Peanut Butter "Cheeseball"

I am trying a new recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything  She calls this the Peanut Butter "Cheeseball"

I'll let you know how it turns out, but I mean look at it... how could it be bad!?

Donut Tree

Saw this on One Charming Party. Wouldn't this be precious at a Halloween party? What about little white powdered ones for a Christmas? Cute and donuts? Win, win!





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Egg Basket

While laying in bed on a cold, rainy mooring I stumbled upon the greatest thing... The Pioneer Woman has a show on Food Network! Rejoice! I love her blog, cookbook, her ideas, etc, etc, etc! This is awesome. To celebrate this greatness I wanted to share her first recipe on the show, an easy genius recipe she calls egg in the hole but I prefer to call them egg baskets.




She also made a very easy Cherry Limeade...


I foresee another show being added to the DVR :)

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Brownie Covered Oreos

Original recipe can be found over at Me and My Pink Mixer

I made these delicious little treats for a staff luncheon the other day and they were a huge hit!  I've been asked by several people for the recipe and I thought it would make a great blog post :)  So without further ado, I present Brownie Covered Oreos!

Here are your ingredients... yes, that is correct just brownie mix (and what it takes to make it, eggs, oil, water) and oreos!

Make your brownie mix like you usually would, I suggest if your mix has the option to make cake like brownies, the batter is thinner and easier to dip.  Preheat your oven to 350.

 Take an oreo and dip it in the brownie mix...

Place the brownie dipped oreos in a well greased muffin tin.  I had issues with my first batch sticking.  If the cookie is what is touching the bottom, they will stick!  So to prevent this with the second batch, I put a spoonful of brownie batter in each tin and then placed the dipped oreo on top of that.  Seemed to work well!

Here is what they should look like after 10-12 minutes in the oven at 350.  I quickly took a knife and ran it along the edge of each so they would not stick.  Allow them to cool about 5 minutes then remove from muffin tin and finish cooling on a rack.

Now, enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

This is a family favorite that was given to me by a wonderful co-worker and friend, I still have the original note she wrote it out on...


Chicken Enchiladas


Flour Tortillas
Shredded or chunked chicken
1 large jar of salsa
1 can of green chillis
1 small carton of heavy whipping cream
2 cups shredded cheese








Pre-heat your oven to 350.  Mix salsa, chillies, and chicken in a large bowl.  Take mixture and place in the middle of a flour tortilla.  Roll in up and place it seam side down in a greased casserole dish.  Continue until you have used all your filling.  Cover with shredded cheese and then pour on the heavy cream.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until cheese is bubbly and melted.











Here they are ready for the oven!













Fresh out of the oven!

Homemade Orange Pineapple Ice Cream

 So you might remember a few posts back that I mentioned buying a lime green ice cream maker.  Well I put it to good use this weekend!  I wanted to share a super easy and yummy recipe for homemade orange pineapple ice cream!

You will need:
1- 2 liter bottle of Crush Orange Soda
2- cans of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1- large can of crushed pineapple
Rock Salt
Ice

In a large bowl mix soda, eagle brand milk and pineapple.  Fill your ice cream container.  Add ice and rock salt all around the edges like you would for any other ice cream and let the machine run 45 minutes or until you see/hear it having a hard time churning.  You will be left with something delicious like this:

Fantastic Fiesta Bake

So Matt said this was a keeper, put it on the regular rotation... and I have to agree with him.  So good!  And, wait for it, its Weight Watchers!  What?!

Recipes to Run On calls it Mexican Baked Penne, but I altered it a bit and I wanna call it Fantastic Fiesta Bake, so there, done.  Fantastic Fiesta Bake

You will need:
- 3/4 box whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 pound browned and drained ground beef
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 jars (at least 14 ounces each or more) salsa
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can corn, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups finely shredded mexican blend cheese

First preheat your oven to 350.  Boil your pasta according to the box directions.  If you need to brown your ground beef do so and drain.  Set aside.  Saute your onions, peppers and garlic in olive oil until fork tender.  Add browned ground beef, cumin, and chili powder.  Stir.  Next, add salsa, pasta, black beans and corn.  Mix until combined.  Now spray a 9x13 with cooking spray.  Pour 1/2 of the pasta mixture into the pan.  Cover with one cup of shredded cheese.  Now pour the rest of the pasta mixture in and top the whole thing with the remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.  Enjoy!

Homemade Ice Cream

Look what I scored at Walmart today...

Oh, its perfect!  It makes ice cream, and its lime green!  2 of my favorite things!  If it only included a dozen Krispy Kremes we would be set...

