Snow Ice Cream

SNOW DAY!!

The white stuff is really coming down out there!

The kids were home from school, and I had a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup 

simmering on the stove, and I told the kids, 

Today would be a great day to make snow ice cream!!

I barely got the word out and there was a gallon sized ice cream bucket on the patio catching flakes!

I remember the first time I ever made snow ice cream.  

I still have the recipe, written in my first grade teacher, Mrs. Hallstrom's handwriting.

My Mom would always let my brother and I make this on snow days after that.

This kind of white fluffy snow is the perfect kind for making snow ice cream!

Snow Ice Cream

1 gallon of clean white snow

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla

2 cups milk (I used a little more)

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl until creamy.  I did add a little more milk to mine.

Eat immediately.

The kids put chocolate syrup on theirs, you could vary the flavors by syrups or adding fruit. you could even use chocolate milk!

Enjoy a snow day with your kids,

make a memory using what Mother Nature is dishing out!

Individual Lemon Raspberry Cheesecakes (no bake)

lemon raspberry cheesecakes

While looking through recipes for my Valentine luncheon this year, I ran across this recipe

 from my baking addiction.

I thought they were adorable and a perfect excuse to use my mini trifle bowls!

*swoon!!*

Many of you know, that over the last 9 months I have been doing a little "change of life style" and have lost a little over 40 pounds.  I still have a few pounds to go, but anytime I can have dessert and a little less guilt I am a happy Mama!

I decided to test run this recipe and make it a lightened up version!

I will post the original recipe, as well as what I used to lighten it up a bit.

Let me assure you that even though I had never tried the full fat version, I wasn't missing anything, they were super yummy!!

Individual Lemon Raspberry Cheesecakes (no bake)

crust:

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 Tablespoon sugar (you could use equal, I used sugar)

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (I used I can't believe it's not butter, light)

filling:

2/3 cup sugar

zest of 2 lemons

1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened (I used the 1/3 less fat kind)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 (8 ounce) tub of Cool Whip, thawed (I used the fat free)

1 cup fresh raspberries, slightly mashed with a fork

In a medium bowl stir together the cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter with a fork.

Divide evenly between 6 miniature trifle bowls, and press in the bottom.

Set aside.

In a mixing bowl mix together the sugar and lemon zest until the sugar becomes moist and fragrant.

Add cream cheese and beat with mixer until it is smooth.

Add lemon juice and vanilla and mix to combine.

With a rubber spatula, gently fold in Cool whip until combined.  

Fold in raspberries.

Divide between bowls evenly, using a spoon or you could pipe it in to make a pretty appearance.

Top with fresh raspberries.

College Care Package - Valentine Style

When I posted the photo of my

50th Birthday Basket 

a girlfriend of mine that has twins in college emailed me and asked if I would like to make one for her

 son for Valentine's Day....

Well, OF COURSE!!

all boxed up

I wanted to make it look cute, so I thought and thought about what to do for a 

BOY for VALENTINE'S DAY?

I decided that spelling out HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TROY and getting items that complimented the letters of each word that a college kid would enjoy?

done.

"HAPPY"

H- hot cocoa, A-airheads, P- pizza combos and pringles, P- peanut butter, Y- yellow highlighters

"VALENTINES"

V- veggie soup

 A- animal crackers

L- laundry money (2 rolls of quarters)

E- 5 hour energy

N- nacho cheese

T- toothbrush and toothpaste

I- iTunes giftcard

N-  salted nutroll

E- Eileen's Cookies (popular Omaha cookie, frosted valentine cookies in a heart tin)

S- sunflower seeds

"DAY"

D- doritos, A- advil, Y- york peppermint patty

"TROY"

T- tide pods, R- razors, O- onions (funyuns) Y- yahtzee cards

the whole haul

a couple of red plastic stackable "crates" held it all inside the box

this was on top of the tissue, right inside the box

 A little diagram of the box's contents!!

Mom said he LOVED it!!

Country Club Chicken and Pasta

This recipe was literally one of the first things I ever pinned on Pinterest.

When I saw the picture...

they had me at the mushrooms....

I don't know why it took me so long to try it, other than every time I thought about it, I was missing like one ingredient.  But last week, I planned for it, and so it was made.

The original recipe is from kayotic kitchen  I followed her recipe almost to a t.  But there are six of us, so I just increased some things and not others.  It turned out perfect! The chicken was so tender, you didn't even need a knife!

Country Club Chicken

6 chicken breasts

6 slices of bacon

1 onion, minced

1 apple, minced

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 26oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/4 cup dry white wine

2/3 cup extra sharp white cheddar cheese

salt and pepper

1 pound spaghetti

In a  large frying pan, cook bacon.  While it's getting nice and crispy, mince your onion and apple and clean and slice your mushrooms. Set aside.

When the bacon is done cooking, place it on a paper towel, and set aside.

Don't drain the bacon grease.

While it's still hot place salt and peppered chicken breasts in the bacon grease and sear until slightly brown on each side.  Place chicken into a 9x13 baking dish.

Drain the bacon grease but don't wash your pan.  In this pan, saute your onion for a couple of minutes, until they become translucent.  Add the minced apple, and saute for a couple of minutes more.  Add mushrooms, and cook until they are heated through.  

