Brownie Graduation Hats

For Mr. Three’s pre-school graduation party last week, I made little graduation hats. (I can’t believe my baby is going to Kindergarten in the Fall!)
 (You may have seen this pic on already.)  I got the idea from Pinterest (of course), but most used a Reese Cup as the base.  Mine needed to be peanut free, since my son and another classmate are allergic.  So, I decided on brownies, baked in a mini muffin pan. (You could buy pre-made brownie bites making these a quick, no-bake treat!)
 I thought they turned out pretty cute for my first attempt, and the kids & parents alike enjoyed them. {Yes, I was *that* mom who brought in something cutesy off Pinterest. But hey, sometimes I’m that “crap! I forgot to buy something for the party, let me grab some Little Debbie snacks” mom too. It’s called balance. Can’t be on top of my game all the time. lol}
Since these were for preschoolers, the mini brownies made the perfect size snack!
Brownie Graduation Hats
 
1 box brownie mix, plus ingredients on box
1 package chocolate covered graham cookies
candy for ‘tassels’*
mini M and M candies
melted chocolate for ‘gluing’ everything together
  • Mix brownies according to directions on package (or try this egg free, lower fat version!).
  • Bake brownies in a mini muffin pan until done (they will not take as long to bake as directed on package since they are minis. Do I really need to point that out? probably not)
  • Once cool, carefully cut rounded tops off brownies so they will sit flat (if needed)
  • Flip brownies over, so the widest side is down.
  • Use some melted chocolate to attach a graham cookie to the now upside down brownie.
  • Use more melted chocolate to attach candy tassels to top of cookie, and the mini M candy on top of tassel.
*The candy that I used for the tassels was some rope candy I had never seen before (and don’t remember the name of). It is similar to the pull-apart Twizzlers in shape. The problem I had with this candy is that it was kind of hard and round, and it was a little difficult to get the round rope pieces to sit on top of the cookie, and they were a little too big. I ended up cutting each rope piece in half (vertically), and then cut them to the desired length.  My recommendation, and what I will do in the future, is use something that is flat…like a fruit roll up, or maybe a flattened Tootsie roll? And cut it into strips. I think that would be much easier to work with.
Other tips: You could use cookie icing to “glue” your pieces together, b/c it hardens pretty quickly and comes in a handy little squeezable pouch. The only color I had on hand was red…so I ended up using melted chocolate. You don’t need that much…I might have used 1/4 cup?
I may be linking up at any of these places – 

(Monday) , , , , , , , , , ,  (Tuesday) , , , ,,, , ,  (Wednesday) , , , , , , , Cherished Handmade Treasures,   (Thursday)  ,, , , ,  (Friday) ,  , , , , ,, , , ,, , , , , (Saturday) ,  ,  (Sunday) 

 This post was featured at , , , , , and ! Thank you ladies!
   

Allstate has a new motto, and it’s GOOD! #spon

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of for . All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever had something put in front of you at exactly the right time? Maybe a song came on the radio and the lyrics were so relevant that it gave you pause, or the sermon in church was exactly what you needed to hear on that particular Sunday.  Well, that’s what happened to me with this  commercial- 

You seriously need to watch it, it’s pretty awesome.  For me, it was a lot more than just a commercial…it was exactly what I needed to hear.  See, with all that has been going on in the world around us, school shootings, bombings, natural disasters…it has been a little overwhelming as a parent. I guess terrifying is a better word. It was getting to the point that everyday was filled with fear and trepidation about what the day could bring for my kids.  Do I want to live like that? NO. Do I want my kids to feel that fear and be scared to go to school each day? Absolutely not!  It is time to face those fears and acknowledge that yes, bad things happen, but I want my family to focus on the GOOD.  We want a good life, and to cherish each and every day we have on this earth.  

