Homemade Heart Shaped Pizza

This Valentine's Day I had totally forgotten to pick up a Papa Murphy's Heart Shaped Pizza for the kids and since I do daycare out of my home I wasn't able to just pack up and go get one....so I did the next  best thing-created one at home and luckily I had the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

1 Pillsbury Pizza Crust

3/4 Ketchup

1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

1 lb Meat-pork, ham, pepperoni

Toppings-chopped: onions, green peppers, mushrooms, olives

1 cup Cheese-shredded

Directions:

1. Roll out the pizza crust and place it onto a greased cookie sheet and shape into a heart shape or whatever the holiday theme may be

2. If you selected to use a meat that needs to be pre-cooked fry on medium heat until cooked. I chose to use italian sausage-1lb of Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage in the regular flavor, you can find it in the breakfast meat department.

3. Combine ketchup with Italian seasoning and place on pizza crust

4. Add on meat toppings along with other chopped toppings you would like

5. Top with shredded Cheese

6. Bake according to pizza crust directions approximately 10mins at 400 degrees or until crust is golden and cheese is melted

Suggestions:

You could make this really simple or add lots of extra topping such as other meats, olives, onions, green peppers to your liking.

Serve with breadsticks

Shape the crust to whichever theme or holiday you are celebrating-clover leaf, candy cane

Get creative, let the kids help and enjoy this easy and fun pizza recipe!

We also enjoyed a yummy dessert-the Famous Popcorn Cake-of course for Valentine's Day we colored the popcorn marshmellow mixture pink and shaped them into hearts

Click  HERE to get the full popcorn cake recipe

For our craft of the day we made Valentine Friends 

you only need construction paper, crayons and glue 

this one was an actual set that i had purchased with my daycare preschool program from

Kids 'N' Fun Crafts-but you could create it with just simply cutting out a heart, 1 hat,  2 hands, 2 feet and four strips of paper for the legs and arms-folded in accordian style.
I had the kids color the parts first before we assembled them together

To learn more about the Kids 'N' Fun Crafts program Click HERE

They offer affordable easy fun that does NOT require a ton of planning-my way to have FUN!

Hope your Valentine's Day was a SWEET one!

 

Homemade Granola Bars-Kid Tested!

Homemade Granola Bars

Ingredients:

4 C Granola (I used the Food Club brand cereal w/oats, honey, almonds) 

1 C Peanut Butter

1 C Corn Syrup (Light)

1 C Craisins

1/2 C Sugar (I left it out)



Directions:

Melt Peanut Butter and Corn Syrup together bring to a boil for 1 minute

Combine all ingredients

Press into a 9X13 Storage container

Allow to cool and serve

Store covered

Suggestions:

Add in extra oats, almonds, craisins whatever your kids prefer

*****

 Five Stars

Super easy to make with your kids and really yummy!



Homemade Guacamole-Best of the Best!

One of my all-time favs

Homemade Guacamole

If you like chips and guac or guac on your favorite sandwich this recipe is sure to please

it is one of my favs and I'm proud to share it

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Chopped Red Onion

4-5 Avacados ripe

-soft to the touch but not squishy-hard avacados will NOT work-usually they will be a bit purple in color

1-2 TBSP Sea Salt (you can use regular table salt as well)

1 Bunch Fresh Cilantro

1/2 Can Rotel Tomatoes (with lime, mild, medium-whatever you prefer)

1 large lime (juice)

Directions:

1.Cut avacados length wise around the circular pit, pull apart

2. Spoon out the avacado into a large bowl, discard everything but 2 pits-set aside the pits

3. Add 1/4 cup chopped red onion-you can add more onion if you prefer

4. Add cilantro-leaves only chopped, discard the stems down the disposal for a fresh clean deodorizer

5. Add 1-2 TBSP Sea Salt

6. Add 1/2 Can rotel tomatoes juice and all-you can use roma tomotoes if you prefer-I use the rotel-easier and less messy-plus the medium rotel tomoatoes gives the guac a little bit of a kick

7. Add in the fresh lime juice-I prefer to use a lime juicer/squeezer

 

Campeon Heavy Duty Small Lime Squeezer, Green

makes the job sooo much easier!

