Just My o"PIN"ion on Muffins and Dogs

Weird opinion header, huh? I really didn't want it to be too long. Just My o"PIN"ion on Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins and Chili Dog Casserole just didn't seem condensed enough. So, muffins and dogs about covers it. You could say that I like to eat. It's a pretty good indication when I did a recipe last week and have now done two for this week's post!

So, I do have good reason to make the muffins. A young man that is originally from our hometown, has qualified for the 2012 US Paralympics Team in London. He was involved in a car crash at a very young age in my hometown that tragically took the life of his father and left him paralyzed.  We are having a bake sale this week to raise money for traveling expenses to get his mother to watch her son in London.    So I made the muffins for that.  While I was finding a pin for the muffins, I stumbled upon a casserole that I couldn't pass up.  Since I had most of the ingredients on hand, I decided I couldn't let my readers down on this one.  I totally made it in the name of research!

The Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are from Stick A Fork In It.
The Chili Dog Casserole is from Peace, Love and Understanding.

The Ingredients:
Since there are two recipes this week, you will just have to click the recipe links and print off the ingredients yourselves.  They are your basic ingredients for the muffins.  A surprise for the casserole might be that you roll the hotdogs in tortillas.  Other than that the ingredients are not surprising.

The Directions:
Simple yet again.  The muffins were very simple.  Just a few simple steps.  The Chili Dog Casserole was even easier.  Very quick meal to put together.

The Verdict:
Both were AMAZING! 
These are probably the best muffins I have made.  The consistency was just right.  They had a great rise to them and the time directed to cook was spot on.  This is going to be my go to Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe for sure! 
The Chili Dog Casserole was pretty darn good too!  It definitely hit that craving I was having for apparently, a chili dog!  I know that I will weight a few pounds heavier tomorrow because I plan on eating a little bit more tonight along with my Boone's Farm I have cracked open right now.  I am planning on trying a light version soon.  Think Turkey Chili and FF Hotdogs and Reduced Fat Cheese!  I think it will still be yummy!  However all the fatty goodness was just plain yumminess!  The baby devoured it.  My oldest didn't care for the tortilla and the 3 year old just ate the hotdog out of it.  Pickiness is nothing new around this house!  I don't think my husband cared for the tortilla either.  He went back for seconds but put it on a bun.  LOL!  I think the tortilla part is what makes it yummy, so definitely try it the original way first!  Also, my cheese did get really done and I had to sprinkle a little more on (darn it).  Next time, I will watch that a little closer. 
These are two recipes I would definitely recommend to try off of Pinterest!  However, they will remain on my Diet?  What Diet? board! 

Pictures of the Process:

Ingredients Ready To Go!

Something you NEVER see...me adding salt to my recipes.

Chocolate Chip Madness!

Found this idea on Pinterest too, Cupcake Liner Holder.

I knew right here it was going to be good!

Only 1/2 left.  Yum!

Just My o"PIN"ion on S'mores Cookies

S'mores Cookies Fresh Out of the Oven

Nothing says summer like S'mores! Even though I turn my nose at them (am I the only one) they seem to be a favorite among children and adults alike.

I asked my Facebook readers to suggest a delicious, fattening recipe that would totally kill my diet. It's all in the name of research, so my diet must be sacrificed! Wonderful recipes were suggested but this is the only one that had chocolate. I am a chocolate addict! I will get to those other suggestions soon, but this lady had to have chocolate! So I chose to make this pin for S'mores Cookies from The Girl Who Ate Everything!


The Ingredients:
11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces
1-2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares
**Do you know that I was totally out of chocolate chips!  I don't want to mention that I had just bought two bags just a few weeks before.  Anyway, my small town grocery store was already closed so I called a few people.  I had to call 4 people to find any.  What is up with these people in this town???**

The Directions:
Follow Instructions as the recipe states.  I didn't have parchment paper and I wasn't about to call more people, so I just sprayed the pan with cooking spray and hoped it would work!  It did!

The Verdict:
Before we get to the taste, let me mention a couple things.  I should have added more dough on the top of each graham cracker.  I did about 1 1/2- 2 tablespoons, but I should have done more.  It didn't spread over the entire crust of crackers.  I also read previous reviews and said 375 was too high, so I did 360 and it took me about 15-20 minutes instead of the 10 at 375.  I just kept checking them every few minutes.  It may take longer if you add more dough too.  I also had dough leftover so I could have made another sheet, next time I think I'll just add it all and have a thicker cookie layer.

