Whole Wheat Pita Bread

Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients
4 cups whole wheat flour (or 2 cups whole wheat flour and 2 cups all-purpose flour)
1 tablespoon yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Notes / Directions
Sift together 2 cups of flour and yeast.  Stir in water and salt.  Mix well.  Gradually add 2 cups of flour, just until dough isn't sticky anymore (there may be remainder flour).  Knead the dough for 4-5 minutes.  Form dough into 10 balls.  On a floured surface, roll out each ball until about 1/4 inch thick.  Pat flour onto both sides so that it doesn't stick and set aside.  Let rise for 30 minutes, until dough looks slightly raised.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  Turn dough upside down onto cookie sheet and cook for 5 minutes.  When they come out, they will be extremely puffed up.  Allow them to cool until they are warm and gently press flat.  Store in an airtight container.

*During the kneading process, you can add whatever herbs or spices you'd like.

Banana Bread

I got this recipe from a lady that I lived next door to my whole life. I'm still yet to find a recipe that I like better than hers. She makes the best banana bread.  Her biggest secret was to use incredibly ripe bananas, like almost rotten bananas. I still can't quite figure out why her big loaves turn out different than mine but they do. So I stick to mini loaves which turn out great.

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 bananas (the browner, the better)
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vinegar

Notes / Directions

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Mix till smooth. In a separate bowl, mash bananas. Stir them into batter. Measure milk and add vinegar, mix a little before adding to batter. Grease 4 mini loaf pans and pour in equal amounts of batter to each pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

*You can make 2 regular sized loaves with this same recipe. Cooking time is the same.

French Onion Rice

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 cups rice
1/4 cup wild rice
2 cans french onion soup
1 teaspoon salt
3 cans water
chicken tenders

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  In a skillet, melt butter and add white rice.  Stir over medium heat until the rice is browned.  Dump into a large dutch oven.  Add wild rice, french onion soup, salt, and water.  Place chicken tenders on top and cover with lid.  Cook in the oven for an hour or until rice is fully cooked.

Candied Pecans

During the holidays these pecans were sitting out on a dish at my orthodontist.  It took a lot of self control to not eat the whole dish!  So instead, I pestered the receptionist for a few months until I got the recipe.  My orthodontist, Dr. Chan, makes these every year at Christmas time.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Ingredients
2 egg whites
3/4 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 tablespoon water
1 pound pecan halves (4 cups)
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 250.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a mixing bowl, hip together egg whites, vanilla, and water until it is nice and frothy.  Stir in pecans until evenly coated.  In a large ziploc bag, mix sugar, salt and cinnamon.  Add pecans and seal shut.  Shake and toss until pecans are completely dusted.  Pour out onto baking sheet and cook for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy!

Savory Ham and Gruyere Cookies

 Adapted from Delish

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup flour
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped black forest ham
1 1/2 cups finely shredded gruyere cheese, divided

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a sauce pan, bring butter, salt, and water to a boil.  Reduce heat and quickly stir in flour.  Continue stirring until a film starts to form on the bottom of the pan, about 30 seconds.  Transfer dough into a bowl and allow to cool for a minute.  Stir in eggs one at a time, making sure each is well incorporated before adding the next.  Stir in pepper, ham, and 1 cup of cheese.  Scoop dough out into a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch star on it.

Grease 2 cookie sheets and squeeze dough out in 1 1/2 inch circles, leaving 1/2 inch between each cookie.  Place cookie sheets in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, rotating sheets half way, until golden brown.  Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of gruyere cheese on top.  Cook for 3 more minutes or until cheese is fully melted.  Serve warm.

Homemade Chili

Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef or turkey, cooked and drained
2 quarts low sodium spicy V8
2 cans low sodium dark red kidney beans, drained
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
2-4 jalapenos, seeded if you don't want it too spicy
season with black pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder

Notes / Directions
Brown the meat and put into a pot on medium heat.  All remaining ingredients and reduce to low.  Simmer for 2-3 hours stirring occasionally.  If you want thicker chili, keep lid off.  For thinner chili, lid on.

Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow

 Ingredients
1 (12 oz) box rice chex
1 (12 oz) bag white morsels
12 candy canes

Notes / Directions
Place candy canes into a blender and blend until it's mostly powder and dump into a large ziploc bag.  Melt white morsels in microwave for about 1 minute, stir to make sure it's smooth and melted through, and pour over rice chex.  Carefully stir until well coated.  Pour chex into the ziploc bag with the candy canes and seal off.  Turn the bag upside down and shake the candy cane powder down through the chex.  Keep turning bag until well coated.  Serve and enjoy!

*For more evenly coated chex, reserve a cup or two of chex or add more white morsels.

