Caramel Snickers Brownies

What do you get when you put caramel, Snickers, and brownies together??? A big pile of delicious, that's what! If you are a bit bored with plain brownies, then hold on to your socks because I'm about to rock your world! 

(That's my infomercial opening. What do you think? Ha!)

Seriously, this is the easiest "recipe" ever. Notice I put recipe in quotation marks because I don't think it even really qualifies as a real recipe. I'm pretty sure Max the Furry Murray could even make these. In his sleep. Of course, he couldn't eat them because of the chocolate, but you get the point.

I used a box brownie mix because it's cheap, easy, and I've yet to find a homemade brownie recipe that tastes better than the mix. Cut up "some" (I'm very precise) mini Snickers bars into small chunks. Open a jar of store bought caramel ice cream topping. See...easy like I promised.

Combine the brownie mix according to the directions on the box, then stir in "some" Snickers chunks and a "little" caramel sauce. Pour it into the pan. Swirl a little more caramel on top of the mix in the pan and bake according to the directions. Save a few Snickers chunks and a little caramel sauce to add when you serve it. 

So yummy and not at all boring. All the Murrays up in this house approved! (Except Max....because of the unfortunate aforementioned chocolate issue.)

Cream Cheese Enchiladas

 These cream cheese enchiladas that I found on Pinterest looked way too good not to try! A while back, I made a different Pinterest enchilada recipe that had green chiles in it.  Brian and I both loved it, but the kids...not so much.  When I saw this one without the chiles, I decided to give it a whirl.

 They really turned out pretty good! We all thought they were great (except Claire who doesn't really like anything but chocolate). 

Ingredients

5	ounces cream cheese, softened
¼	cup sour cream
2	cups prepared salsa
1	cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1	cup shredded pepper-jack cheese, divided
2	cups cooked shredded chicken
1	cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
½	teaspoon chili powder
¼	teaspoon cumin
	Salt and pepper
4	scallions, thinly sliced
8	8-inch flour tortillas

Directions

1. Preheat oven 325 degrees. 2. In a medium bowl cream together cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in 1/2 cup salsa. Stir in 1/2 cup of each type of cheese. 3. In a second bowl toss together the chicken, corn, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and half of the scallions. Add the chicken mixture to the cheese mixture and stir to combine. 4. Spread about 1/2 cup salsa in the bottom of a baking dish. Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup filling on a tortilla, roll up and put in dish seam side down. Repeat process for remaining tortillas. 5. Pour remaining salsa over enchiladas, spreading to coat all of them. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. 6. Transfer to preheated oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions and serve warm.

 

***My notes ~ I omitted the corn and scallions because I wanted the kids to actually give it a try before making a judgment.  They will eat corn, but don't exactly like it.  I also didn't season the chicken the way the recipe calls. I just used lots of different spices and stuff that sounded good.  Ha!  I also added some extra cheese to the top.  I think you know by now how I feel about cheese.

So we agreed it was worth making again! 

Original Pinterest link here

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

  These delicious stuffed mushrooms are also from that old worn out cookbook that my sweet church friends put together years ago.  I made these for the Super Bowl, and they were a big hit (as always)!

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

4 regular sized cartons mushrooms

1 lb. hot sausage

8 oz. cream cheese

onion (to taste)

Parmesan cheese (grated in a bag in the stuffing, grated in a can for topping)

Finely chop mushroom stems and onion.  Cook both in butter.  Brown the sausage.  Mix all ingredients (except the extra grated Parmesan cheese) with the cream cheese.  Spray each mushroom cap with spray butter.  Fill with mixture.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese from the can.  Bake 20-3- minutes at 350 degrees uncovered.  Broil last 10 minutes. 

Eat 2 or 20 and enjoy!

(This recipe originally came from my lovely friend Lisa ~ the one with THE BAG.)

Chicken Alfredo Ravioi Bake

Pinterest came through again!

This recipe was really yummy, but it was R.I.C.H.! A little of this ravioli goes a long way.

 

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken diced

1 pound frozen cheese ravioli

3 packets alfredo sauce mix made according to directions (or 3 cups homemade or jarred)

1 cup mozzarella

garlic salt

pepper

Instructions

Brown off the diced chicken in a skillet, sprinkle with pepper and garlic salt.

Saute till cooked all the way through. Set aside.

Boil ravioli and drain.

Mix ravioli, chicken, sauce and mozzarella.

Place in 9x13 baking dish.

Bake at 350 till top is slightly browned (about 15 minutes).

Serve with salad or garlic bread.

I used two jars of alfredo sauce instead of the mix.  I also added some extra herbs for flavor and color.  It was really easy and delicious (and fattening, but let's not talk about that part).

Original Link: Life With the Crust Cut Off

Cheesy Sausage Quiche

Years ago, my friends at church put together a little cookbook.  It has been used and loved well!

