Twice Baked Potato

These twice baked potatoes hit the spot! Super yummy. Easy to make and family friendly. 

4  russet potatoes or 4-5 larger red potatoes

1/2-3/4 cup light sour cream

3 tablespoons butter, salted

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 -3/4 cup monterey jack cheese, grated 

1/4 cup low-fat milk

Bake potatoes for 45 minutes on 350 degrees (until potatoes are soft). Let potatoes cool. Scoop out potato from the peel. Place in a medium bowl. Mash potato with fork. Add butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, milk and cheese. (you can add powdered ranch dressing to spice it up a bit!). Mix throughly. Place filling back in the potato peels. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

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Everything Apple: Delicious Apple Recipes

Check out these scrumptious apple recipes!

A. Caramelized Apple Chips by Spicy Southern Kitchen
B. Caramel Apple Cheesecake by Raining Hot Coupons
C. Apple Fritters by Greek Food & Greek Life
D. Caramel Apple Turnovers by Comfort of Cooking
E. Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls by Gimme Some Oven
F. Caramel Apple Cupcakes by The Recipe Critic


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Fudge Brownies With Caramel Sauce

These fudge brownies are delicious! Rich in dark cocoa,chewy and soft. Easy and fast to make. Recipe adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

10 tablespoons butter, salted
1 1/4 cups cane sugar
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose

Melt butter and combine with sugar. Mix. Add cocoa powder. Mix. Add vanilla and slightly beaten eggs. Mix. Add flour. Mix throughly.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pour batter into an 8x8 greased pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

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Check out how to make the homemade caramel sauce!

More yummy recipes on Pinterest!



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Party Recipe Ideas

A. Chocolate Covered Party Bananas by Spark Recipes
B. Vanilla Funfetti Cake Roll by Shugary Sweets
C. Mini Corn Dog Muffins by Recipes Quick & Easy
D. Mini Donuts by The Novice Chef
E. Birthday Cake Popcorn by The Endless Meal
F. Oreo Pops by Makooodle
G. Spinach & Artichoke Dip by Natasha's Kitchen
H. Bacon Cheddar & Jalapeno Pinwheels by Yellow Bliss Road
I. Apple Pie Pops by Shop Girl

Here are some of my favorite party food recipes I have collected on Pinterest! 

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All Things Churro : Cinco De Mayo Recipes

Check out these Churro inspired recipes and shake it up a bit! Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner. Any of these delicious treats would pair perfect with your fiesta celebration! 

A. Cinnamon Rolls with Churro Caramel Icing by A Sweet Spot Home

B. Churro Pretzels by Oh Sweet Basil

C. Churro Popcorn by Sweet Treats & More

D. Mini Churro Cheesecakes by Cookies & Cups

E. Mini Churro Donuts with Homemade Dulce De Leche by The Sweet Chick

F. Churro Pancakes by Sweet & Treats & More

G. Churro Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting by I Heart Naptime

H. Churro Waffles by A Texas Type A Mom

I. Churro Cookies by Oh, Bite It!

Cinco De Mayo Layered Bean Dip

Easy layered bean dip! Perfect for Cinco De Mayo festivities! The best part....it is fresh! Made with homemade taco seasoning. No preservatives or artificial flavors and coloring.

When shopping for my ingredients, I have made it a habit to READ THE LABLES! You won't believe the junk they put into our food. I have found that Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Nugget are pretty safe. It is always best to read the labels. If you can't understand what the ingredients are, safe to say, not good for you.

1 can refried beans (Trader Joe's beans only use water and salt to preserve!! Good stuff).
1-2 avocados, mashed
1 large roma tomato
1/2-3/4 cup green onion, sliced
1/2-3/4 cup sliced black olives ( I buy these fresh at the nugget and remove the seeds).
1-1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
1/2 cup light sour cream (set aside)

1/2 cup salsa (optional)

Taco Seasoning Recipe
Adapted from Family Fresh Meals

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Mix all seasoning together. Add 1-2 tablespoons to the 1/2 cup sour cream.