So anyways, now that I have a wonderful new ice cream maker, I need to collect some homemade ice cream recipes.  Do you have a favorite you'd like to share?

Here's a few I found online that I can't wait to try!
Homemade Peach
Creamy Vanilla
Orange Pineapple
Cookies 'n Cream

Buttercream Goodness

I am going to share my go to recipe for Buttercream icing.  If you don't like super sweet then this is NOT for you!

Buttercream Icing

2 cups Criso shortening
2 pounds Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 cup liquid  (2 teaspoons butter flavoring, 4 teaspoons clear vanilla, fill the rest of the 1/2 cup with water)

Combine all ingredients in a mixer and beat on medium speed.   In just a few minutes you will  have delicious buttercream!

Friday Favorite 27

This week's Friday Favorite is a recipe that I have just recently found for cake fondant.  As you saw in Wordless Wednesday I had a cart full of cake supplies.  I am making a wedding cake... tomorrow!  Eeek!

Here is a picture of the test cake (Star Wars inspired for my Bro-in-Law Alex's graduation).  It has this marshmallow fondant on it.

Simple Marshmallow Fondant (compliments of AllRecipes.com)

1 bag of mini marshmallow (16 ounces)
4 Tablespoons of water
1 Teaspoon clear vanilla (for white fondant)
2 pounds of powdered sugar, 1 cup reserved
Criso for coating hands and work surface

Place marshmallows in a microwave save container (use something big).  Microwave for 1 minute, check marshmallows to see if they are melted.  If they aren't, microwave at 30 second intervals until they are melted.  Stir in vanilla and water.  Now, slowly mix in powdered 1 cup at a time until it is all mixed it except for 1 cup that you will use for kneading.

Coat your hand with Crisco and start kneading the dough.  Keep working with fondant and incorporating the last cup of powdered sugar until it is all used and the dough is no longer sticky to the touch.  Roll out and cover cakes or cut out designs.  If you want to make this the day before you can, just coat the fondant ball with Crisco and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and leave on the counter.

What your fondant ball should look like...

Crock Pot Beed Tacos

When I found this recipe I smiled... it involved 2 things we love: crockpots and tacos.  This is almost as easy as Salsa Chicken, which ranks pretty high on the easy to do list!

Head on over to Krista's Kitchen and check out her Crock Pot Beef Tacos.

Best Ever Chocolate Sheet Cake

I am writing down all the ingredients to make this on my grocery list RIGHT NOW...

picture from www.thepioneerwoman.com

I've heard lots of wonderful things from The Pioneer Woman blog, but this Best Chocolate Sheet Cake, takes the cake ;)

Oriental Chicken Salad

I can't recommend this salad enough.  It used to be the only reason I wanted to go to Applebee's.  No more!  I can make it at home for a fraction of the cost and it tastes the EXACT same!  Big thanks to Mandy over at Mandy's Recipe Box for this delicious copycat recipe!

 The dressing is what really makes this salad.  To make it you will need:
1/4 cup mayonnaise 
3 Tablespoons honey
1 1/2 Tablespoons white rice vinegar
1 teaspoon grey poupon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

I would go ahead and double the above recipe because you are going to love it so much!  I would also suggest that you mix this in a little bowl with a whisk then store in a salad dressing holder.  Refrigerate while would mix up the salad ingredients.

For the actual salad you will need:
1 bag of romaine lettuce salad mix
1 bag of coleslaw cabbage
Big handful of chow mein noodles
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds
2 crispy chicken strips (I like the tyson frozen brand)

Bake crispy chicken strips in the oven according to the directions on the bag.  While that is cooking combine romaine lettuce and coleslaw cabbage in a large bowl.  Then sprinkle with chow mein noodles.

When the chicken strips have 2 minutes left, add the almonds to the baking pan and toast for the last 2 minutes.  When chicken is done, take out strips and cut into bite size pieces.  Put chicken and almonds on the salad.  When you are ready to eat add dressing and enjoy!

Say Yes to Tacos

Why didn't I think to do this before!  Store bought taco seasoning is so... blah.  And I hate that it is a dollar a one time use packet.  I want to have some to sprinkle when I need it.

Well justJENN recipes to the rescue!  This week she had a great blog post on how to make your own homemade taco seasoning!  All I need is chilli powder and its already on the grocery list!  Guess I will just need to get a cute little shaker to keep it in... sounds like a trip to The Container Store!

Tuesday Tip 24: Corn on the Grill

Here's a tip.  If you hubby likes to grill (like mine) then make everything on the grill :)

Grilled Corn on the Cob.

First shuck and clean however many ears of corn you would like to cook.  We did 3.

You will need 1 tablespoon of butter for each ear.

