Crayola

I was able to review some new Crayola products.  My kids LOVE to color and create and Crayola has some of the best products out there!!

Color your way back to school this year! Brighten up your kids’ school day with fun Crayola™ products that help bring color to just about any surface. Whether it’s taking notes in the classroom or showing school spirit by drawing on windows, Crayola is helping kids explore every color of the rainbow. The vibrant new twist on school products is sure to add a splash of color to the day and help kids stay organized so they can ace exams and presentations while letting their creativity shine

Bring colorful ideas to life…not just on paper! The Crayola Marker collection and Dry Erase Products allow children to express themselves and show off their school spirit.

• Kids can add their own artwork on backpacks or create wild, brightly colored designs on a new pair of jeans or a t-shirt with Crayola Bright Fabric Markers. The bright colors will “pop” off dark fabrics, showing kids creations in a whole new light!
• Get the whole team pumped up this season with Crayola Window Mega Markers and Crystal Effects Window Markers. The oversized Window Mega Markers come in a special school color assortment. Decorate the family minivan for the first big game of the season using the broad, brilliantly colored strokes; kids can create amazing effects with Crystal Effects Window Markers on windows that dry to bright, crystalized colors. Both markers are completely washable and designed to work on all glass surfaces.
• Keep busy family schedules organized as the new school year starts with Crayola’s black and white Dual-Sided Dry-Erase Board Set. The board provides twice the dry-erase drawing fun and organization for kids and families. Two surfaces double the drawing area and make it more fun for kids to play tic-tac-toe and word games, practice spelling words and math problems or leave a message for mom. The board comes with a pack of eight Crayola Washable Dry-Erase Bright Crayons. Colors cleanly and easily wipe off each side for endless creative play. The set also includes a machine-washable “E-Z erase” cloth and the classic Crayola built-in crayon sharpener.

Take note-taking or study sessions up a notch with the multitude of colors in the Wild Notes Line.

• Combine fun and learning with Crayola’s Wild Notes Index Cards. Kids can make presentation notes or flash cards with different colors using just one pen. The convenient spiral-binding at the top allows for easy flipping and the perforated cards allow for clean tear-out.
• Writing special notes to friends can be fun, but writing on peel n’ stick paper with surprising colors on each note is even more exciting. Crayola’s Wild Notes Sticky Notes use one unique pen for kids to colorfully leave messages with fun shapes anywhere for themselves or for a friend. The sticky notes are the perfect size for quick reminders
• Kids will love doing their homework this year with Crayola’s Wild Notes 1 Subject Notebook. Watch as amazing colors change on each page with the Wild Notes pen. Convenient spiral-binding allows for easy flipping.

“Disclosure: The information, products and additional Crayola Back-to-School gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark.”

PlaymobileTale Along Soccer Match

I had the opportunity to test out the following:

PlaymobileTale Along Soccer Match

 

• Perfect for summer travel, this compactible and travel-ready Take Along Soccer Match includes a 22 x 33 inch field, soccer ball and other accessories.
• To further enhance the soccer experience, the figures have a leg that kicks to propel the ball forward, which helps make playtime more realistic.
• There are also goalie figures that connect to goal joystick, which allows kids to control the goalies’ movements from behind the goal net.
• The PLAYMOBIL Take Along Soccer Match is ideal for kids ages five to ten; because of small parts it is not recommended for little ones under the age of three.

Visit Playmobilusa.com to redeem the coupon code US72A12C for 20% off Playmobil Take Along items.


Dribbling across the field and scoring a goal has never been easier. Pass, shoot, and score with the PLAYMOBIL^® Take Along Soccer Match that allows your kids to challenge one another to a soccer game no matter where you are. With six athlete figures primed and ready to play, this set comes fully equipped with everything kids need to have a complete soccer game experience.



My boys really loved it! They put it together immediately and have been spotted playing with it ever since! It's really easy to put together and when the playing is done it's super easy to break down and the play board becomes the carrying case.





This toy was provided to me by My Blogspark and Playmobile -all opinions on the toy are solely mine.

Cafe Rio Chicken

I really miss Cafe Rio. Wish we had one around here. But until we get one, here's a knock off recipe that's currently brewing in my crock pot. Yum!!!!!