My goal is to focus on the positive.  My life is full of so many blessings, and it would be terrible to ignore all of the good, and only pay attention to the bad. My dad almost died of leukemia a few years ago. He went through a horrible time of chemotherapy, hospital stays, and a stem cell transplant.  It was a terrifying time for the entire family. But you know what?  My dad HAD leukemia. We are getting ready to celebrate his 3 year anniversary of his transplant.  He HAD cancer. And now, everyday is a new day. Everyday is a blessing. Life is GOOD, because he is here with us. He has been given the gift of life and is here to watch his grandchildren grow up. Yes, he has bad days, and yes, we worry about every sniffle, sneeze or cough, but that can’t be the focus of our life. We can’t live in fear of what may happen next, we have to appreciate what we have.

Allstate’s belief of “Good Hands for a Good Life” is more than just a company motto, or a sponsored post for me. It’s a new take on life. It’s a reminder that life IS good, and I have to embrace that everyday.  When I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and my kids are safe and sound with me….I gave thanks. Thanks for this life, this moment.  Yes, bad things are going to happen, but I hope when they do, I will remember that I am not in it alone and it does not define me.

Memorial Day Menu Ideas

With Memorial Day right around the corner, I thought I would put together a few ideas for the menu.

Want to put a little twist on your traditional burgers?  How about one of these – 
Pimento cheese adds a little pop of flavor to your average cheeseburger!

Baste your burgers in your favorite barbecue sauce while they are cooking.  I like Sweet Baby Ray’s for this, and then top with onion rings. Yum!
And maybe serve them on homemade buns? These are quick and easy, yet taste delish!
This lighter version of the Loaded Potato Salad makes an excellent side – 
and you can shake things up with this Blueberry Lime Salsa.
And most importantly….DESSERT!  I have more desserts on my blog than anything else, so it was hard to narrow it down, but here are a few crowd pleasers….
Looking for something on the lighter side? This ‘Lightened Up’ Apple-Snicker Bar Salad is just the thing – and it has ‘salad’ in the title, so it must be healthy right?! *wink*
German Chocolate Cake Bars – one of the most popular recipes on the blog, and with good reason!
This chocolate pie is the bomb too.  Imagine eating a rich, deeply chocolate-y pie with pecans, while drinking a cup of coffee. (Coffee can be omitted if that’s not your thing.)
Then there is the No Bake S’more Pie
And one of my favorite pies ever (and sooo simple)…
This  can be made with meyer or regular lemons. (Or lime for a Key Lime Pie!) This is one of the posts I have over at , along with this – 
Yes please. I’ll take a  slice of each 🙂
What are your Memorial weekend plans? I can’t help but think that while I am planning my weekend activities, others are planning funerals for their children and loved ones, or planning how they are going to start over after the devastating tornado in Oklahoma.  Not to mention that Memorial Day kicks off the summer holiday season, but the reason for it is to remember all the men and women that have lost their lives protecting our freedoms. It’s pretty sombering isn’t it? Stay safe and hold your loved ones tight!

The Active Family Project – Take the pledge!

If you are like me, everyday is spent managing the day-to-day activities of your family…kids’ doctors appointments (which we have had too many of recently!), dentist appts, school functions, getting kids to and from school and activities, grocery shopping, making sure everyone has breakfast/lunch/dinner, laundry, vet appts…..okay, I could go on and on, but I think a lot of you are living in my world. It’s a full-time, all day, every day job and it is exhausting.  At what point do we, as moms, stop and say…enough.

Instead of spending all of my time spinning my wheels chasing the illusive dream of a perfectly clean and orderly house, and actually feeling “caught up” on everything, I have decided it’s time to LIVE a little.  I want to spend time doing stuff with my kids, instead of allowing them to entertain themselves with computers, Nintendos, iPods, and television, while I clean and cook and do all the other mundane things that go on everyday (every.single.day.) When they grow up, are they going to remember how well the closets were organized and if the bathrooms were always spotless, or will they remember the ‘fun stuff’ we did together?  Will they remember that their mom actually played with them? 
That’s where comes in. “The Active Family Project provides moms, from sources like its Play Council, with family-friendly tips and advice. Brought to you by Merck Consumer Care, Inc., this health and wellness initiative is designed to help moms overcome their worries about doing it all and truly be at their best by being active and enjoying time with the ones they love.” (from the Merck Active Family Project Fact Sheet)

