Campbell's Green Bean Casserole!

     Green bean casserole is my absolute favorite holiday food!  So I thought I would put the recipe up just in case there is someone out there who has yet to try it!

INGREDIENTS
2 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) Campbell's condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
8 cups cooked cut green beans
2 2/3 cups French's french fried onions

MAKE IT
1. Stir soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 1 1/3 cups onions in 3-qt casserole dish.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until bean mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir bean mixture. Sprinkle with remaining onions.
3. Bake 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown.

Savory Herb Rub Roasted Turkey!



     This year I decided I would try a new recipe for Christmas dinner and I am so glad that I did.  I found this recipe in Parent's Magazine by McCormick.  The recipe was very easy!  I'm sure the rub would be good on other meats as well!

INGREDIENTS

1 whole turkey 12 to 14 lbs. ( we used a 10 lb turkey), fresh or frozen, thawed.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil (i like to use olive oil)

2 tbsp McCormick Rubbed Sage

1 tbsp McCormick Paprika

1 tbsp Lawry's Seasoned Salt

2 tsp McCormick Garlic Powder

1 tsp McCormick Ground Black Pepper

3/4 tsp McCormick Ground Nutmeg

1 large onion, cut into wedges

6 McCormick Bay Leaves

(i added some lemon wedges)

MAKE IT

1.  Place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Brush with oil. Mix seasonings. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of the seasonings inside the turkey. Spread remaining seasonings over entire surface and under skin of turkey. Place onion and bay leaves inside turkey. Add 1/2 cup water to the pan. Cover loosely with heavy-duty foil.  (i used a turkey bag so i skipped the water and foil steps).

2. Roast in preheated 325 degree F oven for 1 hour. Remove foil. Roast 2 to 2 1/2 hours longer or until internal temperature reach 165 F (175 in thigh), basting occasionally with pan juices. Remove turkey from oven. Let stand 20 minutes. Reserve pan juices to make gravy.

Snickerdoodles!

     This year for Santa I decided I was not going to make sugar cookies because they just get so messy and with the babies I really didn't feel like having frosting everywhere when they would eat them so I was looking for a less messy but still very yummy cookie to make.  I decided I would make snickerdoodles...I had never made them before.  I tried a different snickerdoodle recipe right before this one and it was horrible...I threw away the batter and searched for a different one.  I found this recipe at allrecipes.com and I love it!

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar (topping)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (topping)


MAKE IT
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups white sugar, butter or margarine, vanilla, and eggs. Mix well.
3. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Blend well. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Roll dough in sugar/cinnamon mixture and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

Nutella Hot Chocolate!

     Okay so I am a total nutella addict and when I saw posts about nutella hot chocolate I just had to try it!  I'm not really sure why I love nutella so much but after I had the twins I craved it!  This is so easy to make all you need is some nutella and milk.  This recipe came from food.com!


INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons nutella
1 1/3 cup milk

MAKE IT
1. Put nutella and 1/3 cup of milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Whisk until blended.
3. Add remaining milk, increase heat to medium-high,  and whisk until hot and frothy.

Crocheted Snowflake!

     Its been a few days since my last post, we have all been sick in my house....oh joy!  Today's post is about these beautiful crocheted snowflake.  It looks so pretty hanging in my window!  It doesn't take very much time to crochet one of these, the longest part is pinning it down to harden it! My son really likes to watch me put the glitter on! I found a video on YouTube from all free crochet on how to make these!  The pattern is from Deborah Atkinson. 

Bath Toy Bag!

     I found a great tutorial on Make It and Love It on how to make a bath toy bag....why didn't I ever think of this before?  Of course mine didn't turn out as cute as hers did but she used  more heavy duty mesh than I did.  The only fabric store we have here is walmart and they have a very small selection of fabric...otherwise I could drive an hour to Savannah.  So instead I just used some of my husbands mosquito netting he had on his last deployment to Afghanistan that was just sitting in our storage shed.  It worked great, its a little more flimsy than what the tutorial says to use but hey it was free!  Of course walmart is all out of suction cup hooks, just my luck but they ordered them so hopefully soon I will be able to get my hands on a pair! I hope that you click the link and try to make one too!

Parmesan Crusted Chicken!

