Chocolate Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

We had a Christmas party for the Young Women in our ward 

last week, and it was the perfect excuse 

for me to try out THIS cookie recipe.  

Aren't they pretty?

We had to go easy on the sprinkles...

one container was definitely NOT enough!!   

The verdict?  This recipe is a KEEPER!!  

The girls oooh'd and aaaah'd over the cookies, 

and they didn't last very long (that's always a good sign!).  

 

Wouldn't these be fun for other holidays too?!  

Think about all the different color combinations 

of sprinkles they have for every holiday....

pink, red, and white sprinkles for Valentine's Day, 

green sprinkles for St. Patrick's Day, 

pastel sprinkles for Easter..etc.).  

I can't wait to make them again!

{Zucchini Jam}

We have an abundance of zucchini from our garden, and the kids are tired of zucchini bread and muffins.  I needed another way to use it up, and came across THIS RECIPE from Allrecipes. 

The zucchini is boiled with a few other ingredients until it's clear, then you add flavored gelatin mix to it.  Take my word for it...this jam is DELICIOUS!!   

My kids and husband have already used up 2 jars of the strawberry jam (I also made some using apricot gelatin, but we haven't tried that kind yet).  They love it best on homemade bread with butter. 

I'm already planning on using some of these as neighbor gifts for Christmas.  The way our garden is producing zucchini, I'm sure I'll be making a LOT more jam!

Do you have any other good recipes for using up zucchini?  If so, please share!

Caramel Pretzel Treats

I don't know what the official name of this treat is.....all I know is it's oh, so good!! 

I made a tray full of these and hid them away for myself!  I didn't hide them well enough though, cause my kids ended up finding them and polishing them off.  Drat!!

Here's what you'll need to make some of your own:

1 bag of small pretzels
2 bags of Rolo's
1 bag of M&M's

Line a cookie sheet with tin foil.  Unwrap the Rolo's.  Place a Rolo on a pretzel and fill that cookie sheet up!!  Bake at 250 degrees for about 4-5 minutes, or until the Rolo's are soft.  Take out of the oven and push an M&M into each treat.  Let them cool for a while until the chocolate hardens back up.  **If you're impatient like me, you can put them into the fridge for a few minutes to speed the process up!!   

Muffin Tin Pizzas

My kids LOVED this meal!  And I'm proud to say it's something I came up with on my own.

Here's how I made them:

3 pkgs. refrigerated biscuits (I've got a lot of mouths to feed, so that's why I used 3!)
pizza sauce
shredded cheese
pepperoni
olives

Flatten refrigerated biscuit dough and put in muffin tins, working the dough up the sides.  Add about 1-2 Tbsp. of pizza sauce, shredded cheese, pepperoni, and olives.  Bake according to biscuit package directions.  Enjoy!

Shortcut Pumpkin Bread

The weather has been getting cooler where I live, and when that starts happening, I start craving pumpkin bread!  I found a recipe in the October issue of Parents Magazine that looked divine and just had to give it a try.

This bread really is divine!!  Both my husband and my Father-In-Law couldn't stop raving about it.  I ended up making 2 loaves, and some muffins, thinking they'd last atleast a few days.  Wrong!!  They didn't even last one!

You really must try this recipe!! 

Banana Crumb Muffins

I love banana bread.  But I've found that my kids have a harder time eating it if I make it into loaves instead of muffins.  Don't ask me what the difference is, 'cause I'm still trying to figure that one out.  Maybe they think the muffins are cupcakes.....without frosting.  As long as they eat it, I'll let them think whatever they want!
 

You can find the recipe HERE from allrecipes.  And thank you to my awesome sister, Melinda, and her friend Rebecca for finding and sharing this recipe with me!

Summer Squash Muffins

We've had an abundance of yellow squash from our garden this year....yay!!  As I was searching online for recipes to help me use all of this squash up, I came across a Summer Squash Bread recipe from allrecipes.  Now, I'll admit that I was skeptical about this recipe at first.  But after reading through the reviews, I decided to give it a try.   

As you can see, I made mine into muffins instead of bread loaves.  The verdict?!  My husband and I both loved them, but my kids....well, not so much!  There is hope though.  My 2-year-old nephew tried one and loved it too!  I will definitely be making more (we've still got lots of squash!).  My plan is to freeze them, then I can have a treat whenever I like.

In the comments section of the recipe, someone mentioned adding a crumb topping before baking.  YUM!!  I obviously did this (1 c. brown sugar, 3/4 c. flour, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 c. butter), and made a few other changes too.  Instead of using 1 cup of vegetable oil like the recipe calls for,  I used 1/2 c. vegetable oil and 1/2 c. applesauce.  I also left out the nutmeg, and added 1 mashed banana to mine. 

