Wednesday, February 29, 2012

. . . Ham and Cheese Roll Ups . . .


I love making these super simple Ham and Cheese Roll Ups.  You can make them with just about any filling but ham and cheese is our favorite.  We also make these a lot with pizza toppings inside which is fantastic as well.

 
You will need:
*Ham or other toppings of your choice
*Cheese of your choice (I use Swiss when making this recipe)
*Refrigerated pizza dough or frozen bread dough

• Gather ingredients
• Chop ham in a food chopper until really fine
• Unroll the pizza dough onto parchment paper
• Cover dough with ham and cheese

• Roll the dough up for baking
• Seal all edges of the dough so nothing "leaks" out during baking
• Form the roll up into a half moon shape and place on a baking sheet
• Beat an egg with just a bit of water to create an egg wash

 m• Using a brush cover the entire roll up with the egg wash
• Prepare for baking
• Bake according to the pizza dough directions
• Let cool for a few minutes then cut into slices for serving.

 
Ham & Cheese Roll ups
 
Delicious & easy!
Some other variations that we really like:

Pizza Roll Ups--pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese
Chicken Roll Ups--shredded chicken, broccoli and swiss cheese
Broccoli and Ham Roll Ups--chopped ham, broccoli, swiss cheese and honey mustard spread

These are great dipped in a sauce of your choice such as honey mustard, ranch dressing, pizza sauce, bbq sauce etc.  Be creative.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

. . . Cookie Time Tuesday-Peanut Butter Cup Cookies . . .

 I may be the only one in my house that eats chocolate and peanut butter but I know many of you share my passion for this wonderful combo.  I wholeheartedly believe it should be a food group of its own!

This cookie is a keeper for sure and I am in debt to Six Sisters' Stuff for sharing.  This really is a  yummy in the tummy recipe.  You will all be happy you gave this cookie a try I can assure you!
 
Peanut Butter & Chocolate

 Print Recipe HERE
 
You will need:
2 sticks butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 T vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 (4 oz) box instant chocolate pudding
1 (10 oz) bag peanut butter chips
1 cup miniature Reese's peanut butter cups

 • Gather ingredients
• Beat butter and sugars together until fluffy
• Add eggs and vanilla and combine well
• Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl then 
combine with the butter and sugar mixture

• Add pudding powder and blend well
• Add peanut butter cups and peanut butter chips and combine
• Place by heaping tablespoonfuls onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet
• Bake for 9 to 10 minutes at 350 then let cool


 YUMMY & EASY

Monday, February 27, 2012

. . . Dollar Store Tiered Stands . . .

I know many of you have probably seen variations of this project in blogland.  I love how simple and cheap it is and figured I would go ahead and share it since everyone does theirs differently.  It is a really easy project and makes for a fun way to serve your food.

Dollar Store Craft
 I picked up a few plates in the colors I wanted and then some candle holders from the dollar store.  I used my E6000 glue (the best) and glued the candle stick holders to the bottom of each plate.  I then stacked them and used the E6000 glue to adhere the candlesticks to the other plate so it creates a tiered stand.  

I purchased my plates at Pier 1 and at The Dollar Store.  The bright striped plates are melamine and the solid colored plates are normal "glass" type plates.  I mention this so you know you can do this stand with either type of plate.

You will need:
Plates
Candle Stick Holders
E6000 Glue
•Gather your supplies
• Add glue to the top of your first candle stick holder
• Place the candle stick holder on the bottom of the first plate

• Clean any excess glue off the bottom of the 
plate with a damp paper towel
• Add glue to the next candle stick holder and apply to the bottom of the second plate
• You will then want to put glue on the bottom of the 2nd plate's candle stick holder and apply that to the bottom plate
• Continue this process until you have your tiered plate holder

• Place books or something heavy on your completed tiered stand so the glue dries tightly. 
• Once the glue has dried you are ready to serve food 
from your pretty stand

PrettY & Colorful
 

Cheap & Easy
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Menu Plan Monday
Lines Across My Face 
The DIY Home Sweet Home Project 
Bedazzle Me Monday 
Cherished Bliss 
Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons
Teagan's Travels  
A Pinch Of Joy
Sassafras Salvation

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

. . . A Few Favorites and a Bargain . . .

 I have a few things that are NEW to my "Can't Live Without" list.  They are Dark Chocolate Mint M&Ms and this awesome new "scoop" colandar from Sur La Table.  I really believe no one that likes to cook should be without this nifty little tool in their kitchen! 
 
 
Then the other day when I was visiting Michael's I found these very pretty black and white damask baskets that were made by Waverly.  The small one was marked $8.99 and the large one was marked $12.99 with 30% off.  Well, my office is done in grey, aqua and black and white damask so how perfect would these be?  I had to buy them!  Well, lucky me, when I got to the register with my pretty baskets they were on major clearance for $2.79 for the large and $1.79 for the small.  When will that every happen again?  Probably never with my luck.

