Devilish Delights

I had to change up the recipe for this. For some reason it wasn't working, and was way to wet to make nice cookie mounds. But, never fear, they are still pretty yummy. They are chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. With a splash of coffee liqueur. The good news is, they are yummy. The bad news is, I can't remember how much flour and cocoa powder I ended up adding. So these will be my one hit wonder this year.

Chewy S'mores Bars

I wonderful camping favorite in an easy to make bar. Oh these are good. I mean, really good. Plus, the batter isn't have bad. Truth be told, it's a wonder the batter ever made it into bars. I found this recipe in my Better Homes Cookie magazine.

Chewy S'mores Bars

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 quick cooking rolled oats
1 cup crushed graham crackers
2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2in pan with foil. Lightly grease foil.

In large bowl beat butter and sugar until combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in flour. Stir in oats and graham crackers.

Reserve 1 cup of oat mixture. Spread rest into pan. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle marshmallows and chocolate chunks over warm crust. Dot top with oat mixture. Bake 20 minutes.

Cool on wire rack in pan. Pull out uncut bars using foil. Cut into bars.

Lemon Crescents

These came out pretty good. They weren't as sweet as I thought they would be, though. If you are looking for a lighter, less rich cookie, this is a good option.

Lemon Crescents

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 powdered sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and lime juice until smooth. Beat in flour, salt and lemon peel.

Shape dough into crescent shapes, about 2 inches long. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges just turn brown.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar and cool on wire rack. Dust with more powdered sugar once cooled.

Nana's Banana Cake

I love Nana's Apple Cake mix! It is so versatile. I had 2 bananas I needed to use, as they were very ripe. I thought, why not toss them into Nana's Apple Cake mix? I love the results!

Nana's Banana Cake with pecans

1 pkg Nana's Apple Cake mix
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs.
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x9 baking pan.

Beat smashed bananas and eggs to combine. Add cake mix and pecans. Beat until combined.
Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Rhubarb Strawberry Thumbprint Squares

These are so flaky and yummy. Fairly easy to make too. I used Tastefully Simples Rhubarb Strawberry Fruit Spread to fill the thumbprints and it gave them this wonderful tangy flavor.

Rhubarb Strawberry Thumbprint Squares

1 1/4 cups softened butter
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups flour
Rhubarb Strawberry Fruit Spread

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan. Set aside.

Beat butter for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, beat until combined. Beat in egg and lemon extract. Beat in flour.

Press dough into bottom of pan. Using a pizza cutter cut 9 rows down, and 6 rows across. Make indentations on each square with thumb. Add small teaspoon of fruit spread.

Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool for 5 minutes. Then cut along lines with pizza cutter again. Cool on wire rack and dust with powdered sugar.

Absolutely Almond Cream Cheese Cookies

Absolutely Almond Cream Cheese Cookies. Ohh... If you like fluffy, light cookies, these are the cookies for you. This is a recipe from my Tastefully Simple website. I was looking for something super easy that used the Absolutely Almond Pound cake mix. I like this pound cake, but I love it even more as a cookie! Only thing I added, to the recipe, was the colored sugar sprinkles.

Absolutely Almond Cream Cheese Cookies

8 oz. pkg. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1 egg
Absolutely Almond Pound Cake Mix

Combine first 2 ingredients; mix until smooth. Add egg; blend well. Stir in AA Cake Mix (may have to knead with hands until dough forms). Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 11-12 minutes or until cookies are light brown on bottom (cookies should not brown on top and will only flatten slightly). Cool on baking rack. Makes about 45 cookies.

Check my TS website for Absolutely Almond Cake Mix

Blondies

You may be surprised, with all the baking I have done, I have never made Blondies before. Nope. This is the first time. They were pretty easy, and tasty. I found this recipe in my Better Homes cookbook. I added a crushed up Heath bar, white chocolate chips, and pecans to the top right before baking.

Rum Flavored Meringues

My goal this season is to try making cookies I have never made before. Ultimately, I would really like to do 25 days of baking. All new recipes! I don't know that I will be able to make that many, as it is my busy season at work, but I am going to do my best and bake as much as time (and my waistline) will allow.

