Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Cookies

Macyn has been a big help in the kitchen lately and wants to add ingredients to the bowl, stir, and help make food in general. Lately, I have been making super easy, 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies to help satisfy our sweet tooths.

Here is the recipe: 

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg 

Mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg together until smooth. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet two inches apart.  Press with fork; press again in opposite direction. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350º

That's it! To make them extra tasty, add 1/4 cup of mini m&ms to the dough...yummy!

Yummy Munch Mix

I made a new recipe from my coworker for our Easter. It is a nice, sweet, snack that everyone can enjoy. Macyn also enjoyed helping in the kitchen as well. Here is the recipe:

1 bag puff corn

1/2 block of white almond bark

2 T peanut butter

M&Ms

peanuts

Mix all the puff corn, m&ms, and peanuts together. Then melt the almond bark and peanut butter. Pour over the puff corn mix and coat. Lay it out on waxed paper to let it dry for a little bit.

Warning: This is super addicting - bad to have in the house if you are on a diet :)

Play-Doh Part 2

Since last year's home-made play doh wasn't a huge success with Macyn, we decided to try again today. We let her pick the pink color first, and then she insisted we make blue play doh for Daddy. (you can see last year's post and recipe here)

She loved it! She mostly made Christmas trees, presents, and made a sculpture of the "play dough sledding outside." It was an inexpensive activity that will have hours of play time. In fact, she played with it an entire hour before bedtime! The best part about home made play dough is it doesn't leave crumbs all over. It pretty much just sticks to itself and that's about it. Gotta love that!

Taco Hot Dish

Here is a simple recipe - but pretty dang good!

Taco Hot Dish

2 lbs. hamburger

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 pkg. taco seasoning (we use Ortega)

8 oz. shredded cheddar

8 oz. shredded mozzarella

8 oz. corn chips (I use a little more)

Brown hamburger and add taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Layer 1/2 the chips, taco meat, cheese, and rest of chips on top in 9x13. Bake at 350º for 15 minutes or until heated thorough.

Cheesy Chicken

Here is the super easy crock pot meal I made for supper tonight. Its seriously fool proof, and really good. Here is the recipe. I have made my modifications/additions in red, and crossed out the stuff you don't need if you make it my way. Enjoy

1-1/2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

2 10-3/4 oz. cans cream of chicken soup

10-3/4 oz. can Cheddar cheese soup

3 c. prepared rice, buttered noodles, or mashed potatoes

Hamburger Buns

Place chicken in a slow cooker; sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour soups over the top. Cover and cook on high setting for 4 to 6 hours, until chicken falls apart. Spoon over prepared rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. I take the chicken out, shred it, and place it back in the cooker mixed with the soups. We then eat it like creamed chicken buns.

Gingerbread House 2011

First gingerbread house...ever!

A few years ago, our marketing department at work decided to have a gingerbread house contest amongst each other. We all made one, and I remember stating after mine was finished, "I would never make another gingerbread house again." Its seriously so much work to make gingerbread, frosting, and decorate. I think it turned out pretty cute, but I vowed, never again... So since this was such a big success with our department, my company now does a gingerbread house contest for the local Winterfest celebration. They always need sample houses to display, and since I had a heck of a time with the first one, I have never volunteered... until now.

I know, I vowed to never make a house again....and I didn't. I made Pac Man instead. I'm not sure what made me think of this, or how my support systems is actually holding it up. Its a miracle, actually. 

2011 Gingerbread creation

So here is the easy way I made my gingerbread house (still super time consuming). The back part is a refrigerated roll of gingerbread I bought at the store. I sprayed a cookie sheet and rolled it into the pan and baked it about triple the time it stated on the package to make sure it was nice and firm. I then made triangles out of graham crackers and somehow propped it up enough for it to stand.

The pacman and ghosts were cookies from the clearance aisle for Halloween stuff at Walmart. The ghosts were actually ghost shapes, but I cut off the arms. The pacman was a pumpkin, which I rounded out. I added food coloring for the different frostings and propped them up again with graham cracker triangles. I used Foreign Candy for all the decorations - Rips licorice belts, Up Next Cubes, and EIFFEL bonbons.

I am happy the way it turned out - and the fact that it took me all of 3-4 hours (baking, assembly, decorating). Last time, it took me 2 weeks of non stop working on it! So next year, no houses for me. I will stick with this more "simple" route! 

Make sure you check out the ones or Marketing department made at either the outlet store or library - there are 5 different houses from 5 different people!

Taco Pizza

I was really hungry for some Casey's taco pizza for lunch today, but since our "eat out" budget is getting a little small, we decided to make our own homemade pizza instead. It turned out really good, despite my picture not looking so pretty! I completely forgot to take pictures of it until there was only 1 piece left. Oopsies! Anyways, here is how you make it. First, get a pizza crust. We used a pre made one. Then top the crust with salsa (we used taco bell, medium), taco meat (make according to package - we also used taco bell). Then, add some mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese. Then cook it according to directions on the pizza crust. Top with Doritos and you are finished! It was yummy and super easy to make. You could also add other things like beans, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. We like ours plain with chips and topped with sour cream. M m m m mmmmmm!

