Pizza Dip

Super bowl snacks are on my mind and what could be better than pizza in dipping form.  Many of the ingredients needed are pantry staples so it's simple to whip up in a flash.  I think this recipe is perfect for a house full of guests-it's easy and so totally addicting.  So whether your cheering for the Patriots, Seahawks or like me look forward to the commercials and half time show-this dip is the real winner!

Pizza Dip

• 1 (15 oz) container of part skim ricotta
• 1tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• ¼ tsp. dried basil
• 2 (8-oz) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz) can tomato paste
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp. sugar
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided
• ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup pepperoni
• fresh basil
• toasted french bread slices for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray the bottom of a 1½ casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Mix together ricotta, oregano, parsley and basil in a small bowl. Spread herbed cream cheese on the bottom of prepared dish. Layer with ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese.
3. In another medium sized bowl, mix together tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar and garlic powder. Pour over cheese layer in dish. Cover with the remaining cheeses. Top with pepperoni and fresh basil.
4. Place in preheated oven and bake for 15 mins or until heated through and bubbly. Serve with slices of toasted french bread and ENJOY!

Lemon Cake Take 2

Close up and in your face lemon cake! I made this cake a couple of weeks ago for Husby's birthday.  He's a huge lemon fan. The kids and I made this cake for him last year but this time we went all lemon! Lemon cake, filled with lemon curd, and topped with this lemon butter cream frosting.  The flavor is light and the frosting is creamy-It's every lemon lovers dream!  

Lemon Cake Recipe

-I doubled the recipe for the 4 layers-

• 2 cups all-purpose flour     
• 2 cups granulated sugar   
• 2 tsp. baking powder    
• 1 tsp. salt 
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature        
• 1 cup buttermilk        
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened        
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable shortening        
• 2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest        
• 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice        
• 1⁄4 cup lemon-lime soda        
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract        

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round metal baking pans with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Add eggs, buttermilk, butter, shortening, lemon zest and lemon juice to flour mixture.

Using a Kitchen Aid mixer on medium-low speed, mix for 1 minute, until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula. Mix on high speed for 1 minute.

Add lemon-lime soda and vanilla; mix on low speed for 15 to 30 seconds, until just combined.

Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Let pan cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pans, then invert cakes onto rack to cool completely.

Place one cake layer, flat side up, on a cake plate or platter. Spread 3⁄4 cup of the frosting (see below) evenly over bottom layer. Top with the second cake layer, flat side down. Spread the remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Lemon Curd

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (usually requires 1-2 lemons)

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1/3 cup sugar

4 egg yolks

3 Tablespoons butter 

Combine all ingredients in the top of a double boiler (or in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water).  Heat, while stirring (almost) constantly with a whisk, until mixture thickens.  It is done when it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.  Remove from heat, cover and refrigerate until cool.

Lemon Frosting click here  for recipe

 It's freezing here today!  Hope you're stayin' warm where you are.  

Favorite Smoothie

I know it's freezing outside but I love this almond delight smoothie with strawberries and blueberries from the life cafe at our health club. 

I figured it would be easy to do an at home hack. 

I like to drink this right after a morning workout.  It's healthy, refreshing, and I love the subtle almond taste.  I like to start the day off on the right foot with exercise and a frozen drink even with the freezing temps outside.

Almond Delight Smoothie with Strawberries & Blueberries

1 cup sweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup ice

1 cup vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup strawberries

1/4 cup blueberries

Place all ingredients in your high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

 

Enjoy!

Here are some of my favorites for your at home smoothies:

Christmas Cookie Favorites

Happy Monday!!  With a little more than a week before Christmas the pressure is on to get it all done.  The buying, wrapping, preparing is in full swing around here.  Although, we will take a day between now and December 25th to bake.  One of my favorite Christmas traditions with the family is cookie making. I love when our kitchen becomes a cookie factory.  Remember our cookie day from last year?  The kids love to decorate and of course sample their faves.  I love to make cut-out frosted sugar cookies, Oreo truffles, cornflake wreaths and peanut butter kisses.  I also love these meringue cookies that my mom used to make when my brother and I were kids.  I've searched for the yummiest recipes-some are favorites and others are ones I think I may add to the list.  What are your most loved cookie recipes for the holidays?

img

img

img

img

img

img

img

Happy Baking!

Don't forget to shop these great sales:

• Nordstrom: My #1 place to shop for Christmas! 
• J Crew: Save 30% off full prices with the code GIVETHIS.
• Tory Burch:  Shop the new markdowns.
• J Crew Factory: Save 40-60% off everything! 
• Gap Save up to 50% off your purchase.
• Madewell: Save 30% off holiday pics. 

Kicked Up Hot Chocolate

Happy Friday!  I'm thinking this weekend calls for a festive drink.  This adults only recipe is simple and perfect for an evening by the fire.  If you want the lo-cal version I love this recipe.  If you need a super fun holiday drink for the kids-this one is my fave.

Kicked Up Hot Chocolate

2 cups skim milk

1/4 cup of your favorite hot chocolate mix

1 oz. Godiva liqueur

garnish with whipped cream and chocolate syrup

I'm hoping to finish the Christmas decorations and get a bit of shopping done this weekend.

