Tasty Tuesday -- Pinata Cake

I'm not sure about you but I am FREEZING!! We certainly didn't ease into winter here in Illinois. However, with the cold also brought snow. It was a beautiful sight to see, but man, I hate the cold.

Remember the post on my son's Bowling Birthday Party? Click here to find out all about it.

Well, I attempted my first Pinata Cake because thought it would resemble a bowling ball. So, today on Tasty Tuesday, I will show you how easy it is to make one of these! And...how fun it is to eat!

 Even though it looks a bit complicated, 

it really easy fairly simple.

Grab two boxes of cake mix--your choice of flavor. Prepare as directed and place batter into glass bowls. Bake as directed on the box or until golden and set in the middle. Mine took about 10 minutes longer than the box suggested.

 

Allow cakes to cool slightly. Carefully turn cakes over to release from bowl. Allow to cool completely.

Next scoop out some of the center of the cake. About a 1/2-1 inch border around the perimeter of the cake and down into the center of the cake.

 

Next, fill with candy. We used Sour Patch Worms, M-n-M's, candy corn, Skittles and Gummy Bears. Next frost the edge of the cake. Not too much frosting, this is used like the glue for the top and bottom of the cakes.

Now carefully place the top onto the base of the cake.

Frost as you would like. For us, I wanted it to look like a bowling ball, unfortunately, it looked more like a ghost. I didn't want to frost it all black because I didn't want to send all the kids home with black-died lips, tongue and mouth!

I still love how it turned out and I loved the reaction from the kids! This is definitely worth trying for an upcoming celebration!

Have a fabulous day! 

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Tasty Tuesday -- Tortellini Skewers

 

A quick, simple and elegant

appetizer for your holiday table.

 



It's December already?!?! Where has the time gone? With all the rushing around that happens this time of year, I thought you might appreciate a quick and easy crowd-pleasing appetizer to serve up at your next gathering. These are perfect anytime of year, but the colors remind me of Christmas!

Tortellini Skewers

Ingredients
1 pkg cheese tortellini
1 pkg cherry tomatoes
1 pkg turkey pepperoni
1 pkg fresh basil
1/2-3/4 c. Italian Dressing
Extra Long Toothpicks

Directions
Prepare tortellini as directed on package. Place in bowl with cherry tomatoes and pour dressing over. Toss to cover. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Thread pepperoni, tomato, basil and tortellini onto toothpicks. Place on a pretty platter and serve!

Kids and adults like these bitesize little appetizers. So, are you hosting many gathering this year?

 

Tasty Tuesday -- Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

Thanksgiving is just 2 days away! I am THANKFUL its not at my house this year! Yeah! If you are looking for a crowd pleasing, light and refreshing snack or fruit dish, I suggest this Tasty Tuesday dish:

Fruit Salsa
Found on Allrecipes.com

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced

8 ounces raspberries

1 pound strawberries, diced

2 Tbls white sugar

1 Tbls brown sugar

3 Tbls fruit preserves, any flavor
 
Cinnamon Chips
10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
butter flavored cooking spray 2 Tbls cinnamon sugar

Directions
Preheat over to 350 degrees. 
In a large bowl,  mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. 

Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray. 

Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

I am still mastering the art of crispy chips, so if you've found the trick, please fill me in!
 
Serve this alongside the other appetizers or side dishes on the Thanksgiving table! Heck, make it all year round--its super easy and always a hit!

For a printable version of the recipe, please click here.

 

Tasty Tuesday -- Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

What a crazy weekend. We had horrible storms Sunday here in Illinois. Luckily, our community was spared this time, but others were not so lucky. If you feel the urge to help those in need, please check out this Facebook Page. Our community went through similar devastation almost 3 years ago, so this is all too fresh in our minds and hearts.

Today on Tasty Tuesday, I'm sharing a tried and true recipe. I'm not sure where this originally came from but it is easy to put together with pantry items you typically already have. It makes a decent size batch too! I usually wrap and freeze the extra for a quick school day breakfast for the kids.

 

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Ingredients
2 1/2 c. Bisquick
1/2 stick butter, melted (I reduced this to 1/4 stick)
1 1/4 c. milk (I use almond milk)
2 T. sugar (I use the amount suggested for Stevia)
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs (or egg subsitute)
1/2 c. finely chopped peeled apple (about 1 apple)

Directions
Heat skillet to 350 degrees. Stir all ingredients except apple until well combined. Add apple. Pour onto hot skillet. Cook until edges are dry, turn and cook until golden.

