I have no idea why these are called Peanut butter Fingers but they are...perhaps I should have cut them in long, thin rectangles resembling fingers, or perhaps it's because I kept sticking my finger in the peanut butter jar (shhhh). I'm not sure. I am sure that these little beauties will knock your socks off. I hope you love them. (They'll help you get through the rest of the week)... You're welcome.

After peanut butter bar is cooked and still hot, add one bag milk chocolate chips.

Once chocolate chips are melted, spread evenly. I took mine outside to cool and set up.


Delicious peanut butter fingers perfect for a mid-afternoon snack.

Peanut Butter Fingers

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup oats (instant or old fashioned)
1 bag (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg, peanut butter and vanilla. Then add soda, salt, flour and oats. Press into 9x13 pan. Bake 15 - 20 minutes at 350. Remove from oven and immediately pour chocolate chips on top. Spread chocolate when melted. Cool completely. Printable recipe

Today is the Oscars. I thought I'd make you all a special treat to eat while you're watching the Academy Awards. Why? because you are a star to me. *wink* Have a wonderful evening...who will you be wearing? (I think I'll be wearing Adidas and gap).

Pop 6 quarts (+or-) pop corn. If you don't have an air popper, you can use 2 1/2 bags of buttered microwave popcorn.
When the sugars and corn syrup start boiling, add the butter and sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly until,

The temp reaches 230 degrees or, softball stage.

Pour the caramel on the popped corn until coated completely.

Golden caramel corn chewy and sweet. Perfect for a night of TV.

Caramel Corn
* we like our caramel corn chewy

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Karo light corn syrup
1 cup butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugars and corn syrup in 2 quart pan. Bring to a rolling boil and add butter and sweetened condensed milk. Cook stirring constantly until mixture is at softball stage on candy thermometer or tested in cold water. Remove caramel from heat and add vanilla. Pour over popcorn until coated completely. Turn onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Try to wait until cool. Enjoy! Printable recipe

My kids take their lunch to school every day. There is only so much a mother can put in her kid's lunch box. Sandwich, cold pizza, cheese and crackers, fruit...the list is pretty short. Add in the fact that I have two picky kids and the list is cut in half. Well, looky here. I have re-discovered the wrap. The great thing about the wrap is everyone can customize their wrap with what they like to eat. Throw one in your kid's lunchbox and they'll thank you! This is how I make mine...

I start with shmearing vegetable cream cheese on the wrap. This stuff is gold. It brings a great flavor to the wrap.

Pleas note: this is not enough vegetable cream cheese. I would have been happy with a little more...lesson learned.
I like a layer of shredded carrots,

provolone cheese, ham, turkey and green leaf lettuce.

Roll it up and cut it in half and you're ready to go. They are delicious. You can add or subtract ingredients as desired...maybe olives, tomatoes, spinach, swiss cheese, pickles, cucumbers, a shake of Oregano, salt, pepper, mustard. You get the idea. Enjoy!

The Academy Awards are coming up this Sunday. I love to the watch red carpet events to see what all the stars will be wearing. I have also seen a few movies that are up for one of the coveted trophies. If you are hosting a little get-together to watch the Oscars, here is a ballot for all of your guests to vote for their favorites. Courtesy of Twig and Thistle.


Enjoy the night! Oscar Ballot

I just bought a carton of yummy, sweet strawberries. I need to de-stem and hull them so I can put them on my favorite strawberry spinach salad. The easiest way to do that is to...

rinse your berries and grab a straw.

Insert your straw in the bottom of the berry and gently push upward.


Keep pushing on the straw until the stem is lifted off the strawberry.

Remove the stem and the hull from the straw.

Ta da! your stem is gone.

So fast and easy! Now I'm ready to cut my strawberries to put on my salad.

Delicious!

Do you ever get caught up in renew, re-use, recycle? I think it's called "re-purposing" now. I wish I had the time to focus on being a little more "green". I found myself at Goodwill the other day looking for some shirts my daughter has to wear this summer (story for another day) and I found these.


An appetizer plate and a candle holder. I thought they were pretty and my mind went to work thinking how cute they'd be like this:

A small pedestal tray! I bought some glass/jewelry glue at Hobby Lobby and now I have a new cupcake holder, candy dish etc. I am SO green!

I think I'll use it for a baby shower I'm hosting in April...more info to come.

My man and my oldest son are out of town. The rest of us needed something to do to fill our weekend so, we decided to make cookies to take to our valentines. I love this sugar cookie recipe because it makes soft sugar cookies. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe years ago and it is the recipe I keep coming back to. It always turns out...in fact when I made these cookies I realized I didn't have any sour cream (shriek) so I substituted vanilla yogurt and they turned out beautifully. I love this recipe because it doesn't need to be chilled before you roll it out and it calls for nutmeg which gives it a great flavor. I hope you like this recipe too.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 2/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In medium bowl add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Stir with whisk and set aside. In a separate bowl combine shortening, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Blend until fluffy. Add dry ingredients alternating with sour cream. Mix until all ingredients are combined. Divide dough in half and roll out to 1/4 inch on floured surface. Sprinkle with sugar if not decorating. Repeat with second half of dough. Place cookies on baking sheet and bake for 6 - 8 minutes (I always cook 6 minutes). Cool on wire rack and decorate. If I'm in a rush, I buy the canned frosting and add powdered sugar until piping consistency. My kids love to decorate these cookies. Printable recipe


Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Cook 6 minutes. The bottom of the cookie will be golden brown.

Andrew's creations. He went to town on the decorations.




I hope you had a great Valentine's Day!

