Quick Marinated Chicken

This was decent. It was easy and got eaten. Last night, those were the only two things that mattered to me.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=124249&origin=detail&servings=4

Banana Muffins

This recipe was a winner.

I didn't melt the right amount of butter. I noticed that the recipe called for butter - but it was listed twice. I had them all scooped into the tin when I figured it out. I decided to make it right and so took all of the dough out of their paper cups and mixed with the rest of the melted butter.

I only had a bite of one because each muffin is worth 6 weight watcher points. I only get 24 for the day. I might go and steal a 1/2 of one right now though. It was yummy.

Both Bret and Jasmine said that this was a different re-do.

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/banana-crumb-muffins/Detail.aspx

Lemon Herb Chicken Ring

I printed out this recipe back in June and just made it tonight.
Jasmine loved it because it reminded her of my chicken blobs.
Bret said it was ok but reminded him too much of the chicken blobs (which he doesn't care for)
and Alex gave it a 6-7

I thought it was yummy and pretty!


http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/pampered-chef-recipes/herb-chicken-ring.htm

I spoke too soon.

Bret now loves the Mississippi Mud Bars and called them a "do-over"

Maybe he just ate the first ones too quick and they needed more time to set up in the fridge.

Mississippi Mud Bars

These looked sooo yummy. But not so much.

Mississippi Mud Bars

Like this recipe? Save it to your recipe box.

1/3	cup butter or margarine
5	oz unsweetened baking chocolate
3/4	cup Original Bisquick® mix
3/4	cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2	teaspoons vanilla
2	eggs
1 1/2	cups miniature marshmallows
1	tablespoon butter or margarine
2/3	cup sour cream
1 1/3	cups powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 9-inch square pan. In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt 1/3 cup butter and 2 1/2 ounces of the chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
2. In medium bowl, beat chocolate mixture, Bisquick mix, granulated sugar, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Spread batter in pan.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Cover; let stand about 5 minutes or until marshmallows soften. Uncover; cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt remaining 2 1/2 ounces chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter; cool slightly. Stir in sour cream and powdered sugar until smooth. Spread over marshmallow layer. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows. Store in refrigerator.

Slow Cooker Chicken with Rosemary, Apples and Onions

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robin-miller/slow-cooker-chicken-with-rosemary-apples-and-onions-recipe/index.html


We made a few adaptions. I didn't use fresh rosemary. I also used 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts and then some dark meat that I had in the freezer.

The house smelled so yummy.
Jasmine gave it an A but she loves RICE
Bret liked it
Alex didn't like it but he was having a hard time with math a few minutes before we ate and I think his mood was negative because of that!

I tried this recipe after I saw Trevlyn post it on FB via her blog. I haven't had one yet. Bret was indifferent but he is indifferent on most yummy things I make. He always says that he wishes I loved to COOK as much as I love to BAKE. Jasmine gave them a 7.

I had fun making them either way. I adapted the recipe - I placed the cinnamon sugar into a brown paper bag and tossed the doughnut/muffin into the bag to coat.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/breads/muffins-that-taste-like-donuts/

I looked for a new calzone recipe tonight and found a winner. This requires fresh spinach which Bret wanted instead of canned spinach.

He gave it a 9 out of 10

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1599617







One thing I did do to change the recipe is I added pizza sauce. Bret loves pizza sauce. On my half of the calzone I just had feta and mozzarella chesse. I would have put more cheese on my end and more sauce. But it was yummy. I also added Italian Seasoning to the crust of the bread before baking.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

To make the Peanut Butter Insides:
one jar of creamy peanut butter
one stick melted butter
one pound of powdered sugar


This makes a ton. I usually do about 1/3 of this. You want the consistency to be so that you can roll the peanut butter into little balls.

Buy a mold from some place like Michael's. These are only a couple of dollars. I would recommend buying several so that when one is "setting" in the freezer while you are working on another batch.

Melt the chocolate. I always use the double boiler method because that is how Mom taught me. Put a small amount of melted chocolate in the cup of each mold. Place a rolled up ball of peanut butter yumminess. Put more chocolate on top. Place in freezer until hard.
Eat.

This was pretty easy and good. Nice and light for summer

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/greek-chicken-salad/d2d69177-ed44-495e-ad04-76a39a1707dc?WT.mc_id=taf_recipe_BC

Greek Chicken Salad

Jazz said this was bland.
Alex said he didn't like zucchini.

Karen threw the leftovers in the trash and felt defeated.


http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/-Bow-Tie-Pasta-with-Zucchini-101932

I had never cooked with fennel or leeks so this was going out on a limb for me. Jasmine doesn't like sausage so she kind of ate around that. Bret and Alex both said that it was a "redo". YEAH!

Ingredients

• 3-1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 pkg. Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage
• 2 cups chopped leeks (white portion only)
• 1 cup chopped fennel bulb
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup uncooked arborio rice
• 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
• 1 package (6 oz.) fresh baby spinach
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 Tbsp. minced fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat broth and keep warm. In a large skillet, cook the sausage, leeks and fennel over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in rice; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in wine. Cook and stir until all of the liquid is absorbed.

Add heated broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Allow the liquid to absorb between additions. Cook just until risotto is creamy and rice is almost tender. (Cooking time is about 20 minutes.) Add the spinach, tomatoes, basil and pepper; cook and stir until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese; serve immediately.

http://jimmydean.com/recipes/

Chocolate Snowstorms

1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda


Mix butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Wisk in flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir into butter mixture.
Chill 30 minutes.
Roll into balls and bake 12-15 minutes at 350.
Roll finished cookies in powdered sugar.


I made these tonight and kept some home and took some to Bev Ashcroft for teaching my sunday school lesson - Thanks Bev!

Jen's Sweet Chex Mix Recipe

9 cups Rice Chex
9 cups Golden Grahams
2 cups coconut
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
3/4 cup margarine

Boil 1 cup sugar, karo syrup and margarine for two minutes.
Spread over dry mixture on wax paper
Cool completely.

Makes Lots - Enjoy

Ice Cream Cake

This cake was made by Coach Amy - one of Jasmine's softball coaches from little league. It is so easy and is always a hit!

Ingredients:
Vanilla Ice Cream
Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Oreo cookies, crushed
one carton of cool whip

Layer the crushed cookies in the bottom of a 9X13 pan.
Take a carton of ice cream and cut into slices and place evenly over the cookies.
Warm chocolate syrup. Drizzle over ice cream layer.
Drizzle caramel over chocolate syrup layer.
Final layer is the cool whip.

Freeze to set at least for a few hours - best overnight.