Super Easy Chocolate Banana Muffins

These muffins are so super easy, that my 7 year old son made them for breakfast for us recently. They only need 2 ingredients!!! A box of chocolate cake mix and 4 medium bananas.

Super Easy Chocolate Banana Muffins
1 box chocolate cake mix
4 medium bananas, mashed

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree
• Mash bananas
• Pour in cake mix (only the mix, not other ingredients listed on the back)
• Mix together bananas and cake mix until blended
• Scoop batter in to 18 muffin tins
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Enjoy!

These will be more dense than cupcakes, but still very tasty. Allow to cool before removing from the muffin tin. This is the perfect beginner recipe for a child because there is no measuring involved but they still get a chance to read a recipe and follow instructions and use kitchen tools. A perfect start to learning some life skills in the kitchen.

Oven Bean and Cheese Burritos

These are super simple and easy  to throw together for a weeknight dinner. My kids love this. Perfect for Meatless Mondays!

Oven Bean and Cheese Burritos

1 can refried beans
1 package soft shells, (8 ct burrito size)
3 green onions, sliced
2 C shredded cheese (reserve 1/2 C)
1 jar of Taco Bell Mild Sauce (or 1 1/2 C or you favorite salsa)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Split refried beans, 1 1/2 C shredded cheese and scallions evenly among 8 burrito shells. 
Fold in opposite sides of the burrito, then fold in the other opposite sides of the burrito creating a rectangle .
Place (end sides down) in a greasded 13x9 baking dish. Make 2 rows of 4 burritos.
Pour mild sauce over the entire dish.
Bake for 1 hour.
Top with reserve 1/2 C shredded cheese the last 5 min of baking.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Creamy Potato Soup

Creamy Potato Soup

3 C diced yukon gold potatoes (rinsed with peels on)
2 C milk or coconut milk
2 C chicken or vegetable broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 C yellow onion, diced
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 T cornstarch

2-3 pcs. bacon, crumbled

2 T fresh chives, minced

Directions:

• Saute onion and garlic in oil on the stovetop until onions are translucent
• Place potatoes, milk and broth in a 4 Qt slow cooker
• Stir in onions and garlic
• Add spices (except fresh chives) and stir
• Cook on low for 7-8 hours
• Puree the soup using a hand blender
• Mix cornstarch in cold water with a whisk
• Pour cornstarch mixture in soup and stir.
• Stir in bacon crumbles
• Allow to cook for 10-15 minutes longer as it thickens
• Sprimkle top with fresh chives ans serve.
• Emjoy!

10 Movie Night at Home Snack Ideas

We have made a fun night in our house at least once a month, sometimes more than that and do a Family Movie Night. We don't just hang out and watch a movie, but really get in to it and enjoy a variety of snacks. Typically, we pick out a movie we haven't seen on Netflix or Amazon Prime, so it is typically a relatively inexpensive way to spend time together and everyone seems to enjoy it. Here are some ideas for snacks for a movie night at home.

• Big Pretzels with Cheese (try these Homemade Soft Pretzels)
• Popcorn (Of Course! Or for a different twist try out this Christmas Popcorn or a Clean Eating Peanut Butter Popcorn Ball )
• Pizzas (top your own, take and bake or Homemade Grilled Pizza)
• Pints of Ice Cream (for a homemade version, try some Snow Ice Cream or Easy Low-Carb Ice Cream)
• Giant cookies (try these Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies)
• Homemade Microwave Caramel Corn
• Popsicles (try these Homemade Strawberry Banana Popicles)
• Easy Mexican Brownies (or any kind of brownies)
• Candy (really any kind or movie theater boxes of candy, or make these Homemade Easy Lollipops)
• Nachos with Homemade Baked Corn Chips and Beefy Bean Dip

Oven Baked Portobello Mushroom and Egg with Bacon

This is a super simple breakfast or meal if you are trying to eat clean, Paleo or low carb.

Preheat you oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray.
Remove stem from the mushroom and place gill side up in the dish.
Crack an egg on top.
Sprinkle with bacon crumbles, salt and pepper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes to desired egg hardness.
Enjoy!

Cilantro-Lime Coleslaw

This is a wonderfully flavorful coleslaw without the heaviness of mayo. It is great on it's own or tastes wonderful on shrimp or fish tacos.

Cilantro-Lime Coleslaw
1 small head of cabbage (shredded, about 6 cups)
1 C carrots (shredded or diced)
1/2 C fresh cilantro (chopped)
1/2 C green onions (sliced)
5 T fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
3 T extra virgin olive oil
4 tsp sugar
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Mix together all vegetables in a large bowl with a cover
Mix together juice, oil, sugar and salt and pepper to make a dressing
Pour dressing over the top of the vegetables
Seal cover on the bowl and shake to mix well
Allow to sit in the refrigerator for 3 hours to allow flavors to blend.
Toss in the bowl again before serving to have dressing coat the slaw again.

