Energy Bites!

My friend gave me this recipe, and it was delicious! I'm talking about the kind of perfect flavor and texture that is so good you can't stop thinking about it once you've had a bite!

So of course I got the recipe:

- 1 cup uncooked oatmeal

- 1/2 cup peanut butter

- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

- 1/3 cup honey

- 1 tsp vanilla

1. Mix

2. Chill 30 minutes

3. Scoop/Roll into balls

4. Enjoy!

I made some and my husband brought them to work. They were a hit! Everyone loved them!

One of his coworkers mentioned them being "energy bites". She said her trainer lets her have two per day... It made me wonder how they could be considered so much of a health food when they tasted so much like a dessert... So I "Googled" the recipe... Sure enough, there was a key ingredient that I had been missing:

1/2 cup Ground Flax Seed

"THAT explains a lot", I thought. As you might already know, I'm a huge fan of flax seed. Flax adds fiber, which would make the bites healthier (especially such a large ratio of it!). It would also keep them from being so gooey...

So next time I'll add the flax for a heathier morning snack... 

But just for the record, they make an excellent dessert without it! Haha

Enjoy both recipes!

- 1 cup uncooked oatmeal

** 1/2 cup ground flax seed

- 1/2 cup peanut butter

- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

- 1/3 cup honey

- 1 tsp vanilla

1. Mix

2. Chill 30 minutes

3. Scoop/Roll into balls

4. Enjoy!

Unforgettable Mac n Cheese!!!

I'm going to a BBQ, and what's a better side dish to bring than homemade Mac N Cheese??? This is not just any mac, however, it's mac with a kick!

I always add extra cheese, because there's no such thing as mac that's "too cheesy". I also add jalapeño to mine for some bite. The spiciness of the peppers and the creaminess of the cheeses balance each other perfectly!

The texture is also ideal because it is soft and comforting with some crunch from the peppers and topping!

The color of the green peppers pops amongst the oranges, yellows, and browns of the mac; making this a beautiful dish! The warm comfort and vibrant colors of the casserole make it enticing to all who look upon it...

This is definitely a keeper!

Click here for the recipe

**Heat can be adjusted according to preference by adding more/less jalapeños.

This is before placing it in the oven. The oven gives it a toasty crust on the top, which is fabulous! I didn't get a picture of it out of the oven because everyone got to it first!!!

It helps to measure the ingredients while the noodles are cooking. This adds a few extra dishes to wash, but is worth it because it makes the cooking process so much more efficient!

To crush the cornflakes quicker and with less mess, place them in a sandwich bag and use a rolling pin to gently crush them. **Be careful to make sure the bag is slightly opened or devoid of air so that it doesn't pop!

Use a fair method, such as "paper-rock-scissors" to determine who gets to eat the leftovers (if you have any).

Casserole Crazy!

Every year I like to buy a new recipe book to try out some new recipes. One year I bought a soup cookbook, another year I bought a salad one. Both turned out to have awesome recipes that I continue to use. This year I'm testing out a casserole cookbook. I figure it'll be good to have some "go to" meals I can freeze, and it never hurts to have a tasty dish to bring to a potluck!

When I make large meals, such as casseroles, my hubby and I get to have plenty of leftovers since most recipes yield 6-8 servings. Sometimes I freeze them, sometimes I pack them for lunch, and sometimes we eat the same thing for a couple of days (which is a good thing when the recipe rocks! A lot of foods actually taste even better as leftovers believe it or not). 

This week we chose options B and C, so I cooked two casseroles this week, and we also ate chicken and veggies for a couple of meals.

Casserole 1: Lattice Chicken Pot Pie

On Monday I tried a new Chicken Pot Pie recipe. I know what you might be thinking, "Wow she makes a lot of Chicken Pot Pies and Chicken and Dumplings!" If you're thinking that, you're correct! I do cook a lot of those dishes. Each one ends up having its own set of pros and cons.

