Warm Hot Cereal Breakfast Smoothie!

  RECIPE:

4 servings size Malt O Meal

2 Bananas

9 graham crackers

a little milk

   Cook Malt O Meal as directed for the 4 servings size. Cream of wheat would work too. After hot cereal is cooked, pour into a blender. Put bananas and graham crackers in as they fit.  You can also adjust to taste..more or less graham crackers and bananas. You may need to add a little milk if too thick. Thickness depends on how you desire it. Depending on how thick you make it, you can eat it with a spoon or a straw. Add fruit toppings if desired or different fruit into the mix..create it how ever your taste buds would like. Eat it warm or cold! The malt o meal/cream of wheat cereal sure does make that tummy full!

Makes about 4 8oz mugs 3/4 full.

Applesauce Banana Pancakes!

For breakfast this morning we had YUMMY banana pancakes! No oil added! I used applesauce instead. Healthier? Yes!  I had some ripe bananas so I made up these scrumptious pancakes and in turn got smiles and full tummies! Loved it! What a GREAT way to start the day! Now to remember how I made them...

Recipe:

1/2 cup white flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

2 Tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

2 heaping Tbsp unsweetened applesauce

2 ripe bananas slightly smashed

1 slightly beaten egg

 Makes about 12 pancakes

Combined dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. Stir to make batter. Careful not to over mix. Batter will be lumpy and a bit thick. Heat griddle on Med or about 275-300 degrees. Cook until golden brown on both sides or until cooked through. Serve warm and top with your favorite toppings! I like unsweetened strawberries (any fruit really) and unsweetened applesauce! Just plain GOOD!

 YUMMY!!

Lasagna Recipe!

    Lasagna is one of our family favorites!  I always feel happy when I make something for the family that they like..There is a special rewarding feeling that comes when there are fed tummies and happy faces.  I love to cook and bake for my family! I make many things without a recipe. Needless to say, a certain dish may taste slightly different the next time.  I learned how to cook from helping my mom. She was always putting things together. She is a SUPER cook. In fact, the lasagna that I make comes from the recipe my mom made when I was young.  I am sure the way I make the lasagna is different than how she makes it, but I decided I would write down the lasagna recipe that I make and share it. The next time I make lasagna it may be a bit different then this time. You may want to alter some ingredients or try adding new ones..I do it all the time.  For example, you may want to use ground beef instead of ground turkey or add spinach, YUMMY!
     When I was at the grocery store getting the lasagna noodles, (which were on the very top shelf) I thought they were out, because I couldn't see them. As I stretch on my tip toes ( I'm 5' 3" ) I saw some in the way back. Hmmm, I couldn't reach! Lucky for me a taller lady walked by and grabbed herself some.  I asked if she could get me a box too. When I got home, I notice the kind lady handed me oven ready noodles vs regular noodles you boil.  I have never used oven ready noodles before, until now. The lasagna in the picture is with oven ready noodles and I must say, I liked the noodles.  Use whatever works for you.  Both noodles turn out GREAT!

RECIPE:

 8-10 lasagna noodles

   2lb lean ground turkey

1 medium onion diced

2 (15oz cans) tomato sauce

1 (14.5oz can) Italian recipe diced tomatoes

1 (6oz can) tomato paste

 2 tsp crushed basil

 1/8-1/4 tsp ground pepper

 1 tsp ground garlic

 2 1/2 cups of cottage cheese

  1 Tbsp parsley

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4-1/2 tsp pepper

 2 beaten eggs

 3 cups mozzarella cheese

    For the noodles cook as directed on the package or use oven ready. If boiling your noodles, cook and brown your turkey and onion while the noodles cook. Also, you can add some salt and pepper to meat while browning.  When turkey is cooked all the way and onion is tender drain off any excess fat. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, and paste.  If the tomatoes seem too big, even though they are diced, you can cut them smaller. Add the basil, pepper and garlic. Stir and let simmer for at least 20 min.  This allows the flavors to mix. While sauce is simmering put the cottage cheese in a small-medium bowl.  Then add parsley, parmesan cheese, pepper, and the eggs.  Mix well with a fork. If using noodles you boil, after you drain them, rinse them so they won't stick together.  

Time to put the lasagna together!

    Get out a 9x13 baking dish.  Line the bottom with noodles about four across the bottom. (they will overlap some.) If using oven ready put a little sauce on the bottom first..The noodles need the moisture. I also noticed the noodles were smaller, so I did about five noodles across and one on the end opposite direction. Then spread half the cottage cheese mixture on the noodles. Sprinkle half the mozzarella cheese. Spread half the meat sauce.  Repeat layers again. Noodles, cheese mixture, cheese, meat sauce.  Sprinkle a little mozzarella cheese on the top center for garnish.  Turn oven to 350 degrees and cook for about 30-40 minutes. Should be bubbling and cheese garnish melted. When I used oven ready noodles, I put the lasagna in the oven at 350 degrees and baked it for 60-75 minutes (until noodles are tender when poked with a fork).  Let it cool 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will allow it to set. If not set enough and too hot, it will fall apart when cutting a slice and dishing it out. It is still yummy though! It came out DELICIOUS! If you need a good bib, click HERE!

Mini Size Apple Pie

   For our family night dessert, my son wanted to make an apple pie..we decided to make one for each person!  They turned out cute and the kids thought it was so fun to have their own little pie.

