Mozzarella Sticks

Now that it is Spring break I have a little more free time, all that means though is that I can spread my "to-do" list over a couple of days!

I also have a list of things that I want to do....just need some spare time!

Here is one I can check off!

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

 I used low fat 80 calorie mozzarella cheese! Not that Mozzarella sticks are calorie friendly, but that helps!
You need to prepare 3 plates/bowls
1 plate with 1 cup flour
1 plate with 2 eggs
1 plate with the coating


Coating:
1 cup bread crumbs--I used Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp garlic salt
*-You can adjust the seasonings to whatever you like, add or adjust as needed!-*


I cut each cheese stick in half, then you have an assembly line! First dip the cheese in the flour, then the eggs, then the coating. Repeat with all of them!
This step is important!! Place them all on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.. The importance of this is when you cook them in the oil, the cheese will not melt right away.

While the mozzarella sticks are in the freezer at the 25 minute mark, start to heat oil, a couple of inches, enough to cover the cheese! You want the oil in the 360 to 370 range, I do not have a thermometer so I just played it by ear. I know if the oil ever gets to hot you can just take it off the burner to let it cool! The mozzarella sticks only need about 2-3 minutes in the oil and you can tell when they are done is what the cheese starts to ooze! 

Enjoy!


-sunshine

St Patty's Day treats!

St. Pattys day is around the corner and I wanted to complete this post before so you would have some ideas!

-Both these ideas are easy, simple, and do not take up a lot of time!-

Here is the first recipe!

Who wouldn't want a delicious sweet and salty treat of a pretzel, Hershey Kiss, and M&M's?!

The recipe is simple...

Preheat oven to 200

Get a cookie sheet and line it with wax paper.

Place pretzels on the cookie sheet

Put 1 Hershey kiss on each pretzel

Place in oven, just enough time to melt the chocolate (if you leave it in there for to long the chocolate will melt)

 Get your M&M's ready, I picked out all the green M&M's for the St Patricks day theme!

 Can you believe that I bought the BIG bag of M&M's and only got 75 green ones?!?! I need to research this and do a probability lesson soon to see the reason.....

 Fresh out of the oven! 

The next step is to push down the M&M's into each kiss on the pretzel!

The 3 green ones make a shamrock for the theme!

and there is your sweet and salty treat!! :)

Simple, and takes little time!

Here is the 2nd recipe!

Cake Batter Cookies

**I used green food coloring for the St. Patty's day theme!*

Recipe:
1 yellow/or white cake mix
1tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chocolate chips 


Preheat oven to 350
Mix together the first 4 ingredients, until all the cake mix is completely mixed
Add the green food coloring
Add the chocolate chips! I like my cookies chocolaty....so I may have added some more!


Bake for 10 minutes!
--no need to grease the pan
Enjoy your st. Patrick's day!

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

1 box - red velvet cake mix

1 cup - all purpose flour

2 sticks - butter- at room temperature

1 egg

1 cup - white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a mixing bowl, add the butter and mix until soft and fluffy.  

Then slowly add the cake mix and flour. 

Once that is combined, add the egg and mix completely.  

Add white chocolate chips

Form dough into one inch balls, 

place them in the oven for 10-12 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. 

Makes about 30 small cookies

These are so Yummy!

and I am a cookie dough girl!

enjoy!

-sunshine

random photos.....

Made an amazing Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. I threw all the ingredients in a stew pot and set the oven to 200. I was able to run errands all day, and come home to an amazing meal! Plus it really makes the home smell wonderful! :) 
I changed the recipe to make it my own!

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken


4 boneless Chicken Breasts (I used 5)
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 cup Salsa 
1 packet of Taco Seasoning
2 tsps Garlic


Place chicken in the pan, and pour the taco seasoning over.
In a separate bowl mix together the salsa, cream of chicken soup, and garlic. Place over chicken.
I heated the oven to 200, and let the chicken slow cook all day. Around 4-5 hours.
Take 2 forks, and shred.
You can serve with tortillas, or over a salad.
Enjoy!


**Next time I would like to make my own creamy sauce and use my own spices instead of the packet of taco seasoning! :) I love experimenting in the kitchen! and of course I froze half of the left-overs in single serving bags so I can take them to lunch or for fast suppers later in the month!


-sunshine






Here is the calorie count (the original recipe had sour cream, so you can minus a couple of calories!)
Spark Recipes 

Crispy Potato Roast

Crispy Potato Roast, otherwise known as accordion potatoes!

Crispy Potato Roast
Serves 8

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
4 shallots, thickly sliced lengthwise
You can use salt, red pepper flakes and thyme, I used a Pampered Chef Southwestern seasoning on top of the potatoes.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine butter and oil. Brush bottom of a round 9-inch baking dish with some butter mixture. With a sharp knife or mandoline, slice potatoes very thinly crosswise. I used a vegetable slicer...worked wonders and cut my time in half!

2. Arrange potato slices vertically in dish. Wedge shallots throughout. Sprinkle with salt and red-pepper flakes (if using) or with the Southwestern Seasoning; brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake 1 1/2 hours. 

Girls weekend in Austin!

For Ninas birthday we took a trip to Austin! 

To start the trip off I made the birthday girl coffee....

then we jammed to the road trip CD and were off to Shiner TX to start our trip!

 4 free samples? well I don't mind if I do! My new favorite.... Shiner Blonde...

 I think this is the only group picture I have of all of us!!

 Our drive into Austin- a truck with a cow bell!

 yep! I am in longhorn country...

 Even though it was rainy we were able to find a lot to do. Austin is a city that has a lot to offer! We explored the capital, went on a hike up Bonnell Hill, which gave us a beautiful view of all Austin!

 We had 3 hours before we were headed to 6th street.... sooooooo

 before....

 Gorgeous! 

Good-bye Austin! Its been great! Will see you again when I chaperone the UT field trip!

:o)