The house smells wonderful while these are cooking! Here's a tip: before you begin, turn on your oven to 350 degrees. Once it's ready, turn it off. When the pancakes are done, simply put them in the hot oven on a plate or directly on the rack. This will keep them all warm so you can sit down and eat hot pancakes together!

For a printable version of the recipe, click HERE.

Have a super day!

Tasty Tuesday--Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry

This is a quick meal to throw together on 

busy school nights. With tasty chicken and noodles, 

the whole family will enjoy every bite of it!

This time of year seems to be super hectic. School is in full swing, kids after school activities are going on, holidays (and planning for holidays) are right around the corner. The last thing I have time for is to be in the kitchen for hours making a wholesome dinner.

I love this recipe because it comes together so easily, is inexpensive and I typically have all the ingredients on hand. This meal comes together in less than thirty minutes and is a hit with everyone. We never have leftovers!

Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry

(origin unknown)

Ingredients

8 oz angel hair pasta, uncooked

2 c. broccoli (frozen or fresh)

1 lb chicken, raw and cubed

1/2 c. Asian Sesame Dressing

2 Tbls. Low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp. ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper

Directions

Cook pasta as directed on package. Add broccoli to pasta water for the last 3 minutes of pasta cooking time.

Spray large non-stick skillet with cooking spray over med-high heat, cook chicken 6-8 minutes or until cooked. Add in dressing and spices and cook for 1 minute.

Drain pasta and broccoli. Add to skillet and toss with chicken. Serve warm.

For a printable version, click HERE.

Well...it's off to another busy week here at our house. My hubby is preparing for a long hunting trip to Missouri, so its just me and the kids for 10 days. Should be interesting!! Make it a great Tuesday!

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Tasty Tuesday -- Not your Grandma's Goulash

When the weather gets colder, I love dishes that remind me of growing up. This recipe is one of those; however, I've adjusted it over the years to tailor it to my picky taste buds. This has become a favorite cold-weather dish for my entire family. It's simple, quick and uses one pan!

Not Your Grandma's Goulash

Ingredients
1/2 pkg egg noodles
3/4 - 1 lb ground beef
1 can tomato soup
Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan Cheese, optional

Directions
Boil noodles as directed on package, drain. While noodles are cooking, brown ground beef. Sprinkle with spices, as desired. Drain grease if necessasry. Add tomato soup, stir and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Add noodles, stir to combine. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with garlic toast and your vegetable of choice.

For a printable version, click HERE.

What is one dish that reminds you of your childhood?

Tasty Tuesday -- Homemade Croutons & A Cooktop Challenge

It's only 2 days until Halloween!! Are you excited? Are you ready?

Today on Tasty Tuesday, I am sharing an easy recipe for Homemade Croutons. These are seriously simple and you can adjust the seasonings to whatever you enjoy. I typically make these with old, stale bread. This batch I actually used buns that were in the freezer too long. Once I made them into croutons, you never knew! Love not having to waste food.

Homemade Croutons

Ingredients
1 loaf of bread or package of buns
olive oil
herbs such as italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper

Directions
Cube bread/buns and put into bowl.

Drizzle with olive oil.

Toss to cover bread completely. Sprinkle with seasonings. Spread on rimmed cookie sheet in a single layer. Put into a pre-heated 375 degree oven. Bake 10 minutes, turn/toss, bake 5 minutes longer. Check to see if the cubes are toasted.

Remove when toasted and allow to cool. Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

For a printable recipe, click HERE.

Now...for something fun!! I'm here to let you know about a really cool live cook-off challenge and you could win an awesome prize!

Electrolux and Food52 will pit three influential chefs against each other in a live cook-off challenge hosted by Food52’s. This cook-off will be live on Food52’s website for a half-hour on November 6 at 12 pm CT. Viewers can engage with the chefs by answering questions and joining the chat. How cool would it be to learn a few new cooking techniques? Just log in via Twitter or Facebook to participate!
 

When you join in the conversation, you could win an Electrolux Induction Cooktop (worth $2,199!) or Electrolux Induction Range (worth $3,749!)

 

You could win one of these awesome cooktops...I think this would be the one I would pick!

Induction Cooktops: They range in price from $1,999 (30") to $2,199 (36") 

•Power Assist: Boils Water in 90 seconds.

•Precision Cooking: Control of a gas cooktop in an electric range.

•Keep Warm: Indefinitely hold food at the perfect serving temperature.

•Exceptional Temperature Control: Adjust heat with greater accuracy than gas or electric cooktops, especially at lower settings - perfect for melting chocolate and cooking delicate foods and sauces

So, tune in to food52.com on November 6th at 12 noon and you could win!

