals daily, they've been unpacking perfect pieces to transition us into fall in the coming months as the weather will slowly get cooler.  While I will most certainly be writing all about the 2016 fall fashion trends and closet must-haves in the coming weeks, as well as sharing some wonderful recipes, I wanted to share with you a bit of what's been coming into Mainstream Boutique in Savage lately.
But first, lets get a few things out there.  I LOVE Summer.  I love pretty much everything about Summer.  Buuuuuuuut, I love Autumn equally as much, with it's one and only downfall being that Autumn brings the terrible, horrible, absolutely no-good winter. But fall fashion, crunching leaves, apple orchards, pumpkin carving, baking...   Autumn just looks, smells, and tastes amazing!
For now, I love that we can look forward to blending the trends of Summer with the warmth of Fall.  A cute little dress with a pretty cardigan, the perfect soft tee with an AMAZING jacket, florals with deep, bold, leafy reds... what's not to make our heart pitter patter?!?!?!
Here are some of my favs that came into Mainstream Boutique in Savage and if you're anything like me, you're gonna want to make it ALL YOURS.  Feast your eyes...


Let me start off my saying these are the go to shoe which I featured with all my picks this week.  They are a fun mix between a sandal and a bootie.  Super cute, totally comfortable and addition to your closet for transitioning from summer to fall.  (Pssst: That is my tan...)

Lovely little floral dress, meet this beautiful red jacket. I'm totally loving this jacket and not just for the color.  The 3/4 sleeves are so super cute and there's no belt needed thanks to the cinching by the waistline. 

Minimal accessories needed for this #ootd, but I decided to add the pretty blue horn pendant necklace for good measure.

Speaking of accessories, how beautiful is this necklace??  Another floral dress but a totally different look.  This is such a great outfit.  The neckline of this dress shows off the tan shoulders of summer and I like that.

The longer cardigan is definitely a closet MUST.  It's great over dresses, to throw on with jeans or as an extra layer at work because they keep those offices so freaking cold. (I don't miss that one bit.)

I hope this boho look never goes out of style.  This cold shoulder dress has such a fun pattern and looks really cool with the chunky tassle/cross necklace.  It would look great belted as well!

 

Next up?  My favorite.  For real.  What's better than Paige jeans, the most perfect comfortable, soft white tee and this absolutely 100% fabulous jacket?  The answer is not much.  The lace-up back on this jacket is the CUTEST. EVER.  We opened up the box and a gasp followed by each of us... it was that amazing.

I'm doing a live video on FB this week for my August favorites and I'm including this white tee.  It's serious perfection.  I'm wearing it right now.  Ladies, you know how your bra shows through all the white tees and tanks and it drives you crazy because you just want that relaxed look without having to add the tank underneath?  NOT an issue here.  No tank required.  The pics don't even show the slouchy front pocket. Like I said, this whole outfit is just the best.

They say it's all in the details, and the neckline on this adorable shirt just can't be beat.  How cute, right??!!  This was my second fav this week.  Maybe I'm just really in the mood for great jeans and cute shirts?  Whatever the reason, I hope you agree with me that this shirt is pretty amazing.  And the Paige denim jeans.  Obviously. (If you haven't been in to Mainstream Boutique in Savage yet to try on a pair of these jeans, promptly drop what you're doing and drive there. They're spectacular and worth every single penny.)

 

 

I hope you enjoyed looking at these outfits as much as I loved putting them together and posting them for you to check out.  If you see something you love, stop on by Mainstream Boutique in Savage if you're close by!  Experience that unbeatable customer service first hand.  Otherwise, give the ladies a call at (952) 440-4020 and they're more than happy to help you out and ship you your purchases.  Not only are they sweet... they're quick to ship because they know you're excited to get your new stuff.
 You can also follow them on Instagram @mainstreamboutiquesavagemn or FB at Mainstream Boutique Savage MN

*you can follow me on IG @HauteDishHousewife , on FB Haute Dish Housewife , on Pinterest @HauteDishHousewife or on Twitter @HauteDishHWife and SnapChat @HauteDishHWife for more recipe ideas, crafts/DIY, my style and giveaways.  You can also catch me live on Periscope at HauteDishHWife

Treat Yourself: Renew Your Skin

As a woman (and even more so since I've become a mom) I feel like many of us don't give ourselves "me time" or treat ourselves enough.  I always have good intentions, of course.  Sadly, I find myself feeling guilty for spending the time, money and time away from my kids to do things for myself.  I know I'm not alone.  I talk to so many friends who feel the same way.  We head out shopping with good intentions to buy ourselves something for an upcoming event but then walk into Justice or Gymboree and BANG... there it goes.  It's easy for women to spend money on their children.  It's easy for us to justify getting our friend that adorable shirt for her birthday because it will look SO CUTE on her and she would totally do the same for you, right? Ladies, it's time to really treat yourself to something relaxing, rewarding and healthy for you!
I recently had an opportunity to treat myself to something I had never experienced before... a facial. Not just any facial... a HydraFacial with Denise at Renew Facial Plastic Surgery.