The only con for this one is that we eventually ran out! It tasted absolutely wonderful! It was bursting with flavor, especially cheesy goodness! It had an array of textures, from creamy potato soup to the slight crispiness of the croissant crust. I even added a little extra flavor and texture by cooking the chicken in the oven with a crumb topping before cutting it into cubes and adding it to the pie. This recipe is DEFINITELY a keeper! Click here for the recipe.

I use this "Oven Fry" crumb mix because it has more of a fried texture to it even though it's baked.

For the chicken, I tenderized it inside plastic wrap to reduce the mess, then I dipped it in egg and covered it in the crumbs. I baked it as directed, and then cut it up to add to the casserole mix.

I cooked two chicken breasts for that night's dinner, and two for the casserole (I baked the casserole the next night).

Casserole 2: Turkey and Dumplings

On Wednesday I made Turkey and Dumplings! This one originally called for ground beef, but I subbed turkey in its place. It was really easy to make and tasted good! It reminded me of Sloppy Joes, Chicken and Dumplings, and cornbread all in one!

My husband really liked it! Looks like this one's a keeper too!

Click here for the recipe 

¡Enjoy!

Double Oven!

I've moved to a house out in the countryside! I love everything about it, especially the kitchen! 

When we moved in the only thing it needed (besides a new septic tank, water heater, and puppy) was a new oven. I was thrilled by this because it meant I'd have the opportunity to choose which oven I'd want! Of course, my dream has always been to have a double oven, so that's what I asked my husband for us to budget for... 

I was excited when Cody said, "yes" without hesitation--in fact, he eagerly took me to get one! We were both looking forward to some delicious baking! (The oven that came with the house was 20 years old, so it cooked everything unevenly--things stayed gooey in the middle and burnt on the bottom)...

It worked out perfectly because the appliance store had a huge Memorial Day sale! I ordered white to go with my country kitchen, and I waited eagerly for my oven to arrive...

When it finally arrived I couldn't wait to try it out! I immediately got to work on a pot pie and some banana bread, and both came out delicious! 

I chose to make a pot pie because it'd be something different than my staple recipes. And I chose the banana bread to have a control. I figured that since I make banana bread on a regular basis we could see how well the oven works in comparison to previous ones.

I'm excited to say that everything turned out fantastic! My husband said that it was the best banana bread I've ever made! And that is a HUGE compliment because my banana bread is one of his favorites!

Fast forward a few weeks and I still love using my new oven! The cook top is excellent too! It's a flat range, so it's easier to keep clean (another feature I've always wanted). Both large burners are  in the front, and one of them is a "dual" burner, which means I can use it as a small one if I want to. The back row has a warming burner, which I have not used yet but I know it will come in handy.

The ovens have a convection setting, rapid preheat function for single rack baking, a "toast" setting, and of course separate controls (temp and cook time) for each oven. I can also change the sound of the timers.

Today I made banana bread and bran muffins! (I was not exaggerating when I said that I make banana bread often).

The muffins were from a box mix. I have no shame in that. Boxed mixes taste good and are quick and easy. Plus, to be honest, I just wanted to make two recipes at once for the sake if it. I suped up my muffins with some toasted coconut Greek yogurt for flavor and moisture.

Everything came out wonderfully! My house smells delightful! My kitchen is clean and bright! Birds are chirping in my backyard! And I'm eating delicious baked goods! This is awesome!!!

... Now it's time to play with my puppy, and then enjoy a good book.

Happy baking!

Cranberry Pecan Muffins!

Warning: Muffins in these pictures are more delicious than they appear!

I got this recipe from a "cookbook for two" and doubled it because there's no way I could ever make muffins for just one meal! Extra muffins are always welcome in my home!!!

This recipe calls for a food processor, and pre-toasting some pecans--which means that it's a little bit of extra dish-washing and prep--but it's well worth it! 

They smell heavenly, are absolutely scrumptious, and have the best texture I've ever encountered in a muffin!!!

Click here for the recipe

The batter actually contains ground pecans! Need I say more???

The pecans in the topping toast during the baking process, adding to the delicious flavor of these muffins, as well as a bit of crunch!

They're even better on the inside!