Simple Bean and Corn Salsa

Do you remember that cookbook.....A Man A Can and A Plan? Or something like that. I have never actually read it, just remember the ads from on TV. Anyways, this is totally a recipe that could fit in there, as you could just stop with the 3 cans and not add any of the fresh ingredients and have perfectly good salsa, but I like to add some fresh stuff too!

Simple Bean and Corn Salsa
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes with jalepenos (Ro-tel)
1/2 C chopped cilantro
1/2 C chopped green onions

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together. Best if allowed to sit for a couple hours to allow all the flavors to meld together.

ENJOY!

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

These are super easy to make and you only need a few ingredients. You are going to wonder why you haven't made these before. Everyone loves them when I make them. Make sure you buy the grand size biscuits. All these does cell large biscuit that works as well. Just don't buy the small biscuits.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Tube of large biscuits 
Canola oil 
1/2 C sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 

Directions:
Pour enough oil into a frying pan to cover it 1/4-1/2" in the pan. Heat the oil so that it is hot before putting in your first biscuit. This will take about a minute on medium-high heat.

Cut circles into the center of the biscuits using a small circle cookie cutter.

Microwave for biscuits at a time and their corresponding donut holes for 1 minute at 100%. This helps to start cooking it in the center. If you don't do this you will have to fry them longer and they may not taste as well.

Place microwave biscuits in the hot oil and cook until golden brown on the bottom, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side.

Immediately toss in some cinnamon sugar, which you made by mixing together the cinnamon and sugar. Allow to cool on paper towel on a plate. The paper towels will help to absorb excess oil.

Enjoy!

Pinterest Inspired Food

I thought today I would share some of the dishes that I have made from pins I have found. Give you my thoughts and any changes I made to the the recipe and let you check out the recipe for yourselves on the blogs and websites where I found them. These are pictures of the food I made using these recipes provided in the links. Sometimes I just like to share the items I made on my blog so that I have a reference of how to make it again, like my own recipe catalog.

This recipe as titled by the author at Second Thought is Polenta with Mushrooms and Leeks. I varied from the recipe by making a mushroom and leek meat sauce to top it with. The only change I made to the recipe is I decreased the water to 1.5 C. Also, I wanted to note that it took quite a bit longer to get to the consistency described (even with a decrease in water). It took me 10 minutes longer than the 5-6 minutes in the recipe. Other than that, next time I won't add additional salt. I did like it and wasn't sure if I would like polenta, but it was good and I would make this again.

Recently, Chipotle released it's guacamole recipe and Takepart.com has the original recipe published on their website that you can copy. All ingredients are fresh and no dried seasonings. I made it and thought it tasted awesome and was able to use a hot pepper and cilantro from my garden to make it, which made this Chipotle Guacamole taste even more awesome!

In the spirit of trying Chipotle copycat recipes, I thought we would also try a Chipotle Cilantro-Lime Rice recipe as well that was featured on the Culinary Hill blog. The recipe seems spot on and I would give it a try if you are a Chipotle fan. I would not have thought about needing a bay leaf to make this recipe if I had not seen it listed.

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken, Bacon & Potatoes

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken, Bacon and Potatoes
5 medium potatoes, in 1" cubes
1 large onion, chopped
3 oz. real bacon bit
1 1/2 lbs. chicken, cubed
1 T parsley
1 package dry ranch seasoning
2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Spray inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray
• Combine all ingredients (except cheese) and toss inside the slow cooker
• Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
• During the last 10 minutes stir in cheese and allow to melt
• Enjoy!

Dairy Free Creamy Spinach Chicken

Dairy Free Creamy Spinach Chicken

3/4 C light coconut milk, warmed
3 T nutritional yeast
1 T dried onion
1 T Wildtree Garlic Galore
4 oz fresh spinach
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
favorite seasonings


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Mix together coconut milk, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic seasonings,allow to rest for 5 minutes
• Place spinach in the bottom of a greased casserole dish
• Pour over the top of spinach
• Stir to coat spinach
• Place chicken on top
• Sprinkle favorite seasonings on top of the chicken (I used Stonemill Essentials Steak & Chop Seasoning Mix and Parsley Flakes)
• Bake for 30-35 minutes

Christmas Divinity Candy

I am not going to pretend making divinity is easy. It can be if you have patience and follow this recipe exactly. It can be very easy to screw it up and overcook or under cook the mixture. So, take your time and make sure you have a good candy thermometer to use. You could add nuts to this candy, but I like it plain and I add food coloring to give it a fun color for the holidays.

Christmas Divinity Candy
From Betty Crocker Cookbook

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Cook sugar, corn syrup and water (use 1 tablespoon less water on humid days) in 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, without stirring, to 260ºF on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball that holds its shape but is pliable.

Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly on medium speed. (For best results, use electric stand mixer, not a portable handheld mixer since beating time is about 10 minutes and mixture is thick.) Add vanilla. Beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may become too stiff for mixer.)

Drop mixture from buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature at least 12 hours, turning candies over once, until candies feel firm. Store in airtight container.

