Toffee Saltines

When I first came across this recipe from A Southern Grace on Pinterest, it puzzled me.  Saltines and chocolate and toffee?  But, there simplicity of the recipe drew me in.  OK, more the chocolate and toffee, but, how simple they were to make definitely had an impact on my decision.  

We gave these a whirl just yesterday.  Oh.my.goodness.  They are fabulous and extremely addicting.  As I type, running downstairs to snatch one out of the freezer keeps sounding better and better( oh and it's only 8am here).

Give these a try..you will not.  I repeat...will not, regret it.

Adapted From

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter ( no margarine)

40 saltine crackers

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray, then, cover with foil.  Then, spray the foil with non stick cooking spray. Spread saltines on cookie sheet, creating a flat layer. In a saucepan, melt brown sugar and butter.  Stirring frequently.  Bring to a boil, then, lower heat and simmer for approx 5 minutes or until mixture thickens.  

Once mixture is thick, pour over saltines. Spread evenly to cover then. Bake for 5-8 minutes or until toffee becomes bubbly.  Remove and let it sit for 5 minutes.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let them melt a bit.  Spread chocolate evenly over crackers/toffee.  Let cool or put in the fridge for about an hour to harden.  It is pretty easy to just break apart piece instead of attempting to cut them.

Leftovers can be frozen.

Linking up at: It's a Keeper Thursday

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

It's official. My third trimester has begun. Oh...it's been a bit tough. With school ending, our road trip, and the poor dog.  The dog? Well, she has always been a sock eater.  Yeah, sock eater.  She always been able to take eat them and then her body has always taken care of it..shall, we say..'naturally'.  The poor pooch, last week, she ate one and then, got very sick.  X-Rays, surgery, two days at the vet.  It was a bit tense. But, she is home, on a ton of medicine and has to be watched very carefully...but, the important thing is, that she is home and doing much better.  My mother informed me that I am not having my 6th child, but, really, my 7th.  It has felt like that this week.

But, enough about the dog and me.  How about some pancakes?  I made these last week for dinner. With a side of turkey sausage...mmmmm....yum.  They are very good and even one of non-banana eating kids inhaled about four of them.  With the bananas and whole wheat..a good healthy breakfast. Or dinner. Or lunch. Whatever suits you.

Adapted From

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2-3 TBSP melted butter

2 TBSP sugar

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1 small ripe banana

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and sugar.   In a separate bowl, mash banana until smooth.  Add in milk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter.  Mix well.  Slowly, add milk mixture into flour mixture and mix until well combined. 

Pour batter on a hot griddle in approx 1/4 cup servings, flip, the cook other side. Repeat.

Makes approx 12-15 pancakes depending on size.

Linking up at:  Newlyweds Blog, Recipe Linky

Road Trip {In Pictures}

Be back tomorrow with a new recipe!

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Lemon Squares

Yay! So, how does it look? We here at Table for 7 got a bit of makeover courtesy of Jenn at Munchkin Land Designs.  I really love it. She did a great job.  So, if you are looking for a little makeover, big makeover or just a few things here and there on your blog..head over and see her. She does great work, is soooo easy to work with (even for OCD crazy people like myself) and her prices won't break your bank.

OK..other stuff..It's official...we are on summer break! This school year has actually gone by rather quickly.  Let's hope that summer goes by a little slower. Well, not too slow, with the new baby coming at the end of summer, I am a bit anxious about August...for baby, not school starting back up.

With summer, comes alot of fruit around here. This is included in our desserts.  These lemon squares are really awesome and it's not too much overkill on the lemon flavor. Put them on your list of summer desserts.

Adapted From

{ this is for a 8in baking dish, so, double it for a 9 x 13 dish }

Ingredients:

for crust:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1/4 cup powder sugar

for filling:

3 TBSP all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 TBSP lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon rind

Directions:

for crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 in baking dish with non stick cooking spray.  In a bowl, mix butter, flour and powder sugar.  Press crust on to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes. Let it cool completely.

for filling:

Mix flour, eggs, lemon juice and lemon rind until well combined. Spread on cooled crust.  Bake another 25 minutes.    Let cool, then, sprinkle with powder sugar.  Refrigerate for about 1-2 hours to chill before serving.