     I think I am in love with this chicken haha! It is so easy to make and only calls for 4 ingredients.  This is a Hellmann's recipe I got from my mom!  when made this i used more bread crumbs than it called for because I wanted to make sure my chicken was coated, also it took about twice as long to cook in my oven.....but then again I have such and old in the wall oven that doesn't even have one digital thing on it.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Hellmanns Real Mayonnaise

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

4 chicken breast halves

4 Tsp. Italian seasoned bread crumbs

MAKE IT

1. Combine Hellmann's with cheese. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Top with mayonnaise mixture.     Sprinkle with the bread crumbs.

2. Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

Ham and Cheese Baked Ziti!

     If you or someone in your house is a mac and cheese lover then this recipe is so for you!  I love it and so do my kids!  It has such a good flavor and the large ziti noodles make it more fun than regular mac and cheese from a box! This is a Betty Crocker recipe I got from my friend Jianette's blog http://mommy2damacs.blogspot.com/2011/10/kid-approved-dinner.html




INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups uncooked ziti pasta (9 ounces)
1/4 butter or margarine
1 garlic clove finely chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 cups shredded colby cheese
4 ounces sliced cooked deli ham, cut into thin strips
1/3 cup grated parmesean cheese

MAKE IT
1. Heat over to 350 degrees. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2. While past is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in mustard and colby cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
3. Stir pasta and ham into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Microwave Coffee Cup Scramble!

     I know this is a super easy one and I'm sure most of you have made this in one way or another but this seems like all I have time to make lately so I'm going to do a post about it!  The sky is the limit with this one and its very easy to make it your own; add bacon bits, cheese, onion, hot sauce, sour cream, salsa, ketchup, sausage, etc. The recipe originally comes from incredibleegg.org....if you love eggs they have tons of great  recipes for you!

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of milk or water
salt and pepper to taste
cooking spray
cheese (or whatever other ingredients you would like to add)

MAKE IT
1. Spray inside of your coffee cup with cooking spray. Scramble 2 eggs and pour into your cup (you can add your cheese or other ingredients before you cook it or you can put in on top when its done cooking).
2. Place in your microwave and cook for 1-2 minutes. Salt and Pepper to taste. Top with your favorite toppings!

Holiday Pretzels!

     These are a fun baking project you can do with your kids or just by yourself!  I didn't have any of the windowpane/checkerboard pretzels on hand so I just use regular pretzels and broke them into smaller pieces! They look much cuter if you use the checkerboard ones but who cares they still taste just as yummy! This recipe came from food.com!

INGREDIENTS
windowpane/checkerboard
bag of plain m&m candies (use the holiday ones if you care about them being more festive!)
a bag of Hershey's chocolate kisses or Hershey's hugs chocolates

MAKE IT
1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Place pretzels on baking sheet and place a Hershey's kiss on top. Put in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Immediately after removing from the oven place an m&m in the center.
3. Place cookie sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes for the chocolate to set!

Dijon-Tarragon Cream Chicken!

  I love love love this chicken recipe! My friend Rebecca made it for me once and it was so delicious I just had to have the recipe! The recipe comes from allrecipes.com!  It calls for fresh tarragon but I used the dried tarragon leaves from McCormick and I think it turns out just fine!

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon

MAKE IT
1. Melt the butter and heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in  the skillet. Brown on both sides. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and continue cooking for 15 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear. Set aside and keep warm.
2. Stir cream into the pan, scraping up brown bits. Mix in mustard, and tarragon. Cook and stir 5 minutes, or until thickened. Return chicken to skillet to coat with sauce. Drizzle chicken with remaining sauce to serve.

Puff Stitch Scarf!

     I have been trying to learn how to crochet for about 5 years now and just never got it for some reason....probably because I just didn't have the patience to sit down long enough with it haha.  I really wanted to make myself something and so I was googling different kinds of crocheted scarf patterns when I came across this video for the puff stitch scarf by the Art Of Crochet By Teresa.  This scarf is my first crocheted item I have ever made, its not perfect but I still love it!  It is 56 rows long and I added some fringe on the end.  Below is the video explaining how to make it! It took me many tries before I got my puff stitch just right but after I figured it out it became a lot easier!

    

Chicken & Biscuits!

     This is a Kraft foods recipe I got from my cousin Sara and it just happens to be one of my husbands favorite casseroles!  I like to add different kinds of veggies to it every time, this particular one i added some broccoli too besides just the mixed vegetables.

