Sesame Chicken

 I found this recipe on Budget Bites-one of the best blogs I have found in a while!  This chicken was a hit.  And we only had black sesame seeds, those aren't bugs, never fear!  Next time i'll double the sauce so there is more for my rice!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Are you always on the hunt?  I am.  And I have had a hit in the past, but I couldn't pass this recipe up!  So I tried it, and I have a new favorite Chocolate Chip cookie recipe!!!  I love mine chewy.  Not crunchy, CHEWY, And boy do these deliver!-all thanks to the cornstarch, added yolk, and less baking time. Thank you Sally's Baking Addiction!!!

S'mores Bars

I made these for a family dinner.  They sure did taste like S'mores!  Gooey, Chocolatey, Marshmallowy, and Graham crackery!  We ate them all up!

Found here

Roasted Broccoli

 I have never had Broccoli that tasted better than this right here.  And it is super easy too.  This is our go to Broccoli now.  Some parts are slightly crispy, and some are garlicky, seriously, this is the best Broccoli you'll try.  We also use the same recipe with Cauliflower.  Yup, I'm jumping on the bandwagon!

Narley Butterfinger Chunk Cookies

 Butterfingers are my friend...unless my pants are getting tight, then I steer clear ;).  I found this recipe over on Sally's Baking Addiction.  Sally, you are naughty.  These cookies were divine!  I had one when they first came out of the oven, and yum.  Then I let them cool, so the Butterfingers would firm back up, and even more yum!  I had to stick them in the freezer so I wouldn't eat them all in one sitting!

Meatloaf Muffins

Have you ever made Meatloaf before?  My recipe takes over an hour to make.  And if you are anything like me, the day often runs away on me, and I find that I sometimes haven't left myself with enough time to make a long baking dinner.  So one day I decided to make meatloaf muffins (though I am sure the idea is not mine ;) ) Feel free to use any recipe, I have listed mine.  We don't like the tomato sauce on our Meatloaf because we dip it in Ketchup (I also sometimes sneak a grated Zucchini or 2 into our Meatloaf, and no one can tell!).

Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potatoes

We call these potatoes "Hulk Potatoes" because my 3 year old son does NOT like Broccoli, but he loves "Hulk Potatoes"!  These are nice break from the white mashed potato monotony. The broccoli gives it a nice subtle flavor, and the cheese makes it, well, cheesy!  

Barefoot Books

In an effort to hopefully bring in some extra income for my family, I made the decision to be a Barefoot Books ambassador.  I have been looking for more ways to supplement my husbands income for a while, but being a Mom of 3, one of which is nursing, has SIGNIFICANTLY limited where I could go to work some.  I had looked around at things like this before and couldn't really decide on anything.  I needed one that I truly supported, and that wasn't a huge investment.  Then I stumbled upon Barefoot Books.  These are BEAUTIFULLY illustrated award winning books (isn't that monster just the cutest?), and I love me some Children's books.  So after some thought and talking it over with the hubs, we decided that it is something I could do.  I am excited to get to know these books more, and feel free to go check out their website.  If you are ever interested, you can order books online.  What I really liked is that the prices aren't any different from any other books, there are some in the $6 range and some in the upper teens-oh, and you can get 20% off until June 30th, click on link to the right!  It's great!  But to me, what sets these apart are how alive they are, and how captivating the illustrations are. Along with award winning books, you can also find stickers, puzzles, and hand puppets, and more. Excited to see what the future brings!  And hopefully increase my children's love of books and reading!

(PS, another awesome part of Barefoot books is that you can do fundraisers for your local schools or your favorite church or other organization!)

Grilled Pineapple

Have you been to a Brazilian Grill yet?  Or lately?  I am in LOVE with the grilled pineapple they serve there!  And believe it or not, they are super easy to make-especially if you are already planning on grilling!  There is only 3 ingredients, and it is quick too!  These are sweet, and warn, and the sugar caramelizes a little while grilling it, the whole family loves these!

