Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

It tastes as good as it looks...

Just ask {four} wonderful Mom's
& myself.

I would suggest using
Mini Nilla Wafers
     to eat with this dip.
They were wonderful
& bite sized.
       {making me feel less guilty
                        if I ate more...}

INGREDIENTS:
* 1/2 cup Butter
* 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
* 3/4 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
* 1 8oz Package of Cream Cheese
* 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
* 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract

STEP ONE:
Melt the butter & sugar together in a small sauce pan.

This step can also be done in the microwave,
in 30 second sections of time
    {or else it will bubble over}

Stir constantly till mixed.

STEP TWO:
Add vanilla
& set mixture aside to cool.

STEP THREE:
Beat the cream cheese
& powdered sugar in a bowl
       for approx 1 minute.

STEP FOUR:
Slowly beat in the cooled butter mixture
and mix again for
           another minute.

STEP FIVE:
Stir in Chocolate Chips
        {MMM....}

STEP SIX:
Pour into a serving bowl
          & refrigerate.

STEP SEVEN:
Garnish with chocolate chips
            or other goodies.

CAUTION:
This dip is highly addicting
& may cause you to
hide it from all other guests
defeating your inital purpose of
             making a yummy dip for your company.
                    :)

Failed Cooking Tutorial: Edamame

How in the world
     do you mess up Edamame?!
{... you get lazy that's how! }

I was hungry the other night,
& so for a last minute snack
I decided I should try edamame.

Super awesome for you,
natural, good source of lean protein,
& time consuming to eat.
PERFECT.

I hadn't cooked it myself before
so I read the directions on the back.
They told me to put some
in a microwave safe container,
           with a microwave safe lid
& to heat on high
         for approximately 7 minutes.

I was unaware that
       you can eat Edamame
{two} different ways.
         Crispy or Soft.

I was counting on the soft version
           so you know where this is going.

I put about a cup of edamame
       in a microwave safe bowl
                but didn't have a lid,
so I flipped a plate upside down
                    && used that instead.

Seven minutes later
my microwave was smoking,
my kitchen smelled like burnt, bitter food
& I had to throw away my {quick} snack
leaving me stranded for another
{five minutes} at least to try and
not burn another batch.

Okay, Round #2:

half the time...
Three minutes and thirty seconds.

FML.
Burnt again.

From now on I'm sticking to the stove top,
& waiting patiently for my edamame,
so my microwave doesn't stink
three days later,
& half my bag doesn't go in the trash.

To properly cook Edamame:
Heat a small pot of water till boiling,
add Edamame, & return to boil.
Cook for 3-5 mintues.
          drain & rinse with cold water,
    Enjoy your full bag of Edamame
                            :)

No Bake- Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Yum. 
Pinterest you got me again.

Are you ready to try these babies for yourself?

WARNING:
These contain a high sugar & butter content
that may cause you to crave more... adding
unexpected calories to your daily diet.
                                                             :)

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 cup creamy peanut butter {I used Jif Creamy}
* 2 tbsp softened butter
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar- maybe more {I used 3/4 cup}
* 3/4 cup brown sugar- maybe more {I used 3/4 cup}
* Pretzels
* 1 bag  semi-sweet chocolate chips {only needed a half bag}

First,
cream together
1 cup peanut butter
& 2 tbsp softened butter



Next, add both sugars:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

& 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Check your batter

              to make sure it's not sticky

{you'll need to be able to roll it in a ball}

If it ends up being

                 sticky like mine...

       add more powdered sugar.

{I ended up using 3/4 cup total powdered sugar

                 && 3/4 cup brown sugar}

After adding more powdered sugar,

        take a TSP measurement

amount of your mixture

        & smash it inbetween

   two pretzels.

Finish this process

         till you run out of dough

Stick them in the freezer for

                       approximate 30 minutes,

             {or until the dough is hard}

Once they've chilled

it's time to start prepping the

       chocolate.

Place chocolate chips in a

        {microwave safe} container

& heat in increments of 30 seconds,

        stirring inbetween.

CAUTION:

     If this step is done wrong

            {aka... heating them up for a full 2 minutes}

you'll end up with burnt chocolate chips,

                 a smelly microwave

     & throw out a half bag of delicious chocolate.

          {LIKE ME! UGH!}

While the chocolate chips

            are heating {slowly}

Place a piece of parchment paper

on a plate to help with sticking

       when the chocolate dries.