Linking Up at: It's a Keeper Thursday

{Copycat} Chili's Salsa

I think my love of tacos or just Mexican food in general  has been established pretty well. Like, Here. Here and Here. Oh, and here.  So, why not add a bit of salsa to our recipe collection?  This recipe is all over Pinterest and other foodie blogs, but, it sounded so easy and looked so darn good, I just had to try it.

It is very good and be careful, if you sit down with a bowl of chips and this salsa...you will be finishing it all!

Adapted From via original recipe

{Depending how spicy you like your salsa, just adjust these ingredients to fit your taste}

Ingredients:
2 cans(14oz each) of whole tomatoes, drained.
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 small can of jalapenos {or depending how spicy you like it, just add a few}
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp lime juice
garlic salt, to taste preference
salt.to taste preference

Directions:
Add all ingredients in blender or food processor and mix until smooth.

Linked up at:
Newlyweds, Recipe Linky
Whatever you Want Wednesday

{Bread Machine} Cinnamon Sugar Bread

As I mentioned previously, my Mother's Day gift this year was a bread machine.  Ever since, then, there has been bread making, freezing and eating going on ever since.  This shocks my mother.  OK, well, surprises her.  She tells me that I am "the last person on earth she would ever think would get a bread machine for Mother's Day".  The last person?  Really? I mean, you really think Angelina Jolie got a bread machine for Mother's Day?  I think she is ahead of me for "last person on earth" status.  Anyway, it is a bit of a change for me, so, I can see where my mom is coming from.  But, I have been enjoying it and trying out some new bread recipes with it.  Here is one right now!

This cinnamon sugar bread is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you have a bread machine, give this a try..it's great for breakfast or just a snack.

Adapted From

Ingredients:

3 cups bread flour

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp yeast

Directions:

Pour ingredients into bread machine according to manufacturers instructions.  Use setting for "Sweet" or "White Bread". When done, let bread sit for 10-20 minutes to cool before slicing.

Linking up with : Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Blessed with Grace  and Tuesday at the Table, All the Small Stuff

Fettuccine Alfredo

This is a dish that for some reason, I've had some trouble with.  This is the second time that it's been posted. The first wasn't horrible, but, it wasn't great either.  After a bit of trial and error, I have finally achieve success! My Alfredo sauce was either thick as molasses or water like.  Very frustrating!  But, over the weekend, I was able to thin it out just to the right consistency.  

It's so very nice when something finally works :)

Adapted From

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1-1/4 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
approx 1/4 cup parsley, if desired
garlic powder, to taste preference

Directions:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add cream. Simmer for approx 5 minutes.  Whisk in cheese and garlic powder.  Heat thoroughly.  Stir parsley.
Toss or spoon over cooked fettuccine noodles.
{if your sauce is too thick, thin out with pasta water gradually}

Link Up At: My Sweet and Savory, Meatless Monday

Cinnamon Chip Muffins

Oh boy! What a week! We have encountered pink eye for the first time around here.  Not too bad, considering my oldest is 10 years old.  My young 5 year old son has been feeling good..except when eye drops are required. He is not a fan, so, it's a bit of a struggle to get them in.  But, he's getting better at it. Today, he is actually going back to school. Yippee!

So, here are tasty muffins for you to try.  I know, more cinnamon chips? 

Yep.  Well, I bought a bag and used only a portion.  Can't be wasteful, right? These were pretty darn good and were a quick breakfast before school last week.  The kids (and myself) inhaled these and they have been asking for them again ever since.  It's a nice change from the usual chocolate chip or apple muffins we usually eat. We will definitely be making these again!

Adapted From

Ingredients:

2 cups biscuit mix

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

2/3 milk

1 cup cinnamon chips

2 TBSP vegetable or canola oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 12 count cupcake pan with non stick cooking spray or line with cupcake liners.  Mix ingredients in large bowl until well combined. Scoop batter in prepared cupcake pan. Bake for 15-19 minutes or until brown.

