Cake Batter Treats

If there has been one thing I have craved throughout this whole time, I would say anything that is made with cake batter just about hits the spot every time!

Here is one recipe that I continue to make over and over and can't get enough of apparently!

This recipe was found on Pinterest via Here

Cake Batter Rice Krispies Recipe
(Slightly adapted from How Sweet Eats)

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 (10 oz.) bag of mini-marshmallows
• 1/3 cup funfetti cake mix (the dry cake mix, not prepared into a batter!)
• 5 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1/3 (1.75 oz.) container of sprinkles (i use less than it actually calls for)

Method:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in (dry) cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. I find spraying a knife with nonstick spray helps to cut them.
 Tip:
I actually increased the cake batter to 1/2 cup or more for my recipe to give it a little extra cake batter kick (the 1/4 cup seemed just a little too subtle to me), but add as much in as you like!

 

They are so delicious and never last very long in our house unfortunately!

Pinterest Cooking

I know I posted a couple of weeks ago some pinterest recipes, but I have tried a few more out there and thought I would share some. They have all been pretty delicious. My new favorite thing is when I go to the store and pull up my "recipe" pinterest board and then just buy stuff right then and there to make it. Thanks pinterest for making grocery shopping easier!

Balsamic Glazed Carrots

Recipe Found: Here via Pinterest

 White Pizza Dip!

I made this for a community group get together and it really seemed to be a hit! I thought it was delicious.

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

 Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

Sugar Cookie Bars

My dad made these for me and they were so yummy! I prefer sugar over chocolate.

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

 7-Up Cupcakes

 Less than 100 calories each. Replace all ingredients on package with 12oz Diet 7-up and bake as directed.

Found on Pinterest.

Are you hungry yet? I am. Let me know if you have any questions about any of this deliciousness!

Pinterest Recipes!

The other night I actually cooked for the first time in a LONG time. And when I say a LONG time, that is no exaggeration. Just ask my husband. I have decided to set a goal to cook at least 1 dinner a week. Marc just asked for one every other week, but I thought why not try to over achieve! I do not enjoy cooking whatsoever, but no that it is necessary. Lots of people ask what we usually eat and I honestly couldn't tell you. Lets just say I buy lots of rotisserie chickens and we can somehow make that go along ways. :)
I'm really trying to eat "Clean" foods for the most part. (Except for the days when I cheat and have pizza or chick-fil-a fries :) but that isn't too terribly often. I have really gotten into the clean food eating. Right now I'm loving whole wheat tortillas, hummus, and goat cheese! It's hard not eating processed stuff, but I'm really liking it so far. I think its making me feel a ton better. (maybe that is just mentally though! Ha!)

So I made 3 different recipes that I had found and pinned the other day and I wanted to share them with you!

I decided to make some healthy snacks for us for and these were absolutely delicious.

 This pic and recipe came from HERE

No-Bake Energy Bite

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes (I omitted this b/c I hate coconut and it didn't effect the consistency)

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

For our side I made these Cauliflower Fritters!

Recipe and Pic from HERE via Pinterest

 Cauliflower Fritters.
I halved this recipe since there are only 2 of us.

• 4 cups steamed cauliflower (roughly chopped in a processor)
  
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup hot water
  
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil

In a large bowl, combine cauliflower, flour, garlic, eggs, grated cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Add water so that batter becomes slightly more dense than pancake batter.

On medium-low heat, add 1 tbsp of oil in a 10 inch skillet coating bottom of the pan. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to form fritters. You can fit 4 fritters at a time. Cook until golden brown, turn and cook another few minutes. Add a little more oil to the pan, and repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 24 fritters.



For our meat I made this delicious Balsalmic glazed pork tenderloin.

 

Recipe and Pic found HERE via Pinterest 

Balsalmic Encrusted Pork Tenderloin

• 4-5 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pork tenderloins (about 1¼ pounds each)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil (if preparing in oven)

Stir together garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a small bowl. Rub the paste all over pork. If you like or have the time, marinate overnight. If not, no worries, it will still be great!
Grill preparation:
Sear the tenderloins on all sides, then grill for about 20-30 minutes, rotating every 10 minutes, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees. Try to let it rest before slicing.
Oven preparation: (what I used)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat canola oil in a large, heavy saute pan over medium-high heat.  Working in batches if necessary, add pork, and brown all over, about 4 minutes.
Transfer pan to oven. Roast pork, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees, about 20 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board, and try to let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.