My first batch of cookies is Rum Flavored Meringues. This is my first attempt at meringue cookies. They came out light and fluffy. Melt in your mouth delicious! They were also easier then I had anticipated.

Rum Flavored Meringues

3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp rum extract
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In large (glass or metal) bowl combine first 4 ingredients. Beat until soft peaks form, Gradually add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high. Beat until stiff peaks form.

Spoon into a pipping bag with a star tip. Pipe 2in stars on parchment paper an inch apart.
(can also use a spoon to make small mounds instead of using a pipping bag)

Bake for an hour and 20 minutes, or until cookies are dry and firm when lightly touched. Cool on wire rack, or do what I did, and just pull the parchment off the sheet and onto cool counter.

Pumpkin Bisque

This was one of those ideas that kinda scared me. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to try. I had this idea for a pumpkin soup... a thick, creamy soup. I like thick soups. So, I figured, why not. I mean, I had all the ingredients, what could it hurt. I am SOOOOO glad I did! This soup was so good, My husband (who was really doubting it) has already asked when I will be making it again.
I'm also betting it would be even better with fresh pumpkin, instead of canned, but canned is what I had.

Pumpkin Bisque

1 cup pumpkin
half an onion chopped
1 tbs bacon fat
1 tbs Garlic Garlic
3 cups heavy cream
2 cubes chicken bouillon
3 egg yolks, beat slightly
salt and pepper to taste

Heat bacon fat in pan. Add onions, cook until translucent. Add pumpkin, Garlic Garlic, some salt and pepper. Whisk in heavy cream. Add bouillon cubes.
Temper eggs by adding a little of the hot soup to eggs and beating with a fork. Repeat. Then add egg mixture to soup. Cook on medium, stirring constantly. Soup will thicken and start to bubble. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy.

Side note, I think this would be better completely creamy, by blending with immersion blender. (I don't have one, so we had our chunky) My husband, prefers the chunks of onion for texture. I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Garlic Garlic is made by Tastefully Simple, you can get it from the website on the top, right of this page.

Praline Pumpkin Dessert

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! This is what I made for dessert today. I made one for all my guys at work, and they gobbled it right up.

I found this recipe online at http://www.pumpkinnook.com/ Pretty neat little website all about pumpkins. This dessert is very good. I can't wait to make it again. It is definitely better served warm. I plan on serving it with my home made pumpkin spice ice cream.

go here for the full recipe. http://www.pumpkinnook.com/cookbook/recipe49.htm

Definitely, try this. It's so yummy and super easy.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ohh... Now this..mmm.....this is soooo good. Oh.. you have to try it. But you can't, because I think I'm going to eat it all. I also got this recipe out of my KitchenAid Best Loved Recipes cookbook. Oh... mmmm sooo sooo good. Cheesecake

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

If I have made awesome ice cream before... I have made super awesome ice cream now. This is so yummy. I can't wait to try it over warm pecan pie....oh..yummo! This is totally my recipe, and boy, did I surprise myself.

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

1 2/3 cups heavy cream
1 2/3 cups half and half
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla
6 egg yolks

Cream egg yolks and sugar in stand mixer. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Mix to combine.

Heat half and half in a sauce pan until very hot, but not boiling. Stream in a little into egg mixture while beating on low. Once combined, add a little more. Combine. Stream in rest of half and half while still beating mixture. Beat for 1 minute. Pour complete mixture back into sauce pan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until bubbles form on side of pan. Strain into a large spouted bowl. (I like my Pampered Chef batter bowl for this) Add in heavy cream and vanilla. Mix to combine. Let cool and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacture directions. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting

These are delicious! I found the recipe in one of my all time favorite cookbooks. My KitchenAid Best Love Recipes book. I have wanted to make these for a while, but kept putting it off for some reason or another. Oh, they are so yummy. It is a small batch, but they are very rich, so you don't need a huge piece.