Happy Weekend!


Cafe Rio Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. CHICKEN BREAST
• 1 cup ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING
• 1/2 Tablespoon MINCED GARLIC
• 1 packet RANCH DRESSING MIX
• 1/2 cup WATER
• 1/2 Tablespoon GROUND CUMIN
• 1/2 Tablespoon CHILI POWDER

Instructions

Place all ingredients in the crockpot.

Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.

Shred and serve how ever you like - as filling for tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas or burrito bowls, etc.

It is easy to double or triple this recipe and freeze the extras.

Pot Roast

This is our dinner tonight! So good! The smell of pot roast brings back memories of my mom making it. Sunday night was the only night we ever had pot roast and here I am,making it for my family (for the first time might I add) on a Sunday night. So happy!

 POT ROAST

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 pounds boneless chuck roast
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Heat a heavy Dutch oven on top of the stove over medium high heat. Add oil, and sear meat in the center of the pan for 4 minutes. Turn meat over with tongs; sear all sides for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove meat from pan. Arrange onion, garlic, and 1 bay leaf in the bottom of the pan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return meat to pan, place remaining bay leaf on top of meat, and cover.

Cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Reduce the heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Remove roast to a platter to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Slice, and top with onions and gravy.

7-UP Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup 7-up

1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 450.

Cut sour cream into biscuit mix, add 7-Up. Makes a very soft dough.

Sprinkle additional biscuit mix on board or table and pat dough out. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 9 inch square pan.  Place cut biscuits in pan and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown

Gevalia Kaffe-CLOSED

Gevalia Kaffe is much more than your average ‘cup of joe.’ It’s a Swedish-style break from the usual coffee grind. Perfected by the Swedes’ passion for quality coffee for more than 150 years, Gevalia is an exquisitely rich smooth coffee experience that is never bitter. Gevalia isn’t just coffee, it’s ‘Kaffe’ to savor.

•  The Swedes know a thing or two about coffee. They know quality coffee should be savored and enjoyed. They also know you deserve a more unique/special coffee experience than what you can pick up on every street corner.
• Gevalia is a luxurious departure from the everyday, an escape from the routine cup of coffee. Whether it’s a morning ritual made just for you, or the finishing touch at a dinner party, it brings the taste of Swedish-style luxury into your home.
• In Sweden, where the citizens drink more coffee than almost anywhere else in the world, Gevalia is their preferred brand.
• In fact, Gevalia enjoys the honor of being an official coffee of the Swedish Royal Court.

Gevalia, now available at Safeway, brings unexpected Swedish-style luxury and rich, never bitter taste to the Safeway grocery aisle.

• Gevalia has been refining the art of luxurious coffee since 1853 and has a deep history of finding and blending the finest Arabica coffee beans from locations around the world.
• Gevalia is expertly made with carefully selected beans, ground extra fine, to produce a rich coffee experience.
• Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:
  
  
• Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
  Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia House Blend:
  A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
  Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
  Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Colombia:
  Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Espresso Roast:
  Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Vanilla:
  This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.
  
  
• Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
  Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience. 

 So tell me: what's your favorite way to enjoy a cup of coffee and you could win the following prize pack!

• (1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug

Hurry up and enter! Giveaway ends Sunday, Feb. 5 at midnight MST. 

This has been graciously provided by My Blog Spark and Kraft Foods. Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me.  This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Tummy Yummies. 

Petite Lasanga Cups

This is dinner tonight! I can't wait to dive right into these little gems. So yummy! I mean lasagna in little petite sized cups of cheesy goodness! How can this not be the best thing you've ever put in your mouth?!?!?!

I love little variations on traditional meals. This is a great example of that. This would also be good for a dinner party-everyone gets their own little lasagna.


Petite Lasagna Cups
(makes 12)

12 oz raw ground turkey (or whatever meat you want to use-or go meatless-that would be good too!)

¼ tsp salt, divided

¼ tsp pepper

1 cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped mushrooms

14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes, or tomato sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tsp dried oregano, divided

½ tsp dried basil

1 ½ cups cream cheese (i'm using the philadelphia baking cream cheese-italian herbs)

12 lasagna noodles, cooked and cooled and cut in 1/2

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese



Preheat oven to 375ºF. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the turkey, onions, mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Crumble the meat and saute the mixture for about 10 minutes, or until the turkey is cooked through. Add the garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds.

