Chocolate Chip Crunch Bars
We don’t have dessert every night, but I make one almost every Sunday. I was craving chocolate chips, so here’s what I made for tonight. This is a great dessert for picnics too.
You’ll need:
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 bag chocolate chips
Mix all ingredients together.
Add chocolate chips.
Press in greased 9 x 13″ pan.
Bake 25 minutes in 350 degree oven.
Let cool 15 minutes. Cut into bars. Enjoy!
I’m linking to:
Recipe Link Party at Remodelaholic
Anything Related at All Thingz Related
Delicious Dishes at It’s A Blog Party
Home and Family Friday at Home is Where My story Begins
Filed under Recipes | Comments (7)
Pineapple Cole Slaw
I needed a quick, easy salad recipe for a barbeque we were attending and I only had one hour before we had to leave. The measurements I used were a little iffy, but this is close.
Bag of shredded cabbage
2 Cups crushed pineapple
2 Cups miniature marshmallows (about 4 handfuls)
1/2 Cup miracle whip
Drain pineapple, save the juice. Add pineapple to cabbage and toss. Mix in marshmallows. In a separate bowl, whisk miracle whip with about 4 tablespoons pineapple juice. Pour over cabbage and toss.
I’m linking to:
Recipe Linky Party at Remodelaholic
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Anything Related at All Thingz Related
Delicious Dishes at It’s a Blog Party
Filed under Recipes | Comments (4)Organizing My Most Used Recipes
I have a lot of recipes and a lot of duplicate recipes. It was time to get rid of the duplicates and make it easier for me to find the recipes we use more often. I started by taking out all the recipes I had stored loosely in a binder. It was starting to be a mess and it was taking longer and longer to find the recipe I wanted.
I bought these picture display boxes a few months ago at Big Lots (for only $1 each) and thought they would work perfect for what I had in mind. Ignore the picture in it, I think it looks kind of creepy.
Then I went through my scrapbooking stash for items I might want to use to decorate them.
I started by putting my tried and true recipes into categories. Ones I knew weren’t duplicates and were family favorites. Most of these were recipes from family members or friends.
I made another pile of recipes that might already have duplicates. I went through my cookbooks to look for possible duplicates and tossed the ones I already had. Sometimes I had made changes in the recipe, so I would make a notation of that in the cookbook.
And this was the discard pile of recipes I really didn’t use or ones that were duplicated.
In one of the boxes I put main dishes, salads and breads.
In the other one I put desserts, drinks and dips.
I added some recipes to these cute tags, but later decided to only use the one on the left. It has all my family’s favorite recipes listed on it. I put them in the order listed in the box so they could be found easily.
I added some scrapbook paper to the front page.
And then embellished it with a couple tags.
To the front of the box I added a flashcard tag and a ribbon around the bottom.
Then I added a couple embellishments and ribbon to the second box.
And here they are by my cookbooks. Now it’s a lot easier to find the recipes I use most often. And don’t they look cute? I can also change out the front cover as often as I like if I want a different look. Now I need to cover the cookbooks to match. Oh, and I love my canister of paper straws by them.
I just had to show you this picture of my kids favorite thing to do with the straws.
What have you been organizing? Don’t forget to link your organizing posts to We’re Organized Wednesday this week. I’d love to share what organizing projects, tips or ideas you have.
I’m linking to:
Home and Family Friday at Home Is Where My Story Begins
Look At Me Party at Fun To Craft
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints On The Fridge.
Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs
Show and Share Day at Just A Girl
Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Saturday Is Crafty Day at Along For The Ride
Craft Schooling Sunday at Creative Jewish Mom
Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime
DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do
Market Yourself Monday at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Show Me How at It’s A Blog Party
Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios
Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family
Filed under Kitchen, Organizing Tools, Recipes | Comments (21)Berry Trifle
I made this for the 4th of July when we were visiting Cedar City. It turned out so yummy I had to make it again today (plus I accidently erased the pictures, so I needed to take more). It’s kind of a combo of trifle recipes. I couldn’t find the one I wanted to make so I tried remembering the recipe, anyway it’s yummy so that’s all I care about.
Sponge Cake
Vanilla Pudding- 3 oz. box
Cool Whip- small container
Blueberries- fresh or frozen
Raspberries- fresh or frozen
Tear sponge cake into bite size pieces. In a large bowl, prepare pudding according to directions. Add cool whip to pudding and mix thoroughly. Start layering trifle bowl in this order: sponge cake, pudding mixture, blueberries, sponge cake, pudding mixture, raspberries, sponge cake, pudding mixture. Garnish with remaining berries.
That’s it. So easy, which is a good thing because with my family it’s gone in minutes.
I’m linking to:
Delicious Dishes at It’s A Blog Party
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Favorite Things Friday at A Few Of My Favorite Things
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime
Recipe Link Up at Remodelaholic
Filed under Recipes | Comments (11)Amy’s Salad
I don’t have a very good picture of the salad, it’s the one in the top left. This was at our Luau last year. We call it Amy’s Salad because Whitney’s old gymnastics coach brought it to the gym one day and let us all try it. Umm, her name is Amy. We didn’t remember the name of the salad, so we just call it Amy’s Salad.
I made this for a family gathering about 7 years ago and now everyone asks me to bring it everytime we get together. It’s fast, easy and yummy!
1 box Bow-tie Pasta
2 cans Sweet Corn
2 cans Black Beans
2 pkgs. Grape Tomatoes
1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1 pkg. Fiesta Ranch Dressing
Cooked Chicken (optional)
Cook pasta as directed. Drain and cool pasta. Add drained corn and beans. Mix together. Add tomatoes and mix. In a separate bowl, mix dressing, vegetable oil and vinegar together. Add to the pasta and mix together. Refrigerate for at least a few hours. It tastes better cold. Mix again before serving!
So Good! A favorite at every picnic and barbecue.
I’m linking to:
Picnic Party at This Blessed Nest
Just Something I Whipped Up at THe Girl Creative
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
DIY Day at A Soft To Land
Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Home and Family Friday at Home Is Where My Story Begins
Recipe Link Party at Remodelaholic
Salad Party at Beneath My Heart
Filed under Recipes | Comments (11)Vanilla Frosting Recipe
I’ve had many requests for the frosting recipe I used on Hubby’s birthday cupcakes. It comes from Everyday with Rachael Ray and is so yummy. Here’s the simple yet delicious recipe.
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners’ sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. Beat at high speed until fluffy, adding an additional 1 tablespoon milk if necessary.
For the lemon frosting, I just left out the vanilla and added 1 teaspoon lemon oil.
I put the frosting in a decorating bag and piped it through a frosting tip, starting on the outside and working toward the center. I liked the way they turned out. What do you think? You’ll love this frosting.
I’m linking to:
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered
Made It Monday at The Persimmon Perch
DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Toot Your Horn Tuesday at A silly Little Sparrow
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Recipe Link Party at Remodelaholic
Filed under Recipes | Comments (6)Spanish Pork Chops
I spent a week with my daughter and her family in Canada. My family is hard to cook for because they’re very picky (including Hubby), but this is something they might actually like. She fixed this for dinner one night and I thought I’d share it with you.
1 package pork chops
Sauce:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup salsa
1 cup water
1 tsp worchestershire sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 Tbls butter
tobasco sauce to taste – she put in four shakes
Mix ingredients for sauce together and heat on low about 15 minutes.
Brown pork chop and put in baking dish.
Cover with sauce.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1- 1 1/2 hours.
Serve over rice.
She served it with Jasmine rice and it was delish.