Take a piece of aluminum foil and place your ear of corn on it.  Then top with 1 tablespoon of butter, cut in half.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roll them up!  Make sure that the butter is not on the seal or it will all leak out.

Place your corn on a hot grill, rotating every two minutes for about 20 minutes.  Remove from grill and let it stand for 5 minutes or you will be burned with delicious melted butter.

Unwrap and eat... Mmmmm!

Cinco De Mayo!

In honor of Cinco De Mayo I thought I would have a link fiesta!  Below you will find some great dishes to serve today :)

You could always make my Mexican Pizza that I featured last week...  so yummy and easy!

Or maybe you would like it on a bigger scale?  Try Taco Pizza from Random Thoughts of a Super Mom!

Maybe you want something else... Enchiladas?

Here's a great chicken enchilada recipe from Kevin & Amanda's recipe blog.  It is similar to a fantastic recipe that I was given by a friend (thanks Jill).  *Note to self:  Post that enchilada recipe soon*

Or try the Honey Lime Enchilada recipe from The Sister's Cafe.  You could use either chicken or pork on this one!

My husband loves those frozen taquitos, I'm sure this Baked Creamy Chicken Taquito recipe from Our Best Bites is a billion times better.  She has lots of great cinco de mayo links today, check them out!

Well, you have to finish any celebration with a dessert...

How about Sombrero Cookies?  These would be so cute for little chefs to help make!  Also from Random Thoughts of a Super Mom!

Or one I always find interestng on the menu at the Mexican resteraunt... Deep "Fried" Ice Cream from Tatertots and Jello.

And finally, when I think mexican food I think margaritas.  So I'll wrap it up with a fantastic Beer Margarita recipe that my friend Sarah gave to me but I was able to find the same one at the Celebrations at Home website, since I am away from my recipe books.

Mexican Pizza

This is a wonderful recipe we usually have if we have tacos that week.  I always make extra taco meat so we can have these yummy Mexican Pizzas.

First take a tortilla and place it on a cookie sheet.  Spread a layer of re-fried beans on the tortilla.  Then cover the re-fried with taco seasoned beef.







On top of your bean and meat covered tortilla place another tortilla.  Then cover it with shredded cheese.

Bake this for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Then top with your choice of toppings.  Lettuce and tomato for me, lettuce and salsa for the hubs.

And you are left with a delicious, simple dinner!










Mexican Pizzas

You will need:
2 tortillas per pizza
Browned, taco seasoned ground beef
Refried beans
Shredded Cheese
Your choice of toppings: sour cream, lettuce, tomato, salsa, etc

Preheat your oven to 350.

Take one tortilla shell and spread re-fried beans on one side of the shell.  Then place the ground beef on top of the re-fried beans.  Top that off with another tortilla shell, and then cover with shredded cheese.  Bake for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Remove and top with your choice of toppings!

Pies in Jars!

Photo from Our Best Bites

Yes, you read right.  Yummy little single serving sized pies in jars!  I think I am in love :)

These are getting put on my must try list!  If you are interested in trying this little goodie, here are a few links to check out!

TidyMom- Pie in a Jar Picnic Food
Our Best Bites- Single Serving Pie in a Jar
Not Martha- Pies Baked in Tiny Jars
Not Martha- Cobbler Baked in Jars

Porkchop Recipe

This is a great recipe that we've used for a long time.  I used to fry pork chops in a cast iron skillet, but ever since finding this recipe, this is the only way I cook pork chops now!

4 pork chops (I use boneless)
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (1/2 sleeve)
garlic salt to taste
ground pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine crushed crackers with garlic salt and pepper in a bowl.  I do 2 good shakes of garlic salt and pepper.  In another bowl, beat 1 egg. 

Dip pork chop in egg and then place in cracker mixture, completely coat the pork chop.  Place pork chop in a baking dish.  Do this for the rest of the pork chops.  Place little pats of butter around the pork chops.  Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in a 375 degree oven.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and continue to bake for 10-15 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Simple Quick French Bread Pizza

This is one of those, its lunch time and we need something to eat quick creations.

What you will need:
French Bread
Pizza Sauce
Shredded Cheese
Toppings!

Preheat oven to 350.  Cut a loaf of french bread in half, and then in half horizontally.  You can make all four pieces or in our case, we just made 2.  Spread sauce on cut side of bread.  Top with whatever toppings you like.  We have left over tomatoes, pepperoni, onions and green peppers.... YUM!  Then top the toppings with cheese.

Bake 15-20 or until cheese is melted and pizza is warmed through.

For a more crispy crust, bake bread slices for 4-5 minutes before adding sauce and toppings.