Chocolate Lasagna

Chocolate Lasagna
Source: Center Cut Cook

1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies

6 Tablespoon butter, melted

1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons cold milk

1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided

2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.

3 1/4 cups cold milk

1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies. I used my food processor for this, but you could also place them in a large ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. When the Oreos have turned into fine crumbs, you are done. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.

Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.

 In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.

Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

*I have seen lots of variations of this dessert. You could do brownie in place of the oreo crust or cookie dough in place of the oreo crust.

 

Marshmallow Popcorn

The other day, my sister in law, Loni, suggested doing a popcorn segment since the name of the blog is the popcorn dance. I LOVE popcorn and have quite a few popcorn recipes. This one is so good and so easy. I think I actually got it from my sister-in-law Loni.

Marshmallow Popcorn
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
10 large marshmallows
1 bag popped popcorn

Melt butter, add brown sugar and stir. Add marshmallows and stir until melted and starts to bubble. Pour over popped popcorn.

Bread

My mom always made bread growing up. We hardly ever had store bought bread. I wish I could say the same about my family. I go in spurts where I make a lot of bread, but for the most part we buy our bread, so it is definitely a treat when I make it. This bread recipe is really good. It is one of my moms that she has used for a long time.

Bread

Raise:
2 T. yeast
2 tsp. sugar
1 c. warm water

Combine in a mixing bowl:
1/2 cup butter (1 cube) cut up
6 c. warm water
1 c. sugar
1 c. potato flakes
3 T. salt
1 1/3 c. powdered milk

When yeast rises, add to mixture. Add 5 cups flour (white or whole wheat). Mix until blended. Add 10 more cups white flour. Stir by spoon. Let rest 5 minutes. Knead for 7 1/2 minutes. Then cover and let rise twice (to top of large Tupperware bowl). Put in greased pans and let rise about 1 hour. Bake 400 for 15 minutes and then turn to 350 and cook for 15-18 minutes.
Makes 6 loaves.

Healthy (Cauliflower) Fettucine Alfredo

 

I was pretty leery of this recipe when I first saw it. I mean, it is made of all cauliflower, but it was really good. It obviously isn't as good as the real stuff, but it is a great way to get your vegetables in and I really did think it was good. I even had leftovers the next day. And all of my kids loved it. Try it!! I adapted the recipe I got it from. It called for 3 heads of cauliflower, so I just did 1/3 of the recipe and it made a ton of sauce. Definitely enough for 1 lb. noodles.

 

Healthy Fettuccine Alfredo

Source: Pinch of Yum

 

1 lb. uncooked fettuccine noodles

1 small heads cauliflower

3 cups vegetable broth

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

pinch of nutmeg

pinch of black pepper

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

¼ cup heavy cream

1/2 cup starchy boiling water from pasta pot

Chop the cauliflower. Bring the vegetable broth to a boil over medium high heat and add cauliflower. Cook until cauliflower is soft, about 15 minutes. In my experience, the longer you cook it, the smoother the sauce will be. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes or until soft and fragrant.

1. As the garlic and cauliflower are cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the fettuccine according to directions on package, reserving some of the starchy water to add to the sauce later.
2. Transfer cauliflower to a blender with about 2 cups of the broth. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender. Add the sauteed garlic, salt, nutmeg, and black pepper and puree until very smooth, about 5 minutes. Once the mixture is moving, stream the olive oil into the blender. Add more broth or water if the mixture is too thick to move through the blender. You want it to turn through the blender easily. When puree is very smooth, transfer back to the butter/garlic skillet.
3. Add the cream and cook over low heat. Add the starchy pasta water (or regular water if you’re not making pasta) and keep warm until ready to serve. Combine noodles and sauce in a large pot or skillet and serve immediately.

* I grilled some chicken and put it on top.

 

Nature Valley Bars

My friend made these for me to try the other day and I think they are awesome. My son has a peanut allergy and so we can't eat most granola bars, so this is an great way to be able to eat them since my family loves granola bars.

Nature Valley Bars

1 1/2  c. rolled oats
1/2 c. rice crispies
3 T. cornmeal
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp. Baking soda

Combine and set aside.

1/4 c. honey
2 T. coconut oil (melted)
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 T. brown sugar

Combine then mix with dry ingredients.

Line 9x9 pan with tin foil. Pour mixture in pan and press lightly. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. You don't really want them to brown. 15 min was perfect for me. Let cool and break into bars.
 * I added 1/2-1 cup of dried berries. I used strawberry craisins. It is also really good with dried blueberries.

Cheeseburger Soup

My friend made this soup the other day and it was so good. I didn't get her exact recipe but I found this one on the internet and it was really good. The picture isn't so awesome, but it really does taste good!

Cheeseburger Soup
Source: The Recipe Critic

1 pound ground beef
1 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup shredded carrots
11/2 cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4 tablespoons butter, divided
6 cups chicken broth
8 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 cups of cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1.  Brown the ground beef in 3 quart saucepan.  Drain and set aside.
2. In the same saucepan add 1 T butter and add onion, shredded carrots, parsley flakes, basil and celery.  Saute until tender.
3.  Add the broth, potatoes and beef and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
4.  In small skillet melt remaining butter (3 T) and add the flour.  Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly.  Add to the soup and bring to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Reduce heat to low.
5. Stir in the cheese, milk, salt and pepper.  Cook and stir until cheese melts.  Remove from heat and blend in sour cream.  
Yield 8 servings

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

These chicken fajitas in the oven were delicious. I recently discovered red bell peppers (I always used to use only use green) and they have become my favorite. These were really simple to make.

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
Source: Real Mom Kitchen

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp dried oregano

¼ tsp salt

1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 medium onion, sliced

1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced

12 flour tortillas

Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole – if desired

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish. In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt. Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.nNext add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Yet another great pinterest recipe. I really need to stop pinning desserts! I found the strawberry craisins at Winco (which by the way is an awesome store and I wish I lived closer to it).

 

 

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Source: A Thrifty Mom

1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 cup butter, salted, room temp.
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon 100% pure vanilla
2 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1  1/2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup dried strawberry flavored craisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a standing mixer, beat Crisco, butter and sugars until light and fluffy for approx. 10 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a medium sized bowl combine flour and baking soda; whisk. Slowly add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Next, stir in white choc chips, dried strawberry craisins and dried cranberries. Shape cookie dough into approx 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown. Remove cookies from oven and let set on baking sheet for approx. 1-2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.