Pizza Cupcakes!

It's been awhile since I blogged.  Been really busy with Kinley's Birthday, now I'm working on Kaden's and in the middle of all that I decided to remodel my bathroom!   Yep, that's how I roll...on a whim!

Tonight I thought I'd make a new recipe that I found last night on Pinterest.  Speaking of pinterest, if you haven't discovered it, let me know and I'll send you an invite!  It's awesome and you can easily spend hours looking at stuff and getting ideas!  Anyways....back to pizza cupcakes.

I thought this would be something fun the kids and I could make together and it turns out they are really yummy too!  You can find it HERE! 



WW Points + = 3 pts per cupcake

Enjoy!

T minus 7 days!!!

Finally, the end is near!  Kinley's party is in 7 days and I'm in full party mode!  Everything had to be packed in boxes last week due to an open house, so now it's time to dig everything out and get ready!  I'm so excited.  Have I mentioned I've been working on this party for ohhhhh about 6 months.  Yes, I know, I know, crazy right. This will be the last 1st Birthday I get to plan so I'm allowed to go a little crazy!

For those of you who are close to me, you know I'm a little....OCD!  I think I've reached a new level tonight!  Not only have I made my mother a list of things I need to borrow, I started drafting out where I wanted tables and how I wanted things placed on the tables, where I wanted balloons and how I wanted decorations hung.  Not only are they horrible sketches but then I had to color code them!  I know right, CRAZY!  But see there is a method to my madness.  I figure this way, I can still be a control freak but let people help me set up and not have to go behind them changing things. {my poor family!}  They will have their sketch and know what goes where.  I'm thinking it's a genius idea...I'll let you know how it works out next week!  haha  That is if they don't kill me!

I hope everyone has a great week and hopefully my next post will be lots of party pictures!!!

Cake Pops! BLAH!

Cake Pops!  Maybe you've heard of them and....maybe you haven't.  They seem to be the latest fad at parties. There are cookbooks dedicated to them and people selling them on Etsy.  Even Starbucks sells them!  So I had to try to make some.  Well..let me say I've made them 3 times now and they still taste the same, NASTY!  My mom even bought the cookbook, I followed the directions and still YUCK! 


For those of you who don't know what they are let me explain.  You bake a cake, crumble it up, mix in some icing and dip them in candy (chocolate) coating.  Sounds good right?  UMMM NO!  They taste like a big ol' goo ball in the middle.  BLAK!

So, if anyone out there is reading this who has had them, please tell me what I'm missing!  Besides looking cute, they've got nothing else going for them!
 

MMMMM Cookies!!! (in my best Cookie Monster voice!)

I've been seeing all these amazing cookies on the party blogs lately so I decided to try my hand at cookie making.  First, let me start by saying...I cannot make icing to save my life.  I have tried a bizillion times and it just doesn't come out right!  I follow the directions to a 'T' and yet it still ends up in the trash! AND, I have never made sugar cookies from scratch!  Nope, my version of sugar cookies are the refrigerated, break and bake! haha

I have been following SugarBelles on FB and she makes it look so easy, so I thought why not give it a try!  I used her recipes and tips and created my very own Ice Cream Cone Cookies!  WOWZERS!!!  They are amazing!  I didn't have a cookie cutter and I refused to go buy one.  Ya know, just in case once again I flopped at making the icing!  I made my own template using freezer paper and I couldn't believe it actually worked!

 
However, I was so sad that my icing didn't set up fully before I put them in the container last night! They did get a little smashed!   But smashed or not, they were delish and I MADE ICING!  WOOOO HOOO!!

So if you're in the mood to bake a great tasting and looking cookie, visit SugarBelle! Her recipes are easy to follow the tips are great!

Bad Blogger!

Gesh, I've been such a bad blogger!  Having 3 kids, trying to cook and eat healthy not to mention the mountains of laundry that have piled up, doesn't leave much time for blogging!  Makes me wonder how people do it! 

Anyways...we've been pretty busy this wk.  We're in the process of selling our house, which is almost final, yippie!  We went house hunting 3 days last week, talk about exhausting!  Wouldn't you know the last house we looked at, and I hate to admit I wasn't very excited about looking at it, turns out to be the one I LOVE!  I  had a "don't judge a book by it's cover" moment!  Granted the outside needs work but the inside is perfect for us...complete w/ pool table, bar and LOTS of room for the kids!  Our offer has been accepted, now we just wait for closing.  Such an exciting time!