Add the crushed tomatoes and 2 tsp of oregano. Bring the pan to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, a pinch of salt and pepper, the remaining teaspoon of oregano, and the basil. Stir to mix well. Set aside.

Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Place 1 noodle into each of the 12 cups, pressing firmly in the bottom of the cup and up the sides.

Using half of the ricotta mixture, divide it among the 12 muffin cups. Next, using half of the turkey tomato sauce, spoon it evenly over each of the ricotta filled cups. Sprinkle with 2 tsp of mozzarella.

Gently press another noodle on top of the mozzarella layer.

Repeat the process by distributing the remaining cream cheese, then the remaining tomato sauce, and finally the rest of the shredded mozzarella.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Let the cups cool, remove them from the pan, and serve!

picture courtesy of CAN YOU STAY FOR DINNER

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Who doesn't love tacos??? They are a favorite in this house for sure!! We love all things tacos. It's one meal I KNOW my kids will eat without any hesitation. We usually have tacos every couple of weeks.

So as I was browsing Pinterest one night I stumbled upon this gem! Thought "oh yeah-the kids will adore this" and THEY DID!!

So here you go! I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did!!! YUM!!!

Mexican Stuffed Shells
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
1 can refried beans
4 oz. cream cheese (I used a veggie cream cheese that I already had in the fridge)
14-16 jumbo pasta shells
1.5 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup monterey jack cheese
3 green onions
Sour cream

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions, add refried beans. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely. While ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.

Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa

picture courtesy of THE WAY TO HIS HEART

This was so good! Kids ate and ate!! Well yeah, I did too!!

Happy Eating!

Frozen Hot Chocolate....yeah I went there....

Guess I've been a bit lazy with this blog! I would like to blame the hubs being deployed on it and me not wanting to cook anything more exciting than mac n cheese, hot dogs and nuggets.....so there you go. Ug...But here I am, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, although sometimes it sure does feel like it!

But not to have a pity party, here's something super yum!!!

I recently joined Pinterest. (I spend way too much time there.) I found this recipe and tonight we made it. The kids gulped it up and it was soooooooo good! If you've ever been to Serendipity 3 in NYC then you've no doubt heard of Frozen Hot Chocolate. I believe it was also talked about on Sex in the City? I dont watch that show, but I think I heard that it was. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, like I said, browsing the yumminess that is Pinterest I stumbled upon this lovely copy cat recipe. So here you go!!

We didn't have whipped cream so we just used marshmallows, which worked out just fine. I HIGHLY recommend you stopping what you are doing and making this right now! I'm pretty sure you have everything need to make it in your possession right now. :)

recipe courtesy of Pinterest

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. chopped semisweet chocolate (or chocolate chips)
• 3 cups whole milk, divided
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. your favorite powdered hot chocolate mix
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 6 cups ice cubes
• whipped cream for garnish

Preparation:

1. Place chopped chocolate and 1/4 cup of the milk in a microwave-safe container. Heat on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir.
2. Heat on 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir. If necessary, continue heating in 30-second increments until chocolate is melted.
3. Add hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir.
4. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of the milk. Stir, and let cool to room temperature.
5. Pour cooled chocolate mixture into blender. Add remaining milk and ice cubes. Puree until smooth.
6. Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.

Nutella Peanut Butter Bars

Stop what you are doing right now and go make these. I'm not kidding. Get up and go to your kitchen! I'm pretty sure you'll have everything you need to make them. We are having a hard time not taking forks and just eating it straight out of the pan. They really are that good. So please for the love of all things gooey and scrumptious, do yourself a favor and make these! You'll thank me...

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups oatmeal (not quick)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Nutella for spreading

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and combine. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Spread dough on a greased cake pan (the pan i used is slightly bigger than a 9x13). Make at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown. After baked through, dollup about 1C-1 1/2C peanut butter on top. Put back in the oven (make sure the oven has been turned off) for about 5 minutes. Pull the pan out and spread the peanut butter. Let that set up for a couple of hours or a good 30 minutes in the fridge. I just left mine on the counter while we were at church today and they were perfect by the time we came home. This will allow the peanut butter to stiffen up. Once that has set, spread with Nutella. Dive right in, don't forget the glass of milk.

