Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Fall Trail Mix


Fall Trail Mix
1 c peanut butter pretzels
1 c white chocolate harvest pretzels
1 c chocolate covered almonds
1 c peanuts
1 package mallow creme autumn mix
1 c harvest cadbury chocolate balls

*I found everything at Harmons!

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Butter Pasta for a Crowd

All 3 of my daughters play soccer and all 3 of them play goalie - my oldest graduated from our local High School last year and my 2nd oldest (pictured) is the current Varsity goalie at that High School this year.

They have team dinner once a week and the parents pitch in to provide those dinners. A couple of us decided to do a pasta bar for the team and I don't want to forget how we did it - so I'm writing it down!!

We made dinner for 25 to 30 people. Butter pasta, GF pasta, meatballs, marinara, alfredo, garlic bread and macarons for dessert.

I made 5 pounds of rotini with just enough butter to keep them from sticking together, salt packets. We had one serving left. *2024 this year I used my 7? qt. black crockpot and my old white 4 or 5 qt crockpot to keep the pasta warm. When I got home the white crockpot broke - so I'll have to replace that.

My canning stove pot in 14 Quarts if you fill it to the "fill line". It took about 40 minutes for the water to come to a boil and then even though the package says to boil for 7-8 minutes, I cooked it for 12 minutes just to make sure it was cooked to my liking. I cooked all 5 lbs of noodles in that 14 quarts of water. Drained the pasta and put them in crockpot's with butter to keep them warm.

Corinne: 8 jars marinara, split half with meatballs, half without, 2 bags meatballs, 7 loaves garlic bread. did 4 jars of sauce plain and kept it in a large drink cooler until it was time for service. She did a bag and a half meatballs with 3 jars of sauce but she thinks she would do 2 full bags next time. She also brought 5 loaves of garlic bread but thinks 6 -7 loaves next time! Crock pot for the meatballs and sauce. 


Next year:

My white crockpot broke - so I'll need to buy a new one. DON'T FORGET EXTENSION CORDS!! 

Delese: 1 package GF pasta, GF meatballs, 4 packs macarons


Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Loaded Cowboy Salad


Loaded Cowboy Salad
1 Head Iceberg lettuce, chopped
15 oz black beans, drained
15 oz Black Eyed peas, drained
1 can Corn
6 Slices bacon, Cooked and chopped
2 c grape tomatoes
1 c Cheddar, shredded
1 Avocado, Chopped
1 Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/2 Onion, red, diced
1 cucumber, diced

Dressing
1 Cup Mayonnaise
1/2 Cup Smokey Sweet BBQ Sauce
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons Lime juice

Whisk together dressing, add all salad components, toss with dressing and serve!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Nutcracker Tea Party Details

Nutcracker Tea Party Deets...

Large Nutcracker bowl with Costco Quinoa Salad
2nd Large Nutcracker bowl with Iceberg lettuce, diced with small Nutcracker bowls of apples, Strawberries, cucumbers, feta and candied pecans on the Nutcracker tray, Blush Vinaigrette, Poppy Seed Dressing, Mango dressing on the side

Sandwiches: All on white rectangle platters
Focaccia, pesto, ham & havarti (open faced)
Wheat bread, nutella, strawberries
White bread, strawberry, basil, black pepper Boursin & balsamic

White rectangle platter with Costco cheese variety pack, crackers, a cheese ball and grapes

Martinelli's
Small white footed cheese board with packets of tea on it
bowl of ice with a scoop

White cake platter with shortbread cookies and madeleines
Rainbow cake platter with Costco cream puffs









Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Kneaders Sandwich Spread

I'm trying make ahead sandwiches again this year - I found out last year that my kids just WON'T take them to school but I'm going to try them as after school/before practice snacks. We'll see if I have any success.



I took a 24 pack of King's Hawaiian rolls and split it in half (so I had 12 rolls split x 2) Then I cut them in half horizontally. I layered one side with pre-cut cheese squares, topped with Kneaders Sandwich Spread and then deli ham, sliced and finally with the top of the Hawaiian rolls. Then I cut the rolls into sections of 2, set them in ziplocks and into the freezer they go.

I have a timer that goes off about an hour before the kids get home so I can pull a couple bags out and they'll be thawed by the time they get home - ready to eat!!

Kneaders Sandwich Spread
1/2 c mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sour cream
2 tsp yellow mustard
dash of salt

Mix! It's really delicious!

Monday, July 17, 2023

Peach Bruschetta

I saw this recipe on the Food Network's Kitchen tv show. It looked SO GOOD! My husband was working at the kitchen table while the episode was on and later that night while we were talking about what to have for dinner, he mentioned this recipe - I didn't even know he was watching!

It. is. so. delicious. I'll definitely be making this on repeat!


Peach Bruschetta
1 French baguette, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/4 cup olive oil
3 large peaches, cut into small dice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 ounces goat cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lay the baguette pieces in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush both sides with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

In a medium bowl, toss together the peaches, basil, salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil and hot honey (to taste).

To build the bruschetta, start with a piece of baguette, spread with the goat cheese, spoon on some of the peach mixture.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Patriotic Party Mix




Patriotic Party Mix
4 cups Chex cereal
3 cups Cheerios
3 cups pretzels mini's
1–1/2 cups slivered almonds
1 1/2 bags vanilla candy wafers (18 oz total)
Red, white and blue sprinkles
2 packs "sharable" 4th of July M&M’s

Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the Chex cereal, Cheerios, pretzels, almonds and M&M's.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the candy wafers in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. 
Pour the melted chocolate over the ingredients in the large bowl and toss to coat with a large spoon. Ingredients should be evenly coated.
Immediately sprinkle with the sprinkles. Allow mixture to cool completely. Break apart to serve. Store in an airtight container or baggie.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

5 Minute Candied Walnuts




I ordered a wedge salad at an upscale restaurant recently and I haven't stopped thinking about that salad since!! I was surprised when I took my first bite and I tasted something sweet in the mix - I asked the waiter what it was an I was actually SHOCKED when he answered "Candied Walnuts."

I've made the salad 5 or 6 times since and I always have to look up the ratios - so I'm jotting it down for my ease!

Candied Walnuts
1 cup walnuts
1 TBSP butter
1/4 cup sugar

Toss in a pan and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Once the butter and sugar have melted and coated the walnuts - spread out on parchment paper and let cool.


Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Bread Tips!


I'm back to baking bread more lately. After an almost 20 year break to stay at home full time, I started working again. While I am able to work on days that work around my schedule with what the kids have going on - I love to keep doing extra special things to let the kids and my hubs know how much they are loved - enter homemade bread!

Today I'm making my husband's favorite Sunflower Whole Wheat bread and I was reminded again about a new trick I've been using the last several months.

When I started making bread again, I made a couple of "dud" loaves. So, I thought it must be my yeast - how long does yeast last? When did I buy this yeast?? So I did an experiment. I put some yeast in luke warm (temp'd on my wrist) water and I put some other yeast in hot (warm to my pinky) water. The yeast that was in the hot water activated beautifully! The yeast in the luke warm water barely bubbled. So. I've been using hot water and since I made that small change - all my bread recipes have turned out wonderfully!

We also remodeled our kitchen last spring and my top oven has a "PROOF" setting - so I use that exclusively - I feel like that has made a difference too.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Fastest Baked Potatoes in the West

My husband wanted steak, baked potatoes and salad for his birthday dinner. I was running short on time so I cheated a bit...

Originally I posted a picture of the potato dressed - tonight I took one of another dinner we had when the potato was naked so you could see how beautiful it is!! 


Fastest Baked Potatoes in the West
Russet potatoes (as many as you need - as close in size as possible)
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees

Scrub your potatoes. Pat dry. Cut in half put on cookie sheet cut side down. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt. Roast for 25 minutes.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

I've been trying to make/make available healthy breakfast foods that are high in protein so we will ALL actually EAT BREAKFAST! We are almost always in a rush in the morning before work and school and around here - it's usually breakfast that gets sacrificed.

We've been eating a lot of Kodiak brand pancakes. I bought my youngest (11) a mini waffle iron for Valentine's Day and taught her how to make the batter - so she has been loving those. I also taught the girls how to make eggs they way they like them (over easy is preferred by most!) We've also been having Oikos greek yogurts with granola and in a real pinch - protein granola bars. I saw this recipe online and that it would be PERFECT to have on hand instead of the granola bars - that really should be eaten as a snack later in the day. We'll see!!


Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
2 bananas
2 c Kodiak power cake powder
1 c almond milk
1/4 c maple syrup
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate chips to your liking

Preheat 350 degrees
Mix all ingredients. Put in greased or lined muffin tray and bake for 16 to 17 minutes.

2 muffins 230 cal 11 g protein

*This picture the muffins have white chocolate chips in them. I personally would've used mini chocolate chips, but my daughter, Biz made them and she prefers white chocolate chips.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Homemade Artisan Bread

I saw this recipe online and thought it was the perfect recipe to teach my girls how to make bread!! The older 2 have made our beloved Thanksgiving Rolls a few times, but they haven't made regular old bread - and this was the first time making any kind of bread for my youngest. It's a no fail recipe!!


Homemade Artisan Bread
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
2 cups Water- room temperature water start with 1 1/2 cups then add more

Mix the flour, salt and yeast until combined in a large bowl (the bread doubles)
Add in the water (start with 1 1/2 cups then add more until it isn’t dry, but you don’t want it too wet)
Cover with a plate or silicon wrap or plastic wrap and let sit for 6 to 24 hours (on the kitchen counter)
Then de-gas, by stirring it once to get the air out.
Grease your bread pan with oil or butter (coating with flour helps it to not stick)
Place bread dough in your baking pan and let it rise for an hour covered.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes covered (I use another bread pan on top, or you could use tin foil), then 10 minutes uncovered until golden on top *I baked it for 2 minutes longer at the end - it didn't look brown enough.

Different Mix-Ins
Options- Wheat Bread- 2 cups all purpose flour and 1 cup wheat flour (I have made this before with all wheat, I liked it, my kids didn’t as much….it is heavier)
Gluten Free- Use Cup for Cup Flour
Cranberry Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Jalapeño Cheddar Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1 diced jalapeño *we left just a few seeds attached so it wasn’t too spicy- add more of the seeds if you like it spicy (or I chop up about 1/4 cup of the “Hot & Sweet Jalapeños” from Trader Joe’s that are in a jar)
Nut Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds and 1/4 cup flax seeds
Cinnamon Raisin Bread- Before you add the water mix in- 1/2 cup raisins and 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Everything But The Bagel- Before baking sprinkle evenly over the top of the bread with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Pecan and Honey Glazed Salmon

We eat salmon as often as we can here (well, the 3 of us that aren't allergic or picky!) and we make it one of two ways every time. I searched around for recipes and landed on this one - let's see how it goes...

