No bake Granola bars

No bake granola bars 

2 1/2 cups rice cereal 

2 cups uncooked quick oats

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup dried fruit

1/2 cup chopped nuts or seeds

2/3 cup honey or some kind of syrup (brown rice syrup, maple, agave nectar)

1 cup of nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower...

2 teaspoons of vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Spray 13x9 pan. 

Spread mixture evenly in pan. 

Press parchment paper on too to flatten down. 

Place in the fridge for at least an hour. 

Once held together cut in desired sizes. I usually cut down horizontally then cut bars. I usually get 16-18 bars total. 

I wrap in Saran Wrap and store in the fridge. 

Enjoy!

Olive Garden Night

WE decided to have an olive Garden night a few weeks back. Makes it kind of nice to find these copy cat recipes and tweak them to be like you were at the restaurant. We made Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo and Salad Dressing.

 
Olive Garden Salad Dressing  

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Sugar (optional)

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal taste, add a little extra sugar. You can enjoy your Olive Garden salad dressing for up to 10 days if you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

This can also be used as a marinade!

Recipe was found  at copykat.com

Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo

 Ingredients

• 1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper (optional)

 Instructions


In a saucepan, combine the butter and heavy cream. Simmer until all is melted and mixed well. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes on low. You may wish to add a little salt and pepper.
Additional Notes
I have made this with half-and-half, but we prefer the heavy cream. I wouldn’t recommend trying it with plain milk.
Important: DO NOT use store-bought shredded or grated cheese. Preshredded and pregrated cheeses have an anticaking agent in them that can prevent the sauce from setting up.
Optional Cream Cheese Method
Use this if the sauce is a little thin. The sauce can be thin for a variety of reasons: not using heavy cream, not cooking at a high enough temperature, and using preshredded or pregrated cheese. If the finished sauce is still a little thin whisk in 2 tablespoons cream cheese until the sauce thickens. I have done with and without cream cheese. We also added oldbay and tasted yumm.
We just used leftover grilled chicken and fettuccine.

Homemade Cliff Bars

I am loving all these no bake snacks that are healthy to make for the kids and neighbor kids to eat for breakfast and after school. Not only healthy but money saver.

Homemade Cliff Bars
(Can be doubled in 13x9 pan that's what I did)

• 1 1/2 Cups rice Krispies
• 1 Cup uncooked quick oats
• 3 Tablespoons ground Flaxseed (or almond)
• 1/4 Cup finely chopped dried fruit (whatever you want like raisins, cherrys cranberries...)
• 1/4 Cup finely chopped nuts (roasted or toasted I used almonds)
• 1/3 Cup honey
• 2 Tablespoons Dark brown sugar ( I just used light brown cause that's what I had)
• 1/3 Cup of Peanut butter ( you can use almond, cashew or soy nut too)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup unsweetened flaked Cocunut

Directions

1. Grease (spray with nonstick spray) 8 inch square pan unless doubling recipe then 13x9
2. Combine cereal, oats, flaxseed meal, dried fruit and nuts in large bowl 
3. Bring the honey and brown sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat stiring constantly 
4. turn temp to low
5. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until blended and remove from heat
6. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until all ingredients are dry are coated
7. Press mixture into prepared pan using wax paper to make smooth
8. Cool in pan
9. Cut into whatever size bars you like
10. Wrap in wax paper, saran wrap, vacuum seal (whatever works best for your family. If going to be longer then a week store in the fridge. If storing in the fridge bring out to room temp to eat.

Still waiting to cut mine!!

Cinnamon roll cake

The kids devoured this. If it gets stale just toss a piece in the microwave for like 10-20 seconds and all good. You can half this recipe too think I will next time.
CINNAMON ROLL CAKE 
Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Directions:
Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.

I could only get a picture of a slice cause they cut into it too quick lol

Chocolate Ganache and truffles!

Last night I made pound cake and needed chocolate ganache or something to go on it but just a little. Found a quick recipe for Ganache and had some extra and here is what I did with both.

Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients

1 1/4 C Semi sweet Chocolate chips/ chocolate

1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

Place chocolate in microwave safe bowl and pour cream over the top

Microwave for 60-90 seconds until cream is hot

Let sit for 2-3 minutes

Stir well to melt all the chocolate to make smooth

Drizzle over cake

So I didn't need a whole measuring cup full so what do you do with the wrest? Make more cake? You can

Eat as fudge? You can

Let your kids crack out? You Can

Or Make Truffles! I did

Truffles

So, I placed in the fridge over night so would turn a bit more solid form. 

