Boston Creme Cupcakes

These are very yummy cupcakes! Something different! :) I made them for my hubby's birthday.

Ingredients: Pkg. of yellow cake mix
                    pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding
                   1 cup milk
                   1 1/2 cups cool whip
                   4 squares of Baker's semi-sweet choc.
                 

Directions: Prepare cake batter as directed on box as cupcakes. Cool. Beat pudding mix with milk with a whisk.  Let it stand 5 min. Meanwhile, cut cupcakes in half (take the wrappers off)
         Then, add 1/2 cup only of cool whip to the pudding mix. Spoon a good spoonful on each bottom half of the cupcakes. Cover with tops.
         Microwave remaining cool whip and chocolate in a bowl. (about 60-90 seconds will do) Let stand for 15 minutes. Spread on cupcakes. Refrigerate.

Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

This is a CROCKPOT recipe! I love using my crockpot. It's so easy, and I'm telling you this recipe is so yummy! I actually got this from pinterest. (I'm addicted.) I changed just a few things as always....

 Ingredients:  2 lbs of boneless pork loin
                     1/2 tsp. salt
                     1/4 tsp. pepper
                     1 T. minced garlic
                    1/2 cup water

For the Glaze:  1/2 cup brown sugar
                         1 T. cornstarch
                        1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
                         1/2 cup water
                         2 T. soy sauce

Directions: Combine the salt, pepper, and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in crockpot with water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before done, combine the ingredients for the glaze in a pan. Heat and stir until it thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2-3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side. (This glaze is SOOOO good!!)

*Serves about 4-5 hungry people. :)

My Grilled Cheese

Ok....so who doesn't love grilled cheese? This is just your simple grilled cheese sandwich, but I do it a little differently. Simple and yummy.

Ingredients:  2 pieces of bread
                    2 pieces of cheese (I just get the kraft singles...but it says for grilled cheese's on the pkg.)
                    2 slices of tomato, slightly salted (I use sea salt)
                    garden vegetable philadelphia cream cheese (you know how they have all different kinds of flavors....it's the veggie one)

Directions: Get your bread and butter one side of each slice. On the other side, spread a good amount of the garden veggie cream cheese. (I only do it to one piece of bread) Then, cut your tomato and lightly salt 2 slices. *Heat the skillet up before putting the bread on (I also spray a little of Pam on it)
     Place bread butter side on the skillet, then add the cheese and tomatoes and other piece of bread. * I feel silly explaining this because I realize everyone knows how to make a grilled cheese. :) A MUST try! So yummy.

Nolan's Favorite Smoothie!

I found this recipe in a magazine. It's called peanut butter, banana, agave smoothie....but since Nolan LOVES it I named it for him. :)

Ingredients: 1 banana
                   1/2 - 1 cup vanilla yogurt
                   2 T. Light Agave Nectar (you find it in baking aisle. I got Domino Organic brand....great alternative sweetener!)
                  1/2 cup milk
                   1/4 cup peanut butter
                 1/2 t. vanilla extract
                 4-6 ice cubes.

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth! Yummy!!!!

*This makes one big glass....so double it for 2 people. :)

Peanut Butter Choc. Kiss Cookies

I know most people already know how to make these popular cookies, but every recipe is a little different. This is the one I like! :)

Ingredients:  Bag of milk choc. Hershey Kisses
                     3/4 cup of peanut butter
                    1/2 cup shortening
                     1/3 cup sugar
                    1/3 cup brown sugar
                      1 egg
                    2 T. milk
                    1 t. vanilla extract
                     1 1/2 cups of flour
                   1 t. baking soda
                     1/2 t. salt
                   sugar for rolling

                   Directions: Heat oven to 375. Combine pnt. butter and shortening until mixed well. Add in sugar and brown sugar. Mix well. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Stir well.
                  In another bowl mix the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir into pnt. butter mixture and mix well. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
         While they're in the oven, you can unwrap the hershey kisses. As soon as cookies are done, top with a kiss. (I push down a little until cookie kinda cracks a little.)

*It depends on how big you make the balls....but this makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Breakfast Casserole

  Breakfast food is so yummy, even if served for dinner. This recipe will also help you finish the loaf of bread you have that never gets all the way used!  :)

  Ingredients:  8 eggs
                      2 cups milk
                     1 tsp. salt AND pepper
                     8 slices bread
                     2 cups of thawed frozen spinach
                    1 red pepper
                     1 onion
                     minced garlic (I had to Lisa! ....my sister says I put this in everything.....I do.)
                   Eckrich (did I spell that right?) smoked sausage
                    Shredded cheese

                 
                    Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 9x13 pan.
                               Beat eggs and milk together, then add the salt and pepper. Set aside.
            Tear the bread apart into pieces (about 1 inch) and toss in greased pan. In a seperate bowl add red pepper, onion, garlic, and spinach (make sure it's drained). Stir until mixed evenly. Pour over bread. Then, cut up the smoked sausage in circles and place on top. (use both of the sausages....it comes with 2) Next, pour the egg mixture over the top of everything and top with shredded cheese.
   Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover it and bake for 15 more minutes.

   I would say it serves about 6 people.

Choc. Chip, Walnut PUMPKIN cookies!

Yay, it's fall! Time to bust out all the pumpkin recipes! These are really good cookies! They are super moist and you are guaranteed to get addicted. :) 

Ingredients: 1 cup of canned pumpkin

                   1 cup of sugar

                  1/2 cup of veggie oil

                   1 egg

                 2 cups of flour

                2 tsp. baking powder

             2 tsp. cinnamon

              1/2 tsp. salt

              1 tsp. baking soda

            1 tsp. Milk

            1 Tbsp. of vanilla

             about 1 1/2 cups of choc. chips (use to your liking)

          about 1 cup of walnuts (again...to your liking)

Directions:  You're gonna need two medium/large bowls. In the biggest bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg. In the other bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda and milk and stir in flour mixture. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Then, add vanilla, choc. chips, and walnuts. Drop by spoon on greased sheet. 350 degrees, for about 10-12 minutes.

*just a little helpful note....since these are such moist cookies, they're not really gonna "crack" like other cookies to help you know when they are done. They won't really spread on the pan either, so you can really fill your pan up with dough. 

  *Also! Don't get me wrong these are so good hot out of the oven...but I think they are really good cold too! Feel free to stash in fridge, yummy! 

Chicken Salad Bundles

 This is a really quick recipe. I like making this for lunch.

Ingredients: 4 oz. of cream cheese, softened
                   Canned white chicken (13oz.)
                   Can Crescent Rolls
                   Chopped jalapeno's from a jar *optional, I don't measure...just throw some in to liking
                   Pineapple tidbits *optional...I never measure this either...just cut them in half though.

* Just a little note* You don't have to add the jalapeno or pineapple....it's just as good with just the chicken and cream cheese...or you can add whatever you would like. I bet chopped pecans would be good. :)

Directions:
           Drain the chicken and shred it up with a fork in a medium bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, jalapenos, and pineapple (or whatever you are adding) Open the can of dough and keep every 2 triangles together forming 4 rectangles. Pinch seams together in a large square. Put spoonfuls of mixture in each and pinch closed. Bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes.

*makes 4 bundles