EASY 3-Ingredient Gingerbread Dip

Gingerbread Dip
1 box gingerbread Jell-O
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C whipping cream
vanilla wafers, apple slices or gingerbread cookies to serve on the side

Directions:
Whip Together all ingredients until fluffy. Allow to chill for at least  1 hour before serving. Mixture will thicken as it chills. Serve with vanilla wafers, apple slices or gingerbread cookies.

Easiest Fudge Recipe EVER!

Easiest Fudge Recipe Ever!
18 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
dash of salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

• Line an 8" square pan with wax paper
• Melt chocolate chips with the salt and sweetened condensed milk in a sauce pan until chocolate is completely melted
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla
• Chill for 2 hours or until firm
• Remove from pan by lifting up on edges of wax paper

Cinnamon Roll Wreath from Taste of Home

This is a picture from last Christmas. I made this for Christmas Day breakfast. It was delicious and they kids thought it was pretty neat to look at.

Cinnamon Wreath Bread
from Taste of Home

2 Packages ( ¼ oz each ) Active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
6 TBS butter
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
¾ tsp salt
4 1/2-5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 TBS butter melted
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 TBS water
¼ tsp almond extract


In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the butter, milk powder, sugar, egg, salt, and 3 cups of flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough flour to form a soft dough. ( The dough will be sticky )

Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into an 18 in x 12 in rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and chipped almonds to within ½ inch of the edges. Roll up jelly-roll style starting with the long side and pinch the seam to seal.

Place seam down on a greased baking sheet and pinch the ends together to form a ring. With kitchen scissors, cut from the outside edge to 2/3’s of the way towards the center of the ring at 1 inch intervals. Separate the strips slightly and twist to allow the filling to show. Cover and let rise again until doubled. (About 45 minutes to an hour)

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, Combine the confectioners sugar, water, and extract and drizzle over the warm bread. I used leftover green frosting from when we decorated sugar cookies and added red hot on top for decoratio

n.

Christmas Confetti Pasta with Shrimp

I came up with this recipe last Christmas went I decided I wanted something other than Ham or Turkey. I desired something that would be filling, delicious and something we all would like but not require me to spend all Christmas Day in the kitchen. I wanted it to seem "Christmas-y" and so I thought making it red and green would do the trick.

Christmas Confetti Pasta with Shrimp

12 oz. Linguine, cooked

1/2 C butter

12 oz. shrimp

3 green onions

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 med. zucchini, cubed

salt, pepper and parsley, to taste

1 can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Melt butter on baking sheet in the oven
• Add shrimp, onion, cloves zucchini and lightly toss
• Sprinkle desired amount of salt, pepper and parsley over the top
• Bake for 15 minutes
• While Shrimp is cooking, bring water to a boil and cook linguine
• Drain linguine and place in a large pasta bowl
• Heat up can of diced tomatoes
• Pour tomatoes and cooked shrimp mixture on top of  linguine and toss together
• Enjoy!

NO-BAKE White Chocolate Peppermint Mini Cheesecakes

White Chocolate Peppermint Mini Cheesecakes

36 Vanilla Wafers
6 oz. white chocolate
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extracts
1/4 C powdered sugar
6 peppermint candies, crushed

Directions:

• Arrange vanilla wafers in mini muffin paper cups inside regular size muffin tins
• Whip together cream cheese, extracts, powdered sugar and whipping cream
• Melt white chocolate in the microwave 20-30 seconds at a time (it took me 1 1/2 minutes) and stir each time you take it out to check it
• Pour melted chocolate in the cream cheese mixture while it beats
• Scoop cheesecake mixture in to prepared muffin cups
• Sprinkle crushed candies on top
• Allow to chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
• Keep refrigerated until serving.
• Enjoy!

Make a Fun Turkey Cinnamon Roll

This is a fun and simple way to be creative on Thanksgiving. I used leftover Halloween candy (banana Laffy Taffy, Tootsie Rolls, and Fruit Punch Frooties) and make then in to facial features on the caramel cinnamon rolls. This is my recipe for Caramel Cinnamon Rolls. Finally, stuck half pieces of fried bacon in the back for tail feathers. How cute its this?!?!?!

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Are you thinking ahead and looking for ideas on how to use your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving?

Just pick up a bag of Shore Lunch Creamy Wild Rice Soup from your grocery store and make according to the instructions (it cooks up in about 20 minutes and only needs water!) and add about 1 Cup of chopped turkey to the mix. That's it.

I have bought this soup several times and sometimes I had leftover chicken. I usually have one of these (or another my this company) in the pantry in case I do have leftover meat I want to add to it. This is NOT a sponsored post or anything, I just think they make a mix that gives you a fresh tasting soup that is of restaurant quality. Try it for yourself.

If you need other ideas, try out my other posts to find other ideas to use up turkey leftovers:

• 10 Ideas from 2012
• 10 Ideas from 2013

Guess I decided not to do a round up in 2014, well, I might have to re-think that for 2015.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Cake Part
3 C whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 C raw sugar
1/4 C coconut oil, melted
2 eggs
1 1/4 C coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C pumpkin puree

Topping
1/2 C coconut oil, melted
1/2 C cinnamon sugar
1/2 C old fashioned oats
1/2 C pecans, chopped