Primo Pumpkin Brownies

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/3 cup flour
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp backing powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 heath bars crushed up. (my addition, since I couldn't find toffee baking bits)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8x8 baking dish. Beat sugar,butter, and vanilla in stand mixer. Beat until smooth. Add egg, beat until fluffy. Add rest of ingredients. Mix until combined. Spread into pan. Bake 45 min. Allow to cool completely.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

3 tbs heavy cream
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1 brick of cream cheese, soft
2/3 cup powdered sugar

Heat cream in sauce pan, till bubbles form on sides. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate. Stir until completely melted. Whip cream cheese and sugar in stand mixer. Stream in chocolate mixture. Whip until smooth.

Frost cooled brownies with cool frosting.

Pumpkin Chili

Pumpkin Chili...Yep, I went there. I came across a few different recipes and just had to give it a try. Many were skeptical...including me. I have only ever had pumpkin in sweet dishes, never savory. I'm glad I gave this a try. It was very good, with just a hint of pumpkin. I made mine a little on the spicy side, but my family gobbled it right up. Only change I will make, is the beef broth. I think it would be better to change it out for tomato sauce.

Pumpkin Chili

1 can pumpkin

2 bell peppers, diced

1 onion, diced

2lbs ground beef

1 tbs Garlic Garlic

1 tbs Fiesta party dip mix

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

2 cans Dark kidney beans

1 can black beans

1 can chili ready diced tomatoes

2 cans beef broth

Brown up ground beef with peppers and onions. Drain. Rinse and drain all beans. Add all ingredients to crock pot. Mix to combine. Cover and cook on low about 5 hours. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Garlic Garlic and Fiesta Party dip mix are from Tastefully Simple. Click the web link to the right, to order.

Yes, I'm a Huge Slacker.....but I promise to make up for it.

I know I have been a huge slacker... But I have been cooking.. LOTS! I have some awesome new recipes.
I doing a Five Days of Pumpkin, starting tomorrow. Then, I am doing 25 days of cookies starting December 1st. I will be trying all new cookie recipes. Yep. NEW! I am so excited!

Jacob'S Wraps

I love to cook. Really, I do, and I hope to pass my love of food, on to my children. I think it's working, at least, with my son Jacob. I picked him up from school and he told me he had this great idea for dinner. He wanted to make wraps. Although this isn't exactly what he had in mind. He loved making them. So, this particular night, Jacob made dinner. Almost completely by himself. He was so very proud and so was I.

Fried Okra?

Okra. Never had it, let alone cooked it until a few days ago. My sweet neighbor, Sue, brought over some fried okra she had made. I loved it! So yummy. I don't know how I've never had it. This is what it looks like after it's been sliced up, the ends removed, and rinsed.

Toss into a bowl of bread crumbs and corn meal. Added seasonings for flavor.

Then fry up. Only takes a few minutes for the okra to fry up nicely.

And this is the finished product. I loved it. Came out so crispy and light. Lots of flavor. To me, it was very similar to a fried zucchini.

Hot Coco Mocha Ice Cream

I made this ice cream using the same hot coco mix I made the cake and frosting from. Ohhhh soooo good!

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups half and half
2 table spoons instant coffee powder
3 cups hot coco mix
1 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Once everything is dissolved and incorporated, add to ice cream maker. Churn until done. Try not to eat it all.

This would be really really really good with bits of Heath Bar crumbled in at the end. Next time for sure.

Hot Coco Mocha Cake with Hot Coco Cream Cheese Frosting

This is what happens when one gets caught up in those cake shows on t.v. Wait until you see what I made to go with this cake.

I had this crazy idea to make a cake. I went into the kitchen with no clear idea of what kind of cake I wanted to make. Started looking into my pantry to see what I had. Found this huge bag of homemade hot coco mix my dear friend Mary had given me. Hmmmm.. Bet that would make a great cake flavor. So I found my recipe for one bowl chocolate cake. Used that as my base. Then added some instant coffee and used the coco mix in place of some of the sugar and coco powder.

The frosting, though, is the main attraction. This frosting is so darn good, it's well, wrong. I actually made it up on the fly. Only one thing needs to change... The coco mix contains powdered milk and it kinda lumps up. So, I need a hot coco powder recipe that does not contain the powdered milk. It doesn't affect the flavor, just the look of the frosting.

Ingredients
One brick of cream cheese.
4 cups Powdered sugar
1 1/2-2 cups Hot coco mix
2 cap fulls Almond extract

Whip the cream cheese until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Whip until creamy.

Angel Hair Pasta with Broccoli Cream Sauce

I made this up for dinner tonight. Came out pretty good. A little too thick of a sauce for angel hair pasta, but my family loved it anyway.

Sauce is pretty simple. Chop a few cloves of fresh garlic and toss in a pot with olive oil and butter. Cook until butter is melted and the garlic is soft. Add Italian seasoning. Add about half a bag of frozen broccoli and a brick of cream cheese. It will be very thick, so add a splash of milk to thin it just a bit.

If I make this again, I will only use half a brick of cream cheese and use half and half or milk to thin it out.

Leftover Stew

I love making something new with leftovers!! Here is leftover stew! Yummmo! I got the kids involved in this too. Diced up an onion and some leftover grilled chicken breasts. Toss into a big pot. Add corn, green beans (from last night), a can of stewed tomatoes, can of tomato sauce, couple cans of water. Add seasonings and let boil. Turned out so good.
My husband said it's even better if you add sour cream on top.

Teaching the Kids to Cook

I have decided it's time to get my kids involved more in the kitchen. It's important to teach them such life skills. I don't want them living on fast food when they are older.. or worse, not moving out at all. So, I am teaching them to cook. Plus, it is kinda fun having them help. I just have to make sure I have a lot of patience on these days.

Anyway.. this is how it went.

Jessica, made the garlic bread. It was the perfect job for her. She has a very unnatural love of butter, so she was able to put as much as she wanted on her bread. She can get away with this, since she's four and has a pretty healthy diet the rest of the time.

Jacob, had to cut the sun dried tomatoes and make the sauce. He did very well. We did have safety talks about using knives and the stove. Basically, I told him if he touched either items without my permission..I'd break his little fingers. I think that drove the point home. LOL He worked very safe and did a wonderful job.

I really enjoyed working with both of them. I'm not going to lie, it took a little to sucker them into helping me. But, after all was cooked and done...they had fun too. Jacob is already thinking of other things to make.

My White Pie

Home made white pizza pie. Oh yumm! This is very rich and oh so delicous. Pretty simple too.
Make a pizza dough. Flatten out. Rub some olive oil on it and toss on to hot grill. Grill one side for a few minutes, till it starts bubbling on the top, and has good grill marks on the bottom. Flip. Add your favorite toppings. Let the toppings get all hot and melted. Then, it's done.

I went with a riccota cheese, mixed with roasted garlic, salt, pepper, Tastefully Simple's Spinach and Herb Dip mix, and some olive oil from the sundried tomatoes. Then, I added sundried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes, and some shredded mozzarella. Came out pretty good. Some things I will change next time..Fresh mozzerella instead of the preshredded stuff, only one kind of tomato. May also try with fresh basil or baby spinach.

Grilled Chicken Salad

I light dinner. Grilled up some chicken breasts and tossed them on top of some lettuce and tomatoes. Add shredded cheddar cheese and a little dressing. This was actually a very filling meal. It was also a nice change from the gut busting (yummy comfort food) chicken fried steak.

Not as good as Trish's..but..

Chicken fried steak, smashed potatoes, and asparagus. Not the most healthy meal, but it was definitely good comfort food. Plus, pounding out the steak works out a lot of aggression. I recommend making this meal when you are really want to beat the husband or children. The flatter you pound the meat, the better it gets. So, the more ticked off you are, the better. :)

Anyway, Start by pounding the meat. Then dip into milk (I used half and half, I had it and it needed to be used) and then into the breading, then straight into a hot pan of oil. Cook a few minutes on each side. I made the breading with equal parts flour and Italian seasoned bread crumbs. I also added some seasonings..salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.

I also made the potatoes and gravy from scratch. :) No instant potatoes today. LOL

Tastefully Ice Cream

I couldn't sleep last night. So, I decided to make ice cream. I know.. I'm a sick puppy. Anyways, I made this ice cream from a Tastefully Simple Sweet Strawberry Cheese Ball mix. I went the easy route on this one, I didn't make it a custard like I normally do. So, there is no cooking involved. Just got out a mixing bowl and poured in heavy cream, half and half, cheese ball mix (not the crunchy coating) and 3/4 cup sugar. Mix until dissolved. Churn in ice cream maker.

