Homemade Granola Bars

I recently found this delicious recipe by one of my favorite food blogs, Sally's Baking Addiction. I have been waiting to make homemade granola bars for a while now, but never felt I had the time. I always thought it would be too complicated or too time consuming, until I found this little gem! The recipe was easy to follow and used typical pantry items. Plus, no baking! 

The kids were watching a movie when they heard me stirring around in the kitchen. "What are you making, mom?" They asked. "Granola bars," I answered.  Three little heads popped up at the same time. "Really?!" Of course, they wanted to try them right away. I sent them back to their movie. They will have to wait until the morning to try the fudgy goodness. But not me! Yes, I licked the bowl clean! It was so good! 

Mods: None 
Verdict: Yummy!  I'm sure these will become a staple in our house.

Recipe: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/10/19/homemade-chewy-fudge-granola-bars/

Top of the Muffin to Ya!

School is back in session (waaaaa!) and we are almost back to our "normal" routines. The kids and I are now in 3 different schools, add hubs to the mix & that spreads us across to the ends of the Earth. Well, it seems like it some days. As most households with two working parents, our mornings are a semi-organized chaos (emphasis on the chaos). Prepackaged breakfast choices are usually on the breakfast menu. I truly dislike all the sugar jammed packed into the store bought granola bars, donuts, muffins and breakfast cookies. However, we are usually on a tight schedule (we're running late because I want to sleep up to the very last possible second) and it's easier to have breakfast that we can grab and go. I make a homemade dinner nearly each night, so why not put forth the same effort for breakfast? As mom used to tell us, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." So, why don't I treat it as such?! Well, when I saw this nutritious twist to blueberry muffins in my Pinterest feed, I knew I had to make it. If I haven't mentioned it before, I LOVE Sally's Baking Addiction! Her recipes, photos and blog are always amazing; this recipe does not fall short of that. Try the Skinny Banana Blueberry Muffin recipe... they are healthier & much more delicious than the prepackaged blueberry muffins you buy at the grocery store. Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! 

Mods: I used nonfat plain Greek yogurt and light vanilla almond milk. 

The Verdict: Yummy! All three kids, plus hubby loved the muffins ;)  

Recipe: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/03/17/skinny-banana-blueberry-muffins/

Chicken Yakisoba

I'm putting it mildly, but it's been a while! I could go on and tell you all about my hiatus; however, I'd rather not bore you with my mundane life. I truly don't think it's mundane, especially when I'm in the middle of our crazy, busy family life. But who doesn't have a busy life these days?!  Where was I? {focus, Vera} oh yeah... Speaking if busy lives, I found a perfect recipe for a quick meal the whole family will love. It's called Chicken Yakisoba. When I mentioned what I was making for dinner, my kids were intrigued. They love Asian food, and the mention of ramen noodles put them over the top. After I made it, I thought of a few ways to streamline this meal.

1.  Use precut chicken strips (I prefer frozen). 

2.  Use frozen stir fry veggies. It will save you time so you can play on the trampoline with your littles. 

3.  Top the dish with chow mein noodles (hub's suggestion). I love those noodles! I could eat the whole bag! 

Mods: I used frozen, diced ginger. I also used frozen chicken breast.
The Verdict: Yummy! All three kids, plus hubby loved it ;)  

Recipe: http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/03/chicken-yakisoba/

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Have I mentioned that we eat a lot of chicken??  Well, we do... why, you might ask?  Because we are trying to eat healthier.  When I say "we" I mean my hubby.  The whole family benefits from it which is good; however, I get bored making the same thing over and over again.  Also, I am not much of a chicken person, I'm a steak and potato kind of girl.  That being said, I am always on the hunt for yummy chicken recipes.  Thank goodness for Pinterest!  I hit the mother load of recipes there.  Anything from healthy to not-so-healthy, Italian, Mexican, Asian, you name it, it's there.  A fellow pinner posted this lovely recipe, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, from The Enchanted Cook blog.  It only calls for 4 ingredients, easy clean-up, ready in 20 minutes, and so delicious.  I love the tanginess from the mayo and the Italian bread crumbs are a perfect combo.  I made this yummy recipe for dinner last night.  The whole family (including our house guest) loved it and they don't even like mayo!  Leftovers, what leftovers??  I can see why The Enchanted Cook makes this dish so often.  I will add this recipe to our weekly recipe rotation. 

Yummy in my tummy!

Mods: I used Mayo with Olive Oil (because it's what I had in the fridge)
The Verdict: Yummy! Making this dish weekly ;) 
Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Sesame Beef Stir Fry

We love Asian food, and anytime we find a new recipe, we can't wait to try it.  Saw this pin through my feed, and had to try it. My husband makes a mean sesame chicken from scratch, but we have never tried sesame beef.  We've been eating a lot of chicken, so this recipe caught my eye. The link took me to the Oven Love blog.  I had not been to this blog before, but fell in love with it as soon as I clicked... love at first click, so to speak.  ;)  Nonetheless, her recipes are easy to follow, great pics, and delish!  While cooking sesame beef stir fry, I skimmed through her blog and found lots of recipes I wanna try.  I will be back soon to make her Make-Ahead Mango and Raspberry Margaritas.  Nom, nom!  Tonight, everyone was part of the clean plate club! Thanks, Oven Love, for a fabulous dinner everyone enjoyed ;)

Delish!