Andes Mint Cake Mix Cookies

Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker Devil's Food cake mix
2 medium sized eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 (12 oz.) bag Andes Mint baking chips

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil well.  Add 1/2 bag of Andes Mint baking chips and mix well.  Scoop heaping teaspoons full onto greased baking sheet.  Using remaining baking chips, press on about 1/2 teaspoon onto the top of each cookie.  There will be lots of chips left over.  Bake for 8 minutes.

Andes Mint Puppy Chow

Ingredients
1 (12 oz) box rice chex
2 (12 oz) bag Andes mints baking chips
1 1/4 cup brownie mix

Notes / Directions
Melt 1 1/2 bags of Andes mints in microwave and pour over rice chex.  Carefully stir until well coated.  Pour chex into the ziploc bag with brownie mix and seal off.  Turn the bag upside down and shake the brownie mix down through the chex.  Keep turning bag until well coated.  Add remaining half of Andes mints and enjoy!

Mod Podge Ornaments

While I was Christmas ornament shopping for my boys, I was simply annoyed at the ridiculous prices!  I decided that I was going to make my own ornaments and save tons of money and have awesome ornaments.  I made my boys, Hazen and Revin, the same ornament with their initial on it and for the family ornament, I had 4 different pictures that I used.  A motherly moment, a fatherly moment, a brotherly moment, and a family moment.  You could also do 4 different highlights from the year like a vacation or something.  Anyways, this is how it was done!

This is what you will need:

Wooden blocks, paint, sponge brush,

mod podge, ribbons, scrap book paper,

photographs, and wooden letters

 

Trace letters on the back of scrap book paper and cut it

out just a little smaller so that it doesn't hang over

the little wooden letter when placed on top.

 

Paint wooden blocks and letters.  Once they are dry,

paint a very thin coat of mod podge on the surface of

the letters.  Firmly press down paper cut outs and paint

mod podge over the top and set aside to dry.

 

Cut out photos and squares of scrap book paper.  Make sure

that they are smaller than the side of the block.  Paint on

a very thin coat of mod podge and firmly press on photos

and paper.  Be careful when using regular paper because it

can tend to bubble.  Card stock paper is easier to use in this

regard.  After pressing on paper, paint on a top coat of mod

podge.  Choose which side to put the letter on and press it

on tightly to the freshly mod podged side.  Let it dry.

*If  you're putting pictures on all sides, make sure to do the next

step of putting the ribbon on BEFORE you place your pictures.

Paint a thin line of mod podge down the sides and across the

bottom.  Firmly press on ribbon and tie a square knot at the top.

Tie another knot at the top to create a loop to hang it up with.

French Dip Sandwich

Ingredients
deli sliced roast beef
1 package Au Jus seasoning
hoagie buns, french rolls, or make your own French Baguettes

Notes / Directions
Follow directions on Au Jus seasoning.  Bring to a boil and add beef.  Boil for 2-3 minutes.  Cut buns in half and butter each side and fill with roast beef.  Dip each bite in leftover Au Jus juice.

*If making your own French Baguettes, omit the step of brushing the loaves with eggs and water.  This will make your buns softer.

Cranberry Jello Salad

 

Adapted from allrecipes

Ingredients

2 cups fresh cranberries

1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple

2 (3 ounce) packages cherry Jello

3/4 cup white sugar

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cold water

whipped topping or cool-whip

Notes / Directions

Place cranberries and mandarin oranges into a blender or food processor.  Blend until finely ground up.  In a separate bowl, mix gelatin, sugar, and boiling water til sugars are dissolved.  Add cold water and stir.  Mix in pineapple, mandarin oranges, and cranberries.  Chill for 8 hours or over night.  Top with whipped topping or cool-whip to serve.

Raspberry Cream Salad

I don't know where my mom found this recipe, but I just about died and went to heaven when I tried it.  It's an all around easy recipe and takes like 2 minutes to prepare.  This is also very delicious with some graham crackers or pie crust in it.

Ingredients
32-36 oz. raspberry yogurt (32 oz. is a large container, 36 oz. is 6 single servings)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) tub cool whip
raspberries, fresh or frozen

Notes / Directions
Stir together yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, and cool whip.  Gently stir in raspberries and serve!

Homemade Granola

Ingredients
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup almonds
1 cup pecans
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup dried cranberries

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large saucepan set over medium heat, combine the oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, and almonds. Pour the warm oil and honey mixture into the oat mixture and stir until combined.

Spread the mixture evenly on two 12X17 inch rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring several times, until the granola is a deep golden brown. Cool completely before adding the dried fruit. Store in an airtight container up to 3 weeks.

You can vary the dried fruit: dried figs, raisins, blueberries, apples, etc.

Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip

Adapted from Jo and Sue

Ingredients

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

14 oz caramels, unwrapped

2/3 cup half and half

2 Crunch bars

8 apples

8 (1/2 cup each) mason jars

Notes / Directions

Heat up caramels and half and half on medium heat until caramels have melted and the mixture is smooth.  Put cream cheese and 1/2 cup of caramel in a bowl and stir until smooth.  Scoop and flatten an equal amount of the cream cheese and caramel mixture into each of the 8 jars.  Top each jar with the remaining caramel sauce.  Crunch up the Crunch bars and sprinkle on top.

To turn into gifts, place one apple on top of the jar and place in a small, clear, plastic gift bag or cover with saran wrap.  Tie shut with a ribbon.

Clean Eating - Chicken, Asparagus, and Potatoes

I love this because it's so simple and quick.  From start to finish is about 10-15 minutes.  There is practically no food prep and it's a healthy clean eating meal.  It avoids common food allergies like gluten and dairy.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 lemon
2 potatoes
4 frozen chicken tenders
1 bunch of asparagus
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 garlic clove, minced
salt and pepper
olive oil

Notes / Directions
Heat up a large deep dish skillet to medium high heat.  Cut up potatoes into small cubes and place in skillet.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic.  Stir up and cover.  Stir every minute or two.  After about 4 minutes, push potatoes to the side of the skillet and place the chicken in their own little are. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and squeeze half of the lemon on top.  Replace lid.  When sides of the chicken begin to brown (after 3-5 minutes), turn over and stir the potatoes.  Add asparagus in their own corner.  Salt and pepper and squeeze remaining half of the lemon on top.  Replace lid.  Stir up potatoes and asparagus every once in a while.  Everything should be ready at about the same time.

Chicken could easily be replaced with fish and asparagus could be replace with broccoli.

Oreo Cheesecake

Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients

2 packages (about 72 cookies) Oreo Cookies, divided
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter
4 packages (8-ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 large eggs

Notes / Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F.  Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 1 1/2 packages of Oreo cookies (or about 50 cookies). Melt 1/2 cup butter and mix with crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended and smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each just until blended. Chop remaining cookies and gently stir into mixture.  Pour over crust.  Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the sides are set and barely browning and the center is almost set. Cool completely on a wire rack.  Once completely cooled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove the cheesecake using the foil overhang and cut the cheesecake into desired serving sizes.

 

Make Your Own Truck Cake!

 

I cut my cake into thirds and went from there, doing my best to make a truck shape.

I used doughnuts for the wheels but something like oreos would be great too.

I wished he was turning one so that the candle could be the antenna but on well...

Easy 3 Table Toppers in One

A few years back I had a need to make something crafty so I ended up at Micheal's Craft and TONS of stuff was on sale!!  So this is what I bought for $20:

I put some beads that I already had in the jar with the candle and it makes for 3 different table toppers

And then I made the wreath.  I started by placing the flowers where I wanted them to be and then I hot glued them into place.

Put it together and what have you got?  Bippity Boppity Bo!

Grilled Cheese Genius

Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow

I've been craving snickerdoodles but don't like making them because I just find the process a bit irratating.  So I thought, "Hey!!!  Puppy chow!"  I recently made some puppy chow that used brownie batter as the coating so I thought using yellow cake mix would be incredibly delicious.  Turns out I was right!
 
Inspired by Your Cup of Cake

Ingredients
1 (12 oz) box rice chex
1 (12 oz) bag white morsels
1 cup yellow cake mix
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Notes / Directions
In a large ziploc bag, combine cake mix, sugar, and cinnamon.  Shake well and smash any clumps of cake mix.  Melt white morsels in microwave for about 1 minute, stir to make sure it's smooth and melted through, and pour over rice chex.  Carefully stir until well coated.  Pour chex into the ziploc bag and seal off.  Turn the bag upside down and shake the cake mix mixture down through the chex.  Keep turning bag until well coated.  Serve and enjoy!

*For more evenly coated chex, reserve a cup or two of chex or add more white morsels. 
**You can also make snickerdoodle popcorn. Instead of chex, pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels.

                 It really does taste as good as it looks!!!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Adapted from allrecipes.com 

Ingredients

For the cookies:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 

For the icing:

4 cups confectioners' sugar 

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (milk could also be used)
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Notes / Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients and set aside.  In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla and cream again.  Stir in dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated.  Drop heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.

In another bowl, whip icing ingredients until it becomes nice and smooth, adding small portions of whipping cream at a time to measure consistency.

There are a few options for icing and spreading.  For a

runnier icing, add more whipping cream and frost cookies

when they are completely cool.  For thicker, less. 

 For more of a frosting glaze, let the cookies cool completely

and use a thicker frosting.

For more of an icing effect, ice with thicker frosting

while cookies are still hot out of the oven.  Or use a more runny

frosting and ice when the cookies are cooled.

 

And here's my sweet little cookie thief: