Hoppy Easter ... Jelly Bean Bark

And last on our Easter list is Jelly Bean Bark, I saw several different ideas but came across a Spring Candy Bark on Three Kids and a Fish. She used M&M's but I had jelly beans on hand so I used that instead. I think next time I'll make with the M&M's, I really like the look of hers!

What you need:

White Candy melts (I used 2 bags)

Orange Candy melts

Yellow Candy melts

Jelly Beans or M&M's

Parchment paper

Melt your candy melts in microwave safe bowls (I use my glass pampered chef bowls). I melted white first and spread on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I then did drops of yellow and orange. Using a knife I swirled making a marble look. Put the Jelly Beans on top of the melted candy (you may want to push them in a little bit).  Let the bark set up and then break it up and serve. I found bags at Micheal's and put them in that to hand out.

Hope you all had a GREAT Easter!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Feeling Like the Holidays … Making Meals that give me that feeling

Hi Gang well I’m starting to feel better but this cold really did kick my butt.  I haven’t felt this down an out in years.  I’m now at the stage where my body feels like it needs more sleep.

Getting close to the holidays I love to bring the flavors we love on the special occasions to our regular night meals.  Now I did use the crockpot again to make these.  NOW I know some of you think any form of crockpot cooking is not real cooking.  Now I could make these meals in the oven but sometimes busy schedule + sick mom = lot’s of crockpot meals.  Plus even when I’m not sick the crockpot does help make sure if I start a meal in the morning that by the time I finish my work we have something to eat.  Sometimes work doesn’t always mean I’ll be off early and have time to cook a good meal so there you have it crockpot haters … lol.

First on our list is Ham & Potatoes au Gratin.  I was fortunate enough to have my dad stop by and drop off some meats he smoked.  He brought over some ham which was fabulous and perfect for this recipe.

Next on the list is something with stuffing, no usually during the holidays I make my own stuffing but this was a fun twist on a classic.  Here is Crockpot Chicken & Stuffing.

And we end with one of my favorite flavors Pumpkin!  I used my favorite brownie mix from Winco, because the bulk section is my friend .  So we do the best thing and mix the two for this Pumpkin Swirl Brownies!

Happy Thursday, sorry all the food post are 2 days late.  I’m getting my groove back … lol.  Do you have something special planned tonight?  Are you doing holiday themed meals lately?

How to prepare to a treat for a party

As most of you know I love to make gifts as in the edible kind for friends, family … heck people that are nice to me may get a special treat.

So I’ve been asked how I do my shopping, plan etc.  So here is how the rat race I call life as a working mom and trying to keep my super cape flying high!

Since working from home we had to cut back on a few things to make it possible.  The first thing I started to do was meal planning, which helps me running around like a chicken w/no head and it helps eliminate many trips to the grocery store which saves money!

First I make my meal plan which I do by searching blogs and a few favorite recipe sites to find what we will be having for that week. I then make my list (I found it’s easier to make it in groups so I can run threw the store faster … two kids + 1mom need I say more), I find any coupons I need and do my weekly shopping trip.

For Holiday seasons I do the same and last year I even found a few low calorie ones to help us keep with our eating healthy.  Safeway is one of my favorite places to shop and try to hit it up a few times a month (the fuel credit of 10 cents off is a good bonus).

Working in marketing for years I am extra observant of placement of items, and things that catch my eye or even more catch the boys eyes that we MUST have (as you’ll see the ice cream in our cart, caught Caden’s eye .. ok maybe mom’s too).  We love to do things for each season/holiday so we’ll usually pick up what ever promotional thing is on sale to make as a family.

I’ve found Safeway to be comparable on my baking products, like any store you have to watch because some may be cheaper elsewhere but that is where coupons and planning your trip comes in handy.

As mentioned above and for you who read my blog know I love to bake holiday and heck any time of the year.   Especially during holidays it’s over drive here I like to make SEVERAL different treats.  I like to try different things each year and throw in the some of the same staples like peanut brittle and caramels.  Baking is a joy to me and bring something special and maybe unexpected to someone brings a smile to my face.

On this last trip to Safeway I picked up the makings for some holiday fudge, some cookie mix for the molasses cookies and some puff pastry to make some apple pies.  The fudge was a new recipe I thought I’d try and the molasses cookies have Box tops which I collect for Cole’s school (and you all know how competitive I am with that).

Now for the fun part the pictures and the recipe!  You get to see my helper Caden and my shopping cart where we then moved to come home and make the treats.  THEN quickly pack them up and give to the neighbor so mom doesn’t eat it all!

Things I found you need to do for this recipe:

I used a Silicone pan, if you use aluminum foil DON'T use the cheap kind it sticks.  ALSO do the chocolate in 1 min increments it can burn (Remember my picture of burnt chocolate it stinks and you waste it) and don't put vanilla in early it changes the properties & won't come out right.

My task was to find Christmas baking items, but sadly my store only had Halloween up.  So I decided that my Christmas Fudge would be easy to make with what I found in the baking isle.

“This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  Feel free to add any additional wording you would like such as “all opinions are my own”

Holiday Treats in Bags (3 Recipes)

Do you know Christmas is NEXT week??? I mean really how the heck did that happen? Usually I have all the treats done early for my Christmas gifts, this year money is tight (now tighter with the new puppy) so I thought I would do home goods. Ok how in their right mind thought that would be cheap .... lol. OK if you do just a few it is but you KNOW me and I went overboard so it wasn't cheap. Looks like mom really isn't getting any gifts this year .. lol. I up until Midnight yet again and I still have a little more to do :).