INGREDIENTS

1 can [10 3/4 oz] condensed cream of chicken soup

3/4 cup sour cream

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 pkg. [16 oz] frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

1 cup baking mix ( i like to use the aunt jemima buttermilk pancake mix)

3 Tbsp milk

MAKE IT

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix soup and 1/2 cup of sour cream in 8-inch square baking dish. Add chicken, vegetables and cheese; mix.

2. Place baking mix in medium bowl. Add remaining 1/4 cup sour cream and milk; stir until stiff dough forms.

3. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls into 6 mounds over chicken mixture. Bake 35 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and chicken mixture is hot and bubbly.

Fantastic Flubber!

    
     This is a recipe to make flubber, it is a great sensory activity to do with your kids and they will love it! I myself even enjoy playing with it!  I got this recipe from Auntie Carolyn in Hawaii, she was Zaiah's playmorning teacher....oh how we miss her! Flubber is great, it stays together and doesn't crumble like play-dough sometimes does.  It feels cold and slimy but it isn't sticky! I hope that you guys try this one out!!!


INGREDIENTS
2 cups glue
1 1/2 cups water

1tsp borax detergent
1/3 cup water

MAKE IT
1. Mix the 2 cups of glue and the 1 1/2 cups of water together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix 1/3 cup water and 1 tsp of borax detergent. Pour borax mixtures into the glue/water mixture and stir.  Reach your hand in and take a ball of flubber out of the bowl and place it on the counter or table.
2. Make the borax mixture again (1/3 cup water and 1tsp borax) and pour into remaining glue/water. Stir and repeat until the glue/water mixture is gone. Knead all the excess water or and store in an air tight container or zip lock bag. Does not need to be refrigerated.


OPTIONAL: you can add food coloring to make it whatever color you desire!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent!

     This is a super simple and easy way to make your own dishwasher detergent without having to spend a lot of money!  I got the recipe for this from dollarstoremom.com and on there she tells you how using this instead of the cheaper store brands saves you money. According to her math she tells you that the Costco brand costs you 16 cents per load and this only costs you 4 cents! I know its not a whole lot of money but hey every little bit of savings helps! I have been using homemade dishwasher detergent for a few months now and I love it!

     To make this just take 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda and mix them together! That's all it is!!!!  Use 2 tablespoons of the mixture in your dishwasher and one drop of dish soap and you are ready to go!  If you find that your dishes are coming out cloudy just add a little bit of vinegar to your pre-wash cup and that should clear that up! 

     If you have hard water they suggest you had about a half a cup of kosher salt to your mixture and even suggest trying citric acid.  Here is the link to the site that I found this on! http://dollarstoremom.com/2011/04/make-dishwashing-detergent/



Microwave Cleaning Tip!

     Have you ever had something explode in your microwave and make a huge mess? Well I know have and with 2 little babies in the house I don't always have time to clean it up right away.  With this tip I got from my friend Emberlee it makes cleaning it out so much easier!  All you have to do is cut a lemon or and orange in half....stick it in a bowl and place it in the microwave for about 4 to 5 minutes!  Once its done just take your wet sponge or paper towel and wipe it out!

Rons Seasoned Hamburger Patties!

     This recipe came from my grandpa Ron! I used the grated onion like he suggested and they turned out great!! I hope you give these a try!

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
2 teaspoons A-1 steak sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 onion powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar

Optional: 1 tablespoon grated onion, I personally always use the onion. Grated onion is like juicy onion pulp and mixes in really nice. Just peel a small onion and slide it up and down a cheese grater or grate it in your food processor.



MAKE IT
1. Combine ground beef and other ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
2. Make meat mixture into patties and grill them or fry in a skillet!

Easy Chicken Enchiladas!

     I made these for dinner tonight and they were a huge hit! The recipe came from the back of the container of the Philadelphia Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme.  I had a coupon for the cooking creme and it was only going to cost me 50 cents to buy it so I figured I would give it a try and I'm very glad I did! I was surprised and how much I really liked the taste of the cooking creme! 

     When making these I didn't have a can of diced tomatoes so I just used fresh ones and I used 5 small chicken breasts and it was just the right amount. Also I added just a little bit of salsa to the chicken mixture.

INGREDIENTS

1 small onion, chopped

2 tsp. oil

3 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 can (14.5 oz) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained

1 tub (10 oz) PHILADELPHIA Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme, divided

1/2 cup KRAFT mexican style finely shredded four cheese

8 flour tortillas (6 inch)

MAKE IT

1. heat oven 350.

