S'mores Treats

I have made these a couple times now and they are sooo yummy! I think I like them even better than actual s'mores. Less messy too!

Ingredients:
6 cups graham cereal pieces
5 cups mini marshmallows, divided
3 TBS butter
3 - 1.55 oz. Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars, broken into pieces

Directions:
Measure out cereal into large bowl.
Spray a 9" x 13" pan with non-stick spray.
Melt butter and 4 cups of mini marshmallows in a pan over medium heat until completely melted. Pour into cereal and stir until combined. Add in the last cup of mini marshmallows and stir.
Pour half the cereal mixture into prepared pan and press down. Top with half the chocolate bar pieces. Cover with remaining cereal, press down and top with the rest of the chocolate.
Allow to cool and then cut into bars.

Enjoy!

I didn't even get a picture of them all cut up because they were gone too fast!

French Toast Roll-Ups

 French Toast Roll-Ups (otherwise known as Crack Sticks)

These are the most delicious deserts I have made in a very long time!! We did an Iron Chef activity with our youth group.  (12-17 yr old boys and girls) Our ingredient that we were to use was strawberries and we only had an hour.  This was THE best!!

Ingredients:

Loaf white sandwich bread
Strawberries 
8 oz package of cream cheese softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter melted
1 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Nutella

Directions:

Mix cinnamon and sugar in shallow dish and set aside.

Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Set aside.

Remove crusts from bread and roll flat using a rolling pin.  Spread small amount of cream cheese or Nutella (I did half Nutella half cream cheese.  Both DELICIOUS!) mixture on each slice of bread.  Add small amount of strawberries and roll up tightly.

Dip in melted butter then roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at *350 for 20 min until golden brown.

These are delicious warm or cold!!

Mint Hot Cocoa Mix

I have been on a search for some REALLY GOOD homemade hot cocoa!  All the store-bought stuff tastes watered-down and a little blah.  I finally found one that I liked.  I did modify it a little though, because it was made with special dark cocoa.  We love dark chocolate, but my kids thought this was a little too bitter for their liking.  So I mixed it with some regular milk hot cocoa from the store.  Still good. :)

The great thing about this recipe, is you can make all different kinds of flavors.  We made a batch with mini chocolate chips instead of the mint ones, and we put them in cute little jars on the counter.  With the plain cocoa you could add in caramel topping, marshmallows, vanilla creamer, butterscotch chips, cinnamon chips, or even peanut butter!!

I always wanted a little hot cocoa bar during the winter!  I am going to have lots of little jars with some of the above ingredients in them to add in.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup special dark cocoa or regular cocoa
1/2 cup rich milk cocoa mix (We used Nestle in the red & gold can)
1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1/8 tsp salt
*1 cup mint chips (green ones in the baking aisle), grind or blend up so there are no big chunks. 

The last batch I made, I didn't have the mint chips, so I used the red & white peppermint ones, a little different flavor, but still good.

*Substitute for mini chips if you are making regular flavor.

Mix everything together in a large bowl and pour into a jar or other storage container.

To serve:  1/4 cup cocoa mix with 1 cup hot water

Stay warm and enjoy!

Cheez-it chicken

This was surprisingly good and sooo easy!  I found the recipe on Pinterest  a while ago and finally got around to trying it out.  My kids all said it was good and even thanked me!!  My husband liked it and said it tasted like fried chicken, but it's healthy because it is baked!

Ingredients:

1 pkg boneless skinless chicken tenders
3 cups Cheez-its
1/4 cup melted butter
8 oz sour cream

Directions:

Place Cheez-its in zip lock bag and crush with rolling pin.
Roll chicken in sour cream and then in Cheez-its.  
Place in baking dish and drizzle with melted butter.
Bake at 375* for 40 minutes.

Banana-Berry Soft Serve

Oh my goodness - this stuff is soooo good!!  My husband's cousins made this for a reunion last weekend and it was so yummy I had to run home and make some for myself!  The good thing is, it makes quite a bit (especially for just my family) so we get to keep it in the freezer and have it all week! Yay!

Ingredients:
1/2 gallon of raspberry sherbet
1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream
frozen mixed berries
chopped bananas

Let the sherbet and ice cream get pretty soft, then stir them together in a large bowl.  When it's all mixed up, add in as many berries and bananas that you want.