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones

By: Judy Schachner

Best Breadsticks

 I usually try a new breadstick recipe every time I make bread sticks.  I had found one years ago that I just loved, then lost.  When I found this recipe, I made a few adaptations, and they matched up pretty well to my lost love!  They are soft, a little chewy, buttery, cheesy, and garlicy.  All things I loo for in a good breadstick!

"Wickedly Awesome" Turtle Brownies

I dare you to find me a better tasting brownie recipe than these.  Seriously.  Try to one up me.  These are hands down, the BEST brownies I have ever had, and I can never go back.  (And never fear you silly nut haters-or legitimate allergy sufferers, this nut lover has even left them out of a batch, and they were just as good being chocolate and caramel brownies, never fear!). The interesting thing about these brownies is that you use cake mix.  Yeah, cake mix, crazy, I know.  But these are to die for.  I am totally not exaggerating either.  Make them, and please don't send any marriage proposals afterwards, I'm taken.

Chicken, Dumpling, and Quinoa soup

 Are you ready to try one of the most flavorful and tasty soups I know of?  This soup is oh so good.  Perfect for our cold rainy day yesterday.  We paired it with some cornbread because I didn't have time to make rolls or bread sticks, but this soup can stand on its own if needed, that's for sure!  The dumplings are more like a schnitzel-tiny little dumplings-and are tasty themselves. This soup scored a home run in my book!

Banana Crumb Muffins

 These are my favorite banana muffins.  They also make a pretty mean banana bread too.  I pretty much love anything with a crumb topping, so these were a home run for me.  My kids could eat a whole batch each-and my hubs could do some damage as well.  These are amazing muffins-and incredibly soft and squishy (I tried my best not to use the word moist ;)).  Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert.  Mmmmm makes me want to eat these with some cheesy eggs and OJ....is it breakfast yet? No? Ok, i'll still have one anyway!

Vanilla Sugar

 Vanilla sugar is extremely easy to make.  All it takes is 2 ingredients, mix them together, then you are done.  Vanilla sugar has a very vanilla-y taste, and you get the awesome vanilla bean specks. I love this stuff!  Use it in sugar cookies, use it to make ice cream, or cake, or breads.  You can replace sugar with it is most recipes.

Vanilla Swirl and/or Coconut Swirl Bread

I found this recipe (for the Vanilla Swirl) a while back and right away made some vanilla sugar (recipe here) since I had a few vanilla beans hanging around. Vanilla beans are awesomeness beans.  I love them.  So fast forward a few (ahem, 7 months...) and I am FINALLY getting to this bread.  No, it doesn't take 7 months to make vanilla sugar, I just have finally found the time to make this bread, and it is wonderful.  It is sweet, and soft, and perfect. It is cheaper to make your own vanilla sugar, but it takes a week to soak in the vanilla flavor.  You can find vanilla sugar if you don't want to make it!

And then I had the thought.....what if I added a coconut filling!? My best friend makes these buns with a coconut filling, and they are my ABSOLUTE favorite in the whole wide world.  So I gave it a shot.  The result. Perfection.  It is buttery and sweet, and oh so coconuty.  I'm a fan. This bread's base is a blue ribboner! And I am finding, so versatile!  I bet it would be good with a cinnamon swirl too!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Mac and Cheese

I am not the biggest Mac and cheese fan.  Just being honest.  I know, how un-American is that!?  BUT I am a big Cordon Bleu fan.  Since yesterday was Easter, we had some Ham just lying around, so I whipped up some of this pretty little Mac and Cheese.  And let me tell you, this dish makes me a Mac and Cheese fan!  Soo cheesey, so pasta-y, so ham-y, so Cordon Bleu-y!  I adapted the original recipe a tad, because I am not a huge Gruyere cheese fan.  This is a recipe for our keeper books, the kids had 3 or 4 servings, which is totally uncharacteristic of them, since they are usually a 3 bites, then "My tummy is full" kind of kids.