Tasty Tuesday -- Chicken Apple Panini's

Yesterday was my son's 8th birthday! Where does the time go? We had a super fun bowling party with a few of his school friends. I even made a cool cake that looked more like a ghost than a bowling ball, but it was still a hit! I'll be sharing the party with you later on...but now, it's time for Tasty Tuesday!

I'm a big believer in Panini's. Sure, its just a sandwich, but it's extra special. With fall in full swing around here, this tasty creation is sure to hit a home run! You can change it up anyway you like, but I enjoyed mine like this:

Ingredients
Rotisserie Chicken, sliced thin
Apple, sliced thin
Bacon, cooked
Cheese, I used mozzarella, but next time it will be apple jack cheese
Romaine Lettuce
Tomatoes, sliced thin
Ciabatta Roll/Bread

Directions

Assemble your Panini by layering it with all the ingredients listed above. If you wanted to add a sauce to it feel free (I didn't because I'm trying to watch those extra calories). Next, carefully add it to a hot, grill pan and set your Panini press on top. I got mine from Pampered Chef. If you don't have one, simply use a heavy pan and set your flour canister on top! Grill for about 5 minutes and flip over. Grill for another 2-3 minutes. Slice and serve.

This is a quick and easy meal to put on the table. The great thing about these Panini's is that you can make them for each family members tastes. My daughter just wanted the apples on the side, not with the sandwich.

What kind of quick sandwich does your family enjoy?

Tasty Tuesday -- Breakfast at our house

Hello! It's Tuesday! I'm sharing a few recipes that I made for breakfast a couple weekends ago. I found both of these recipes over at the blog The Girl Who Ate Everything. Have you visited her site yet? If not, you should. She features delicious recipes, just like these:

French Toast Roll-Ups

These were so good! I filled ours with Nutella as well as Creamy Peanut Butter. I was out of fresh strawberries at the time, but will try those the next time we make them.

Mini Frittatas

I changed ours up a bit. I used cooked bacon bits and shredded reduced fat co-jack cheese. I also used low-fat milk and Egg Beaters. These were amazing. The recipe made a lot so I packaged the rest up and stored them in an air-tight container in the frig for quick weekday breakfasts (just pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds or so). My son calls these egg muffins!

Head over to her blog right now for the recipes. Just click on the title and it will bring you to that recipe.

 

Tasty Tuesday -- Skinny Copycat Starbucks Chocolate Chip Frappuccino

It's the first day of October!!! I'm so excited. This means my No-Soda September is over. I tried. I really was hoping to kick the soda habit for good. But, I can't. I've been craving it for the last week of September. But, I do promise that I won't drink as much of it anymore. Whew...thank goodness! Oh, and this is my birthday month, so keep your eye open for a fun giveaway!

Do you love Starbucks? Well, I'm not a coffee drinker, so it's not my first choice, but my daughter is obsessed with that place. One of her favorite drinks to get at Starbucks is the Double Chocolate Chip Blended Frappuccino Creme. I've tried it. It's good and doesn't have an over-powering coffee taste. I could actually handle one of those. BUT...did you know a 12 oz. size is over 400 calories and has 17 g of fat? Now, I can't have one of those.
But, I found a skinny version that has been taste-tasted by my daughter, her friend and myself and we all think it is a good "skinny" version of the real thing. I've tweaked the recipe a bit because we thought the original one was too sweet.

Skinny Chocolate Chip Frappuccino
Adapted from Hungry Girl

Ingredients
1 pkt diet hot chocolate mix
4 oz warm water
1 Tbls sugar free chocolate syrup
2 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 Truvia Sugar Packets (or other sweetener)
1 Tbls Mini Chocolate Chips
8-10 ice cubes
Fat Free Whip Cream

Directions
Mix the hot chocolate and water together until completely dissolved. Pour hot chocolate, chocolate syrup, Truvia, chocolate chips and almond milk in blender. Blend on high for 45 seconds. Pour into a fun cup and top off with some whip cream! Sprinkle a few more mini chocolate chips on top to make super cute!!

Yum! Enjoy this lighter calorie version. According to Hungry Girl, it comes is at 135 calories, 4.5 g of fat! Now, this is something I can have!!

Tasty Tuesday--Old Fashion Caramel Corn

Remember awhile back when I made S'more Popcorn? The base of the recipe called for caramel corn. Well, I made the caramel corn but failed to take pictures of the process. BAD BLOGGER!! Anyways, over the weekend, I finally made a batch. YUM. Enjoy!