2. cook and stir onions in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, 3/4 cup cooking creme and shredded cheese.

3. spoon in about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla ; roll up. Place seam-sides down, in 13x9 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cooking creme. Cover.

4. bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder!

     Today's is just a fun little project to do with the kiddos....or just by yourself!  In my house it started out as my son doing it but then decided to make me finish it haha!

WHAT YOU NEED

pine cones

peanut butter

bird seed

string

MAKE IT

1. Attach some string to your pine cone and then spread peanut butter all over the pine cone.

2. Roll the pine cone in the bird seed.

3. Hang it outside!

Spiced Edamame!

     Today's recipe is very easy to make and has lots of flavor! I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com.

INGREDIENTS
1lb bag of edamame
2 tsp salt
1tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano

MAKE IT
1. Boil edamame until soft - about 8 minutes. Drain.
2. Toss the edamame in a bowl with the spices.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip!

     I got this recipe from my mom who got it from a friend and it is so so yummy! There really isn't much to say about this recipe other than you should definitely try it! Serve it up with crackers or tortilla chips!

INGREDIENTS
1 can artichoke hearts
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups chopped spinach (you can use frozen...just thaw it and drain)
2 cups parmesan cheese
1 cup pepper jack cheese
1 cup green chilies
1 tbs garlic powder
2 tbs onion powder
1 cup monterrey jack cheese

MAKE IT
1. Blend artichokes in blender or chop.
2. Mix together all ingredients
3. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes

Rice Krispies Pops!

     These rice krispie treat pops are so yummy! When I decided to make these I originally was going to make them all look like turkey's. I came across the recipe for it in parents magazine and it seemed pretty easy but when I was trying to push the candy corns into it they kept falling apart and I found it to be pretty difficult. After some trial and error I figured out how to do these a little differently. After making the rice krispies into the balls shape I took some melted chocolate and dipped the end of the lollipop stick into it before inserting it into the ball....this helped it stick a little better! Then I stuck them into the freezer on wax paper for about 20 minutes to firm them up! After i took them out of the freezer i dipped them in the chocolate and let cool! The sky is the limit with these on decorating...just have fun!

INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp. butter or margarine
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's rice krispies cereal
12 oz package semisweet chocolate morsels
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
24 lollipop sticks or wooden ice cream sticks

MAKE IT
1. In a large pan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add rice krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
2. Using greased 1/4-cup measuring cup, divide warm cereal mixture into 24 portions. Using buttered hands, shape each portion into ball. Cool.
3. In microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate morsels and oil. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip each ball into chocolate. Decorate with candy or sprinkles. Let stand until firm.

Homemade French Fries!

     I know this is a super simple easy one today but hey who doesn't love french fries? These taste so much better than the frozen ones that come out of a bag!  I have never really been good and frying things but my husbands grandmother Evelyn showed me how...I think my problem was I never really had the oil hot enough, oops! I don't enjoy peeling potatoes so everytime I cook with potatoes I always leave the skin on them.

INGREDIENTS
potatoes (use as many as you would like)
oil
sea salt

MAKE IT
1. Heat up your oil on high heat in a pan on the stove. While your oil is heating up cut your potatoes into the size that you desire.
2. Put your fries into the oil and cook them until they are a nice and golden! (cook longer if you would like them crispy)
3. Take them out and put them onto a plate lined with a paper towel and top with sea salt!

Fro Nanas!

     Okay so I wasn't really sure what to call this one other than frozen banana treat but I was just messing around with Zaiah calling it fro nanas and it was kinda fun to say. I'm not sure if you guys have seen the Yonanas ice cream treat maker they advertise on TV, but if so this is the same way to make it but without having to buy that machine. I had to no idea what a yonanas was till the other day when a friend of mine, Katrina, had mentioned she wanted one...but then another friend, Tahlor, told her how to make it using a food processor (great idea!!!). It seriously tastes just like ice cream or frozen yogurt...my 4 year old said "i knew it- it is ice cream!". I myself just have a tiny food processor so if I were to make a lot I would have to do it in batches but none the less my tiny food processor dished out a yummy little treat! You don't have to use just frozen bananas to make this treat, any frozen fruit will work! In our house bananas seem to go start going bad quickly on us so I just peel the banana stick it in a baggie and pop it in the freezer. Normally, I would use it in smoothies but now that I have discovered this little treat I have more options!
    
