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The other day my youngest sister was coming through our area and she asked if she could stop by and have lunch with us.  I love it when family comes through.  It's so nice to have a little chat and eat some yummy food (if you're interested--I made this for her :). She showed up at our door with my favorite pop and some treats for the kiddos (thanks Nat they loved them!).  She brought one for everyone but my kids can't just calmly agree on which one they should get  so I told them that they had to split all of it evenly. After a few agruments we all cam to an "understanding" and I told them I would use the M&Ms to make them a snack for after school later in the week. They decided that was great so several days later I made these delicious things.  Like I've said before, we are huge peanut butter fans at our house, so this recipe was perfect for them.  Also it's super easy and super fast.  No baking involved.  The kids loved them (and so did the...

 The hubs and I love to go out on dates.  We usually end up going at least once a week.  We try to keep it simple but we usually end up going out to dinner or grocery shopping (which he totally hates) or getting a treat to share. One of his favorite things to do is go to the grocery store and buy something that we can bring home and make together.  I always try to talk him out of this for several reasons: 1. The point of going out is so I don't have to make dinner. 2. I don't have to clean up dinner. 3. I don't have to help anyone at all. And I usually get my way (sorry hubby!!). So out we go to dinner.   Now let me tell you.  We are pretty picky when it comes to food.  I think it's because I have a food blog.  Just last week my dad told me I need to stop being so picky about my food.  I know dad it's true. It's not about what I eat (I like quite a few things) it's how good they taste.  If it doesn't taste good, I can't stand to bring my...

Last Friday we took the kids skiing and wow!  My thighs and quads are killing me. I somehow though that since I lift weights at least once a week and do cardio 2-3 times a week, skiing would be a piece of cake (but I seriously wish it was because a nice piece of warm, chocolate cake sounds fantastic at the moment).  Man is that a work out on the legs.  Maybe it's also because we were teaching our two youngest how to ski for the first time (and man did they do great--Luke, our 5 year old went down the mountain at least 5 times).  Snow plowing is quite the work out--good thing I didn't go to the gym that morning! When we got home, we were in a serious need of a snack.  And of course I talked everyone into something chocolate ("you know it is called 'brownie'...--that gets them every time).  I love how we could just whip some of this right up and have a yummy treat that everyone loved.  Plus we found all sorts of things to dip into it--strawberries and ba...

The hubs work always has food around.  He is constantly telling me about such and such and who brought it in and that I should try it. And I have to admit I am quite guilty about adding to the food there too. Especially when I am trying a new recipe.  I love to get other people's feedback before I post about it and they are great to try things out for me. This deliciousness was brought to his work and everyone loved it. So much that Pam had to make a trip to the grocery store to buy ingredients for two more.  The hubs brought the recipe home to me and I promised him I would make it soon. Wow!  This cheeseball is amazing.  It is great with crackers or corn chips.  The bacon sends it over the edge (of course because everything is better with bacon--right?).  Even the kiddos thought it was pretty wonderful, which is quite the ringing endorsement for me. Bacon-n-Ranch Cheeseball ( click here for printable version ) 1 package dry ranch dressing mix 2 tbsp s...

We have had the coldest winter. I don't remember a colder one since I was young. It use to be totally normal to have snow on the ground all through winter, but not in the past 15 years, it has been super mild. Because of the cold we spend a lot of time inside.  When the high is not even in the teens for weeks at a time and the low is in the negatives we try to stay as warm as possible.   And my favorite method for staying warm is making delicious food. And it gives me lots of time to experiment and try new things.  One of my goals this year is to make my very own recipe. Well guess what!!!!! I did it and it turned out fantastic.  I thought I would start out with something that needed a little update. Sloppy Joes get a bad rap for being disgusting (just ask my kids about their school ones---uuggghhh so gross!!).  Well I wanted to change that and what better way than throwing it in the crock pot (what a wonderful invention that thing is!). All of us absolutely lov...

