#1,287: S'mores Cookies

These are addicting.  Needless-to-say, I enjoyed these imensely!  My kids did too!  I loved the graham cracker mixed in with the flour as well as the tiny marshmallows.  PS...if you can't find the mini marshmallow bits, check with your hot chocolate mixes in the grocery store, probably on the bottom shelf.  :)  I will definitely be making these again.   The only change I made as to flatten them with the bottom of a glass as soon as they came out of the oven so they weren't so "puffy" looking and were more flat shaped.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (7 full graham cracker sheets)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Mini Hershey’s Kisses (or chocolate chips/chunks)
1 cup Jet Puffed Mallow Bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, use a food processor or blender to crush 7 graham cracker sheets into 3/4 cup fine crumbs. In a separate bowl, whisk together the graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. Add the chocolate and marshmallows and stir to combine.

Place 1.5 tablespoon sized scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Family Bucket List: Sleep in a Caboose

This was one of our bucket list items that we were all excited to do.  So when the weather was cooler and dry, we decided it was the perfect day/night to head out to Wildlife Prairie State Park and sleep in one of their train cars. 

We LOVED this.  I would definitely do this again, it was so much fun, and a lot like camping, except I had running water, a flush toilet and a shower to use!  We also had access to almost all of the park after hours, so it was like we had the place to ourselves.  

 Sleep in a Caboose

#1,286: Chewy Coconut Bars

It's recipes like this one, that make me totally blow my diet and go off my food plan.  This seriously was so good I had to put all the leftovers in the freezer to get them out of sight.  I would have been happy to eat these frozen though too.  They are SO good, but I love pretty much anything that gets served in a bar form.  :) 

2 cups all-purpose flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 2/3 cup shortening (I used butter)
 2 cups packed brown sugar
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used about 1 tbsp)
 3 eggs
 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I used an entire bag)
 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (I used 1+ cups)
 1/2 cup shredded coconut (I used at least 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In large bowl, cream the shortening, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Slowly blend in flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut. Spread the mixture evenly in pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

#1,285: Sausage, Egg and Biscuit Bake ...with bacon

I made this recipe to serve for breakfast at my sister's bachelorette party weekend.  I loved this recipe because it required minimal ingredients and I was able to make the meat ahead of time and spend less time in the kitchen.  This was not only easy, it was really, really good.  In all honesty, I only tried one bite because I'm not eating foods like this right now, but it was a recipe I wish I could have enjoyed more!  The recipe says to make in an 8x8 pan, but I used 4 cans of biscuits and made this in a 9x13 foil pan.  I will definitely be making this for breakfast (especially if for guests) again. This link will take you to the photo of the original recipe.  The recipe posted below includes the larger portion size as well as the changes I made.

Not pretty, but you get a better idea of
what it looks like from the inside 

4 cans of buttermilk biscuits, cut into quarters
1 lb bulk pork sausage, cooked and crumbled
1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
9-12 eggs
1 1/4 c milk
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.  Layer the quartered biscuits so they completely cover the bottom of the pan (I really squeezed them in).  Top with cooked pork sausage and bacon.

In a bowl combine the eggs and milk and whip to combine.  Add salt and pepper.  Pour egg/milk mixture over the biscuits and cooked meat.

Bake uncovered in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.  Return to the oven, uncovered, and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes.  Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

#1,284: Italian-Style Turkey Burger with Bacon

You will notice that this recipe says to serve on ciabatta rolls and that is obviously not pictured in the photo above.  I ate this w/out a bun and I didn't want to waste a ciabatta roll, so I just grabbed a regular hamburger bun for the photo instead.

This recipe was not supposed to be made with ground turkey, so feel free to make this with ground beef/sirloin instead.  I however, pretty much exclusively eat ground turkey so I just substituted it out.  I LOVED this burger.  LOVED it.  I've been dreaming about it and I need to get back to the grocery store so I have more bacon to make this again.  It's really good.  It was supposed to have roasted tomatoes on top, which I'm sure would make this even better, but I decided not to make them this time.  If you check the original recipe, you can find the ingredients/steps needed to make that.

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 very thin slices prosciutto (I used organic bacon instead)
2 large shallots, finely diced (about 2/3 cup)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 pounds freshly ground beef chuck (I used ground turkey)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg, beaten to blend
4 3 1/2-inch squares ciabatta bread, halved horizontally
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
4 ounces Fontina cheese, thinly sliced
8 romaine lettuce leaves

FOR THE GOURMET KETCHUP:
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

To prepare the burgers: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large sauté pan over medium heat. Working in batches, lay the prosciutto slices in the pan and cook over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the crisped prosciutto to a paper towel-lined plate.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy small sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic. Remove from the heat and cool completely.