I have to admit, I've been doing VERY bad at my diet lately.  I'm just over it!  I've got 10 lbs to go and really have NO motivation.  This is the first week I've gained and that doesn't really help!  We haven't been in the pool so I haven't been exercising.  I thought about running...then woke up from that nightmare!  Thought about riding my bike...then ate another cookie!  :(

On the bright side, everything is almost finished for Kinley's 1st Birthday party!  Here is a sneak peek of one of the decorations I made for the cake table.

My little man started preschool this week.  He's had a hard time adjusting and has cried every morning when I drop him off.  {Doesn't he look so thrilled in his picture!} Once I'm gone, he's over it and has fun.  He's made some new friends and seems to really like his teachers.  Although, he really misses his old buddies and asks all the time to go visit Judy!  Once your kids are in school, it makes you realize that time really does fly by! 

That's all for now...I will work on being a better blogger...for those of you who actually read my boring blog!  Have a great week!

Bleu Cheese Chicken Burgers

It seems the older I get the more my tastes are changing.  I've never liked french onion dip before and now it seems I love the unheathly goodness!  Same goes for Bleu Cheese !  Granted, I still can't do the dressing but the crumbles are oh so yummy!  And let's not mention or think about what the "bleu" really is ok?!   So tonight after going to the grocery, with all 3 kids, {yes call me insane} we got home and everyone was screaming how hungry they were!  I decided to just throw some stuff together and wish for the best!!!   I can't believe how DELISH it came out!!!  I will be adding these to my "make again" list for sure!  Hope you enjoy them as much as my family did!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken

2 green onions (chopped)

1 tbsp minced garlic

1/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles

Mix everything together, make into patties (I got 5 patties out of it & this is how the points+ are calculated), throw 'em on the grill! 

We ate ours on our plate, but they would be even better on a slimwich with tomato and lettace.  I paired it with grilled squash, which was also a first for me.

ENJOY!!

Points +: 4 points per patty

 

Obsessed....

Yes, I admit it...I have a new found LoVe for parties.  From the planning to the paper projects to seeing the vision I had in my head come together on party day.  With each party I get more and more into it and take it a step further! {which I'm sure the hubby loves! NOT!}

It all started by making this simple 'Happy Birthday' banner for Karder's Mickey Mouse party and has now turned into an obsession!  My all time favorite site so far?  www.catchmyparty.com not to mention the many party blogs I follow on facebook! They feature soooo many awesome ideas...some completely over the top.  I can spend hours looking at parties and getting ideas!

With our upcoming pool party...what better opportunity to have some fun and make lots of cool crafty projects?!  So tonight's project was water bottle labels.  Here's a sneak peek!

These are super simple.  Design...print...cut...tape!  Can't get much easier!

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

Another year older...

Most women have a hard time turning 30!  Nope, not me! Breezed right through that one!  It's 35 that's turning out to be the real killer!  I'll soon officially be in my mid-30's!  UGH!  Now I'm starting to understand the whole mid-life crisis thing! I mean think about it, I can no longer say "I'm in my early 30's" which is still  pretty close "late 20's" right?  Ohhhh no, I'm mid-30!  BLAH!

I figured, I can't change the unenviable so what better way to deal with it than throwing myself a Pool Party!  Friends, Family, Sun, Food and Beer!  What a great combo!

Yep, that's it, I'm creating my own little summer fiesta! I'll be raising my glass...or bottle...and toasting to another birthday and becoming yet another year older! 

Happy Freakin' Birthday to me!  ::Sigh::

Cheeseburger...Cupcakes!

Oh yeah!  Nothing better than a cheeseburger....cupcake?!  I saw this featured on a party site and had to try it!  They came out awesome!  Now off to daycare tomorrow for the kiddos so I won't be tempted to eat them!

If you're feeling creative and would like to make them yourself, there is a great tutorial  HERE!

Greek Shrimp with Orzo

Tonight we decided that after the holiday weekend of eating hamburgers and hot dogs we'd get back on track! However, I must admit Chicken, Shrimp and Fish don't sound near as good!  I could really go for a big slice of pizza!  But instead we tried this recipe and have rated it with FOUR STARS! Even though we rated it high, it's not something I would want to eat on a weekly basis but it is a good change of pace.

