Butterfinger Pie

I love me some Butterfinger bars, though I rarely have on, but come Halloween when my son tends to get far too many chocolate bars, I like to find interesting ways to use up that candy, because otherwise you experience what we are right now, where it's August and because every holiday seems to require kids getting candy, we still have Halloween candy... from last year.

Anyway, this last year, I decided to check out Pinterest and see if I could find a way to use up some candy bars and came across recipe for Butterfinger Pie and KNEW I had to try it. It was seriously as delicious, maybe more ;), as it sounds. So, naturally, I decided to share it with you all.

(Not originally my picture or recipe)

Butterfinger Pie

Ingredients:

6 (2 1/8 oz.) butterfinger bars, crushed

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1 (12 oz.) container cool whip

Graham cracker crust

Directions:

Mix first three ingredients together.

Pour into pie crust.

Chill.

Enjoy!

Check out the pin here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring

Mornings can be hectic, especially with kids. An average morning in my house is often some tornado-like blur where we rush around trying to get everything done and get out of the door in time. So, when you can get a morning that ISN'T rushed, it's a really nice treat. On those mornings, it's always nice to make a nice breakfast for the family, even if it's just cinnamon rolls, or like this Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring. So if your family is as busy as ours, or if you just want a different sort of breakfast recipe, or for a special treat, look no further!

(Not originally my picture or recipe)

Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring

Ingredients:

2 small tubes or 1 large tube of refrigerator buttermilk biscuits

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

½ cup pancake syrup

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup chopped pecans, optional

¼ cup chopped almonds, optional

Directions:

Spray a bundt pan with non-stick spray. Combine the melted butter and syrup in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (if desired). Place about half of the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan. Then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top. Lay the biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping edges (closely together) to form a ring. Top with remaining syrup and sugar mixtures.

Bake at 375F for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 minute in the pan, then invert onto a serving platter and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Horrible Blogger!

I'm a horrible blogger and I apologize! Life has certainly gotten the best of me the last month! Shortly after making that post I started a new job that I have come to love and when it's not that, I've been busy with the every day life of keeping up with my son, our two dogs, my husband and my Scentsy business, so I'm a bit of a busy girl!

Anyway, I'm hoping to be back at blogging, if nothing else but to share some recipes and crafts with you all... Maybe even some of the ramblings in my life! I have some projects I plan to be doing coming up as well as many, many recipes to share with you all so stay tuned!

Until next time,

Amanda

Snicker Salad

Well, now it's time again to share another recipe with you all! Today's recipe is PERFECT for all the family get-together's that will be starting to take place (Mother's Day, Father's Day, summer bbq's, reunions, etc.). I made this salad I think a year or two ago and it was a huge hit at a family meal, so naturally with summer just around the corner, I must share!

 

(Not my picture or recipe)

Snicker Salad

Ingredients:

8 oz. container cool whip

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 c. milk

5 green apples, diced

5 regular sized snickers, frozen (makes it easier to chop)

Directions:

Add instant pudding to a mixing bowl and pour in milk. Mix well and let chill while chopping candy and apples.

Chop snickers into bite-sized pieces.

Chop apples into bite-sized pieces.

Fold cool whip into pudding mix until well blended. Mix in snickers and apples.

*You can adjust the apples and snickers to your liking in how much you want in the salad.

Thank you for reading, hope your family enjoys it like we have!

Until next time,

For pin, click here!

Amanda

My Apologies...

I am so sorry to those of you that still read my blog. It's been about a month and a half since my last post and I feel terrible about that, but life has been all over the place and due to a bit of a tragic event I'm finally ready to come back to this blog.. To catch you up...

I started a new job the beginning of April and was rather unsure of it when I started and for the first two weeks or so of working there. I didn't see it being much of a long-term thing once I was there, even though I was optimistic and hopeful before starting. I decided to stick it out until I could maybe find something better because I still needed a job, so I sucked it up and went with it, then things in my life took a huge turn...

On April 23 (yes a month ago today), I lost one of the most important men in my life. My maternal grandpa passed away after a 4-year long battle with cancer. My life instantly stopped and came crashing down all around me. Now, I know many people will lose a grandparent and it's sad, don't get me wrong, I'm not downplaying this AT ALL, but for a lot of people they see it coming. I'll be honest, we did get a warning about a week before that things were not good and that we had 2-3 months at best with him. Two days before he passed, my mom sat me and my siblings down and told us all about it and that it was our choice if we wanted to spend the time we had with him. I wanted nothing more than to do that, but was unable that time to go with her, so I said I would go down the next weekend I was off (the following weekend), but I never got that chance.