Ingredients 

Ganache

Cocoa powder

Directions

Roll into balls

Roll in cocoa powder

Chill for at least an hour

Enjoy!!

Crockpot ribs

Ingredients

Salt and pepper to season

Garlic or garlic powder to season 

3-4 pounds of ribs

Bottle of BBQ sauce 

Directions

Cut ribs in 3 sections

Spray crockpot or use liner 

Season ribs

Place in crockpot

Top with BBQ sauce

Cook on low for 8 hours

You can serve like this or you can put in the oven at 350 for 10-20 mins to carrmalize the  BBQ sauce. 

Enjoy!!

Oreo Truffles

Man oh man these were sooooo goood. 

Oreo Truffles

Picture is when I put them in the fridge.
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
Directions
Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Found at www.askchefs.net

No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I have had my neighbors kids over more lately, needed quick snacks for my kids, and looking for snacks for when on the run. These were a hit with everyone so far. I think I made like 18 bars. def better then money wasted with the kind in the box! even got to use my neighbors dads honey and my homemade vanilla.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Ingredients
4 cups quick-cook oats (not rolled oats)
2 cups Rice Krispies
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter chips
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions
Line a 13×9 pan with parchment paper allowing it to hang over the edge of the pan for easy removal and cutting.  Or spray your pan with cooking spray.
Mix oats and rice cereal in a large bowl.  Set aside.
Melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and add peanut butter.  Cook another 2 minutes or until peanut butter is completely melted. Add vanilla and stir.  Slowly pour over dry ingredients and mix well.  Add your peanut butter chips and sir them in. Peanut Butter chips will melt.
Spread the granola mixture into prepared pan and press down to compact it into the pan – you need to make sure they will stick together.
Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly.  Let cool completely until the chocolate chips are set back up before cutting into bars.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Found Recipe at http://www.caramelpotatoes.com

Applebee's Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Applebee's Garlic Mashed Potaoes

2 lbs red potatoes

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons butter

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup garlic (whole cloves)

1. Place single layer of garlic cloves on aluminum foil and wrap lightly

2. Roast in 400 degree oven for approx 45 mins or until soft

3. Unwrap and let cool to touch

4. Peal cloves and mash with Potatoes when ready

5. Wash and rinse potatoes, and cut up potatoes 

6. Bring potatoes to a slow boil for approx 20 mins

7. Remove from heat and drain

8. In pan combine potatoes, peeled and roared garlic cloves, and all other ingredients and mash

Got recipe from www.food.com

Cracker Barrel a broccoli Cheddar Chicken

H

Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

4 chicken Breasts

1 cup Almond Milk (I used regular milk) 

1 cup ritz crackers

1 can of Cheddar Cheese Soup

8oz of Frozen Broccoli

6oz Cheddar Cheese- Shredded

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

Preheat to 350

In bowl whisk milk and soup together

Grease and place chicken in dish 

Season with salt and pepper

Pour soup over chicken

Sprinkle crackers on top

Sprinkle broccoli on top of crackers

Then top with cheddar cheese

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes!!

I found the recipe www.budgetsavvydiva.com. 

Buffalo Chicken crescent

This was supposed to be a buffalo crescent wreath but I only had crescent sheets not crescent rolls.

2-3 pieces of shredded chicken

Buffalo sauce (which ever is your favorite) to coat chicken 

Minced celery (I did not use)

1-2 handfuls of blue-cheese crumbles (optional) 

Half packet of ranch seasoning

8 ounces of cream cheese

2 packages of crescents

Preheat I've to 375

Toss chicken and hot wing sauce to taste

In separate bowl mix cream cheese and ranch seasoning together. (If needed you can put cream cheese in the microwave to soften for 30 seconds)

Mix chicken and cheese mixtures together

Fold in optional celery and or blue cheese

On stone or pizza pan lay out crescents. You could do roll ups, wreath, however you like. I'll post how to and pictures of the rings from pampered chef book. 

For this we will do a ring. Section crescents in squares so you have 8. Place in a circle leaving a hole in the middle.

Spoon filling on to crescents.

Fold crescents over mixture former ring.

At this point you could do an optional egg wash over crescents. 

Bake for about 15 minutes until crescents are golden brown. 

Serve with ranch, bluechesse and optional hot sauce. 

Banana cookies

I found these on Six Sisters Blog. Ellie my two year old didn't like them but Gavin my 10 month old was in heaven. They are so easy and cheap that if they are not a hit its no big deal.