 Anyone thinking about Valentine's Day yet? I know right. Christmas just got over and now another holiday!? I actually really like Valentine's Day...now anyway.  We keep it pretty low key around our house which is why I probably enjoy it. We always have crepes for breakfast (I know super healthy right--but hey we love them), my parents get them a little surprise goody bag, and we make them homemade valentines cards that they get at dinner with a fancy table that is decorated just for them. I use to try and make a really fun dessert but I gave them up several years ago.  Nobody cares too much since I have been making valentines treats for at least a month before the holiday.  Like these fun cookies.  They are super, super, super easy, pink (which is perfect for Valentines) and every kid loves a sandwich cookie. It's two cookies in one and so delicious! Strawberry Valentine Sandwich Cookie ( click here for printable version ) Cookies: 1 package of strawberry cake ...

 Does this count as a dessert? Just wondering what you think.  At our house it certainly does. But that's maybe because our criteria is a little weird and funny. You have criteria for dessert you ask, uummm...yes we do.  1. Anything eaten after the kids go to bed (doesn't matter what it is but especially those things we have been hiding so they won't eat any of it--is that so bad!?!). 2. Anything you can dip into (seriously what is the big deal about dipping? But I fall for it every time.  If I can dip, I am in heaven.) 3. Anything that is mini. (I think we are conditioned to love things that are tiny more than the things that are a "normal" size. Maybe it's because you can have more of them, right?) 4. Anything with cream cheese (that's the hubs input. And he's totally right--cream cheese goes into everything, hence totally a dessert). I guess I answer my own question. Totally a dessert and completely delicious.  This would be awesome for a party too ...

We are loving chinese food lately at our house. Maybe it's because I discovered that I love sweet peppers. They were one of those vegetables that I detested strongly as a kid but now, I can't go to the grocery store without buying some to snack on.  So yummy. Or maybe it's because I got a rice cooker for Christmas from my sweet kiddos.  They were so excited to have me open it, especially my youngest.  He totally loves kitchen gifts too. I have loved having it and can't believe I survived this long without one. No mess on the stove from it boiling over, no constantly watching it, no burned rice at the bottom, and it can cook up to 20 cups of cooked rice.  Amazing. I love finding lots of ways to use my rice cooker (and to use my new favorite ingredient--peppers).  This recipe fit both my criteria and is a keeper.  The entire family loved it and it definitely goes on my rotation schedule.  Plus it is very quick to throw together and tastes fantastic. This...

We have had brownies in one form or another 4 times in the past two weeks.  Not joking. I've told you before how much my children love their brownies.  Anytime you ask them what they want for a treat--brownies is the first choice every time. Plus there are so many ways to make brownies, I think that's why they are so popular and delicious. Seriously, you can have them with nuts, with frosting, on a stick, with an Oreo (or any kind of cookie) in the middle, you can have them in layers, you can have them drenched in hot fudge and ice cream. See so many ways. And now I have found another fabulous, amazing, crunchy, gooey, moist, everyone ate the entire pan brownie. Must be the layers.  Everything is better when you add more layers, right? Seriously you should totally make this tonight. Everyone, except your jeans, will love you. Killer Crunch Brownies ( click here for printable version ) Brownies: 1 (12 oz) bag chocolate chips 1 cup butter 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 tsp v...

This year I thought I would share some of the recipes that became family favorites over the year.  We have made some of these many, many times and they have become regulars on our menu.  January:  These are both my "go to" recipes when I make chocolate chip cookies and pancakes (okay really the hubs makes them every Saturday morning and it's his favorite but the rest of us love them too). February:  I can't eat Broccoli Beef from a restuarant anymore because of this lovely dish (it really is the best I have ever had) and these cookies changed my whole opinion of sugar cookies.  Delicious. March:  Sweet breads are a total weakness for me and then if you add my favorite candy bar ever to them.  Wow! And who doesn't love flavored Oreos? I can't wait for them to come around this year so I can make this mini dessert that we fell in love with. April:  Almost every time the hubs and I go out for date night, he requests to go to Outback.  He l.o....