 Use a basic single pie crust recipe. This should make 6 little pies. Roll real thin and cut six 6" circles for the bottom crusts. Line muffin tin with your circles.  Make sure your crust doesn't crack or break, this will cause the juices from the apples to leak into the bottom of the tin. I noticed the pies that leaked at the bottom got stuck when pulling out. The pies popped out nicely when there was no leakage at the bottom or sides. Make six more circles about 3 1/2" round for the tops. Set aside.
Fill the crusts with your favorite apple pie recipe. Fill them high because the apples cook down.
I make my own apple filling and it's different every time, but here is what I used in these ..If you want to try it..

5-6 medium apples peeled. Slice thin and cut into 1/2"-1"pieces.

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla

2-3 Tbsp flour

Toss ingredients together. Spoon into crusts.

Put your crust tops on, crimp edges and poke holes in top.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes
Crust should be golden and juices bubbling out the top.
I let mine cool in the pan. The ones that didn't leak on the bottom came out nice and easy.

ENJOY!

Creamy Orange Julius

   If you like the Popsicle that is orange with the vanilla cream center you will LOVE this Orange Julius!  It reminds me of those 50/50 ice cream bars I absolutely loved when I was young.  My kids and I enjoyed this cold delicious treat this afternoon! I had this recipe written on a piece of scratch paper in my recipe box..not sure where it came from. If it came from you..Thank You!! I like it and thought it would be good to share!! I did change one ingredient to make it more creamy...

  
Ingredients: 

  6oz of orange juice concentrate

1 tray of ice

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup half & half

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, but still a little icy. Too much blending can make it runny. How long you blend depends on you and the texture you prefer. Makes approx. 5-6 cups. Serve immediately!!  

                                      Enjoy it before it melts!!

Cookie Bouquet Tutorial!

Yummy Valentine Bouquet!

 Materials: Cookies for flowers, Skewers, Jelly candies, Pot or something to hold cookie flowers (I got my pot from the dollar store), Instant chocolate pudding and Oreo cookies (generic brand works just as good.) 
* For the flowers store bought cookies with a hole work great. Homemade cookies are yummy too, but because they are soft they may crack when putting skewer through the center.
Note: Amounts depend on size of pot and size of bouquet.
 1.  To make the dirt cake for the bouquet, ground up oreos to look like dirt. Put about 1-2 inches in bottom of pot.

 2. Make pudding to the pudding pie directions on package. Pour into pot on top of ground cookies. Put another 2 inches of ground oreos on top of pudding or fill almost to rim of pot. Place dirt cake in the refrigerator to set and chill.

                                                   Next are the flowers!

3. Poke a skewer through the center of a jelly candy and then through the center of a cookie. Top with another jelly candy.

 4. Poke Flowers into the dirt cake and tie a ribbon around your pot if you desire.

                Now you have a beautiful bouquet of sweets to give to someone!

Simple Homemade Icecream Sandwiches!

     Everyone in my house loves sweets! Especially homemade sweets! Most of the time ice cream can be found in our freezer. I also like to bake, which doesn't help the sweet cravings. My children are always ready to help with the baking! I have always tried to find a good combination for ice cream sandwiches. I know there are a lot of different variations on how to make good ice cream sandwiches and that it all depends on ones preference. I tried cake mix cookies for ice cream sandwiches yesterday. They were sweet and simple.  Perfect for my little helping hands! Perfect for our sweet cravings!  Perfect for ice cream sandwiches!  Here is a recipe that I got from my mother for cake mix cookies.  Kids can make this with little help. This recipe may even be out there somewhere.
Sweet & Simple Baking!

1 box of cake mix
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
2-3 Tbsp water

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine cake mix, shortening, egg and water in a medium bowl.  Blend with a mixer on medium speed until the ingredients are completely wet. When you first start to mix it will look dry and powder like.  Keep mixing until it resembles cookie dough.

Roll dough into tablespoon size balls and place on cookie sheet.  Bake for about 9 minutes.  Be careful not to over cook. We want them to be extra soft, not crunchy!

 

They will look puffy, soft and gooey.  Remove from oven, but leave cookies on cookie sheet for 1 more minute before removing to a cooling rack.

After the cookies have cooled completely, put your favorite ice cream in the middle of two of the cookies.   

                                      EAT it up! Yum Yum!!
  There are many options when making the cake mix cookies.  You can add chocolate chips, nuts or whatever suits your taste!  *Ice cream sandwiches can be made ahead of time and stored in freezer.  Just remember the cookie may harden and you may want to take them out for a few minutes to soften before eating.

Outside the snow is calm and quiet...

   ...but inside we are LOUD and busy!  This afternoon the kids and I enjoyed our own hot cup of chocolate and had Tim Tam Slams!  Rich, delicious and just right!  The cocoa helped us calm down and feel warm and cozy. Then we experienced the warm rich chocolate melting when we combined our hot cocoa with the Tim Tams! OH YEAH!  I'm in LOVE with Tim Tam Slams! I first came to know of Tim Tam Slams on my mission.  I served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah.  I met many people from all over the world.  I had a mission companion from Australia that introduced me to the Tim Tam Slam. I only experienced this delicious chocolate treat once, but always remembered the taste!  For years I couldn't find them anywhere! Then finally I found those chocolate wafers!!  Yippy!! PepperRidge Farm places Tim Tams in stores between October and April.  What a YUMMY treat! 

     To experience this delicious Tim Tam Slam, you take the Tim Tam cookie and bite one of the corners.  Then bite the other side, but opposite corner. Take the Tim Tam and use it as a straw to suck up the hot chocolate. (You may not want your cocoa to be too hot.) When you are able to drink cocoa through your Tim Tam, quickly put it in your mouth before you loose it and it drops into the hot chocolate.  

Enjoy the warm, rich, melting chocolate!