As far as the taste goes.  These were just ok.  I think part of it was the cinnamon flavor.  I didn't like it.  I would leave this out entirely.  Cinnamon really has nothing to do with S'mores so I don't understand it anyway!  I ate one for research, okay two, but I had to be sure the other side didn't taste better!  I cut the rest and sent them to work with my husband.  I asked him what he thought when he called me at break and he said they were pretty good.  Now, I don't like S'mores, so maybe that's the deciding factor.  If you love S'mores you might love these "s'more" than I do (did you get it?).  Not sure if there will be a next time for this recipe.  However, my boys love S'mores and I didn't keep any for them to try, so another batch might be just for them.  However, I will eat just one.  All in the name of research!

A Picture:

Right before they go in the oven.  I should have smashed them more!

Just My o"PIN"ion on "The Greatest Queso On The Block"

Leftover Queso

There is something just wonderful about a bag of chips and a bowl of queso. Hopefully, it's the margarita in my hand close by.  Alright, so it's the fish bowl margarita and I can't hold it in my hand...whatever! Now, if I finish that fish bowl margarita, I'm sure any queso will be dubbed, "The Greatest Queso On The Block", but I decided to give this exact pin, from TastyKitchen.com, a chance at the crown.

Ingredients:
1 block cream cheese
1 block Velvetta Cheese
1 can Rotel
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 pound hamburger or sausage or combo of both

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a crockpot or in a bowl and warm until melted and combined.  Make sure you cook this on low in your crockpot or warm would be even better if you have this feature.

The Verdict:
I really don't know if I've ever run into a "bad" queso and this one was good.  However, I don't know if it deserves the title of "The Greatest Queso On The Block."  I happen to make a much better queso.  I think I will put it on here and then pin it, "The Best Freakin Queso You Ever Ate. Fish Bowl Margarita or Not!"

Just My o"PIN"ion on Brussels Sprouts!

I am going to admit that I was a picky child.  My mother was soft and would often make two dinners to please her children.  She still does this for her grandchildren, even going as far as making them all different things.  She does it out of love and the idea that anybody could get hungry is all too much for her.  I have inherited that trait somewhat, as I would always have snacks in my classroom because it was a reality, for my at-risk kids, that they actually would go hungry at times.  However, I'm not as nice with my children.  I might be mushy at times, but not soft.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that I have NEVER tried a Brussels sprout.  I haven't heard good things about them.  They have a pretty bad reputation.  Kind of like me in high school!

Soooo...anyway... Brussels sprouts, back to Brussels sprouts.

I have seen this and similar recipes pinned on Pinterest talking about how these are so good and give Brussels sprouts a place in every one's fridge again.  So, I decided to give this grilled recipe from food52.com a try!  I mean it says it even won a contest with this recipe!  Plus it has Parmesan cheese as an ingredient!  Hello, cheese makes everything taste good, right?

The Ingredients:
The ingredients are all easy to find at any local grocery store.  Brussels sprouts, olive oil, spices, lemon zest, and the optional Parmesan cheese and bacon.  I had forgotten to put celery salt on my list, so my sprouts didn't have that ingredient nor did I use the bacon.

The Process:
This recipe was simple.  Slop everything together in a bowl, use tongs to place on a hot grill and flip every few minutes.  Toss back in the bowl, add optional ingredients and serve! 

The Verdict:
Here is the exact quote from my husband, "They still taste like nasty, wet, feet."  Although I wouldn't go that far, I wasn't impressed.  The outside tasted pretty good as that's where all the flavor was, but the insides were not good.  My children spit them out or simply licked them and turned their noses.  I ate about 4 just to give a good effort.  However, we will not be buying Brussels sprouts again.  As my friend said to me, "It's a love or hate relationship.  Hardly any in between."  Well, I officially break up with Brussels sprouts!  Here's to my trusty asparagus, corn on the cob and Steam Fresh Microwave Veggie bags!

Picture of the Process:

They are all tossed with the ingredients and ready for the grill!

Just My o"PIN"ion On The Neighborhood's Best Lemonade Stand

Tis summertime in all aspects of the word. The temperatures are rising, the fireflies are flashing in the cool breeze of the day and my children are driving me freaking insane by 10:00 am! Yep, it's summertime alright!

Since it's too early to start adding rum to the water (Diet Dr. Pepper) at those hours, I have been searching Pinterest for a delicious and non-alcoholic (remember, Pinterest is mostly lonely stay at home moms, so it's tough) lemonade to try.  I was also trying to find one that didn't require me to squeeze any lemons!  Heaven forbid I have to go to that much trouble!

