Scarecrow Crunch September 20, 2012

ScArEcrOw CrUncH

The fall time always brings fresh aromas of sweet treats to ones house. Well I know in our home, when the heat dies down the stove and oven come on. This recipe I am about to share is a no cook, just throw a bunch of stuff together in a jar type of recipe. Your kids will love it and it makes a great after school snack.

A Great Fall Treat

Ingredients:

pretzels (Waffle or sticks)

Peanuts or sunflower seeds (we used peanuts)

Honey Nut Cheerios and or Reese’s Cocoa Puffs

Cheese Its or Fish crackers

Caramel Popcorn (I used fiddle-faddle)

Dried fruits (raisins or crazins)

Optional Sweet Additives: (Pick a few)

Candy corn (gives it fall color)

Mini chocolate chips

Reese’s pieces (also adds great fall color)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir and mix together, sometimes I use a large ziplock bag so that I can add ingredients and shake together. Kids love doing the mixing part.

I make a big batch up and place half of it in a tightly sealed zip lock bag and the other half in a large jar. My scarecrow crunch is great to eat but used as a fall decoration in my kitchen. Decorate your large jar with a fall like ribbon. The colors from the snack and ribbon give it a great fall look. Add the fun name “Scarecrow Crunch” to the outside with a chalk board sticker or scrap piece of paper!

Gift Idea:

Put in small mason jars, tie with a ribbon and put a label on it for a nice fall gift for a teacher or friend. Will do this as it gets closer to Halloween!!

Love:

The Andersen’s

 

 

 

 

Veggie Pizza (even my kids love it) May 7, 2012

Veggie Pizza

Here is a great recipe that will have your kids eating their veggies and enjoying it. My kids love this recipe. Also it is family friendly recipe that kids can help with.

Before the last layer of cheese.

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (I use Pillsbury)

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Cloves or Fresh Jar Garlic

Olive Oil

Roma Tomatoes (2)

Onion (Purple or Yellow)

Green Bell Pepper

Mushrooms

Mozzarella Cheese (1pound bag)

Italian Blend Cheese

Optional: Green or yellow Squash

Optional: Artichoke Hearts

Optional: Black Olives

1.)     Roll out dough on stone (I use a rectangle  stone)

2.)    Spread olive oil to cover pizza dough  (Just as you would if using sauce)

3.)    Next sprinkle Italian seasoning generously over olive oil

4.)    Add fresh garlic to dough (I use about 2 Tablespoons)

5.)    Then spread one layer of mozzarella cheese over pizza dough

6.)    Layer your veggies (no order, just throw them on there)

7.)    Sprinkle Italian seasoning  over veggies

8.)    Cover in remaining cheese (Both Mozzarella and Italian Blend)

9.)    Place in oven on 400 degrees for 22 min.

ENJOY!!!

5 Minute Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup March 2, 2012

Loaded Potato

Soup in a Jiff!!!

(Crock Pot Style)

I did it again!!! I did so good to plan my menu for the week (Menu Planning, coming soon to coffee hour).  However I managed to over pack my schedule this week and preparing dinner just seemed to OVER WHELM me. Do you ever feel that way, that dinner is the last thing you want to tackle on an already hectic day? Well this soccer mom loves this recipe because I can feed the tummies of my family and still have time to relax after my already crazy day.

Ingredients:

2 cans Cream of Potato Soup (Used Campbell’s)

2 cans Cheddar Cheese Soup (Used Campbell’s)

3 cups Half and Half (Alter this if you wish with some Milk)

Fresh Bacon Bits

1.5 Tbl. Minced Garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional ingredients: Fully cooked chicken breast strips (Cut into chunks), broccoli (Adds a little nutritional value)

Serves: 8-10

 Directions: Combine above ingredients in crock pot and stir until it is mixed throughly. Set crock pot on low for 3 hours or high for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally. Once finished put into bowls and top with cheese and sour cream (optional).

I usually serve this with a salad! Soup is defiantly a comfort food; as it is quite heavy but oh so YUMMY!!!

Have a quick recipe that you would like to share? Be a guest blogger and let us know how you tackle those busy days with something quick.

A Sweet Treat February 28, 2012

Dessert Kabobs

Taken to a BBQ

This dessert is a sure “Hit” at any function you might be attending. It can be dressed up for something more formal, or dressed down for a BBQ. Whatever your function might be this simple and quick recipe will be loved by all.

What you will need:

– Kabob Sticks (Wooden sticks made for BBQing)

– Strawberries (2 containers)

– Lemon Loaf Pound cake (Homemade or Bakery)

– White Bakers Chocolate or White Chocolate chips

– Cap full of cooking oil

(This will make about 12-15 Kabobs)

Preparing Strawberries: Wash the strawberries and pat completely dry. Then cut off both top stem of the strawberry, as well as the bottom tip. (Set aside)

Preparing Lemon Pound Cake: Cut lemon pound cake into cubes about an inch think.

Preparing Kabobs: Take your strawberries and lemon pound cake and slide onto wooden stick (Alternating each one). About three strawberries and three pieces of pounds cake per kabob.

Preparing Chocolate: I used a small pot inside a large pot of water since I do not have a double boiler (worked great). Melt white chocolate chips until smooth (To much heat can cause the chocolate to clump and become gritty and it will not work, be slow in the melting process) Feel free to add about a cap full of oil in the chocolate to help with smoothing. Once chocolate is smooth it is ready to put on to the kabobs.

Let Chocolate cool for a few seconds and then poor chocolate in a plastic freezer bag (this will make as a piping bag to pipe out Chocolate). Cut tip off and use a swirling motion to put chocolate on dessert kabobs. Once the chocolate is on, put into refrigerator for 10 mins. for chocolate to set.

PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING: For a BBQ putting in a metal tin is fine and works well with the BBQ theme, however if you will be attending something more formal (birthday party, bachelorette party, house warming) it looks beautiful on a tray. Then take left over strawberries and dip in white chocolate and put around the tray for presentation. You will have a dessert that is fun, formal, and unforgettable!!!