These are divine....in fact....i'm gonna go have another one! :)

*****CLOSED*****

Providing your infant with outstanding nutrition at an affordable price is important – and with Parent’s Choice Infant Formula, Walmart’s store brand, you can get high quality infant formula at a great value.

For 13 years, Parent’s Choice Infant Formula has helped parents like you to save approximately $600 a year on average* per infant, by offering a store brand formula with the nutritional equivalence of national brands for half the cost.

See how much you can save when choosing Parent’s Choice Infant formula by checking out the Parent's Choice $avings Calculator to compare Parent's Choice infant formulas to national brands. It’s no wonder why more and more parents are switching to store brand formula.

Did you know?

In the US, all infant formulas are subject to the same regulations for manufacture and ingredients required for the growth of healthy babies under the Infant Formula Act.
Store brand formulas sold at major retailers are a premium national substitute at a value price and meet the same FDA nutritional requirements as all of the major brands.
The quality and safety of the manufacturing of infant formulas are also inspected by the FDA in the same way.

Now, Parent’s Choice in partnership with PBM Nutritionals, the largest manufacturer of store-brand infant formulas and nutrition products, is helping one family and one student save even more with the “Parent’s Choice Infant Formula” Sweepstakes.

One lucky winner will receive a $10,000 college scholarship in the form of a College Savings 529 Plan. From now until 11:59pm on August 15th, 2011 you can choose to increase your little one’s chances of attending the college of his or her choice, by “liking” Parent’s Choice Infant Formula on Facebook and filling out the simple form here. 


Now for the fun part! Would you like to win a prize pack of Parents Choice formula goodies? you can win:

• 12.9 oz can of Parent’s Choice Premium to try
• 12.4 oz can of Parent’s Choice Advantage to try
• Two $3.00 off coupons for Parent’s Choice Infant Formula (redeemable at all Walmart stores)
• Parent’s Choice Starter Set – a complete nurser system that includes a variety of bottles, nipples, liners, leak proof caps and retainer rings

Personally this is the brand of formula I use with my daughter. I love it and I hope you will give it a try!! GO here for a free sample.

Just leave me a name and an email address in the comments section by Sunday midnight PST and i'll pick one lucky winner monday morning!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

"Disclosure: The Parent’s Choice Infant Formula product sample, information, and giveaway have been provided by Parent’s Choice through MyBlogSpark."

Angel Food Cake

My grandmother used to make angel food cake all the time. It was sooooo good! I have very fond memories of that cake. So when the kids and I were invited to have Mother's Day dinner with some friends I immediately thought of making this cake to bring. I just hope it turns out as good as my grandmother's did!!

Angel Food Cake

• 1 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups egg whites
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks, and then add cream of tartar, vanilla extract.
2. Sift together flour, sugar, and salt. Repeat five times.
3. Gently combine the egg whites with the dry ingredients, and then pour into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan.
4. Place cake pan in a cold oven. Turn the oven on; set it to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cook for about one hour, or until cake is golden brown.
5. Invert cake, and allow it to cool in the pan. When thoroughly cooled, remove from pan.

ColeSlaw with Corn

This was originally a Paula Deen recipe. I tweaked it (of course) and here's my version!

• 1 head green cabbage, shredded
• 1 pkg shredded carrots
• 5 fresh ears corn,
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• garlic powder to taste
• seasoned salt/pepper to taste

Directions

In a stock pot, cook corn until completely cooked. Cool and remove corn from the cob.
In a medium bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and corn.
Mix in mayo and seasonings to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This is better the longer it sits!

