Showing posts with label yum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yum. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Recipe - Oh So Easy Ice Cream Sammies
Summer is here! And for me, summer is a time to eat ice cream. Well, who am I kidding...any season is a time to eat ice cream.
Since our house... A) Loves summer B) Loves ice cream and C) Loves cookies...the boys asked if we could make our very own ice cream cookie sandwiches. My answer, of course!
We baked some cookies the day before, made some ice cream using one of my favorite appliances and set up our work space. Cookies, ice cream and of course, assorted sprinkles!
I laid down some wax paper so after the boys put them together, they could roll in sprinkles and then wrap them up in wax paper to be stored for later.
I scooped out some fresh ice cream, placed on the top cookie and the boys squished it down to perfection. The goal was to have a slight ice cream ooze...all the better to sprinkle with!
Next up, they choose a sprinkle and just rolled the ice cream ooze to make sure each part was evenly blasted with a pop of sugary color!
Next, wrap the wax paper around the cookie, secured with a colorful sticker and stored away in the freezer.
So easy and SO fun! Cookie, ice cream, sprinkle, WRAP!
We now have sweet desserts for those late summer nights by the pool!
Now all I want to do is make all sorts of different kinds! I am thinking a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie with Mexican chocolate ice cream? Who's with me?!
What suggestions do you have? Any sammies you wish you could eat..like now?
Strive to Thrive,
Em
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Peanut Butter Frosting
I am rather selective when it comes to my peanut butter consumption. I am not your eat a spoonful type of girl, nor would I ever choose peanut butter ice cream, cookies, ect. I more like it with green apples and jelly. That's about it.
My Thriving Husband on the other hand...obsessed. So, naturally, I whip up his favorite chocolate cake whenever there is cause to celebrate...and even when I am just feeling extra nice.
Please forgive me for not making the chocolate cakes from scratch, I can only do so much. But frosting? Now, that I can bust out on the regular.
I typically like to do double decker chocolate rounds. If you too are into that, then get those cakes cooked and cooling before whipping up this easy frosting.
As they cool, you can get started. Gather your ingredients and mix the cream cheese, butter and peanut butter.
Once those three are whipped smooth, add in the sugar (I would recommend one cup at a time to avoid a sugar cloud taking over your kitchen) and vanilla.
Once you are mixed the only thing left to do besides frost your cake is to exercise restraint. Even me, a non-peanut butter lover has a hard time...it must be the massive amounts of added sugar that hooks me.
With your cakes cooled, set the bottom layer on your cake stand (or plate) and frost the top.
Add the second layer and frost the top again.
All that is left to do is cut into that beauty and enjoy! And trust, enjoy you will. Peanut butter obsessed or not.
Have you ever seen anything so easy?! What is your favorite frosting recipe?
Strive to thrive,
Em
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Recipe: Banana Bread
I have a pretty serious obsession with my Geena. She is the most beautiful angel on the planet and the mother to my mommy which by default makes her the mother of a Saint.
My earliest and best memories are being saddled up to the bar of her kitchen. With my bestie right next to me, (my Poppa) we would watch as this stunning creature with white hair made our food to order at, as I like to call it, the "Geena Cafe".
Aside from her world renowned chocolate chip pancakes, she has never made a batch of banana bread I didn't like... well, she did once put nuts in it, which was exactly what she did, NUTS!
Since forever, I have stolen her recipe and now make at least at batch a week for my brood. I have adjusted the recipe over the years using vegan butter or cutting part of the sugar, it always ends up being the same amount of delicious. Whether loaf or muffins, this recipe is must have for the busy and treat loving Thriving Wife/Mommy.
So since you Thrivers keep asking for it...here it is!
Mix together the first four ingredients, "the wets".
Then add "the drys", one cup of flour at a time and the baking soda of course.
Throw in your chocolate chips and mix one last time.
Using a greased loaf pan or muffin liners and transfer the mixture. We have been doing A LOT of muffins lately.
Bake at 350 for 30-ish minutes for muffins or 1-1.5 hours for a loaf.
When the edges are golden brown and a toothpick comes out smooth, remove and cool. Trust me, you will smell it when it is ready. YUMMMMO!
Quietly eat one before your kids come in demanding to try one as you politely lie and say they aren't cool yet, which is actually kinda true since you did just burn your tongue woofing one down.
Share with everyone else the next morning and know you won't get your hard working hands on another one until the next batch which will be in a few days anyway.
Well, there you have it! So easy, so tasty and so worth making weekly!
What is your favorite muffin/loaf recipe?
Strive to thrive,
Em
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Recipe - Sweet Honey Cornbread
Grab your ingredients...
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray down an 8-inch pan with cooking spray.
Melt your butter in a large bowl and prepare to add your "wet" ingredients (milk and egg)
Whisk all the "wets" until well mixed.
Next up, gather all your "dry" ingredients (cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) and mix together.
Take that lumpy batter and pour it into the pan.
Next up, heat that honey so it is ready to pour.
Cover the top of your bread with the sweet, sweet honey.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes out smooth.
Now, it is time to enjoy! Serve next to a steaming cup of chili with all the fixins' and you are sure to stay warm this storm season!
Want to make it even sassier?
Throw in some jalapeños or green chilis!
What are your favorite rainy weather dishes?
Strive to thrive,
Em
Monday, February 18, 2019
Recipe - Vegetarian Chili
I absolutely love a piping hot bowl of chili with a side of cornbread on a cold day. With all the storms finally bringing some winter weather to So Cal, I knew the time had arrived to whip up a batch for the fam.
While most chili recipes call for all sorts of meaty ingredients, I of course skip all that and stick with veggies and lots and lots of beans. I also add in a spicy SOY-rizo to give trick my carnivore husband and not lose any of that yummy chili-ness.
I tend to like my chili with an even ratio of saucy to chunky. If you prefer one over the other just adjust your beans/tomato sauce ratio and you will be good to go.
Now, to get started, dice the bell peppers and onions and sauté in a large pan or skillet over medium heat.
Once they have cooked for a bit add the green chiles.
Let those tasty flavors meld together for an additional 5-10 minutes, then add the SOY-rizo.
Now, SOY-rizo tends to stick together, so do your best to break it up and move it around the pan to cook evenly, another 5-10 minutes.
Once your veggies and 'rizo are cooked evenly, take them off the heat and set aside.
Meanwhile, drain and rinse your beans, dump them in a large pot over medium-low heat.
Next, add in the tomato sauce.
Lastly, add your chili seasoning. If you are using a pre-packaged one, great. If you are making your own ( I use the seasoning my Magical Aunt B makes - 2 parts McCormick Taco Seasoning, 1 part Aromatica Organic Garlic Pepper, 1 part Kirkland Organic No-Salt Seasoning) add 1/4 cup or more depending on what you like.
Give all your ingredients a good stir and let cook for 15 minutes on medium-low heat. Then, switch it over to low (simmer) and let it continue to cook, stirring every ten minutes or so.
As with most tasty pot recipes, the longer they cook, the better they taste. I typically let mine cook at least two hours so all those delicious flavors have time to emerge and blend together.
When it is eatin' time, grab some of your favorite homemade cornbread (recipe on that to come soon), scoop up a bowl and top with cheese and sour cream.
Is there anything better on a cold day?! I think not.
Strive to thrive,
Em