Makes 12 muffins

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday's Rainbow

Link up At: Five Minutes for Mom

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Well, Happy Monday Everyone! I hope everybody had a fabulous, lovely weekend.  We spent yesterday celebrating Mother's Day at my Mom's with all my sisters and their families.  It was a really nice day hanging out in the yard, chatting and eating way too much food.  But, this morning..whew! I am a bit tired.  It was a bit of a challenge getting the kids out the door to the bus too.  Thank goodness, the end of the school year is right around the corner.

So, cupcakes.  We did chow on a few my sister made yesterday, but, I made these last week and, no..there weren't any left to bring to Mother's Day.  But, I would definitely make these again and this time, would share with a larger group of people besides my immediate family.

These are seriously the best cupcakes I have ever made.  If a bit of jelly was added, they would of tasted like a PB & J with banana sandwich.   Make these for your next party! you will not be disappointed!

Adapted From

Ingredients:

for cupcakes:

2- 1/3 cup flour

1-1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2-3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into chunks

for frosting:

2 cups powder sugar

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/3-1/2 cup milk

crushed peanuts for topping, optional

Directions:

for cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 12 count muffin pan with non stick cooking spray or line with cupcake papers.   Beat sugar and butter until well combined.  Add eggs. Combine well.  Then, add in bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and honey and continued mixing well.  In a separate bowl, whisk flour,baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Add flour mixture slowly into wet mixture until completely mixed.

Scoop batter into prepared pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes or knife inserted comes out clean.

Makes approx 12-15 cupcakes.

for frosting:

Mix all indgredients well. Spread on cooled cupcakes.  Top with crushed peanuts if desired.

Mothers Day's Dessert Ideas

We are going to spend Mother's Day at my Mom's this year.  My sisters and their families will also be there. We get together, have a great time and spend the day eating and eating, and a bit more eating. We also like to catch up with each other and find out what is going on with every one's lives.  But, mostly, we eat.  Dessert is a big part of our family gatherings.  So, I wanted to share some of  my favorite Table for 7 desserts that perhaps, you may want to make for your Mother's Day celebration this weekend.  Or, just make to because it just looks so good, you can't resist.

Hope Everyone has a Happy Mother's Day!

{simply click the description under the photo and be taken directly to the recipe}

Strawberry Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Creamy Apple Squares

Mom's Apple Cake

Scotcheroos

Peanut Butter Cups

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Chocolate Granola

We are lovers of granola bars around here. I make them homemade. But, also, get a good batch of organic, fruit filled gems each week for everyone to grab as a snack when their hunger hits.  My oldest daughter has discovered loose granola.  She snacks on it at home, brings it to school, tosses it on her yogurt.  She loves it.  So, I came across a really great blog : Orangetta, while searching for a granola recipe that fit us.  Head over and check out Molly's blog, if you haven't already.  It's a great read.  

There was a lovely granola recipe there that seemed almost too easy for me to handle and it had chocolate in it.  Two of my favorite things...easy recipe and chocolate.  How could I possibly pass this up?

This granola is SO good and of course, add whatever you would like to make it your own.  Ours has walnuts, coconut and some mini chocolate chips.

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Adapted From

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats

2 TBSP sugar

2 TBSP vegetable oil

6 TBSP honey

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup walnuts or almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Spray cooking sheet lightly with non stick cooking spray.

Mix oats, sugar and nuts in a large bowl. In a saucepan, warm oil with honey until honey has thinned out.  Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and coat well.  Spread granola evenly on to prepared pan.  Bake for 10-15 minutes, then stir granola.  Bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until browned.  Let granola cool, then, stir in chocolate chips.

Store in air tight container.

Linked up at: It's a Keeper Thursday

Turkey Bagel Melt with Honey Dijon Spread

I have been eating this everyday for the past 3 days. That is how much I love them. Turkey..yum. Not just plain, ole, turkey though.  Turkey with Swiss and a tangy Honey Dijon spread on a toasted bagel. Melted. I have really have been woofing these down on a regular basis lately.  Now, with a nice glass of cold ice tea, this has been perfect for me.  However, that has been my one very strong pregnancy craving.  Ice Tea. Sweetened is better, but, I'm OK when it's not.  I have been drinking by the gallons. {Don't worry..it's been decaf}  I even had Mr Plain stop on his way home yesterday, because, I couldn't make my own tea fast enough.