It was really good and the corn in it gave it a sweetness. Perfect for a potluck or to serve with hamburgers and hot dogs! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Mushroom Swiss Steak in the Crock Pot

Mushroom Swiss Steak in the Crock Pot
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 bag baby carrots (fresh)
1pkg fresh mushrooms
1 1/2 lb boneless beef round steak, cut into serving-size pieces
2 cans (10.5oz) cream of mushroom soup

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1.  In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, layer onion, carrots, mushrooms and beef. Sprinkle pepper over  beef. In medium bowl, mix soup and tomato sauce; pour over beef.
2.   Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours. 
3. Place beef on serving platter. With slotted spoon, remove vegetables from cooker and spoon over beef. Stir gravy in cooker with wire whisk to blend. Serve gravy with beef. 

weight watchers points per serving: 6

This is our dinner for tonight! I love the idea of crock pots! After the crazy busy week we've had there's nothing like putting dinner in the pot and leaving it all day to cook. I can only imagine what the house will smell like when we get home from church. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!!!

This meal is hearty and scrumptious!! You can serve it over noodles or not. I don't think i'll be serving it over noodles this time around. With the veggies cooking along with the meat and sauce it's a complete meal in a pot! No other dishes to mess up!! I like that for sure!!!

Happy Sunday and I hope you enjoy your day!!

*picture courtesy of betty crocker website

Happy Easter from our family to yours! Amid all the candy and bunnies and fun, let us not forget the reason we are celerating! 

Homemade Creme Eggs

Something fun for Easter. I made these for my boys to give their teachers as well as their bus driver. All seemed very appreciative. If you like Cadbury's creme eggs, then you'll love these!! I saw these and just had to try them. I'm not a fan of this particular candy but my kids are and we had just enough of the eggs left that they were able to have one each and they LOVED them. Asked me to make them again. Not sure i'll be doing that anytime soon as they were not quite as easy as they sound. But they were fun and I am really glad I was able to do them!

*1/2 cup light corn syrup
*1/4 cup butter, room temperature
*3 cups confectioner's powdered sugar
*1 teaspoon vanilla
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*yellow food coloring
*1 (12 ounce) bag milk chocolate chips ( i would HIGHLY recommend you use the Wilton candy melts here-so much easier to work with!)


Cream together the corn syrup, butter and vanilla.
Sift in the confectioner's powdered sugar and beat until incorporated.

Now it's time to make the "whites" and the "yolks!"
Take out about a third of the filling and stir in some yellow food coloring. Viola! It's that easy!
Put the two bowls in the fridge, as they're easier to work with once they're set up a little.

This step is sticky! Keep some extra powdered sugar on hand to dust your hands with. (This step got me frustrated because the filling is so sticky.)
Make little yolk balls out of the yellow mixture. Place them on some parchment or wax paper. If using wax paper, spray with cooking spray or you'll have a mess on your hands.....again, I should know. grrrr. Put them back in the fridge or even the
freezer to firm up. If it's hot or the slightest bit warm in the kitchen these things will melt in a heartbeat. If it's high humidity when you are doing this, DON'T. They'll melt faster than you can work with them.

When the yolks are set up, you can start embedding them in the whites. Scoop an amount of white filling out and flatten it into a circle. Place the yolk ball inside, and
wrap the white around it. Know what to do next? Stick it in the fridge.


Melt the chocolate + 2 teaspoons of shortening in the microwave in short bursts until just melted.
Either dip fillings into the chocolate with a fork and let set on parchment, or skewer the fillings and dip them that way (a'la cake pops).  Stir constantly, you don't want your chocolate to burn. Nothing worse than burnt chocolate, believe me, I know...grrr!

Once the chocolate is set, you can dip them again for an extra chocolatey shell or melt a different color and drizzle over the top like I did. I also found some colored sugar in the pantry and decided the eggs needed that too. I thought they turned out pretty-pretty enough to eat apparently!

Have fun!!!!!!!

Easy breakfast

Good Sunday morning!! (or afternoon as the case may be!)

Here's what I had for breakfast this morning. Super easy and very satisfying and yummy!!!

Waffle Scramble
*1 whole grain low fat waffle
*1/4 C egg beaters
*1 slice american cheese (i used the weight watchers brand sliced cheese-if you use regular american sliced cheese add 1 extra point to your points total-if you care about that sort of thing)
*1C chopped spinach
*1/4C chopped fresh mushrooms

Cook waffle in toaster. While it's toasting heat the spinach and mushrooms in a skillet until warmed through and the spinach has started to wilt. Add egg beaters and scramble.