At the reunion, we just plopped some into plastic cups and ate it with spoons.  If you want it in waffle cones though, you might want to put it back in the freezer for a few minutes.....it's very soft!! :)

 

I bet there are a lot of yummy combinations you could make with this recipe!!  If you try any, let me know! :)

Reese's Cake

My son had a birthday recently and when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he told me "some kind of chocolate and peanut butter cake."  Well okaaay.

 

I knew I already had a great peanut butter frosting recipe that we've used for a few things now, so all I needed to do was come up with the cake.  This is pretty much a normal chocolate cake recipe with chopped up Reese's Minis inside - LOVE!

 

The decorating was a little random and left a lot to be desired, I know.  I should have just chopped the peanut butter cups up and piled them on top with the Reese's Pieces.  Oh - well, it sort of looks like a birthday crown. haha ;)

 

Ingredients:

1 box devil's food cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding mix

1 cup sour cream

1 cup oil

4 beaten eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups chopped Reese's Minis (I used one whole bag.)

extra Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces for decoration, optional

 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, except peanut butter cups in large mixing bowl.  Stir well - batter will be thick.

 

Fold in chopped Reese's Minis.  Pour into 2 greased 9-inch round cake pans.

 

Bake at 350F for the amount of time called for on the box, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

 

Cool completely on wire racks.

 

Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe

 

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This was the only picture I could get of the inside - you can't even see the Reese's Minis, but they were delicious!!

Decorate with Reese's Pieces and peanut butter cups.  Enjoy!

Reese's Popcorn Munch

I started making some of my Super Bowl treats already, so I don't have as much to do tomorrow. :)  This Reese's popcorn is something I have been wanting to try for awhile, and I decided this would be the perfect opportunity!

I made my boys stay out of it because "it's for tomorrow", but I had to try a little - just to make sure it was good. ;)

Yep.  It's good.  Very, very good! I think chocolate and peanut butter are my new favorite things on popcorn.  Yummy! Who knew?  Oh, you did?  Well thanks for telling me.  haha :)   

 

Recipe adapted from Inside BruCrew Life

Ingredients:

10 cups popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups Reese's Unwrapped Minis, chopped in half



2 cups Reese's Puffs cereal
1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
1/2 cup Reese's peanut butter chips
2 tsp shortening, divided
1 cup Reese's Pieces candies

Directions:
Mix popcorn, mini cups and cereal  together and spread on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 tsp shortening and chocolate chips.  Heat for 30 seconds and stir, continuing until melted and smooth.  Drizzle over popcorn mixture.

Sprinkle with Reese's Pieces candies.

Heat peanut butter chips the same way you did the chocolate chips, using the remaining 1 tsp of shortening.  Drizzle over popcorn.

Let sit in refrigerator for a few minutes until cooled and set.

Break into chunks, and enjoy!!

Mummy Brownies

I have been wanting to make these little mummy cookies for awhile, but I couldn't find a recipe I liked.  The one I found is soooo good - they are just like brownies - yum!
I think I will use this recipe again soon, so be warned! haha :)

Brownie Roll-Out Cookies
source

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder in small bowl and set aside.
Mix together butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Gradually add flour mixture, and mix until smooth.
Wrap in plastic and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Roll out cookie dough on lightly floured surface.  Cut with cookie-cutters.

Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-11 minutes.  (Mine were kind of thick, so I went about 10 minutes.)

Transfer to wire rack and cool.

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 TBS corn syrup
1 TBS milk

Whisk together, add more powdered sugar or milk until you get the consistancy you want. 

Drizzle over cookies - add candies for eyes - that's it!

Note: I added a couple drops of peppermint extract into half of my glaze - it was really good!

 

Enjoy!

Nutter Butter Flip Flops

Okay, so this isn't new - technically it isn't even really a recipe! haha oh-well. :)
I thought it was super cute for a summer party and it was easy! 

Ingredients:
Nutter Butter cookies
colored frosting
tiny candies (like Mini M&Ms)

Directions:
I bought a container of vanilla frosting, separated it into small bowls, and then added whatever food coloring.  Then, pipe onto cookies in an upside down V.  Add candies. 