They were all so delicious and it kind of has inspired me to cook more.


In case you would like to follow my pinterest boards here is the link:  http://pinterest.com/mlyount12

White Trash

No not that kind... A recipe kind!
I'm sure that other people call this something else, but since I can remember my mom has called it 'white trash." She makes it every year for Christmas. I had to make a big batch of something for work and for a neighborhood party so I chose to make this. Mainly because its easy.




















It may be one of the easiest things ever to make!

Here is the recipe:
1 box of rice chex cereal
1 box of corn chex cereal
1 box of plain cheerios
1 jar of honey roasted peanuts
1 bag of pretzel sticks
1 bag of Christmas m&m's
1 24oz pkg of white almond bark
parchment paper

Place 3 cups of each of the cereals, 1/3 jar of peanuts (or more if you like it more nutty), 1 pkg of m&m's 1/2 pkg of pretzels (broken in 1/2), 1 1/2lbs of almond bark (melted slowly with lots of stirring) in a huge mixing bowl or large pot and mix together. When almond bark is melted, pour over mixture and stir quickly. After its all mixed, spread out on parchment paper and let dry completely. After its dry you can break it up and place in tins or baggies!

That makes 1 huge batch. I buy extra m&m's and almond bark to make extra batches. Everything else will make 3 batches total. To keep costs down, I bought the "off brand" of what I could.

If you have questions just let me know! Hope this gives you another option to take to some of your next holiday parties.

More Pinteresting things

I saw this on pinterest a few weeks ago and thought it would be perfect for my bathroom since we don't have a ton of cabinet space or any linen cabinets.

Source: http://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/06/design-solution-wall-baskets-for-bath.html via Pinterest

I just used 2 since I didn't have a need for another smaller one. It fits perfect right beside the shower.

thanks to my hubby for hanging these suckers

Then I had seen a picture of these yummy ham and cheese roll ups. I needed something quick to make for dinner and I had all the ingredients I needed.

Ham, provolone cheese, and crescent rolls. They were so delicious. 

Source {pic and recipe}: http://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/2011/08/ham-cheese-crescent-rolls_22.html

I seriously love being inspired by Pinterest. It's the little things, you know?

Pinterest Love

I've been on pinterest for a few months now and I'm in Love. I also have been meaning to do a post about it forever, but just now getting around to it.
If you haven't heard about, this website allows you to store, organize, and post all things that you love that you find on the internet. It's perfect if you are wanting to find new recipes, get decorating ideas, or fashion ideas.
It didn't take long for it to get my creative juices going. I want to re-do my whole house now (pretend you didn't read that Marc), although it also has re-inspired me to cook again, so that is definitely a plus for Marc!

Here are a few things I've been inspired to try so far...

2 ingredient lemon bars... so easy. You just need a can of lemon pie filling and and box of angel food cake. mix. And bake. They aren't ooey gooey, but still worth making.

http://livingpractically.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-ingredient-lemon-bars.html#comment-form

 I made these spinach lasagna rolls tonight. They are actually pretty healthy. They have spinach and chicken in them and weren't tooo hard to make suprsingly! Yum.

you can find the recipe here or on my pinterest "recipe" board.

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/04/spinach-lasagna-rolls.html

 I was also inspired by this little creative idea. I have no linen cabinet in my bathroom so this was a perfect solution for me! I mean such a simple idea, but also cute!

Thanks Pinterest. You are a inspiring, creative, and the best time waster I have ever met.
You should try it out if you haven't. You will thank me later.

Cake Recipe

Ok I promised the cake recipe we made for my dad for Fathers Day, so here it is.

1 box of white cake mix (prepare as usual)


Now for the good part:
Whipped Cream Cheese Icing

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream.

We eat this cake at the lake every 4th of July and it is for sure a crowd pleaser. If there are several of us we have 2, because 1 just doesn't cut it. I promise you will not be disappointed. You could also do other toppings if you didn't want the fruit of top of it. It is also good without a topping because the icing is so yummy.

Party Pretzels

Here is the recipe for those pretzels I made for Kara's shower.

First I went to hobby lobby and bought these candy wafers.

They have all different colors, small bags and large bags.

I also bought large pretzel rods from the grocery store.

 I placed the wafers in a microwavable safe bowl to melt them.

