Peanut Butter Glaze

(As I write this, I have a smile plastered across my face!)

So, tonight I made a strawberry apple cinnamon roll cake based on this recipe. It originally calls for a 15 oz. can of pumpkin but I didn't have one. (Thought I did, but didn't.) Instead, I used 8 oz. of homemade strawberry jam and 7 oz. of applesauce to make 15 oz. of deliciousness.

I was worried that it may not turn out since I had to substitute an ingredient with two, but I was totally wrong. It is the bomb dot com. (If I do say so myself. lol)

Well, the recipe also called for a regular glaze of powdered sugar and heavy cream. I made it, but as I sat there waiting for the cake to be finished baking, I kept thinking I wanted something more than a regular glaze.

And then I had a light bulb moment. What if I add peanut butter? That'd be like it was a pb & j sammie, but all ooey and gooey like a cinnamon roll. I was worried that it would be disgusting, but again I was wrong. (See, I can admit when I'm wrong. lol)

Here is what you need:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 - 3/4 cups heavy cream or half & half
• 1 cup peanut butter

Here is what you do:

• Mix powdered sugar and cream until well blended
• Add in half of the peanut butter at a time and whisk until smooth
• If the mixture is difficult to whisk, that means it is too thick. Just add a TINY bit more cream, like 1 tsp at a time, until it is like a thick drizzle (think good quality honey consistency)
• Spread over the warm cake

This peanut butter glaze will change your life!

Creamy Chicken Piccata

My co-worker, Cait Moss, via pinterest told me about this recipe, and I made it tonight. And, let me tell you...it is de-FREAKIN-lish! You gotta go check out the Plain Chicken blog and get/make the recipe. It's a keeper, folks!

Photo from Plain Chicken Blog

The only things I did differently were:

• I did not use capers. (Gag.)
• I used shells instead of penne because that is what I had on hand.
• I added lemon zest to the sauce.
• I doubled the recipe for everything so I'd have plenty for the week for lunches.

ABC & S Pizza

"ABC & S" stands for Alfredo, Bacon, Chicken, and Spinach Pizza, which is synonymous with YUM!!!

Here is what you need:

• 1 pizza crust (I used one in a can from Pillsbury)
• 1 cup alfredo sauce (I used Ragu's roasted garlic flavor)
• 1 chicken breast, cubed
• 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup parm cheese
• 1 cup mozz cheese (or a little more...wink)
• salt and pepper, to taste

Here is what you do:

• Preheat oven according to instructions on pizza dough can
• Cook bacon; remove from skillet; place on paper towel to drain
• While bacon cooks, drain spinach and set aside; cube chicken
• Cook chicken in bacon fat; add a bit more veg oil if needed
• While chicken cooks, roll pizza dough out on pan, leaving a ridge around the edge
• Add spinach, salt, pepper, and garlic to cooked chicken
• While spinach cooks with chicken, spread alfredo sauce on pizza dough (add more if necessary)
• Cut bacon into bite size pieces and add to chicken and spinach; stir for about 1 minute
• Spread mixture over alfredo sauce
• Top with mozz cheese then parm cheese
• Bake according to the baking time on the pizza dough can

It is so DELICIOUS!!! I am already craving the leftovers. 

Spread mixture over alfredo sauce.

(Careful...its HOT!)

Top with cheese! 

Cake Bites...

...are not as easy as they seem, but they are lots of fun to make! Your kids will love it, too!

Last weekend I took a stab at making a batch of these little bites, and it took much longer than I thought it would, but it WAS a lot of fun making them and decorating them!

Here is what you need:

• 1 box cake mix
• 1 can frosting
• Toothpicks or popsicle sticks
• Patience
• Lots of time
• Chocolate bark
• Decorations like sprinkles, crushed cookies, coconut, chopped pecans, etc

Here is what you do...in a pictorial:

Make your cake like it says to on the box. Cool completely.