2 mashed up bananas

1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats 

1/4 chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350

Spray cookie sheet

Mix bananas and oats together 

Fold in chocolate chips

Spoon on to cookie sheet

Should make 10-12 (there recipe said 12-16 but I made 11.

Bake for 12-15 mins

Enjoy!!

Chicken bake

4-6 chicken breasts
Red potatoes
Green beans or broccoli
1 packet ranch dressing
1 stick of butter

Cut potatoes place along side of 13x9 inch pan
Open green beans can drain and lay on other side of pan
Place chicken in the middle. I choose to cut mine cause its not 100% defrosted
Sprinkle Italian dressing all over
Pour butter on top
Cover with foil
Cook for 1 hour at 350

Dinner tonight

Made some good ranch cheddar burgers you can find the recipe at onceamonthmom.com/ranch-cheddar-burgers also made Cheesy Bacon Oven Chips with Chipotle Ranch Sauce . I am addicted to the chips an the sauce we add 1 tablespoon extra of ranch and no salt in sauce.
 
 Cheesy Bacon Oven Chips

• 1 large, uniformly-shaped russet potato, scrubbed well and sliced into 1/8" rounds*
• cooking spray
• 3/4 C. shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 T. crumbled bacon (about 2 slices) - I used real bacon bits
• chopped parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)

 Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce

• 1 T. ranch dressing
• 3 T. sour cream
• 1/4 t. chipotle chili powder
• 1/8 t. cayenne (adjust more or less depending on how spicy you want).
• 1/8 t. salt
• 1/8 t. garlic powder

 

Found the recipe original recipe at http://vittlesandbits.blogspot.com/2012/02/cheesy-bacon-oven-chips-with-chipotle.html?m=1

Crockpot beef Stroganoff

Crock pot beef stroganoff

This is my first time making in the crock pot. I am trying to use up what we have up in the house. It's cooking now so ill have to tell you tonight how it tastes. But here is the recipe.

1-2 pounds cubes beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet of onion soup mix
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic glove or teaspoon of garlic paste
1/2 cup of water
1/2 bouillon cube
Pepper to taste

Egg noodles
4 oz cream cheese
1 tablespoon of sour cream

Mix all ingredients but noodles, beef, cream cheese and sour cream
Add beef and cook on low for 5-6 hours
Cook egg noodles
Before serving add sour cream, cream cheese and serve over noodles

Update wasn't bad at all. And I don't like mushrooms or onions.

Shredded chicken

I needed some shredded chicken for tonight's chicken pot pie. So, I decided to make extra shredded chicken so I can have for the week for lunches and dinner recipes. Also, I have leftover stuff from Mediterranean pizza just no chicken so I can season it when I want to eat it.

Shredded Chicken
6 frozen chicken breasts
1 bay leaf
4 cups of chicken broth (I used better then bouillon paste you can use bouillon cubes too)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder

I use a crock pot liner. Then place frozen chicken in crock pot. Season with salt pepper and garlic powder. You can adjust and add seasonings as you like. Pour 4 cups/ 1 qt of broth on top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. You can cook on high for 4-6. Shred with fork when done or should fall apart.

I am going to store what I don't need tonight in a Rubbermaid to use through the week. I am sure if you wanted you can use stock for stuff later.

Optional would be celery/ carrots for flavor and to eat and use in soup

Black Bottoms

Black bottoms seem to be a Maryland thing. When I move to Alaska, lived in Georgia know one had heard of them. I sometimes wonder if that's how I got Rob to stick around lol he used to eat a 13x9 inch pan in a week or couple days. So here it is.

Black bottoms
Batter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Cream cheese mixture
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 grease 13x9 inch pan or line 18 muffin liners on cookie sheet or muffin pan

In large bowl, mix flour, cocoa, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla into flour mixture. Stir until smooth but don't over stir.
In mixer cream cream cheese, egg, salt and sugar until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
Pour 1 tablespoon into each cup of batter then add teaspoon of cream cheese mixture on top of each. I used silverware not measureig spoons. Repeat layers. Place in oven for 25-30 mins or muffins and 30-35 for cake pan.

Crockpot bbq pulled chicken

Crockpot pulled chicken
6 frozen chicken breasts
2 cups BBQ sauce
1/2 can of chicken broth
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Spray cooking spray or use crock pot liner in crock pot
Place chicken in crock pot, add all ingredients on top and blend together. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, shred what didn't shred on its own