Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Here is another recipe that I found on Pinterest.  It originated on a cute blog called, "Stick a Fork in it."  We really liked the sauce and of course I love any meal that can be cooked in the crockpot.  

Chicken breasts or chicken tenders (I used frozen tenders)
1 small bottle of bbq sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays)
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. garlic powder

*Place chicken in crockpot.  Mix up sauce with other ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 3-5 hours depending on how big your chicken is.  I used about 12 chicken tenders and it was perfectly done in 3 hours.

Nutella Fruit Dip

I found this recipe (is two ingredients considered a recipe?) on Pinterest.  I kind of feel like Pinterest is taking over the world.  What if Pinterest and Facebook got married?  They would be the richest couple that ever lived.  I'm not complaining, though, because Pinterest has opened up a whole new world of recipes to try and food pictures to drool over.  When I saw this fruit dip on there, I went right to my kitchen and whipped some up.  Then I got out an apple, some strawberries, and a banana and dipped like there was no tomorrow.  Then I got a spoon and ate the rest.  How can something so simple be so delicious?  Oh yeah...because it has Nutella in it.

Nutella
Plain Greek yogurt (I like FAGE Total 0%)

*I didn't measure but I think I used about half as much Nutella as yogurt.  So maybe 1 cup yogurt and half a cup of Nutella.  Or maybe even a little less Nutella.  Just mix it up until you like it and then start dipping!

Homemade Italian Salad Dressing

Remember the days of Pampered Chef parties?  Do people still have those?  I haven't been to one in many years but I used to love those parties because you got to eat free food.  Plus, I really do love their kitchen tools.  Everything I bought from them back in the day is still in my kitchen and gets used regularly.  Anyway, one of the gadgets I have is a salad dressing mixer/container and it has recipes on the sides.  This Italian dressing recipe is one of them and I tried it on Sunday and loved it.

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. sugar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. salt

*Mix or shake really well and serve over salad.

Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Ever since I ate that legendary cookie from the Levain Bakery in NYC, I haven't stopped thinking about dark chocolate and walnuts.

A food marriage that is sure to last.

I looked at a few different cookie recipes that I love and came up with this one.  It's practically healthy, minus the butter and brown sugar.  My husband and I loved them, but the kids were less than impressed.  They don't appreciate dark chocolate or walnuts yet, but I'm not giving up hope.

1 cup butter, softened to room temp
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbs. vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour (I used hard white wheat flour)
2 cups oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 bag dark chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)
1 cup walnuts, broken into small pieces

*Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Add chocolate chips and walnuts and mix to combine.  Drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes at 350.  I take mine out when they still look a little gooey and then I let them sit on the cookie sheet for 5 more minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Baked Potato Soup and Homemade Croutons

My mom gave me a bunch of red potatoes from her garden this year, and oh they are so good.  I have been trying to get creative with potato meals to make sure they all get used.  They were so good in this soup, but really you can use any potato in this soup.  I think the best part about this soup was the homemake croutons, cause you know, I gotta have my carbs.  My friend Kate made these croutons for a salad at play group and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them.  You must make these! 

Baked Potato Soup

4 good sized red potatoes baked and diced. I left the skin on mine (Bake these at 350 for an hour.  You will want to cover with foil so the skin doesn't get to crunchy.)
1/4 cup butter
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup flour
3 1/2 milk
1 14.5oz can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
5 strips bacon chopped
5 green onions chopped

You will want extra cheese, bacon, and green onions for garnish
Sour cream for garnish
Homemade croutons (recipe below)

Melt butter in large sauce pan, add garlic and saute for a min or so.  Stir in flour then slowly whisk in milk. Next, stir in your broth.  Continue stirring on medium heat until the soup starts to thicken and heats up but don't let it boil or the milk will curdle (if this does happen or if the soup is all all lumpy at this point just throw the soup in a blender and pulse until smooth).  Now add the cheese; when that is melted throw in the potatoes, bacon and green onions.  Let the soup simmer all the yummy flavors together for ten minutes. Serve and then top with more cheese, bacon, onions, sour cream and don't forget the amazing croutons.  This is not a low calorie food :)

Homemade Croutons
Half a loaf french bread (even better if it is a day or two old)
2 T melted butter
2 T olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic
1/4-1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Preheat oven to 425.  Cut up the bread into little crouton sized squares and put them into a large bowl.  Mix the butter and oil together.  Now the fun part, with your hands toss the garlic with the bread.  Once you feel like the garlic is evenly dispersed pour the oil/butter mixture over bread while you toss with the other hand.  Then do the same thing with the garlic salt (do 1/4 to 1/2 tsp to taste).  After the bread is evenly coated with all of its goodness, spread it out on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.  You'll wanna keep a close eye on them as they will burn fast.

Costco Pesto Sandwich

I named this the Costco sandwich because I bought all of the ingredients at Costco.  If you don't live by a Costco, you can still find these ingredients at most grocery stores.  Good pesto is hard to find, but it's also easy to make.  Don't you just love the smell of Pesto?  I can't get enough of it.  It's right up there with baby lotion and new car smell.

I really love hot sandwiches...especially when they involve pesto and melted mozzarella.  I made these for lunch one day and then dinner the next day.

Torta sandwich rolls
roma tomatoes, sliced
BelGioioso fresh mozzarella
Kirkland fresh basil pesto
Tellicherry pepper

*Cut sandwich rolls in half and lay on a cookie sheet.  Spread pesto generously on each side.  Put a layer of tomatoes and then grind pepper over them.  Slice off some mozzarella and layer over tomatoes. Broil in oven until cheese is melted and bread is toasty.  You can do all open-faced sandwiches or use the other half of the roll on top.  Serve while nice and hot.

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Bars

Chances are that you already have a favorite pumpkin bar recipe.  And chances are that it's a lot like this one.  They're all pretty similar, give or take a few measurements.  But in case you are still searching for your favorite, here is the one I like the best.  Just the right amount of everything and the frosting that came straight from Heaven.  I wish Paula Deen was my next door neighbor.

4 eggs
1  2/3 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

*Beat the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy.  Then add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until batter is smooth.  Spread on a cookie sheet (with one-inch sides) and bake for about 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temp.
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temp.
1 box (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
little bit of milk if needed

*Beat cream cheese and butter until really smooth.  Slowly add powdered sugar, then vanilla and a dash of salt.  If it's too thick, add a little milk until it looks spreadable.  Spread evenly over cooled pumpkin sheet cake and then cut into bars.