That is why I am right now!
I am taking the pledge to make a playdate with my children!  Join me, along with celebrity mom and Active Family Project spokesperson, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who is encouraging families to celebrate the first annual National Family Playdate by scheduling family play time on May 11. She is working to build a community of moms who can share their own playtime experiences with one another. Head over to to learn more!   {There is also a Family Playdate Sweepstakes.  to enter to win weekly prizes, including a Family Beach Vacation Prize Pack! Sweepstakes ends 11:59:59pm ET on 5/26/13.}

I am so fortunate to have so many things I can do with my kids, right out my back door! We have a swimming pool and nice yard to run and play in. Why don’t I have a volleyball net set up? My girls love volleyball! We also live within feet of a large body of water….this summer I want to go fishing with my kids, go kayaking, take walks around the neighborhood, have picnics – little things that would get us active and enjoy our time together as a family.  Not to mention we are less than an hour’s drive to the ocean.  I see lots of beach days ahead! I want to enjoy this time while I can, and one thing I know for sure…the laundry and dishes will still be there tomorrow!

How about you? Will you take the pledge? How do you maintain an active family? Check out the for active play opportunities in your area.

Disclosure: I received $100 from Merck Consumer Care, and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Merck Consumer Care

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

I know I have had a lot of sponsored posts as of late, and not as many recipes, but things have been a little crazy around here.  My 5 year old has been sick for over 2 weeks now, and I just haven’t had the time to do  the blog planning, menu planning, or cooking that I had been doing before.  My little one had been dealing with allergies, and was getting along pretty well, but then got a virus that went straight to his chest and caused  the worst asthma flare-up he has ever had.  We ended up in the ER for the first time ever.  Can I just say…NOT. FUN. As he was trying to get over all that, he has gotten a sinus infection on top of it. AND ‘pink eye’…in both eyes. He is really having a hard time, and his poor little immune system can’t take much more! So, say a little prayer for his health, and my sanity. He was up and down all night last night due to the fever and discomfort. Needless to say, mama is tired!  It’s days like this when I love the ease (and comfort!) of a casserole.

I have seen a version of this recipe from numerous sources on Pinterest, and the first time I made it, I followed the directions and used raw chicken in the casserole…letting it all cook at one time.  The flavor was really good, but the casserole had a lot of “liquid” in it.  All I could think of is…’ewwww, chicken juice!’  The idea of my casserole floating in chicken fat just kind of grossed me out. However, I love Chicken Parmesan and decided to give the casserole another shot, but pre-cooking my chicken.
This is definitely my preferred method. Yes, it is an extra step, but it eliminates all the extra liquid.  I actually cooked my chicken in the crock pot, so all I had to do was shred the chicken when I was ready to prepare my casserole. However, I think I would prefer chunks of chicken in this, so next time I will just boil it. (I know, I’m picky right?!)
Chicken Parmesan Casserole

adapted from:

2 lbs cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts (shredded or cubed)
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
2 cups favorite pasta sauce 
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 oz Parmesan cheese, divided (I didn’t actually measure this, I just sprinkled some on!)
3.5-5 oz bag of croutons, roughly crushed (I used a garlic and cheese flavor)


*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
*Spread the cubed chicken across the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish (lightly sprayed with cooking spray) in a single layer. 
*Sprinkle the garlic, red pepper flakes and basil evenly over the chicken. 
*Top chicken with the pasta sauce in an even layer.
*Sprinkle 1 cup of the Mozzarella and one ounce of the Parmesan evenly across the top. 
*Add the crushed croutons, then remaining cheese.
*Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 mins or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.


I am linking this recipe up at (Monday) , , , , , , , , ,  (Tuesday) , , , ,, (Wednesday) , , , , , , ,  (Thursday)  ,, , , , (Friday) ,  , , , , ,, , , , ,,  (Saturday) ,  ,  (Sunday) 

Yay! This recipe has been featured at  and the !