It was INCREDIBLE but even more than that, it got me thinking.  Mostly about my health.  Let me explain...


I went into Renew Facial Plastic Surgery in Edina to meet with Denise Bona, a licensed aesthetician and my skincare angel.  (Meet Denise here!) We went in and had a long talk about how I have (or have not) protected my skin over the years.  I told her I use sunscreen.  Ok, sometimes.  NOT all the time and likely not as much as I should and the whole time I'm thinking, "I know better.  I know better.  I have friends who have suffered and continue to suffer from melanoma.  I see what the sun can do to our skin."  She did a really cool test on my skin where she told me where the most damage was and we talked about steps to take to protect my skin in the future.  I take good care of my teeth, hair, nails... but I seemed to realize I've been neglecting my skin.  I don't think twice about slathering sunscreen on my kids daily and worrying about their health and the future of their precious skin, but never really made my own skin a priority.
Friends, check this out... the skin test.  It measures things like pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage.  It tells you the age of your skin.  The real age of your skin.  I won't lie... the truth hurt.  But I definitely needed to hear it to realize that while damage to my skin has been done, that doesn't mean it has to continue.  Denise gave me some great skincare tips and advice!  She even pointed out a few spots on my skin that she thought should be checked out by a dermatologist.  These are spots I see every single day and completely overlook.  Needless to say, I'm so thankful I had her expertise to give me some guidance.


Afterwards, I was ready to take some steps towards healthier, better skin.  Denise and I went into a room for my HydraFacial.  I laid down and before the HydraFacial began I was treated to dermaplaning, which is a simple and safe procedure for exfoliation and ridding the skin of fine hairs.  Dermaplaning feels AWESOME and requires zero chemicals, making it a great option for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.  (Which I'm NOT, but I have just heard such wonderful things about the procedure that I had to try it.  SO happy I did!)  HydraFacials are amazing because they're not only effective at improving overall skin health but over time it can remedy fine lines and wrinkles, skintone and firmness, hyperpigmentation, oily skin, enlarged pores and advanced signs of aging.  Sign. Me. Up.  Right??!?!!  So I was told this was a pain free procedure, but I'm a total skeptic so I have to admit, I was a bit nervous.  But guess what... it was COMPLETELY pain free.  Not only was it pain free, but it felt really cool because with each step I could feel my skin feeling better.  It's gentle AND effective, and as far as I'm concerned, you can't beat that!
Check out this video to see more on how HydraFacial works.
Renew Facial Plastic Surgery is second to none in customer service.  I felt so welcome the minute I walked through the door.  Appointments ran right on time so I wasn't made to wait very long at all, but just incase I was offered water by the extremely hospitable front desk staff and a seat in a very comfortable waiting area filled with what seemed like all my fav magazines!
While I was so fortunate to receive the HydraFacial and dermaplaning, Denise is a skincare expert and has a variety of aesthetician services to choose from. To see a list of all services Renew Facial Plastic Surgery has to offer, please click here.  Click around a bit on their website to see services performed by Denise & Dr. Wudel, as well as some incredible before & after photos. 

Speaking of which... OMG.  I can't believe I'm even doing this because they're completely make-up free photos (YIKES!) but here are my before and after pics. 

 

The first I took right before my appointment and the second I took the morning after.  (I didn't get home until right before dinner and the night was busy, busy!) Notice how much smoother my face looks in the after photo?  My complexion has a more clean, even look.  I felt like my skin was glowing.  No joke when I say my face felt incredible!  My appointment with Denise left my skin feeling baby soft and smooth.  Even my make-up goes on better and more even since my appointment.  This is definitely something I'd recommend and something I will most certainly be treating myself to again.
Wanna treat yourself to a HydraFacial or any of the other fab services Renew has to offer?  Call (952) 227-3639 and be sure to tell them I sent you!  Then follow up with me and let me know if you loved your skincare experience as much as I did.  Be sure to follow Renew on FB!





You can follow me on IG @HauteDishHousewife , on FB Haute Dish Housewife , on Pinterest @HauteDishHousewife or on Twitter @HauteDishHWife and SnapChat @HauteDishHWife for more recipe ideas, style, beauty and super cool giveaways.