INGREDIENTS
frozen bananas

MAKE IT
1. Stick your frozen bananas into your food processor until it comes to the consistency you want

ITS THAT EASY!!!

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce!

     I absolutely love this recipe from heavenlyhomemakers.com!  It is the best tasting teriyaki sauce next to what you would get served in a restaurant. We use this on wings, chicken breast, pork, stir fry, and even as a dipping sauce for fries! I have tried many different kinds of teriyaki sauce they sell at the grocery stores but I am never really impressed and end up throwing the bottle of it away after using it just one time.  This recipe is really easy to make, it takes me about 10 minutes or less.  I wasn't able to find organic cornstarch that the recipe calls for at our commissary and didn't feel like venturing out to another store with three kiddos in tow just to find it so i settle for the regular kind! 

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup tamari soy sauce

1 cup water
1-2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger or dry ground ginger (more or less to taste)
2 Tablespoons honey
1 minced garlic clove
2 Tablespoons organic cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

MAKE IT
1. Combine 1 cup water, soy sauce, honey, garlic and ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water and add to sauce.  Stir constantly and allow the sauce to thicken.  If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit of water or soy sauce to thin.


     When I make mine I end up with 1 1/2 cups!!!



Vanilla Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies!

     Two batches of cookies in a row? I think so!!! I just couldn't stop with one cookies recipe when I flipped the page over in Parents Magazine and saw another McCormick cookie recipe! I love cookies haha! Zaiah loves to make chocolate chip cookies with me....mostly because he enjoys running the mixer and eating the chocolate chips before I can even get them into the batter! 

     The only thing that makes these cookies different than regular chocolate chip cookies is the amount of vanilla it calls for. i love love the smell of vanilla extract so this was just the prefect recipe for me to come across! Just as the double chocolate chunk mint cookies i left the walnuts out...i guess i just don't like putting nuts into my cookies. I used milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips, the milk chocolate ones are my favorite!

INGREDIENTS
3 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp. McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
1 pkg. (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

MAKE IT
1. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
2. Drop by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
3. Bake in preheated 375°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Makes 5 dozen!

Double Chocolate Chunk Mint Cookies!

     So today's recipe is for a very delicious twist on the double chocolate chunk cookies! I love mint so when I saw this McCormick recipe in Parents Magazine I just had to try it! it reminds me of the mint oreos and the thin mint girl scout cookies.  I was a little curious about it though and wondered if it would have to much of a "minty" taste to it. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a bite into it just how yummy it was! they have just the right amount of mint and chocolate gooey-ness to make me happy!

     When making these I was unable to find peppermint extract at the commissary and I decided I would try just the regular mint and it turned out just fine! Also , I decided to leave out the walnuts.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract

6 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

MAKE IT

1. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs and extract; mix well. Gradually stir in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate and walnuts.

2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto baking sheets sprayed with no-stick cooking spray.

3. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or just until cookies are set. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.

Makes 4 dozen

Harvest Soup!

    So the other day I was reading in Parents Magazine and came across this soup recipe for Harvest Soup! I was a little unsure of how everyone would like it but it turned out great, the twins even loved it! This soup is rich, velvety and just amazing!
     When I making this soup I used a blender since my food processor is pretty small. I added some shredded monterrey jack cheese on top and just whatever kind of croutons i had in the cupboard!  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

INGREDIENTS
1 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 lbs. butternut squash, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
2 medium apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces  (using a thin-skinned apple will make it easier to puree some examples are, Golden Delicious, Gala, or Northern Spy)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Ground black pepper to taste
Whole-grain croutons

MAKE IT
1. In a big pot, heat oil on medium. Add carrots, celery, and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender and starting to brown. Add squash, apples, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until squash is tender. Cool slightly.
2. Puree soup, in two batches if needed, in a blender or food processor. Add pepper and croutons. Makes about 6 cups.

Welcome!

     Welcome to my new blog, i have gone back and forth about starting one of these for a while now and well today i finally decided ha ha! My family has been calling me julie bakes a lot, a lot in the last 6 months or so because i am constantly texting them and sending them pictures of what is on the menu.  A few people have told me to start a blog but i just wasn't sure i would have the time, its busy in my house with preschooler and almost 1 year old twins! I love to cook and try new things so mostly I am going to put up recipes of new things I have tried and loved! I'm  not going to limit my blog to just cooking though... I am going to leave it open for whatever!