I received the call from my dad at 6:40 am just as I was getting ready for work and was about to head out the door for the day. I remember being in shock, but the second I hung up the phone, I dropped to the ground and began sobbing. See, what makes it so hard is that my mom's side of the family is incredibly close.  My cousins are as close to me as siblings, my grandparents are literally like another set of parents to me, I even lived with them for a year in the 8th grade. We're a very tight-knit group that loves each other endlessly and everyone knows each other's business before it even happens. At times it's annoying, but we wouldn't have it any other way. My grandpa was the glue to this family. Losing him is like losing a father and a best friend. He was always so supportive over us all in anything we chose to do and never once gave up on us. My heart is still so broken and I miss him so dearly.

After that happened, I ended up losing my job. It was a huge mess involving time I took off for my grandfather's death and funeral, among other things, but honestly I wasn't all that upset. I can get another job and I really wasn't too keen on it anyway. I was only working there for about 3 or 4 weeks when my grandpa passed so I knew this was a possibility. I've been a stay-at-home-home since and so far it's been okay. I think I've really needed the time anyway so I can deal with the loss of someone so important in my life.

After everything, I feel like it's time I come back here and start writing again, if nothing else but to have a place to discuss my feelings. I've wanted to come back but I just wasn't ready to throw myself in just quite yet, but I am now. Thank you all for being so patient and sticking by me and this blog even though I wasn't around!


Amanda.

Valentine's Pretzel Buttons

I've seen these things done several times for Christmas and other get together's, so when I was looking for a cute and simple idea for Valentine's Day, this was perfect and so cute!

These pretzel buttons are so easy and nearly impossible to screw up. They're also incredibly yummy and make the perfect snack for this day or to give away with Valentine's!

(Not my image or recipe. Click title for original.)

Valentine’s Pretzel Buttons

Ingredients:

A bag of small square pretzels

Bag of Hershey’s Hugs (striped ones)

Valentine’s M&M’s (red and pink)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Place the pretzels on the cookie sheet and top them with hugs.

Bake for 4-5 minutes until the chocolate is shiny and soft, but NOT melting – they should still hold their shape.

Carefully place on M&M in the center of each hug and press it down to spread the chocolate.

Allow to cool completely and enjoy!

Told you it's quick and simple! Hope you enjoy it like we did!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Pumpkin Pie Smoothies

I love me a smoothie and so does my son. One of my favorite things to do when I was a stay-at-home mom was make us a smoothie every morning. It was little ritual we'd have while we sat and watched some cartoons together. Now that I'm not at home, we're kind of limited for this kind of stuff to weekends and lately we haven't had the time, but it's always a great thing to do when we can fit it in.

I was unsure about this recipe when I made it because it sounded good but in smoothie form, a Pumpkin Pie seemed weird for breakfast. I also wasn't sure the kiddo would like it. I was pleasantly surprised to find it both delicious AND that my son loved it! So here I am, sharing it with you wonderful people!

(Not my original image or recipe)

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Ingredients:

½ banana, peeled, frozen, and diced

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1/3 cup Greek yogurt

¾-1 cup soy milk

Pumpkin spice

Cinnamon

Pinch of Ground Cloves

1 tsp. vanilla

4-5 ice cubes

Directions:

Blend all until smooth and sprinkle with cinnamon, pumpkin spice and cloves.

And there you have it! A quick and easy breakfast or snack idea!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda.

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

I've said it before that I love quick and easy meals. If they happen to be made in slow cooker to make my life that much more easier, LOVE them! So when I came across this recipe a year or two ago, I knew it'd be a hit. And of course it was! My husband loved it and I've made it a time or two since and it's gone over well again!

(Not my picture or my recipe. Click title for original source.)

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

5 lbs. russets, washed, not peeled, diced, into ½-inch cubes

1 large yellow onion, diced

10 cloves garlic, whole

8 cups chicken stock

16 oz. cream cheese

1 Tbsp. seasoned salt

Garnishes:

Crumbled bacon

Shredded cheddar

Green onions

Directions:

Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning, and chicken stock to slow cooker.