My 'lil one's lunch tomorrow ;)

Mods: possibly the gluten part... my soy sauce bottle did not state either way
The Verdict: Yummy! Making this again
Recipe: Sesame Beef Stir Fry

Bruschetta Chicken

Lately, my hubby and I are making efforts to be healthier in the food choices we make.  (minus a chocolate candy here & there, hee hee)  That being said, we make a lot of chicken.  I mean, A LOT.  I get rather bored with food.  I cannot eat salad every day because I become complacent which causes me to crave very bad things like chocolate, chocolate and chocolate.  Not only do I crave it, I seek and eat it.  I know, I'm bad and should control my urges, but it's difficult for me.  I can only guess what I look like when I'm on a chocolate hunt... I imagine my self looking like Cookie Monster, shoving the chocolate in my mouth.  Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!  Where was I?  (did I mention that I have ADD? Oh look, a squirrel) Chicken gets boring after a while.  I know it is versatile; however, much to my family's dismay, I seem to make the same thing over and over again. 
Well, I happened upon this lovely recipe for Bruschetta Chicken on Pinterest.  The pin lead me to Lindsey Meredith's Flicker page. Now, my picture does not do the recipe justice.  This recipe was so good that everyone in my family had seconds.  Will I make this again?  Definitely! 

Chicken Bruschetta, yum yum!

Mods: none, it was chicken perfection!
The Verdict: Yummy! Making this again.
Recipe: Bruschetta Chicken

Cookie Dough Frosting

Words cannot describe the deliciousness permeating from this frosting! Have I mentioned that I LOVE chocolate?! If that info hasn't been communicated yet, let me state for the record that I'm a chocoholic. No shame in my game, LOL! Well, I headed over to Sally's Baking Addiction which is quickly becoming my addiction.  Every recipe I have tried from this site is scrumptious!  We were having a multi-birthday party at our house, and I was procrastinating (surprise, surprise) on making dessert.  I took a shortcut by using a box cake for the cupcakes; however, I did splurge on the icing.  When I found this recipe for Cookie Dough Frosting, I knew I had to make it.  Words cannot describe the yumminess of this frosting!  Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes, especially the icing.  Somehow I ended up with more frosting than needes (darn!), so the kids and I enjoyed the icing for a few extra days.  (When I say "the kids and I," I mean that they had a spoonful or two and I had a little extra helping... hee hee.)  Next time, I will definitely make the whole thing from scratch.

Mmmm... chocolate!

My taste-tester ;)

Mods: none, cookie dough perfection!
The Verdict: Yummy! Making this again, but the whole recipe next time.
Recipe: Fudge Brownie Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Have you visited Chef in Training blog yet?  Well, mosey on over when you have a moment or two or three... I find myself 10 recipes in (usually in the desserts genre) after remembering that I was looking for a dinner idea.  Her recipes are nothing short of amazing!  The pics seem to jump out at you.  I wish they would, her food always looks so much better than mine!  I found her pin for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta on Pinterest a few weeks ago, and finally had the chance to make it this week.  The ranch Alfredo sauce was divine! 

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta... Nom! Nom!

Mods: none, perfect the way it is ;)
The Verdict: Yummy! Making this again.
Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Chocolate Banana Bread Brownies

Sounds divine, doesn't it?  That's because they are!  I had some ripe bananas that were dying to be made into banana nut bread.  I was going to use my go-to recipe; however, I ran into this delish recipe on Six Sisters' Stuff and had to try it.  If you haven't been to this website yet, you should check them out.  These gorgeous ladies are amazing and inspiring. Back to the chocolate banana goodness... The recipe was easy to follow, and luckily I had all ingredients on hand.  (If I didn't have everything, I would've made a quick run to the store.)  The aroma coming from the kitchen drew everyone in.  Now, we do eat dinner together as a family nearly every evening; however, mornings are crazy around our house.  I try to have at least one breakfast together on the weekends.  Family gathering at breakfast... mission accomplished. I think the bananas are much happier as chocolate banana bread brownies rather than banana nut bread ;)

Coffee, chocolate banana bread brownies... bliss!

Mods: None, this recipe is perfect the way it is.
Verdict: Yummers!  Will make again soon ;)
Recipe: Chocolate Banana Bread Brownies

Red Wine Berry Spritzer

A long, busy, stressful week calls for a cocktail. When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I HAD to try it. It's a mini-me version of a punch recipe I use often. The verdict, you ask? Love it! I'm all about quick & easy recipes these days but it must be delish... not only does this cocktail meet all three requirements, it exceeds them. In fact, it may be a lil too convenient if you catch my drift ;)  Hop on over to Angie's Kitchen and check out her recipes.  You won't be disappointed! 

Bottoms up!

Mods: Just one, I could not find La Croix mixed berry at my grocery store, so I used the store brand.
The Verdict: Yummy! Making these soon at the next girls night.  
Recipe: Red Wine Berry Spritzer