Gently mix the cooled sautéed shallots and garlic with the ground beef, parsley, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl until well blended. Mix in the egg. Divide the beef mixture into 4 equal mounds. Shape each mound into a patty.

Preheat a grill pan or prepare a barbecue for medium-high heat. Brush the cut sides of the ciabatta with butter. Grill the ciabatta, cut side down, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Place the ciabatta on a plate and cover to keep warm.

Grill the patties until brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn the patties over. Top the patties with the roasted tomatoes and then with the cheese. Continue to grill until the patties are no longer pink in the center.

Meanwhile, to make the gourmet ketchup: Whisk the ketchup, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chives, and tarragon in a large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in the oil to blend well. Set the sauce aside.

To serve: Place the lettuce over the grilled ciabatta bottoms. Set the patties on the lettuce. Spoon some gourmet ketchup over the burgers. Top with the crisped prosciutto. Cover with the ciabatta tops. Serve the remaining gourmet ketchup alongside.

#1,283: Broccoli Apple and Almond Salad

I've actually made this recipe twice now.  Both times I used cashews instead of almonds...both times I loved this salad, except it needs more dressing.  I omitted the green olives because I am not a fan and personally I think it would have ruined this salad.  It also says to cook the broccoli, but I thought it was much better when I left the broccoli raw.  To each his own though.  I will definitely be making this recipe again, probably soon....but with a little more dressing.  :) 

2 heads broccoli, florets only, chopped
1 large red apple, diced
1 cup raw almonds, chopped (I used cashew pieces)
1 cup sliced green olives (I omitted)
½ cup raisins (I used craisins)
¼ cup dates, chopped (about 10)
4 slices crispy bacon

For the vinaigrette
2 cloves garlic, minced
the juice of 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
¼ cup avocado oil (or extra-virgin olive oil)
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp unpasteurized honey
½ tsp Himalayan salt
½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

I skipped this step: The previous night, or at least several hours ahead of time, steam the broccoli over salted boiling water or cook it in the microwave in about a quarter of a cup of slightly salted water for 2-3 minutes, until it turns bright green and is slightly softened. Plunge the cooked broccoli in icy cold water to stop the cooking process and set it in a colander covered with a paper towel to drain and dry.

Toast the almonds in a dry skillet set over medium heat, until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a separate pan, cook the bacon strips until nice and crispy. Remove to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb excess fat. Reserve.

In a small food processor, add all the ingredients for the vinaigrette and process until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add broccoli, green olives, raisins, chopped dates and vinaigrette and mix until thoroughly combined. Break the bacon into pieces and mix it right in.

Serve immediately or leave in the fridge for a few hours to allow flavors to develop. This salad will keep in the fridge for 5 to 6 days in an airtight container.

Family Bucket List: Photo Scavenger Hunt

I have been holding off on this activity because I felt it would be perfect for when we went to a nature park.  I knew some of the things we might see on our trip (like Buffalo) so I adapted it to things the girls would come across/find.  Since Chloe isn't reading yet I decided to put some pictures/clipart with each of the items we were looking for so she would have an easier time with this.

The kids loved it the first day.  Then they got tired of it...or maybe they got tired of looking for specific things.  I think they would have preferred to take pictures of whatever they wanted.  :)  

Attached are some of Allison's pictures as well as the image of the scavenger hunt I made for them. 

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Family Bucket List: Have a water balloon fight

No explanation necessary for this event!  The kids had a blast!  (PS...Chloe is brutal!)  Sorry, no photo for this one...we ended up taking a video instead. 

Have a water balloon fight

Family Bucket List: Painting on Wet Glue

Thanks to a summer class I signed the girls up for, we were able to complete this summer bucket list.  It was already on our list of things to do this summer, and since they did it in class, I figured it counted as one of our things we could cross off.  This project has definite pros and cons.  The kids enjoyed making these and were eager for them to dry.  But if you spread the glue too thin (like Chloe did) then it started to rip as we took it off the foil paper.  They turned out cute, but what does one do with it when it's dry??  I suppose we could have stuck it to the window but we didn't.  I don't know if I would make these again, but they enjoyed this project none-the-less. 