UPDATE... I made it the night after I found the recipe and IT WAS WONDERFUL! 2 of our kids are allergic to seafood and our youngest is THE PICKIEST EATER ALIVE. So... usually the salmon is just for my husband, my best eater w no allergies and I. Not tonight. Little Miss Picky fell in love and she ended up eating my portion! This recipe is going into the rotation!



Pecan and Honey Glazed Salmon
1/4 cup honey
4 teaspoons finely chopped pecans
1 Tablespoon soy sauce, (for gluten-free use gluten-free soy sauce)
4 (6 oz ) salmon fillets
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine honey, pecans, and soy sauce in a large zip-top bag. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; add to bag and seal. Marinate in refrigerator at least 15 minutes. I like to marinate mine all day so all that flavor gets infused.
Remove fish and nuts from bag, reserving marinade. Place fish on foil lined pan and top with nuts.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting fish twice with remaining glaze while baking.

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Homemade French Bread

Homemade French Bread

2 tablespoons dry yeast I prefer SAF brand
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups warm water*
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon (yes tablespoon!) sea or Kosher salt
5 tablespoons Olive oil, Canola or vegetable oil*
6 cups flour (4 cups bread flour and 1 1/2-2 cups All Purpose)

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
In a separate large bowl combine warm water*, sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of the flour. Stir well.

Add the yeast mixture to the warm water-flour mixture. Mix together with large wooden spoon or paddle attachment.

Add the remaining 3 cups of flour, a cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
After all of the flour is added and mixed in, let sit in bowl for 10 minutes.

When the dough has risen, stir down with a large spoon. If making in a stand mixer, turn the machine on low for a few seconds until the dough is deflated, and push dough to bottom part of bowl with a spatula.

Repeat 5 times, every ten minutes, for a total of 60 minutes of rising and then punching (or pushing) down.

Divide the dough in half. Roll each half of dough in a 9×12 rectangle on a floured surface.

Roll the dough up like a jelly roll (long way). Place the dough on a greased baking pan (jelly roll pan), with the seam side down. Both loaves will fit on one pan.

Score the bread across the top 3 or 4 times, and brush with beaten egg (if using).

Let rise for 20-30 minutes in warm place.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes in lower half of oven, until golden brown. Or you may bake at 350-375 convection for 18-20 minutes until golden.

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Herbed Focaccia Bread

I made this and it was FANTASTIC!!! The only thing I'll do differently next time is make double! The loaf this made went in one sitting at the dinner table!

This Easy Herbed Focaccia Bread such a simple bread recipe to make, but the flavor is outstanding! This bread is light and airy, with a yummy olive oil saltiness and those fresh herbs bring the whole loaf to life.

2 c Bread flour, (or all-purpose)
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 c Water Warm
1 1/8 tsp Instant Yeast
1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar
Olive Oil
1 tsp Rosemary Fresh , chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)*
1 tsp Parsley Fresh, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)*
1/2 tsp Thyme leaves Fresh , chopped (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)*
Maldon Flaked Sea Salt

In a glass bowl, add the flour and salt. Mix to combine.
In a glass measuring cup, mix the warm water, yeast and sugar. Allow to sit for a minute* and stir into the flour with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together.
Cover the bowl with tight plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 8 hours or up to overnight.
Remove the bowl from the fridge.
In an 8-inch round cake pan, drizzle oil and place the dough in the center, tucking ends under.
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise 2 hours.
Heat the oven to 450ºF.
Once risen the dough should fill the pan. Drizzle with additional oil and use your fingers to press holes down to the bottom of the pan but not through the dough.
Sprinkle with herbs and salt.
Place in the oven and turn down to 425ºF and bake 22-24 minutes or until golden.

*Yeast should bubble and foam up within a few minutes to let you know it's activated

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

The Cheesecake Factory 4 Cheese Pasta Dupe

We just got back from a soccer tournament in Las Vegas. I feel like we ate 24/7 - we always chose somewhere easy to get into. So our last dinner there was at the Cheesecake Factory.

Our 10 year old ordered this dish and she FELL IN LOVE. She took her leftovers back to the hotel and her sister (who chose to go bowling w her teammates instead of go with us) came back starved and asked to eat those leftovers - our 10 year old wouldn't share no matter what. I ended up promising her that I would find a dupe and make it for dinner later that week. It was a deal - so here is the recipe I followed! The only real difference in the one I made from all the other recipes out there is that I didn't add eggs - we have a child allergic so I just omitted them.

Doesn't look real pretty - but she was OVER THE MOON!





Cheesecake Factory 4 Cheese Pasta Dupe
8 oz Penne pasta
24 oz Marinara Sauce
1 c Ricotta
2 ¼ c Mozarella, grated
¼ c chopped fresh basil
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp pepper, freshly ground
4 Fresh mozzarella balls, cut into quarters
¾ c freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper to taste

Garnish
2 T ricotta cheese
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 11x8-inch (3.5 Quart)baking dish.
In a large pot of boiling, lightly salted water, cook Penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, while pasta is cooking, heat marinara sauce in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil, garlic powder and pepper. Stir until well combined.
Add hot pasta and the heated marina sauce to the ricotta mixture. Stir until pasta is thoroughly coated with the creamy sauce.
Transfer pasta mixture to greased 11x8-inch (3.5 Quart) baking dish. Place quartered mozzarella balls evenly over top of pasta. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake, covered in 350°F oven for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and place under broiler for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Garnish: In a small bowl, combine 3 Tablespoons ricotta cheese and 2 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Divide evenly among four individual servings and top with freshly chopped basil.

