Peanut Butter & Chocolate Bars

Not everything I make comes out great and awesome the first time I make it. So here is one of those recipes I semi-failed at the first time but I will make again. I found these bars on another blog and mine got a little dark because I should have taken them out sooner. Another thing I would do is add another cup of chocolate chips. Besides all that they were good and everyone enjoyed them.
(Please excuse the poor photo quality, I'm in need of a new camera)

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Bars-Adapted from My Tasty Treasures

1-18.25oz pkg, yellow cake mix
2-Large Eggs
1-Cup Chunky peanut butter-( I used smooth peanut butter)
1/2 Cup butter-melted
1-Cup semisweet chocolate chips/chunks-(Next time I would use about 1 1/2-2 Cups)
1-14oz can sweetened condensed milk

Combine 1st four ingredients in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes. It will be thick.
Press half of mixture into a 9x13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips then drizzle with condensed milk. Sprinkle remaining cake mix mixture over top.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Till lightly golden. Cool and cut into bars

*Note- I would also only bake it for about 25 minutes mine got a little dark. But they were still yummy!

Bake the first layer for 10 minutes (for me about 6 minutes would have been long enough)

Sprinkle with Chocolate Chips and sweetened condensed milk

Sprinkle with remaining cake mix batter

 

Turkey Cranberry Club

My friends mother introduced this recipe to me, We LOVE IT! This recipe is from Taste of Home and was created for leftover turkey from Thanksgiving......but we make it all year. If I don't have leftover turkey I just buy some from the deli counter.

 

 Turkey Cranberry Club- Adapted Taste of Home 2010

1-8oz Focaccia or Italian Bread Loaf.-Sliced lengthwise 

Next mix together

1/2 Cup Mayo

1/2 Cup Whole Cranberry Sauce

2-Tablespoon Dijon Mustard ( I used Spicy Brown Mustard)

2-Tablespoon Chopped Pecans (I omit this since Hubby isn't fond of them)

1-Tablespoon Honey

Mix together in a small mixing bowl and spread onto bread.

Next layer on top of bread
1/2-1 lb Cooked Turkey
1/4 lb Smoked Gudda Cheese-sliced
8 Tomato slices
6 Bacon slices
3-Lettuce leaves

Place top of bread on and slice to desired size.

It's Spring & The Garden!!

This post doesn't include a recipe but it does have pictures!! =) We decided this year we were gonna plant a small garden with just the things we enjoy eating, lettuce, peppers, parsley,onions, zucchini and an egg plant. In a few weeks we will plant some tomatoes!! =)



Our First Garden




Hibiscus- And yes I've had this for over a week and its still doing great!!





Signs of Spring!





The backyard I just thought it seemed so peaceful.





Italian-Style Chicken Stir-Fry

My sister introduced me to this wonderful dish (and I apologize in advance I forgot to take pictures). She found this recipe on Kraft Foods.com. It's healthy and very Yummy! I hope you enjoy it !

Italian-Style Chicken Stir-Fry-Adapted from Kraft Foods

2 cups instant brown rice

1 lb.  boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen stir-fry vegetables, thawed

1/2 cup  Light Zesty Italian Dressing-(I used Fat Free & I added prob 1 cup of dressing)

 

Cook the rice as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken; stir-fry 2 to 3 min. or until chicken is no longer pink. Add vegetables and dressing; stir-fry 3 to 4 min. or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender.
Serve over the rice.

MilkShake Cupcakes

I  seen these on another blog and knew I had to try it, They were a blast to make and they also got a lot of compliments!!

Milkshake Cupcakes-Adapted from Bakerella

Strawberry Cupcakes

1-Box Strawberry Cake Mix-(or any flavor you would like I think next time I will do Chocolate!)
Mix according to the directions on the box and bake in paper lined cupcake pan.
Fill the cups about halfway with cake batter. You don’t want them to bake too full because you want to have a little space left for the ganache.

Chocolate Ganache
12 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
3/4 Cup heavy whipping cream
6 Tbsp Butter

In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
Pour over the chocolate morsels.
Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth


Easy Butter cream Frosting
1 Cup butter (room temperature)
1-tsp pure vanilla extract
1-1lb 10x powdered sugar
1-3 tsp milk, half and half or cream
Using a mixer, cream softened butter and vanilla until smooth
Add sugar gradually, allowing butter and sugar to cream together before adding more
If you want your frosting a little creamier, add a teaspoon of milk at a time and beat on high until you get the right texture.

Extras you will need
Red Gum Balls or Sour Cherry Balls
Sprinkles
Straws (cut in half)
 

Cool the cupcakes completely then top with chocolate Ganache, wait a few minutes till the ganache sets and then with a pastry bag, pipe the butter cream frosting on top of  the ganache, sprinkle with sprinkles right away so they stick to the frosting. Top with a "cherry" (either a red gumball or sour cherry ball). Stick in the straw and you are done!! =) Enjoy these were so fun to make!