In a baking dish 8-9", spread the refried beans. Next spread the mashed avocado, then the taco seasoned sour cream mixture. Add the cheese, green onions, tomatoes and olives.

Chill for 1-2 hours before serving. ENJOY! with your favorite tortilla chips.

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Homemade Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

These bread machine cinnamon rolls are super yummy! My kids absolutely loved them. The best part...they are made with whole wheat flour!

I have adapted the recipe from About.com

3/4 cups water
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups unbleached, white whole wheat flour
6 tablespoons cane sugar
1/4 melted, salted butter
2 tablespoons dry milk
1 packet active yeast

Filling:

3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Add all ingredients to bread machine and use dough setting. (cycle is about 1 1/2 hours)

Remove dough from bread machine & roll out into a rectangle, approx. 10x18". Brush dough with melted butter & sprinkle with sugar mixture. Roll dough, starting at the long end. Pinch seam together. Cut 1" slices and place on a buttered baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel and let rise for another 45 minutes, in a warm place.

Bake 12-15 minutes.

Icing:

3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons hot water
2 cups powered sugar

Drizzle icing over warm cinnamon rolls. Serve!!

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All Things Cupcake: Unique Cupcake Recipes

Check out these 9 unique cupcake recipes!

A. Margarita Cupcakes by Annie's Eats
B. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes by Lady Behind The Curtain
C. S'mores Ice Cream Cupcakes by A Pumpkin & and A Princess
D. Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes by Bakingdom
E. Greek Yogurt Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting by Natasha's Kitchen
F. Chocolate Pistachio Cupcakes by Your Cup of Cake
G. Mojito Cupcakes by Gooseberry Mooseberry
H. Maple Pecan Cupcakes with Mini Pancakes by The Moon Blush Baker
I. Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cupcakes by Cooking Classy

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Homemade Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

This cauliflower sauce has replaced Alfredo sauce in our family! I wanted to get really creative with how to get my kids the vegetables they need. We were all unsure of it until we tried it! I have adapted the original recipe at Pinch of Yum, to make it "kid" friendly.

We use this sauce on our homemade pizzas and pasta. The kids absolutely love it. Weird, right? They are getting nutrients and fresh ingredients. No preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. Give it a try!

Medium head of cauliflower
1-2 cloves of garlic (depends on how much you like garlic)
2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup milk
2-3 cups chicken or veggie broth (depends on the consistency you want the sauce)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

In a medium sauce pan or steamer, steam cauliflower and garlic, until soft. Add 1/2 cup milk, cauliflower, garlic, pepper, cheese, butter and 1 cup broth to blender. Blend until smooth. Continue to add broth until you reach desired thickness.

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Celebrating Earth Day

Today I decided to celebrate Earth Day with my kids by making the dirt cups with gummy worms! To make a somewhat healthier version. Trader Joe's has really good chocolate cookies you can use that do not have all the harmful ingredients (i.e. artificial coloring, flavors & preservatives). They look identical to Oreos and use natural vanilla bean for flavor. You can substitute real (homemade) whipped cream for Cool Whip. To top if off make some fresh chocolate pudding, using real cocoa & unflavored gelatin!

Since I just went to Trader Joe's and completely forgot the cookies!! UGH. I told my kids we will be making MUD CAKE! Ha ha....Pudding, real whipped cream and gummy worms.

A. Earth Day Cupcakes by Bird on a Cake
B. Earth Day Cookies by Red Couch Recipes
C. Earth Day Snack for Kids by Children Food
D. Dirt Cups with Gummy Worms by Eat At Allies

{Recipe} Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Have you ever look at the ingredient list on a ranch bottle? Wow! Modified food starch, artificial flavors and preservatives to name a few unhealthy & unnecessary ingredients. Making simple changes in your families favorite foods can be a step in the right direction. Processed foods just aren't necessary. I love that this recipe has no mayo. Simple. Fresh. My kids really enjoy it!

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com

1 cup low-fat sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1-2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients. Store in mason jars or any airtight containers. Allow to sit overnight for best flavor!

TIP: make sure to look at the labels! For herbs and powders I used Morton & Basset San Francisco, all natural.

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{Recipe} Homemade Flour Tortillas

I found the best recipe, I adapted, for homemade flour tortillas on epicurious! My husband and I are really starting to take a look at what we eat and especially what we are feeding our kids. It is unbelievable what artificial ingredients and preservatives companies add to our store bought food. Sad, really. It is so easy to make little changes that can go a long way. I admit, cooking from scratch is time consuming. However, it is doable.

Just to give you an idea of what a typical store bought flour tortilla may have in it:

• Enriched bleached flour- enriching the bleached flour is necessary due to processing. Processing the flour removes nutrients. Nutrients required by FDA that need to be present (iron, vitamins, calcium). Enriched products tend to quickly raise blood sugar levels. Chemicals are used to bleach the flour, such as, chlorine and organic peroxides. 
• Hydrogenated oils- trans fats. According to Natural News, "They take these naturally healthy oils such as palm, kernel, soybean, corn oil or coconut oil and they heat it anywhere from five hundred to one thousand degrees under several atmospheres of pressure. They then inject a catalyst into the oil for several hours. The catalyst is typically a metal such a nickel, platinum or even aluminum...The molecules in this new product are now closer to cellulose or plastic than to oil. In fact hydrogenated oil is only one molecule away from being plastic." 
• Dough conditioners- According to Natural Revolution, "Bromide is a dough conditioner found in most flours as potassium bromate...Constant ingestion of bromate in your daily bread may eventually create a thyroid hormone imbalance because iodine is needed for thyroid hormone production. It is also implicated in many cancers. The UK banned bromate in bread in 1990. 
Canada banned bromate in bread in 1994." 
• Preservatives- food additives to prolong shelf life. BHT/BHA, Nitrates. 
• Cellulose Gum- food thickener. Is also used in non-food products such as, toothpaste, water-based paints, detergents. 

 Scary, right!? That is just tortillas! Why not  try something fresh. A recipe with ingredients you can pronounce and understand. Simplicity.

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2 cups unbleached flour (you can use whole wheat flour)
1/4 cup salted butter (cut into pieces)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup warm water
Pastry Blender

Measure 2 cups flour into a medium bowl. Cut butter into flour using a pastry blender, until flour resembles small crumbs. Add oil and water. Using a fork, work mixture into a ball of dough. Place dough on a floured surface and kneed 3-4 times. Wrap in plastic wrap and let dough sit for an hour. 
Divide dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion out into a 7-8" circle (or desired size and thickness). Using a floured surface to avoid dough from sticking. Place tortilla in a heated skillet or griddle and cook for 45-60 seconds on each size. TIP: you will know when to flip tortilla when it bubbles.
Store tortillas in fridge or freezer. So yummy!!!

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Recently my family and I have made some big changes to what we eat. We are really making an effort to remove processed foods from our home. These yummy, easy to make granola bars are awesome! My three toddlers just love them. An entire pan only lasts about two days around here, ha ha! The best part is fresh ingredients. No preservatives. No added colors/dyes. You can actually understand what you are eating!

I have adapted the original recipe from Inspired Taste.

2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup salted butter, cut into pieces (or unsalted)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt if you use unsalted butter
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided

In a medium bowl, add the rolled oats. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan, add butter, honey, vanilla, and brown sugar. Cook until sugar dissolves. Pour mixture onto the rolled oats. Mix until combined. Wait about 1-2 minutes for the oats to cool. 
When the oats have cooled fold in the 1/4 cup chocolate chips. (they may melt a little). In a 8x8 baking pan, line bottom with parchment paper.

Take granola mixture and press into the baking pan, until tightly packed. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.  Place in refrigerator for 2 hours to chill before cutting into bars. Store in an airtight container or ziploc in the fridge. Store for up to one week. (They will won't last that long if you have kids!!!)

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