So, when I found this recipe for the neighborhood's best lemonade stand, I decided to give it a shot!

The Ingredients:
*Country Time Lemonade Mix
*Pineapple Juice
*2 Cans Sprite
*2 Cups Water
*Lemons for Garnish-optional

Combine all ingredients in large pitcher and stir.  *Chill pineapple juice beforehand!

The Verdict:
This does not taste like lemonade!  Not what I was expecting.  It is a great PUNCH and would be perfect for just that.  However, I couldn't even really taste the lemonade flavor.  Next time I think I will make lemonade and maybe add a touch of pineapple juice...and maybe just a little rum in it, but only if it's after 10:01!

Just My o"PIN"ion on The BEST Macaroni and Cheese

So I asked my readers on Facebook if they would rather me try the "World's Best Macaroni and Cheese or Chocolate Chip Cookie?" I was secretly hoping for the cookie because I have a major sweet tooth, but instead these crazy people chose Macaroni and Cheese! Just kidding. I love my readers (no matter how insane they are). So, I had pinned two pins with the title BEST Macaroni and Cheese in them and decided which one to try. I am going to be completely honest, I chose the easy one from blogs.baggle.com. The one with one kind of cheese and the one I could pronounce. The other one looked divine but I would have to go to the specialty cheese part of the grocery store and find cheese I couldn't pronounce. I'm simple. I'm a mom. I'm busy...get over it and go find your own Gruyere Cheese or whatever it's called!

Ingredients:

1 (8-ounce) package elbow macaroni, cooked and drained *This is the only change I made.  I used 16 oz. or a whole box*
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Let me take a minute to tell you how mad I get when people don't explain processes of things in order.  The directions for this dish were mostly great except when I got to the part of, add your cooked pasta.  I paused and under a few harsh words spoken silently in my head, I muttered, "They never told me to cook the pasta."  Is that common sense?  I don't think so.  But then again I thought part of the Star Spangled Banner was "donzerly light" (dawn's early light)...and I won't tell you at what age I realized it but my 6th grade teacher thought I was sure funny!

So, let me first start by saying:
1.  Cook Your Pasta!!!
2.  Then follow the rest of the directions following the link above.  The rest is easy to understand and explained well!

Verdict:

This is my first time making Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. I'm usually a box kind-of-gal.  However, it really wasn't that hard.  Had I cooked the noodles before I'd started, it would have been much easier!  The kids verdict was that they didn't like it and that the box kind was better.  My husband and I both agreed it needed MORE cheese.  I had looked at the comments for the recipe and most of them said it was way too cheesy even when they used 16 oz. of noodles.  That they only used 5 cups of cheese because they couldn't imagine more.  Well...I think next time I will use 8 oz. of noodles and perhaps the same amount of cheese.  Or if I do use 16 oz., I would at least use 8 cups of cheese.  Holy Cheese Batman, but I don't want a dry noodle at all!  I want them swimming in a river of cheese.  Isn't that the point...gooey, cheesy, yumminess?!

So, would I dub this the BEST Macaroni and Cheese...NO!  But I'm not going to make that fancy recipe with the gruyere cheese or however you say and spell it!  So, this will go in my recipe file and I'll put it out from time to time.  Now, how about we research those cookies!

Here are pictures of the process:

Cooking the Garlic

Halfway Through Making the Cheese Sauce

Out of the Oven

 

Just My o"PIN"ion on Tranferring Printer Text to Wood

I love anything vintage. The more distressed the better in my world. I am sooo lucky that my children also love the distressed look and have a way of making everything look vintage around here! Even though one of my favorite hobbies is to mosey around my favorite local antique stores, usually I walk away with little except for my creative juices flowing. You see, antiques are expensive. It seems like the antique look is very popular right now, so vendors have marked up their prices accordingly! So, I take ideas I see and try to recreate it in a more frugal way! I have been wanting to make a sign for my front porch that has our last name along with the year our recent home was established. I remember seeing this idea from Diddle Dumpling on Pinterest where you can transfer printer ink to wood.  So, I picked up a cute board for about $5.00 at the antique store and saved it for a moment I had time to work on this.

Diddle Dumpling has more detailed beginning instructions on how to prepare your board and the best paints to use, but I skipped this step since I bought my board ready to go!

Supplies:
*Wood Board that has been painted and distressed how you prefer.
*Printed Words, rotated so they are correct when you transfer them.  *Please google how to rotate your words according to your printer properties for the software you create the words in*  I used the Paint software that came with my laptop.
*Paint Brush
*Water
*Sharpie Pen
*Paint for touch ups.
*Hardware or twine to hang your sign.