Cinnamon Chip Scones

 My Mom and sister found this recipe, and let me tell you, these were the best scones I have ever had.  I am not even kidding.  Now I prefer my scones to be a little more moist.  I feel like there is nothing worse than a dry scone. Blech. Makes me need a drink just thinking about it.  These were perfect pair with some eggs and fruit for a delicious breakfast.  My kids thought they were the best things since sliced bread too.  I had to place a limit on how may they could eat because I'm pretty sure they wanted to steal the plate, and hide in some closet somewhere to devour the sweet sweet little cinnamon morsels....and I may or may not have wanted to do the same thing....

Sticky Popcorn

 I stumbled upon this recipe here probably a year and a half ago, and this popcorn-now lovingly called "Sticky Popcorn" by my kids has quickly become a favorite at our house-pretty sure it should be called "crack popcorn", but luckily, my kids don't know what crack is, and i'd like to keep it that way!  One batch lasts about 20 min.  It is that good.  This stuff is majorly addicting.  My kids ask for this at least once a week. AT LEAST.  I do not give in that often, or we would be doing some extra walks to the park ;). Only 4 ingredients, and ready in 5 min!

Addressing Bullying with a simple book

Have you read this book?  Have you seen this book around? Well this book is pretty fantastic.  This book is about the color blue, and his bully red.  Such a phenomenal book.  Seriously.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

These bars are delicious!  They remind me of Summer. Just the perfect little treat.  I am pretty sure I could gobble up the whole pan if I let myself.  So make sure you make these to share! They are the perfect combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and oatmeal. They are easy to make, and you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry right now! Isn't chocolate and peanut butter like the perfect combination?  And then you throw oats in there too? Divine.

Bruschetta Chicken

Easy, healthy, and good.  The hubs and I are trying to eat better.  He lost 17 lbs, and I lost 7.  But that is just life I suppose.  Because of this "trying to eat better", we have been using mostly healthy-healthier recipes for dinner.  And this was one we found!

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

I LOVE BARBECUE CHICKEN PIZZA.  However, my husband does not.  SO I don't get it very often.  For a time, I would make one pizza and have half of it barbecue chicken, and the other half pepperoni, but that didn't always work.  Now when I do get to make it, this is the recipe I ALWAYS use.  It is simple, and so perfect.

Crock-pot Chicken and Noodles

When I was in school, occasionally we would have chicken and noodles for lunch- and believe it or not, they were really good.  So I have always liked chicken and noodles.  I found this recipe the other day, and made it for them fam.  It sure is a keeper!  You have to use frozen noodles to get the right noodle consistency.  And this is one quick-prep wise and easy recipe!

Holy Year Batman! Let's eat cake!

Wow.  It has been one whole year since I last posted. It has been so long that I can't even remember which font I sue for my posts!  Ugh. Que excuses....1st: Baby number 3 began baking and I was soooooooo sick.  Not much cooking happened. 2nd: We moved all the way across the country, then 1 more time in the same state. 3rd: baby made me sick-it's such a good excuse, so I used it twice! And don't worry, everything came out fine in the end.  We have our 3rd baby now, our 2nd little girl, and she is a cute little chunk chicky!  Now onto the cake, I saw this recipe and knew it was what was going to get me back in the swing of things.  It is a chocolate cake!  And an incredibly awesome chocolate cake!  Sooo chocolaty and moist, and just so good.  I made it for Valentine's Day and couldn't say more good things about it.  The frosting is soo good that I could probably sit and eat a whole bowl in 3 minutes.  Or 2.  There is a catch, and unexpected ingredient...Quinoa.  Yup, you heard me, Quinoa.  Not Quinoa flour, but cooked and blended quinoa!  Making this cake Gluten free!!! I found this recipe on Makingthymeforhealth and may have to frequent this site some more!!! Now go make this cake.  Seriously, like now.