I have made lots of the recipes in this book many times, and this poor little book is really showing it!

One of my favorite recipes to make from this treasured book is Cheesy Sausage Quiche.

(Sidenote: See that lasagna recipe below the quiche? Oh honey, it's good.  The very best.)

Brian and I both love it, but the kids really just won't get on board.  Parker tolerates it, but Claire acts like I am asking her to eat live aardvark every time I serve it.  I just don't understand why they don't like it because they both love omelets, and it's very similar.  

Salad is usually the best side dish for this, but last time I made it I served salad AND carrots.  CARROTS?!?! How could I make them eat quiche and carrots in the same meal? I'm just horrible. Horrible. 

If you want the recipe, you can probably click on the picture and make it bigger, or just let me know.  I always use regular breakfast sausage instead of sausage links.  Sometimes I leave out the green pepper to try to make the little picky people happier.  I always add more cheese.  Because more cheese is always good.  Amen.

Suasage Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce

Lately, I've been trying to choose one new recipe a week.  My Pinterest addiction aids my search for yummy new things to try.  I've also pulled out some older recipes that I haven't made in a while too. 

A couple of weeks ago, I made a Sausage Tortellini recipe.  

*Disclaimer~ I always modify ingredients to fit our tastes.  Also, I am NOT in any way a food photographer as evidenced by these pictures.  I just snapped a few with my phone to give you an idea.

 

 

Check out that fancy salad bowl.  Only the best around here folks.

Sausage Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce (my adapted recipe)

1 pound breakfast sausage
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 bag frozen cheese tortellini, prepared.
Salt & pepper (a pinch or two)
Garlic (to taste)

In a large skillet, cook sausage until browned.  Add all ingredients except tortellini. Mix together and simmer for about 10 minutes.  Stir in tortellini.  Serve!

Obviously, this is super easy.  The original recipe called for sausage links, and I substituted the breakfast sausage.  It also called for tomato sauce, but I just added in a can of spaghetti sauce.  I also added a little crushed red pepper.  We all liked it!


Original Link: Sausage Tortellini

Cowboy Cookies

We made our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe the other day.

 

 Parker and Claire measured and did a lot of it by themselves.

So delicious!

Pioneer Food

It really all started with the rolls.  Then I just decided to make it a Pioneer Woman kind of night.


This was my first attempt at Pioneer Woman's au gratin potatoes.  There were ok, but we all felt like they needed a little more sauce mixed in with the potatoes.  If I make them again, I will definitely add more of the liquid mixture.

Perfect Potatoes Au Gratin

I've made Comfort Meatballs quite a few times.  We like them pretty well.

Comfort Meatballs

I've been wanting to make these rolls ever since we ate them last summer when we visited Ree's ranch.  They are so simple, but SO GOOD!



Rosemary Rolls

I've since made these again, and they had a little more time to rise.  They were just as yummy the second time.  That sad little roll without the rosemary was for Miss Picky (Claire).

If you try any of these recipes, let me know!



Recipes Galore!

Here are more of the recipes that a few people have requested:

Oreo Extravaganza

1 (8oz) softened cream cheese
3 1/2 cups cold milk
2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tub Cool Whip
1 pkg Oreos (crushed)
1 stick melted butter

Mix crushed Oreos and butter in a gallon bag.  Put in bottom of 9x13 pan saving 1/2 cup of the mixture for the top.  Blend in mixer the cream cheese with milk and pudding.  Pour over cookies.  Top with Cool Whip and reserved Oreos.  Refrigerate.

I usually layer this in a trifle dish, but it's easier just to make in the 9x13 dish.
(From an old Sunday School cookbook)

Stuffed Shells

18-20 jumbo pasta shells
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 lb hamburger meat
1 egg
2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I use Hunt's because I hate chunky sauce)
Various other Italian spices
Extra cheese for top (however much you want!)

Beat egg, stir in ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley flakes.  Brown hamburger, add jar of sauce, and other spices to taste.  Spray a 9x13 dish with Pam and pour 1 cup of the sauce/meat mixture on the bottom. Cook pasta according to directions on the box and drain.  Use cheese mixture to stuff the shells and line them in the pan.  When finished, pour the remaining sauce mixture over shells and sprinkle with extra mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.  Back covered for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  Take the cover off and bake an additional 5 minutes.

I usually serve this with salad and garlic bread.  I got this recipe from the same Sunday School cookbook, but I adapted it by adding the meat, extra spices, and extra cheese.  Because that's how I roll.

One last thing...

Someone recently asked me for the recipe for Brian's winning Pioneer Woman chicken recipe.  I'm just going to add the link here because it's way easier than retyping the whole recipe.  Plus, you can see the other winning recipes too if you want!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/06/grillin-recipe-contest-winner-videos/

Enjoy! I'd love to know if you end up making any of these yummy recipes!

