My Survival Kit

I was recently challenged by the good people at Man Crates to list the things I can't live without...a Survivor Kit, if you will.

 

 

 

I'm so excited to share my top 5 things.

 

 MY SURVIVAL KIT:

 

1. First I have to start with DARK CHOCOLATE! This is the type that I prefer and I usually have a pack sitting around the house, just in case. If I can't find these when I'm out to the movies or something then I usually pick up a Rocky Road Cluster or Dark Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows on a stick at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!

 

 

GHIRARDELLI DARK & CARAMEL SQUARES

OR

 

 

 

2. I must have a refreshing drink with my chocolate and my favorite is VITA COCO COCONUT WATER! It's an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, it's amazing!

 

 

 

 

3. I'm addicted to the smell of my ICI PERFUME! It's a little flowery and citrusy and I can't get enough of it. I used to wear it in High School and I think since then it's been discontinued, but I can still get it on eBay, which I'm extremely grateful for!

 

 

4. NAIL POLISH! Specifically Morgan Taylor Nail Polish. It's really glittery and fun! What can I say? I'm a Nail Technician, so technically I have an excuse to buy a lot of it!

 

 

 

and just as important as #1...

 

5. JIMMY JOHN'S BEACH CLUBS...I cannot get enough of these. I'm very luck to live over 4 hours from the nearest Jimmy John's because I'd definitely be broke and fat if I lived any closer. Still, I dream of these sandwiches! I get mine without the cucumber and it's heavenly!

 

  

 

 

 

Well, that's it! My must haves! I'd be a happy camper for days with a stock pile of this stuff!

(and of course my fully charged iPhone)

 

I'd love to hear about what you guys can't live without and if you're looking for fun gifts for those men in your lives, check out: Man Crates!

 

Decadant Low-Fat Brownies

Looking for a yummy healthy treat for the holidays? These brownies are soft, sweet and if your not careful you will eat them all.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. white sugar
2 egg whites
3/4 c. applesauce

DIRECTIONS:
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl using a hand mixer. Add egg whites, applesauce and vanilla. Mix all other ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Do Not over mix. Spray 8x8 dish with Pam and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

You can frost them if you want. I had leftover runny fudge that I messed up on and so I poured some of that on top. I might have made it unhealthy but it was worth it.

XOXO-

The Best Granola Bars

I have been trying to save my family money and making many things homemade. Cleaning products, and all things in the kitchen. I found this recipe on confessionsofahomeschoolar.com blog and I have fallen in love with it. Now we make it at least once a month at our house.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups packed brown sugar

3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup chocolate chips (Optional: dried fruit, raisins, craisins, nuts, coconut flakes, graham cracker pieces, marshmallows, get creative with this)

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup honey

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup coconut oil melted

2 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Mix together all dry ingredients, then make a well in the center and add honey, beaten egg, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Pat mixture evenly into the baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are light brown. Cool for 5 minutes and cut into bars. While they are still warm, or they will stick in pan in one large piece.

I  like to put them in 2 Tupperware's one for freezer to eat the week after, and one for the counter and those one's are usually gone and a couple of days.

Yum, Enjoy.

Best Oreo Brownies Ever

INGREDIENTS:

    

FOR BROWNIES:

-Prepare Brownie Mix as usual, except switch out the WATER for MILK and add OREO PUDDING MIX to the batter!

-Add unbroken DOUBLE STUF OREO COOKIES to the top of the batter in the pan before baking.

-Bake as directed.

-Let cool.

FOR TOPPING:

-Mix 8 Tbsps of Crisco's Butter Flavored Baking Sticks (or use actual softened butter) with 8 Tbsps of Philly Cream Cheese until smooth.

-Mix in 1 tsp of Vanilla extract.

-Mix in 4 cups of Powdered Sugar, 1 cup at a time.

-Add a Tbsp of Milk at a time until smooth.

-Stir in about 10-15 lightly crushed OREO cookies.

-Spread over cooled brownies.

-Cover and refridgerate after enjoying this tasty goodness!!!



I can't believe how good these were....mostly because I'm not really an OREO person, but they really turned out well. They are a little rich, so I suggest having a glass of milk handy. Hope you like them! Mmmmm!

Ice Cream Cupcakes

This is a super simple way to get your Cupcakes to look like Ice Cream Cones, without having them fall over in the oven or while frosting them.

I used chocolate cake box mix and frosting from a jar. My cupcake pan has seen better days. 

Get your cake mix ready and set aside. Cut strips of tin foil and surround the cones in your cupcake pan so they stay up and don't budge. 

Pour the cake directly into the cones 3/4 full and bake according to the package or recipe directions.

Let cool and frost. I added some fun sprinkles too to make it look more ice-creamy. 

If the cake runs over the side, it looks like real ice cream dripping down the cone.

I actually had a box that I cut holes in the bottom of to display these with.

  

xoxo- 

Foody Friday: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

One word - YUM!



I got this recipe from the Betty Crocker site. I had to make some cookies for a cookie exchange I was having at work and I came across these. I was craving mint chocolate chip ice cream and these looked like that but cookified! hehe Since St. Patrick's day is coming up, I was getting in the mood for these green little goodies again. Check out the recipe below...

INGREDIENTS

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract

 6 to 8 drops green food color

 1 egg

 1 cup creme de menthe baking chips

(I actually used Nestle Dark Chocolate & Mint Chips - delish)

 

 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.

2. Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes 36 cookies

Simple right? Here's a picture of mine!