Ta da!

Put them on a cute flip flop plate (hint: they're at the dollar store!) and you are good to go. :)

Strawberry Krispie Treats

One of my favorite things is Rice Krispies Treats, so when I came across these little strawberry HeartMallows I got a little excited.

I have to admit though, the strawberry flavor wasn't as strong as I would have liked, so I would maybe add some flavoring in next time.  They do have a pretty pinkness though. :)

I covered them in chocolate and sprinkles, and I tried cutting them with heart-shaped cookie cutters, but they weren't turning out so good, so I just cut the rest square.  I'm sure that they taste just as good. :)

I am pretty sure everyone knows how to make these, but since it's a recipe blog - I will post the entire recipe:

Ingredients:
6 c crispy rice cereal
1/4 c margarine
1/8 tsp strawberry flavoring (optional)
Strawberry HeartMallows (I used the whole bag, about 5 cups)
1-2 c chocolate chips
2 TBS shortening
sprinkles


Directions:
Measure out cereal into a large mixing bowl.  Melt margarine and stir in marshmallows 1 c at a time until melted.  Pour over cereal, stir until combined.  Press into greased 9x13 baking dish.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in microwave safe dish, and cook 2-3 minutes until melted.  Stir until smooth and pour over cereal and marshmallows.  Add sprinkles and allow to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Chocolate-Strawberry Shish Kabobs

 I don't really know what to call these - so we'll just call them Chocolate-Strawberry Shish Kabobs, even though there are marshmallows in there, too.  These are really good, and they look ah-mazing! The picture doesn't even do it justice.  Seriously, they are gorgeous!  Very Valentine-y. :)

Ingredients:
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls or HoHos
Marshmallows
Strawberries
1/4 c chocolate chips

Directions:
Cut Swiss Rolls into thirds, and the strawberries and marshmallows in half. (You could do whole marshmallows, but I thought they were too big, & I'm not a big marshmallow fan anyway, so it's up to you.)
Place on skewers.
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave & drizzle on top.

YUM-MY!

Chocolate Covered Apple Bites

 #19

 

On the 19th day of Christmas treats I give you Chocolate Covered Apple Bites.  Easy, simple, really cute and so yummy!  I actually made these for a Halloween party, and I used caramel and chocolate.  I loved the taste of the caramel but the juice from the apples turned the caramel runny.  The chocolate stayed crisp and pretty the whole night!  These would make cute neighbor gifts too!

Ingredients:

Granny smith apples (1 apple makes about 8)

1 bag milk chocolate chips

toppings (chopped peanuts, chopped almonds, chopped walnuts, sprinkles, crushed graham crackers, crushed candy canes, crushed Oreos, shredded coconut etc.)

melon baller

toothpicks or sucker sticks

mini paper cup cake liners

Directions:

Start by scooping apples with a melon baller.  Stick toothpicks or sucker sticks in green end of apple.  

Melt chocolate as directed on package, either in the microwave or a double boiler.  

Lightly dip apple bite in topping of your choice.  

Place in mini paper cup cake liners.

Sugar Cone Christmas Trees

#10

On the 10th day of Christmas treats I give to you - Sugar Cone Christmas Trees! I am in love with this idea, because I cannot make a graham cracker house to save my life! This is ready made - so simple and easy. It's perfect for a class party or to do with your kids at home. No more caved-in roofs! haha :)

Ingredients:
Sugar cones (or for bigger trees, you might try waffle cones)
green gel food coloring
white frosting
sprinkles
candy

Instructions:
Well, I'm sure I don't need to explain this - but just in case - here goes:
Add green food coloring to frosting and mix until it's the desired color. Frost sugar cones. Add candy of your choice.

There! How's that for easy? Love it!

Enjoy! :D

Snowman Cake Balls

#5

On the fifth day of Christmas treats I give to you.......Snowman Cake Balls.  I got this idea from Martha Stewart, and created my own version.  However, she used ice cream (which looks absolutely yummy too!)  But I wanted to post a recipe using cake balls and thought I could combine the two! (I also changed up the hat a bit and didn’t make the marzipan carrot nose. This would be really cute if you did.)  Super Cute!! 

Ingredients:

1 package white cake mix (and ingredients needed to make a cake)

1 container prepared white frosting

1 bag white chocolate chips

3 cups Coconut

10-12 Orange jelly beans

Black or brown round sprinkles

10-12 large marshmallows

10-12 Chocolate wafer cookies

2-3 Tbsp Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
2. Melt white chocolate chips in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3. Use a melon-baller or small ice cream scoop to form balls of the white cake mixture. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Roll in coconut.  Place on waxed paper to set.
4. Before chocolate is completely set, add 3 sprinkles for buttons on one ball, make the face using sprinkles and jellybean for the nose, on another. (Use a toothpick to press them in if it’s not sticking, they will stick better if the chocolate is still warm)
5. Roll marshmallow in cinnamon and stick on chocolate wafer using a little frosting.
6. Once the cake balls are cooled and set, stack them using toothpicks and gluing the hat on top with frosting. 

(Makes about 10-12 snowmen, depending on size of cake balls)

Turkey Oreo Cookies

I don't know if you can tell, but it's fall again.  Time to start cooking again and most importantly making yummy treats.  My sister-in-law made these super cute turkeys for all the kids at our Thanksgiving dinner last year, and my kids kept asking me if we were going to have them again this year.  So apparently they were a big hit! 



Ingredients:

Oreo cookies
Reese's Peanut Butter cup miniatures
candy corn
Whoppers
chocolate frosting
yellow frosting
red frosting (opt)

Directions:

Squeeze a little chocolate frosting inside one Oreo.  Place 5 candy corns tip down into the Oreo (where you put chocolate frosting).  Next dab more chocolate frosting on the other end of the Oreo and stick to another Oreo to make the base.

While those are drying, unwrap your peanut butter cups.  Take a sharp knife and cut a sliver off of one end and glue it to the base of the Oreo using chocolate frosting.

Using more of the chocolate frosting, glue a Whopper to the top of the Reece's.

Break the tip off a candy corn, and glue it using yellow frosting, to the Whopper, making a beak.  You can then make they eyes with yellow and the gobbler with red (if you like) adding a black sprinkle or a drop of chocolate frosting for the center of the eye.

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

I've seen these done in the summer using just yellow and white Jelly Bellies and a Starburst for melted butter.  But when I saw this I thought it was the cutest thing EVER!

Ingredients:

Any flavor cake mix
White frosting
yellow food coloring
all the Yellow, brown, white, tan, red and orange Jelly Bellies you can get :)

Directions:

Make cupcakes as directed or using your own recipe
Frost the cupcakes with the yellow frosting.  Press 3 cupcakes together and decorate in rows using the Jelly Bellies.  Make sure to do random patterns so you get the speckled corn look.

Decorate with corn corn husks!

(This is the summer version)

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Super easy cute cookies!!

Ingredients:  

Keebler Fudge Striped cookies
Reese's Peanut Butter cup miniatures
Yellow frosting

Directions:

Turn cookies upside down.  Frost the top of a peanut butter cup with the yellow frosting.  Place the cup face down in the center of the cookie.   Draw a square buckle using the yellow frosting.

Pita Pizza

My biggest problem with homemade pizza is the dough. I don't really have time or want to make my own dough, and the kind you buy in the refrigerated section, I don't really like, it's always soggy. My friend Kira told me to make pizza using pita bread. I know this has been done forever, and there really isn't a recipe for this, but I just discovered it and thought it was wonderful!! It tasted really yummy and the kids had so much fun making their own pizzas!
Easy and fast!!!
Ingredients:
Pita bread (the pocket-less kind)
pizza sauce or tomato paste (I like Ragu' traditional)
peperoni (you can also buy the mini peperoni which is fun)
green peppers
sliced black olives
shredded mozzarella cheese
onions
chopped pineapple
etc. etc. etc. (whatever you like on a pizza)

Directions:
Heat oven to *350. Spray the bottom of the pita bread, add pizza sauce and decorate with any ingredients that you like. (Make fun faces for a Halloween dinner) Place directly on oven rack (for crispier crust) or place on cookie sheet (for a softer crust) for about 10 min or until melted! DONE!