Top hot waffle with egg mixture and top with slice of cheese.

Enjoy!!!

WW points: 4

Taco Soup

I saw this recipe on my friend's blog. I tweaked it a bit to better suit our family. It was really tasty! Her's called for ground beef but I liked the idea of using shredded chicken. Use which ever you prefer!! You could also add corn and remove the spinach etc. This is one of those fabulous recipes that you can mix and match to your liking! Go crazy with it!!!

Taco Soup

recipe courtesy of my friends blog

1 1/2 lbs shredded chicken
1 large onion, diced
1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 pkt original hidden valley ranch dressing (dry)
3 cups water, or more
2 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro

for serving:
Tortilla chips
Shredded nacho cheese or sharp cheddar

Saute onion until soft.
Combine chicken, sauteed onions and the rest of the ingredients in a big pot. Simmer for one hour. Stir frequently.

Serve with tortilla chips and cheese.
6 servings

Points per serving: 6

This was so good and hearty and filling I can't even tell you!!! My kids liked it too, which was surprising since I put spinach in it. But they enjoyed it. I'll be making this again for sure!!!

Cheesy Spinach Phyllo Rolls

I made these today to take to a going away party that was for some friends. They are moving to Ft. Lewis next week so several folks gathered at the park for good food and good talk. This was my contribution. I found the recipe on the Kraft website. It's very similar to spanikopita. They were really good!!!!!

Cheesy Spinach Phyllo Rolls

1 egg , beaten

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

1 cup ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese

1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Garden Vegetable 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese

4 green onions, finely chopped

15 sheets frozen phyllo (14x9 inch), thawed

1/3 cup butter, melted

MIX first 5 ingredients until well blended; set aside. Brush 1 phyllo sheet lightly with butter; top with 2 more phyllo sheets, lightly brushing each layer with some of the remaining butter. Place remaining phyllo between sheets of plastic wrap; set aside.

SPREAD 1/5 of the spinach mixture along 1 short side of phyllo stack; fold in both long sides then roll up, starting at 1 of the short sides to make log. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets and spinach mixture to make 4 more logs. Brush with remaining butter. Make small cuts in tops of logs at 1-inch intervals. Place in large freezer-weight resealable plastic bags or wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

FREEZE up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove desired number of logs from freezer. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, several hours or overnight until thawed. Unwrap, then place on baking sheet. Bake in 375°F-oven for 25 min. or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet 5 min.; transfer to cutting board. Use serrated knife to cut each log into 6 slices.

I don't know if you guys celebrate this day or not. Either way, what we will have for dinner could go with any night. I didn't want to do the traditional corned beef, because, well I'm not a huge fan of it and I knew my kids wouldn't be fans either. So....i looked up some other recipes and found this one. Enjoy!!!

Irish Chicken and Dumplings

• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 onions, quartered
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 5 carrots, sliced
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas
• 4 potatoes, quartered
• 3 cups baking mix
• 1 1/3 cups milk

Directions

1. In large, heavy pot, combine soup, water, chicken, celery, onion, salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat about 1 1/2 hours.
2. Add potatoes and carrots; cover and cook another 30 minutes.
3. Remove chicken from pot, shred it, and return to pot. Add peas and cook only 5 minutes longer.
4. Add dumplings. To make dumplings: Mix baking mix and milk until a soft dough forms. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto BOILING stew. Simmer covered for 10 minutes, then uncover and simmer an additional 10 minutes.

points for this are 10 per serving


And for dessert we are doing this lovely little gem:

photo courtesy of oopsie daisy

* Instant vanilla pudding (with a bit of green food coloring)

* Milk

* Whipped cream

* Oreo and sprinkles

* Foil-wrapped chocolate (I used some peanut butter filled dove chocolates)

* Clear plastic cup

Now mix up the pudding.
Combine 2 Tablespoons instant pudding with 3 Tablespoons milk. Stir well. It will thicken up a bit. Place the chocolate in the bottom of the cup.
I transferred the pudding to the cup now. I added some whipped cream, an Oreo, and yes, even some green sprinkles!

If you want full details for the this recipe head on over to oopsie daisy here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!