Cook on High for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.

Remove and puree garlic cloves along with ½-1/3 of soup, and reintroduce to crockpot.

Stir in cream cheese and allow to melt. Stir every 10-15 minutes until soup is well blended.

Top with choice of garnishes.

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda.

It's Been Awhile...

I've realized it's been about a month and a half since my last post and I don't have much of an excuse except that we've been really busy. I started a new job recently and my brother-in-law was getting married, alongside us dealing with some medical turn up's, holiday's, and the all-around craziness of life!

In the time I've been gone I haven't stopped trying new recipes and doing a couple crafts though! Now I'm back to share said recipes and crafts with you!

I'm a person that likes to store recipes I've tried if I like them, so once I'm done I like to type them up and save them on my computer. I also print them out and put them in a categorized and organized binder or "recipe book" for future reference. I know it's a not a crazy idea, but I've got over 500 recipes so I'm sure that it's a bit excessive ;).

During my break away, I sat down and actually typed out all the recipes and whatnot and now they're all prepared for you lovely followers!

Stay tuned for new posts!

Amanda.

Garlic & Butter Broccoli

When I made this, I originally served this with the Poppy Seed Chicken I made one night, but this could really go with so many things. If you're looking for a good, healthy, AND Gluten-Free side-dish, or really could be a lunch time meal if you so wish it to be, look no further than here! It's also great if you're a broccoli lover like myself!

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Garlic & Butter Broccoli

Ingredients:

20 oz (2 1/2 c.) Broccoli (can be fresh or frozen)

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt and pepper

Directions:

Cook broccoli in salted boiling water until tender (about 5 minutes) and drain.

In a pan, melt butter. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add broccoli and toss.

Garnish with pepper. Enjoy!

See? Quick, easy, and practically fool proof! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Poppy Seed Chicken

In our house there's a tad bit of a divide on meat preferance, though we're all accomodating of each other. My husband loves beef, I love chicken, and our son, well, we're lucky if we can get him to eat it, though pork and chicken are usually what he'll try - beef is a no go. So, I try to keep it relatively even for what kind of meats I cook with and with meatless meals so we can all win when I do my meal planning. But I have to say, when you take a look at my Pinterest, you'll find that I have SEVERAL more chicken meals and dishes than I do of any other kind.

When I came upon this recipe it had to be tried. Now, when I meal plan from pinterest, I like to go to the very bottom of the board so that I make sure I'm not just repinning the same things or that I'm actually not just trying the new stuff. I was SO happy when I finally reached the point of being able to try this recipe and boy was it a good one! I didn't eat much because I wasn't all that hungry, but between my son and husband, there was no leftovers to be had and they both said it was definitely something to make again.

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Poppy Seed Chicken

Ingredients:

3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 chicken bouillon cube

1 (10 3/4 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 (8 oz.) container light sour cream

2 tsp. poppy seeds

salt and pepper, to taste

1 sleeve (approximately 31) Ritz crackers

1/4 c. butter (approximately 4 Tbsp.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot, bring water and bouillon cube to a boil. Add chicken breasts and cook until no longer pink. Remove breasts and place on a plate to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, add chicken soup, sour cream, poppy seeds, and season with salt and pepper. When chicken is cool, shred or cut into bite-sized cubes and mix in with soup mix.

In a smaller bowl, crush crackers and add butter. Microwave for 20 seconds or until butter melts. Stir to coat the crackers.

Coat an 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add chicken mixture and spread evenly. Top with cracker topping and bake for 30 minutes. Remove, allow to cool and set for 5-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

I'm sure if you try this with your family it'll be a hit!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

I made this as a side dish one night thinking that it would likely go over well. It's since become one of my favorite salads to make and serve. It's so creamy and delicious and just as easy to make! If you're looking for a quick, easy, new salad to take to a family get-together, picnic, or potluck - look no further!

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

Ingredients:

12 oz. cool whip

1 small pkg. cheesecake pudding (powder)

3 6oz. strawberry yogurts

1 lb. fresh strawberries, sliced

3 bananas, sliced (add just before serving or they'll brown)

miniature marshmallows (add just before serving)

Directions:

Thaw cool whip and in a large bowl stir it together with yogurts and pudding powder. Let this set up in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. Wash and slice strawberries and add into mix. Add bananas and marshmallows just before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Use this and I'm sure it'll be a big hit!

For pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Bacon Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

My husband and I both love grilled cheese sandwiches. On nights when neither of us really feel like making much of an effort we'll make them because they always go over well. While looking through one of my favorite food blogs, I came across this recipe and wanted to try it. At first my husband was skeptical because it involved fruit and he's just one of those guys that thinks things like this shouldn't go together, man did I prove him wrong ;).

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Bacon Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients:

8 slices of bread

Bacon, cooked until crisp

1-2 Bartlett Pears, sliced

Sharp White cheddar cheese, sliced (I actually used Mozzarella because I couldn't find white cheddar)

butter, softened and spreadable

Directions:

Heat either a cast iron skillet, griddle, or panini grill to med-high heat. Layer the sandwich: bread slice, cheese, pear, bacon, more cheese (if you wish), and another bread slice. Butter the to slice of bread and place on the pan, buttered side down. Then butter the remaining side.

If you are not using a panini press, you can use a spatula or heavy pan to press down on the sandwich during grilling to get a similar result. The sandwich is done when the sides are toasted and the cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

Here's hoping you like it as much as we did. Even my skeptical husband loved it! :)

Until next time,

For pin, click here!

Amanda

Lasagna Cups

My husbands favorite food on this planet is Lasagna. I'm fairly certain that if I allowed it he'd probably eat it morning, noon, and night day in and day out. I'm not kidding when I say I've gone to visit family for a week or weekend and before I leave I'll make up up a pan of lasanga and he'll spend the next few days eating it. This man LOVES his lasagna. So when I found this recipe on Pinterest I knew it'd be a hit.

While I was planning out meals for the next while a couple weeks ago I decided I would try this out for Valentine's Day as a special treat to the hubby. Man was he glad to see me making lasagna, even if in a different form. He's even asked me to make it again for his birthday next week! We'll have to see about that one... ;)

So without further adieu, I bring you...

 

(Not my picture or my recipe. Click on title for original.)

Lasagna Cups

Ingredients:

Sauce:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 large onion

1/2 lb. lean ground beef, cooked and drained

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1 small zucchini, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce (+ 1/2 can water to wash out can)

1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 Tbsp. dried basil

1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese Filling:

1 10 oz. tub Philidelphia Italian Herb & Cheese cooking cream

1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese

3/4 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated and divided

1/3 c. ricotta cheese

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 egg

21 Lasagna pasta sheets

Directions:

Sauce: Heat oil over medium heat and saute onion, pepper, zucchini, and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in cooked ground beef and tomato paste until well incorporated. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes or so. (The longer it cooks, the better it will taste!) This will be very thick.

Cheese Filling: Stir all ingredients together excluding half of the grated mozzarella cheese, set aside.

Pasta: Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta sheets 2 minutes less than package directions and drain. Place pasta on greased baking sheet until you are read for assembly.

Assembly: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 jumbo muffin tins (I just did 18 regular) with squares of parchment paper. If they don't stay in on their own, that's okay - the pasta will help wihtthat. Line the edges of the muffin tins with 1 pasta sheet per cup (sheet will overlap about 2 inches). Spoon about 1/2 Tbsp. of sauce into the bottom of each cup. Next cut 9 pasta sheets into quarters and press one of these pieces of pasta into the bottom on top of the sauce. Top pasta sheet with a generous tablespoon of sauce and then a generous tablespoon of cheese filling. Repeat this pasta-sauce-cheese layerong one more time being sure to press out any air bubbles. Top these lasagna cups off with a third piece of pasta, more sauce, and the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbly. Serve hot.

If you love lasagna, I'm sure you'll love this as much as us!

For the pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

Sorry for the break...

So it's been almost two weeks since my last post, and I want to formally apologize for the wait. Myself and my smally family have just had a lot going on lately with some added stressors as of recently. However, to make up for it, I'm going to make a couple quick posts with recipes to ge you all by in the mean time! For the few that do follow me, thanks for sticking around, I'm hoping to be back more and more coming soon! :) Until next time, Amanda

Creamy Ranch Pork Chops and Rice

One of my favorite things to make is pork chops in a mushroom gravy. We hadn't had it in awhile so when I made my grocery list for the week, I decided to try out this recipe and see if maybe I'd have a new favorite on my hands. Turns out, it was a huge hit. The three of us loved it! My husband is a huge Ranch fan so I knew he'd be game. My son, who is normally very picky with meat even gave it a try, though I'm sure he liked the sauce over his rice more than anything.