After your chocolate is fully melted

dip half of your peanut butter bite

                into the chocolate

& place it onto your parment plate.

{Repeat this process till they are all dipped

& place in the freezer again}

Once the chocolate is hardened...

keep in the refrigerator until served.

       && ENJOY.

I know I did....

:)

&& so did Baby Bella

           <3

Green Smoothie Cups: A Drink of Champions

This is what I like to call
"A Drink of Champions"
but as reference
          we'll call them
"Green Smoothie Cups"

I cannot take credit
       for the following recipe
as I got it off Pinterest.
         {That one site I really like}
this particular "Pin"
       is under my fitness board.

This is perfect to make ahead of time
and a quick on-the-go smoothie option.

INGREDIENTS:
{Makes 12 Smoothie Cups = 6 Smoothies}
* 2 Cups Coconut Water
* 1/3 Cup Whole Natural Almonds
* 2 Cups Spinach
* 2 Celery Stalks
* 1/4 Cup Fresh Mint
* 1/2 Orange
* 1/2 Tsp Ginger Powder
* 2 Cups Frozen Mango Cubes {I used Tropical Fruit Mixture}

Put all ingredients into blender as listed above & mix well. Pour into muffin tins & freeze. To serve, take 2 smoothie cups along wth 1 cup coconut water {or regular water} & blend in blender. Drink upp! MMM...

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3 {Remember to add 2 cups!}

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8 {Remember to add 2 cups!}

STEP 9 --My blender needed a little assistance :)

STEP 10

STEP 11

STEP 12 {Stick in Freezer after all are filled}

PS....
I know these look gross and chunky
&& If you have a better blender
than my piece of crap
They'll be smoother.

{However,
they still taste WONDERFUL}
     No joke.. they're awesome.

Here's to a Healthier Me
              & YOU! :)

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

As you may already know
{or maybe not}
I like to cook, bake or
whatever you call
'messing around in the kitchen.'

Yes that actually happened.
If you are me... {you might need one two eggs for this recipe}

I typically don't cook just for myself
because I find I don't eat it all
&& it goes in the trash. ugh.

So this leaves me
cooking for others I care about.
--which I don't mind at all.

One of my favorites
really likes toffee.
so after much research online
I found a recipe for
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars.

C A U T I O N : {These things are deadly}

You will need:

No-Stick Cooking Spray

2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup butter or margarine

1 large egg, slightly beaten

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

1 cup coarsely chopped nuts {I left these out}

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 (8 ounce) package toffee baking bits, divided {I used almost 2 packages}

A couple Heath bars for toppings. {I only used 1}

                              
                                 First preheat your oven to 350 degrees, &&
                          spray a 9x13'' pan with your non-stick cooking spray.

                        In a large bowl you'll need to mix
                               2 1/2 cups flour + 2/3 cups {packed} brown sugar

                                                   Cut in the 3/4 cup butter

                               Then mix the butter till it resembles coarse crumbs.

                         

                                                         Add your 1 egg & stir

                                           {I used a mixer for this step

                                                 to make sure I got everything mixed up well}

      Stir in 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

                             & nuts {if you prefer, I didn't}

                          I added more toffee bits instead

                                      

            Now it's time to make the crust--

                     Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture for the topping

                && press the remaining crumb coat

                                into the bottom of your pan.

                Bake the crust for 10 minutes

                                  & clean up your mess in the meantime.

                                     When your crust is done

        add the whole 8 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

                    to the top

                               Be sure to spread it around

                                               to get an even coat

            It's time to add your toffee bits

                       && reserve 1/4 cup for the topping

              {I opened my new bag of toffee bits for this part

                       I also added a few more toffee bits from the other bag}

                                        Sprinkle the rest of your
                                crumb mixture on top of the toffee

              Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top

                   {I didn't want it super chocolatey so I only added 1/3 cup}

                             Look at these wonderful
              sugary, fattening layers!

              It's oven time!
                    Bake your toffee bars for 25-30 minutes
                               or until golden brown.
                      && use the rest of your 1/4 cup toffee bits to the top
                         when done baking.

                               Let these babies cool before cutting - I put mine in the freezer.

                  && remember try not to eat too much!

                                   They incredibly rich, sweet && yummy.

                    {I also added a mashed up heath bar

                                                        to the top for decoration}

MMMMMMM........