What are your plans?

Shop the post:

5 Favorite Appetizers for the Holidays

Good Morning!  This year we will be doing lots of entertaining for the holidays.  I've searched the ends of the internet for appetizer inspiration and I've found 5 favorites that are perfect for all types of holiday gatherings.  I will definitely be using these recipes.  Feel free to pin away and share with your friends who love to entertain.  

Spicy Cheddar Straws

Tortellini Caprese Bites

Cheese Tray

Shrimp Cocktail

Crostini

Check out this Holiday Wine Party. It looks so fun as well as festive.

Holiday Wine Party

To Help You Entertain

Don't Forget The Great Sales

J CREW: Last day to Save 25% off fall favorites with code GETWARM ends 11/11.

NORDSTROM:  Clearance sale happening at Nordstrom! Save up to 40% off.

WILLIAMS SONOMA: Save 20% off tabletop.

BANANA REBUPLIC: 30% off full prices with code BREXCITED. 

J CREW FACTORY: Save an extra 30% off everything with code EXTRA30.

GAP Save 30% off your purchase with code HAPPY. So many new arrivals!

Favorite Go-To Chili

Cooler temperatures and darker evenings mean that I can make one of my favorite fall recipes.  A bowl of warm chili any night of the week just feels cozy.  I like to make a pot on the stove over weekend but if it's a night during the week when we are running the kids around I like to have it on the counter in my crockpot on low.  It's so nice to walk in the door and have dinner ready to go.  

I know there are lots of "favorite chili" recipes out there but the thing that I love about this recipe is that it can be served over rice and garnished with lotsa extras that just make it perfect on the pallet.  

Favorite Chili Recipe

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef

1 large sweet onion chopped fine

2 cloves garlic minced

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. cumin

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried parsley

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. red pepper flakes-more if your family likes it spicy

1 tsp. ground pepper

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1 large carton diced tomatoes

1 can chicken broth

1 can kidney beans washed and drained-I often illiminate the beans and serve beanless

extra toppings

1 pot of brown or white rice

2 large avocados chopped

1/2 finely shredded cheddar jack cheese

fresh parsley

freshly chopped tomatoes

tortilla strips

sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.  Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and cook for about 7-10 minutes or until the beef is completely browned, crumbling the beef with a spoon as it cooks. Drain about half of the excess fat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.  Cover and simmer on low for an hour.

*If you chose to use the crockpot then transfer the beef into the bottom of a slow cooker and add remaining ingredients/stir.Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours. Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper or seasonings if need be.

Serve warm over rice and with desired toppings.

If you are looking for a great slow cooker,  I really love this one, and this one.

Hope this recipe becomes one of your go-tos as well! 

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Everything

This time of year means pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!  I love making pumpkin things.  As you may remember these pumpkin pancakes, my favorite pumpkin dip,  this pumpkin cake, and of course pumpkin root beer floats.  I love baking with the pumpkin which is why I love these tasty cookies.  Just tastes like fall.

Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 can pumpkin

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat 2 cups butter with your Kitchen Aid mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Add the flour slowly until combined. Don't worry dough will be very wet. Drop dough by the tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are set. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. Top with cream cheese frosting.

I like to pipe my frosting just because it looks a bit fancy.  But of course when I'm short on time I just slap it on there.

Enjoy the pumpkinpalooza!

Halloween Treat

Halloween is fast approaching and I'm a Kindergarten room mom in charge of hosting the party at school on Friday afternoon.  I wanted to bring a treat that's festive and the kids would love.  These  spookalicious mummies don't require many ingredients are easy to put together in advance.  I plan to make a classroom amount of HoHo mummies.

Place a lollipop stick through each HoHo and pipe the vanilla frosting back and forth to make the mummy gauze.  Stick the edible eyes onto the frosting.  And now that I'm looking at the pictures of these I bet they would look even better if the frosting was piped a bit over the eyes as well.  So that the eyes are peeking out of the frosting.  Place in the fridge until served.

My mummy tester.

So if you're in need of a last minute, quick treat for Halloween.  HoHo mummies are perfect.

Enjoy!

Apple Cider Sangria

Last week I hosted my book club and went with a cozy fall theme.  You can read more about my book club here.  I served my favorite soup, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, anti-pasta skewers, cheese platter and pumpkin cookies.  Discussing the book wouldn't be the same without some cocktails.  So I served cider sangria with fresh cider from the apple orchard.  It was a big hit.  Refreshing, seasonal, light and yum!  Be sure to give it a try.

Apple Cider Sangria

1 Pitcher

4 cups apple cider

1 bottle of pinot grigio

1 cup brandy

2 apples cut into small cubes 

1 pear cut into small cubes

Stir together in your favorite pitcher and chill in refrigerator for at least one hour.  Serve in a glass with ice and enjoy!

And if you're looking for a great book, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, was such a great read!  Loved it as much, if not more, than The Husband's Secret written by the same author.  So, whether you are curled up with a great book or out drinkin' cider sangria this weekend-hope it's great!