 I tilted the bowl, rolled half of the pretzel in the vanilla mixture, then sprinkled the sparkly sprinkles on them!

 I placed wax paper on top of a cookie sheet and placed them there to dry.

You can buy the plastic wrap and tags at hobby lobby as well which

make a great party favor for any type of party.

Since the Super Bowl is coming up, you could make them with white and green, or white and yellow depending on who you are cheering for! These are super easy and fun to make!

Enjoy!

Snow Day, Take 2

Today is the 2nd snow day at home. Most things are closed here in NWA and the roads are still treacherous. It was 6 degrees this morning and will be 1 degree tonight and apparently more snow on the way next week. I wasn't quite aware that I lived in a frozen tundra, but it sure looks and feels that way.

It has been nice to have a few days at home, but one more day and I will most likely go stir crazy!

Here are a few pics from the past couple of days

This was the news report on monday night... I mean really?

yesterday afternoon

naptime and laying around with our friends who so happen to be our neighbors 

 while the boys played the wii

The snow is beautiful, but it is just about too cold to even go out and enjoy it.

If I had even known or had a little more time to plan for this snowpocalypse I would have been making this yummy soup recipe that a lady at work told me about! It seems like the perfect to soup to warm up with.

Stuffed Spud Soup 

2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed

½ cup butter (you can use less)

½ cup chopped green onion

1 (10 oz.) can cream of chicken soup

Salt and pepper to taste

3-4 cups Half ‘n’ Half or milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Saute’ onion in butter. Add soup, Half ‘n’ Half, and thawed potatoes. Stir in cheese and heat gently. (Serves 8-10)

I really hope to try this soon because it looks yummy!

Happy Snowpocalypse! 

Dip Recipe

Are you needing a good, easy dip recipe to take to a Holiday party or for a dinner party? I have the perfect one. A few years ago I had this at a community group get together and have loved it ever since. The amazing Chelsea Sloneker gave me this recipe several years ago (and probably doesn't even remember because it has been that long). This dip is so easy, but looks like you have spent hours on it. Any man will love this as well... your hips will not so much. But who really cares, because it's the Holidays and a great reason to be exempt from any diet!

Bacon Cheddar Dip8oz Cream Cheese
8oz Sour Cream
1 Pkg of "Real Bacon" (its a yellow package of Oscar Mayer that says
"Real Bacon" on it...its by the salad dressing at Wal-Mart)
1 bag of cheddar Cheese
1 loaf of Hawaiian Kings Bread (just cut out the center..not to deep)

Mix softened cream cheese and sour cream together
Add Bacon and 3/4 bag of cheese
Put in Kings bread loaf
Put remaining 1/4 bag of cheese on top.
Cover with foil so bread doesn't burn. (you can remove the foil about 5-10 min till its finished.)
Bake @ 350 for 30-45 min in the King bread Loaf on a cookie sheet
I like to serve this with wheat thins or tostitos mini rounds tortilla chips.
Enjoy!

Yummy fall dip

Who doesn't love a yummy fall dip recipe? I had this yumminess at a work lunch and it was so good.

Pumpkin Dip:

2 cups powdered sugar

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1 can pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 cups Cool Whip

Beat softened cream cheese until light and fluffy. Stir in powdered sugar and blend well. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice and blend well.  Fold in Cool Whip.  Chill and serve. You can serve it in a cue bowl along with vanilla wafers, ginger snap cookies, graham crackers or whatever sounds yummy to you!

Enjoy!

red velvet cake

Red velvet cake has been a new obsession over the last year. Sometimes I just crave it. I think because its not super chocolaty or rich. I think it started with having a red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles in Dallas. Anyways, I was trying to come up with a fun recipe for our kick-off night for community group.
I decided to check out bakerella.com and boy I hit the jack pot. She had a recipe for red velvet cake balls.

Here is her recipe:

Red Velvet Cake Balls1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

 Only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot.

(picture and recipe from http://www.bakerella.com/)

You can also use white chocolate. Its a little harder to work with, but very yummy. I did have to add oil to my chocolate just as you would for a chocolate fountain. It was just too thick to dip the cake in. Mine definitely did not look that pretty, but I think if I made them again I could make them look a little better! They were a huge hit and so very yummy! I would also recommend making them the day before your event, because these little suckers can be time consuming.