So, without further adieu, I bring you tonight's latest addition in the recipe book!

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Creamy Ranch Pork Chops and Rice

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

4 boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick

1 (10.75 oz) can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 (10.75 oz) can milk

1 (1 oz) pkg. ranch salad dressing mix

Paprika

Ranch-style rice (I just used regular white rice)

Directions:

Heat oil in skillet. Add chops and cook until browned.

Add soup, milk, and 1/2 package salad dressing mix. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes or until done. Sprinkle with paprika.

Serve with rice.

Such a simple and quick meal, which you all already know is my favorite kind! ;)

Until next time,

To view the pin, click here!

Amanda

Pizza Casserole

We're super busy around my house. I know we're not alone. Monday-Friday (and some Saturday's) my husband and I work. From there it's trying to keep things up around the house, pay bills, be parents to our son and fur-babies, alongside projects for our new house and various other small side things going on. We're always doing something or going somewhere so quick, easy, and filling meals are a must in our day-to-day life. If they bring on leftovers? Even better! It means we have lunches and that I may not have to cook supper the next night!

I came across this Pizza Casserole through Pinterest. I've actually seen a number of them over time and finally decided to give one a go, despite my being nervous with using pepperoni (I'm not afraid, I just can't have spicy food and pepperoni can be iffy with my stomach). It turned out fantastic! My husband told me he definitely wants me to make it again. Even our four year old loved it! And since I got plenty of leftovers with it, we had supper for the next night and lunches for the next two days!

(Not my picture or recipe. Click title for original.)

Pizza Casserole

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 (26 oz.) jars spaghetti sauce
16 oz. rotini pasta, cooked and drained
5 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. sliced pepperoni

Directions:
Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in oil. Drain. Stir in pasta, spaghetti sauce, and 3 cups of cheese.

Place mixture in two greased 9x13 pans. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with pepperoni. Cover and freeze or bake uncovered at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.


Told you it was really simple!

To see the pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

BLT Pasta Salad

Every time we all get together with my in-law's it's kind of a fight of what to bring because with so many of us, we can only have so many fruit and veggie trays or some sort of salad. I'm always looking for some sort of new salad or dessert or something for these kind of events just so I know we're not eating the same thing or I'm not the one bringing the same thing every time, or if I am that it gets an added creative twist.

When I stumbled across this recipe (thank you Pinterest!) I knew we had to try it because it's something that would be great for our big group, and I love me a BLT, so getting it in a salad form was just an added plus! So here, I bring you with a salad version of a delicious lunch item!

(Not my picture or recipe. For original click on title.)

BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

12 oz. corkscrew-shaped pasta

1/2 c. milk

12 oz. lean bacon

3 medium rip tomatoes, cut into chunks

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

1 clove garlic, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 c. sour cream

4 Tbsp. chopped chives or scallion greens

5 heads Bibb lettuce, quartered, or 5 c. chopped romaine lettuce

Directions:

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs. Drain and toss with milk in a large bowl; set aside.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over med-high heat until crisp (I always bake my bacon). Drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 Tbsp. of pan drippings. Add the tomatoes, thyme, and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through; season with salt and pepper. Crumble the bacon into bite-sized pieced; set aside 1/4 c. for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and tomato mixture with the pasta.

Mix the mayo, sour cream, and 3 Tbsp. chives with the pasta until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 Tbsp. chives. Serve at room temperature.

I hope this works as well with your family as it does ours. I know I'll definitely be making this next time we're all together!

To view pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

30 Minute Rolls

I love meals that are quick an easy. Especially when I'm making buns or bread to go with it. I stumbled across this recipe thanks to good ol' pinterest and have found it to be amazing! We didn't eat them all with supper, but we had rolls for the next couple of days for lunches and snacking. My son and husband loved them and have asked me to make them again and again!

These rolls are SO easy and super quick with only taking 30 minutes! That's from start to finish even! So if you're looking for a good, quick, and easy roll recipe, especially for family get together's, I've got you totally covered!

(Not my picture or recipe. For original, click on title.)