How can a brownie be deceiving? I saw this recipe online and couldn't believe it. I love brownies. They are one of the food groups as far as I'm concerned. I love the crunchy/chewy edges...what's not to love about a brownie?

Well, I had to try this recipe for two reasons.
1. I am grasping at straws to find a nutritious brownie and this is as close as I'm going to get.
2. My kids may eat them if they don't know what's in them...remember my recent cauliflower victory?

You only need two ingredients.

That's right. Any boxed brownie mix and a can of black beans. Shhhh it will be our secret!

Pour the un-drained beans into your blender and pulverize them until runny. Add to your brownie mix.

Stir by hand until combined (if you use a mixer, they will be more cake-like).

Bake for time listed on back of brownie box. When done they will look a little like this.

I added frosting to entice my children to eat them.

The best part about these brownies is you cut down on saturated fat and increase fiber with this great substitution.

If you are interested in frosting your brownies, this is a great recipe.

Chocolate Fudge Icing

4 Tbs cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
4 Tbs butter, softened
3 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla

In mixing bowl, mix cocoa and powdered sugar. Add softened butter, mild and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread on warm brownies. Printable recipe

Success! My kids loved these brownies!

I decorated my Valentine table early this year. I love to take a theme and run with it. My table will be set like this for a week before the big meal...next up; Academy Awards, Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day.

I started with a white tablecloth, used a red and pink runner and then used red bud vases, candles, plates and napkin rings. Then I sprinkled red stones along the runner.

For Valentine dinner we are having lasagna, red fluff, spinach salad with fresh strawberries, pomegranate Sierra Mist and for dessert individual heart-shaped cakes...

Like these. I made a boxed white cake and poured the batter into 5 heart spring-formed pans I found at Target (these would be great as a layer cake or cupcakes too).

After cooking and cooling, I sliced the cake in half horizontally and spread a layer of seedless raspberry jam. This is my favorite and I can get it at Walmart.

Chill the cakes for about an hour then spread with whipped cream cheese frosting (below).

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Beat shipping cream until stiff peaks form, set aside. Combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped cream.

Prepare frosting 1-2 hours before frosting cakes so it can set up in the refrigerator. Frost on top and sides of cake. Store in refrigerator. Amore' Printable recipe

Do you remember the big bunch of cauliflower I got at Bountiful Baskets? Well, I'm not much of a cauliflower eater so I pondered about what to do...then as I was flipping through one of my favorite magazines, I came across a recipe that solved my quandary.

I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the time and energy making this dish when I have two kids who are as picky as they come. After much deliberation I started making the dish when my daughter (picky child #1) came into the kitchen and said, "mmmm smells like potatoes". To which I agreed. After all it did smell like potatoes.

Then came the big test. I dished up the kids plates with the cauli-gratin, a green salad and roasted chicken. I waited and watched. All three of my kids ate the WHOLE meal without complaining. When we were clearing the plates I asked my kids if they would be okay if I made the dish again. All three of my kids gave the Cauli-Gratin a thumbs up! It wasn't until we were having dessert my husband spilled the beans and told the kids they actually ate cauliflower!

Cauliflower Gratin
Real Simple Magazine 2010

4 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish (please use unsalted butter or, if using salted butter, omit salt from recipe)
2 small heads cauliflower (about 3 pounds total), cored and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
6 oz. extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (1 1/2 cups)
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
kosher salt and black pepper
1 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 Tbs. olive oil

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water and fit with a steamer basket; bring the water to a boil. Place the cauliflower in the basket, cover, and steam until very tender, 12 to 15 minutes; drain well. Or I used these.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. gradually whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.

Whisk in the cheese, nutmeg, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook, whisking, until the cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and gently fold in the cauliflower; transfer to the baking dish.

In a bowl, toss together the bread crumbs, parsley, oil and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the cauliflower and bake until golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy! Printable recipe
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley. A really great way to chop parsley, cilantro or other fresh herbs is to place them in a bowl...
cut them with your kitchen shears until they are the size you need for your recipe...

Ta da! Chopped parsley for my Cauli-Gratin. So fast and easy.

Your Cauli-Gratin should look a little like this before you put it in the oven. Look at that panko ready to be toasted and eaten for dinner.

After the Cauli-Gratin has cooked about 20 minutes. Golden brown and bubbly. Smells delicious!

Early in my marriage I discovered that this dish is one of my father-in-law's favorites. I like making it because it is easy and delicious...plus my kids like it. Leftovers are delicious too! I hope you try it soon.

Shepherd's Pie

8 small russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
4 Tbs. butter
1/2 cup milk
1 lb. ground beef
1 can corn, drained
1 can green beans, drained
1 can tomato soup
2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
salt
pepper
1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Set the oven at 350 degrees.

Place the potatoes in water that covers them. Bring to boiling, cover pan for 10 to 15 minutes until fork tender.

While potatoes are cooking, brown ground beef and salt and pepper to taste. Drain. Add tomato soup, corn and green beans. Pour in a casserole dish.

Place hot potatoes in large bowl, add milk and butter and salt and pepper to taste. Mash the potatoes with a hand held potato masher or hand held beaters until creamy. Spoon mashed potatoes over beef/vegetable mix. Sprinkle cheddar cheese and dried parsley on top.

Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Enjoy! Printable recipe

Peel and quarter potatoes. Boil them until fork tender.
Brown ground beef, add drained vegetables and a can of tomato soup.
Your mixture should look like this before you put it in your casserole dish. You may need to add more tomato soup.

Cover meat and veggies with mashed potatoes and shredded cheese.

Delish. Enjoy your Shepherd's Pie.