Mix all together

-I prefer to mix with the pampered chef mix n chop

The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop #2583

-really does a fast easy job of mashing up the avacados-mash until desired consistency

-I like my quac to be alittle chunky not too smooth

serve or refrigerate-I like to refrigerate mine ahead of time and then serve

-I feel that all the flavors mix together better

Serves:

6-10

This makes a large batch-perfect for a bbq with friends-it can keep for 1-2 days, just remember to keep 2 pits from the avacados when you are disposing of the skins-placing a couple pits in your guac while storing it in the fridge helps keep it from turning so brown, it will turn somewhat brown while in the refrigerator-just mix with a spoon before eating

enjoy this fresh, easy, homemade guac with pita chips, tortilla chips, crackers, beer bread, doritos-just about anything-even top your favorite sandwich with it for a nice creamy addition!

*****

Five stars!

New Marketside Chipotle Dip!

I recently discoverd this new Marketside Chipotle Ranch Dip

-A Zesty Dip Blends Rich Sour Cream with the kick of Smoky Chipotle

available at Walmart Stores in the refrigerated veggie section

great when paired with Stacy's Parmesan Garlic & Herb Pita Chips, jazz up a Chicken Salad, dip with Tortilla Chips or your favorite veggies!

Bring this to your next backyard bbq and your guests will love it!

Click her for the Dip Caloric  info

Fun Fresh Spring Mango Salsa-Great for your St. Patty's Day Party! 3/17

Mango Salsa

I was first introduced to this recipe last Spring by my friend Darcy

-it is sooo easy and really fresh & tasty

Ingredients:

2-3 Mangos

1 Mild Salsa Packet

1 bunch of fresh Cilantro

Red Onion

1-2 Roma Tomatoes or 1 can Rotell tomatoes with or without Cilatro & Lime

Directions:

Use 2-3 mangos depending on the size of batch you want

(mangos have really big pits in them that are oval in shape-be careful cutting them out)

cut the mangos into small pieces (in the picture above the mangos are a bit big)

Add in your salsa packet-I use mild but feel free to do Hot if you like some zest

Finely chop up the onion and add in about 1/4 cup

Finely chop up the cilantro and add in about 1/4 cup-do not use stems-place unwanted cilantro stems down the garbage disposal for a fresh spring airfreshner:)

Mix in roma tomatoes or 1/2 can of Rotell Tomatoes add more if desired

Chill & Serve with your choice of Tortilla Chips, Doritos, or even Pita Chips

Enjoy!

Happy St. Patty's Day-Celebrate with a Green Popcorn Cake! 3/17

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

as with any holiday we try and celebrate with a color matching popcorn cake

-our shamrock pan is m.i.a. so we improvised

you can use cookie cutters/cake pan/mold of any sort

just add in food coloring to the marshmellows to make some festive fun

Hint: pam cooking spray is your friend!

I spray everything I use when making these popcorn cakes

Popcorn Cake

Ingredients

2-bags of Microwave Popcorn

2-10.5 oz bags of mini marshmellows

2 tsp. vanilla

Food Coloring

1/2 stick of butter

1 cup of peanuts-salted or unsalted

1 cup of m&ms

(some people do gum drops-I don't care for the texture)

Cake Pan

(you can use cookie cutters-just place mixture in large baking pan and use cookie cutter to cut out shapes)

Directions:

Pop 2 bags of microwave popcorn and remove all the old maids-set aside

(I usually use low fat or fat free popcorn so it doesn't get so soggy)

Spray bowl first-Combine 1/2 Stick Butter melted together in Large bowl with 2 tsp vanilla

Place 2- 10.5oz bags of mini marshmellows into the large bowl with the butter and vanilla

Microwave and stir until melted together-usually about 2 minutes stopping to stir often

Stir in Food coloring of your choice

Add marshmellow mixture to the popcorn in a large bowl-Stir together
Add in 1 cup peanuts, 1 cup m&ms

place mixture in your sprayed pan of choice and pack down with a spatula

many times I will split the batch in half and put in 2 separte pans

fits well in a 8X11 pan if your doing 1 big batch

get creative and make some fun festive shapes

-let the kids decorate individual ones with sprinkles and frosting

Here is a picture of some we made at Valentine's Day

Enjoy-this Sweet & Salty Treat is Sure to Please:))

***be sure and store in an air tight container as the marshmellows will get hard and dry out
-that is if there are any leftovers-lol...

Luv these popcorn cakes-reminds me of my younger days when my mom use to make them and send them to my roommates and I at college-always was a good sign seeing the Fedex Guy come to our aparment!

New Year's Eve Appetizer Ideas! 12/31



Good (Cheap) Eats

Healthy Spin on Some Great Apps

-Just in Time for your New Year's Eve Party!

Cactus Salsa

Spinach Dip

Onion Dip

Click HERE for these Healthy Recipes

or for more Healthy ways to eat and live on a budget

Visit Good (Cheap) Eats website

Click HERE to Follow Good (Cheap) Eats on Facebook

-I promise you won't be dissapointed!