Crumble bacon and add to the mixture.

To this add the wine and the cream of mushroom soup.

Combine together, then fold in the grated cheese.

Pour this sauce over the top of the chicken.

Cover and bake at 30 degrees for 35 minutes.

Serve over pasta.

50th Birthday Candy Basket and Poem

This is the kind of stuff I love to make!!

I would like to say that I am "crafty"...but that's pretty much only in my imagination.

But when it comes to gifts, I love to come up with just the right thing!!

So when I was getting my haircut last week, my friend, Jody,

told me she was going to a 50th birthday and didn't know what to bring as a gift.

I was throwing ideas out for her, and got on Pinterest on my iPhone.

She asked if I would just whip something up for her...

of course I jumped at the chance!!

I have a whole Pinterest board with gift and wrapping inspirations!

My Pinterest Boards:  FOLLOW ME HERE! :)

I found the original poem for this on a blog called  Work in Progress Kits {the blog} 

I shortened it up a bit, and switched it around, but thanks to her I had a good starting place! 

the finished product

This was before I wrapped it.

Candy a plenty!! (GOOD & PLENTY even...)

This is the poem that I used and attached to the front.

I used a lined basket, that could easily be re-used.  

Who really wants another fish bowl right??

I filled it with shred, and put some of the candy in the basket, and attached some of it to bamboo skewers to prop it up here and there and give it some height.

I tied it off in animal print ribbon to match the tag.

Ta-Da!!

Great gift!

the poem



Here is another one that I did for another birthday gift.
This one I did in a little clay planter.

BETTER than SEX CHEX Mix

I found this recipe on Pinterest.

When I saw it I knew I had to try it....

and not just because the person who created it said that I would say 

"I'll have what she's having!"

I mean, how can you go wrong?

Chocolate...caramel....marshmallows....peanut butter....

"oh baby!!"

I have posted the recipe below, but I encourage you to read the post by the blogger I got the recipe from.

I LAUGHED!!

quick dish by tablespoon

Better Than Sex Chex Mix

8 cups chocolate chex cereal

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

6 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

1/2 cup caramel bits

1 Tablespoon cream

1/2 cup milk chocolate  chips

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Pour cereal into a large microwaveable bowl , set aside.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.

In a two-cup microwavable measuring cup, combine sugar, butter and corn syrup.

Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes until melted and smooth.  Stir in baking soda until dissolved  Pour mixture over the cereal and stir to coat.

Place bowl in microwave and heat on high for 3 minutes, stopping after each minute to stir.

Spread onto cookie sheet and cool.

cooling...

When cereal is cool to the touch break into bite sized pieces.

Evenly sprinkle marshmallows and mini peanut butter cups over the cereal.

Melt the caramel and cream in 20 second intervals, stirring until smooth.

Drizzle over the top.

Next comes the milk chocolate, melt in 20 second intervals and stir until smooth.

Drizzle over the top.

Lastly, the white chocolate.

Watch closely, so chocolate doesn't burn.

Drizzle over the top.

Sprinkle with sea salt while still wet.

Place in the fridge to set.

Break and store in an air tight container.

Stuffed Peppers

 This is one of our favorite  family dinners.

I couldn't be happier,  because since I was a kid, it's been one of mine!

I even made a meatloaf that tastes like it!

CLICK HERE

When my mom gave me this new Le Creuset baking dish, I knew exactly what I wanted to be it's first meal!

They really are so simple to make.  

Most times I just make them in the morning and put them in before I pick kids up at school to bake.

 Dinner is ready by 5, and all in one dish!

rice layered in the bottom, cored and cleaned peppers on top

stuffed with ground beef

extra ground beef in balls around the peppers

rice stuffed on top of the beef

diced tomatoes over the top

pepper tops placed back on

hot out of the oven!

These are very low calorie, and if you watch your fiber, high in fiber.

That's a lot of food!!

And It's GOOD FOOD!!

I make a big dish of this.  I have a family of six, but this recipe can easily be cut in half.  

If you want more rice and meat, use less peppers, you will still get the flavor when they bake, but you won't have as much pepper if the kids don't really like to eat that part.

Mine all do!

Stuffed Peppers by An Affair from the Heart

2 pounds lean round beef

4-5 cups prepared instant brown rice (white can be used)

2 - 15 ounce cans diced tomatoes

6 large bell peppers,  tops cut off, cored and cleaned

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350, and prepare a covered baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Prepare rice according to the package.  You can add a bit of beef bouillon to the water when you make the rice if you want a little extra beef flavor.  Add about half of the rice to the bottom of the pan.

Place peppers on the rice, reserving tops.  Fill each bottom of the pepper with some ground beef, leaving enough room to top with rice and tomatoes.  Reserve remaining rice.

Take remaining ground beef, roll into balls and place around the peppers.

Add rice to the peppers, and put the rest of it around the peppers in the dish.

Salt and Pepper the whole thing.

Pour tomatoes over the top of all of it.

Salt and Pepper again.

Place tops of peppers on.  Cover with lid to baking dish. 

(make sure you spray the lid with non-stick cooking spray,too!!)

Bake 1 1/2-2 hours, or until beef inside peppers is no longer pink.

Enjoy!