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Christmas Caramels

Christmas Caramels!!

This is the first year we are going to do neighbor gifts in a long time! Our neighborhood participates in an Annual Food Drive that benefits the Utah Food Bank. We have a big get together in the neighborhood on donation night. Sometimes we watch a small version of the Nativity Scene, sometimes we have hot cocoa and listen to some of the beautiful voices in our neighborhood sing carols and this year, we had a full sit down dinner WITH short Nativity done by the kids in our neighborhood.

Food Donations and spending time together is IN LIEU of Neighbor Gifts. BUT - this year is a little different. We have been in this neighborhood for 8 years but just moved 1 street over almost a year ago. It's our first Christmas in our new house with our new neighbors. We live on a circle and we are the ONLY FAMILY on the street! Everyone else has lived here for years and their children have all grown up and moved away. We didn't see anyone from our little street at the Neighborhood Party but I wanted to let all of them know how much we love living here and that we appreciate them - so I came up with this!

I buy a 5 lb loaf of Peter's Caramel every year at Orson Gygi. It's a lot of caramel - but it stays good for such a long time - as long as it's stowed away in a zip top bag.

I bought the Caramel loaf in September and we've made a bunch of treats - well MAINLY white chocolate covered caramel apples with cinnamon sugar sprinkles (we are ALL obsessed!!)

It's a few days before Christmas and I came up with a brilliant idea! I already had the caramel loaf, I had the foresight to buy individual candy wrappers a few months ago - so here's what we did.

Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet. Put caramel loaf on top of the parchment paper. Set in the cold oven and heat to 200 degrees. When the oven reaches 200 degrees - turn it off. Pull the baking sheet out of the oven and set a piece of parchment paper on top of the caramel - then put the underside of a second baking sheet on top of that. Use the baking sheet to press the caramel into about a 1/2" sheet of caramel. I also used a rolling pin. If you need to - return it to the cooling down oven to get it a bit easier to work with.

Use a pizza cutter or food scraper to cut the large caramel slab into 1 1/2" rows. Then cut those rows down into about 1 1/2" pieces. Roll the caramel into a cohesive piece and wrap individually. 

We put them into a clear baggie - tie with some Merry Christmas ribbon and add a note!

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Strawberry, Black Pepper & Basil Tea Sandwiches

I hosted a Nutcracker Tea Party last night before all the girls in my family went to see the Nutcracker (a tradition my girls and I started 14 years ago!)





I wanted to serve a few different tea sandwiches, but I wasn't sure which ones would be enjoyed by everyone. I came across this recipe and tested it out on some of my kids 19, 18 and 10. It passed their test - so I went for it! They were surprisingly good! I added our much loved balsamic glaze for that extra punch!

Strawberry, Black Pepper & Basil Tea Sandwiches
Soft white bread
Strawberries (sliced 1/4 thin)
Black Pepper Boursin
Fresh basil
Nona's Balsamic glaze

I was worried about the cheese tearing the soft white bread - so I let it sit out for about an hour before I used it. It spread very easily after that.

Use an offset spatula/knife to spread the cheese on both sides of the white bread. On the bottom piece of the bread, add 2 strawberries, a small piece (1/2" size) fresh basil, drizzle with balsamic glaze and top with the top piece of bread. I cut these into squares - so I got 4 sandwiches from 2 pieces of bread.

*TIPS: I made several sandwiches yesterday so I learned a few tricks to make it go a bit quicker. I cut the crusts off all the bread for the type of sandwich I was going to make first. Then - I added the spread - THEN I cut them into squares and topped them. I also wiped the knife clean when it got too goopy.

Also, after assembling the sandwiches I put a damp paper towel over them so they wouldn't dry out.

When I finished each type - I covered them with plastic wrap and refrigerated them until it was time to eat. 

Next time I think I will assemble all the sandwiches except for the Cucumber Tea Sandwiches the night before. Then I will assemble the Cucumber Tea Sandwiches just before serving.


Peppermint Pie

I saw this on social media - and it is THE EASIEST, FASTEST, MOST DELICIOUS Holiday dessert I have ever made or eaten!

My kids went absolutely CRAZY for it. So crazy, that I've made it TWICE already in the last 2 days.



Peppermint Pie
1/2 gallon Peppermint Ice Cream (we like Farr's)
1 Oreo Pie Crust
1 c Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 c Heavy Whipping Cream

Let the ice cream sit out for a bit to let it soften so it will be easier to manipulate. 

Scoop the ice cream into the pie crust and spread out into the entire area. Put the pie into the freezer to set up.

Combine the chocolate chips and cream in a microwave safe bowl. Melt for 60 seconds. Then melt at 30 second intervals until combined. 

Let the ganache sit and firm up a bit while the ice cream is setting. It won't completely set up - initially I made too much and kept it covered on the countertop and used the rest the next day when I made another one.

When you are ready to eat - pour the ganache on top of the pie. Garnish with peppermints, candy cane pieces or red and green sprinkles!

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

No Bake Chocolate Cream Pie

My girls LUUUV a no bake chocolate pie. They volunteer to make it every Thanksgiving and definitely would make it more often if we had Jell-O pudding on hand! I saw this recipe on Six Sisters Stuff and knew my girls had to try it for this Thanksgiving coming up. I'll post a picture and give a review as soon as they make it!