I’m linking to:
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Filed under Recipes | Comment (1)Creamy Cooker Chicken
This is my family’s new favorite chicken recipe. I actually modified it a little because I didn’t have all the ingredients on hand and I didn’t want to run to the store. I use slow cookers a lot for dinners. It’s convenient and makes for fast dinners if we’re on the go that evening.
Here’s my version:
1 envelope Hidden Valley Italian salad dressing
2 cups sour cream
10 ¾ oz. can cream of chicken soup
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Combine salad dressing, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup in crock-pot. Add chicken, pushing it down so it is submerged in the sauce. Cover. Cook on Low for 8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.
Here’s the original recipe if you’d like that instead:
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 cups sour cream
10 ¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Combine soup mix, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup in crock-pot. Add chicken, pushing it down so it is submerged in the sauce. Cover. Cook on Low for 8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.
My family likes the modified version better. It’s so yummy, especially on a snowy winter day!
Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m in Cedar City and St. George this weekend. We’re going to the St. George Parade of Homes tomorrow. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. I will have tons of pictures for you later this week. I’m ready to be impressed and inspired by these gorgeous homes.
I’m linking to:
Make It For Monday at Cottage Instincts
Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Made It Monday at The Persimmon Perch
Friday Fun Finds at kojo design
DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
Filed under Recipes | Comments (4)Baking Day
Yesterday was foggy and snowy again, so we thought it would be a good day to stay in and do a little baking. First, of course, was to make some more fudge. The boys really wanted to help:
Ammon got tired so Zach took over (Yes, I know my boys need haircuts. I’ll work on that today):
Here’s the best part about making fudge:
Is Ammon in Heaven or what?
If you want my fudge recipe, it’s here. We also made peanut butter cookies with kisses in the center. The girls mostly helped with these. Emilee mixing:
Amanda and Emilee adding the kisses:
Ta-Da:
Amanda also played Christmas songs for us when she wasn’t baking:
Then we made meltaway cookies. By this time I had lost the kids to the more fun parts of the house. Ammon came back for a drink of water so I put him to work smashing candy canes, then he reminded me he didn’t like mint and asked me to leave the candy canes off two of the cookies for him. Of course, anything for my little helper:
I have a funny story about these cookies. When I was pregnant with our first we were on a really tight budget. I had a huge sweet tooth and wanted something really sweet to eat. I was about to resort to a spoonful of sugar when I read the back of a corn starch box (I told you I was desperate) and saw the recipe for meltaways. So what the heck, I made then and ate all of them. I have no idea how I only gained 32 pounds during that pregnancy.
I found this recipe at Heartland Paper. It’s a little different from the one I made originally, because of the candy cane pieces, but everything else is the same. I adapted the recipe a little after the first batch. I added Andes peppermint pieces to the mix and called it good, instead of adding candy canes to the top with the frosting. I wanted to be done with baking too. I would rather be decorating or crafting.
The kids reminded me we didn’t make rice krispie treats. I guess we’ll make those today.
I’m linking to:
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Filed under Recipes | Comments (3)Yummy Goodness (Made By Ammon)
I didn’t come up with this myself. I got the recipe from Magnolia Mom. Ammon saw the pictures she posted and had a great idea to make them for the other kids, as an after school snack. So hubby bought the ingredients and Ammon got to work.
Here’s what you need:
Snap Pretzels (they’re square)
Bag or two of ROLO’s
Pecan Halves
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
Lay the pretzels out and top them with a ROLO.
Climb on the counter if you can’t reach.
Then place a pecan half on top of the ROLO.
Place in the oven for 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and press the pecans down with a fork.
Place in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Take out and put on one of Mom’s pretty dessert stands.
Pick up the other kids from school and surprise them with yummy treats.
This is Zach’s reindeer trying out the treats.
Ammon made them by himself, except for the oven part and the cooking spray.
Thanks Magnolia Mom for a yummy snack recipe and for my son feeling proud of himself for making his first treat for his brother and sisters.
I’m linking to:
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch
DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Filed under Children, Recipes | Comments (6)