Real quick a few to choose from to put in baggies to give!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

by my Girl Tammy's Two Cents

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 Cup Peanuts (can be salted or unsalted...your preference)

1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

1 Cup Sugar

* Cook for 4 minutes (in an 8 Cup glass container)

* Stir

* Cook additional 4 minutes

Add:

* 1 teaspoon butter

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* Stir in and cook 1 minute

Add:

*1 teaspoon soda

* Stir until light brown and foamy, pour onto greased foil quickly, let harden and then break into pieces.

ALEXIS NOTE: Being in a hurry I so forgot to do the soda ... lol. It turned out great but I do plan to do it right next time :).

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Holiday Bark

Ma, What's for Dinner?

2 11 ounce bags white chocolate chips

1 T walnut oil

¾ cup dried cranberries

1 cup shelled pistachios

What to do:

In a large microwave safe bowl combine chocolate and walnut oil. Heat on high at 30 second intervals stirring in between until just melted.

Remove from microwave and stir quickly to finish melting. Pour in cranberries and pistachios and stir to combine.

Pour out onto a greased sheet pan into a thin layer.

Refrigerate until cool. Break up into jagged pieces.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used Olive Oil and slivered almonds. (She rocks and put in awesome little boxes, I used bags).

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And last on my list is some yummy Chex Treats (Well not last on the list just the bag goodies for humans - yes a doggy treat will come soon).

Chex Chocolate Malt-Cherry Mix

From Betty Crocker

2	cups Corn Chex® cereal
2	cups Rice Chex® cereal
2	cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1	cup dry-roasted peanuts
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	cup natural-flavor malted milk powder
2	cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2	cups coarsely chopped malted milk balls
1/2	cup dried cherries, chopped

1. In large bowl, mix cereals and peanuts.
2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
3. Gradually stir in malted milk powder until evenly coated. Stir in remaining ingredients. spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.

ALEXIS NOTES: I only had rice chex so that is what I used :). Skipped the peanuts & malted milk balls. I added up some crushed peppermint candies.

I picked up the bags you see above at Walmart and the ribbon. The plastic bins at a local grocery store and then picked up some blank labels. YOU know my love of Hallmark Channel well it was left on so I caught Martha Stewart and found she has label templates for free. They are great!

Get Ready for the Holidays Duncan Hines Style

Anyone who knows me knows I can rock a box, but now days I try to use them only as a base that I build on! I love sharing recipes that are quick and easy and I came across a few I think you will love and make your holiday season easier.

I plan on making a few of these I've been sick so I haven't done these ones yet but don't worry you'll be seeing them on a Monday or Tuesday soon!

Carrot Cake is always a hit with the boys and you know my weakness for cheesecake so this is the best of all worlds in my book!

Ingredients - Carrot Cake:

• 1 box Duncan Hines Decadent Carrot Cake
• 1 cup hot tap water (for soaking carrots and raisins)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 8 ½ oz can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
• ½ cup coconut (optional)
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Ingredients - Cheese Cake Filling:

• 2 - 8 oz pkg. cream cheese
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon flour

• Baking Instructions For Carrot Cake:
• Soak carrots and raisins in 1 cup HOT tap water, allow to stand for 5 mins. Drain and squeeze out excess water from carrots and raisins. In mixing bowl add dry mix, 2 eggs, ¼ cup oil. Add well drained carrots, raisins and pineapple. Add coconut and walnuts. Mix well by hand. Spread 2 cups of carrot cake on bottom of a greased 9-9 ½ Springform pan. Reserve remaining carrot cake.
• Baking Instructions For Cheesecake:
• In large bowl beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs and flour. Spread ½ of the cheesecake batter on top of the carrot cake. Spoon on remaining carrot cake and top with remaining cheese cake batter. Do not marble with knife. Bake in a 350° preheated oven for 50-60 mins or until cake is set and cooked through. Cool to room temperature. When cake is cooled frost with Pineapple Cream Cheese frosting (see recipe below). Or top with Duncan Hines Cream Cheese Frosting. Refrigerate for 3 hours and serve chilled.

Now for Rick's love of Coconut and my love of anything chocolate I give to you this yummy little morsel .... it's only little if you only eat one (I haven't figured out how to do that one yet)

Ingredients

•	1 (19.95 oz) pkg	Duncan Hines® Family Style Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
•	2 large	egg whites
•	1/2 cup	granulated sugar
•	1/4 tsp	almond extract
•	1 cup	almonds
•	1 cup	flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 13 x 9-inch pan.
2.	Prepare brownies according to package directions for cake-like brownies.
3.	Bake 25 minutes or until set.
4.	Place egg whites in medium bowl. Beat at high speed with electric mixer until foamy and double in volume. Beat in sugar gradually, beating until meringue forms firm peaks. Add almond extract. Fold in almonds and coconut. Spread over warm brownies.
5.	Bake for 12 to 14 minutes longer or until meringue is set and lightly browned. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Makes 24 brownies.

I LOVE Red Velvet (actually attempted from scratch once ... never going back ... LOL)

1 pkg	Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Red Velvet Cake Mix
•	1 (8 oz) pkg	cream cheese, softened
•	2/3 cup	granulated sugar
•	1 large	egg
•	1/2 cup	mini chocolate chips
•	1/2 cup	flaked coconut
•	1 tub	Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Cream Cheese Frosting

1.	Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease muffin pans or line with paper baking cups.
2.	Prepare batter according to package directions.
3.	Spoon batter into lined muffin cups. In small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and egg; mix until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips and coconut.
4.	Spoon about 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture onto batter of each cupcake.
5.	Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes following package directions. Spread cupcakes with frosting.

You'll LOVE these all and I bet you even have a few of these items in your pantry! Don't worry I have more to come help with all these parties coming up!