November Foodie Penpals

I'm back for this month's Foodie Penpals. 

 








I'm kinda obsessed. 

Ok very.

My package came from Lindsay at Live.Love.Nutrition. She did a great job in picking out things I'd love. First of all, some of the items were from Trader Joe's. And I love me some Trader Joe's!!!

I got some pumpkin flax granola. Healthy and delicious! I've had some of this goodness for breakfast in my yogurt and it's good.

I also received some TJ Pumpkin Butter. Didn't even know they made this stuff!! Pretty genius though. Spread this stuff on some toast, rolls, or whatever you can think of! 

Also from TJ, this can of organic pumpkin puree. I can not WAIT to make some pumpkin recipes with it. I have something in mind...

For my sweet tooth cravings, she sent me this Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar. I have seen these bars everywhere but never tried one. I'm munching on one as I type. It's my breakfast :) Chocolate and peanut butter for breakfast? Cha ching. 

And last but certainly not least, she sent me some TJ Fleur De Sel Caramels. Yes, that is caramel with sea salt. She is a saint for sending these because Lord knows I love me some salted caramel! Don't think these are going to last long in my house. 

 *I sent my package to Mellissa at A Fit and Spicy Life. Go check out what I sent her!!


Peace, and bacon grease!

November's Secret Recipe Club - Peanut Butter Cookie Cups + Sausage and Hashbrown Bake!

It's time for another month of The Secret Recipe Club. 

This month I was assigned to Amy's blog, The Saavy Kitchen. I instantly had a long list of things I wanted to make, like her Banana Bread French Toast, her Gourmet Mushroom Risotto, and her special BLT. 

I did end up making two recipes that caught my eye! 

First up... Sausage and Hashbrown Bake.

The breakfast casserole was pretty good but I think I just like my shredded hash browns crispy. And these weren't so I think it could have been better without the hashbrowns and maybe more of the bisquick for a biscuit taste. But that's just a personal preference.  


 














Sausage and Hashbrown Bake
slightly adapted from The Saavy Kitchen

*Makes 6 servings

• 1 (16 oz) package maple pork sausage
• 1 and 1/2 cups shredded hash browns
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 and 1/2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese 
• 1/2 cup Bisquick
• 1 cup milk
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 2 eggs

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.

Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in onions once sausage has browned a bit. Cook until sausage is no longer pink and onions have softened. Drain grease.

In a large bowl, stir together sausage, hash browns, and 1 cup cheese. Pour into the baking dish.

In a separate medium bowl, stir together Bisquick, milk, pepper, and eggs until blended. Pour into baking dish over sausage mixture.

Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake until cheese melts. Cool for 5 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

Printable Recipe


 























I wanted to give another recipe a try since I wasn't blown away by the breakfast casserole. 


And I figured I couldn't go wrong with a peanut butter cookie filled with a mini Reese peanut butter cup.

Annnnnnnnnnnd I was right. 

My mini muffin tin makes 12 but there was leftover batter. I think I'll make the rest tonight... I think there may be enough batter left for another 4 or 5 cookie cups, maybe more. The batter also stuck to my hands and wouldn't roll in balls so I just plopped 1-inch globs of the batter into the muffin pan and pushed the dough down firmly and up the sides of the muffin tin.

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
from The Saavy Kitchen

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl or mixer, beat together sugars, butter, and peanut butter until blended. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat well. In a separate medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the peanut butter mixture. Beat well.

Grease a mini muffin tin. Drop 1-inch balls into the muffin tins, pushing dough firmly into and up the sides. Bake 8 minutes, or until cooked through.

While still hot, push a mini Reese's into each cookie. Place back in the oven for 1 minute. Allow to cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.

Printable Recipe

 


















Check out the other SRC posts in the blog hop below:



Linking up here.


Peace, and bacon grease!

 

Acorn Treats {Week 7 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

Week 7 baby.

I am LOVING this 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge. As always, I'd like to thank Brenda for hosting this incredible series!

This week I was short on time so needed something quick and easy.

Like, no-cooking-quick-and-easy.

I found a recipe that seemed like the perfect solution. No cooking? Check. Adorable? Check. Tasty? Check.

It's these Acorn Treats.



















See, I told you they were adorable.


















Acorn Treats
ever-so-slightly adapted from Taste of Home  

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 48 Hershey kisses
• 48 Nutter Butter Bites
• 48 mini semisweet chocolate chips

In a microwave, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Spread the flat side of each kiss with a small amount of melted chocolate; immediately attach each to a cookie. Place a tiny dollop of melted chocolate on the top of the acorn and immediately attach a mini chocolate chip to make a stem. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container.

Printable Recipe




















Check out the other treats in the blog hop below:

Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

 

Graham Cracker S'mores Candy {Week 6 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

We're halfway through the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge. That means Christmas isn't too far away! 

 














 I'm kinda on a s'mores kick lately. I made some S'mores Fudge.

Then I used my leftover graham crackers to make some Graham Cracker Candy.

Now I'm back with something similar. 

But not.

It's Graham Cracker S'MORES Candy this time 'round.



















I used more than 12 graham crackers so didn't put an exact amount in the recipe. It did take 12 whole graham crackers, plus I added in smaller pieces to completely cover the bottom of the pan. I left out the chocolate chips because, well, when I was in the middle of making this I noticed I didn't have them. When do I not have chocolate chips in the house?!? Insane, I know. But include them if you like. I don't think it necessarily needs them.

It still tasted like s'mores heaven. 

 
















Graham Cracker S'mores Candy
slightly adapted from Bakergirl

• Graham crackers (12+)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• 4 Hershey bars, broken into pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends, and spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers up on the foil evenly and cover the bottom of the pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.

Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle mini marshmallows and chocolate bar pieces over the graham crackers. Return pan to oven for another 3-5 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up. 

Cool completely. Lift from pan using foil edges. Cut into bars to serve.

Printable Recipe

Check out all of the other treats in the linky below!

 
Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Halloween 2012

I'm posting this a little late, but guess who won first place at work's Halloween costume party?

Michael Jackson, that's who! 

 























Jerry curl and all.

I'm bad. 

Peace, and bacon grease!

An Online Bake Sale for Suzie

Hey there friends.

Today I'm participating in an online bake sale hosted by my hilarious and sweet blogging friend, Veronica. She really is a kind soul for putting this together. 

The bake sale is to help a fellow blogger named Suzie whose health isn't the greatest right now and she needs help paying some expensive medical bills. Minimum bid is $15 and the bake sale is open all day today!!!

I'll be donating my candy cookies!!

 


Head on over to purchase something and help out a fellow blogger  :)

Do it. Do it.

Peace, and bacon grease!