No Bake Chocolate Cream Pie
3 ounces cream cheese softened
2 Tablespoons sugar
1¾ cups milk divided
8 ounces Cool Whip Whipped Topping 1 container, divided
1 Oreo Cookie Pre Made Pie Crust (9 inches)
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix 1 package
mini chocolate chips optional

Instructions
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and 1 Tablespoon milk until smooth (I used an electric mixer, but you could also do it by hand).
Fold in 1 cup Cool-Whip topping and mix well.
Spread mixture evenly into the bottom of the crust.
In another mixing bowl, whisk pudding mix and remaining milk for 2 minutes.
Let pudding stand for 2-3 minutes or until it is soft-set (just barely setting up).
Gently spoon pudding mixture on top of cream cheese mixture and spread carefully.
Place in the fridge until set (1-2 hours or longer if needed).
Just before serving, top with remaining Cool Whip topping and mini chocolate chips (if using).

Friday, October 14, 2022

Monster Munch

Monster Munch! A fun spin on chex mix!! My kids and their friends loved it!



Monster Munch
5 ounces pretzels
2 ½ cups Apple Jax Halloween version
2 ½ cups Corn Chex
2 cups M & M's chocolate candies Halloween edition
2 cups white chocolate chips (12 ounce bag)
1 ½ Tablespoons vegetable oil
Candy eyeballs

In a VERY large bowl (or two medium bowls), combine the first 6 ingredients. Set aside.

In a microwave safe bowl, heat white chips and oil on high for 60 seconds (you could also melt chocolate and oil in a double boiler pan).

Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds and stir until completely melted and smooth (you may need to microwave for a couple more seconds).

Pour melted chocolate over cereal mix and stir until all the cereal is evenly covered with white chocolate.

Spread cereal mix on 2 large baking sheets (I used cookie sheets) lined with wax paper.

Let cool and then break apart into chunks.

Store in an airtight container.

*This time I added Hocus Pocus cereal (it has purple, orange and green cereal and tiny cereal marshmellows)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

BEST BLT's

BEST BLT's
10 Slices Sour Dough Bread
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 lb Thick or Thin Sliced Bacon cooked, (preference is thin and use multiple for me as it's easier to eat)
1 Cup Dukes Mayo if possible
2 Cloves Garlic
Pinch Salt
2-3 Fresh Tomatoes beefsteak are best
1 Head Iceberg or Green Leaf Lettuce
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt the butter in the pan.
Place each piece of bread face down on the skillet and cook on one side until golden and toasted. Repeat with all the pieces of bread. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and garlic and whisk together.
Slice your tomatoes fairly thick and season well with salt and pepper.
Prepare your lettuce.

Assemble your sandwiches right before serving by spreading the mayo mixture on the untoasted side of all the pieces of bread.

Top one piece of mayo'd bread with several pieces of lettuce, slices of seasoned tomatoes and as much bacon as you want. Then place another piece of mayo'd bread on top (mayo side down of course!) Repeat with all the rest of your bread and ingredients.

*Got this recipe from Oh Sweet Basil

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Biz's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Every once in a while Biz gets bored and decides to bake. My other daughters get SO EXCITED - of course to eat the dessert - but it's extra special because I personally VERY RARELY bake. My son is allergic to eggs - so even when I tried recipes for desserts with egg substitutes or no eggs at all and he just wasn't impressed or interested and to be honest - they just weren't that good.

Last week she got bored and found a recipe online and then tweaked it and made this recipe and MAN-O-MAN we all flipped out! They were the best, softest, yummiest cookies we've ever had. We never want to lose this recipe! The cookies were eaten so fast we didn't get a picture - but next time for sure!

Biz's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 3/4 c AP flour
1/2 c melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 c Milk chocolate chips*

Throw everything into one large bowl and mix. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 7-10 minutes.

(Biz just added that she likes to melt a little butter and add it on top when the cookies come out of the oven!!)

*Can use semi-sweet but we LOVE milk chocolate!


Sunday, September 4, 2022

Mini Individual Pizookies

Mini Individual Pizookies



Mini Pizookies
1 cup Butter divided
1 cup Brown Sugar
½ cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 cups + 2 Tablespoons Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Salt
1 ½ cups Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a skillet, melt 4 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat stirring often, until it starts to bubble and is completely melted.

In mixing bowl, cream together remaining 12 Tablespoons of butter, sugar, and brown sugar for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Drizzle in warm, melted butter and cream for 1 minute longer.

Add eggs and vanilla and stir well.

Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.

Mix in chocolate and stir to combine.

Place in ramekins and chill for 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-24 or until the edges are lightly golden brown, depending on the depth of the ramekin. Let set up for 4-5 minutes.

Top with vanilla bean ice cream and eat warm.




West's Favorite Salad


M goes to Lake Powell every summer with a bunch of friends. The Mom who is in charge of everything is a GENIUS. M always comes home raving about everything including the food.

She got this recipe from Mrs. West and said "Mom - this is literally the best salad on the planet." Quite the salesperson!

West's Favorite Salad

Romaine Lettuce
Cardini's Caesar Dressing
Sugared almonds
Red grapes
Grated Swiss and parmesan
Bowtie pasta
Grilled chicken breast

Sugared Almonds: add almonds with about 1/2 cup sugar in a pan on the stove top. Cook until the sugar sticks.

Boil pasta according to package directions. Don't rinse. Add dressing and stir to combine. Let chill for an hour or longer. Just before serving - combine everything else and eat!