Of course, this spread can be used with turkey, ham or just a plain grilled cheese.  It's a snap to mix up and has a great, sweet, tangy, honey taste. So,go have some for lunch today.  

Oh, and yes..there is monkey face on the plate in the picture..cute, isn't it?

Now, excuse me..I off to pour myself a glass of ice tea.

Spread Adapted From

{This is enough for 1-2 sandwiches, depending on how much you like to use}

Ingredients:

1 TBSP cream cheese, softened

1 tsp honey

1 tsp honey Dijon mustard

Directions:

Mix ingredients well and spread on desired sandwich.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Bars

Cinnamon.Oatmeal...mmm...yeah..OK..mm..hi.  I have been sitting here thinking "what is a clever story to explain how I came across this recipe?". The truth is..it's kinda dull.  Kinda boring. I was buying chocolate chips for another dessert and noticed Cinnamon Baking Chips.  I thought...huh, cinnamon baking chips?  Sounds kinda tasty..turned over the bag and noticed  this recipe.  Yum. So, I bought them. Made them.  Mr Plain and I inhaled them by the next day ( kids aren't big oatmeal fans..oh, well..their loss, our gain)  So, that's it.

I know..my life is so darn exciting, it is a shocking that the cover of People Magazine has alluded me for this long.

Honestly..make these...as cookies...bars..whichever you prefer..they are too good to pass up.

Adapted From 

{this recipe also called for 3/4 cup raisins.  I didn't have any on hand, so, I omitted them}

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1-1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

2-1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup cinnamon baking chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9 x13 pan with non stick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, mix sugars and butter.  Add eggs.  Combine flour and baking soda in a separate bowl.  Add gradually into sugar/butter/egg mixture. Beat until well combined. Stir in oats. Mix well. Fold in cinnamon baking chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan  Baked for 20-25 minutes or until brown.  Cut into bars.

Linked up at; It's a Keeper Thursday

Menu Planning Monday

This weekend, I received my Mother's Day gift a bit early.  It is a...bread machine! I also got an apron.  Which, I have never wore before..in my life.  Now let me explain, since, I am pregnant, Mr Plain is the best husband ever and has been doing all the laundry around here.  Yes, all of it.  Our washer/dryer are (not) conveniently located in our basement..making laundry an even major chore, when you have to haul it up and down a flight of crooked basement stairs seventeen-thousand times a week.  I have accepted that and so, has Mr Plain. But, with laundry comes stains and with pregnancy, comes a very messy me.  My belly has become a platform for all things that I eat.  This, I believe, bugs Mr Plain just a bit.  So, to avoid a few annoying stains that he is probably a bit tired of getting out, he got me an apron.  It is actually pretty cute and while making a batch of cinnamon bread this morning..I wore it.  Well, who knew!  It was a mess from in a matter of moments.  Good thing,I married a resourceful man.

Here's what cooking around here this week:

Monday:  Oven Tacos

Tuesday: Chicken Stir Fry
Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner/Baked French Toast Casserole

Thursday: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Friday: Leftovers/Grocery Shopping

Link up: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Butter Pecan Cookies

Happy Friday!  We are having another heat wave around here.  It has been 85 degrees and humid here for the last two days.  Just what  every pregnant woman wants...heat, humidity and no air conditioners installed in her house yet.  It has been pure heaven.  We are suppose to get a break this weekend, so, I am crossing my fingers.  As is my family, I haven't exactly been the picture of motherly joy the last few days.  But, these cookies did help us all just a little bit.

Cookies around our house are usually of the chocolate chip variety.  So, these are a bit of change for us.  Don't worry, we handled it just fine.  Even my kids who aren't too fond of any type of nut liked these. They are buttery, crunchy and with a nice glass of milk, make a delicious snack.