The best kitchen tool yet (well my most recent "best" kitchen tool--something is sure to come along that is a new favorite)
 • • •Scoop Colander by Joseph Joseph at Sur La Table

• • • I am very aware that I do not need to be eating Dark Chocolate Mint M&Ms but I just can't resist them for a special treat.  Ok, a DAILY special treat but come on I deserve it right?  They also have these little yummy chocolate candies called M&Ms in Chocolate Raspberry if you are into that kind of flavor.  I'm not but wanted to mention it. 

• • • And now for my fancy schmancy little bargain from Michael's.  These Waverly black and white damask baskets were a great find at just $2.79 and $1.79 each!  I hope you can find them at your local Michael's too.  I just bought them yesterday so it's possible!

What are your go to favorite things?

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Friday, February 24, 2012

. . . Fun Friday Finds--Large Letters . . .

 
Who doesn't love monograms?  I can't think of too many people.  I am always seeing really unique ways to create monograms so I thought I'd gather a few great ideas here and share them on Fun Friday Finds.

• • • • • Monograms


 • • • • •
• Large Book Page Letter @ So Not Donna Reed
• Large Yarn Wrapped Letter @ Poofy Cheeks
• Framed Button Letter @ A Lived In Home
• Tile Backsplash Letter @ Delightfully Noted

• Canvas Monogram @ A Glimpse Inside
• Fabric Letters @ Little Things Bring Smiles
• Faux Zinc Letter @ No. 2 Pencil
• Framed Letter @ Crap I've Made


• • • • • LOts of Letters

Thursday, February 23, 2012

. . .Barbeque Chicken Pizza Recipe . . .


We love Barbeque Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen--I mean, who doesn't?  It is so good!  We also love making homemade pizza and several years ago I decided to give Barbeque Chicken Pizza a try and it was a HUGE success.  I now typically make one regular pizza and one Barbeque Chicken Pizza when we make them at home.  You may remember my homemade pizza recipe I shared here before but if not here is the link for it.
 
 It really is a super simple pizza to make and guaranteed to please your family and friends!

• • •I find the Hot Roll Mix by Pillsbury is one of the best ways to make pizza crust.  I have a real from scratch recipe but haven't used it in a long time because of this mix being so much like it and so much easier.
 You will need:
Hot Roll Mix or any pizza crust recipe
Barbeque sauce of your choice
Shredded or Cubed Chicken
Mozzarella Cheese
Red Onions, sauteed
Cilantro
• • • Print Recipe HERE 

 • Gather your ingredients
• Chop onions and sautee in a little bit of olive oil until tender.
• Prepare pizza dough by following the directions on the Hot Roll Mix box.
• Knead dough and let rest for about five minutes
 • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread dough 
• Top with the desired amount of barbeque sauce
• Add sauteed onions
• Add shredded chicken
 • Top with mozzarella cheese and cilantro
• Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes.  Watch crust to prevent burning.  The crust is baked through when the edge sounds hollow when you tap on it.
 • • • • •
 • • • • • Delicious 
• • • BBQ Goodness
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

. . . Cookie Time Tuesday--Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies . . .

I can't believe that I have never had a Cream Cheese Cookie but it's true.  I saw this recipe on The Girl Creative and thought how good it would be with a bit of lemon zest added in so I decided to make them for this week's feature.    
• • • • • • • • • • • • Best Ever
Cream Cheese Cookies

I added the zest of one lemon to the first batch I made and it had an amazing flavor to it.   The original batch was such a hit I decided I'd make another batch and experiment with adding some green food coloring for St. Patrick's Day Cookies.  I colored the sugar as well and now have very pretty green cookies that will make great treats for family and friends for St. Patty's Day!  I think these cookies would be fantastic with lime zest as well and would go perfectly with the green coloring.

• • • • •
Print Recipe HERE
You will need:
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
3 oz. Regular Cream Cheese, softened
1 1/2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Egg, room temperature
1/2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 Cups All - Purpose Flour
Lemon Zest, optional


 • Gather ingredients
• Cream butter and cream cheese together
• Add powdered sugar and baking powder and beat well
• Add egg and vanilla
  • Add flour and combine
• If you are going to use lemon zest this is where you will add it
• Dough will be sticky and needs to be chilled for at least 30 minutes before working with it
• Once the dough has chilled preheat the over to 375.  Then roll dough by teaspoonfuls and cover with sugar.  
  • Place rolled dough on silpat or parchment lined baking sheets
• Bake for 7 minutes
• Let cool on wire racks
• Enjoy!
 • • • • • Scrumptious!
• • • • • Light & Fluffy
 • • • • •
I also made a batch with green food coloring for St. Patrick's Day and here is how they turned out:
 • I added my lemon zest and food coloring at the same time
• Combine well and chill
• Add a few drops of coloring to the sugar to make colored sugar and roll dough in that for added color.  If you don't want the additional "oomph" of color just roll in plain sugar.
• Bake for 7 minutes at 375 and then cool. 
• • • • • Fun & Festive


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