Chicken B. Ranch Pizza

This is what you call a lazy Sunday meal - but delicious nonetheless! Get some pizza crust and top with 1/2 cup Ranch dressing. Then put down some Mozzarella cheese, 1 large can chicken, cheddar cheese, and 1 jar of bacon bits. Then bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy. YUM! Not as good as Pizza Ranch's or Casey's, but not bad for a quick 10 minute meal!

Play Dough!

I remember my mom making me homemade Play Dough when we were younger. I thought it seemed like something Macyn would like to play with since she likes to squish all kinds of foods between her fingers. So, once again, I hopped on over to food.com and found a play dough recipe:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 T. oil
2 t. cream of tartar
food coloring

First, mix all ingredients in saucepan (we were making purple play dough)Then, mix together and stir medium heat until thick:It turns into a ball when its all done:Then let it cool & play away! Store in an air tight container. It actually makes a pretty decent glob about the size of a softball:We gave Macyn some to play with, but as soon as she touched it she make a sour face. It was pretty funny. Maybe another day....

P.S. I wouldn't suggest letting your dog eat any of it, that is unless you want to pick up mounds of dog throw up. Trust me, I know.

Creative Cooking

I was hungry for something sweet & I didn't feel like running to the store, so I had to make use with what I already had on hand. I had 1 white cake mix in the cupboard and that was it. I looked for some recipes on food.com for frosting and came across an easy peanut butter frosting recipe:

1 cup butter (softened)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 t. vanilla

Cream butter and peanut butter together. Add half the powdered sugar and blend. Blend in milk and vanilla. Add remaining powdered sugar. Stir until smooth and well blended.

I decided to go with it since I had all the ingredients on hand. So when I was making the cake, I added some peanut butter and melted some chocolate baking squares I found in the cupboard. The batter itself was oh -so - delicious! The cake baked really well and the frosting was even BETTER!

It seriously is to die for. I could totally just make the frosting and eat it plain. It is the perfect consistency & full of peanut butter flavor. Needless to say, I was quite proud of my "made up" cake. And it was even better because it helped clear some extra stuff outta the cupboards!

Spaghetti Saturday Night

One of Macyn's favorite foods is spaghetti. So we decided to let her go "all out" and get messy! I remember seeing pictures of myself when I was her age covered in, what it seemed, heat to toe in marinara. I am completely okay with this "clean" approach. However, after her bath, there were some noodles floating in the tub :).

To go along with the spaghetti and meatballs, I made some Garlic Butter Croissants instead of garlic bread. I got the recipe out of the book Cooking Outside the Pizza Box. What you do is, roll out your crescent rolls and top with garlic butter & mozzarella cheese. Roll up and bake. They were super easy and really good!

Easiest Soup.....Ever!

Doesn't this look gooood?! Guess what it consists of? Buying cans of different stuff and putting them all together. Simple as that! My mom actually gave me the recipe, and I think she got it from Weight Watchers. It tastes like a combination between chili soup and vegetable soup. Either way, it has a lot of flavor and super easy to make. Ready for the recipe? Here it is:

1 can Hormel chili with beans
1 can Hormel chili without beans
1 can mixed vegetables
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 can old fashioned vegetable soup
1 can diced potatoes

Put all in pot (liquids included) and heat thoroughly.

That's it! And its a good, hearty soup. Enjoy!

Wild Rice and Cheese Soup

I have been in the soup mood lately and I am tired of Chili & White Chicken Chili (the only soup DH likes) so I was thinking that I should try some other soups, and if he doesn't like it, too bad! My strategy worked, and he didn't like this one either, but I thought it was super good. And easy! And quick! Here is the recipe:
1 pkg. bacon
1 large onion
3 cans cream of potato soup
1 pt. half & half
1 pt. milk
3 C. American cheese (shredded)
1 C. cooked wild rice

Brown bacon and chop; add finely chopped onion. Add potato soup, 1/2 & 1/2, milk, American cheese, and rice. Heat thoroughly, but do not boil. Eat with fresh baked bread or crackers.

I followed this recipe but with a little modifications in order to make it simpler. I bought 1 jar of real bacon bits instead of the bacon. I think next time I would put in 2 jars instead of 1. As I was typing the recipe, I realized that I forgot to add the milk to my soup! Ha! No wonder why it was so thick! But it still tastes good! I also think if I were to throw in a can of chicken it would make it good - kinda like a chicken, cheese, & bacon soup. Since DH doesn't care for the soup, I packed the extras away into lunch sized containers and bags to freeze for later. I am definitely adding this one to one of my favorite recipes.

Enchilada Pizza

I get random magazines from the library and found this super easy and quick recipe that is absolutely delicious! All you do is get some pizza dough in the tube and roll it out on a pan. Top with enchilada sauce, cooked chicken, shredded cheese, chili beans, and green chilis (or jalepenos of you like it spicier) and then you bake it for 12-15 minutes. Finished! You could always make it as hot or as bland as you want by using hot enchilada sauce and hot chili beans. I like mine a little milder so I stick with regular sauce and beans. It also tastes good to add sour cream and whatever else you want!