Crumble cake in a large bowl then mix with half the can of frosting. You want your cake and frosting to be similar colors. I used yellow cake mix and cream cheese frosting. This picture shows the end of the batch. (I forgot to take a pic at the beginning of the process.) (This is the part your kids will love to help with...just make sure they wash their hands REALLY REALLY REALLY well before they dive in. lol)

The cake mix should be a mold-able consistency. Roll small amounts of the mix into small little balls, about the size of a nickel in diameter. Any larger and its just too much to handle in one bite. Plus, they are way too rich.

Place one toothpick or popsicle stick in each cake ball and place them in the freezer (covered) overnight. This is crucial! (Thanks for the tip, C!) I only let them set in the fridge for an hour and 15 minutes and it wasn't enough time. I struggled when it came time to cover them in chocolate and decorations.

The next day when you're ready to finish the process, get all of your decorations in one place and prepare your chocolate for melting. (The toothpicks are in this pic because I put them in the cake balls when I took them out of the fridge. But, you'll want to do this step the night before when you put them in the freezer.)

Cover each cake ball in chocolate and then put them back in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set a little bit...but not too much! You want it to be just long enough that you can handle them without the chocolate falling off the cake part but you want them still soft enough that your decorations will stay in place. (And, a good thing about adding decorations: if your chocolate isn't "pretty" then the decorations will cover any imperfections!)

**The chocolate didn't work out for me...couldn't get it smooth enough. So, instead, I used the other half of the can of frosting mixed with a little milk (about 1/3 cup) and powdered sugar (about 1 cup) to make a glaze. I had to put them in the fridge for a long time so it would set up.**

When you're finished decorating them, put them back in the fridge until you're ready to serve them.

Shredded Beef and Stuffing Bake

This casserole reminds me a lot of the Almost Thanksgiving casserole I made up last year when I was craving Thanksgiving food. However, it is slightly different because it uses shredded beef and you'll never guess what else...cheesy potato soup! Honestly, your taste-buds will thank you for making it!

9 x 9 casserole dish

Here is what you need:

• 1 box Stove-Top stuffing (chicken or turkey flavor will work)
• 1 1/2 cups corn
• 2 cups shredded beef (this is a great leftover recipe because it utilizes your roast leftovers)
• 2 cups crockpot potato cheese soup
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Here is what you do:

• Heat oven to 375
• Cook the stuffing according to the package instructions
• Cook the corn while the stuffing cooks
• Shred the roast and grate the cheese
• Layer the ingredients starting with the stuffing, then corn, then beef, then the soup, then the cheese
• Add salt and pepper to top
• Since everything is already cooked, all you do is heat it up in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sides are bubbling
• A 9 x 9 pan makes about 6 servings

It is so delicious and incredibly filling. It pairs nicely with salad...the lightness of the salad is refreshing against the heartiness of the casserole.

Crockpot Potato Cheese Soup

I accidentally discovered this recipe. lol. I was trying a new way to make mashed potatoes, and I ended up making soup instead because I added too much liquid. But, it is a happy little accident because the soup turned out delicious!

Here is what you need:

• 5 medium potatoes (red potatoes work best for a smooth texture, but any other potato will work, too--it just won't be as smooth)
• 4 cups water*
• 4 tsp chicken bouillon paste*
• 2 tbs butter
• 2 1/2 cups grated cheese, reserve 1/2 for topping
• 3/4 cup sour cream (I used fat free)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• bacon, to taste

*If you don't have bouillon paste, you can use 4 cups of chicken broth or stock instead of the 4 cups of water and paste. 

Here is what you do:

• Add water, butter, and bouillon paste to crockpot
• Set crockpot to med-high
• Cube potatoes with the skin on...it saves time and keeps nutrients in (of off if you prefer)
• Add potatoes to crockpot and cook for 2 - 3 hours, or until the potatoes are fall-apart tender
• Mash contents inside crockpot
• Cook bacon in skillet
• Add salt, pepper, cheese, and sour cream to crockpot; mix well
• If the soup isn't a consistency you want, add a little more cheese; it should be thicker than a normal soup and stick to the back of a spoon
• Serve with crumbled bacon and extra cheese sprinkled on top

Enjoy! This would be a wonderful soup to serve in a bread bowl. Yum!