I May Have Mislead You A Little

My hair really isn't dark brown at all.  In fact, NOBODY has even noticed the change except the people I told to please notice it.  So, everybody just calm down for cryin' out loud. 

I finally updated the other blog, but let me assure you that Phoebe continues to be difficult.  I think she knows her days are numbered around here anyway.  I had to email all of the pictures individually to myself then download and save them all.  Ridiculous. 

Last night, I made lasagna.

Enough said.

(Two days until Spring Break!)

FLOP

Last night's pizza crust was a flop.  An F.L.O.P. flop as my dad would have said.  So bad that we ended up ordering from Pizza Hut.  I should add that Brian has taken over this crust making si-u-a-she-on.  I started this whole mess back with Pioneer Woman's crust making, and now it's become a challenge (especially for Brian).  There have been videos watched, research conducted, reviews read, etc.  It's getting out of hand.  I seriously don't even care any more, but he will not back down.  Since Friday night is pizza night (see: tradition), we should have many more opportunities to get it right.  At this point, I'm honestly just wishing we could go back to my beloved Chef Boyardee.  I know that most people don't like it, but haters gonna hate.  It never let me down.

Food Update!

About a month ago, we made Angel Chicken from Pinterest.  I didn't take a picture, but it looked exactly the same as the Pinterest picture.  Unfortunately, none of us liked it very much.  It had way too much wine taste for this Baptist girl!

Parker wanted to know if angels really eat it.  He didn't think it tasted good enough for angels to eat. He asked me to never make it again! It really wasn't that bad overall, but I doubt we'll be eating it again anytime soon. 

We are still working on the pizza dough recipe.  We tried one from Pinterest, Bobby Flay's recipe, and Alton Brown's recipe.  None are just exactly right, but we are getting closer.  We will stay the course and finish the race.  Oh, yes we will.  We have taken the vow to let no pizza crust put asunder.

In other food related news, I ate fish tonight.  Also, I did not die from the eating of the fish.  Here's the thing...I hate fish.  I love shrimp and even enjoy crab and lobster from time to time.  I just do not like fish.  I really want to learn to like it because I know it's healthy.  Tonight, we had tilapia.  Success! It didn't taste fishy! Hooray for tilapia! I even chewed it up and swallowed it without gagging. 

So I really want to know...do you all like fish? If you do, please tell me which kind and how you prepare it!

Weekend Fun!

I had a supah-fun weekend! Friday night I got to go out with Lisa.  Even though we text every day we hadn't been out driving around after dark for hours since before Christmas.  That is way too long.  We made up for it on Friday night with some Italian Village pizza.  I KNOW.  Then shopping in Kingsport and a trip all the way back to Johnson City for a few more stops.  FYI, Hobby Lobby closes at 8:00 on Friday nights.  We found that out the hard way.

Saturday was fairly uneventful.  We were mostly at home except a few quick errands.  We made pizza for dinner, and yes I ate pizza two nights in a row.  It was mighty delicious if I do say so myself.  I only ate one piece that night though to make up for Italian Village.  I made the crust from scratch-ito. Pioneer Woman's recipe was the one I had on hand, so I used it.  This is the second or third time I've made her recipe, and we like it.  BUT...it is a bit too bread-yish for us.  I'm thinking of using a different one next time that I found on Pinterest.  We really prefer a thinner, crispier crust.  If you have a good one, please send it my way! I'll keep you posted on those developments as they occur. 

We also played some games with the kids so they were thrilled.

Sunday after church, I went to see The Vow with some other very lovely ladies including my mom, sister-in-law, niece, niece's friend Emily and Emily's cousin.  I'm all about the details around here.  I had NO idea what in the blue blazes the movie was even about when Megan texted me Saturday to ask if I wanted to go.  It turned out to be really good! I won't spoil it for you if you plan to see it, so I'll go against my nature and keep the details to myself.  However, I did leave with a few new opinions about some things that I'd like to share. 

Ok, since you asked, here they are...

1. I have never really enjoyed Rachel McAdams as an actress even though I loved The Notebook with all of my heart.  Until now.  She is just darlin' in this movie.  Just absolutely darlin' with her cute dimples.  Also, she is sportin' dark hair in The Vow, and it is a WAY better color for her than her usual blonde.  Rachel, if you're reading this, the dark hair is way better than your usual blonde.

2. I've seen Channing Tatum all over the place, and apparently he is ALL THE RAGE lately.  I seriously couldn't figure out what the big deal was.  Until now.  Let's just say I should have actually watched him act and generally look handsome for two straight hours before I judged.  He is a cutie.  I'm a fan.  Now he's still no Matthew McConaughey-hey-hey, and he is most certainly no Brian Murray.  Just to be clear.

So all in all, I can't complain! It was a lovely weekend.  I hope yours was just as nice!