Painting on Wet Glue

Family Bucket List: Balloon Tennis and Painting in the Rain

Monday was a rainy, lazy day at home, so we fit in a few of our "at home" summer bucket list ideas.  This included:

Balloon Tennis and Painting in the Rain

The kids had more fun with tennis and the rain painting didn't turn out exactly as we had hoped.  I think we may have left it in the rain for a little too long.  That's okay though, two more things to cross off our list!

Balloon Tennis 

Painting in the Rain

#1,282: Chicken Burgers with Cheddar and Spinach

My mom and I are actually fighting (not really) over who found this recipe on Pinterest and decided we should make it for the 4th of July.  I swear I found it first and she repinned it from me.  Sorry for the bad photo, but all the burgers were being eaten when I realized I never got a picture.  So I stopped my sister mid way through eating to snap a photo.  I ended up eating this without the cheese or panko and liked it.  My family decided it wasn't a good "burger" recipe though and would not make it again.  I however, WOULD!  I loved it on top of a salad all cut up.  The first bite really tasted more like chicken (which I don't like as a burger flavor) but then I got used to it and really enjoyed it.  To each his own....

4 oz. wilted spinach

1/2 small onion

1 clove of garlic

2 green onions, roughly chopped
1 lb ground chicken
2 T. balsamic vinegar

2 t. soy sauce

1 t. lemon juice

1/2 t. chili powder

1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. of Panko

In a food processor combine the spinach, onion, garlic and green onion.  Stir this mixture into 1 lb. ground chicken and add the remaining ingredients (balsamic, soy sauce, lemon juice, chili powder, shredded cheese, and panko).  Gently mix all together and form into patties.  Grill over medium heat until done.  

#1,281: Zesty Grilled Chicken

Now here's a recipe I was pretty sure we weren't going to be big fans of, but we ended up all liking!  I wasn't sure it was going to have enough flavor but it did.  It was great on the charcoal grill and I even ate it in the car driving home (cold) for lunch.  I will definitely be making this recipe again. 

6-8 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

3 Tbsp minced garlic

1.5 tsp Weber Grill Seasoning - Chicago Steak

Combine chicken breasts, vinegar, garlic, and Chicago Steak seasoning in a large Ziploc bag and shake until ingredients are evenly mixed and seasonings are coating all chicken breasts. Shake bag or turn chicken after a couple of hours for best results.  Let marinate for at least 6 hours.

On a large outdoor grill, cook on medium-high for about 7 minutes per side or until chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

#1,280: Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots

Ugh....I can't believe that I forgot to take a picture of this! 

In fact, I'm pretty sure I might have told one of my siblings to take the picture......do they not listen?! 

Anyhow, I think I liked this salad more than most of my other family members when I served this over the 4th of July.  It definitely could use some protein added on top for added flavor.  It was good, but not spectacular.  I would make it again though, and probably will make it tomorrow (minus the seeds) since I have everything on hand!

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar

Coarse salt and pepper

3 cups mixed shredded kale and red cabbage

1 carrot, peeled and julienned

1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tablespoons diced red onion

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (I used sliced almonds)

2 tablespoons hemp seeds

In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, mustard, and apple-cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

In another bowl, combine kale, cabbage, carrot, parsley, and red onion with sunflower, pumpkin, and hemp seeds.

Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with dressing, and toss to coat.

#1,279: Easy Garlic Snap Peas

Here's another super easy side dish that I made for my family over the 4th of July weekend.  It too was a recipe I enjoyed (a lot) but wasn't totally and utterly in love with.  It's really good, but nothing super special.  Would I make this again though?  Definitely.  Would I make this for company coming over?  Probably not.  

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 cups sugar snap peas

3 garlic cloves, minced

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl around the pan. When oil is shimmering, add sugar snap peas. Stir frequently for 3-4 minutes or until peas are starting to soften but are still crisp-tender. Add garlic and stir constantly for one minute. Season well with salt & pepper and serve.

#1,278: Green Bean and Mushroom Medley

Although I liked this green bean recipe and yes, I would eat it again, I didn't love this recipe.  It was good, but it wasn't special or wonderful.  It's a recipe that I think I would forget about when thinking back to recipes I enjoyed and want to eat again soon.  Don't get me wrong, I do love sauteed mushrooms and it definitely adds to this dish, but eh, that's about it. 