Catching up with the Keys

This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to host a couple of Fayetteville community groups at our house. Mainly only one showed up, but it turned out be a wonderful get together.
We hosted the Keys who do mission work in Kansas City on one of the college campuses there, UMKC. Brian and Kelly are some of our great friends. Brian was usher in our wedding and has stayed a dear friend to us.
They had Olivia (their 1st child) almost a year ago. Little Livi came with great surprises and has several different special needs. While I watched them care for their sweet girl, it challenged me. It presented the question to me, "will I be ready for the challenge?" Not knowing exactly what that challenge might be, I do know as a Christian we face many of them. Whether that might be infertility, a special needs child, being called to the mission field, etc. I do know I have be ready.
So what can I do to start prepping myself for any challenges that may arise? Well I'm going to start by thanking the Lord daily for what I do have and then strengethen my foundation with reading through the Bible in a year. Marc has been doing that since January, I'm just jumping on the bandwagon a few months late! That in and of itself is a challenge, so it will be a good test for me. I have also been challenged to give more, not what is expected, but above and beyond. I see this family who does full time ministry and has huge medical expenses with their daughter. I especially feel strongly in this area when I live such a comfortable life.
If you are looking to support a missionary, please consider this sweet family. If you want more information on specifics, please email me and I can give you more details.

To Catch up with the Keys, you can follow their story here!

On a completely different note, we had a really yummy dip at our get together and I thought I would share the recipe with you since it is starting get warm and people are going to start having cookouts in the coming weeks.
I call it "Man Dip" some call it Meaty dip, so whatever you want to call it is great!

2lb velveeta
1can original rotel
1pkg of softened cream cheese
2lb of mild sausage
1T chili powder (or adjust to how much kick you want in it)
1T cumin

Brown Sausage and drain. Melt velveeta, cream cheese and rotel together. (I did mine in a large crockpot) When it is all melted, add sausage and spices!
Serve with chips. This should make any man or pregnant person happy! enjoy!


Drumroll please...... (insert drumroll)
I leave for my cruise in t-minus 2 days. So the next time I post will be sometime after I return!

Happy Spring Break! (for those that still get one)

Pumpkin cake anyone?

A couple of days ago I delivered a meal to our friends, The Blaggs, because they just had a beautiful baby girl.
I wanted to take them something that had some type of fall flavor. I was reading this blog and found this amazing pumpkin cake recipe. I have to say I was a little nervous about making it, but it turned out really good. I was nervous because it is all from scratch and I don't always do so well with the "from scratch" types of things. I usually go the cake mix route.

So here is the recipe for Pumpkin cake(or bread...or cupcakes...or whatever mood you're in!)
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 15 oz. can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream cheese icing (you can make it or buy it- I bough it)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together eggs, oil, pumpkin, and sugar.

Stir in other ingredients until well mixed. (I use the mixer for this part too.)

Pour into a very, very well sprayed (like, the cooking spray should almost be pooling in the bottom of the dish) 9x13 pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until center springs back. (Might take 5 minutes longer depending on your oven)

After the pan cools, frost the cake with cream cheese icing. But feel free to treat it like brownies, or bread, or whatever your heart desires.

It turned out really well, and very moist! The cream cheese icing is perfect for on the top.
I just though I would share it with you, because it was not hard and it is very delicious!

On another note, I'm very excited for this weekend. I'm heading to OKC to see my friend Liz and to go to a U2/Black eyed pea concert! It should be a super, fun girls weekend!
I will try to take pics and tell you all about it afterwards! Have a great weekend!

Blog Hop

I am officially participating in my very 1st blog hop! Yay, another blogging goal accomplished.
This bloghop is about your favorite recipe.
My favorite, easiest, most delicious recipe is Italian Chicken. It is also the first meal I ever made Marc and definitely still one of his faves.

Here are the ingredients you need:

4 chicken breasts
1 Italian seasoning packet
3/4 cup of Grated Parmesan cheese


(I didn't have cheese) oops

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix Parmesan cheese and 1 Italian dressing packet in a mixing bowl.
Wet chicken in cold water.
Dip chicken in mixture.
Place in a baking dish.
Cook 25-30 min or until chicken is finished.

This dish goes great with green beans, salad, and french bread. It is also super quick, cheap and tasty. I'm not a gourmet chef, so i love not having to use a ton of ingredients!
Enjoy! Let me know what you think if you try it.