Sunday, July 24, 2022

EASY PEACH CRISP

My husband went to the grocery store the other day and brought home peaches and plums. He told us that growing up he used to love them. Plums reminded him of boating and peaches reminded him of summer - a couple of fun memories he had never shared with me before! He mentioned his love of peach crisp - also - one I've never heard before.

A few days later I tried one of those peaches and man o man was it delicious!! So I set about to surprise him and with research - I found this recipe for Peach Crisp - I changed it a bit - went heavy on the crisp since I know that is more of what my kids love. 

EASY PEACH CRISP

FILLING:
3 pounds peaches, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices (3 large fresh peaches & 2 cans of peaches)
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt

TOPPING:
1 c all-purpose flour
1 c brown sugar
1 c rolled old-fashioned oats
1/2 c butter, cold but slightly soft
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
dash salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease an 8x8 square baking dish.

Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, add the sliced peaches, white sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt. Toss until well coated and pour into prepared pan.

For the Topping: In a medium bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, oats, butter, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together with a pastry cutter, fork or use clean hands to make sure the topping is well combined. Sprinkle over the peach filling.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until topping is brown and crisp. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Frozen Lemon Pie



Frozen Lemon Pie
2 cups heavy cream
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 large lemon juiced, then zested, 
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pre-made graham cracker crust

For the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Transfer to a medium bowl and refrigerate.

In the same mixing bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Slowly pour in the condensed milk and continue to mix until incorporated and smooth. Add the lemon zest and juice and salt and beat on medium-high speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. 

If necessary, transfer the mixture to a large bowl to allow for the whipped cream. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whipped cream.

To assemble: Spoon the filling into the crust. Freeze the pie for at least 6 hours, up to 12 hours.

For the topping: Zest a lemon over top and add 2-4 lemon twists in the center. 

Frozen Strawberry Pie


Frozen Strawberry Pie
2 cups heavy cream
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large lemons, 1 zested, both juiced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pint strawberries, lightly crushed
1 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 pre-made graham cracker crust

For the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Transfer to a medium bowl and refrigerate.

In the same mixing bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Slowly pour in the condensed milk and continue to mix until incorporated and smooth. Add the lemon zest and juice and salt and beat on medium-high speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. If necessary, transfer the mixture to a large bowl to allow for the whipped cream. Use a rubber spatula to fold the strawberries into the filling mix, then fold in the whipped cream.

To assemble: Spoon the filling into the crust. Freeze the pie for at least 6 hours, up to 12 hours.

For the topping: In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with the brown sugar and vinegar. Remove the pie from the freezer, top with the strawberry mixture and serve.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Decadent Mac and Cheese

In the last year this Macaroni has officially become our family favorite. I don't make any other version - unless I'm cheating and make Cracker Barrel Sharp White Cheddar - LOL. 


Decadent Mac and Cheese via Kardea Brown
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1 1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs (egg replacer)
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.

Friday, June 17, 2022

Glazed Grilled Pineapple

One of my kids begged for grilled pineapple tonight. This is the first time since last summer we've made it - so I hopped on here to find the recipe - and whaddya know? I've never written it down! DUH!!

I probably haven't written it down because we don't really use measurements.

Glazed Grilled Pineapple
1/2 c butter
1/4 c honey
2 Tbsp hot sauce (we love Cholula Sweet Habanero)

Cut your pineapple into spears (or rounds). Put the butter, honey and hot sauce in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until the butter is melted and the honey has thinned. Baste the pineapple with the glaze and grill until it's done to your likeness - my husband usually grills them right before we sit down - takes 10 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees on the Traeger. 

Everyone goes NUTS for these!! We always make ton - and they are always the first to go!

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Avocado Quinoa Salad

Thought of this one on the spot with what we had.

There are 2 pictures because my family ate SO MUCH of this salad - I was lucky that I had premade quinoa in my fridge and more avocados - so that I could enjoy it too!! I'm telling you - every. single. one. of my 4 kids and my husband couldn't get enough. The top picture is the quinoa, avocado and dressing (mine). The bottom picture is the very last of the salad my youngest (who literally lived on dry cereal and quesadillas for 2 years - very recently) scraped into her bowl for a second helping.


Avocado Quinoa Salad
2 c quinoa
1/3 c diced onion
1 c diced cucumber
2 avocados diced
1/3 c Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette

Friday, June 10, 2022

Greek Feta Salad


Greek Feta Quinoa Salad

2 c quinoa
1 medium cucumber, sliced and cut into fourths
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, chopped
1 can medium olives, drained
1/3 - 1/2 c Feta Greek salad dressing
1/4-1/3 cup feta cheese crumbles

Add all vegetables to a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add the quinoa and salad dressing and stir. Top with the feta cheese crumbles. Serve immediately.

Red Quinoa Salad with Black Beans and Mangos

This salad is a big winner with my teenagers. They've been packing it for school lunch. It's so delicious - even at room temperature!

Red Quinoa Salad With Black Beans & Mangos


1 c. red or white quinoa, dry (cooked according to directions)
2-3 avocados
2 mangoes, diced
1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper (or 4 baby ones), finely chopped
1 can corn, rinsed
1 can low sodium black beans, rinsed
1 c. tomatoes, chopped (I prefer grape or cherry tomatoes)
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno, finely diced (optional)
½ red onion, finely chopped

I used Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette as the dressing - it makes everything taste good!!