1⁄2 lb fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths (nah, I left them whole)

2 carrot, cut into thick strips (I omitted)

1⁄4 cup butter

1 onion, sliced

1⁄2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 tsp salt

1⁄2 tsp seasoning salt

1⁄4 tsp garlic salt

1⁄4 tsp white pepper

Place green beans and carrots in 1 inch of boiling water. Cover, and cook until tender but still firm. Drain.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions and mushrooms until almost tender. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in green beans, carrots, salt, seasoned salt, garlic salt, and white pepper. Cover, and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat.

#1,277: Caramelized Broccoli with Garlic

Let me tell you how much I loved this broccoli!  Normally I like my broccoli roasted in the oven, but I loved it cooked this way.  High heat makes this brown up pretty quickly and easily.  I loved this so much, it's already on my menu again for this week.  Delish! 

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 heads of broccoli (1 1/4 pounds total), stems peeled and heads halved lengthwise

1/2 cup water

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

Pinch of crushed red pepper

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the broccoli, cut side down, cover and cook over moderate heat until richly browned on the bottom, about 8 minutes. Add the water, cover and cook until the broccoli is just tender and the water has evaporated, about 7 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with the garlic and the crushed red pepper and cook uncovered until the garlic is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Season the broccoli with salt and black pepper, drizzle with the lemon juice and serve.

Family Bucket List: Spotted Cow

So I found a recipe to make "Spotted Cows" which are very similiar to a root beer float.  Except the ingredients are slightly different.  To make a spotted cow you fill a glass with chocolate chip ice cream, add a little seltzer water (instead of the root beer) and top with some chocolate syrup.  My kids at first weren't sure about the seltzer water, but they all ended up finishing their dessert.  I'd say this was a successful bucket list item.  :)  (Excuse A's hair...she just came back from swimming lessons!)

Spotted Cow Recipe

#1,276: Pizza Burger

My family absolutely loved these pizza burgers.  They were so simple to make and really require very minimal ingredients, and most you probably already have on hand.  I ended up eating mine on top of shredded kale and cabbage and more like a salad.  I think we will be eating these again very soon!  

1 lb. lean ground turkey or ground beef

1 sweet onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher or sea salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
6 Whole Wheat Buns

Cook ground turkey, onion and garlic in a large skillet, breaking up meat with a fork up as it cooks.

Drain ground turkey thoroughly and add remaining ingredients, mix well. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

Serve on toasted 100% whole wheat buns or small rolls.

Update 01/18: I made these again, and this time we toasted our rolls and added some mozzarella to it prior to toasting (so it got all melty).  I liked this version even more (tastes more like "pizza" that way too. 

Staples Deals

Staples has some amazing back to school deals for school supplies right now. This is a great time to stock up for you kids, your own classroom (like I do!) or to donate!

Although the deal I got was not as good as some of the deals I've seen online, I ended up getting only things my kids or I would use.

I spent $32 out of pocket (plus free shipping), but got over $112 worth of supplies.  And if you go through shopathome.com, you can get an additional 2% back.

This is what we ordered (49 items):

1 Subject Notebook, Wide Ruled, 8" x 10-1/2", Black (6)BIC® Mechanical Pencils, 0.7mm, 5/Pack (1)Staples® Composition Book, Assorted Colors, 9-3/4" x 7-1/2" (6)Staples® #2 Yellow Pencils, Dozen (6)Staples® Pink Wedge Erasers, 3/Pack (7)Westcott® 12" Wood Ruler, Beveled Edge (6)Staples® School Glue, 4 oz. (6)
Staples® Washable Glue Sticks, Clear, .26 oz., 4/Pack (3)Crayola® Classic Markers, Fine Line, 10/Box (6)Crayola® Classic Markers, Broad Line, 10/Box (2)


So what did you get??

#1,275: Crockpot Taco Meat

Although taco meat is definitely an easy meat/meal to create, I have to admit I was super intrigued when I saw a recipe for making it in the crockpot.  Although it was easy, and fairly good, and my family enjoyed it, I definitely enjoy taco meat sauteed in a pan instead.  HOWEVER, this would be a great recipe to make if you are making a large batch or you really don't have time and just want to throw it all together and sit.  I felt like the meat got a little soft so keep that in mind if you make this recipe.

Would I make this again?  Yes.  Do I think it's the best taco meat ever?  No.

1 lb ground beef
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

In a small bowl combine all of the spices.  In a separate bowl add the ground beef, tomato paste and spices.  Use a spoon to mix together and break up the meat.  Place in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.  (After about 2 1/2 hours I stirred/broke up the meat as much as possible).