A Hot Breakfast in Minutes (& under 300 calories!) {spon}

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of . All opinions are 100% mine.

Yes, it can be done! Thanks to  I can send my family out the door having had a nice, hot breakfast sandwich including a honey wheat english muffin, canadian bacon, egg whites and cheese! 

Yep, all for 210 calories. Unless you are like me, and always add jelly to your english muffin sandwiches. Does anyone else do this?!  These can go from the freezer to your plate in less than 5 minutes!  So, even if we are running late (which is often), we can still have a good breakfast.

I don’t know what your mornings are like, but mine are always hectic.  With 3 kids to get out the door (all to different places, at different times), our mornings are full of scrambling around looking for books, shoes, favorite outfits, etc.  Or in the case of my 5 year old, it’s trying to pry him out of bed in time to have breakfast and get dressed.  I can’t tell you how many times he has gone to pre-school with bed head!

Of course, even if your mornings are not spent running around, these breakfast sandwiches are still a good choice. I bought a big box of 12 from Sam’s Club, and each are individually wrapped, so if you like to wait and have breakfast once you get into work, you could grab one on the way out the door and microwave it once you get there.  Sam’s is also offering demos of the new  from June 15th to July 1st, so you could sample before you buy. My Sam’s didn’t have a demo going on when I was there, but I knew my girls and I would enjoy these, and Jimmy Dean products haven’t let me down yet.

It’s nice to have a quick, yet filling breakfast alternative to cold cereal AND keep the calorie counts in check.  And since I like breakfast food at any time during the day, these make a low calorie lunch option too!

What is your morning routine like?  Crazy? Calm and leisurely? (If it’s the later, please tell me your secret!)

PS, Don’t forget the cake!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of for . All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s no secret that dessert is my favorite meal of the day (and chocolate is my favorite food group...it’s nice in my world, you should come join me), but I don’t always have time to make dessert from scratch. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a working mother, have fur babies, or no babies…life.is.busy.  It’s just a fact Jack.  That’s why it is nice to have some secret time saving tricks up your sleeve…or in your pantry, in this case. 

Let me introduce you to Private Selection™ Upside Down Cakes (if you haven’t already made their aquaintence).  These cakes can make it to the table in three simple steps – warm, flip, and serve – it’s that easy!  These aren’t just any cakes either, I’m talking German Chocolate Fudge (pictured at top), with the classic and irresistible combination of gooey caramel, pecans and coconut; Double Chocolate Molten Cake, made with real butter, eggs, milk, and quality semi-sweet chocolate; and Amber Honey Apple Spice,  topped with apple slices and drenched in a sweet amber honey glaze. Drool.

Can you imagine the look on everyone’s face when you whip out one of these fabulous desserts? With the convenience of Private Selection™ Upside Down Cakes, you could have one on an average Wednesday, or with their decadence, you could serve it up at a dinner party. Private Selection Upside Down Cakes are premium quality products, without the premium price. All you need is to have access to the Kroger Family of Stores or affiliated stores (Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fry’s, Gerbes, Pay Less, QFC, JayC, King Soopers, Owen’s, Ralphs, Smith’s and Fred Meyer.) The Private Selection brand is a premium private label brand carried exclusively by these stores. (Check out the to find one near you.)

Now that you are ready to warm, flip and serve yourself some deliciousness, head over and get yourself a . If you share your coupon on Facebook, you can get double the savings! Be sure to ‘like’  and get some great ideas at .

Disclaimer: Coupon ends 6/2/13. Official Rules. In order to load these coupons to your card, you will need to sign into your Kroger account or set up a Kroger account and enter your card number. Limit one use per digital coupon. Digital offers are not eligible on Manager’s Specials, cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item, and do not double. Not all items are available in all stores. A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time.

Life IS busy….

PS, Don’t forget the cake!

Copycat Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad

I’ll admit, I’ve been somewhat obsessed with copycat recipes of late. I’m not sure if it is because I live so far from restaurants now, or because I just want to see if I can replicate restaurant food at home. I imagine it’s a little of both! This particular salad is my husband’s favorite thing from Applebee’s Restaurant, so I wanted to give it a try. There are several versions of the recipe on line, but I based mine off of one from .Looks good, right?!  What’s even better…it is very easy to put together with some pre-packaged items from the grocery store.

Copycat Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad

from 
Dressing – 
3 Tablespoons honey
1 1/2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup mayonnaise (*I use )
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
 
Salad – 
6 crispy chicken strips, cooked
Pre-packaged salad mix (w/romaine lettuce, carrots, and cabbage)
Pre-packaged coleslaw mix
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted (I used toasted sesame seeds instead)
1 cup Chow Mein noodles
 
  • For the Dressing 
Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
Refrigerate while preparing salad.
 
  • For the Salad 
Cut chicken strips into bite size pieces. Set aside.
Mix together about half the bag of each of the pre-packaged salad and coleslaw mixes.
Top with cut up chicken, almonds & Chow Mein noodles. 
Drizzle the dressing on top, to taste.
Makes approx. 3 large salads
You can make as much or as little as you want by altering the amounts of salad used.  The amount of dressing used per salad is such an individual preference, so you may need more or less.  The amount listed was enough for 3 salads (a dinner sized salad entree) for us, but my husband said he would have liked more dressing (he likes a lot, where I like just a little!)
I added mandarin oranges to my salad, and I used toasted sesame seeds in the place of almonds, just because I love them! This was a convenient, filling and delicious salad, and I can’t wait to tackle my next copycat recipe!  So far, I’ve tried Copycat Chick-fil-a ChickenOlive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, and Chili’s Monterey Chicken.
Have you got a restaurant favorite that you make at home? I’d love to hear about it!
I’m linking up this recipe over at – (Wednesday) , , , , , , , ,  (Thursday)  ,, , ,  , , (Friday) ,  , , , , ,, , , , ,, ,  (Saturday) , ,  ,  (Sunday) 
Yay! This recipe was featured at  and !

Chocolate Donut Holes

For Christmas, my sister gave me a basket full of goodies for the kitchen, including a cake pop pan.
For some reason, I haven’t made cake pops yet…hello? what am I waiting for?! But I did use my pan the other day to make….donut holes! Munchkins if you are a DD fan.

Turns out, big black balls do not photograph all that well.  Who knew?  Thank goodness we had strawberries with our donuts (or is it doughnut?) balls holes. 
Chocolate Donuts
adapted from , my changes in italics


1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup stevia (for baking)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
6 tablespoons plain yogurt*
1/4 cup (skim) milk
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted*

For the glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons fat free half and half milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, stevia, sugar, cocoa powder,and baking soda.
  • In a separate bowl, beat together the vanilla, egg, yogurt, milk, and oil.
  • Stir the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.
  • Spoon into your sprayed cake pop pan (or you can use a regular or mini donut pan, or mini muffin pan). 
  • Bake for approx. 8 minutes (depending on what pan you are using) or until the tops spring back when you touch them. (You can’t do this with the cake pop pan. I just stuck a toothpick in the hole in the top to see if it came out clean.)
  • Let the donuts cool in the pan before glazing.
To make the glaze:
*I didn’t read my directions and just mixed the ingredients together and dipped my donuts in.  I think had I heated it as suggested, they would have gotten the nice crunchy glaze pictured in the original post.  My glaze kind of soaked into the donut.
In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar, milk, and vanilla until well combined. Remove from the heat. Dunk the donuts in the glaze and place on a wire rack to set.
*NOTES – I subbed out the sour cream for yogurt and the vegetable oil with coconut oil.  Therefore, the texture of my donut was not nice and dense and cake-y…it was more light and sponge-y. Next time, I will throw some more fat in there 🙂  The flavor was very good however.
As you can see from the above pic, I had enough batter to make a few mini donuts as well. Everything is just better in mini size I think. Well, almost everything…