Adapted From 

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla., Beat the mixture until it is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.  Add the flour and nuts. Continue mixing until the dough looks like moist pebbles, then turn off the mixer.  Squeeze dough together with your hands and form into a log. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 3 hours.

After dough is chilled, unwrap and cut into 1-2 in slices.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cooking sheet with non stick cooking spray or cover with parchment paper. Place sliced cookies on cooking sheet.

Bake 15-16 minutes or until edges are brown.

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Baked Cheddar Crackers

Every kid eat Goldfish crackers, right? Mine do.  In fact, a small,average, size bag can be inhaled in once lunch at our house.  But, it's not just the fish. They love Cheez-Its and well, any, old, cracker with cheese flavor.  Now, Mr Plain?  Um, no.  He is very particular about his cheese crackers and cheese, in general. He will not eat boxed cheese snack products..they are not 'real cheese' according to him.  He also has a great fondness for Wisconsin..coincidence? I think not.  So, these make him a happy, cheese cracker loving guy. He can finally enjoy cheese crackers with real cheese!

I came across this recipe over at Erin's Dinner, Dishes, and Desserts many, many, months ago. I finally got around to making them over this past weekend.  

These have a great cheese taste are nice and crunchy. You can make these into any cute shape you desire.

Here is a great link to show you how to make cookie cutter out of a soda can or use any cookie cutter you have on hand or you can be a bit lazier ( like myself) and simply slice the dough with a pizza cut and make a variety of shapes. We still gobbled these up within a few hours.

Adapted From

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 TBSP water

salt, to taste preference, if desired.

Directions:

In your food processor, pulse cheese, flour and salt until it is coarse.  Add water at 1 tablespoon at a time.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray.  Once dough is chilled, roll out and cut into desired shapes.  Bake for 15 minutes or until crispy.

Linked up at: It's a Keeper Thursday

{Crock Pot} Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies

These were not something that I planned on making.  I made dinner the night before and honestly, my dirty crock pot was still sitting on the kitchen counter...staring at me.  Mocking me.  Use Me! Cook Something! So, after some Internet searching, I came across a very tasty sounding, recipe for Peanut Butter Brownies.

           With everything I needed in my pantry..it was too easy.  I would be crazy not to do it! 

Give them a try..you will be so happy you did.

{The only change in my recipe is instead of using 1/2 chocolate chips and 1/2 white chocolate chips is mine has a whole cup of chocolate.  Cooking times depend on the size of your crock pot.  Mine is pretty big and took about 2 hours }

Adapted From

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

5 TBSP butter

2 eggs

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

Spray inside of crock pot with non stick cooking spray.  Mix butter, peanut butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Add in flour and baking powder. Continue mixing until well combined.

Cook on high for 90 mins to 2 1/2 hours.  Prop lid open slightly while cooking to release steam. Brownies are done when sides are brown and knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Linked up to : It's a Keeper Thursday

Baked Pizza Rolls

This is the only picture that I was able to snap of these....

They vanished quickly after it was taken. Just about everyone inhaled these for dinner  I have only used wonton wrappers for crunchy Baked Wonton Chips. But, haven't ventured into any of territory with them. These took a bit of time to put together, but, were super easy to do.  We stuck with just dry Italian seasoning, pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese ( I know,  kinda plain..shocking, coming from my family). But, get creative, add sausage, pepperoni, peppers, onions, a variety of cheeses.  Live it up!  They are great for lunch, dinner or an appetizer. They also would be great to make, toss in the freezer and warm up a few whenever the mood for pizza rolls hits you.

Adapted From 

Ingredients:
1 pack (48 ct) Wonton Wrappers- {this is the brand I found in the produce section of my grocery store}
1 cup pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
dry Italian Seasoning, to taste preference

other optional fillings:
sausage
pepperoni
peppers
onions

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray cooking sheet well with non stick cooking spray.  Mix pizza sauce, cheese and seasoning a bowl until well combined.  Fill each wonton wrap with approx 1-2 tsp of pizza filling. Dip your finger in small bit of water and run it along the edges of wrapper.  Fold over and seal well. Repeat with each pizza roll.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, until brown and crispy.
Let them sit about 5 minutes before serving.