*Suggested Dressing
1 lime, squeezed
2-3 T. red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
S & P to taste

Cook quinoa according to directions & chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. You can cook it in advance up to a day or two before.
Chop all ingredients and toss them together in a bowl.
Drizzle with vinegar, lime juice & oil. Make sure your oil is extra virgin and if possible, get a good vinegar from the health food store that is “raw.” Then you will reap the good health benefits from your vinegar!

Pistachio Grilled Salmon

I saw this on tv and it sounded good. I thought it was going to be spicy because of the Mike's Hot and the red pepper - but it wasn't. My youngest refuses to eat anything remotely spicy and she LOVED it!

Pistachio Grilled Salmon

2 lb. salmon filet 
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp. Mike’s Hot Honey
1 lemon juiced
½ tsp. salt
½ cup chopped roasted pistachios
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated fine
Pinch of red pepper flakes
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Preheat your grill to 400 degrees.
Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Place the salmon on the lined baking sheet. (In the center)
In a small bowl combine the olive oil, honey, lemon, and salt. Whisk to combine. Then drizzle it onto the salmon filet covering generously.
In the pistachio bowl, combine the pistachios, breadcrumbs, cheese, and parsley. Gently mix and the place the mixture on top of the salmon filet.
Place the baking sheet with seasoned salmon onto the grill (or even your oven) and grill for 16-20 minutes, until the salmon is tender and flaky. 

*My kids drizzled theirs with a balsamic reduction. 

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Quatro Verde Citrus Salad

This salad is INCREDIBLE. INCREDIBLE. I'm not a huge fan of kale and I don't like olives in general - but OMG. This completely changed my mind about those ingredients! The olives ALONE had me eating them one by one - I had to stop myself from eating them all before I made the salad for my family.

Quatro Verde Citrus Salad

Dressing
2 lemons, zest and juice
2 Tbsp honey
1 shallot, medium, finely chopped
2/3 c olive oil, extra virgin
black pepper, crushed
2 Tbsp sugar

Salad
2 bunch Lacinato Kale (a.k.a. blue dinosaur) stemmed & chopped
1 c basil, chopped
1 c green olives, divina chili and tangerine marinated
1 avocado
4 oz dubliner cheese, micro bladed (sub with parmesan or romano)

Whisk together all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside. I made this ahead of time so it had time to marry a bit.
Remove the stems from the kale and chop.
Pour the dressing over the kale and massage it into the leaves to soften and distribute the dressing evenly.
Top with the additional salad ingredients and toss. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Super Bowl LVI

 We hosted the Super Bowl this year and I did some fun charcuterie boards! Look how fun!!




Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Ultimate Quick Ramen



Ultimate Quick Ramen
3 qt. stock pot
Ramen noodles
Add 1/8 c better than bouillon (chicken)
1/8 c miso paste
1 T ginger
1 T Gochujang
1 tsp worcestershire
1 T Hoisin sauce
diced green onions - whites and green parts
mint
cilantro
Pot stickers
Fried egg

Fill stock pot 3/4 of the way with water. Add bouillon, miso, ginger, gochujang, Worcestershire and hoisin. Bring to a boil. Whisk ingredients to make sure they are all incorporated. Add Ramen noodles and cook per package directions (3 minutes). 

Add additional toppings. Tonight we had potstickers, fried eggs, green onions, mint and cilantro. 

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Hot Dog Burnt Ends

Labor Day without all the labor!!

Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Two 8-count packages hot dogs
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons barbecue rub, preferably Hey Grill Hey Signature Sweet Rub
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Prepare a smoker or charcoal grill for indirect cooking at 225 degrees F.
Slather the hot dogs with the yellow mustard and sprinkle all over with the rub. Add wood to the smoker or grill, then place the hot dogs directly on the grill grates, close the lid and smoke for 1 hour.
Remove the hot dogs and slice into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Increase the heat on your smoker or grill to 375 to 400 degrees F. Place the hot dog pieces in a disposable baking pan. Top with the butter, brown sugar and barbecue sauce. Place the pan of hot dog burnt ends on the grill grates and cook, stirring regularly, until the butter is melted and the sugars have started to caramelize on the hot dogs, an additional 15 to 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Snack Attack

I've gotten B.U.S.Y!! Like INSANELY busy. We have AT LEAST 6 soccer games our kids are playing in every. single. week. We often get home after 8pm week nights and still haven't eaten dinner! 

A lot has dropped off my plate.   

I have decided that one thing I can do right before I run out the door to get the girls from school is provide them a PLENTIFUL snack (first dinner) with some healthy stuff and some fun stuff! 

Here's an example of a board I did earlier in the week...


Blueberry yogurt covered pretzels
Mini Bagels
Chive and onion cream cheese
Brown sugar and cinnamon cream cheese
Mini pretzels (these were tiny bats!)
Smartfood popcorn
Goldfish crackers
Gummy bears
Mango slices (dried)
Deli ham rolled up with colby jack cheese
Pirouline cookies

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Egg Breakfast Muffins

We go back to school tomorrow!!! How did that happen? In a rush today with last minute details - but I did manage to try out this idea and it was a BIG HIT!! Super easy and delicious.



Egg Breakfast Muffins
12 large eggs
Salt
1 c ham or sausage cooked and diced
1/2 - 1 c pico or your favorite salsa
1 c whatever shredded cheese you have

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray
In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add in remaining ingredients and mix together.
Scoop 1/3 cup of mixture into each muffin spot
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the center of the muffin is completely cooked.

Friday, August 13, 2021

Six Cans Away!