Decadent Oreo Balls



white chocolate & chocolate oreo balls

Simple-Decadent Oreo Balls

no bake-make ahead of time treat!

1 bar softened cream cheese

1-18oz pkg of Oreos finely crushed

I recommend a blender or food processor to crush them

(filling and all-don't recommend the double stuff)

1 package of Almond Bark-white or chocolate or you can mix them together too-be creative:)

Combine the softened cream cheese and crushed oreos



softened cream cheese mixed  with crushed oreos



roll out into 1/2"-1" balls and place on a cookie sheet

place outside to freeze or use your feezer if you are not in the

arctic tundra:) Wait till Oreo Balls have hardened

Melt the almond bark according to directions

Dip the frozen Oreo Balls in the almond bark with a tong or spoons and

place back on the cookie sheet and store outside till almond bark is hard

Store in an airtight container in the freezer

Take out to thaw just before serving

The outside will be crunchy and the inside will remain a decadent yummy treat!  

Makes about 4 dozen Oreo Balls depending on how big you shape them

**great for a party because they are pretty rich so people usually eat only 1-3 balls so they go a long way!

Here is where your Creativity comes to Play!

Suggestions:

use mint oreos or add mint flavoring to the almond bark or any flavoring for that matter

mix the white and chocolate almond bark together for a yummy milk chocolate taste for those that don't like white or chocolate plain

make some of each for a pretty display as pictured above

there are all sorts of oreos out there so be creative-you can't go wrong with these

***bring the recipe with you-your friends and family will want it!

If you have any great combinations or ways you have made these oreo balls before please leave us your comments-we would love to hear them!

EnJoY!



Preztels with Pizzazz!

3/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Pkg Ranch

1 tsp. Garlic Salt

1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper-use 1/2 tsp for less spice

1 20oz Package of Preztels

(I use the Menards butter spindle Preztels 32oz size for 1 batch)

Mix all the spices together and place in a large bag or tupperware
with pretzels and coat evenly.
Place onto baking sheets and bake at 200 degrees stirring every 20 minutes.
Cook for about 1 hr 30 mins. Cool and store in a air tight container
-I place them back in the menards pretzel container and it keeps
them fresh for weeks-that is if someone doesn't find them and eats them all first:)

A Tasty Change -BBQ Chex Mix

BBQ Chex Mix

3 Cups Rice Cereal

3 Cups Corn Chex Cereal

(or 6 cups crispix cereal)

1 1/2 cups pretzels

1 1/2 cups bite-size cheese snack (Cheez-Its-or Try Tabasco flavor )

3/4 Cup Honey Roasted Peanuts

1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce

1 TBSP Vegetable Oil

3/4 tsp Onion Powder

3/4 tsp Garlic Powser

Stir together cereals, pretzels, crackers, peanuts and seasonings in large bowl -set aside

Stir together BBQ sauce & oil until blended (suggestion-microwave to gel them together)

Pour over cereal mixture in bowl, stirring until evenly coated.

Spray 9x13 pan. Spread Cereal mixture in pan

Bake @ 250 degrees for 1 hr, stirring every 10-15 minutes

Spread on aluminum paper or wax paper to cool

Store in an airtight container 

Delicious Switch-up to your original Chex Mix Recipe!

Click HERE to see other Yummy Chex Cereal Recipes:)

White Cheddar Popcorn with Almond Bark

White Cheddar Popcorn with Vanilla Almond Bark
-A Simple irresistable treat!


Melt half a package of Vanilla Almond Bark

Use 1 bag of White Cheddar Popcorn

combine the popcorn and melted almond bark together in a brown paper bag
shake with all your might until evenly coated
tear open the bag and lay the popcorn on it to dry

suggestions-add peanuts and or m&ms

store in a air tight container-Enjoy:)

Pretzels with Pizzazz

3/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Pkg Ranch

1 tsp. Garlic Salt

1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper-use 1/2 tsp for less spice

1 20oz Package of Preztels

(I use the Menards butter spindle Preztels 32oz size)

Mix all the spices together and place in a large bag or tupperware
with pretzels and coat evenly. Place onto baking sheets and bake at

200 degrees stirring every 20 minutes. Cook them for about 1 hr 30 minutes.
Cool and store in a air tight container

-I place them back in the menards pretzel container and it keeps
them fresh for weeks!

Warning!-you should not leave anyone alone with these pretzels
-they will disappear:-)