This came out pretty good. Kinda reminds me of strawberry milk. I added the crunchy coating as sprinkles.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 half and half
3/4 cups sugar.
1 packet of Tastefully Simple Sweet Strawberry Cheese Ball Mix.

Go to http://www.tastefullysimple.com/home.aspx to find the mix.

Cheese Cake Ice Cream

Cheese Cake Ice Cream...yep..life couldn't be better. This is a custard ice cream and it is very rich and soooo creamy.

Ingredients-
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1 brick of cream cheese
5 egg yolks
2 table spoons sugar
capful of almond extract

Heat half and half, cup of sugar, and cream cheese in sauce pan. Heat until cheese is melted and sugar is dissolved, but not boiling.

Whisk yolks with 2 tablespoons of sugar until creamy.

Temper eggs and half and half mixture. Cook until thickened.

Put heavy cream in a bowl and place a sieve over top. Run the hot cream cheese mixture thru a sieve. Stir all together and let cool. Place in fridge, if you can wait, let it sit over night.

Churn according to your ice cream makers directions. (If you are as lucky as I was, your custard will be so cold and creamy, it will only take about 10 minutes to churn. But, I let the batter sit over night on the top shelf of my fridge.)

Garnish with Graham crackers.

Simple Pasta Dish

This was so easy... I think my four year old could do it.. That is, if I allowed her to touch the stove. The best part is, it was yummo!! My family just ate it up... and I just made it up as I went a long.

1 bag pasta, cooked and drained.

Sauce..
One brick of cream cheese
One can of diced tomatoes, Italian style
Garlic, Garlic to taste

Toss everything into a sauce pan. Cook until the cream cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
Toss with pasta. Enjoy.

This was a very good meal. Fast, easy, and cheap. I think next time I will use sun dried tomatoes.. I bet that would be good.

Leftover Chicken Burritos

I love making something new from leftovers! Had some roasted chicken leftover from yesterday and decided to turn it into burritos. Added a can of diced tomatoes, diced onion, can of black beans and seasonings. Cook until the liquid from the tomatoes is gone and it's all hot and bubbly. Heat up some tortillas, add cheese, sour cream and avocados. Yumm!

It's Been a While

Dinner tonight was a throw together. I have been lazy and not really in the mood to cook, so I have been cheating with frozen lasagna and boxed mac and cheese.. oh and take out. LOL Today it was time to get out of the funk and cook. Not that this was a big deal. Frozen burger patty, cooked under the broiler. Add cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese. Saute up some cabbage and tomatoes. Done. Was delish and fairly healthy.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I made this very yummy ice cream yesterday. It is so sweet and refreshing.

Ingredients

3/4 bag of fresh cherries, stems pulled off.
1 1/2 of sugar
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups half and half
6 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of almond extract
1/2 mini chocolate chips....maybe a little more. ;)

Beat egg yolks till light yellow. Heat up half and half and 1 cup of sugar on the stove. Temper eggs into hot half and half. Keep stirring. Add yolks to cream. Cook until it thickens. Just a few minutes. Pour heavy cream into a large, spouted bowl. Add in almond extract. Put a strainer over the bowl of cream. Pour the half and half mixture into the cream, allowing it to strain through the strainer. Stir the mixture making sure it's well combined. Let cool. I put mine in the freezer to cool, because I'm very impatient.

Add 1/2 cup sugar and cherries to a pan and cook for about 20 min, until the juices come out of the cherries and thickens up. Then, strain the cherries letting all the wonderful juices drain into a bowl. Add this bowl to the freezer to chill.

When both mixtures are cold, mix together and add to ice cream maker. When it's almost done, add in chocolate chips. Transfer to a freezer safe bowl and freeze.

Pork Chops, Cabbage, and Potatoes

Tonight I made broiled lemon pepper pork chops, cabbage and fried potatoes. Very good and easy meal.