Hearty Potato, Onion, and Chicken Soup

I've been looking at a lot of soup recipes this week since it has been in the 30's to 50's here in Utah (brr!) and I've found a handful that I want to try. But, I would need to go buy some miscellaneous ingredients but didn't want to brave the cold OR spend extra money when I had perfectly good food at home. So, this morning I had an idea of a soup I could create with some ingredients I already have: potatoes, chicken, onions, chicken stock, and onion soup mix! And it is SO easy! Plus, this is a perfect meal to start in the morning, forget about it, and eat it after a long day at work or on the slopes! 

It looks brownish because of the onion soup mix.
Trust me...it's delicious!

Here is what you need:

• 2 medium chicken breasts
• 1 regular can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chicken stock or broth
• 2 large red potatoes (or 4 small)
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 1 pkt onion soup mix
• 1/2 cup milk (I used fat free skim because that's what I buy)
• 1 cup grated cheese (only if you want to add it)
• 1 tbs butter
• 2 tsp salt

Here is what you do:

• Add cream of chicken soup, stock, and soup mix to crockpot; mix well
• Dice onions and cube potatoes
• Add whole chicken breasts, diced onions, and cubed potatoes, making sure all pieces are covered with broth mix
• Set for 8-10 hours on low
• After the 8-10 hours of cooking time, remove the chicken and shred it
• While chicken is still out of the crockpot, take an immersion blender and smooth out the remaining soup (if you want it a bit chunky, stop blending the soup when the potatoes are a chunkiness that you prefer)
• Add chicken back in and add the butter; mix until melted (this gives the soup the velvety, rich texture and flavor--it's a secret that restaurants do)
• Mix milk and salt in until well incorporated
• Serve with grated cheese and your favorite bread!

Add shredded chicken.

Add butter. 

Your tummy will be so happy and warm after eating this! It's prefect to eat while snuggled up with a blanket!

Pepperoni and Egg Sammie

When I was in High School, my friend's dad made us a pepperoni and egg sandwich for breakfast one Saturday morning. I turned my nose up at it because it sounded NASTY, but I ended up trying it and LOVED it. (I had to eat my words, but it ended well.)

I have since made this breakfast many times and have introduced it to a few people. I'm not sure if they've ever made it again, but hopefully they have. It's so delicious!!!

Here is what you need:

• 2 slices of bread
• 6 - 9 pepperoni (depending on how much you like pepperoni)
• 2 - 3 eggs (depending on how hungry you are)
• sprinkle of grated cheese
• 1 tsp butter

Here is what you do:

• Cook the pepperoni in a skillet until it is translucent and starting to get a tiny bit crispy on the edges
• While pepperoni cooks, whisk eggs and cheese together in a small bowl
• Add egg mix to skillet (you don't need any other oil because the pepperoni has taken care of greasing the pan)
• Turn temp to med-low and leave skillet alone for a minute or so until it starts to look like an omelet (the egg will turn white and will firm up a bit...see pic below)
• Turn heat off and carefully lift the egg mix and flip it over so the other side can cook (it will most likely flip in large sections...that's what you want)
• When the other side is cooking, toast bread
• Spread with butter and then layer the egg and pepperoni mix between slices

Seriously. Don't be afraid. Just try it! If you like eggs, cheese, pepperoni, and toast then you'll LOVE this meal! You can even make it for dinner.

Breakfast Moon Pie

I LOVE moon pies. Love them. (only the chocolate kind, though) So when I had this idea for a breakfast moon pie, I thought to myself, "Self, how have you not thought of this before?" Honestly.

Anyway, here ya go! The idea came to me one morning and I didn't have much time to take a better pic, but here is the one I got so you can picture what I'm talking about.

Here is what you need:

• 3 small pancakes
• 2 tbs nutella
• 2 tbs raspberry jam

Here is what you do:

• Layer each item: pancake, jam, pancake, nutella, pancake
• Don't spread the entire 2 tbs of jam and nutella on the pancakes because it will ooze out when you bite into it
• Instead, save some for reserve and dip the sandwich in it when it starts to get dry

So easy! You could even dress it up a bit by melting the nutella and drizzling it over the top and then sprinkling fresh raspberries over it with a little powdered sugar. (I didn't have time for fancy.)