30 Minute Rolls

Ingredients:
1 c. plus 2 Tbsp. warm water
1/3 c. oil
2 Tbsp. yeast
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
3 1/2 c. bread flour (could use all-purpose though too)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In your mixer bowl, combine the water, oil, yeast, and sugar and allow it o rest for 15 minutes. Using your dough hook, mix in the salt, egg, and flour.  Knead with hook until well incorporated and dough is soft and smooth. (About 5 minutes.)

Form dough into 12 balls and then place in a greased 9x13 pan and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden brown.


I hope you all enjoy these like we did!

To see the pin, click here!

Until next time,

Amanda

No-Bake Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars

I knew from the second I laid eyes on this recipe that it'd be a hit. I knew I HAD to share with all of you the second I actually made it!

In my house, I love to bake and cook (like I've said before), but when you're working full-time and you're literally gone from your house for 11-12 hours a day and come home to have to cook supper and keep up with daily chores as well as care for a child, it can feel like a bit much. Some nights I just really want to bake but I want it to be something quick and simple because I don't have the energy to put up with coming up with some 4-hour masterpiece, even though I'm sure it'll be just as good. I know I'm not alone in this feeling, thus having to share this awesome recipe with you all!

(Not my recipe or picture. Click title to see original)

No-Bake Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars

Ingredients:

1 c. light corn syrup

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. light brown sugar

1 1/2 c. salted peanut butter

2 tsp. vanilla

4 c. rice krispies

Directions:

Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with wax or parchment paper. Place the corn syrup and sugars in a large saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

Stir in the peanut butter and mix well to combine. Quickly stir in the vanilla and Rice Krispies. Spread into the lined baking pan. Cool and slice into squares.

See?! How amazing do these sound?! I hope you love them as much as my family did!

Click here to view the pin!

Until next time,

Amanda

The Liebster Award

I came online tonight to make a much-needed post or two of a couple recipes I've tried and was pleasantly surprised to be nominated for a Liebster Award by a lovely lady I know, Victoria ( You Make Me Feel Like Dancing).

Now, I'll admit I wasn't entirely sure what the Liebster award was, but not to worry, Victoria provided the answer, whom she got from someone else, who I'm sure got from someone else, and so on. :P... I am here to enlighten you all and will copy and paste just what it's all about!

"So what is the Liebster Award?

The Liebster Award nomination goes to those bloggers who have a following of less than 200 to promote other bloggers to comment and share - even get to know each other!  I think this is great, because it gives you the potential to gather a larger following!  If you get nominated, you cannot nominate the person who nominated you (No tagbacks!).

The point of the Liebster Award is to answer questions, tell 11 secrets about yourself, and nominate 11 other bloggers who fit the criteria.  Here it goes!"

I'm honesty very honored to receive such a nomination as I kind of felt like I was one of those blogs that falls into the cracks, so to speak. I show up on someone's blog feed, but maybe they don't really pay attention. But hey, this blog has only been around for just under a month, so I think it's to be expected that it's not the most popular thing, though I doubt it'll ever get to some high status as such...

So without further adieu, I will carry on with my duties of a Liebster nominee!

11 Questions Posted by Victoria for Those Who Were Nominated

What was your favorite TV show growing up?

Oh boy, I don't even know! Honestly, I didn't really watch a whole lot of tv. I was always out with my friends or doing something for cadets. However, I always made time for Degrassi every week. It holds a place in my heart!

What is it that you "get" out of blogging?

My thoughts. I also get to share my favorite recipes and crafts that I've made. I love to share things like this and blogging makes it easy without being too annoying. ;)

What is your favorite book? Why?

I can't pick just one, I really can't. The entire Harry Potter series is just so amazing to me. The magic, love, fantasy, lessons... everything... It's so perfect in every way to me. Another favorite is "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult.

What made you decide to repost this and nominate others?

I was nominated and felt it was only right to Pay it Forward!

What is your favorite memory?

I don't have one favorite memory, I can't pick one. My favorite kind of memories are the one's spent with my closest friends and with my family. Family means everything to me and I can't even begin to pick a favorite out of them all. I can say that most of the fondest involve my mom's side all getting together. My cousins on that side might as well be siblings, we're all SO close with one another. All  those memories are priceless to me!

What do you do when nobody's watching?