Turkey Taco Salad

Nothing special. Just ground turkey with taco seasoning. I also added in the corn and black bean salad, left over from last night.

Margarita Chicken Burrito with Corn and Black Bean Salad

I used leftover margarita chicken to make these burritos. Made corn and black bean salad for the base. Added chicken, avocado, tomato, and pineapple salsa.

Corn and Black Bean Salad. Char up two ears of corn and a red bell pepper. Dice up a small onion and cilantro. Rinse and drain a can of black beans. Cut corn off the cob, and dice up the pepper. Toss all ingredients into a bowl. Add juice from half a lime and 3-4 teaspoons of taco seasoning mix. Toss together. You can totally enjoy this by itself, or add it to a burrito like I did.

Margarita Chicken Salad

Margarita Chicken Salad..how can that not sound good? It was very good. Marinated chicken breast (over night) in tequila (not just for drinking anymore :)), lime juice, margarita mix, Tastefully Simple Simply Salsa mix, salt and pepper. Grill chicken and corn, cut corn off cob and place on a bed of lettuce. Add some tomato's, cheese and sour cream. Avocados would have been a great addition, but mine were too hard.

One of The Many Reasons I'm so Lucky

My wonderful husband has learned something very important. A full wife, is a happy wife. Almost every morning I come home to one of his delectable omelets. I love them! I work early mornings and when I get home, I'm starving. He knows this and has an omelet all ready for me, with all my favorite things....ham, onion, mushrooms, and goat cheese. I also love avocados, so he, lovingly adds half an avocado to the top.

Cake Batter Ice Cream

This was the easiest ice cream I have made, yet. I have had the idea rattling around in my head for weeks. I finally decided to try it today.

Cake Batter Ice Cream

1 cup half and half
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 scoops Cake Batter Chiller Drink Mix by Tastefully Simple
1/2-3/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl until dissolved.
Set up ice cream maker.
Pour cream mixture into ice cream maker and follow instructions to make ice cream.
During last few minutes of mixing, add chocolate chips.
Pour into freezer safe bowl and set in freezer. Or... do what I do and eat it right from the ice cream maker. :)

http://www.tastefullysimple.com/Cultures/en-US/Products/CakeBatterChillerDrinkMix724400.htm?CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=ClientCatalog%3bBeverages&ShowTop=true

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman Cooks. I love her blog, and her recipes are wonderful. Anyway, this ice cream is even better then I thought it would be. Head on over to her website, and try it yourself. http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Heaven

Chocolate Heaven. I got this recipe from my mom, years ago. It's so good, it's sinful.

Make a chocolate cake in two 9in round pans. Let cool. Then crumble each cake.

Make one large box of chocolate instant pudding.

Crush 6 regular Butterfinger candy bars.

Thaw one large bowl of Cool Whip.

Place one crumbled cake in the bottom of a clear bowl.
Layer pudding, Cool whip, then Butterfinger crumbles.

Repeat.

Now, try and share with your family and friends. Try.

Roasted Veggies in a Pita Pocket

This was a "throw together" meal, as my husband would call it. I had the idea before going into the kitchen, so I don't really feel it was a throw together, but I'm not going to argue with him over it. I can find so many other things to argue about. ;) But, never mind that. Here's how to make it.

Cut up an onion, a few zucchini and squash (I had 5 total), and a few tomatoes. Mix together in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, and Tastefully Simple Sun Dried Tomato dip mix (about 2-3 teaspoons). Spread out on a sheet pan and roast under the broiler until golden brown, and the veggies are cooked.

Take a pita pocket and spread hummus inside. Add roasted veggies and some feta cheese. That's it. Totally yummy and vegetarian

Grilled Bell Pepper and Feta Burger

It's been so hot, that I haven't really been in the mood to cook. So, as you can see, I've been grilling a lot, and burgers are so easy. Tonight, I thought I'd change it up a bit. I sliced and grilled a red bell pepper. Add tomato, tomato & basil feta cheese and baby spinach... and you have an awesome burger. This would also be very tasty on pita bread, which was my original plan. But I decided to save the pita bread for something else.

I love my Grill!

Grilled steak, shrimp and veggies. What could be more tasty on a hot summer day?