This is a recipe I threw together as a "tester" for my too soon to be college Freshman. I wanted to make it in the crock pot I'm sending with him and I wanted to have his approval taste-wise before I committed. 

This recipe is perfect for when you are tired, hungry, poor - game night busy - all of the above! You can grab these 6 cans (plus taco seasoning) and have a delicious, filling meal in no time flat - or waiting for you when you come home... so I'm calling it Six Cans Away - bc you are literally 6 cans away from exactly what you need.



Six Cans Away!!!
1 15 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 15 oz can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (drained)
1 15 oz can sweet corn (drained)
1 10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup
1 10 oz can green enchilada sauce
1 packet taco seasoning mix

Throw everything together and heat up on the stove top on Medium Low until warm (20 minutes).

OR

Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Pour all the ingredients into slow cooker and stir together.
Cook on low heat for 2 hours.

Serve as a SOUP by adding 14 oz can of chicken broth.
Serve as MACHO NACHOS with shredded cheddar cheese and tortilla chips.
Serve as a BURRITO in a flour tortilla.
AMP IT UP with an 8 oz block of Velveeta cheese melted in for the ultimate queso.

*Add left over chicken or ground beef to AMP it up

Coq au Vin Blanc

My husband and I celebrated another Anniversary and this year we decided to go French. We went to a quaint Victorian home built in 1878 that has been converted into a restaurant. It was AMAZING. If you are in our neck of the woods - eat at The Charleston in Draper.

We started our meal with the Baked Brie appetizer - served with figs, strawberries, crostini and honey. For our entrees - my husband had the Gaucho Steak 7oz grilled Filet Mignon, celery root & potato puree, garlic sautéed shrimp, grilled asparagus, and Argentinian Chimichurri vinaigrette served on the side so delicious - and I had the Coq!! 

It brought back so many memories of the years I spent living in Brussels. Here is the description of the dish on their menu: Chicken braised with white wine, heavy cream, carrots, celery, mushrooms, lardons, leeks over creamy celery root & potato puree

Coq au Vin Blanc
1 3 1/2-pound chicken, in 10 pieces without backbone, dried
Salt and ground white pepper
4 oz pancetta (or bacon in a pinch)
8 oz white pearl onions (frozen)
1 med onion, finely chopped
1/2 lb celery cut diagonally into 1 inch pieces
1/2 lb carrots cut diagonally into 1 inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, sliced
9 ounces oyster mushrooms, trimmed, clumps separated
2 cups chardonnay (or chicken stock)
1 cup heavy cream
2 T butter (unsalted or black truffle)

Cook the pancetta until crisp in a 4-quart stovetop creuset. Remove pancetta and drain on a paper towel. Add the chicken, skin side down, as many pieces as fit comfortably. Cook until lightly browned, season with salt and pepper and turn to brown other side. Remove to a platter when done and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Reduce heat, add the pearl onions to casserole and toss in fat until lightly browned. Add the chopped onion, celery, carrots and garlic, cook until softened, and stir in the mushrooms. When they wilt, return chicken, onion, garlic and bacon to the pan, pour wine all over, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes.

Add cream and simmer for 10 minutes longer. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Now to just make it and tweak it to perfection. Also - on the hunt for a recipe for the insane celery root and potato puree!! 

Friday, July 23, 2021

Chips and Dips

We had an Olympic Party for the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Summer Olympics!!!



There are 6 of us. Sweetness works his butt off. Literally dawn to dusk and beyond. He also travels. Just to give you an example - this week he literally left our house Monday early early - got home Tuesday night expecting to stay the night and had a customer ask him to be at a location 3 hours away at 6am. He ate dinner with us and was out the door. 

Our oldest is currently working a summer job full time in anticipation of his Freshman year at college. #2 is busy with soccer, work and social life. It's a struggle to get the 6 of us together. 

It's honestly the hardest phase so far in my life - and that is saying a lot! I'm probably just saying that because I'm in that phase - but whatever. 

In hopes of making the most of what could be the last year with our six pack - I bought a book called Adventure Challenge (family version) I'll link it when I get a sec. I had each of my kids randomly pick a challenge (scratch off) and be in charge of that challenge - I went along with them and paid - left all the planning up to the child. I was hoping to accomplish at least 4 challenges on our 3 day trip together - but we only got around to 2 of them. 2 more to go - posts to follow. 

Then I was SO INSPIRED by a segment I saw on Studio 5 that I wanted to do an Olympic party as well. Considering our schedules - I decided to combine several things into one 90 minute 6 pack moment.

CHIPS and DIP ideas: 
Rosemary, Black Pepper & Parmesan Chips
Lemon, Pink Peppercorn & Asiago Chips
Lime, Chile & Coijita Chips
Basil, Roasted Garlic & Romano Chips
Orange, White Pepper, & Manchego Chips

Specialty Chips Recipe: 14 oz bag Sea Salt Kettle Chips •Fine grated cheese of choice •Pepper, and spice of choice. •Infused olive oil, of choice

Line baking sheet with parchment. Place chips on sheet in a thin layer. Spray lightly with oil, or drizzle and toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese, and pepper, or spice. If desired, bake at 350 until hot. Cool.
Serve with specialty dips!

Specialty Dips
BBQ Spice • 2 tsp 
Hearty Garlic • 1 1/2 tsp 
Beer Can Classic • 1 1/2 tsp 
Parmesan Alfredo • 2 tsp 
Nantucket •1 tsp

Stir above choice of spice mix into 1 cup sour cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails