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!

 

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.

Darn Good German Chocolate Cake

I found a recipe for Darn Good Chocolate Cake on cdkitchen.com, but I altered it for a German Chocolate Cake!

So here's my version...

DARN GOOD GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

1 Pkg - German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 Pkg (3.9 oz) - Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix

4 Lg Eggs

1 Cup - Sour Cream

1/2 Cup - Warm Water

1/2 Cup - Vegetable Oil

Tub of Coconut Pecan Frosting

DIRECTIONS:

Lightly mist a pan with cooking spray and dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, water and oil in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes or until well-blended, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula. Batter should look thick and well-combined.

Pour into pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly pressed with finger and just starts to pull away from sides of pan. Cool on wire rack for 20 minutes.

Frost with tub of Coconut Pecan Frosting.

This was seriously the tastiest dessert ever. Not very rich, which was nice.

Enjoy!!!