Toffee Apple Dip

I had this at a party last week and fell in love with this. I made it tonight for a BBQ and doubled the recipe so I had some at home to eat too. It's a great way to get rid of your apples since you will want to eat a ton with this dip, which isn't so healthy but yummy anyway.

Toffee Apple Dip

1- 8oz brick cream cheese, softened (you can use the light version)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup Heath bits (found near chocolate chips)
Apple slices (Granny Smith are the best)

With an electric mixer, mix everything together and chill for a little while so the mixture gets thick and cold. Serve with apple slices. Yum!

Rice Pudding

This is one of my all time favorite foods. Everytime I make rice for dinner I try to make extra so I can make this the next morning. We usuallt eat it hot for breakfast then put it in the fridge and eat it cold the rest of the day. My kids and I each get a spoon and just eat it out of the bowl.
I never add raisins. I think it ruins the flavor. But if you love raisins then give it a try!

Rice Pudding

3 eggs
2 c. milk
2 c. cooked rice
½ c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
Raisins (optional)

Whisk together eggs and milk in a medium saucepan. Turn heat on to medium and add rice, sugar, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk continually until mixture comes to a boil. Add raisins, if desired, and continue to boil and whisk for one minute. Remove from heat and let sit until thick. Serve warm or cold.

Baby Factory

Apparently our blogging society has become quite the baby factory. And, I know the blog unites us, but I'm not sure everyone checks everyone else's blogs.

So, those of you who have announcements--do it here. Or, I'll do it for you! And the three of you know who you are!!!

Do you dare!?

I know most of you are going to throw up just reading about this smoothie but I tried it tonight and I LIKED it! I'd totally make it again and it's a very easy way to get all your veggies and fruits in for the day... IN ONE SMOOTHIE!

1 cup water
2 cups spinach
1 kale leaf
1 Tbsp. flaxseeds

1 banana
1/4 cup blueberries


Blend the first four ingredients in your blender till blended and then add the last two ingredients and blend again till smooth. Then I crushed some ice cubes in it.

You can try other fruit, like mangos, strawberries... if you use peaches make sure you peel them first. Play around.

It's has 238 calories in it... the flaxseeds will give you some protein and your omega 3s. I got them at my local health food store. I won't be offended if you don't try this, but I thought I'd share anyhow! XOXO

Summer Recipes

It is really hot here, as in even with all possible cooling mechanisms in place, it is 84 degrees currently INSIDE my house, probably warmer outside. I am trying to find dinner ideas that require little to no cooking, especially not the oven which seems to heat up my place even more. I can stand the stove for about 20 minutes at the very most. Thanks!

Cornmeal Bread

I got this recipe off allrecipes.com and it is so so good! It says on the website that it is perfect to make with soups and chilis, and since it is in the 50's here in Washington and raining, we are having my homemade chili tonight, and I made this bread to go with it. It tastes like a mix between white bread and corn muffins. And it is so easy to make with a Kitchenaid!! The bread is really good with butter and honey (or honey butter?) or whatever. Sorry if the directions seem condesending. I don't know how many of you bake bread so I wanted to make sure the directions were easy for anybody. Enjoy!

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F) - I just guessed. Who really has a thermometer for this??
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I added a little bit more because my dough was a little sticky)

(In parenthesis I will give Kitchenaid Mixer directions!)

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, sugar, butter, egg, cornmeal and salt. Beat in 1-1/2 cups flour until smooth. (Use paddle attachment) Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (When it starts to have a hard time turning, switch to the dough hook attachment). Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. (Leave in the bowl and mix on medium-low to medium for 6-8 minutes with dough hook. I added a little more flour and kneaded it in by hand because my dough was a little sticky). Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. (You know when your bread is ready to be punched down when you can stick two fingers in about an inch and the holes stay put). Punch dough down. Divide in half and shape into two loaves. Place in greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

Sigh. What's a girl to do? I have so many recipes I can't remember to post them all. I guess I just wait until someone begs for it (thanks Celeste). Here you go--the greatest cookies on earth!!! These are homemade oreos and since they are made from a cake mix, they are so soft and delicious. I LOVE THEM!! Give 'em a go!

1 box devil’s food cake mix
½ cup oil
2 eggs

Icing--(of course you could do other frosting besides cream cheese)
8 oz cream cheese
½ cup butter
4 ½ cups powdered sugar

Mix cake mix, oil and eggs together. Roll into small balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 minutes at 350. Icing: Mix well and spread icing between two cookies.

Easy Fruit Dip

Can I start off by saying... I love kraftfoods.com! It really has the best site, with tons of recipes and lots of reviews for the recipes. I always read the reviews first to get an idea what was wrong with the recipe, what was right, or what people changed about it. This is the easiest thing I've ever made and everyone at the BBQ I was at loved it.

Easy Fruit Dip

8oz brick cream cheese, softened
6oz (regular size) strawberry yogurt (I used regular Yoplait)

Mix together and chill at least one hour. Delicious with strawberries, bananas, pineapple and grapes. The great thing about this recipe it that you can change out the yogurt you use to make different flavor dips. Blackberry and raspberry come to mind!