Directions:
I created my words using the Paint software on my computer.  I must say this is what took the longest to figure out.  I probably tried a dozen times before I got the size I wanted.  However, I finally got it just right and was ready for the next step.  I placed my wording on the sign like I wanted and somewhat creased the paper to help it stay in place, but you could also tape it to help.  Then you take a paintbrush and go over the words with water.  You don't need to get it sopping wet, just wet is fine.  Then take the lid of your sharpie and press horizontal and vertical on the letters to get them to transfer over to the wood.  Like you would for any other transfer type material.  After you get it transferred you can go over the lettering with black paint if it is too light for you.  Then put hardware to hang on the back.

Verdict:
So everything went great as soon as I figured out how to print the wording the way I wanted.  It was a easy, simple process that was really quick.  However, when I took the paper off the wood, there was nothing on the wood.  The ink hadn't transferred over to the wood.  After doing some research, it seems laser jet printers won't work for this project unless you use acetone.  Soooo glad they put this in the directions...ugh!  So, I found my old ink jet printer, got it hooked up after installing the driver to my computer, dusted off the cobwebs and then realized there was no ink! So the only thing I have to say is...To Be Continued!

Here are some pictures of the experience!

Materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use Paintbrush To Get Printing Wet

Go Over Printed Letters With Sharpie Lid to Transfer

FAIL!

 

Just My o"PIN"ion on Homemade Pledge

I am falling in love with homemade cleaners. They are usually so much cheaper and better for your family and the environment! I have a kitchen table that has a wood top and it is constantly in need of a polished finish. My kids have destroyed it and continue too. There are feet marks all over it (if you know the stories of my baby Parker being a monkey, this makes sense to you). We bought it about a year ago and thank goodness it has a distressed look because we have added to that charm! But keeping the top looking polished is a chore. It usually just looks horrid. I found this pin from Food.com that not only promised a great polish but also that you would only have to dust every other week or so! It only takes two ingredients and it's so simple to use.

Ingredients: 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/4 cup olive oil Container to hold it as you probably won't use it all.

Directions: Mix the lemon juice and the olive oil in a container. Mix it. Take a dusting cloth and wipe down your furniture, cabinets, etc. I really rub it in as it does have that oily consistency.

Verdict: Love it! My table is so shiny, even I am tempted to get on top of it and dance a happy dance. I can't wait to see how long the polish lasts. I also dusted a baseboard halfway with this solution to see if it gets as dusty as the other half. It's my evil way of seeing if it's claims of dusting less are true! Who really likes to dust anyway? *silence* Yep, that's what I thought!

Here are some pictures of the experience!

                                                   BEFORE

 

                     

                                  After 

Just My o"PIN"ion on Copycat Sonic Cherry Limeades

 

It's basically summertime in my neck of the woods...91 glorious degrees outside today! I was wondering what to post this week and as I was driving by Sonic today and the line was seriously out of the driveway onto the street (someone please tell me why you would really wait that long), I remembered that I had pinned this recipe for a Sonic Cherry Limeade.

I do love a good Sonic Cherry or Strawberry Limeade.  However, Sonic is a little out of the way for me to hop on over during Happy Hour, so I was hoping this recipe would be the answer to my prayers!  My prayer went something like this:

"Dear Lord, 

How are you today?  It is hot here.  There are no Sonic's for miles and there are times that when my children are climbing up the tv stand for the 50th time, the baby has taken all his pajamas out of his dresser and the middle little is putting toothpaste in his hair that I could really just use a Cherry Limeade.  I'm sure you understand as you made these children of mine and I know you are chuckling to yourself as you watch their mother scrape peanut butter out of the DVD player.  So, please make this recipe taste as good as a margarita, which is what I really want but I'm a lush and if I drink one of those I won't be able to drive to pick up the biggest kid from school!  (Hence why I love Summer Break!)

Amen"

The Supplies:

1 can Sprite or Sprite Zero if you are watching the waistline
1/4 cup Cherry Juice (I used Juicy Juice but I would also like to try an Organic Juice next time)
3 Lime Wedges
1 16 oz. cup filled 3/4 full with Ice

The Directions:

Fill your cup with ice.  Make sure it is about a 16 oz. cup or it will get too full.  Then add the Sprite, juice and the juice of the limes.  Add lime wedges or cherries for garnish if you like.  Stir and enjoy!