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I've been craving cinnamon rolls for a few months now, but it's been too hot to make them.  Well, today I finally bit the bullet and made a batch.  Oh. My. Goodness!!  This picture totally doesn't do them justice...they are SO YUMMY!!

THIS is the recipe I use.  The only change I make is on the frosting.  I like buttercream frosting on my cinnamon rolls!!

{Buttercream Frosting}

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk
4 c. powdered sugar

Mix butter and shortening together until creamy.  Add vanilla and milk, then powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.

I always freeze my cinnamon rolls...then whenever I need a sweet treat, I just pop one in the microwave for about 1 minute, spread some frosting on it, and then enjoy it with a big glass of milk!

Zucchini Brownies

This is the first year that we've actually been able to grow zucchini in our garden.  Actually.....this is the first year we've been able to grow ANYTHING!!  We've learned a lot, and have been enjoying the fruits (or should I say vegetables) of our labors!!

I found this recipe for Zucchini Brownies last year {I think}, but have no idea where I got it from.  If it looks like yours, please let me know so I can give you proper credit!!

{Zucchini Brownies}

1 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. grated zucchini (you can peel the zucchini before you grate it...but I never do)
2 c. flour
1/3 c. cocoa
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Whisk sugar, oil, vanilla, and zucchini until blended.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Spread into a greased 9"x13" pan.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Frost with chocolate frosting.

{Chocolate Frosting}

3 Tbsp. melted butter
2 Tbsp. cocoa
2 c. powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp. milk
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Stir together butter and cocoa until smooth.  Beat in remaining ingredients, adding milk until it's the consistency you like (I usually add 1 1/2 tsp. more milk).

Hawaiian Meatballs

This recipe comes from my fabulous SIL, Shannan!  She made it for my husband and I nearly 11 years ago....and I never forgot it.  It's that good!!  It did take me forever to ask her for the recipe though.....like 9 years to be exact.  It's one of my most favorite meals to make.  And to eat.  Just so we're clear on that.  Anyways, Shannan graciously agreed to let me share this recipe with you.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

{Hawaiian Meatballs}

Meatballs
1.5 pounds ground beef
2/3 c. cracker crumbs or quick oats
1/3 c. minced onion (I usually use dried onions)
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 c. milk

Sweet & Sour Sauce
2. Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 can pineapple chunks or tidbits (save juice)
1/3 c. vinegar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/3 c. chopped green pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix beef, cracker crumbs or quick oats, onion, egg, salt, ginger, and milk together.  Form into tablespoon-sized balls and put in a 9x13 baking pan.  In a sauce pan, mix cornstarch, brown sugar, vinegar, reserved pineapple juice, and soy sauce.  Heat on medium until boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil gently for 1 minute.  Take off heat and add the pineapple chunks and green pepper.  Pour over the meatballs and bake for 30-40 minutes.  Serve over rice.

**My family loves the sweet and sour sauce, so I always double it.

Chow Mein Casserole

I've had this recipe for years......I think it came out of an old ward cookbook.  My kids all love this one....even my picky eaters! 

Chow Mein Casserole

1 pkg. Chicken Rice-A-Roni, made as directed
2 C. cooked chicken, cubed (can also use canned chicken)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
3/4 C. milk
1 small pkg. slivered almonds
1 small pkg. chow mein noodles

Mix cooked Rice-A-Roni and all other ingredients (except chow mein noodles) in a large bowl.  Put in 2 qt. baking dish and top with chow mein noodles.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

**I always double this recipe and bake in a 9x13 pan.  

Lemon Chicken with Dill Lemon Rice

When I saw the author of "Girlfriends On The Go" share this recipe on "Good Things Utah" a few years ago, my first thought was, "Dill and Lemon?  Yuck!".  But after the hosts of the show gave it rave reviews, I decided to give it a try.  And I'm so glad I did!!  Everyone in my family LOVES it....even my picky eaters! 

Click HERE for the recipe!! 

My Favorite Brownies

These are seriously the best brownies ever!!  My girls and I made these a lot last spring/summer for some bake sales, and they were always one of our best sellers!

Here's the recipe:

4 eggs, beaten
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. margarine
1 bag miniature marshmallows

Combine eggs, sugar, flour, and vanilla.  Melt margarine and add cocoa.  Add to egg mixture and mix well.  Bake in a greased 9x13 pan at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  As soon as brownies are taken from the oven, cover w/marshmallows.  Return pan to oven until marshmallows are slightly melted.  Pour chocolate frosting over marshmallows and cool before cutting.