Ingredients
2 cups of Orzo
2 tsp olive oil
1 green bell pepper, chopped {I don't like green peppers so I substituted sugar snap peas}
1/2 c chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 28 once of diced tomatoes {i used 1 14oz can of diced tomatoes w/ green chilies}
1tsp of dried oregano
1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 c chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp of crumbled feta cheese

Cook the orzo according to package directions.

Meanwhile, cook the peppers, onion and garlic in olive oil until tender.  Add tomatoes, spices and shrimp, saute approx 5-10 mins.  Sprinkle with cheese before serving.

This makes 6 servings with points value of 6 per serving.

*Recipe from WW Best Eats.

Pineapple Bliss Cupcakes

So, we all give into that evil little devil sitting on our shoulder every once in a while right?  Sweets are my major downfall!! I can't stop at one cookie, I stop when the entire batch is gone!  I  decided tonight  instead of forbidding the evil fruit, I've chosen to indulge.....in small quantities of course because I have weigh in tomorrow!! 

Tonight's recipe comes from www.skinnytaste.com and let me just begin by saying OHHHH MY!  The name sure is fitting for these!  They are extremely sweet so make sure you have a glass of milk close at hand.  I would consider making these again, but I think I might try using strawberries instead of the pineapple. The great thing is it only takes a few ingredients!  How awesome is that?!  After one bite the hubby quickly rated them FIVE STARS.  Me on the other hand, thought the icing made them a little too sweet so I give them FOUR STARS.


Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box Yellow Cake Mix (I used Betty Crocker SuperMoist)
20 oz can crushed pineapple in juice (do not drain)

Combine both ingredients in a large bowl.  {You do not need the eggs, oil and/or butter!} Mix on medium speed with an electric mixer. Pour into lined cupcake tins.  Bake in accordance with the box directions. {I cooked mine at 350 for 24 minutes} Set aside to cool completely.


Pineapple Fluff cream Cheese Frosting
8oz philadelphia 1/3 less fat cream cheese (room temp)
20 oz can pineapple in juice (Drained and squeezed well)
3/4 cup of marshmallow fluff.

Combine cream cheese, crushed pineapple and marshmallow fluff in a bowl.  mix with electric mixer until well combined.  Spread on cupcakes and ENJOY!  Refrigerate any uneaten {yeah, right} cupcakes until you are ready to eat them.

One Cupcake w/ no icing = 3 pts.
One Cupcake w/ icing =4 pts.

Happy Baking!!!

Mexican Chili Beef Burgers

Tonight we are starting off with a bang!!!  We made these tonight and they were awesome!  I will  be making them again...fo sho!  Both the hubby and I rated these FIVE STARS!  Yummo!

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef
1 egg white
1/4 c minced onion
1/4 tomato juice (i used tomato sauce thinned w/ water because I couldn't find a single can of juice)
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp blk pepper
1/2 tsp fresh cilantro

Mix all together and form into patties.  I got 6 patties medium patties. I like to place fresh made patties in freezer to set before throwing them on grill. They don't seem to fall apart as much. While those are chillin' make up your salsa.

Salsa
1 medium tomato, diced
3 medium radishes, diced {you're probably thinking...EWWW...but seriously you have to try it!! }
1/3 c  avocado, diced
1 tbsp of fresh cilantro {I'm finding out that fresh herbs make a HUGE difference-plus they are cheaper}
1 tbsp lime juice
dash of salt

Mix all together and set aside and get to grillin' your burgers!

When you're burgers are almost done, throw your "slimwich" buns on the grill to add an extra little crunch. I usually don't do this but it's a nice change of pace.  Place your burgers on your grilled buns, top with 1/4 c salsa and ENJOY! Oh yeah and did I mention they are only 6 points!

I would love to hear your thoughts if you make these! :)

*Picture taken from WW Best Eats.

Weight Watchers Here We Come....

Three kids and over the age of 30, I'm slowly {ok, very slowly} starting to accept that I will never fit into the skinny jeans hidden at the bottom of my drawer.  I guess my mom was tired of hearing me complain of having the muffin top so she's suckered me into doing Weight Watchers.  We've been doing it together for four VERY LOOOOOOONG weeks!  With some success I'm starting to get a bit excited and wondering why the heck I didn't do this before!  So my new obsession {along with the ongoing craft-a-holic in me} is trying to find good, healthy recipes. 

My goal in creating this blog is to share some recipes and with the help from my hubby {ok I bribed him} to help me rate them.   So, as my 4 1/2 year old says..."Let's Rock This Joink"!!