Old Fashion Caramel Corn
From my mom's kitchen

Ingredients
5-6 Quarts of Popcorn
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. oleo (aka butter)
1/2 c. ligh t corn syrup
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda

Directions
Bring all ingredients, except for popcorn AND Baking Soda, to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add baking soda and stir. Remove from heat. Pour over popcorn in a large roasting pan. Stir to cover all popcorn completely. Bake at 250 degrees for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Stays fresh in air-tight container for about 5 days...if it lasts that long! For a printable recipe, click HERE.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday -- Smokey Chicken Wrap

Welcome to another addition to Tasty Tuesday. I hope your week is off to a great start. Since we still have a few weeks of quality grilling left, I thought I would share with you one of our family favorites. You could also prepare this on an indoor grill, too. This is perfect for a quick dinner. I always grill more chicken than we need to use in lunches during the week.

Smokey Chicken Wraps

Ingredients

Rub:
1 Tbls. brown sugar
2Tbls. Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. ground chipolte pepper
1/8 tsp. ground pepper

1.5 lbs. chicken breasts
6 -8 flour tortillas, warmed
Lettuce
Shredded Cheese
Tomato
1/4 cup Low-fat Ranch Dressing

Directions:
Preheat Grill. Combine rub ingredients into large Ziploc bag. Remove 1 tsp of rub mixture and add ranch dressing, set aside. Add chicken to Ziploc bag and toss, cover chicken completely. Remove chicken from bag and grill. Watch closely that it doesn't burn. Cook until juices run clear, approx. 12 minutes.

Allow chicken to rest for a few minutes. Slice thinly. Spread ranch dressing mixture on tortillas. Add chicken, lettuce, cheese and tomato. Roll and serve with tortilla chips and fresh pico de gallo.

For a printable version of this recipe, CLICK HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Tasty Tuesday! #QuickFixCasserole {Perfect for Back-to-School}

First of all--I have to give a shout out to my dad today!!

HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY DAD!! LOVE YOU!

Okay, now onto the today's Tasty Tuesday! Kids are back to school, after school activities are in full swing, so how in the world do we get dinner on the table? After working all day, the last thing I want to do is spend a long time in the kitchen! I've got a few quick tips that make dinner time a snap!

1. Plan ahead. I make a menu up for the week when I go grocery shopping. This helps our family tremendously. And it saves us lots of time and money, too. Too often we wouldn't take something out of the freezer to thaw which meant we'd hit the take-out menu folder!
2. Prepare in advance. If I am grilling chicken for dinner, I usually throw on a few extras for another meal later in the week or for lunches. Why cook twice? Same thing goes for ground beef--if I'm browning it for one meal, why not for another. It freezes up nicely and is a breeze to thaw and toss into a casserole or for something quick like tacos.
3. Rotisserie chicken is a mom's best friend. You can do so much with these bad boys! I'll share a recipe with you today. Not only can it be dinner the day you pick it up, but you can shred it for later in the week, cube it up and freeze it. The options are endless.
4. There are a ton of recipes that can be put together in 30 minutes or less. I've got Back to School board on Pinterest with a few ideas. You can also check out Country Crock's Pinterest Boards or their website for tasty solutions, too. I'm sharing another one with you today.

Here's a casserole that will get to your table speedy quick thanks to rotisserie chicken!


Chicken & Rice Casserole
(adapted from Food Network Magazine, March 2013 issue)

Ingredients
2 Tbls. Country Crock Butter
1 Clove Garlic, chopped
4 Green Onions, sliced
2 cups broccoli, chopped (fresh)
2 cups Shredded Rotisserie Chicken (skin removed)
1 cup brown rice (fast-cooking)
1 small tomato, chopped
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup sour cream
4 oz dill havarti cheese, diced
1 oz parmesan cheese, shredded
salt & pepper as desired



Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and most of the green onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft (about 2 minutes). Add the broccoli, chicken, rice, tomato, salt & pepper to taste; stir to combine.
Whisk the broth and sour cream together and pour into skillet and bring to a simmer. Stir in half of both cheeses. Cover skillet tightly with lid or foil and transfer to oven. Bake until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Turn on the broiler. Uncover the skillet and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses, broil until golden (about 2 minutes). Sprinkle with the reserved green onions. Serve.

Here are a few reasons I enjoy using Country Crock Spread:

• It has 0g trans fat per serving
• It contains no partially hydrogenated oils
• Is has no cholesterol
• It has 70% less fat than butter per serving
• And it has 30% fewer calories than butter per serving

Check out Country Crock's Facebook page for some great recipe ideas and product updates and information.

Do you have any other suggestions on how to get dinner to the table on hectic school nights? If so, please share!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.