Chocolate Frosting:
1/2 c. margarine, melted
1/3 c. milk
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine margarine, milk, and cocoa.  Beat in sugar and vanilla.

**I've found that these turn out lots better if you make them the night before you want to serve them.  It gives the frosting time to set up and makes it easier to cut them.
**For 8x8 pans, the baking time is 15-20 minutes.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Have you tried THESE cookies from Picky Palate? She made them around Easter using the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, but you can substitute those with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.They turned out yummy (anything made with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is h.e.a.v.e.n in my book!) Just a warning though....if you want a lot of cookies, don't eat the dough!! It's very addicting and you'll find yourself sneaking spoonfuls of it while getting mad at your kids for trying to do the same thing. Just sayin'!

Chicken Lo Mein

**Don't forget to enter my CSN Stores Giveaway HERE!!

I'll let you in on a little secret....the first time I ever tried Chinese food was after I was married!! Crazy, I know!! Since then it has become one of my favorite types of food (as long as there's no shrimp involved!).

THIS Chicken Lo Mein recipe from Stephanie's Kitchen is seriously one of the best I've ever had! And I also love that it's really easy to make!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Sloppy Joe DiMaggio's

We don't have cable, and the only thing I miss about it is the FOOD NETWORK channel. I could sit and watch it all day!! THIS YUMMY RECIPE came from Rachael Ray and has become a staple in our home. My family loves it so much that I make it atleast twice a month...even my picky eater devours it!

Sorry...I know the picture isn't that great! I had to grab my 2-year-old's half eaten plate because I forgot to get a picture. I tried to be sneaky and put the fries around his bite marks....but it didn't work out so well!

Speaking of the fries....I learned this tip from Rachael Ray too. Before you bake your frozen french fries, drizzle them with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), then sprinkle the Montreal Steak Seasoning over them. Yumm-o!!

Homemade Twix Bars

I've had THIS recipe from Tastebuds in my folder for a while and finally got around to making them. Twice. The first time I made them as directed, but the crust was a bit too thick for me. I made them again a few days later, but this time I doubled the recipe and used a 9x13 cake pan. Perfect!! I'll definitely be making these again!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

I found this recipe in an old ward cookbook when I was in middle school. (holy cow...that was forever ago!). I remember making them with 3 of my friends when we were in High School, and one of their Mom's told us we could make money off of them. They are that good!! I've tried lots of other chocolate chip cookie recipes over the years, but none of them compare to this one.

Here's the recipe:

*1 lb. butter or margarine, softened
*1 1/2 c. sugar
*2 c. brown sugar
*3 eggs
*2 tsp. vanilla
*6 c. flour
*1 1/2 tsp salt
*1 1/2 tsp baking soda
*6 c. chocolate chips
*2 c. nuts (optional)

Beat butter and sugars together. Add eggs and beat well. Add vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together then add to mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Grandma's Pistachio Nut Pudding

This recipe is one of my Grandma's signature desserts! We always looked forward to her making her Pistachio Nut Pudding for family parties...and if you didn't get a piece quick, you were out of luck!!

It has become a tradition in my little family to make Grandma's Pistachio Nut Pudding each year for St. Patrick's Day. My kids look forward to it, and it doesn't last long at our house either!
Here's how to make it:

1st Layer:
1 c. flour
1 T. sugar
1/4 c. nuts (I use walnuts)
1 cube butter

Mix together (like you would a pie crust) and press in a 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

2nd Layer:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2/3 c. powdered sugar
1 small container of Cool Whip

Mix together and spread over cooled 1st layer.

3rd Layer:
2 pkg. instant pistachio pudding
2 1/2 c. milk

Mix together until thickened. Spread on 2nd layer and wait 5 minutes.

4th Layer:
1 small container of Cool Whip
1/4 c. nuts (I use the leftover walnuts)

Spread Cool Whip on the 3rd layer and sprinkle the nuts on top. Chill and serve!

Yummy Sandwich Wraps

These are really simple to make, but oh so delicious!! You'll need:

**Tortillas (we like wheat tortillas at our house!)
**Chive & Onion cream cheese spread
**Lettuce
**Cheese (singles or shredded)
**Lunch meat

1. Spread your tortilla with the chive & onion cream cheese.

2. Add the lettuce, cheese, and lunch meat.

3. Roll up like a burrito and cut in half!

See.....I told you it was easy!!