The Verdict:
Was it as good as a margarita, no.  Was it as good as Sonic, no.  Did it taste kinda like a Diet Cherry Limeade from Sonic, kinda!  That is close enough for me!  It was good but I don't know if I would say it's the Copycat Recipe.  I am going to try it with an organic juice next time and I think that may help with the cherry taste.  My oldest liked it and the baby seemed to too.  Make sure you tell me what you think if you make one!  Would love to hear if there's any difference when you use different pops and juices!

Here are some pics from the experience:

The Ingredients

 Does My Face Say It All?

 

Just My o"PIN"ion on Scratched Disc Cleaner

Okay, so I feel kinda bad now for locking my children up in the dungeon and feeding them Ritz crackers through the bottom crack as there punishment for ruining yet another DVD!  Okay, I'm lying, I feed them cracker crumbs, but still... (Oh Dear Lord, please let everyone know I'm totally kidding!)

But seriously, who doesn't have an endless amount of totally ruined discs that are unusable because of those pesky scratches that totally ruin the whole movie.  Some corporate genius is totally smiling at his idea of making those little, silver circles scratchable so that you have to go buy another disc because otherwise your child will scream nonstop because they can't watch their Nemo for the 500,000 time all while holding their chocolate milk sippy, cup with one hand and their other hand holding their blanket in just the perfect spot or it's all wrong!!!!!!!!  Whew, sorry about that.  It's been a LONG day!  But you know what I am talking about and if you don't, then you probably don't have small children or at least small children like mine.  However, I am about to give that smiling, corporate guy a cut in his paycheck, because I have found a miracle!  It's right up their with Borax, Vinegar and Mascara!  It's Crest Kid's Toothpaste...yep.  Thank you Crest and thank you The Handmade Dress for this fabulous idea to pin!

Supplies:  

You will need a scratched disc.  I say this as if you only have one!  HA!  Just choose the one your kid is being dramatic about at the current minute.  You will also need KID'S CREST toothpaste.  Yes, it has to be Kid's and it has to be Crest!  Also needed are warm water and a soft cloth or towel.

Directions:

After finding the disc, spread a bit of toothpaste all over.  Rub with your fingers until it is almost dried and unspreadable.  (Is that a word?)  This will take about 2 minutes.  Make sure and apply pressure and work in circles so that it buffs those pesky scratches out.  Take the disc and rinse it off with warm water.  Then just dry it off with a cloth and prepare to be amazed!  

The Verdict:

Amazing!  I chose a disc that was pretty scratched up.  So bad in fact, it only made it about 5 seconds in and it was froze.  However, after cleaning it, which took about 3 minutes, it just played and played and played when I tried it again.  I let it go for awhile and had absolutely no problems.  I am going to make this a job for my two older children and they should have these puppies knocked out in about 3 hours.  Don't worry, I will take them out of the dungeon AFTER they are done :)  

Here are some pictures of the process:

Before- Very Scratched Up!

Rub that Kid's Crest In Good!

After- Trust me, it was better!

I'm watching the movie!

Just My o"PIN"ion on Cinnamon Roll Waffles!

One thing I love are cinnamon rolls...another, waffles! So, when I saw this recipe from Hen
s Nest, I knew I had to try it. Plus, it gave me a great excuse to eat incredibly fattening food while on a diet!! I mean it's all in the name of research, right?!?!

Supplies:
You will need a waffle maker, a tube of cinnamon rolls and some nonstick cooking spray. Plus lots of hungry people to help eat them, or you will eat them all yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Directions:
Spray nonstick cooking spray on your waffle iron and warm that bad boy up. Once it is heated, place a cinnamon rolls or two or how ever many will fit on the plates and click down. These cook extremely fast, so don't wait for a set timer or light to go off. Check them in about a minute. They should fall off nicely and be brown. My waffle maker wasn't cooperating and the top plate kept sticking, but I was a woman on a mission (I'm on a diet remember) so I just peeled those suckers off! After that, frost with the included icing and enjoy!

The Verdict:
Amazing! Not because of it's taste but because of HOW FAST these babies cook! I can have 1000 calories ready in just a few minutes! No heating the oven, making the house hot, and no more waiting for cinnamon rolls! Now in my o"PIN"ion, they taste just like cinnamon rolls, just a little crustier. They shouldn't focus on the waffle part but instead focus on the amazing speed at which you can make them. So, I would like to rename this post...Just my o"PIN"ion on 1 Minute Cinnamon Rolls! Amazing! Did I say that already? So, excuse me while I go work off the 4 cinnamon rolls that I ate. If you need me in the next 3 hours, I'll be at the gym;)

Here are some pictures of the few minutes before the cinnamon rolls were devoured!