Dance. Like a complete fool. But hey, nobody's watching ;)

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money, and why?

-I would officially by the house we're buying/building

-Buy a new vehicle for our family, and my husband a new truck that he's always wanted.

-Start a college savings for our son.

-Pay off my parents house, and grandparents.

-Pay off all bills and debt.

-Go on a real honeymoon

-Take a trip to Disneyland and bring my family.

-Put the rest in savings so we can have the comfort of knowing we have money for retirement, kids schooling, etc.

If you could donate to any charity (any specific charity, or a general cause), what would it be?

I would donate to cancer. Not any one in particular though... It's something that strikes very close to home with family and friends.

If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?

I would love to have some kind of job where I get to travel the world and see all the amazing things the world has to offer, if there is a job like that out there!

What do you love most about yourself? List five reasons why.

I love my ambition, passion, and stubbornness.

1) Though my being stubborn can create a certain sense of being a tad bit of a pain in the ass (:P) I love that it has created me to be driven. I fight. I don't give up. I don't give in. I push. I work for the things I want in life. I know that some things may take time and though I may fall off the wayward path from time to time (which can lead me to something better or make me fall behind a tad), I always end up finding my way.

2) I love the sense of accomplishment and doing something good.

3) I love what I love and don't like what I don't. I don't let people push me over just because it's "the cool thing".

4) It's shown me what I've made of myself. There are so many things I have accomplished that I'd never dreamed of doing. My drive, passion, ambition, has gotten me there. Like I said, I don't give up.

5) It makes me a better person and inspires others. I dare anyone to say that when someone says your success pushed them to NOT feel great!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla, usually. I guess I'm boring ;).

11 Secrets About Myself

1) I'm not as strong as I come across. Passionate, yes, but my inner strength is a mess.

2) I still don't know what I want to do with my life. A big reason I never went to university/college was because I simply didn't know what I wanted. I'm 24 and still don't. I don't even have a relative idea.

3) I love my dotg more than most people.... And I'm not ashamed by this.

4) I'm afraid of what the future holds in terms of some personal things I want in life. I'm terrified that certain things may not happen. Things I've always dreamed of. Things that I can't control.

5) I have been diagnosed with having secondary infertility. It's a scary thought. It goes hand in hand with number 4. It terrifies me. I love my son, if he has to be "enough" then he will, but I don't want him to have to be.

6) I feel selfish for feeling that way because so many deserving people in life don't even get that.

7) I love cheesy, predictable, and lame tv shows like Gossip Girl, 90210, The Carrie Diaries, and Hart of Dixie.

8) I love Disney movies... though that's not really a secret :P.

9) I have a habit of going "offline" on facebook when I want to stop talking to people, when I'm really still around. It's not any of these people's faults, I just sometimes don't care.

10) Laundry is my least favorite chore. Hands down. Hand me some dirty dishes over laundry ANY day.

11) I get complimented on being "so creative" a lot, when really I have Pinterest to blame for a lot. I can say that it has made me more creative in looking at something and thinking "I can totally recreate that!" when before I'd just buy it.

11 Questions for Those Who Have Been Nominated

1) If you could replay any day in your life which day would you pick? Why? Would you change anything?

2) If you could change anything about your wedding day, what would it have been/? If you're not married, if you could have one dream thing happen for your wedding, which would it be?

3) Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?

4) What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?

5) What is your favorite childhood memory?

6) What is your favorite thing to bake or cook?

7) You're stranded on a remote island with no escape, but all the necessities of life (food, water, etc.). What three things would you have with you? (You can't pick a boat or anything to get off this island either!)

8) What is your favorite "kid" cereal?

9) What tv show could you never get enough of?

10) What is your dream job?

11) What is your favorite movie?

My 11 Nominees

1) Manda - Eat Cake 

2) Amanda - Trying to Conceive: Swimming Against the Tide

3) Megan - Life Lessons of a New Mommy

4) Ashley - ...Every Little Beautiful Pieces

5) Kez - Kreative Kez

6) Rachel - Eat, Run, Rach

7) Elizabeth - 2 Love Birds Building a Nest

8) Jamey - A Fraction of the Whole

9) Frozen OJ's Concentrated Life

10) Jade - N and J

11) Allyson - Allyson & Co.

I hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I did. Thank you again Victoria! Congrats to you all that have been nominated!

Until next time,

Amanda