Stuffed Mushrooms

I'm sharing the recipe for these elegant, yet easy appetizers on Mother's Niche today!  They are my favorite food of the holidays!

Homemade Green Smoothie

I have tried many a green smoothie; different homemade versions as well as commercial.  This recipe is by far my favorite, and I love that I know every single ingredient that is going into it.  Below, I've listed a couple different variations, but this recipe is my favorite!

Homemade Green Smoothie

• 1 cup (packed) fresh spinach
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup frozen fruit
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed

In blender, mix all ingredients.  Add or substitute any ingredients you like.  I have tried subbing the orange juice with water or carrot juice.  The above concoction is my favorite though.  I've also used blueberries with my fruit and that was delicious.  I would keep the banana in there-it's great for texture.  The flax seed adds fiber and a little protein.  Really, your possibilities are endless.  Enjoy!

Deluxe Marshmallow Bars

Check out the recipe for these on Mother's Niche!  You won't be sorry!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Oreo Crust:

• 2 rows oreos, crushed.
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup peanut butter cups, chopped
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

In 9" spring form pan, mix crushed oreos and melted butter until combined.  Press onto bottom and sides of pan.  Sprinkle peanut butter cups and chocolate chips on top.

Cheesecake Batter:

• 4-8 oz. bricks cream cheese, softened
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla

Beat cream cheese in large mixer until smooth.  Add eggs, one at a time until combined.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth.  Pour onto crust.  Set two ramekins or small baking dishes full of water on either side of oven.  Place cheesecake in the center of the oven.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until just browned on top and slightly jiggles in center.  Cool on stove-top or counter for 1 hour.  

Ganache Topping:

• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Heat cream in saucepan until boiling.  Take off heat and add chocolate chips.  Whisk until smooth.  Pour or drizzle on top of cheesecake.  Add peanuts and more peanut butter cups if desired.  Refrigerate overnight.  Enjoy!

Buffalo Blue Cheese Wontons

Hope on over to Mother's Niche to find the recipe for these bad boys!  And by "bad," I mean sooooo good!

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream {Cookbook Give-Away}

July is national ice cream month!  So today, I am sharing a recipe from Wendy Paul's cookbook 101 Gourmet Ice Cream Creations.  This recipe was SO easy and tasted wonderful!  It wasn't too sweet, and it wasn't too tart.  It was very refreshing; perfect for a light summer-time treat!

I am also giving away a copy of her cookbook!  To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite flavor of ice cream is.  To enter AGAIN, please like my facebook page.  And to enter AGAIN, please follow my blog!  You may enter until Tuesday, July 1st.  I've already made a few of her recipes and they were all delicious!

To make the recipe, first start out with the basic vanilla recipe below.  Then add the ingredients found in the Key Lime Pie Recipe.  

Creamy Vanilla

This recipe contains less fat than Rich and Creamy Vanilla, and does not have any

eggs in it. Perfect for specific dietary needs, but still has the heavy creamy texture you

desire.

½ to ¾ cup sugar

2 cups cream

1 cup 2% milk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Whisk together all ingredients until combined. Transfer your cream liquid into your

ice cream machine and make according to manufacturers directions. 

Key Lime Pie

Yes, of course I had to include key lime in this recipe book. It wouldn’t be complete

without it.  It’s a keeper!

1 Basic recipe

2 limes zested and juiced or Nellie and Joe's Key Lime juice

½ cup crushed graham crackers

Add the lime zest to your Basic recipe, whisking together until

combined. Place mixture in your machine and follow manufacturers directions in

freezing. The last 5 minutes of the freezing process, add the lime juice and the

crushed graham crackers.

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You can find Wendy Paul's cookbook HERE!

Follow her on Instagram!

And don't forget to like her Facebook page!

Meatball Subs

My entire family loves this recipe, especially my kids.  It's super easy and very delicious!

Meatball Subs

• THIS recipe of meatballs (I half the recipe for my subs)
• 8 hoagie rolls
• 1 cup ketchup
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tbsp. dried minced onion
• 1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
• Parmesan cheese

In medium bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion, and liquid smoke.  Combine and pour over meatballs in medium baking dish.  Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Serve on hoagie rolls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Enjoy!

Sweet Teriyaki Pasta Salad

Sweet Teriyaki Pasta Salad

• 16 oz. bowtie noodles-cooked and marinated (2 hours in dressing)
• 2 cans mandarine oranges, drained
• 1 can water chestnuts, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
• 1 1/2 bag small leaf spinach
• 4-5 cups cooked, chopped chicken breast
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
  Dressing
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 2/3 cup white wine vinegar
• 6 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

Mix dressing ingredients together in blender.  Marinate cooked noodles for at least 2 hours.  Combine all salad ingredients and stir dressing in.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

Hop on over to Mother's Niche for my Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake recipe!

Menu Planner

I am so excited to share these menu planners with you.  Menu planning is so important!  It cuts down trips to the grocery store ($$$), and makes the process so much easier!  I prefer to have my weekly planner and my grocery list all in one place.  After I make my weekly menu, I cut the paper in half and stick it in my command center.  The grocery list is ready to go in my purse.

For now, I have two color combos to choose from.  Please click the picture below for your free download.  Enjoy!

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

These tacos are a favorite for me and my family!  And they are one of the easiest and quickest dinners I make.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tsp. adobo sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 10-12 small flour tortillas
• 1 can black beans
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup Mexican cheese blend
• 2 avocados, sliced
• 2 limes, quartered
• Sour Cream, opt.

Mix brown sugar, adobo sauce, and spices together.  Pour in ziplock bag with chicken and let marinade at least 3 hours. 

Cook chicken, and set aside.  Heat black beans on stovetop on medium-low heat.  Add a couple sprinkles of cumin, garlic powder, and salt to taste.  To assemble tacos, place chicken, black beans, onion, tomatoes, cheese, and avocados on a tortilla.  Squeeze lime juice over and top with sour cream if desired.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Caramel Cupcakes

Peanut Butter and Caramel Cupcakes

• THIS chocolate cake recipe
• 1 C. butter, softened
• 1 C. creamy peanut butter
• 4 Tbsp. milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4-6 cups powdered sugar
• Caramel sauce and peanuts to decorate

Bake chocolate cupcakes according to directions.

For frosting, cream butter and peanut butter together until smooth.  Add milk and vanilla, and beat until incorporated.  Add powdered sugar and beat until you get the consistency you like.  Pipe onto cupcakes.  Drizzle caramel sauce, then sprinkle peanuts on top.  Enjoy!